Plastic Skin

First Self-healing, Touch-sensitive Plastic Skin Developed 

A Study published in the journal Nature Nona-technology on November 12, 2012 revealed that researchers have developed the first synthetic skin that is both sensitive to touch and has the ability to heal itself quickly and repeatedly in room temperature. The finding could lead to smarter prosthetic or resilient personal electronics that can repair themselves. It was developed by researchers at Stanford University, USA. 

In the last decade(2000-2012), there have been major advances in synthetic skin, but even the most effective self-healing materials had major drawbacks. Some had to be exposed to high temperatures, making them unsuitable for daily use,. Some others could heal themselves at room temperature  but repairing a cut changed their mechanical or chemical make-up. Most crucially, no self-healing material till now was a good bulk conductor of electricity, an important property. Now, the new plastic skin has remedied all these shortcomings. 

Bottomless Pit - Monticello Dam Drain Hole

Bottomless Pit-Monticello Dam Drain Hole Glory holes are used for dam's to drain excess water during dry seasons. It is a dam in Napa County, California, United Sates constructed between 1953 and 1957. It is a medium concrete-arch dam with a structural height of 304 ft (93m) and a crest length of 1,023 ft(312). It contains 326,000 cubic yards(249,000 m³) of concrete. The dam impounded Putah Creek to cover the former town of Monticello and flood Berryessa Valley to create Lake Berryessa, then the second-largest man lake in California. The capacity of the reservoir is 1,602,000 acre ft (1.976×10⁹ m³). Water from the reservoir primarily supplies agriculture in surrounding areas. The dam is noted for its classic, uncontrolled morning-glory type spillway. The diameter at the lip is 72 ft (22m). Locally, the spillway is also known as "The Glory Hole". The Monticello Dam Power plant was built at the dam in 1983 and has three generators. The electrical power is sent mostly to the North Bay area of San Francisco.

Glory holes are used for dam's to drain excess water during dry seasons. This is the largest one of them all in the world, it is located in Lake Berryessa. It is used very rarely, but it is quite the sight to see it being put to use.