TIL about the world's first computer-generated 3D hand animation was rendered way back in 1972, by Ed Catmull (Who eventually become one of the founders of Pixar Animation Studio) and Fred Parke who were young scientists at the University of Utah back then.

4 years later, these animations were eventually discovered by some Hollywood exec and implemented in the 1976 sci-fi movie Futureworld.

Computer Animated Hand (1972)

Due to severe technological limitations at the time where they didn't even have a digital interface to visualize the render, they had to input literally everything about the animation into a file (Including the vertices, polygons, the movement, and anything else) then another machine would take these files and render the sequence. It's almost like working on a computer but without a monitor. Another challenge was that consumer-grade computers at the time were almost nonexistent and the few that did exist did not have the capability to even display an image like this; At that time period, even the most powerful supercomputers can barely do this kind of computing.

It's obvious that these animations look terrible by today's standard, but these animations are still pretty impressive (considering the limitations in the 70s), and the historical and technological significance that these animations represented was something that shouldn't be brushed aside.

 

It seems weird, but yeah...

 

Modern roads are quite a bit better than the old Roman ones.

Consider that modern roads can have dozens, hundreds, or thousands of two-ton machines running across them every single day, often at dozens of miles per hour (apparently big trucks just on their own are a major contributing factor to road wear and tear). Even the most well traveled ancient/Roman roads never had to put up with anything close to that. Usually just a bit of foot traffic and maybe a few beasts of burden or horses (possibly with carts/carriages) per day on average. Less traveled roads tend to last longer. Although despite the persistent myth, Roman roads haven't lasted centuries or millennia while also maintaining anything close to their original condition (in other words, that nice shiny/smooth stone road is not an original, unmaintained/unrestored Roman one).

Not to mention, you would not want to drive a car on an old-style "cobblestone" road at highway speeds. Not unless you like a lot of bumps and vibration. Car-ready roads need to be (and generally are) much smoother. Which is also part of why they need to be repaired, repaved, and replaced more often when potholes get out of hand.

 

TIL that heavy western saddles have a calming effect when placed on the backs of racehorses. Which explains why so many can be turned into reliable pony horses the day after retirement.

Also, if you don't ever let a young racehorse 'win' against workout buddies but instead consistently let the buddies pass them, they'll learn what they're taught - that they're just out for a gallop and not supposed to be in front.   One of my MyRacehorse two year olds who has always been made to work with much leggier fillies showed yesterday that that's the lesson she learned, just like Seabiscuit with his first trainer.    

--Moony

 

Today I learned the unpopular opinion thread is closed.
unpopular opinion i have mixed feelings on getting pets fixed

 

TIL that there are people who think 'cough into your elbow' is still an effective way to stop spreading germs.

I did not learn what caused those explosion noises last night, and whether or not it was more upstairs neighbors offing themselves.

--Moony

 

I'm pretty sure I head about this some years ago, but it's still an interesting thing:

Essentially, before reliable lighting (candles, oil/gas lamps, light bulb) existed, people used to sleep not for 8 hours straight, but in two 4 hour stretches with an hour or two between them.

 

That the skunk smell that occasionally wafts into my apartment is not coming from the butt of a mustelid bothered by a dog, and may be giving me a secondhand buzz.

--Moony

 

Elon Musk Unveils Humanoid Robot to Take Over ‘Boring’ Work — Bloomberg

Sci-fi fantasy novels from the 50s are becoming much more plausible

 

TIL the phrase "Oh, how the mighty have fallen" originates from the Bible (The Old Testament): Oh howe are the myghtie ouerthrowen.

 

The shipping crisis is getting worse. Here's what that means for holiday shopping - CNN

 

I learned that the actor who plays Anakin Skywalker in the Clone Wars (2008) also played the main character in Disaster Movie.

 

SC Johnson Glade air refreshers work great as insecticides.

 

Well I this case more like I remembered and looked it up on youtube and it was true.

 

Nandi Bushell, 11-year-old drummer, finally joins Foo Fighters on stage — CNN

 

Maynmar is a country, I thought it was the name of a soccer player.

 

If his team can figure out the issue of replicating natural be-pedal motion, I'd tip my hat to them.

 

Late French singer Sacha Distel did a French version of Spanish Flea  

 

There's apparently a black Superman. Had no idea since I pay zero attention to comics.

During WWII, Hitler was actually trying to build a working flying saucer. He wasn't successful in getting a fully working prototype(those working on the project will say otherwise but we all know the truth) but at least two different designs entered theoretical prototype phasing before being scrapped.