Christmas + Science = Aweome

These awesome little Christmas trees are made of colourful fungi grown in petri dishes by scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland:

“In a relatively unknown place, on the 3rd floor of JCVI in Rockville, MD, is a small fungal room where art meets science (and of course where all our fungal research takes place). Fungus often gets such a bad reputation for being gross and somewhat ‘standard’. We fungal folks know better and I am hoping to educate others with the underlying beauty that fungi possess, in a funky way. I recognize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I felt this might convince some that fungus can be fun and not just something that grows in the back of your fridge or a nuisance that contaminates your plates. Please enjoy these funky fungal holiday art forms.”

[via Geekologie]

This awesome Christmas tree can be found right here in Seattle. A clever and clearly quite playful gentleman named Patrick Kruger cut the top of his Christmas Tree and attached it to his roof, effectively creating the illusion that his tree had broken through the ceiling and roof of his home.

“I built the prop using a quarter sheet of plywood, sheathing and spare roofing tile,” said Kruger. “I then bought a 14-foot tree and cut the top 6 feet off and mounted it to the prop. The first attempt was blown off the roof, so I bolted it down with the help of my buddy, Scott Douglas.”

 Patrick Kruger, the Geyser of Awesome salutes you!

[via King5.com]

It was around this time last year that Maika, co-editor of the Geyser of Awesome, created her first Cthulhumas tree using a bunch of our Chtulhu tentacles, blue string lights, silver garland, a plush Cthulhu, and just the right amount of eldritch chanting. 

Knowing the Great Old Ones would be expecting a tribute at least as nice as last year’s effort, Maika created a second Cthulhumas tree this year, building on the original design with the addition of more lights, three dozen Finger Tentacles, and some Terrified B-Movie Victims. 

Don’t leave small pets or children alone around this tree. Those frightened little figures won’t satisfy it for long. 

Merry Cthulhumas one and all. May the Elder Gods continue to sleep soundly.

Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn.

Kaiju Christmas! This awesome Godzilla Christmas tree was erected inside the Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall in Tokyo, Japan back in 2000. It even blew steam/smoke out of its mouth. Fantastic.

[via Toxel]

It’s Awesome Christmas Tree Day on Geyser of Awesome!