You might not know the name David Hahn, but back in 1995, his fascination with nuclear power nearly triggered a radiological disaster in his Michigan hometown. As a teen, Hahn became fixated with the idea of building a nuclear reactor in his mother’s backyard shed — and he actually got pretty darn close to accomplishing it. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBP_ATF’); }); To amass the power needed for a nuclear reactor, Hahn took to scraping radioactive materials from common household items like smoke detectors. With his tools in hand, the kid began construction of his reactor. However, things did not go as planned (of course) and Hahn quickly tried to disassemble the reactor before it blew. Despite not creating the reactor, Hahn still managed to contaminate his mother’s yard with radiation. It was so bad, the EPA had to come clear it up. Here’s a mini-documentary looking at Hahn’s bizarre accomplishment. That is absolutely insane. Sadly, after his brush with nuclear greatness, life hasn’t been great for Hahn. Following a stint in the Navy and Marines, he was arrested in 2007. Police caught him trying to steal the smoke detectors in an apartment complex to amass more radioactive material for an unknown purpose. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me… Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/diy-nuclear-reactor/
When you hear birds chirping in the springtime, it’s safe to say that they’re calling out to potential mates. Because it’s such an ordinary sound, it probably doesn’t occur to you that it could be the last time that bird’s call is ever heard. While it’s a far-fetched idea, that was the thought going through the heads of researchers in 1987 as they recorded the last male Kauai ‘O’o bird singing on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. The small bird had been pushed to extinction by the introduction of non-native species. By 1987, there was only one left — a single male. In the video below, you can hear the last mating song of the Kauai ‘O’o bird as he calls out to a mate that would never answer. (source: Robert Davis ) Honestly, listening to that bird’s song and writing this moved me to tears. How many more species have to slip away before humanity gets its act together? Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/last-mating-song/
Anytime you go in for surgery, there’s a chance you might walk away with complications…or worse. But when there was a payment dispute between a doctor and a patient in China, one woman received more hurt than she bargained for. The following video was taken at a hospital in Inner Mongolia, and it’s believed that it was captured in the gynecology unit. Allegedly, the woman was about to be operated on when the doctor asked for more money to complete the procedure. An argument started, the patient lashed out, and eventually, the doctor slapped the patient and forcefully restrained her. While it’s never okay to resort to violence, some are saying that the woman had every right. According to reports across the country, doctors are preying on patients and extorting them in their weakest hour, which is supposedly what happened in this woman’s case. Because of this and other factors like a growing upper class with very specific expectations, recent numbers show that Chinese patients are attacking their doctors more and more often. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/doctor-attack/
While humans have made countless discoveries since the dawn of man, many of them never would’ve been possible without the discovery of fire. It’s simple enough to build a fire at this point, since we have plenty of lighters and accelerants at our disposal, but what this person pulls off with a lemon and some nails is way more interesting than lighting a fire with the grill lighter you have in your junk drawer. (via Design Taxi) Sure, it isn’t really convenient to toast marshmallows over a lemon, but experiments like this give us new insight into the wonderfully bizarre world of science. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/lemon-fire/
The future is here! Just like out childhood cartoons promised us, we now have hovercraft technology. About time, right? The Hendo Hoverboard uses a magnetic field that allows it, and a full-sized human on top, to defy gravity and hover above the ground. Despite Earnshaw’s theorem, which says that equilibrium can never be reached between two magnets, the Hendo uses a principle called magnetic field architecture to create stabilized movement. The board can be also propelled forward using this principle, and the Hendo was designed to react smoothly and naturally to the user’s motions. To be technical, this technology already exists with high-speed rail, which uses electromagnetic currents to float the cars above the tracks, eliminating friction and allowing for a smooth, fast ride. The hoverboard, though, opens up the possibility of using hover technology for personal use, away from set tracks. Due to its operation, the Hendo requires a non-ferromagnetic surface to work–that means roughly, no transitional