National Geographic has put together a fascinatingly informative clip that helps put the world’s ever-expanding population in perspective. The video is part of a promo package rolled out by NatGeo to plug its seven-part series on the world’s residents, “Population 7 Billion.” Via TDW. All the top news from National Geographic.

Liked homemade treats at a public school bake sale, condoms wrapped in foil just seem so (dare we say it?) middle class. Fornicators of a higher caliber no longer have to demean themselves with crudities such as packages wantonly displaying terms like “ribbed” and “lubed” thanks to the designers of The Original Condom. Co-founder of …

For those braving the elements out east right now, the sight of a snow plow might warrant a tickertape parade by the time it finally reaches their particular neighborhood. (Don’t hold your breath, though, or more than your fingers or toes will be blue.) To while away a few minutes and get in the mood …

Via Milo. Oodles of toys.

Israeli archaeologists have discovered human remains dating from 400,000 years ago. Their findings challenge conventional wisdom that Homo sapiens originated in Africa. The eight teeth uncovered in an Israeli cave could be the earliest traces so far of our species. The teeth were discovered in 2006, but researchers spent years testing and dating the find …

New York-based artist Agata Olek aka “Crocheted Olek” covered the entire Wall Street Bull—balls to horns—in neon-colored yarn. Unfortunately, the knit look only lasted a couple hours before being removed by city officials. Via Animal New York. Needlework blogs will leave you in stitches.

The clever folks behind the Garden Melodies blog spent 12 hours designing an intricate gingerbread version of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater house. Forty hours and 164 different pieces of gingerbread later, the duo ended up with a perfectly winter-ized version of the iconic architectural wonder. Full story, and more images at Garden Melodies. All …

Kick some STD ass and please your partner with the condom that packs a real punch. The Kung Fu Sutra condom is FDA-approved and provides ancient wisdom as to how a warrior would have done the wild thing. Spear not included (no pun intended). Full story at Cool Material. Safer sex.

According to Florentine medieval manuscripts analyzed by a historian, the great-grandmother of Jesus was a woman named Ismeria. The legend of St. Ismeria, presented in the current Journal of Medieval History, sheds light on both the Biblical Virgin Mary’s family and also on religious and cultural values of 14th-century Florence. St. Ismeria likely served as …

By good fortune, the guys who made the origami butterfly for my book cover and I were in Hawaii at the same time. Here are pictures from my visit to their shop, Origamido, in the International Market Place. The shop is on the second floor of the Diamond Head end of the Center. I kept …

Attention shoppers! Even if you’re lazy and cheap, it’s still possible to find great gifts for Earth-loving geeks. While some lucky ducks might be getting a NatureMill Pro XE Compost Bin (hint hint) this holiday season, it does cost a whopping $400. For shoppers with a more modest budget in mind, here are 10 sustainable …

Christmas with Darth Vader is worth than Christmas with Aunt Debbie Downer who hits the church wine at midnight mass a little too spiritedly. Via QuinkyArt. All sorts of Star Wars stuff.