The Door To Hell
In 1971, a group of geologists working in a tiny Turkmenistan village called Derweze, accidentally stumbled across a subterranean cavern after the ground in which they were drilling for natural gas collapsed. Unsure what gases were escaping from within and concerned that it was in fact toxic, the geologists made the decision to set the gas alight, as burning gas is safer and more environmentally friendly than allowing it to be released into the atmosphere.
Little did they know that setting the gas alight would lead to the crater of natural gas to continue burning strong some 35 years later. To this day, the Darvaza (“the gate” in Turkmen language) has shown no sign of burning out. It is unknown how many metric tonnes of natural gas has been burned over the past three decades, nor is it known how many decades more it will continue to burn. The prediction is at least another 100 years.
An impressive 60 metres in diameter and more than 20 metres deep, the locals of Derweze call it the Door To Hell. By nighttime, the Darvaza’s glow can be seen from a long distance, giving the image of being a literal door to Hell. Moths, spiders and insects are drawn in the thousands to the Darvaza’s mesmerising glow. The heat produced by the burning gas is so intense that one cannot stand near the edge of the Door to Hell for more than a few seconds.
(via dancing-in-quicksand)
Say goodbye to the rest of your Friday. And maybe some of the next day. Fun interactive solar-system exploration website … fly like a spaceship.
(Source: jtotheizzoe)
Last night’s dinner included dates stuffed with brie and wrapped in prosciutto, fried little golf balls of mango and jalapeno risotto, ginger-coriander-cinnamon pork spring rolls with raw bean sprouts, asparagus, carrots, and green onions with a dipping sauce (randomly thrown together after rummaging the fridge) of peanut butter, coconut jam, hoisin sauce, and spicy hunan sauce, 4 piglets (pork roasts) stuffed with apples, thyme, and cranberries served with potatoes, carrots and parsnips, cheesy/creamy scalloped potatoes, 3 massive cheese balls (about 4 pounds) of 1) goat’s cheese and scallions covered in parsley, 2) roquefort and pecans, 3) cheddar and cranberries (all cheeses mixed with a base of cream cheese, worcestershire sauce, and sriracha sauce), and finally strawberries, blackberries and raspberries all soaked for the day in LOTS of anisette liqueur and sugar, served with vanilla ice cream and wafer chocolate straws (aka the “boozy berry” dish). And vanilla amber ale, chocolate stout, industrial strength cider, pomegranate brown ale, and lots and lots of wine.
It’s ok to be jealous.
Photo by Elizabeth Kurtulik
Original version from The System 475: Bad News Flares
Relationships can be tough. Ending them can be even tougher. Hence this handy chart I developed to help keep you out of trouble. Trust me, you want to stay below the “breakup barrier”.
The original version had “snail mail” first and in person second, the rationale being that civil war letters and such were pretty damn sincere. But then I remembered what passes for mail nowadays, so ‘eff that noise.
Einstein vs Stephen Hawking -Epic Rap Battles of History #7 (by nicepeter)
(via jtotheizzoe)
How appropriate! I’ve been craving a champagne and macaroon moment all day today!
(Source: dirtyprettything)
Hello, World! Don’t forget to say Happy 100th Birthday to YouTube today!
“29th June
Dear Val, Jhon, Peter and Lesslie,
This may seem very strange, but I think I no how to make people or animals alive. Why Im teling you is because I cant get the things I need. A list of what I need.
1. Diagram of how evreything works. [inside youre body.]
2. Model of a heart split in half. [both halvs.]
3. The sort of sering they yous for cleaning ears. [Tsering must be very very clean.]
4. Tools for cutting people open.
5. Tools for stiches.
6. Fiberglass box, 8 foot tall, 3 foot width. [DIAGRAM]
7. Picture of a man showing all the arteries.
Sorry but in number 6 in the list the box needs lid. If you do get them on 1st March I can pay £10, £11, £12, £13 or £14. Send your answer to me,
Love from Anthony, London, NW11”
The child who wrote this grew up to be a part of the first implantation of an artificially-grown natural windpipe in a human being. No matter how young, we should always encourage the children.
(from Letters of Note: I think I no how to make people or animals alive)
(via jtotheizzoe)






