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By  Leilani LifeBuzz Staff The need for elevators has existed for longer than you might think. In 236 B.C., the Greek mathematician Archimedes designed a rudimentary elevator using ropes and a rotating spindle called a capstan. The Romans used a hauling device called a winch and counterweights to lift gladiators and animals up to the arena for battle. Transporting goods, people, and livestock were some of the main reasons there was a need for these early shafts. Another reason included privacy. Louis XV had a few contraptions called the flying chair, for his mistress, and the flying table, for private dining affairs. The modern elevator had its beginnings in the early 1800s, and by 1853, American industrialist Elisha Graves Otis introduced something spectacular at the New York Crystal Palace exposition: an elevator with a safety feature that broke the cab's fall in case the ropes broke, a common problem at the time. Four years later, the first passenger el...

Feb 5, 2014 While we often think of our bodies and minds as two distinct entities, it turns out  they are much more entwined than we might assume . Researchers are continually finding evidence that the  brain has a distinct power to manipulate the body’s physiology . As these 10 examples show, the mind/body connection can  work in our favor or detriment , depending on our knowledge of a situation and our ability to  control our thoughts. 10. Drying Sheets Judging by their ability to meditate for hours on end, to abstain from food for days, and their vows of silence, most us would agree that Tibetan Monks have better control over their minds and bodies than the average person. Still, what’s particularly amazing is some of them can control physiological processes, such as blood pressure and body temperature – feats many medical doctors find astounding. In one of the most notable exhibits of their skills, a group of Tibetan monks allowed ...

By   Kaushik  Friday, October 26, 2012 Some years ago, a British engineering firm  Atkins  proposed an extravagant design for a five-star hotel located deep within a 100-meter, abandoned and half flooded pit near the base of Tianmashan Mountain in the Songjiang District of Shanghai. Construction on the 19-story, 380-room Shimao Intercontinental Hotel finally is already underway. Initially the hotel was expected to be completed by May, 2009, but construction commenced only in March early this year. The innovative design of the luxury resort hotel stands two levels higher than the rock face of the 100 meter deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guestrooms. Instead of draining what water there is in the quarry, it will be flooded to become a sunken artificial lake. Two of the hotels floors housing guest rooms and a restaurant are to be situated underwater. An artificial waterfall will plunge down in front of the hotel's facade and into the quarry, at...

By  Tiffany Mueller  on  4 Feb 2014  in  Cool Photos [  8 Comments  ] Instagram sometimes finds itself the victim of scrutinizing eyes among the realm of professional photographers and I suppose it’s not all unjust. But, the popular app also has its benefits and more and more photographers are finding creative ways to take advantage of the widespread audience it offers while others use it as a sort of documentation of their personal lives. Regardless of how you choose to use Instagram, it will always serve as a bottomless pit of inspiration, thanks to the likes of the following accounts listed here in no particular order. Drumroll please… Darryll Jones Courtesy of Darryll Jones I’ve mentioned before that I adore  miniature photography  (especially when there are storm troopers thrown into the mix) so you could only imagine my delight when I came across the work of  Darryll Jones . His  Instagram account ...