We go through life thinking we have a good grasp on our place in the universe, but every now and then something comes along that makes you rethink everything. In this clip from the classic Saturday morning show Bill Nye The Science Guy, Bill wants to teach his audience a lesson about the size of space. To do this, he set up a scale model of the solar system in a gymnasium. Then he took things one step further. To show the distance to the nearest star, Bill runs out of the gym, hops in his car and starts driving. Thanks Bill for reminding us how crazy it is that we are floating on a giant rock in the middle of space. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/bill-nye-on-space/
Have you ever watched someone juggle bowling pins or twirl batons and wondered what it would feel like to be an ant on the thing they were tossing around? If so, good news. A Russian folk band is giving you the opportunity to experience what that feels like without the hassle of putting on Paul Rudd’s shrinking Ant-Man suit. Otava Yo has been performing theatrical folk music for 12 years, and their live performances feature everything from dazzling light displays to heartfelt reenactments of the Biblical Christmas story. As if those things weren’t spectacular enough, the band also has log twirlers hanging around. Whether or not they perform during the concert is unclear, but it’d be a waste not to have a talented twirler like this guy onstage while you play. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/russian-log-spinning-selfie/
Imagine your friend invites you over to meet their new cat. Over the phone, they tell you that he’s playful, adorable and has a big appetite. When you finally arrive at their house, however, you aren’t greeted by a Calico or a Burmese, but instead come face to face with a full grown tiger. Weighing over 600 pounds and growing as tall as 11 feet, tigers are incredibly powerful creatures. Laws vary from state to state when it comes to keeping tigers and other exotic animals as pets. Tigers require a large amount of land, water and food, three things that many people interested in owning one cannot adequately provide. Michael Jamison, Enzo’s owner, appears to have created a nice space for his tiger to live in, with no shortage of fresh food to eat. Enzo’s strength and speed remind us that unless we have the means to provide tigers with everything they need to live a happy and healthy life, they’re probably best left in the wild. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/enzo-tiger-pool-running-michael-jamison/
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that occurs when particles in the atmosphere collide with particles from solar winds, creating brilliant patterns of light and color in the sky. Sadly the lights can only be seen from certain points of the Northern Hemisphere, but thanks to the miracle of high-definition video, you can now see them clearly from the comfort of your home. This footage was shot near Fairbanks, Alaska on January 2nd and presents the northern lights in beautiful 4K high-definition video. If you turn out the lights, and turn up your screen’s brightness, it’s almost like you’re right there. Only you won’t need a parka. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/northern-lights-in-4k/
Whoever said that seniors can’t have fun? Some of us tend to associate getting old with staying indoors and watching television, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Now, more than ever, seniors are spending retirement outdoors. Part of the reason behind this is that advances in medicine have given seniors a high quality of life in old age, and they often take advantage of it. Whether it be travelling, gardening, or even going out on dates with their significant other, it’s easy to see them everywhere having the time of their lives. The couple in this video is no exception. With the onset of old age, it is important to stay young at heart. With that, even the simplest of moments can be so enjoyable. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/senior-couple-playing-food-lunch/
Songs are powerful things. A song can make you to think back on a loss, fall in love, or inspire you to work harder, among a thousand other reactions. This music video for the Bright Eyes song “First Day Of My Life” showcases the ways a song can affect people. In the clip, couples sit down with headphones and listen to the track, each responding in their own way. For some it’s a moment to smile, others tear up thinking about the love they have in their life. A few people sit on their own, contemplating a child growing inside them or a lost loved one. There’s also a dog who appears to be enjoying the listening experience. See the way each listener responds, and think about someone you love in your life. Then, maybe let them know with a call or a text. You can find “First Day Of My Life” on the album I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/bright-eyes-couples-love-song/
Part of owning a dog is accepting that it will beg for food from time to time. Most dogs just want to eat your scrumptious treats, but not Sid. Sid is a Beagle with just one simple desire; he wants to hold your snacks. Watch as Sid exercises perfect restraint with his mouth full of bacon, bagels, hotdogs, and more. This friendly little guy deserves a treat. Hopefully, he’ll just eat it instead of hold it in his mouth. Good dog Sid. Good dog. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/good-dog-loves-to-hold-food/
There’s a popular television program called “How It’s Made” that, just as the title implies, shows audiences how everyday items are made. An average episode will explore the manufacturing processes of various foods, toys or pieces of furniture. While it’s fun to watch a large factory churn out thousands of products over the course of an hour, there’s always something about it that feels impersonal. On the opposite end of the spectrum, “Greenwood,” the short documentary in which Tom Bonamici and Derek Lasher handcraft a stool, is about as personal as you can get. The film captures every second of the process, not skipping over any of the care that these two artists put into their work. Watching them practice their craft is not only relaxing, but it helps us appreciate what makes artisan items like this stool so special. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/carving-stool-out-of-tree-greenwood/
In the past century, humans went from inventing the airplane to landing men on the moon. Technology has grown exponentially in recent times, and if that trend continues then the technology of the future is almost limitless. Scientists are in the beginning phases of developing inventions that would change humanity as we know it. The upcoming show ‘Breakthrough’ will feature some of these futuristic technologies and will attempt to predict what the world will look like in the year 3015. Will all of our brains exist on computers? Will our bodies be made with robotics? Nobody truly knows, but it is very fun to imagine. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/humans-in-one-thousand-years/
Nicola Congdon and her mother re-home battery hens. Battery hens are animals who have spent their entire lives in tiny cages that hardly afford them enough room to move. Forced to constantly produce eggs, their lives are extremely difficult. But, thanks to two loving women from Cornwall, these birds are given a much more fulfilling existence. Willing to do whatever it took to make sure their feathered friends were comfortable in their new home, Congdon began knitting miniature sweaters to keep her hens warm in the winter. Once other chicken lovers caught wind of what she was doing, they couldn’t order them fast enough. Every sweater sold benefits this charity, so be sure to check it out even if you don’t have a hen to keep warm. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/woman-knits-hens-sweaters-nicola-congdon/
