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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.109

Happy Father's Day! Everyone knows who the world's best dad is – yours! Speaking of the best, check out this amazing list of the world's most superlative trees. There are some real gems in this collection. Connecting these dots would be an incredible trip indeed.

A GUIDE TO SUPERLATIVE TREES (infographic)

If your dad is an avid cyclist and you're looking for the perfect gift to give him next year, consider the TwiCycle. Featuring arm-cranks attached to a front wheel gear, this unique ride offers a full body workout. Watch the promo video!

FULL BODY BICYCLE WORKOUT (video)

Have you ever seen a tree droop at night? Researchers in Austria, Finland, and Hungary studied birch trees using lasers and found something fascinating: trees may sleep. You'll have to click the link below for details.

TREES SLEEP AT NIGHT (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.103

There are a lot of rules governing the production of road bicycles, especially those used in races like the Tour de France. Standardized dimensions, materials, and functionality are set by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), and must be strictly followed. One designer, Robert Egger of Specialized, decided to throw all of that out the window and push the limits of possibility. Behold the fruits of his labor, the FUCI. Yes, the name means what you think it means.

SPECIALIZED CONCEPT BIKE (video/article)

Speaking of rules, did you know that all trees break at essentially the same windspeed? 94/mph. Explore why at the link below.

HOW WIND BREAKS TREES (short article)

Trees give us so many edible delights. What better place to plan a foodie expedition than in the forest? Check out The Forager, a bicycle that enables you to scout, prepare, and consume the bounty that awaits.

ULTIMATE FOODIE BIKE (photos/article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.101

NASA is using a system of satellite and lasers to create a 3D map of the world's forests in order to determine the amount of carbon dioxide that they encapsulate. The system they've devised, called "lidar," is phenomenal, and is the latest advancement in tree cartography. Learn more below.

NASA USES SPACE LASERS TO MAP FORESTS (article)

Norway is investing $1 billion to create a system of two-lane bicycle highways that connect the country's nine largest cities. The hope is that this new infrastructure will greatly reduce the impact of emissions, and the goal is for at least 10% of journeys to occur by bicycle in 2030. We hope it works!

NORWAY SPENDS $1 BILLION ON BICYCLE HIGHWAYS (essay)

Architects in Ho Chi Minh City were asked to create a new university campus. Taking into account the rapid urban sprawl and takeover of the natural environment, one group created a beautiful design that purposefully invokes a city overrun by vegetation. Seems almost post-apocalyptic. After seeing the photo spread, we definitely want to attend this university!

FOREST CAMPUS IN HO CHI MINH CITY (photo essay)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.96

Living Lands, a nonprofit organization, has pulled together a powerful group of partners to plant 3.7 million trees in South Africa to combat desertification, an issue that affects 168 countries across the globe. Learn about how trees act as a form of insurance to protect against land degradation and restore watersheds.

PLANTING TREES IN SOUTH AFRICA (article)

A Detroit-based company called Shinola has a beautiful city bike on the market. Experts at leatherwork, their bicycles employ a number of strong characteristics that were forged over the years in the motor city. Beautiful design!

SHINOLA BICYCLES FROM DETROIT (photo essay)

Interested in the science behind urban tree health? The article below is a great resource regarding the latest and greatest. Geek out.

URBAN TREE HEALTH (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.90

The Fortingall Yew, a 5,000-year-old tree in Scotland, is changing from male to female. This year, for the first time, it produced berries instead of pollen. How is that possible? You'll have to read the story to find out!

THE SEX-CHANGING YEW (short article)

Equally amazing is Red Bull's latest video with BMX cyclist Kriss Kyle. Travel deep into a series of optical illusions that are certain to boggle your mind.

KALEIDOSCOPE (video)

As it turns out, humans have underestimated trees completely. Researches have found some amazing specimens among the estimated three trillion that populate the planet, and have noticed what some describe as signs of intelligent life. They argue that coming to a deeper understanding of their ways may even help us solve some of the toughest problems we currently face. A great read!

HUMANS UNDERESTIMATE TREES (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.89

Beth Moon, an aptly-named photographer from San Francisco, spent the last 14 years photographing the world's oldest trees illuminated by starlight. As she explains, "the series was inspired by two fascinating scientific studies that connect tree growth with celestial movement and astral cycles." Her series of photos is an absolute must see.

