I'm Pretty Sure My Dumb Little Brain Just Completely Short-Circuited After Seeing These 25 Absolutely Mind-Blowing Photos This Week
Imagine swallowing that. Would feel great.
Michelangelo's David is VERY, VERY big:
Very big, indeed.
This awe-inspiring sight is a potato storage facility. That's a five-foot shovel, for reference:
Nature is so beautiful.
This is Robert Wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived, towering above everyone else at 8'11'':
Can you tell which one is him?
This assortment of nails, buttons, safety pins, and more is the stomach content of a patient with pica, a disorder that causes a strong urge to eat nonfood items:
They were all found inside a patient post-autopsy.
This is Dr. James Naismith, the man who invented basketball at the age of 32:
He was a graduate student at Springfield College, tasked with getting young men to be active. Let this be a lesson to you: if you don't invent a sports by the age of 32, you are BLOWING IT.
And here's what is apparently the first EVER basketball team:
Dr. Naismith is there in the suit. Surrounding him is John G. Thompson, Eugene S. Libby, Edwin P. Ruggles, William R. Chase, T. Duncan Patton, Frank Mahan, Finlay G. MacDonald, William H. Davis and Lyman W. Archibald. Now THOSE are some old-timey names. I think the Raptors would hang 1200 on them.
And this picture, from the early 1900s, shows an early basketball game, kneepads and all:
Josh Hart would make that man CRY.
This, in all its glory, is a meeting of the US Board of Tea Experts. They're, well, testing teas for sale in the USA:
Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the old-dudes-tasting-tea party.
This is a detailed map showing just how far the Mars Opportunity Rover traveled in its 15 years on the planet:
While we're on the subject, this is the first picture Opportunity took on the surface of Mars...
And this is the last:
Well, one of the final few. Goodnight, sweet prince.
This is how some scientists tested the effectiveness football helmets in the 1950s — by banging themselves in the head with a heavy object:
I'd imagine it's always a long, long day at the heavy-object-head-banging factory.
This is what an elephant's tail looks like up-close:
Would love to floss my teeth with one of those strands. Right folks?
This is Diane Stopky, winner of International Posture Queen in 1957, posing with her award-winning spine:
Diane — congrats on the spine.
Some ladybugs are born without spots:
Not so lucky now, are ya?
In 1918, over 30,000 soldiers came together to make a giant human-shield:
This is what life before the Nintendo Switch was like.
Before exposure times were significantly reduced, people sitting for photographs sometimes used a small device to support their head and ease neck strain:
Need to bring these back.
This is what happens if you put a highlighter in the microwave:
In case you were wondering.
This is what a frozen egg looks like without its shell:
Incredible.
Some grasshoppers are pink! This is due to erythrism, a condition where an animal's coloring is especially red due to excess red pigmentation:
Neat!
This is what 1000 shirts stacked on top of each other looks like:
This is the eight-year-old bodybuilder Patricia O'Keefe, carrying a 200-pound man on her back:
For reference: she's 64 pounds, he's 200.
High voltage lines are, well, really high voltage. They can even melt concrete if they hit the ground:
That would probably hurt. Probably.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't add a picture of a very, very tiny frog to one of these lists. Look how tiny this little guy is:
Toodle-oo!
