The National Academy of Sciences provides the entertainment industry professionals with access to top scientists and engineers to help bring the reality of cutting-edge science to creative and engaging storyline; Guest blogger E. Paul Zehr discusses what it would really take to become Batman. Could a real world superhero ever exist? more »

“Twenty Ten” trips easily off the tongue, although only marginally quicker to say than “Two Thousand and Ten.” At this point, either term seems acceptable. I suspect, however, that by Two Thousand and Sixty-six, we’ll be in the “Twenty Sixty-six” mode. We’d better just hope that we have no Battle of Hastings of our own to mark it. (At least not until for a very long time). more »

I AM about to sketch the history and character of one of those extraordinary men, whom Providence, from time to time, raises up for the accomplishment of great, benign, and far-reaching results. more »

A more intriguing and event-oriented 1914 puzzle from England was the Niagara Puzzle with File and Compass. The player was directed to "Roll all the balls from the bank into the whirlpool (hole). The hack saw blade and the compass, along with a map, were hidden inside Journet puzzles that were sent to British soldiers in German prison camps during WWI to help them escape." more »