Why is tame impala headlining coachella

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is arguably the most famous painting in the world. But what is it about those eyes, that smile, that has so captivated the world? Franco Origlia/Getty Images You know her, you've seen her image countless times, and you're aware of her close relationship with Beyonce and Jay-Z. But if you've ever stared at the (sort of?) smiling lady's face and wondered why in the world she's considered such a masterpiece, you're not alone. Art is after all, a subjective experience, yet the world is seemingly unanimously obsessed with Mona Lisa. So why is she such a big deal? The Origin Story First thing's first: Yes, Mona Lisa was a real person. And while scholars have debated who that person was for centuries, most believe the seated subject of Leonardo da Vinci's famous work was Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, aka La Gioconda. The Florentine lady's wealthy silk merchant husband may have commissioned the portrait to celebrate the impending birth of their child, … [Read more...] about Why Is the World So Captivated by the Mona Lisa?

Reynolds Tanner (left) and his son, Ryan, fill more than 20 gas cans at a gas station in Sebring, Fla. AP Photo/Kathy Waters Gasoline dependence, particularly in North America and Europe, stretches back more than a century -- to the dawn of the automotive age. And even though more than 100 years ago there were alternative fuels available like electricity and steam, gasoline eventually won out for being cheap and convenient -- two of the main reasons it's still so hard cut our dependence on gasoline. Not only do passenger vehicles like cars and trucks (and yes, even hybrids) rely on gasoline, but delivery services like the U.S. Post Office, the United Parcel Service of America (UPS) and FedEx count on it, too, for bringing packages from warehouses to your front door. For that matter, gasoline powers the semi trucks that carry vegetables, clothing, furniture, medicines and even gasoline itself, from farms or factories to cities and stores so that we can shop for the goods. And … [Read more...] about Why is it so hard to cut dependence on gasoline?

Anyone with a newborn has experienced the unique scent of a soiled diaper, but why is it so smelly? monkeybusinessimages/ThinkStock Babies are sweet, but cleaning up after them isn't always a pleasure. If you've ever contemplated using a clothespin on your nose when changing a diaper, you're not alone. Why is baby poop so smelly? It isn't always — at least not during the first few months of a baby's life. Whether baby poop is smelly has everything to do with what a baby is being fed. In general, babies up to 6 months old who are exclusively breastfed have poop that is a different color and consistency — and less odiferous — than babies who are formula-fed. This is because formula is more difficult and time-consuming for babies to digest [source: Tommee Tippee]. However, once infants begin eating other foods, the smell of their poop will become stronger and more varied [source: Swanson]. The smell of your baby's poop is influenced by another important factor, … [Read more...] about Why is baby poop so smelly?