Mercedes Streeter in the Autopian: You Won't Believe The Incredible Engineering That Allows Articulated Buses To Bend

Despite its tranquil reputation, knitting is anything but boring. One stitch slip-up can cause a defect that spreads across the entire fabric. But does it have to be that way? In a recent paper in Physical Review X, a team of researchers mathematically investigated knitting to invent a new, more resilient stitch. (Scientific American)

Previously: NASA to bump telescope back into space to avoid it falling to Earth. It didn't work. Why: An attempt to save NASA's $500 million Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from dropping out of orbit fell short, but the behind-the-scenes machinations required just to make a rescue possible deserve recognition, government and commercial space officials said in a recounting of the mission.

As tourists drank margaritas and lounged at a nearby beach club on a warm January day in Cozumel, Mexico, a scientist observed a young female raccoon partaking in her own kind of leisure. The researcher watched as the raccoon pulled from a trash can a long paper receipt, sculpted it into a ball and began batting it between her paws like a football. But then, researchers say, the animal did something even more surprising — she taught her family how to make the balls and play with them, too. (NYT gift link, archive)

How you cut garlic strongly affects its flavor. In our testing of eight common preparations, whole and smashed cloves produced the mildest, nuttiest flavor, while mashed, pressed, and grated garlic delivered the sharpest, most pungent bite. Knowing the difference can help you choose the right cut for the garlic flavor you want. (Serious Eats)