Author Archives: Chompsky

Behold: the BMW Motorrad x ESMC – a conceptual offload motorcycle designed and rendered by Iago Vailno.

Based on the IMZ Ural, a Soviet design reverse engineered from BMW motorcycles captured during the second World War, this three wheeled electric hog is powered by a 18.7 kWh battery with a sidecar reconfigured to stow tools, equipment and extra battery packs for long haul trips.

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A 3rd century AD mosaic floor discovered beneath a vineyard at Negrar di Valpolicella near Verona, northern Italy.

The team discovered the tiles, as well as portions of the villa’s foundation, “a few meters” below the vineyard’s surface, according to the statement. To make the “archaeological treasure … hidden under our feet available and accessible,” the researchers will collaborate with authorities and the vineyard’s owners. The process will likely require both significant time and resources.

MORE: Ancient Roman Mosaic Floor Unearthed Beneath Italian Vineyard (Smithsonian)

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A spectacular view of the tallest mountains on Earth, topped by the Milky Way. To wit:

Visible above the snow-capped mountains in the featured image is the arcing central band of our home galaxy. The bright spot just above the central plane is the planet Jupiter, while the brightest orange spot on the upper right is the star Antares. The astrophotographer braved below-zero temperatures at nearly 4,000-meters altitude to take the photographs that compose this image. The featured picture is a composite of eight exposures taken with same camera and from the same location over three hours, just after sunset, in 2019 April, from near Bimtang Lake in Nepal. Over much of planet Earth, the planets Mercury (faint) and Venus (bright) will be visible this week after sunset.

(Image: Tomas Havel)

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