Latest news with #EmpireStateBuilding
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Scientist calculates the size of a MEATBALL made from the entire human race - and it's a lot smaller than you think
It's the kind of question you might propose after a few too many wines at a dinner party. How big would a meatball made from the entire human race be? A mathematician has revealed the answer - and it's a lot smaller than you probably think. According to the unnamed expert, who goes by @kiwi2703 on Reddit, the meatball would only be about 0.6 miles (one kilometre) wide. To put that into persepective, that's around 2.5 times as tall as New York's Empire State Building, or around three times the size of Paris' Eiffel Tower. The calculations have shocked users - with many surprised at how small the human meatball is. 'Doesn't really look all that big for 7.8 billion people,' one user commented, while another said: 'Thought it would be bigger.' Meanwhile, one baffled user simply asked: 'Are you okay?' The mathematician was inspired by a picture showing what it would look like if every human was in the Grand Canyon. 'I got the idea showing all humans in the Grand Canyon, which is trying to show that basically there's not really a whole lot of us if you visualize it like that,' they explained. 'But I thought that showing it as a blended human goo sphere would be more visually interesting.' To come up with a meatball size, @kiwi2703 began with some basic assumptions, including a global population of 7.88 billion people. The average human body mass was estimated at 62kg, while the denisty of the human body was set at 985 kilograms per cubic metre. From these assumptions, the mathematician was able to calculate exactly how big the human meatball would be. 'If you blended all 7.88 billion people on Earth into a fine goo (density of a human = 985 kg/m3, average human body mass = 62 kg), you would end up with a sphere of human goo just under 1 km wide,' they wrote. As if things couldn't get stranger, the expert also made a visualisation of how the meatball would look in the middle of New York's Central Park. The mathematician was inspired by a picture showing what it would look like if every human was in the Grand Canyon Amazed Redditors flocked to the comments, with over 3,300 responses at the time of writing. 'I'm in this photo and I don't like it,' one user joked. Another called the meatball the 'forbidden pomegranate seed', while one compared it to a 'cursed jawbreaker'. 'Doing the math is one thing, but creating a visualization that's is what's concerning,' one quipped. And another joked: 'so, what your saying is, humans are really just earth's giant hemorrhoid?'
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Saudi Arabia's Mega-City Neom Could Change Weather Patterns, Warns Insider
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's dream project, Neom -- a futuristic, zero-carbon city, could alter weather patterns and the path of wind and sand storms, a leading climate activist associated with the project has claimed. Donald Wuebbles, a University of Illinois professor of atmospheric science, who serves as a paid adviser to Neom, told the Financial Times that the $500 billion project and its lofty architectural plans could destabilise the region's environment. "Part of my concern was, what impact is The Line and those [projects] going to have on the local environment. You start affecting the local weather and climate," said Mr Wuebbles. The project has been facing delays and surging costs owing to its grand scale, which most experts have dubbed unrealistic. The Line, its centrepiece, was envisioned as a futuristic city stretching 170 kilometres across the desert, housed within two parallel skyscrapers taller than the Empire State Building. However, the sheer scale has proved overwhelming for the developers. The original plan to build 16 km of The Line by 2030 was highly ambitious and had to be later revised down to 2.4 km, with only a half-mile section, including a stadium -- expected by 2034. The Line's 1,640-foot height makes construction difficult, and Neom officials suggested lowering it to 1,000 feet to cut costs. The Crown Prince rejected this, insisting on finding savings elsewhere. Not-so-sustainable city Mr Wuebbles said he repeatedly raised the issue about the linear city changing the environment and weather systems, as the damaging effects have "not been studied enough". He added that the sustainability advisory committee was informed at a recent meeting that the issue had been escalated to a "higher priority". Another member of the Neom advisory committee, who wished not to be identified, confirmed some of the concerns raised by Mr Wuebbles. Neom was meant to redefine urban living, with Crown Prince Salman comparing it to the Egyptian pyramids. However, the slow progress and rising costs have raised doubts about the feasibility of the project and its future.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Mum branded ‘Fatty Natty' sheds 9st and says ‘I'm glad fat jabs weren't around for me – I'd pick my way every time'
