Rebreathers
Taking scuba to new depths
Scuba divers who need to spend extra time underwater or move as silently as possible can strap on a device that stretches their oxygen supply while minimizing bubbles.
Bhutanese Archery
Shooting game
The national sport of Bhutan is not merely a matter of hitting a target with an arrow. In fact, mischief and spectacle play a much larger role than accuracy.
The Artwork of Rigo 23
Painting by the numbers
Some of San Francisco's best public artwork was made by an artist who changed his surname every year from 1982–2002. He's now known as Rigo 23, but his masterpieces are timeless.
Image-Stabilizing Binoculars
Complex solutions to a simple problem
Borrowing technology from military and space applications that also appears in your smartphone or digital camcorder, some fancy binoculars can keep a highly magnified image from shaking even when your hands are unsteady.
Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden
Mining salt in Bavaria
If you want to contemplate the magical powers of salt, there's no better place than a salt mine. This one near Salzburg in Bavaria is open to tourists and features an underground salt lake.
Skara Brae
House of sand and rock
A neolithic stone village in Scotland was preserved by being covered with sand for thousands of years. Now wind and water threaten it again.
The Holographic Paradigm
The way the universe really works?
Some scientists believe that the human brain, or maybe even the entire universe, stores information in much the same way as a hologram. If true, this could explain everything from psychic experiences to the nature of God.
The Dalahäst
Symbol of Sweden
The red horse that serves as a decorative motif on lots of IKEA items is actually a cultural icon in Sweden with a long and storied history.
The Antikythera Mechanism
Computer from ancient Greece
The world's oldest surviving geared mechanism is a remarkable analog astronomical computer built by the Greeks in around 82 BCE. But after this device was created, its technology was seemingly lost for 1000 years.
New Orleans Walking Tours
Ghosts, vampires, and history
The best way to get a feel for the history (and mystery) of New Orleans is to take one of numerous walking tours of the French Quarter. But watch out for ghosts and vampires.
Portmeirion
The Folly of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis
An English-born Welsh architect set out to create not just one building, but an entire town in harmony with its environment. The result was a beautiful site that is in some ways the forerunner of sustainable development.
Burghausen
The longest castle in the world
Of the many grand and well-known castles in Bavaria, Burghausen has an unusual claim to fame: its length of more than a kilometer—the longest in the world.