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Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The Most Abundant ‘Bird Of Prey' In The World. Hint: More Than 5 Million Exist, But You Won't Find Any In North America
Raptors, also known as 'birds of prey,' are not nearly as common as their less confrontational ... More cousins, like the sparrow, starling or swallow. Here's the raptor that you're most likely to find in the wild, assuming you don't live in the Americas. Generally speaking, there are three groups of raptors. One is 'accipitriformes.' These are diurnal (daytime) raptors and include hawks, eagles, kites, vultures and harriers. There's also 'strigiformes.' These are nocturnal (nighttime) raptors and include all species of owls. Then there's 'falconiformes.' This class comprises all falcon species – which, although also diurnal, are genetically distinct from eagles, hawks and the other accipitriformes. Some ornithologists might get fancier with their raptor classifications – possibly further subdividing these to highlight the evolutionary uniqueness of new world vultures, the secretarybird and the osprey – but the delineation above works as a general rule of thumb. Remember, what separates raptors from all other bird species is their carnivorous diet and hunting ability, including sharp talons, hooked beaks, keen eyesight and powerful flight muscles. However, these traits don't necessarily reflect shared ancestry. For example, falcons are more closely related to songbirds than to other raptor lineages. Of all of these raptor species, the most abundant is the black kite. Here's the story of the world's most common bird of prey. (Sidebar: Fascinated by remarkable birds? See here to meet the world's rarest eagle, and here to learn about the oldest known bird still alive today.) The Black Kite - The Most Common In A Class Of Rarities Black Kite (Milvus migrans). Abundant, adaptable, and widespread, the black kite (Milvus migrans) is a unique raptor. While many birds of prey are elusive, rare, or highly specialized, black kites thrive across a variety of environments, with an estimated population of more than 5 million individuals worldwide. That makes them the most numerous raptor on the planet. You won't find black kites in the Americas, however. Their range covers much of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Black kites belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes hawks, eagles, harriers and other kites. They inhabit a variety of environments, from open countryside and wetlands to urban areas. In cities, they are often seen soaring above garbage dumps, marketplaces and riverbanks, scavenging for scraps and small prey. This opportunistic feeding strategy sets black kites apart from more specialized raptors that rely primarily on hunting live prey. Their diet is famously varied: carrion, small mammals, insects, fish, reptiles and even stolen food from other birds. They are known for their intelligence and nimbleness, often stealing food mid-air from other birds, a behavior called kleptoparasitism. According to a 2008 study published in the Journal of Raptor Research, black kites at a landfill in Rome relied heavily on kleptoparasitism to get their meals – stealing food in more than 75% of observed feeding attempts. Most thefts targeted gulls, which were abundant and easy to rob, though kites also stole from each other. Researchers found that this strategy became more common and effective as kite numbers grew, especially later in the breeding season. Unlike many raptors that are solitary or live in pairs, black kites are often highly social. They congregate in large groups, especially at roosting sites where thousands may gather to rest overnight. These communal roosts provide safety in numbers and opportunities for social learning. During migration, black kites form large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands. These spectacles are a favorite among birdwatchers worldwide. Black kites share the hallmark raptor features that make birds of prey such efficient hunters. They have sharp, curved talons and hooked beaks designed for tearing flesh. Their eyesight is exceptionally keen, capable of spotting small prey or carrion from high in the air. Their long wings and forked tail give black kites exceptional maneuverability, allowing them to ride thermal currents for hours and conserve energy during long-distance travel. Thanks to their global abundance and wide distribution, they provide a valuable model for studying population structure and variation in migratory behavior across a broad geographic range. A black kite in flight. Some populations migrate thousands of kilometers between breeding and ... More wintering grounds, while others remain year-round residents. According to research published in Ethology Ecology & Evolution and the Journal of Avian Biology, their movement patterns vary across regions, with some Palearctic populations migrating long distances while others, particularly in India and Australia, remain year-round residents. GPS tracking has confirmed that individuals from northern Asia overwinter in South and Southeast Asia, while tropical populations tend to stay put. These regional differences are reflected in their genetics. DNA analyses show that populations from Europe, northern Asia, India, and Australia carry distinct haplogroups, suggesting historical separation and limited gene flow. A 2024 Zootaxa study found that Indian and Australian kites likely diverged at the end of the last Ice Age and no longer share haplotypes. Meanwhile, African populations, especially the yellow-billed kite, are genetically distinct enough that many researchers now consider them a separate species. Altogether, these findings point to a complex evolutionary history shaped by geography, climate shifts, and variable migration strategies. While many raptors face threats from habitat loss, pollution and persecution, the black kite has so far maintained stable populations across much of its range. Its ability to exploit human-altered landscapes has certainly helped. Their success story offers a striking contrast to the fate of many other raptors, which often decline in the face of urbanization. The black kite stands out as a reminder that adaptability is a powerful survival strategy. They may not be the rarest or most iconic raptor, but in terms of resilience, global reach, and sheer numbers, no other bird of prey comes close. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