Lucy Laing Published: Invalid Date, WHEN Natalie Welsh's boyfriend proposed to her on top of the Empire State Building there was one thought running around her mind - she didn't want to be a fat bride. For most of her life, the 37-year-old had struggled with her weight, and recalls being nicknamed 'Fatty Natty' by school bullies. 7 7 But as soon as she said 'yes' she knew there was no way she was going to get married looking like Fatty Natty. 'I knew I had to take action,' she said. Natalie embarked on her weight loss journey before fat jabs became available, but says she wouldn't have chosen them as a way to lose weight, preferring the surgery she had instead. 'I'm glad I had the surgery, as it was the best option for me, and I would pick that again over the jabs. '85 per cent of my stomach was removed during the operation, which meant I wouldn't be able to slip back into my old habits and pile the weight back on again. 'The jabs are an accessible way to lose weight for some people, who may not be able to have weight loss surgery. 'Surgery isn't an easy option, but it was a permanent one, which I felt suited me best.' And her decision certainly paid off. As she managed to walk down the aisle on her wedding day to marry partner Darren eight stone lighter. 'Darren said I looked incredible when he saw me in my wedding dress - he'd told me that many times before, but for the first time ever, I believed it.' Natalie's battle with her weight began when she was just eight. 'I would hide away in the playground eating my sandwich and hoping no-one would spot me,' she remembers. 'But then someone would shout across the playground 'Alright Fatty Natty', and I'd turn crimson with embarrassment. "The nickname followed me all through primary school and into secondary too. 'My sweet tooth and lack of portion control were my downfalls, along with a habit of snacking.' By the time she was 15, Natalie, who lives in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, weighed a hefty 16 stone. Determined that others wouldn't suffer like she did, she decided to become a teacher, and show them that looks didn't matter. I'd find a diet, shed a few stone and feel great. But then I'd treat myself to a takeaway for tea, or scoff a packet of biscuits after a bad day, and the weight I'd lost would just pile back on Natalie Welsh But she still wanted to be a healthy role model and tried to diet, but nothing worked. 'I'd find a diet, shed a few stone and feel great. But then I'd treat myself to a takeaway for tea, or scoff a packet of biscuits after a bad day, and the weight I'd lost would just pile back on. 'It was still yo-yoing when I started working as a primary school teacher at the age of 22. I was a size 20 and weighed 17 stone. 'I would teach PE and I'd be wobbling all over, as I demonstrated star jumps. "I could still hear all those taunts of 'Fatty Natty' in my head. No matter what I did, I just couldn't stick to a diet.' After having son Harry in July 2017 she ballooned even more, and then after giving birth to daughter Ella in October 2019. She was self conscious about her size when she started dating partner Darren, 44, in 2021. 'He would tell me I looked great, but I didn't feel it,' she confessed. 'My weight was stopping me from being the mum I wanted to be. I couldn't follow the kids around on the soft play. I was too big to go up the slide after Harry and I could feel the other parents staring at me as I tried to get him to come down.' New York state of mind 7 7 7 7 Darren whisked Natalie away on a romantic trip to New York in February 2023, and proposed to her on top of the Empire State Building. She was thrilled, but knew that she had to take drastic action. She decided that diets hadn't worked in the past, so decided to have a gastric sleeve operation, where doctors would remove 85 per cent of her stomach. She found a clinic in Turkey, and spent £2600 on the operation. She said: 'I was in pain afterwards, but it didn't matter. I just thought about the new life I was going to have. I was going to be able to chase after Harry in the playground, and marry Darren in a slinky wedding dress.' She ate tiny portions, as it was all she could manage, and began losing weight fast. In six months, she had lost five stone. And by May last year, she had lost eight stone, weighing a much slimmer 9 stone 10. The couple got married in Gretna Green, and she wore a size eight wedding dress. She said: 'I felt fantastic on my wedding day - it was Fatty Natty no more. The kids love having a mum who can do more with them. And I still teach the kids at school that kindness counts, but I'm also the healthy role model that I always wanted to be.' Different types of weight loss surgery For many people who are overweight or obese, they may feel they have exhausted options for weight loss and want to try something more drastic. Weight loss surgery may be available to them on the NHS if they have a BMI over 40 and have a condition that may be improved with weight loss, such as diabetes. But the availability of these procedures largely depends on where you live in the UK. People can also pay privately. Weight loss surgery is a common and safe procedure. However, as with any operation, there are risks, such as a blood clot, a band slipping out of place, a stomach infection, gallstones and excessive skin from weight loss that in most cases, won't be removed on the NHS. In all of the following options, the space in the stomach is reduced, therefore a person feels fuller after eating less food. They lose weight as a result. However, it is necessary for them to also learn good eating habits and have a healthy balanced diet, too. Gastric bypass The stomach is divided into two using a staple. The smaller part is connected to the intestines, effectively cutting how much space there is in the stomach by half. The operation takes around two hours. Gastric band A band is tied around the top of the stomach and inflated so that it tightens. The operation takes three to four hours. Gastric balloon Patients swallow an empty balloon which is attached to a tube. The balloon is filled with water via the tube, taking around 20 minutes, so that it fills around two-thirds of the stomach space. Sleeve gastrectomy Around 80 per cent of the stomach is removed in surgery to make it much smaller and a sleeve shape. The operation takes between one and three hours.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Manhattanhenge Through a Lens: Tips for Getting the Perfect Shot
