Good Reads

A comprehensive guide to snakes, part one and part two. This stuff is good to know, but I hope you'll never need to use it.

Gangsters: They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To. Some odd facts about the most famous mobsters of the Prohibition era.

A brutally honest account of what it's like to weigh 530 pounds, plus an update a year after weight loss surgery. You can also read about the surgery itself.

A respirocyte is an artificial red blood cell with approximately 200 times the efficiency. This could turn humans into superhumans, but it's not reality yet.
http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/45-amazing-and-incredible-artificial-islands/weird-scienceff">Artificial islands have been built with existing reefs, sand and blasted rock, stainless steel, and even trash. Read the stories behind 45 of the most interesting.

Nitrogen triiodide is extremely volatile. Who knew you could do so much damage with a feather?

Ten Great Moments in Internet History. If it weren't for the Cold War, I might not be typing this now.

Human-Cat Psychology: Do Cats Improve Our Mood and Become Attached to Us?

The Deep Impact spacecraft captured footage of the Earth and moon together, from a distance of 50 million kilometers. That's what you call skillful camera work.

The Only Guide to Happiness You’ll Ever Need. That may be hyperbole, but there are great ideas here.