Awesome Etc

The Slow Mo Guys were joined by Scott from Kentucky Ballistics to test how destructive a .577 Tyrannosaur rifle cartridge is by firing it at close range into thick blocks of ballistic gel. It’s amazing (and terrifying) to see how the bullets deform the gel and the destructive forces at work. No wonder they say these things can stop an elephant.

The Earth’s oceans are filled with harmful plastics. So, if you’re going to use a straw, make it biodegradable or reusable. All Process of World takes us inside a Korean factory to show us how they crank out millions of these eco-friendly straws every day by heating and extruding a biodegradable polymer. It’s basically one really long straw until they chop it up.

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside your freezer’s ice machine when it’s making all those clacking noises? Instagrammer povsadventures used his Insta360 GO 3 camera to capture the mechanism in action as it detects when the door is closed, fills the tray with water, checks the temperature, and then dumps ice cubes into the bin.

Duct tape is an incredibly useful and versatile tool for repairs. Engineer Guy Bill Hammack provides a scientific explanation of what makes it so strong, examining its three main components and how the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. You’ll also learn about the complexities of developing adhesives for different uses.

You might think that pigeons are dumb birds that poop on statues, but these avians are so much more than their “rats with wings” reputation. Ze Frank explains what pigeons are up to when they bob their heads, their mating habits, their trainability, and how they have a really good sense of direction.

This handsome leather wallet from Jack Archer is perfect for guitarists. In addition to stashing your cards and cash, it’s got a special slot that holds a guitar pick. On its opposite side, you’ll find a slot for your ID. Stitched from full-grain leather and available in brown or black.

The James Brand teamed up with Timex to create this impressive wristwatch. It has a 41mm titanium case, a Miyota automatic movement with a GMT hand, and a sapphire crystal. Super-LumiNova coatings on its hands and hour markers make it easy to read at night. It’s also available in a bundle with the Chapter 2 titanium knife and Burwell titanium pen.

The Middle Aged Dad Jam Band is a group comprised of directors, producers, writers, and other show-biz pals. Despite their silly name, they prove they’ve got serious musical chops with this cover of Billy Joel’s Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Actor Ken Marino shines on vocals, Jon Spurney kicks butt on the keys, and yes, that’s Weird Al on the accordion.

NEBO’s SL100 spotlight can cast a beam up that’s visible from up to 1 mile away. It combines a white/red COB LED light with a laser-excited phosphor (LEP) module to achieve its impressive beam distance. Its aluminum case is wrapped in PA66 nylon and rubber for grip and has magnet, belt clip, and tripod mounting options.

While the use of physical currency continues to dwindle, there’s still a need for coins to be produced. Process X takes us on an in-depth tour of Japan’s only coin factory for a look at how they make coins. The Osaka mint produces six kinds of coins, from aluminum 1 yen coins to the copper, nickel, and zinc 500 yen coins shown in the video.

Half as Interesting simplifies the math behind the underhanded free throw, AKA the granny shot. Popularized by NBA legend Rick Barry, the shot makes players shoot significantly better in exchange for looking like they don’t know what they’re doing. Even the greatest of stat stuffers couldn’t bear to stick with it. It’s a fun reminder of human nature.

Here’s one for the gearheads. Let’s Learn Something built one of the craziest engines ever. He started with ten 2-stroke engines – the kind found in mopeds – disassembled them, then welded together their blocks. He then cut the whole thing in half to insert a ridiculously long crankshaft to drive its pistons. The finished inline-10 engine is a sight to behold.

Red Bull skydivers Marco Fürst and Marco Waltenspiel arrived in London, England, in the most dramatic way. They jumped from a helicopter over the River Thames and headed right for the city’s iconic Tower Bridge. After flying through their target, they used the winds to increase altitude so they could open their parachutes and safely land on floating platforms.

Ships of all sizes need propellers to move through the water. Process X takes us on a tour of Japan’s Mikawa Propeller Co., Ltd., a factory that makes precision marine propellers by casting bronze in sand. After the melting and casting process, workers remove excess sand, painstakingly grind away excess metal, and polish propellers to a smooth finish.

Decorated with rainbows and unicorns, this wild-looking vehicle serves a practical purpose. CB Media takes a look at the tractors some farmers in Thailand use to harvest rice. These custom-built turbo-diesel machines ride on tank tracks, can turn on a dime, and keep their driver elevated above marshy rice fields. They’re not exactly environmentally friendly.

The best way to cut styrofoam is with a hot wire cutter. These tools usually have a single wire, but someone arranged a bunch of hot wires into a grid to produce a superbly satisfying video. Each time they set a sheet of styrofoam on top of the heated grid, it slides through like butter, creating dozens of foam cubes. We can only imagine the melted plastic fumes.