DecoR BHAI (2025)

30/11/2025

Most people think barcode scanners read the black bars, but they actually measure the white spaces between them. A red laser or LED light shines on the code, and a sensor detects how much light reflects back. Black bars absorb light (low reflection), while white spaces reflect a lot (high reflection). The scanner measures the width of these bright and dark areas to decode the pattern into numbers.

This works because the timing and thickness of the reflections create a unique waveform that matches standard barcode rules (like UPC or EAN). Even if the bars are dirty or damaged, clean white spaces often still give an accurate read.

This design makes scanning fast, reliable, and forgiving — key reasons barcodes revolutionized retail checkout since the 1970s.

Understanding this helps explain why faded or scratched barcodes can still work, and why modern systems are moving to 2D codes and camera-based scanning.

30/11/2025

In the United States, buying a firearm is often quick: in many states, an adult with a clean record can walk into a store, pass an instant federal background check (usually 5–20 minutes), pay, and leave with a rifle or shotgun the same day. Handguns may take slightly longer, but private sales at gun shows or online can sometimes skip even the check.
In contrast, countries like Japan, Australia, the UK, and most of Europe require police interviews, safety training, medical checks, safe-storage inspections, and waiting periods that stretch from weeks to months.
This difference comes from the U.S. Second Amendment protecting the right to bear arms, while most nations treat gun ownership as a privilege needing strict controls. Debates continue over whether quick access saves lives (self-defense) or costs them (impulse violence and accidents).
Understanding these rules matters because they shape gun violence rates, personal safety, and public policy worldwide.

29/11/2025

Antarctica, the coldest and most remote continent, has no permanent residents or banks, making everyday financial access a big challenge for the 1,000 or so scientists and staff at research stations during summer.
In 1998, Wells Fargo installed two ATMs at McMurdo Station, the largest U.S. base, to dispense U.S. dollars for small purchases like snacks or souvenirs. One operates while the other provides spare parts, connected via satellite for secure transactions. This setup works because cash is recycled locally, with no need for frequent restocking.
These ATMs are the only ones on the continent, serving up to 1,100 people in peak season. A 2025 upgrade by Diebold Nixdorf improved reliability in the harsh cold.
Maintaining them is tough due to extreme weather and isolation—technicians need medical clearance and may get stranded. Yet, they boost morale by offering a taste of normal life.
This highlights how ingenuity meets isolation in polar science and could inspire remote banking solutions for space or deep-sea outposts.

29/11/2025

The Antonov An-225 Mriya, meaning "Dream" in Ukrainian, was the world's heaviest aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640,000 kg—far surpassing the Boeing 747's 447,700 kg. Built in 1988 by the Soviet Union, only one was completed to carry the Buran space shuttle.

Its massive size came from a stretched fuselage, six powerful D-18T turbofan engines, and 32-wheel landing gear for stability. The wide wings (88.4 m span) and reinforced structure allowed it to lift up to 250 tonnes of payload, like satellites or wind turbine blades.

It set 240 world records, including the heaviest single flight (640 tonnes) and longest cargo (106 m). Tragically, the sole An-225 was destroyed by Russian forces in February 2022 during Ukraine's invasion, at Hostomel Airport.

Rebuilding efforts are underway using parts from a second unfinished plane, estimated at $500 million. This feat highlights human engineering limits and the need for irreplaceable assets in global logistics.

27/11/2025

Google encourages short naps at work by providing "EnergyPods"—futuristic reclining chairs with privacy visors, gentle lighting, and built-in speakers that play relaxing sounds and wake employees after 20 minutes.
The company follows science showing a 10–20-minute power nap boosts alertness, memory, and creativity while reducing stress and errors. Google, along with firms like Nike and NASA, adopted this after studies proved nappers perform up to 34% better on cognitive tests.
Employees book pods through an internal system; usage is voluntary and limited to protect real rest time. The program started in Google’s early days and now exists in many global offices.
It matters because it challenges old "no sleeping at work" rules and proves treating employees like humans increases productivity and happiness. More companies worldwide are copying the idea, helping shift workplace culture toward health-focused policies.

27/11/2025

In 1956, IBM launched the 305 RAMAC—the world’s first commercial hard disk drive. The massive machine weighed over one ton, was the size of two large refrigerators, and stored just 5 megabytes of data on 50 spinning 24-inch disks.
Data was read and written by a moving arm that flew over the disks at high speed—groundbreaking technology that replaced slow tape and punch cards. Those 5 MB were enough for about one million punched cards or one low-resolution photo today.
The first unit was delivered in 1957 and rented for $3,200 per month (about $35,000 today). It revolutionized business computing, letting companies access information in seconds instead of hours.
This giant step started the incredible shrinking of storage: from 5 MB in a room-sized unit to 5 terabytes in your pocket today. It shows how far technology has come and inspires continued innovation in data storage.

