The Observation Deck

The Fascinating World of Skyscrapers and Gravitational Time Dilation

The Observation Deck, WIREDx / By

The Fascinating World of Skyscrapers and Gravitational Time Dilation Summary The completion of the Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s second-tallest building, at 2,080 feet has captured people’s imagination once again. In this article, we explore the allure of skyscrapers and their functions, as well as their role in giving us access to an entirely different …

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The Kind of Science Fiction We Need: Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction

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The Kind of Science Fiction We Need: Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Summary In this article, we discuss the importance of post-apocalyptic science fiction in today’s world. We argue that stories like Beasts of the Southern Wild and The Wind-Up Girl are telling stories not set in the distant future but rather in the near future. We …

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The Importance of Cities in the 2012 US Presidential Election

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The Importance of Cities in the 2012 US Presidential Election Summary This article explores the demographic breakdown of the 2012 US Presidential Election results using maps and data analysis. It reveals that the urban areas overwhelmingly voted for President Obama, while the rural areas voted for Mitt Romney. Furthermore, the author argues that the importance …

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The Power of Words on Cityscapes: Inscribing Letters on Buildings

The Observation Deck, WIREDx / By

The Power of Words on Cityscapes: Inscribing Letters on Buildings Summary In this article, we explore the impact of writing on cityscapes and how it tells the story of a city. We discuss the power of inscribing words onto buildings and cityscapes, citing examples such as the Hollywood sign and the Lincoln Memorial. We also …

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Innovative Science Journalism: Telling the Story of Higgs Boson

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Innovative Science Journalism: Telling the Story of Higgs Boson Summary In this article, we discuss the challenges of science journalism and the media’s coverage of the discovery of the Higgs boson particle. The author notes that science journalism could benefit from more engaging storytelling and less exposition. They also highlight the importance of stories about …

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Why the Second Movie is Always Better: An Argument for Hollywood to Keep Making Second Movies

The Observation Deck, WIREDx / By

Why the Second Movie is Always Better: An Argument for Hollywood to Keep Making Second Movies Summary The concept of the “Rule of Two,” which suggests that the second movie in a trilogy or series is often the best, is something that many people believe in, and it has led one person to recommend that …

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Lincoln: Steven Spielberg’s Upcoming Historical Epic

The Observation Deck, WIREDx / By

Lincoln: Steven Spielberg’s Upcoming Historical Epic Summary In this article, we discuss Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie “Lincoln” and his previous works in historical epics, emotional movies, and science fiction. The speaker expresses their concerns about Spielberg’s approach to science fiction and suggests that he should focus more on the emotional core of the genre. Table …

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The Power of White Roofs: Can Painting Roads Save the Planet?

The Observation Deck, WIREDx / By

The Power of White Roofs: Can Painting Roads Save the Planet? Summary In this article, we explore the idea of raising planetary albedo by coloring roads white to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. While it may seem like a simple solution, there are many factors to consider, including the difficulty in calculating the …

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Giant Humanoid Robots: A Flawed Weapon for Fighting Kaiju

The Observation Deck, WIREDx / By

Giant Humanoid Robots: A Flawed Weapon for Fighting Kaiju Summary In this blog post, we discuss the flaws of using giant humanoid robots in fighting kaiju. The primary concern is their instability due to bipedalism, which makes them vulnerable to attacks from the monsters. We also explore the cockpit placement in such robots and the …

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