The Miracle Of The Levitating Slinky

The Slinky is a toy consisting of a helical spring that stretches and can bounce up and down. The toy was invented and developed by naval engineer Richard James in the early 1940s. If you hold a Slinky from the top with your hand and release the lower part, you will see something strange.

If you keep your eye on the bottom of the Slinky, you will notice that as the top of the Slinky starts to fall, the bottom doesn't drop. It will stay there, hovering quietly, until a wave, or signal, passing through the Slinky finally reaches it. Apparently, the bottom doesn't know it's supposed to fall, so it sits there, seeming to defy gravity, until the very end.

Star Trek's Holodeck In Your Living Room

image credit Microsoft/USPTO

A newly published patent shows Microsoft potentially planning to take console gaming beyond the barriers of the TV screen by projecting a 'peripheral image' around a room, providing a 360-degree view of a virtual scene.

Microsoft's patent for an 'immersive display experience' was published by the US Patent Office last week after being filed back in early 2011. It describes a standard video game system with a connected 'environmental display' capable of projecting a panoramic image that 'appears to surround the user.'

Blocks

Blocks is a game by Bart Bonte. Move blocks in one line to make them disappear until any block is left on the level in the puzzler blocks.

More Bart Bonte Games.

How Much Is Bowser's Castle Worth In Today's Market

Bowser's Castle is one of the most recognizable bad-guy pads in gaming history. It's hard to forget the first time you saw the massive, comically menacing structure, and knew you'd have to guide Mario through its maze-like levels filled with spinning columns of fire and dastardly koopas.

What if Bowser's Castle would go on the real life market? What is it worth? While Bowser's Castle isn't cheap, compared to other castles it's relatively affordable. A second, and more interesting fact, was that the Koopa King's real-life abode would be the tallest building in the world.

(thanks Sally)

How 13 Classic Video Games Got Their Names

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When Russian game designer Alexey Pajitnov named his famously addictive video game Tetris, he decided to combine two words: tetromino and tennis. A tetromino is a geometric shape comprising four squares. Tennis was just Pajitnov's favorite sport.

Here are the stories of how famous video games got their names, and what they were almost called.

Windows Solitaire Win Screen

If you own a PC with Windows you're familiar with the Windows Solitaire card game. Microsoft has included the game as part of the Windows operating system since Windows 3.0, starting from 1990. You have to complete the game to see the win screen where all the card decks pop up. Not any longer. Go here, click and win!

The 12 Most Unique Playgrounds In The World

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All of us have enjoyed the freedom and wonder that make playgrounds magical. But it goes without saying that some playgrounds are far more spectacular and imaginative than others. Here are a few of the coolest playgrounds you're ever likely to enjoy.