Category Archives: Video

YouTube brainbox GGP Grey investigates efficient and not-so-efficient ways to board commercial airline flights.

Random boarding is better, it seems, but as physicist Jason Steffen showed in 2008, there is a precise order which minimises the delay caused by other passengers stowing their luggage in overhead compartments.

kottke

A fascinating sequence taken from an upcoming PBS documentary ‘Octopus: Making Contact’ (you may have seen BBC2’s ‘Octopus In My House’) in which a sleeping octopus is observed by marine biologist Dr David Sheel who theorises that her colour changes are caused by cephalopodic dreaming.

colossal

Charmingly deadpan Brazilian pianist Lord Vinheteiro plays a series of increasingly expensive joannas, inviting you – the listener – to judge whether you can tell the difference in sound quality.

Previously: Fairly Tinkled

likecool

Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot – it does parkour now. To wit:

We created the manoeuvres using new techniques that streamline the development process. First, an optimisation algorithm transforms high-level descriptions of each manoeuvre into dynamically-feasible reference motions.  Then Atlas tracks the motions using a model predictive controller that smoothly blends from one manoeuvre to the next.

…and then kills all humans.

Previously: Warehousebot

kottke

Animated by Remus & Kiki and narrated by Adrian Dannatt, Alex Gendler’s Ted-Ed lesson explores the origins of a game dating back to 7th century India.

Maybe ever earlier. I’d have to check, mate.

awesomer

An evocative three and a half-minute sequence of lightning strikes and billowing storm clouds by Arizona-based storm-chaser and videographer Dustin Farrell.

Shot over two years and edited over 300 hours, it’s a sequel to this 2017 full-screener.

colossal