Daily Bits

The Science Behind the “Old Books Smell”

by

The Smell of Old Books
Old Books

That “old books smell” is hard to beat, isn’t it? That particular scent brings me back to my days as a student, when I would spend lots of time browsing the shelves of the library. As the case usually is with university libraries, a considerable part of their collection are old books. And yeah, that smell has become firmly embedded in my memory.

I am pretty sure that I am not alone in this. In these days when even those who like the feel and smell of (paper) books are looking to e-books, the yearning for the old books smell still has a strong following. But have you ever thought about the scientific explanation for this? [Read more…] about The Science Behind the “Old Books Smell”

Your Favorite Web Sites As Dresses

by

Website Dresses
Google Dress

We all have our favorite web sites, those that we visit on a regular basis, maybe even several times a day. But have you ever thought of your favorite web sites as dresses? I don’t know about you, but that would never have entered my mind. Thanks to Deviant Artist *Neko-Vi, we have a visual representation of our favorite (or not-so-favorite maybe) web sites as dresses. [Read more…] about Your Favorite Web Sites As Dresses

Look Ahead and Plan for These Futureproof Careers

by


It’s Friday, and what better way to welcome the weekend break with a little fun? At the end of the day, you probably have plans to chase away all the stress that the work week has brought with it, but why don’t you start putting yourself in a fun mood right now?

You might be at work, and reading about jobs and careers might not be your best idea of fun at the moment. This infographic about “futureproof” careers will get you in a lighter mood, though. Trust me.

Created by Blucarrot, the infographic gathers data about jobs of the future that just might be what our kids (already born or yet to be born) will be doing. And if you’re smart about it, you will do what you can right now to make sure that your progeny will have a solid career in the future – whether its in the sciences or not. [Read more…] about Look Ahead and Plan for These Futureproof Careers

Pixeller Allows You to Create Your Own Pixel Art

by

Pixel Art App
Pixeller

There’s something about pixel art that does not grow old. Sure, there are many amazing works of art that can blow pixel art out of the water, but the charm of this style has a timeless quality. Not everyone may appreciate pixel art, but if you love it, and you have an iPhone, an iPod Touch, or an iPad, you’ll want to hear about this new pixel art app.

Called Pixeller, the iOS app is basically a paint board which allows you to exercise your creativity and make pixel art wherever you are. [Read more…] about Pixeller Allows You to Create Your Own Pixel Art

3D Print Your Own Pills

by

3D Print Pills
Pills

Hold your horses! It is not possible to have your own drugstore at home just yet, but the likelihood of being able to print your own pills is high. You can thank Professor Lee Cronin, who is the Gardiner Chair of Chemistry at the University for this.

He has conducted research into the possibility of using a 3D printer to make reactionware. This refers to containers made of a polymer gel. Chemicals are then added to the reactionware, which can then result in various applications – including medication. [Read more…] about 3D Print Your Own Pills

The World of Lost Smartphones [Infographic]

by

How much do you value your smartphone? With how much those things cost these days, it would be silly not to take good care of them. That is, unless you have tons of cash to burn, and you don’t mind. I don’t know if it’s sheer negligence or simple absentmindedness, but it seems that a lot – too much, actually – of smartphones are lost on a daily basis.

I just ran across this infographic detailing the numbers on smartphone loss. Titled “The World of Lost Smartphones”, the infographic is the creation of Lookout Mobile Security. They provide solutions to protect your smartphone – from virus and malware protection to backup and restore functions to location tools. [Read more…] about The World of Lost Smartphones [Infographic]