10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in New England - Yankee Magazine

http://www.yankeemagazine.com/best-of-new-england/10-prettiest-coastal-towns-in-new-england#_

10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in New England

Were postcards invented with New England in mind? Given how gorgeous these coastal towns are, it's a good bet. We picked the 10 prettiest coastal towns, from Down East harbors to Victorian island resorts.

Photo/Art by Brenda Darroch

Cape Porpoise Pier and Harbor in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Kennebunkport, Maine
The Kennebunk River adds even more waterline charm to the small shops, elegant ship captains' homes, and fishing ports of this vibrant Southern Maine town of 3,474.
Unique view: The quintessential fishing village of Cape Porpoise.
See more: From the river and harbor on Rugosa Lobster Tours.

Read more about Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise!

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor, Maine

Perched on Mount Desert Island at the gateway to Acadia National Park, this historic resort town still resonates with the Victorian splendor of bygone days, not to mention the backdrop of Cadillac Mountain.
Unique view: From Bar Island, which you can walk to at low tide (plan ahead).
See more: Lighthouse and National Park Tour via catamaran.

New Castle, New Hampshire

New Castle, New Hampshire
This town of 968 residents at the mouth of the Piscataqua River is made up entirely of islands. The Victorian charm of the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel makes the setting even lovelier.
Unique view: Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.
See more: From the water with Portsmouth Kayak Adventures' tour of Little Harbor.

Camden, Maine

Camden, Maine
The self-dubbed "Jewel of the Coast" is a well-deserved moniker, and this Mid-Coast harbor town of 4,823 on Penobscot Bay is tucked where mountains reach down to the sea.
Unique view: Three windjammers making this narrow harbor their home.
See more: From the water, on the Schooner Surprise.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island
Spectacular at every turn, from broad, sandy beaches to deep harbors bristling with schooners, racing yachts, and pleasure craft; from cozy Colonial taverns to opulent Gilded Age mansions.
Unique view: The twinkling span of the Pell Bridge just after twilight.
See more: From a historical point of view, with Newport History Tours.

New Shoreham, Rhode Island

New Shoreham, Rhode Island
All of verdant, windswept Block Island, just 13 miles off Rhode Island's southern coast, is technically New Shoreham, but it's the Victorian harbor-front that makes landing here forever captivating.
Unique view: Granite-blocked Southeast Lighthouse, perched at on one of the island's iconic bluffs.
See more: From the water on trimaran Ruling Passion.

Rockport, Massachusetts

Rockport, Massachusetts
Painters turned this fishing village into an art colony for a reason—it's an inspiration. Perched at the tip of Cape Ann, there are rugged shorelines, hidden coves, and a bustling, historic village.
Unique view: Motif No. 1, the most painted building in the world.
See more: By jeep, in personalized tours from Sweet Shots Secret Spots.

Stonington Borough, Connecticut

Stonington Borough, Connecticut
This delightful village of fewer than 1,000 residents boasts a wealth of 18^th-19^th-century buildings on its own narrow peninsula that juts into Fisher's Island Sound and Little Narragansett Bay, with views in all directions.
Unique view: From "The Point," a view of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.
See more: On foot, with a self-guided walking tour available at the Old Lighthouse Museum.

Photo/Art by Alyson Horrocks

Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard

Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
The brightly colored gingerbread Victorian cottages make this laid-back enclave on Martha's Vineyard a true New England confection. And on one night each summer, the cottages lights up with Chinese lanterns, making it likely the loveliest place on earth.
Unique view: The nation's oldest platform carousel.
See more: Of the historic cottages on the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Tours.

Learn more about the Gingerbread Cottages at Oak Bluffs Campground!

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Provincetown, Massachusetts
Set at the outermost tip of Cape Cod, surrounded by water on three sides and backed by vast sand dunes on the fourth, Provincetown is a colorful gem that's drawn artists and writers for generations.
Unique view: A bird's eye, from the top of the Pilgrim Monument.
See more: By jeep, of Provincetown's famous sand dunes, with Art's Dune Tours.

See more photos of Provincetown, Massachusetts, in the off season!

~A.

Scientists just discovered that water molecules 'tunnel' in confined spaces | Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building

Ta Da!
http://inhabitat.com/scientists-just-discovered-a-new-state-of-water-molecules/

Scientists just discovered a new state of water molecules

We all know that water is pretty amazing. It sustains life, and it's one of few substances on Earth that can exist in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. Scientists just discovered a new state of water molecules that displays some pretty unexpected characteristics. This discovery, made by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, reveals that water molecules "tunnel" in ultra-small hexagonal channels of the mineral beryl. Basically, this means the molecules spread out when they are trapped in confined spaces, taking a new shape entirely.

Researchers at ORNL who participated in the discovery were amazed to see water molecules behaving in this way, because the occurrence was previously thought to only exist in quantum mechanics. "At low temperatures, this tunneling water exhibits quantum motion through the separating potential walls, which is forbidden in the classical world," said lead author Alexander Kolesnikov of ORNL's Chemical and Engineering Materials Division. "This means that the oxygen and hydrogen atoms of the water molecule are 'delocalized' and therefore simultaneously present in all six symmetrically equivalent positions in the channel at the same time. It's one of those phenomena that only occur in quantum mechanics and has no parallel in our everyday experience."

Related: Atoms split and reassembled to replicate photosynthesis in computers

The new state was discovered while researchers were examining how water behaves when trapped under rocks and soil, in an attempt to learn information that can help scientists in all sorts of different disciplines. The discovery of this "quantum tunneling" state of water molecules in beryl is expected to help scientists understand the thermodynamic properties of water in confined environments, such as in carbon nanotubes, as well as in various geological conditions.

Although water is often taken for granted, this discovery proves we shouldn't be so quick to think we know everything about how things work here on planet Earth.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Via Phys.org

Images via A. I. Kolesnikov et al.

~A.

bean brownies

Gluten-Free Bittersweet Bean Brownies Black beans replace all the flour in these rich-tasting brownies, leaving a high-protein, fiber-filled treat will all the classic chocolate flavor intact—a dietician's dream come true! CourseDessert CuisineAmerican Servings 12 brownies Cook Time 30-35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 15-ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Servings: brownies

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
2. Using a food processor, blend together the beans, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, cocoa, vanilla, coffee, baking powder, and salt until the batter is completely smooth. Using a spatula, fold in the chocolate chips and nuts and pour evenly into the greased pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until set in the middle and the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into bars. The brownies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

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~Adrienne