A list of curious facts
One: German scientists have created a four-legged robot that can learn to walk in just an hour—just like a newborn foal. The half-metre-high robot dog is called Morti and unlike other robots, it does not have a pre-programmed gait. Rather, it is built with the ability to teach itself how to walk, which is astonishing! New Scientist has all the nerdy details or watch The Telegraph UK report below.
Two: Speaking of walking wonders, have you checked out the awesome Amphioctopus marginatus aka the coconut octopus—which can walk on “two legs”? The ‘coconut’ bit refers to the fact that it uses the shell as a fortress to hide. But heartbreakingly, they have now started using plastic trash instead—thanks to ocean pollution.
Three: We always visualise the classic Greek sculpture in pristine white marble. But the truth is that these statues were originally coloured and in bright, garish colours. The paint, however, is the first to degrade over time and immediately so when these relics are excavated out of the ground. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has now recreated some of these famous artworks—with their original hues. And the result is… well, take a look for yourself. (NPR)
Four: Did you know that Dubai is now home to the largest vertical farm in the world? This is an especially astonishing fact since the UAE imports about 90% of its food. A 330,000-square-foot farm—built like a warehouse—is growing two million pounds of greens like lettuce, spinach and arugula. And it gets better:
“The facility also uses 95% less water than is required to grow greens in a field, and no pesticides or herbicides; because it’s grown in a controlled environment and immediately sent to stores…the greens don’t have to be washed before they’re eaten.”
Fast Company has more on the boom in vertical farming in the region.