A list of curious facts
One: In our last month as a publication, we’re trying to have as much fun as we can. In that spirit, we present the most awesome take on rainwear. Berlin-based Fabulsim has woven rice straw into “a wearable, water-repellent raincoat and micro-shelter.” That’s a fancy way of saying it is a raincoat and umbrella—all rolled into one in a sci-fi looking ‘fashion statement’. Below are the range of “design iterations”—we are not sure how you’d actually get out of the house in some of them. But hey, they make us giggle. (Design Boom)
Two: Officials in California have warned that wild pigs are turning blue on the inside. “I’m not talking about a little blue. I’m talking about neon blue, blueberry blue.” The reason: Exposure to poison called diphacinone—that often contains dye to identify it as toxic. It is used by farmers to target vermin such as rats and squirrels. The pigs can look perfectly normal on the outside, even while their muscle and fat turn blue. That’s not that hazardous to pigs—who weigh between 100 to 200 pounds. But hunters who consume them are at risk of ‘secondary exposure’. (Gizmodo)
Three: Forget towering public art installations of metal and concrete. The Chinese have found a gorgeous solution to greening urban space—a stunning vertical park with 56 elevated “petal” terraces. Built as part of the central business district in Xian, the Xian Tree’s terraces double as cascading gardens—with flora and fauna reminiscent of the ancient Silk Route. So, so pretty. (My Modern Met)
Bonus fact: Did you know that Mount Everest gets a little taller each year? It isn’t surprising that mountains get taller or shorter due to erosion and tectonic shifts. But the tallest peak in the world is, um, ‘rebounding’! It has risen 50 to 165 feet over a millenia—and is still adding 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters to its height each year. The culprit: The ancient river Arun which used to flow north of Everest. Some 89,000 years ago, it changed course and joined another river, and the swollen waters dragged away tonnes of rock and mud. The result: “a huge weight” that was pressing down on the crust was removed—and the mountain ‘rebounded’, so to speak. Btw, the same thing happens when glaciers melt—so climate change may raise sea levels and the height of mountains at the same time, which is a bit mind-blowing. (Wall Street Journal)
