"Destroying Hard Drive Leads to Conviction for Obstructing Federal Investigation"

"'Brain Bugs': Cognitive Flaws That 'Shape Our Lives'" (Via Doug Wagoner.)

TruePosition is the 'Keyzer Soze' of Global Phone-Tracking.

(Via Gizmodo: "How Much Information Does Your Cellphone Reveal Without You Knowing?")

"Roman-era shipwreck reveals ancient medical secrets":

A first-aid kit found on a 2,000-year-old shipwreck has provided a remarkable insight into the medicines concocted by ancient physicians to cure sailors of dysentery and other ailments...

"It's a spectacular find. They were very well sealed," Dr Alain Touwaide, from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Washington DC, told The Sunday Telegraph. "The plants and vegetables were probably crushed with a mortar and pestle – we could still see the fibres in the tablets. They also contained clay, which even today is used to treat gastrointestinal problems."

The pills are the oldest known archaeological remains of ancient pharmaceuticals...

(Via VA Viper.)

Stress-vs.-time vacation chart (click on image to see full size):

Star Trek vs. anti-Star Trek. (Via Marginal Revolution.)

If you're scared of heights then don't read about the world's steepest roller coaster:

And don't click on the video of the view from the front-row seat (the really steep climb starts at 1:05):



(Via BBspot.)

"What It's Like Inside a Predator Drone Control Station"

It's amazing how much thought goes into designing a good fast food drive-through operation.

"What the iPad's success says about us". (Via Donald H.)

"Inside SpaceX: A Hint of Life After the Space Shuttle". (Via Howard Roerig.)

The secret behind this classic Indian levitation trick:

The answer (video):



(Via BBspot.)

Writing and procrastination.

Temporal cloaking.

Some great economics ideas packed into this short, upbeat video, "Would You Give Up The Internet For 1 Million Dollars?":



(Via Ari Armstrong.)

"Raspberry Pi: Rise of the $25 computer"

"How a New Police Tool for Face Recognition Works".

In the hands of a decent government, this could be a huge boon for law enforcement. In the hands of a bad government, [fill in your own dystopian scenario]...

"Grains of sand magnified to 250 times real size".

(Via Susan Dawn Wake.)

"First synthetic organ transplant paves way for post-op, immunosuppresive drug-free future". (Via M.O.)

Computer gets better at playing Civilization by reading the manual. (Via Metafilter.)