If you thought Red Bull Racing was crazy, you won’t believe the Rocket Racing League. Think NASCAR, but in the air, using planes powered by solid-state rockets flying simultaneously. The racers take off in pairs, separated by minutes, competing against the clock at the same time. That means that they will have to manoeuvre around the competition, following a 3D track projected in their head-up displays. You know it would be spectacular just with the description, and watching this video of one the US$1 million racers in action at the 2008 Air Venture in Oshkosh.
After losing track of six nuclear warheads last year, you would think that the crack security team at Minot Air Force Base would pull it together for their much anticipated nuclear security inspection. Unfortunately, you would be mistaken. Inspectors from the Defence Threat Reduction Agency failed the security wing based on a number of infractions—including an incident where an airmen was observed playing video games on his mobile phone while standing guard at a “restricted area perimeter” during a simulated attack.
newVideoPlayer("topgunwildberry.flv", 494, 276,""); They may not be made of LEGO or Star Wars-related, but if you like amazingly detailed, huge aircraft models—like the SR-71 above—head to Lakeland, Florida, and Top Gun 2008: the 20th anniversary edition of the biggest RC model competition in the world. It starts tomorrow, five days of pure nerdgasm watching the most stunning remote control aircraft in the world. More details, plus a gigantic gallery from 2007 after the jump.
A report released this month by the Pentagon has revealed the truth behind the B-52 bomber—loaded with six live nuclear warheads—flying over the US, a mistake that could have had catastrophic consequences. Their explanation: an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of printed paper used to differentiate between nuclear and conventional missiles. Really, it can’t get any more absurd than this:
newVideoPlayer("turbinevan_gizmodo.flv", 463, 387,"");This van has been retrofitted with a Rolls-Royce Nimbus helicopter jet turbine by Chris Krug, who should really be working for Tony Stark. The jet turbine has about 1,000 shaft horsepower at 2,100 RPM, which allows it to do 200 metres at 166kph in 7.14 seconds. Not bad for a Dodge Caravan, specially one that can ride with the normal combustion engine, then reveal the turbine flipping its rear window. The turbine exhaust doesn’t provide any thrust, however:
Witness the power of the fully operational Microsoft WorldWide Telescope, as Roy Gould and Curtis Wong walks the audience at TED through this stunning software effort. Some experts say that the WorldWide Telescope, which puts together terabytes of information from telescopes all over the world to make a seamless rendition of the entire known Universe, will change the way we—the normal humans—understand the cosmos. After seeing it in action, I agree:
What do you do with a 25-metre-high acrylic glass cylinder, 238,000 gallons of sea water, 2,600 fish from 56 different species, and two divers? The Aquadom, the largest cylindrical aquarium in the world, that’s what. In its core there’s an elevator that travels through a cylinder of glass. As you will see in the videos after the jump, it’s simply stunning.
Rob Foster has almost all the Star Wars figures and models known to mankind, Hutts and Bothans. He and his girlfriend share their home with an overwhelming army of Star Wars collectibles, from vintage 1977 figures to full battalions of the latest Storm Troopers and giant Ultimate Collector LEGO models, in and out of their original boxes, in formation or reenacting movie scenes. Amazing 134-image gallery documenting every figure and angle, plus an exclusive interview with Rob after the jump.
