Walking Sponge Shocks Science (Dec, 1933)
Filed under: General — @ 10:30 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Dec, 1933
| Buy on Ebay
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Dec, 1933
| Buy on Ebay
Walking Sponge Shocks Science
SPONGES creeping from place to place seeking food appeared mysteriously in the London Aquarium. Scientists ridiculed reports of the keepers, since sponges have been known only to permanently fasten themselves to the sea’s bottom. However, Maurice Burton, British Museum expert, proved the keepers were correct.
Amusing juxtaposition.
The idea of using old and new concrete (which even today costs about $6 a bag) is not a good one, the concrete will crack because the old/new interface will be a weak point. Especially so for a garage floor with cars driving over it.
Comment by StanFlouride — July 11, 2008 @ 5:34 am
That’s why you see 29,000 ads online for free broken concrete! At first I thought the concrete was the sponges
http://detroit.craigslist.org/zip/740904077.html
Comment by Al Bear — July 11, 2008 @ 6:35 am
Ray! The sponges ‘migrated’ about a foot and a half!
Comment by jayessell — July 11, 2008 @ 8:10 am
They’re putting fresh concrete around the sponges to keep them in place.
Comment by Kruk — July 11, 2008 @ 8:39 am
“Creep” is right: according to one paper, walking sponges move at the rate of four millimetres – about a sixth of an inch – per day.
Comment by Blurgle — July 11, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
As for that floor, it’s also less sturdy because water will seep through the seams and cause all kinds of problems from lifting to instability to even frost heaves in colder climates. An all-around dumb idea, especially for a surface that has to support a significant amount of weight.
The writer also seems to have confused cement and concrete.
Comment by Blurgle — July 11, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Using broken up concrete for fill material is a common practice even today just not normal exposed.
Comment by ratpack — July 12, 2008 @ 1:42 am
I was just talking to my brother that works in cement and he told me one of the new trends is to use broken up concrete in place of flagstone to make walls and driveways.
Comment by ratpack — July 12, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
I too thought that graphic was a guy working with the sponges.
It looks like sponges doing the limbo.
Comment by Torgo — July 12, 2008 @ 6:11 pm