What are some underrated but mind altering books? [more inside]
posted by champthom on Jul 19, 2009 - 56 answers

Help me find real-world magic items. [more inside]
posted by MrVisible on Jun 17, 2008 - 47 answers

Zillions of billionaire characters in fiction try to buy their way out of dying by funding crazy research efforts or moving into orbit or whatever—think of John Hurt in Contact or Lionel Luthor in Smallville. Are there any examples of such figures in reality, in history? Howard Hughes types with nothing to lose?
posted by cgc373 on Apr 29, 2007 - 23 answers

CalgonFilter: Ancient Chinese secret or ticket to "away" . . . or both? [more inside]
posted by Fezboy! on Dec 20, 2005 - 7 answers