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Floppy Disk

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Floppy Disk

Checking out floppy disks is like taking a trip to the past.

  • Floppy disks are an invention, formerly used to store computer data, that were read by a disk drive.
  • ‘Floppy disks’ are also known simply as ‘disks’, ‘flexible disks’ and ‘diskettes’, and were once called ‘memory disks’.
  • There were three main sizes of floppy disks – the 8 inch (20 centimetres), 5.25 inch (13 centimetres) and 3.5 inch (9 centimetres), and the larger disks were the older designs.
  • Floppy disks were invented through an IBM development team headed by David Noble, that created the original invention between 1967 and 1971.
  • Floppy disks were of a square shape, initially with a hole in the centre; typically consisting of a plastic case which was originally floppy, but a hard case was used for the 3.5 inch version; with a thin, circular piece of magnetic material inside.
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Floppy Disks
Image courtesy of Frankie Leon/Flickr
  • Floppy disks were first sold commercially in 1971 and were initially produced as part of a drive that was read-only, and used for the purpose of placing already written microcode, onto mainframe computers; and they soon became portable and independent forms of media.
  • Being a practical method of distributing and storing data in its time, floppy disks had become extremely widespread among the general population by the 1980s and 1990s, especially after designs were continuously refined.
  • A magnetic reader mechanism was used to read and write on floppy disks, and the magnetic material would spin rapidly inside the casing of the disk when the reader was in use.
  • Floppy disks were known as “floppy”, due to the flexible material of the original designs in particular; and in the earlier designs, the plastic casing surrounding the actual magnetic disk included a fabric lining which cleaned the disk as it spun.
  • Floppy disks dropped in popularity by the 2000s, as USBs and CDs capable of storing greater data quantities became available, with the floppy technology becoming almost non-existent in new computers by 2007.
Bibliography:
1971: Floppy disk loads mainframe computer data, n.d, The Storage Engine, http://www.computerhistory.org/storageengine/floppy-disk-loads-mainframe-computer-data/
Bellis M, The Invention of the Floppy Disk Drive, 2014, About Money, http://inventors.about.com/od/computersandinternet/a/FloppyDisk.htm
Floppy Disk, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk
Mason H, The History of the Floppy Disk, 2015, Geek & Sundry, http://geekandsundry.com/the-history-of-the-floppy-disk/

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Resurrection Plant

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Resurrection Plant

Sometimes, when you’re all curled up like the resurrection plant, there’s only one thing that will help you open back up.

  • Resurrection plants are a species of plant found in the habitat of the Chihuahuan Desert, located across the Mexican and United States border.
  • The scientific name of the resurrection plant is Selaginella lepidophylla and it is from the Selaginella genus which is the only family member of Selaginellaceae, the family of spikemoss.
  • ‘Resurrection plants’ are also known as ‘resurrection moss’, ‘dinosaur plants’, ‘flowers of stone’, and ‘roses of Jericho’, though they should not be confused with the Anastatica hierochuntica plant which is also known as ‘rose of Jericho’.
  • Resurrection plants are known for opening outwards when exposed to moisture, and being closed in a tight ball when dehydrated.
  • The colour of a dry resurrection plant is brown, while it turns green when moist, and the leaves, when unfurled, are fern-like.
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A Resurrection Plant
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Resurrection plants can survive extensive periods without water, and when moisture is provided, it can appear to “resurrect” even from stages of extreme dryness.
  • The leaves and stems of the resurrection plant form a rosette shape, which assists in its ability to curl into a ball, and the plant grows from rhizomes.
  • Resurrection plants range from 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) in height and have a diameter up to 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 inches) when open.
  • A herbal tea can be made from the resurrection plant, which is used in traditional medicine to treat sore throats and colds.
  • Resurrection plants can be very difficult to grow unless they are in their native habitat, as the plant needs specific watering requirements and care, to maintain healthy plants.
Bibliography:
Anyone grow Selaginella Lepidophylla?, 2007, Houzz, http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1832787/anyone-grow-selaginella-lepidophylla
Rafsanjani A, Brule V, Western T & Pasini D, Hydro-Responsive Curling of the Resurrection Plant Selaginella lepidophylla, 2014, Scientific Reports, http://www.nature.com/articles/srep08064
Resurrection Plant, Rose of Jericho, Flower of Stone, 2016, Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53493/#b
Selaginella lepidophylla, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_lepidophylla

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Northern Jewelled Spider

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Northern Jewelled Spider

Northern jewelled spiders are of a value not defined by money.

