A list of curious facts
One: Snow globes were never meant to be a pretty Christmas ornament. They were invented in 1900 by a Viennese repairman named Erwin Perzy. He was trying to find a cheap way to brighten the new-fangled bulbs invented by Thomas Edison—to bring more light into the OR. Perzy loved to tinker in his workshop, and found an interesting inspiration:
Drawing upon a method used by shoemakers to make quasi-“spotlights,” Perzy placed a water-filled glass globe in front of a candle, which increased the light’s magnification, and sprinkled tiny bits of reflective glitter into the globe to help brighten it.
The glitter didn’t work, so he experimented with other materials—including semolina flakes. When Perzy noticed the falling white stuff, the bright idea for a snow globe was born. FYI: snow globes have since become kitsch—a cheery ornament used for dark. A globe depicting policewoman Marge Gunderson crouching over a dead body was used as promotional items for the special edition video set of the movie ‘Fargo’. (Artsy)
Two: Skincare products are infamous for making grand claims—and never, ever working on you. L’Oreal has rolled out a new device Cell BioPrint that will use high-tech to wipe away your tears—and acne, wrinkles etc. Here’s how it works:
A person essentially takes a facial tape strip, sticks it on their cheek, and then puts the strip in a buffer solution. That solution is then inserted into a cartridge for the Cell BioPrint to analyze… From there, L’Oreal says it uses proteomics, or the analysis of protein structure and function from a biological sample.
The machine then gives you personalised advice for your beauty regimen—including which ingredients will work for you—and predict future skin problems! Yes, it’s a skincare prophet! See the promo vid below. (The Verge)
Three: Welcome to Costa Rica’s Territorio de Zaguates—which literally means “land of the strays.” It is home to 1800 rescue dogs—who roam this stunning 378-acre mountain sanctuary in Santa Bárbara. The haven provides cozy beds, plenty of food, and endless love to its furry residents. And honours them with quirky names like “Fire-Tailed Border Cocker”. NBC News has the most adorable photo gallery. Or watch the vid below to appreciate the dogs in their full glory. (National Geographic, paywall, Homegrown)
Bonus fact: We leave you with this clip-on furry robot called Mirumi—which is “designed to re-create people’s joyful experiences of noticing a human baby as he/she tries to interact with them.” FYI: It is from the same company that made the Nékojita FuFu robot—the cat-shaped robot that cools your hot food or drink for you. Yes, it’s super creepy. (TechCrunch)
