What goes up must come down, especially if what goes up is an airplane. While there are weather situations that cause airplanes to delay landing for safety reasons thanks to modern automated landing some planes are still able to land even when facing blinding fog. What you see in this video is a Cat III automated landing. At first you might not think you’re watching anything at all but just wait. Within a few seconds the runway appears, suddenly materializing through the dense fog. It’s the sort of landing you might see in an action movie, but no one you’d want a person trying to pull off in real life. Thank you automated landing for making flying the foggy skies just a little less scary. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/zero-visibility-landing/
“Bondi Rescue” is a popular Australian television show about the brave men and women who protect the beachgoers at Australia’s world-famous Bondi Beach. Every episode is packed with its share of dramatic moments, but it’s this moment from episode 6, season 8 that’s making waves (pardon the pun). A little girl gets caught in a raging current, and lifeguards observe her frantically waving her arms and calling for help. Moments before she goes under, a skilled lifeguard named Terry jumps into action, paddling out as quick as he can to her before pulling her exhausted body out of the waves. Thankfully, this little girl is ok. Every rescue made by the Bondi lifeguards is a big deal, but this one has particular significance for Terry. He lost his infant son due to a lack of oxygen caused by complications in the birthing process. It’s an experience that inspires him to answer the call of duty every day. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/surfboard-cam-shows-lifeguard-saving-little-girl/
Ever since its inaugural season in 1950, Formula One has been the highest single seat racing class in the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. Reaching speeds as high as 220 mph, they are the fastest race cars in the world competing on road courses. Every part of the car, from the fuel to the brakes, must conform to a strict “formula,” hence the name. Here, a Formula One car’s brakes are tested to make sure they function properly. The orange glow that you see when the brakes are employed is the process of kinetic energy being converted to thermal energy. This is the law of conservation of energy in action, which states that energy is neither created nor destroyed. Instead, it simply changes forms. So, whether you’re applying the brakes on your sedan, or braking your Formula One car through a turn, the same process of converting energy will always occur. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/testing-out-f1-brakes/
Many of us often forget what an incredible technological achievement the television was. Even with just black and white pictures at a lousy definition and screen size, the invention of the television started a shift away from radios, which had always been the focal point of living room entertainment. Instead of words describing scenes in a recurring show or series, visual imagery could convey that same message in an instant. Television programming has changed a lot since it first became popularized, but even classic shows still have an audience. The famous “I Love Lucy” program is still shown on some channels today because of its timeless popularity. Some of you may even remember this iconic show that starred a flying nun. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/flying-nun-in-sky-show/
A small group of scuba divers off the coast of Portugal got a big surprise recently when they got a rare, up-close glimpse of a gigantic sunfish. Luckily, photographer Miguel Periera was there to capture the encounter and document just how big these fish can get. This particular sunfish was reported to weigh close to 3,000 lbs. Sunfish hang out in tropical and temperate waters and can be found all around the globe. Interactions with humans are pretty rare, though. Little is known about the biology of these fish as researchers have had limited opportunities to study them. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/huge-sunfish-swims-past-divers/
Humans have dreamed of using machines to make our bodies stronger since the 19th century. That dream, as we grow more reliant on technology, is quickly becoming a reality. Initially, mechanical suits, or exoskeletons, were designed to help soldiers and construction workers do their jobs more efficiently by increasing strength and agility. Today, engineers are finally manufacturing exoskeletons, but for a much more important purpose. With the help of companies like Ekso Bionics, paraplegics can use exoskeletons to get up out of their wheelchairs and walk. Many places across the country still lack wheelchair accessibility, and exoskeletons will allow users to travel uninhibited. Of course, this shouldn’t keep us from continuing to make everything wheelchair accessible, but it is a good start towards a more mobile future. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/derek-muller-cyborg-nation-human-exoskeleton/
