If we were to burn NH4Cr2O7 with HgSCN in the Dark Ages in Europe and show it to anyone, it is us who would be burning next on a fiery cross of Inquisition. And it’s no wonder, since this experiment produces a truly marvelous result. At first, as you ignite the mixture of NH4Cr2O7 and HgSCN, all you can see is that it is slowly burning with a reddish flame. After a while, however, a crater is formed in the middle of the burning pile, and then, suddenly, tentacle-like appendages start sprouting from the burning mixture. And you can almost hear the scream of the mad occultist – “Come forth, Kraken! Come forth!” But of course, this is simply a chemical reaction that is called the "Pharoah's Serpent". It was also often sold in firework stores until people realized that it was toxic.

“The scientists behind NASA's $2.5 billion Curiosity rover mission on Mars on Tuesday explained the nature of a tiny, gleaming "flower" embedded in Red Planet rock, and revealed where they'll be using the SUV-sized robot's drill for the first time”. – Alan Boyle via NBCNews.com

Photo: Scientists say that a “Martian flower”, seen here in an image from the Curiosity rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager, is a 2-millimeter-wide grain or pebble that's embedded in the surrounding rock. Another, darker-colored mineral grain can be seen above and to the left. (Photo by NASA)

Nobumichi Asai has used projection mapping to put CGI onto cars, docks, building and more. What is his latest canvas? A real, live human face! Asai used Omote, a combination of real-time face tracking and projection mapping to transform a model's face into mesmerizing patterns. It's called “electronic makeup”, but as you will see in the (creepy-ish) video, it goes much, much beyond anything makeup can possibly do.

In order to get a glimpse into the visual culture of drug trade in New York City, a British photographer Graham MacIndoe collected more than one hundred bags, which were used to sell heroin. These bags feature references to various movies, fast-food restaurants, and luxury brands. This could be a way to mark various purities of heroin, or maybe different drug dealers use different markers to distinguish between each other. We can only wonder where Graham has acquired all these heroin bags. Hopefully, he picked them up after their contents were emptied. (Photo by Graham MacIndoe)

Full-time feline photographer Andrew Marttila from Washington, D.C., captured blissful expressions of various cats on catnip, which he used to compile a book, “Cats on Catnip”. The photographer dedicated his time to capturing the euphoric expressions of kitties high on catnip – and the results are absolutely hilarious. (Photo by Andrew Marttila/Caters News Agency)

Vivi Mac, an amazing artist from France who can use virtually any kind of food to create detailed celebrity portraits. Although she has yet to display her ephemeral masterpieces in an proper art gallery, Vivi Mac has already made a name for herself online.

Bendy bombshell Zlata, 27, can use a computer while doing a handstand, deliver a presentation with her head tucked between her legs and bend over backwards to create a table. The stunning German, real name Julia Gunthel, shows her flexibility by creating a different theme for her head-turning calendars each year. (Photo by Zlata Calendar 2013/Caters News Agency)