We have all heard about origami – the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. It’s super popular in Japan and it has spread around the whole world, and evolved into a modern art form. The folds in origami are basic and there are not many, but there are several forms of origami and several things you can make out of this small number of folds. One of them is origami architecture that involves using cut-out and folded paper, as thin paperboard. The three-dimensional are the hardest ones, and require skills of an architect.

These pictures are showing some of the great works of origami architecture where some of the papers are opened 360^o that involves the hardest folding. Just imagine how many prototypes had to be made before they managed to create the perfect origami building.

We are living in time of great technological prosperity. Just thirty or forty years ago people were talking about the gadgets we have today in science fiction stories. That gives us enough reasons not to feel superior because we know, if this progress continues, today’s technology will be funny to future generations.

Alex Varanese is designer who tried to investigate how it would be if somehow gadgets like mobile phones, mp3 players, laptops or pocket-consoles were designed in 70s. The result is impressive collection of photos where you can see how Alex imagined all those things if they were made 40 years ago. I have to admit that there are some designs in this gallery which could be pretty attractive to some people even today. Some of those designs remind me on steampunk-like creations and we all know how steampunk is popular these days.

Via Alex Varanese.

Salar de Uyuni is placed in southwestern Bolivia and it is the world’s largest salt flat. It covers the surface of about 10,000 square kilometers. Its white surface and bright blue sky sometimes can make incredible scenes for viewers especially during the wet season when those salt fields are covered with water, then, this place looks like a huge mirror.

According to experiences of people who have previously been there, this place can be dangerous for pedestrians who decide to challenge the desert because people can experience pretty bad visual disorientation in such white fields.

Slar de Uyuni is over 3,500 meters above the sea level, it is placed near the crest of the Andes. It is placed above the 20-meters deep lake.

Local people are telling the ancient legend about this place which says that this field was created when the Giantess Tunupa cried while breastfeeding her child after she was abandoned by her husband Kushku and this place has formed as a product of her tears mixed with her breast milk. That is why this place is also known by its other name, Salar de Tunupa.

Via Colt Rane.

You thought that holocaust was horrible? Then, you probably should know something about the Gulag prison which was one of the worst prisons of Soviet regime. This complex of buildings can be found even today in Taga forest, in Russian Siberia.

This place is known as huge death factory which was working during the Stalin regime. The estimated number of people who were killed only in this prison is over 40 million which is almost 7 times worst than holocaust where allegedly died about 6 million people.

Most of prisoners were those who were against Stalin’s politics or those who were mistakenly considered to be the opponents of Stalin regime. The Gulag prison was closed in 1953, immediately after Stalin’s death.

Most of prisoners were convicted in poor trials where they were pronounced to be the enemies of the state and they were sent to this prison. Such ‘trials’ were also present in most of other communist countries where every man who confronted the communist regime was the enemy of the state.

Convicts were living in those poorly build wooden barracks where they waited their turn to experience the death.

Today, this almost unreachable place is cowered by vegetation which hides the horrible trails of communist regime in Soviet Russia.

More info at Wikipedia, photo credits AngelFire.

Eaglehawk Neck was once a horrible place where prisoners were tortured and terrorized. Today, it is beautiful calm place where nature has almost erased the trails of its bad history. Eaglehawk Neck links island Tasman Peninsula to mainland Tasmania in Australia.

This island is known by tessellated pavement, rare nature phenomenon caused by erosion. The main feature of areas hit by such kind of erosion are the rocks which are fractured into regular rectangles. Eaglehawck Neck is one of the world’s most characteristic examples for such kind of erosion.

As we said earlier, during the first half of 19th century, this place hosted the prison at Port Arthur. It is famous by the so-called dog lines which were made across the neck to prevent escaping prisoners reach the sea.

The Port Atrhur prison was known as one of the most kept prisons in that time and only a few of prisoners managed to escape. One of those who managed to escape from this prison was Martin Cash who became famous by escaping twice from prison. The prison is now rearranged to be a museum and it is one of the most visited tourist locations in Australia.

The bad voice of this place has been recently renewed in 1996. when horrible mass murder happened there, however, it still remains beautiful touristic destination.

Image Sources: Wikipedia, Flickr, RedBubble, Hawkey, FerraByLing, Lautre, JustPacific and EdsEscape.

If you ever come by near the coast of Belize, you shouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit the Great Blue Hole, one of the world’s most recognizable natural wonders. The Great Blue Hole is located in Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, about 60 miles away from Belize City. It is believed that this hole is the world’s largest sea-hole. It is about 125 meters deep and its diameter is about 300 meters wide. It has been created as a cause of sea level increase about 65,000 years ago.