OLDEST TREES BY STARLIGHT (photo essay)

This fun, short video starts with a woman walking a baby carriage down the street, then takes an unexpected turn. That's a sweet sidecar!

PRAM CAR - 1951 (video)

Finally, a scientific study that validates tree hugging! Not only is having direct contact with trees good for your health, so is merely seeing them. It also helps with cognitive development and brain function. If you had any doubts, put your mind at ease with this article. Then, go outside and hug a tree. 

TREE HUGGING SCIENTIFICALLY VALIDATED (article)

Indian billionaire Manoj Bhargava has a simple solution for the 1.3 billion people living without electricity in the world: ride one of his bikes! 60 minutes of effort on the Free Electric hybrid bike will power a home for 24 hours. Exercise and electricity? Take our money!

PEDAL POWER (article/video)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.88

We start off this week with a simple entry: a seriously awesome downhill run on a beautiful mountain by Brandon Semenuk. Smile.

DOWNHILL RUN (video)

Trees have a major impact on urban landscapes. Many people know they provide shade, food, oxygen, and animal habitats, but there are other, lesser known, benefits. Can you guess what they are? HINT: we've posted a couple of related articles in recent weeks.

BENEFITS OF THE URBAN FOREST (article)

Last month, a redesigned intersection opened in Salt Lake City, UT, to the joy of local cyclists. Touted as the best intersection for bikes in the world, this novel idea sprouted from the mind of a professional video game designer. Hopefully, it will be the first of many!

THE BEST INTERSECTION FOR BIKES (photo essay/video)

Feeling a bit lethargic now that fall is in full swing and temperatures have dropped? There's good news! A campaign from National Wildlife Federation is promoting the concept of leaving the leaves, as in, no raking. It's good for the soil, trees, and wildlife. That leaves more time to ride your bike.

DON'T RAKE YOUR LEAVES (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.86

Over the years, numerous studies have shown that a walk through the woods, or "forest bath" as Japanese doctors describe it, is a great way to reduce stress and fatigue. However, a new study out of Australia takes that notion one step further. Believe it or not, even gazing for a moment at something green outside of your office window will calm you down and help you focus. Give it a try tomorrow at work!

GREEN BREAKS FOR YOUR BRAIN (article)

What's the difference between fall in North America and fall in Europe? One word: RED. Finnish and Israeli scientists followed a trail of research that led them back in time 35 million years in order to answer what brought about this striking difference in foliage.

DIFFERENCES IN FALL FOLIAGE (video)

One man, obsessed with the history of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, decided the only way he could fully understand the story was to retrace John Wilkes Booth's 12-day run from the authorities after having shot the President at Ford's Theater. Lacking a horse, he realized the best way to do it was by bike. Follow his fascinating journey of discovery.

BIKING AFTER BOOTH (article)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.79

New Zealand BMX cyclist Jed Milton just set a new world record, becoming the first person to land a quadruple backflip. This video, courtesy of Nitro Circus, is unreal. Nothing like a little friendly competition to push boundaries!

QUADRUPLE BACKFLIP (video)

Bicycles have played a number of key roles throughout the last century, serving as everything from military transportation to an emblem of the women's rights movement in the US. National Geographic gathered 16 shots that really put historical context to our favorite machine. Cycle through!

A CENTURY OF CYCLING (photos)

What is a tree worth? Would it surprise you to know that a new study found that an additional ten trees on a given clock corresponds to a one-percent increase in how healthy nearby residents felt? Every little bit helps! This builds upon a thread we originally mentioned in SS&Tvol76. Read more about the many benefits of our green friends at the link below.

WHAT A TREE IS WORTH (essay)

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SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.78

Have you ever wondered what keeps a bicycle upright, or how a riderless bike can travel a solid distance without falling? Some feel they understand the basic physics involved, but the true answers might surprise you. Take a minute to learn something new.

THE PHYSICS OF A BICYCLE (video)

Ten years ago, Rob McBride, an IT specialist from Shropshire, England, was saved by a newfound fascination with trees. Now, he returns the favor by participating in Ancient Tree Hunt, an effort to catalogue and preserve the oldest trees in the UK. Read his inspiring story below.

TREES SAVE A MAN, MAN SAVES THE TREES (photo essay)

The future has arrived! Imagine never again having a flat tire, or needing to change one. The Energy Return Wheel, an airless prototype, offers that possibility and so much more. Check it out!

ENERGY RETURN WHEEL (article)