  • Northern jewelled spiders are a species of small arachnid, native to Australia’s Queensland.
  • The scientific name of the northern jewelled spider is Gasteracantha fornicata and it is from the family Araneidae, the family of orb weavers.
  • In 1775, the northern jewelled spider was described and scientifically classified, being the first Australian spider to be named, by Johan Christian Fabricius, a zoologist from Denmark, from information collected from Cooktown, Australia, by Sir Joseph Banks and crew in 1770.
  • Northern jewelled spiders have a spiny, striped abdomen, with six spikes visible from the top – two protruding on each side, and two at the back.
  • The stripes of northern jewelled spiders are coloured maroon, brown or black, and white to yellow.

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  • Northern jewelled spiders have a diet that consists of various insects – effectively whatever is caught in the spider’s web.
  • Female northern jewelled spiders can reach a width of 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) and a length of a single centimetre (0.4 inches), while males are significantly smaller and differ to the females in appearance.
  • Northern jewelled spiders are most often found constructing webs in their rainforest habitats, and the completed webs can have a diameter as large as 2 metres.
  • The bite of northern jewelled spiders is essentially harmless to humans, primarily due to the spider’s small size.
  • The egg sacs of northern jewelled spiders are of a brilliant green colour, with an appearance of loosely woven spindly silk, and they are typically found on tree trunks and leaves, where they are camouflaged.
Bibliography:
Gasteracantha fornicata, 2013, The Find-A-Spider Guide, http://www.findaspider.org.au/find/spiders/644.htm
Gasteracantha forricata, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasteracantha_fornicata
Gasteracantha fornicata (Fabricius, 1775), n.d, Arachne, http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2375
Northern Jewelled Spider (Gasteracantha fornicata), 2015, Cooper Creek Wilderness, http://coopercreek.com.au/northern-jewelled-spider-gasteracantha-fornicata/

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Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System

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Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System

The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is something you would consider ahead of its time.

  • The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is an elaborate system for transporting water throughout the ancient island city of Shushtar, found in Iran, in the Middle East.
  • The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System features a number of canals, water mills, tunnels, dams, bridges, waterfalls and more.
  • The UNESCO World Heritage Convention designated the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System a World Heritage Site in 2009.
  • The water of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System was primarily supplied by two canals, flowing from the River Karun.
  • A combination of influences contributed to the architecture of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, including people from the ancient civilisations of Elam and Mesopotamia, as well as from the Nabataean kingdom and ancient Rome.
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Part of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
Image courtesy of Adam Jones/Flickr
  • The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is thought to have been built and completed in the 200s AD, mostly by Roman prisoners of war.
  • Historical sources suggest that the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System was completed within an impressive three to seven years, however it is believed to have been constructed upon, or added to an already existing structure that was built 700 to 800 years earlier.
  • The strategic placement of the canals, bridges and gateways of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System meant that the city could effectively defend against or overcome threats, as well as use the water for irrigation purposes, and as the city’s main water supply.
  • The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System has only been abandoned quite recently, as the system was showing signs of significant deterioration from thousands of years use, though some parts are still used.
  • A tower exists as part of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, that enables the depth of the water to be calculated.
Bibliography:
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, 2016, Amusing Planet, http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/02/shushtar-historical-hydraulic-system.html
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, 2016, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1315
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shushtar_Historical_Hydraulic_System

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Durian

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Durian

Can you brave the stench of a durian?

