Awesome Corn

Sony shows off a prototype of its incredible Microsurgery Assistance Robot by performing surgery on a single kernel of corn. Its tiny robotic arms are controlled remotely by a surgeon, replicating their movements at 1/2 to 1/10 scale using the robot’s precision motors. The surgeon can observe the microscopic procedure via a stereoscopic OLED viewer.

Popcorn is a tasty and addictive snack food most associated with carnivals and movies. But who first discovered that certain kinds of corn would pop when heated, and how did popcorn eventually make its way to the concession stand? Find out in this brief history lesson from TEDEd.

During an interview with Julian Shapiro-Barnum of Recess Therapy, a seven-year-old boy named Tariq charmed the entire world with his enthusiasm for corn on the cob. Now this viral video has been transformed into a song by schmoyoho, aka The Gregory Brothers. We can’t imagine a more beautiful thing.

Removing corn kernels from the cob can be an arduous and time-consuming task. But not so for Handy Geng, who built himself a ridiculously over-engineered machine that spews out corn kernels by the hundreds after loading up its magazine. He probably should invest in a bigger basket though.

If you’ve ever been tempted to stand atop a pile of corn (huh?) watch this video and learn why you never want to attempt such a stunt. Though you might be able to get out quickly if they just microwaved the whole bin.