I bought the Switch 2 Pro Controller for its remappable back buttons — but this feature makes them an absolute game changer
From the moment I first laid hands on it, I knew I had to get the new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Back in April, I was one of the first people to go hands-on with the Switch 2 at an event in New York. While it was awesome finally getting to see the new console up close, I couldn't believe that Nintendo had finally added the feature I always wanted to its pro controller: remappable back buttons. As someone who's been playing video games with a controller for over 30 years, my right thumb has certainly taken a beating. That's why, when possible, I prefer to play on a controller with remappable back buttons or rear paddles. This lets me avoid putting unnecessary strain on my thumb but I've also found that it makes playing certain games a lot easier for me. While plenty of the best Nintendo Switch controllers have remappable back buttons, this is the first time that Nintendo has added them to one of its first-party controllers. Likewise, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is one of the most comfortable gamepads I've ever held with plenty of refinements over the original. After picking up a Switch 2 and the new pro controller at a midnight launch though, I quickly realized that Nintendo didn't just add remappable back buttons to the controller, it completely changed how you use them. If you're like me and use remappable back buttons in every game you play, here's why you should definitely consider picking up a Switch 2 Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2. This new and improved pro controller for the Switch 2 features Nintendo's HD Rumble 2, a C button for GameChat, remappable GL/GR buttons and a 3.5mm headphone jack along with support for motion controls and scanning amiibos. It's very comfortable to hold in hand and can last for up to 40 hours on a single retailers: Target, Best Buy, GameStop Normally on a controller with remappable back buttons, there's often an extra button on the back like with the PowerA OPS v3 Pro or on the front like with the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller. You press this button first to go into remapping mode before assigning inputs to either controller's back buttons. You'll notice though that the Switch 2 Pro Controller doesn't have a button like this on the this is the case, like on the Xbox Elite Series 2, you usually go into your console's settings menu to assign inputs to your controller's back buttons or rear paddles. However, when I opened up the Switch 2's settings menu and went to Controllers & Accessories and then GL/GR Button Settings, there was only a video explaining how they worked but not an option to map them to different buttons right then and there. The reason for this is surprisingly simple. Unlike with the remappable buttons on other pro-style controllers, you can't program the GL/GR ones unless you're in a game. While I wish Nintendo would let me do this as I like using a controller's back buttons to navigate through a console's menus and user interface, I quickly came to appreciate the company's unique and novel approach to assigning buttons. In fact, I now wish both Sony and Microsoft would follow suit. So how do you remap the GL/GR buttons on the Switch 2 Pro Controller? Well, to do so, you first have to open a game. From there, you hold down the controller's Home button to bring up the Switch 2's Quick Settings menu. Underneath the option to toggle Airplane Mode on or off, you'll see a section for the Switch 2 Pro Controller's GL/GR Buttons. Then you just select which one you want to remap and press the button you want to map it to on the controller and you're done. Not only does Nintendo make it quick and seamless to remap these GL/GR buttons but the best part is that how you configure them is saved on a per game basis. This means that while you might have them set up a particular way for Mario Kart World, you can have them mapped completely differently in another game. Then when you switch between games, the Switch 2 automatically reconfigures the controller's back buttons exactly how you had them. No other controller nor console does it this way. In the picture above, you can see I have the GR button mapped to A to make my cart go in Mario Kart World while the GL button is mapped to X so that I can quickly look behind me during the middle of a race. I had my Switch 2 Pro Controller's button remapped this way until earlier today when the idea struck me to map GL to the controller's right trigger so that I can drift as well as perform tricks without having to take my thumbs off the analog sticks. I've mainly been playing my Switch 2 in docked mode with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, so I've been using its remappable back buttons in every game I've played so far. For instance, in Donkey Kong Bananza which I recently reviewed, I have the GR button mapped to A for jump and the GL button mapped to Y to punch. If you've seen any gameplay footage, then you know Donkey Kong does a ton of punching in this game. With punch set to the GL button, this has made it a lot easier for me to not only defeat enemies but to also destroy the world around me as I'm hunting for gold and Banadium Gems. Before Donkey Kong Banaza came out, I was working my way through the end of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which runs and looks even better on the Switch 2. Here, I also have the GR button mapped to A since you use it for everything from jumping to climbing to