  • Durians are a species of exotic fruit, originating in Southeast Asia, and due to their overwhelming smell and appearance, ‘durians’ are known as the ‘King of Fruits’ in their native area.
  • Durians grow on a genus of trees with the scientific classification of Durio, from the family Malvaceae, the family of mallows, and while there are around 30 species in the genus, only about 9 of those have edible fruit – the most commonly cultivated one has the scientific name Durio zibethinus.
  • The length of the typically ovoid to spherical durian is generally between 15 and 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches), with a diameter of 12 to 15 centimetres (5 to 6 inches), and they usually weigh between 1 to 8 kilograms or more (2.2 to 17.6 pounds).
  • The odour emitted by durian flesh is generally considered pungent, most commonly compared to excrement, onions and turpentine fuel, and other unpleasant smells, although some find the smell agreeable.
  • The smell of a durian can be quite difficult to remove from enclosed areas after exposure, leading to its ban in some public spaces like buses or other public vehicles, and in tourist accommodation, in much of Southeast Asia.
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Durian
Image courtesy of Kazue Asano/Flickr
  • Depending on the species, the spiky skin of durians can be a green, yellow, orange, or red colour, with a yellow, orange or red coloured flesh; while 70 to 85% of the fruit’s mass is inedible.
  • Durians have an exquisite taste compared to a combination of custard and almonds, if one can get over the smell, which can alter the actual taste to be oniony.
  • Durian is commonly eaten raw and chilled, and in sweet foods such as cold desserts, cakes and biscuits, as well as with rice or in curry, and despite being quite expensive, durians are very popular among the locals.
  • The spikes of a durian are thorny, so care needs to be taken when handling one; and when the fruit is ripe, it drops from the tree, which can be potentially fatal if it lands on a person’s head.
  • Fifty known compounds contribute to the smell of durians, four of which were first discovered in the fruit; and the fruit is high in vitamin C and thiamin, and is a good source of manganese, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, copper and fibre, and contains many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Durian, 2006, Northern Territory Government, http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Content/File/p/Fruit/FF5_durian.pdf
Durian, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian
Stromberg J, Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible, 2012, Smithsonian, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-does-the-durian-fruit-smell-so-terrible-149205532/?no-ist

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Tassel

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Tassel

Where are the tassels found in your house?

  • A tassel is an invention, typically attached to textile items for ornamental purposes, and they were originally knots used to stop threads from coming undone, especially on the ends of woven fabric.
  • Tassels usually consist of a head, at the top of which is commonly an attached cord, and a ‘skirt’ that sits below the head, which is usually made up of numerous dangling threads.
  • Since ancient times, various forms of tassels have been used, particularly found on garments or as part of personal adornments; and the word is an Old French word that refers to a clasp used with clothing.
  • Tassels are most often created from threads of various kinds, or cord, and silk fibres have been commonly used throughout history, while synthetic fibres have become popular in modern times; and they may be ornately decorated, sometimes with beads or other embellishments
  • The head of a tassel may contain a wooden form under the fibres, that helps to determine and/or keep the shape of the head.

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  • The craft of making tassels was extensively expanded upon by the French, during the 1500s, particularly by those known as ‘passementiers’, that made fancy textile trimmings; while some of the largest tassels originated in the Victorian era, while smaller tassels were more common in the Renaissance period.
  • Highly skilled crafts people of modern times, that create ornate tassels by hand, may charge large sums of money for a single item, though cheap tassels are more common.
  • Tassels are traditionally found on square academic caps known as ‘mortarboards’, that university graduates typically wear at their graduation ceremony.
  • Tassels are most often found decorating clothes, carpets, cushions, blankets and curtains, but also other objects, including bookmarks.
  • People, especially of the Middle East would historically wear tassels on head coverings or elsewhere, in attempt to keep evil spirits away, or to bring good luck.
Bibliography:
Churchill A, A Decorative Past: How Tassels Changed History, 2014, Martha Stewart, http://www.marthastewart.com/1082099/decorative-past-how-tassels-changed-history
The History of Tassels, 2016, Design Threads, http://www.estout.com/designthreads/archive/History-08_13-History_of_Tassels.asp
The History of Tassels, 2015, Tassel Depot, http://www.tasseldepot.com/tasselhistory.html
Tassel, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tassel
Wolfson-Foster M, A Brief History of Tassels, 2009, JPG Magazine, https://jpgmag.com/stories/13023

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