Its almost perfect circular shape made it very popular amongst tourists who often visit this place. This place is most attractive for scuba divers who are exploring the depths of this hole. It is known that there are a plenty of cave networks in this place. Divers are also attracted with plenty of rare animal species and forms of life which can be found only in this place.

More info at Wikipedia.

As we all heard, the U.S. Treasury Department has unveiled high secure of the 100 Dollars bill. Now we are going to show how this bill have changed through 150 years, since 1860.

The 1862 version, back and front

The 1878 version, back and front

The 1880 version, back and front

The 1890 version, back and front

The 1914 version, back and front

The 1928 version, back and front

The 1934 version, back and front

The 1966 version, back and front

The 1969 version, only front

The 1990 version, back and front

The current, 1996 version, back and front

The 2010 version of the $100 bill, back and front

Istvan Orosz is graphic designer and his work is recognized in some on animated films as animator and also a director in a few. This kind of art is called anamorphosis, it was invented in China. In the 16th century, this form is brought to Italy in the time of Renaissance.  Even Leonardo da Vinci were mastering this 3D technique.

The technique is simple,  conical or cylindrical mirror is placed on the drawing to transform a distorted drawing into an outstanding 3D picture that could be seen from different angles. According to public, Orosz’s best work is the first picture above called Mysterious Island, beautiful drawing of a seashore.

Via István Orosz.

When people are looking for an awesomeness they should get it. But really it is hard to find one. But those are simply an example of awesome stuff. Those 3D pencil drawings are stunishing. The creator of those is Fredo, an inspiring artist from DevianArt. He is a 17 old teen from Chile who is testing a sense of reality to its limits. You may find out more remarkable 3D pencil drawings at his profile on DeviantArt and his blog. What else to say, one picture is worth a thousand words and enjoy.

The African giant snail, also called as the giant tiger land snail, is the largest snail from its family. The Giant Ghana snail is native to the forest of Ghana, Africa. Those snails are hermaphrodites, like almost all pulmonate gastropods. The shells of these snails grow s to  18 centimeters of length with a  diameter of 9 centimeters, however, there are also bigger examples.

Those snails lives in tropical condition where they do not have natural enemies. Each of those gigantic snails  lays up to twelve hundred eggs per year  that causing a big problem in natural habitat for the other, normal size snails that we have used to.

The size does matter in this case, the Giant Tiger snail demolish around 500 kinds of plants and they also eat the stucco and paint on buildings. Those things cause that the local tree snails  are threatened or to become extinct.

Image sources from Flickr: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11.

There are a variety of tattoo designs available for any part of the body. Some people may prefer to have their ears tattooed. However, there are many pros and cons of having your ears tattooed.

Ears are small and can be easily tattooed. Sometimes you could even hide the tattoo if your hairs are long. A tattoo on the ear gives you a stylish and funky look. It doesn’t take too long to tattoo on an ear as compared to other parts of the body. Therefore, ears can be tattooed in little or no time.

Some people may prefer to have a message tattooed under the ear. You could also have your favorite design tattooed on the earlobe. Some tattoos also go well with ear piercings.

A tattoo on the ear may also cost you dearly. If not taken proper care, the tattoo could cause infection and consequent mutilation of the skin in that area.

A London-based artist, Ben Turnbull born in 1974 and expelled from two schools where he used to spent time drawing and carving out some exquisite caricatures on to a desk which today had led him to be one of the controversial artists with his controversial works, surely knows how to make strong impact with his art.

His main focus has mostly been America as he is fascinated by the global dominance of the American political system. His work that resembles the children’s toys mainly depicts the prevalence of violence in society today, as his wood carvings are mainly of different guns and weapons which surely attract one’s attention.

Via BenTurnbull.

The 70’s era saw many innovative playground structures. Do you remember that Miracle Fun house or the Earth Tone barrel of fun? The Miracle fun house is made out of wooden planks and fiber glass enclosure. This way the run for fun activity is kept safely inside the Miracle Fun House. Here fitness is combined with fun.

Those days playgrounds had lots of features for tiny tots too. Humpty dumpty house is a rolling house specially designed for tiny tots who are not ready for bigger games. This has smooth corner ends and is made of fiber glass planks. It also has a safety guard on bearings and wheels. Big kids can’t fit in these houses, thus only small kids can enjoy the Humpty dumpty house of fun.

Playgrounds also housed a variety of See Saws, Giganta a fun producing Robotic structure, Lunar Lander and Snails. These features make playgrounds a fun area for kids and invite them to come in and have fun.

Via DivineCaroline.