In the Heat of the Foundry, Steinway Piano 'Hearts' are Made

NPR reported on the casting of Steinway pianos' iron plates in Springfield, Ohio.

Their story also came with a few photos of two foundry workers pouring the plates by hand and telling a few stories of some of the molten iron running into their wisely-slip-off boots.

Mjölnir (Thor: The Dark World) - MAN AT ARMS

There aren't any new material being used in this video, but there is a guy making the Hammer of THOR!

Or rather a nice recreation of the hammer of the gods.

At about 5:45, though, there is a vulgar word on the shirt of the narrator/creator. Be careful if you're planning on showing this in class, folks.

Proteq Starpath

I'll admit to being intrigued by this material, a coating that apparently phosphoresces throughout the night once the sun goes down.

I do have a few questions, though:

• What's the durability of the coating?
• How inert is it, particularly to surrounding flora and fauna?
• Does the light produced by the Proteq coating cause any problems with nocturnal animals and their navigation/courtship?
• Can I get it in cornflower blue?