Hailing from the alpine region of Europe, the rather straightforwardly named alphorn is fairly unusual as far as horn instruments go. The most obvious thing is its unwieldy size and shape. Often constructed at lengths over ten feet, these long horns are designed to rest on the ground. They’re also made entirely of wood, compared to the more common metal construction of most horns. Despite its apparent simplicity, this instrument takes quite a bit of skill to master, as the lack of finger holes or valves coupled with an inability of the player to reach the bell end means all the notes must be created through altering one’s mouth shape and tension. The skillful player in this video has chosen a less common venue for his performance. While originally developed as a means of communication between remote mountain villages, the horn’s resounding song sounds even more incredible when echoing through the concrete chambers of a parking garage. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/alphorn-parking-garage-incredible-sound/
Death Valley is the driest and hottest place in North America. According to National Geographic, the area receives less than two inches of rainfall every year and currently holds the record for the hottest place on Earth at 134°F. Given these extreme conditions, it’s difficult to imagine that any life could form, let alone thrive in this isolated part of the world. Surprisingly, there are several species of reptiles, mammals, plants, and amphibians that call Death Valley home. These range from mountain lions and bobcats to birds and deer. Death Valley is also home to wildflowers such as yellow desert golds, desert sunflowers, and purple notch-leaved phacelia. What makes these flowers so unique is that they only bloom once every ten years. And when they do, it’s a sight to behold. In fact, people often travel from different parts of the country just to see these flowers in full bloom. It’s not every day that you get to see one of the most unforgiving places on Earth bursting with life, even if it’s just for a brief period. Park ranger Alan Van Valkenburg has lived in Death Valley for over 25 years, and he’s never grown tired of seeing a super bloom after all that time. Areas that are usually barren are transformed into colorful landscapes almost overnight as a result of the seeds sprouting at once. He recommends that anyone who lives anywhere close to Death Valley should experience a super bloom at least once in their lifetime. After seeing the video below, I totally agree. H/T: DeathValleyNP Read more: http://www.wimp.com/rare-death-valley-super-bloom-only-happens-once-every-decade/
Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular pet options for dog owners, especially in America. Originally bred as hunting dogs, meant to retrieve shot ducks and other animals for the hunters without damaging the prize (hence the name), they are known for their intelligence, playfulness and confidence. They are especially good with children due to their patient nature, and respond very well to training. Golden Retrievers are very outdoorsy dogs due to their breeding, and they require a lot of exercise (around two hours or more daily) in order to keep them healthy and happy. They have a natural love of water as well, which can often bring back a lot of mud into your home when they come back in. Many a dog owner can attest to the mess their retrievers track in after a day outside. Thankfully, as mentioned earlier, retrievers are incredibly smart dogs and are fairly easy to train. This clever mom’s somehow taught them all to wait at the door when they’re coming back in so that she can clean their paws off one by one. They raise their paws up and wait patiently as she gets them clean and ready for dinner. Read more: http://www.wimp.com/trained-retrievers-line-up-for-paw-cleaning/
We live in sophisticated times. There used to be a time when it was easy to trust strangers and people generally had good intentions, but those days are sadly gone. Today’s criminals are pretty savvy, and have no problem taking advantage of the trusting nature of some people. The elderly are often especially susceptible to criminal deception, which is why it’s so important to spread awareness of the latest scams. In this report by ABC News, Gio Benitez investigates a wave of scams that have been plaguing neighborhoods across America. Using a few simple items like a vest, walkie-talkie, hard hat, and clipboard – all of which can be purchased for less than $100 online – con artists have been posing as utility company workers and approaching innocent victims for payments for made-up charges, as well as access to their homes. The results of Benitez’s experiment are chilling. Nearly every single person he approached while impersonating a utility worker allowed him to enter their home. They say that clothes make the man, and it seems that most people were willing to accept that Benitez was a utility worker based solely off of his appearance. Thankfully, the video also includes several tips on how to avoid these dangers. Chief among them is to always keep your door closed while speaking to a stranger, and always ask for an official ID. Don’t forget to SHARE this important message with your family and friends. H/T: ABC News Read more: http://www.wimp.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-scammers-posing-as-utility-workers/