Photographer Gary Hershorn hasn't missed a Manhattanhenge in more than a decade. Each year he joins the crowds attempting to capture the fleeting moment when the setting sun perfectly aligns with the island's grid. Over the years he has watched the city and the spectacle transform from behind his lens. 'It's one of those crazy New York events that capture everybody's attention,' he said. Mr. Hershorn, who is the director of photography for ABC News Digital, shared his best tips for capturing the celestial phenomenon, which is scheduled to happen Wednesday and Thursday night shortly after 8 p.m. The sun and the city's grid should align Wednesday evening beginning around 8:13 p.m., but Manhattanhenge will be hard to capture because the forecast calls for overcast skies and rain. Tonight is a 'bust,' Mr. Hershorn said. He may try tomorrow night instead, when there should be some sun come sunset. And if that doesn't work, there will be a second Manhattanhenge in July. Mr. Hershorn recommends viewing Manhattanhenge on a double wide street that has traffic in both directions, such as 14th Street, 34th Street or 42nd Street. He used to shoot along 34th Street to capture the Empire State Building in the foreground of his photos, but the construction of Hudson Yards obscured the view. The same went for 57th Street, a once-good vantage point now encroached upon by the newly built skyscrapers along Billionaire's Row. That leaves 42nd Street. The Park Avenue bridge next to Grand Central Terminal in Pershing Square provides elevation and a good view down the street, but is open to traffic, which means police officers will often shoo away crowds of spectators (and photographers), Mr. Hershorn said. His preferred perch is on a one-way bridge across 42nd Street between First and Second Avenue, though it has suffered from a narrowing perspective over the years, as trees on either of the street have grown larger, rendering what was once 100 feet of view into 25 feet. Also, as Instagram became more popular, the bridge became more hectic during Manhattanhenge. 'Ten or 12 years ago, you could walk up to that bridge an hour before Manhattanhenge happened, find a spot and have no problem doing it,' Mr. Hershorn said. 'In today's world, people are up there at like 9 in the morning.' When Manhattanhenge occurs during the winter, Mr. Hershorn gets a sunrise version by shooting from Weehawken in New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The cliffs on the Jersey side give him the elevated perspective he looks for, and the sunrise effect is the same, he said. Long Island City in Queens, on the other side of the city, should work the same way for the sunset version of Manhattanhenge, but according to Mr. Hershorn, the United Nations headquarters on 42nd Street takes up too much of the foreground in the photos. 'It's one of those moments where the phone can actually produce a better quality image than a camera does,' Mr. Hershorn said. On a camera, adjusting the exposure for the shadows makes the sun too bright, and adjusting the exposure for the sun makes it impossible to see the street. But on a smartphone, a setting called HDR, or High Dynamic Range, balances the light better than a traditional camera. The sun is the star of Manhattanhenge, but the people it brings out can be just as interesting. 'It's a scene that you want to capture,' Mr. Hershorn said. 'It's a scene that you want to be a part of, like a party.' During this time, 42nd Street becomes 'hysterical,' he said, filled with honking taxi cabs and commuters trying to pick through the crowds. 'All I want to say to them is, just stop your life for five minutes and watch,' Mr. Hershorn said. 'Don't be in such a hurry to get somewhere. The people are not moving. So calm down, open your car door, stand up and just watch.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Muskingum River reopens to navigation; May 31 celebration includes free rides, family fun
COLUMBUS — The Muskingum River Parkway is set to fully reopen for navigation for the first time since 2020. According to an announcement from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the reopening of Rokeby Lock No. 8 will restore full navigational access from Marietta to Zanesville. A celebration is planned for 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 31 at McConnelsville Lock No. 7, 698 E. Riverside Drive, McConnelsville. The event will feature free pontoon boat rides, offered by ODNR's Division of Parks and Watercraft staff. Pontoon boat rides are weather and water-level dependent. In the event of high river levels due to recent rainfall, rides may be canceled for safety. 'Restoring navigation to the entire length of the Muskingum is about more than boats on the water,' said ODNR Director Mary Mertz in the release. 'It's about preserving a remarkable piece of our heritage and celebrating the communities and families who've cherished this river for generations.' The Muskingum River State Park is home to one of the nation's last remaining systems of hand-operated locks, according to the announcement. Ten of the 11 original locks remain in operation, allowing recreational boaters to travel from Marietta to Zanesville. The locks and dams were constructed in the 1800s under the direction of West Point graduate Major Samuel Curtis. By 1841, the system connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal, ushering in an era of prosperity for towns along the waterway. Stockport Lock #6 is another stop along the Muskingum River that is open to boaters. In 2001, the system was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, placing it alongside American engineering marvels like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building and Hoover Dam, according to the announcement. With navigation from the Ohio River through Zanesville Lock #10 restored, ODNR invites Ohioans to rediscover this historic waterway and experience the same scenic beauty and cultural richness that once drew settlers, traders and riverboat pilots to its banks nearly two centuries ago. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Restoration of lock will allow boaters to travel Muskingum River again