metals. Because of this, the creators of Hendo have also designed a special “hoverpark” as a place to demonstrate the board’s abilities. The board doesn’t soar very high off the ground; think of it more like a skateboard without wheels, only the Hendo would be able to go up slopes with less energy, as it reacts to the surface. Hendo Top and side views of the prototype board without a rider. It floats a few inches above the surface. Hendo The hoverboard with a rider. Hendo The designs for the top and bottom of the board. The positioning of the foot pads seems subject to change. Hendo The design for the hoverpark, where the hoverboard can be ridden, much like a skateboard in a skatepark. Greg and Jill Henderson, the founders of Hendo, know that a hoverboard might not be the next big thing in transportation technology. However, they regard the hoverboard, and its hover engine, as the first step in a possible new direction for vehicles and travel. It’s a technology that can be built upon to create more practical applications. Right now, the hoverboard is still a prototype, and Hendo is actively seeking funding via Kickstarter, and hopes to expand the technology so that it’s more widely available in the near future. Read more: http://viralnova.com/hovering-toward-the-future/
It seemed gloomy outside when this man got into his car one day, but then again, every day is pretty gloomy when you live in Russia. When the wind started picking up, however, he realized that a tornado was about to touch down in Bashkiria. Maybe leaving the house wasn’t such a great idea. Fortunately for us, the footage that he captured is worth watching. As a guy who also drives a silver RAV4, it’s comforting to know that these cars can really take a beating. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/tornado-in-russia/
Near-death experiences can be harrowing for both onlookers and the lucky soul who survives. A bus was driving down the street when its dash cam recorded something incredible. Just as it passed a construction site, a crane began to fall…with innocent passers by on the sidewalk. Wait for the 0:26 mark… He was seconds away from a very bad situation. If you live in a major city and have to walk beneath scaffolding and cranes, you might think that the construction causes countless deaths every year (if you are exceptionally paranoid, anyway). However, according to these crane accident statistics, “a world wide total of 86 incidents involving the collapse or major structural failure of a tower crane have been identified as taking place between 1989 and 2009.” But that doesn’t mean this guy wasn’t any less lucky! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/crane-collapse-dash-cam/
Science is a crazy thing. There are some scientific principles that even the greatest minds in the world have trouble understanding. This fascinating field reveals something new to us every single day. One rudimentary scientific principle that I sometimes struggle to understand is the concept of magnetism. While we don’t often think about this bizarre phenomenon when we hang notes on our refrigerators, it’s pretty crazy to think about what magnets can do. Need proof? Check out what happens when you drop a metal object through a coiled magnet. Who knew that magnets could be powerful enough to melt metal? That’s ridiculous! I’ll never look at these things the same way again. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/metal-magnet/
Hopefully, most of us will never have to experience the horror of a landslide. These things are some of the most underrated natural disasters of all time. Just imagine being on a hillside in a rainstorm. Everything is wet, but it all looks solid. But all of a sudden, the ground gives way and starts hurtling down the hill. If you’re not ready for them, these things can kill you. During one storm in Japan, people along Route 168 prepared themselves for impending doom by setting up barricades. Just imagine how much worse this could have been. (via Reddit) It’s a wonder of modern science that they were able to predict and anticipate this landslide. The rest of the world could learn a thing or two from Japan. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/japanese-landslide/
There are few tasks more infuriating than trying to remove rust from just about anything. That’s exactly why this laser is pretty much the best tool I’ve ever seen. This amazing device is called the P-Laser QF-1000. Like its much larger counterparts, the 1,000-watt handheld tool is meant for industrial applications, like preparing metal for robotic welding or removing residue from manufacturing molds. However, it also does an excellent job when it comes to making rust disappear right before your very eyes. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBP_ATF’); }); Just watch this mesmerizing video of the laser in action. I could stare at this all day, honestly. But if you’re thinking about getting one of these for yourself, know that it’ll cost you a cool $50,000. I’ll pass. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/laser-cleaning/
