The Town Built Inside A Meteorite Crater

The town of Nordlingen in the Donau-Ries district of Bavaria, Germany, is unlike any other town in the district. In fact, it's unlike any other town on the whole planet. This pretty medieval town, with a population of 20,000, is situated entirely inside a massive meteorite crater 25 km across. This crater called the Nördlinger Ries, was formed some 14.5 million years ago when a meteor about a mile across slammed into Earth. It was only less than fifty years ago that evidence emerged which established the true origin of this town. 

For years, it was believed that the shallow depression in the middle of which the town is situated was a volcanic crater. Then in 1960 two American scientists, Eugene Shoemaker (of comet Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 fame) and Edward Chao, proved that the depression was in fact, caused by meteorite impact. While visiting a church in the town of Nordlingen, Shoemaker reportedly scratched its walls to see what it was made of and was delighted to discover shocked quartz, a type of rock that can only be formed by the shock pressures normally associated with meteorite impact. Subsequent exploration of the strange rock formations of the Ries conclusively established that the crater was caused by a meteor impact. 

There is another impact crater the Steinheim crater, about 3.8 km in diameter, located about 42 kilometers west-southwest from the centre of Ries. These two craters are believed to have formed nearly simultaneously by the impact of a binary asteroid.

IMAGES: Amazing Body Paint To Make This People Blend With Nature

For the last three years I Paint People into the World to highlight our innate connection to the land and to all that is, because, from a molecular perspective there is no separation between our thoughts, our things and ourselves. I have learnt much over my last 15 years of travel to be at the place I find myself at now. As humans we are vastly different and yet, all connected by this common thread, our origins as creatures of the earth. 

 Body painting allows me to accept every inch of human flesh as perfect. Body painting welcomes me into the realms of vulnerability and trust which teaches me about respect, energy and healing. We are energy manifested as form constanstly in a process of hurting and healing. We come from the Earth as well as the stars. Every molecule represents infinite possibility so I paint people into the world as I follow my heart and trust in the mystery of this journey.

Source:

Orly Faya 

Amazing Miniature Bikes By Using Circuit Components

Miniature models of bikes made from circuit components like capacitors, resistors and ICs (and parts of lighters; thanks to the readers, I didn't recognize those.) 

IMAGES: Baldwin Street, The Steepest Street in the World

Located in the city of Dunedin, in southern New Zealand, the Baldwin Street has earned the distinction of being the steepest street in the world. This 350 meters long street begins with a moderate slope and then climbs steeply to reach a maximum slope of 1:2.86 or 19 degrees! The street is so steep that it's surface had to be laid with concrete instead of asphalt otherwise on a warm day the tar would flow down the slope!

Sources:

 Amusing Planet

IMAGES: 27 Clever Drawings That Will Make You Question Everything Wrong With The World

Polish artist Pawel Kuczynski has worked in satirical illustration since 2004, specialising in thought-provoking images that make his audience question their everyday lives. His subjects deal with everything from social media to politics to poverty, and all have a very distinct message if you look closely enough