Category: Cool photos

Video After 1906 SF Earthquake

Here is a 1905 video taken driving down San Francisco’s Market Street. Compare that with this photo taken looking back from the Ferry Building tower, which you can see at the end-of the street in the video. Click on the picture and get an option to download a high-resolution version. Thanks to Randy for bringing this video to our attention. An earlier post on this blog of a simulation of how the Golden Gate would handle a similiar quake.

It’s 2025. Where Do Most People Live?

It’s 2025. Where Do Most People Live? — The Earth Institute at Columbia University
Researchers at the Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR), a part of The Earth Institute, have developed a high-resolution map of projected population change for the year 2025.

The innovative map shows a world with large areas of population loss in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia, but significant gains elsewhere. see full map- 34mb pdf file download

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Wilk4: Breaking the Sound Barrier
Here are some fascinating (for some people anyway) photos and a video of interesting condensation clouds that form around jets as they fly at or near the speed of sound, (often called “going through the sound barrier” or “accelerating past the speed of sound”). Under the right conditions, they sometimes cause a vapor cone effect.

The Largest Artificial Reef Ever

Sinking of the Oriskany 17-May-2006

After several years of negotiations, and $20 million in renovations (to remove toxic materials and such), the "Mighty O" was sent to the bottom by 22 scuttling charges. It only took 35 minutes to go down, must faster than the estimated 4-5 hours. A small boat was seen on the flight deck. This contained a generator and controlled the detonation of the charges. This boat floated free as the "Mighty O" went down. As planned, the carrier landed on the bottom (212 feet down), upright, facing south. (Thanks to that old salt Peter Chance for this nautical blast).