Science

Microbursts Are Just As Scary As Tornadoes

Golf ball-sized hail. Intense, gusting wind smashing the ground and spreading out, pushing everything in its way. Torrential downpour making it impossible to see anything farther than an inch away. My god, microbursts are previews for the apocalypse.


June 7, 2011
Geek Out

You Don’t Want To Live Inside This Perpetually Rainy House

A haunted house? Yes please. A crowded house? Sure, as long as someone’s always playing “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. But one thing I could not stand is a rainy house, like this one, which will be rainy for the entire month of June.


April 29, 2011
Geek Out

2,000 Cardboard Boxes Make It Rain

Fake rainfall is therapeutic. The pit pat pitty patty pat pat pit sound reminds me of childhood days peering out the window in wonderment. So peaceful! An art installation by Zimoun in collaboration with Architect Hannes Zweifel re-creates the sound of falling rain with 2,000 cardboard boxes and 200 DC motors. The motors, attached to the boxes, gently whip the cardboard to make the soundtrack. I’m going to fall asleep listening to this tonight. [Vimeo]


January 20, 2011
Science

Swiss Company Claims They Can Make It Rain Whenever They Want

I’d never want to suggest that Nikolai Tesla isn’t awesome – he’s a badass – but I have serious doubts anyone could use his ideas for an ionisation machine to create 52 rainstorms in the Middle East, like these guys claim.


December 21, 2010
Geek Out

Lifechanger: The Unofficial Shoe Of Gizmodo

Biddle’s got the classics, GoreTex-ified. Mascari has ‘em in brown, (iconoclast), and I’ve got the tall fleecey ones – I hate getting cold ankles. Blam might order a pair. I’m talking about the L.L.Bean Boot: the accidental, unofficial shoe of Gizmodo.


December 19, 2010
Geek Out

A Raincoat For Members Of The Wizardry Or KKK

I can’t imagine a normal person having a use for this crazy raincoat but if you’re a wizard and/or KKK member, you’d probably like to protect your headgear from getting wet too. This limited edition raincoat does just that for you.


July 31, 2010

Dry Off Your Wet Umbrella In Styrofoam Grass

There has to be a better way of drying a wet umbrella than just shaking it silly. This Lawn for Rain concept – where you slide a wet umbrella into the styrofoam grass – might be it.


July 30, 2010
Software

Ask Google Earth Whether It’s Raining Or Snowing Right Now

Why would you want to see real-time snow and rain on Google Earth, you ask, when weather sites or even your smartphone will tell you just as quickly? Don’t give me that – you know how often they’re incorrect.


February 10, 2010
Cars

Amphibious Bus Runs Into Water, Trouble, But Is Back Now

Glasgow’s Dutch-built “amfibus” resumed testing today after being grounded for an unnecessarily deployed airbag. From the video on BBC‘s website, it looks just like a big yellow schoolbus, but runs in liquid and allows writers to make water puns.


February 7, 2009

Samurai Sword Umbrella: Fight the Rain With Honour

Whip out your samurai sword umbrella and do battle with Mother Nature. Should you be defeated, the only honourable way out is seppuku—although that would be especially nasty with an umbrella. [ThinkGeek via Uberreview]