China has a rule that all its space-going astronauts, male and female, must be married. The logic behind this — specifically for women — was explained in a March Time… Read the rest of the article: Why Chinese women astronauts must be married before going to space

On auction next month: a circa 1966 tape of a Beatles press conference in which John Lennon defends his controversial comments about Jesus. This is what he said: Christianity will… Read the rest of the article: Tape of John Lennon's Jesus comments to be auctioned next month

A man whom everyone thought had been murdered in a hatchet fight ten years ago appeared in his village in Henan, China last week seeking welfare. The assumed killer, Zhao… Read the rest of the article: Police torture methods questioned after "murdered" man reappears

I have always loved falling asleep to the smell of my dogs' paws. I started telling other dog-lovers this recently, only to find that many others feel the same way.… Read the rest of the article: Why do my dog's paws smell so good?

For about $90, you can get a beautiful Japanese stamp of your newborn baby's hands and feet in a wooden box from design project Otete & Anyo (means hand &… Read the rest of the article: Make an original stamp of your baby's hand and foot

There's something so quiet and sad about this sculpture of Mario dying in the arms of Peach. It's carved out of styrofoam, and it's called "Game Over". Artist's page (Thanks,… Read the rest of the article: Michelangelo-esque sculpture of Mario and Peach

Buy your copy of 48 Hour Magazine, the magazine that was put together in 48 hours, here.

I was in Oxford when the volcano in Iceland erupted last month; since I couldn't get home, I took a little detour to Dubai via Paris and came back to… Read the rest of the article: Video: Volcano refugees, stuck in London

The wall surrounding Oxford Castle has anti-climb paint on it. At least that is what this ominous sign warned me of as I walked past it late one Friday night… Read the rest of the article: Anti-climbing paint

The New Yorker has a profile of Andrey Ternovskiy, the teenaged high school dropout who created ChatRoulette.com while working as a souvenir vendor in Russia.

Not surprisingly, the residents of Taiji — the fishing village featured for its dolphin hunting practices in The Cove — have dangerously high mercury levels, according to a recent test… Read the rest of the article: Residents of "The Cove" village have high mercury levels

Happening now: two dozen editors, writers, and designers are gathered around the former Rolling Stone conference table putting together a magazine in two days. 48 Hour Magazine kicked off on… Read the rest of the article: 48 Hour Magazine is almost finished

My friend Slava has a fun company called IndieGoGo that lets you fund creative projects through their web site, or start your own and get it funded. Some examples include… Read the rest of the article: How to get a creative project funded online

The Asian-American community in California is up in arms about a new law that prohibits the import of live turtles and frogs for food. Some vendors in Chinatowns across the… Read the rest of the article: Live turtle and frog ban angers Asian communities

I have definitely seen a few folks walking around who are in the middle of this hipster-to-hippie metamorphosis. via Laughing Squid

$200/hour to teach someone how to use an iPod is tempting, but I don't know if I want to spend that much time with such an angry guy. via Huffington… Read the rest of the article: Teach this lawyer how to use Apple products for $200/hr

I was really excited to pick up a mangosteen in Dubai — it's a beautiful purple fruit that looks like a cross between a turnip and an eggplant on the… Read the rest of the article: Taste Test: Mangosteen

Albert Kahn was a early 20th century banker from France who wanted to capture the world as it is using autochrome, the first known form of color photography. He spent… Read the rest of the article: Albert Kahn's early color photographs of the world

Something about the geometry and colors in this barcode painting really appeals to me. Karen Blackerby via MocoLoco

26-year old Mamel Marmouri became the first woman in Italy to be fined for wearing a burqa in public when she stopped at the post office on her way to… Read the rest of the article: Woman fined for wearing burqa in Italy