26/11/2025

In Susami Bay, Japan, the world’s deepest underwater postbox sits 10 meters below the surface. Installed in 2002 by the local postmaster to boost tourism, it is a fully working red mailbox where divers drop waterproof postcards and letters.
A local diver collects the mail daily, brings it to the surface, dries it, and the post office stamps and delivers it worldwide — over 40,000 pieces of mail so far. The special "diver postmark" makes each card a unique souvenir.
The mailbox is made of rust-resistant material and bolted to the seabed. It has survived typhoons and earthquakes, proving its strong design.
This quirky attraction shows how creativity can turn a small fishing town into a global diving destination and keeps the romance of sending real letters alive in the digital age.

26/11/2025

WonderWorks is a chain of upside-down adventure museums, with the most famous one in Orlando, Florida. The entire building is deliberately built inverted — roof on the ground, foundation in the air — to create a powerful optical illusion that looks like a giant storm lifted and flipped a classic mansion.
Architects achieved this by constructing a normal steel frame, then attaching all exterior walls, columns, and decorations upside-down. Inside, everything (furniture, exhibits, ceilings) is also reversed at first, before transitioning to normal rooms. The effect tricks the brain using forced perspective and familiar architectural cues turned backward.
Opened in 1998, WonderWorks now has locations in six U.S. cities and attracts millions who come for the photo opportunity and over 100 hands-on science exhibits inside.
It shows how clever design can turn a simple visual trick into a global tourist attraction and make learning fun.

23/11/2025

In 1964, American engineer Douglas Engelbart invented the first computer mouse as part of his vision to make computers easier to use. His wooden prototype, nicknamed "the mouse" because of its tail-like cord, held two metal wheels that rolled on the desk and tracked X-Y movement.
When you moved the device, the wheels turned perpendicular potentiometers, sending electrical signals to the computer to move an on-screen pointer. Engelbart first demonstrated it publicly in 1968 during "The Mother of All Demos," alongside video conferencing and hypertext — ideas decades ahead of their time.
The original mouse had only one button and was bulky, but it proved that direct pointing was far better than typing commands. This simple invention revolutionized human-computer interaction and made graphical interfaces possible.
Today’s optical and wireless mice evolved directly from Engelbart’s wooden box. Understanding its history reminds us how one small idea can transform the way billions of people work and live every day.

23/11/2025

Mobile games can act as a form of distraction therapy that helps reduce both physical pain and symptoms of depression. When people play engaging games, their brain focuses attention on the game instead of on pain signals or negative thoughts, lowering perceived pain and improving mood through the release of dopamine.
Scientific studies support this: a 2021 review in JAMA showed that playing games significantly reduced chronic pain in patients, sometimes better than medication alone. Another 2023 study from Oxford University found that playing casual mobile games for just 15 minutes daily reduced depression symptoms by 20–30% in adults, comparable to some therapy or medication effects.
Games like Candy Crush, Tetris, and PUBG Mobile have been used in hospitals to manage pain in children and burn victims. However, excessive gaming can lead to addiction or eye strain, so moderation is key.
Understanding this matters because mobile games are cheap, widely available tools that can support mental health and pain management worldwide, especially where professional care is limited.

19/11/2025

In Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, the city’s drainage canals are famous for being crystal clear and filled with hundreds of colorful koi fish. These open channels run alongside streets and houses, yet the water stays clean enough for the fish to live and grow large.
The secret is a strong natural spring that supplies millions of liters of fresh, filtered water every day, combined with strict local rules: no chemicals, no garbage, and residents actively care for the system. The koi were first introduced decades ago to eat mosquito larvae; now they are a beloved symbol of the city’s pride in cleanliness.
Visitors come from all over Japan to see the swimming fish and take photos, proving that beautiful urban nature is possible with community effort.

19/11/2025

Since 2010, Madrid’s El País shopping center has hosted Spain’s National Siesta Championship. Contestants lie on bright blue sofas in the middle of the mall and try to sleep for exactly 20 minutes while loud music, alarms, and people walking past try to keep them awake.
Judges score points for: falling asleep fastest (up to 10 points), longest continuous sleep, creative sleeping position, and funniest snoring. The winner gets €1,000 cash. The current record is sleeping 18 minutes under full noise.
The fun event celebrates Spain’s traditional afternoon nap, raises awareness about the health benefits of short sleep, and gives tired shoppers a laugh.

DecoR BHAI

30/11/2025

30/11/2025

29/11/2025

29/11/2025

27/11/2025

27/11/2025

26/11/2025

26/11/2025

23/11/2025

23/11/2025

19/11/2025

19/11/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share