Powder Taster, Powder Tester
gun powder, massive Mayan fish traps, seasonal morality, and a sculptor of light
Once upon a time, people used to test the quality of gun powder by tasting it. This device was part of a more hygienic process:
"Over time various kinds of powder testers were developed in which exact amounts of gunpowder would be ignited. The result shown on the wheel of this example indicates the force and therefore the quality of the powder."
Ancient fish-trapping network supported the rise of Maya civilization
By Kiona N. Smith. Ars Technica.
These canals aren't a brand new discovery (I remember reading about them in 1491, which was published two decades ago), but I don't think I understood just how monumental this system was ("108 kilometers of ancient channels that zigzag across 42 square kilometers of wetland"), or how many people it could support:
“Harrison-Buck and her colleagues calculated that at its peak, the system could have produced enough fish each year to feed around 15,000 people.”
VIDEO: How a 23 year old solved urban sprawl
By Fred Mills. The B1M.
While this title is textbook clickbait and nothing has been "solved", the story of a 26 year old architect driving a revolutionary building project is inspiring.