talking to in-game characters and interacting with the world around you. However, you also frequently make use of Link's new abilities which you select from a wheel after pressing the left bumper or L button on your controller. To make it easier to pull up this wheel and switch between abilities, I mapped the GL button to L when I restarted playing Tears of the Kingdom on the Switch 2. The remapping possibilities are really endless on the Switch 2 Pro Controller as you can remap its GL/GR buttons to anything from the face buttons (A,B,X,Y) to the triggers and bumpers to the D-pad. Surprisingly, you can also remap the controller's new C button which brings up GameChat to either one of them as well. The same is true with the Capture button as well as both the Plus and Minus buttons. At $85, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is certainly an investment, especially as it costs more than the console's most expensive game so far. However, if you prefer playing in dock mode, have larger hands or use its remappable back buttons as much as I do, then I'd say it's definitely worth it. Pictures definitely don't do the Switch 2 Pro Controller justice either. Instead, this is the type of controller you need to hold in your hands to truly appreciate. It's slightly lighter than Nintendo's first Pro Controller for the original Switch but it also feels slimmer and more balanced in your hands. At the same time, it now also comes with a headphone jack and its two-tone gray and black design looks a lot sleeker too. If you don't have $85 to spend on a new controller but still want the experience of using remappable back buttons on the Switch 2, there is another option. Nintendo's Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip costs less than half the price at $40 but after buying one and testing it out myself, the way you remap and use its GL/GR buttons works exactly the is worth noting that the GL/GR buttons on the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip — just like the buttons on the Joy-Cons themselves — are significantly smaller than the ones on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. This wasn't a deal breaker at all for me though, as I found them just as easy to press and use. If you're on a tight budget or even if you just have smaller hands, this might be the better option. Either way, it's great that Nintendo has finally added remappable back buttons to its first-party controllers. Still, what impresses me even more is how it came up with a novel new way to remap them on the fly and how you don't have to configure them all over again every time you switch between games. This accessory lets you attach your Switch 2 Joy-Cons to use them like a standard controller but it also features a USB-C port to charge them. Like the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it has remappable GL/GR buttons that can be mapped to whatever buttons you retailers: Target, BestBuy, GameStop
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
The $8-billion Skydance-Paramount Global deal is finally closing. Now what?
After finally getting approval from the Federal Communications Commission, Skydance Media is just weeks away from completing its $8-billion merger with Paramount Global, leading to sweeping changes for some of the most iconic media brands. CBS, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures are all bracing for upheaval when Larry Ellison and his son, David, take the keys from Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. The long-running ownership saga has played out while the rules of the media industry have been upended by streaming and, more recently, a White House unafraid to use its muscle to silence critics. Skydance and its backer, RedBird Capital Partners, have promised investors that it will find $2 billion in cost savings, which means further belt-tightening and layoffs. 'This will be the most dramatic change to the organization since its inception,' said one longtime CBS insider who was not authorized to comment publicly. Here is what Wall Street and the media industry will be watching for once the deal closes on Aug. 7: Last year, Paramount+ added 10 million new subscribers to reach 77.5 million. Its subscriber count is now 79 million, thanks also to NFL programming, CBS shows such as 'NCIS' and original hits including '1923,' 'Landman,' 'Lioness' and 'Tulsa King.' Paramount has projected full-year U.S. profitability for Paramount+ this year, making it one of the fastest subscription services to get there. But its relatively scant resources and thinner slate has made it difficult to truly compete with Netflix and the other biggest players. One potential solution: partnering with a rival streamer to increase its reach. 'Questions around the long-term scalability of Parmamount+ continue to loom large,' analyst firm MoffettNathanson noted in a report Friday. 'Will the new management team pursue external partnerships as a viable path forward?' Ellison and his team have suggested that they will bring a tech-focused sensibility to Paramount. Technological prowess would help Paramount+ improve its user interface and recommendation process, which insiders acknowledge is currently underwhelming. As expected, the architect of Paramount+ original series strategy, Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy, will leave when the deal closes. Analysts also want to see Skydance will increase investment in film and TV franchises to revive assets that have been constrained by Paramount's debt. While Skydance will get a robust library of films and TV shows, it will also be faced with the slow-melting iceberg that is broadcast and cable TV, which continues to lose viewers. Streaming has surpassed broadcast and cable as the leading source of video consumption just as Skydance takes over CBS and Paramount Global's array of channels that include MTV, BET and Comedy Central. Doug Creutz, an analyst for TD Cowen, believes the merged company should consider spinning off traditional TV businesses, similar to what Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast are doing with their cable channels. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. 'There is a clear opportunity to improve Paramount's growth profile by letting those assets go,' Creutz wrote Friday. 'On the other hand, we suspect the Ellisons did not purchase Paramount in order to break it up for parts.' A test of Skydance's commitment to broadcast may come if the FCC relaxes TV station ownership rules, which would likely lead to consolidation. CBS News' '60 Minutes' received a vote of confidence with the naming of Tanya Simon, a respected veteran insider to take over as executive producer. She was the choice of the program's strong-willed correspondents. Simon's appointment is expected to provide stability following the departure of longtime showrunner Bill Owens, who was forced out amid the push for a $16-million settlement over President Trump's lawsuit claiming the program deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to make her look better to voters. '60 Minutes' remained tough in its White House coverage as negotiations went on. The question is whether that approach will continue with new owners. Larry Ellison has a friendly relationship with the president, and the new owners agreed to appoint an ombudsman to oversee news coverage. Getting it right matters from a business perspective too, as '60 Minutes' remains the most profitable program on CBS. With Simon in place, new management is expected to address other areas of the news division that can use improvement. The network's revamp of the 'CBS Evening News' has been a disappointment in the ratings and will likely see some changes. In the longer term, there has been chatter that Skydance may set its sights on acquiring CNN from Warner Bros. Discovery and combining it with the broadcast news operation, an idea that has been considered numerous times over the last few decades. CBS canceled 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' upsetting his fans, progressive Democratic legislators and other late-night hosts who make their living lampooning President Trump. The network said it was strictly a business decision, as the younger viewers who made late-night TV monstrously lucrative for decades are no longer showing up. The timing of the move made the company look as if it were capitulating to Trump, who long had the host on his enemies list. But Colbert will remain on the air through May. The show has already been sold to advertisers for next season. The host has remained unrelenting in his mockery of Trump. The season premiere of 'South Park' only upped the ante. The animated series made references to the '60 Minutes' deal, showed Trump in bed with the devil and aired its own version of a Trump-mandated PSA, showing a naked president with talking genitalia. There is no question both shows will test the patience of the new owners. Pulling Colbert off or censoring the 'South Park' creators, who just received a $1.5-billion deal to continue their show and move its library to Paramount+, would lead to a far greater backlash than what has been seen so far. Any attempt to curtail their voices will send a negative message to creative types who consider working with the company's movie and TV operations going forward. Over the last few years, Paramount Pictures — home of franchises such as 'Transformers' and 'Mission: Impossible' — has ranked either fifth or fourth at the domestic box office. So far this year, the lone major movie studio still located in Hollywood proper has accounted for about 7% of ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, according to box office website the Numbers. Since the pandemic, the company has enjoyed a number of major hits, including 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3.' It has also had some solid singles and doubles, including 'Bob Marley: One Love.' But overall, the more-than-century-old studio has struggled from underinvestment in its intellectual property and movie brands. The latest 'Mission: Impossible' starring Tom Cruise — the eighth and purportedly last in the series — grossed $589 million globally but cost $300 million to $400 million to make, not including marketing costs. Paramount's latest effort, an animated 'Smurfs' reboot, sputtered at the box office. Next up: a reboot of 'The Naked Gun.' The unit's leader, Brian Robbins (also head of Nickelodeon at Paramount Global), is expected to leave the studio, though he has not officially announced his plans. David Ellison is a movie fan and is expected to take a particular interest in the operation, with plans to put Skydance's chief creative officer, Dana Goldberg, in charge of film at Paramount. Skydance has worked with Paramount on movies before, producing 'Maverick' and the 'Missions: Impossible' films A transfer of ownership means the NFL can reopen its long-term deal with CBS, which has a Sunday package of games, the AFC Championship Game and two Super Bowls. The NFL is the lifeblood of broadcast television, providing a vast majority of the year's most-watched programs. Without the NFL, CBS would face tremendous challenges in getting fees from pay TV operators who carry its stations. Revenue from affiliates who pay the network for its programming would also dramatically decline. Although the NFL is known for taking a pound of flesh at every opportunity, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has signaled he will give careful consideration before making any changes. 'We've had a long relationship with CBS for decades and we also have a relationship outside of that with Skydance,' Goodell told CNBC earlier this month. 'We have a two-year period to make that decision. I don't see that happening, but we have the option and it's something we're going to look at.' The NFL could wait until 2029 when it has the option to open up the contract with all of its media partners. The new media deal for the NBA — $76 billion over 11 years — has the NFL believing its pact is underpriced. Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.
