diff --git a/builtin/item_entity.lua b/builtin/item_entity.lua
index 2d763d50b..2b12764f1 100644
--- a/builtin/item_entity.lua
+++ b/builtin/item_entity.lua
@@ -57,11 +57,23 @@ minetest.register_entity("__builtin:item", {
 	end,
 
 	get_staticdata = function(self)
-		return self.itemstring
+		--return self.itemstring
+		return minetest.serialize({
+			itemstring = self.itemstring,
+			always_collect = self.always_collect,
+		})
 	end,
 
 	on_activate = function(self, staticdata)
-		self.itemstring = staticdata
+		if string.sub(staticdata, 1, string.len("return")) == "return" then
+			local data = minetest.deserialize(staticdata)
+			if data and type(data) == "table" then
+				self.itemstring = data.itemstring
+				self.always_collect = data.always_collect
+			end
+		else
+			self.itemstring = staticdata
+		end
 		self.object:set_armor_groups({immortal=1})
 		self.object:setvelocity({x=0, y=2, z=0})
 		self.object:setacceleration({x=0, y=-10, z=0})
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index b71b6d62c..442937bd1 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1087,6 +1087,7 @@ methods:
 - punch(puncher, time_from_last_punch, tool_capabilities, direction)
   ^ puncher = an another ObjectRef,
   ^ time_from_last_punch = time since last punch action of the puncher
+  ^ direction: can be nil
 - right_click(clicker); clicker = an another ObjectRef
 - get_hp(): returns number of hitpoints (2 * number of hearts)
 - set_hp(hp): set number of hitpoints (2 * number of hearts)
@@ -1236,7 +1237,7 @@ Entity definition (register_entity)
     
     initial_properties = <initial object properties>,
 
-    on_activate = function(self, staticdata),
+    on_activate = function(self, staticdata, dtime_s),
     on_step = function(self, dtime),
     on_punch = function(self, hitter),
     on_rightclick = function(self, clicker),
@@ -1420,6 +1421,11 @@ Node definition (register_node)
 	on_metadata_inventory_take = func(pos, listname, index, stack, player),
 	^ Called after the actual action has happened, according to what was allowed.
 	^ No return value
+    
+	on_blast = func(pos, intensity),
+	^ intensity: 1.0 = mid range of regular TNT
+	^ If defined, called when an explosion touches the node, instead of
+	  removing the node
 }
 
 Recipe for register_craft: (shaped)
diff --git a/src/content_cao.cpp b/src/content_cao.cpp
index aa5c2d674..cb14cf395 100644
--- a/src/content_cao.cpp
+++ b/src/content_cao.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "util/serialize.h"
 #include "util/mathconstants.h"
 #include "map.h"
+#include <IMeshManipulator.h>
 
 class Settings;
 struct ToolCapabilities;
@@ -797,8 +798,15 @@ public:
 				infostream<<"textures[0]: "<<m_prop.textures[0]<<std::endl;
 				IItemDefManager *idef = m_gamedef->idef();
 				ItemStack item(m_prop.textures[0], 1, 0, "", idef);
-				scene::IMesh *mesh = item.getDefinition(idef).wield_mesh;
+				scene::IMesh *item_mesh = item.getDefinition(idef).wield_mesh;
+				
+				// Copy mesh to be able to set unique vertex colors
+				scene::IMeshManipulator *manip =
+						irr->getVideoDriver()->getMeshManipulator();
+				scene::IMesh *mesh = manip->createMeshUniquePrimitives(item_mesh);
+
 				m_meshnode = smgr->addMeshSceneNode(mesh, NULL);
+				mesh->drop();
 				
 				m_meshnode->setScale(v3f(m_prop.visual_size.X/2,
 						m_prop.visual_size.Y/2,
@@ -838,15 +846,17 @@ public:
 	{
 		bool is_visible = (m_hp != 0);
 		u8 li = decode_light(light_at_pos);
-		m_last_light = li;
-		video::SColor color(255,li,li,li);
-		if(m_meshnode){
-			setMeshColor(m_meshnode->getMesh(), color);
-			m_meshnode->setVisible(is_visible);
-		}
-		if(m_spritenode){
-			m_spritenode->setColor(color);
-			m_spritenode->setVisible(is_visible);
+		if(li != m_last_light){
+			m_last_light = li;
+			video::SColor color(255,li,li,li);
+			if(m_meshnode){
+				setMeshColor(m_meshnode->getMesh(), color);
+				m_meshnode->setVisible(is_visible);
+			}
+			if(m_spritenode){
+				m_spritenode->setColor(color);
+				m_spritenode->setVisible(is_visible);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/content_sao.cpp b/src/content_sao.cpp
index 843ab29f7..7526e0353 100644
--- a/src/content_sao.cpp
+++ b/src/content_sao.cpp
@@ -376,9 +376,9 @@ LuaEntitySAO::~LuaEntitySAO()
 	}
 }
 
-void LuaEntitySAO::addedToEnvironment()
+void LuaEntitySAO::addedToEnvironment(u32 dtime_s)
 {
-	ServerActiveObject::addedToEnvironment();
+	ServerActiveObject::addedToEnvironment(dtime_s);
 	
 	// Create entity from name
 	lua_State *L = m_env->getLua();
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ void LuaEntitySAO::addedToEnvironment()
 		// Initialize HP from properties
 		m_hp = m_prop.hp_max;
 		// Activate entity, supplying serialized state
-		scriptapi_luaentity_activate(L, m_id, m_init_state.c_str());
+		scriptapi_luaentity_activate(L, m_id, m_init_state.c_str(), dtime_s);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -805,9 +805,9 @@ std::string PlayerSAO::getDescription()
 }
 
 // Called after id has been set and has been inserted in environment
-void PlayerSAO::addedToEnvironment()
+void PlayerSAO::addedToEnvironment(u32 dtime_s)
 {
-	ServerActiveObject::addedToEnvironment();
+	ServerActiveObject::addedToEnvironment(dtime_s);
 	ServerActiveObject::setBasePosition(m_player->getPosition());
 	m_player->setPlayerSAO(this);
 	m_player->peer_id = m_peer_id;
diff --git a/src/content_sao.h b/src/content_sao.h
index ff427bac6..05c77e2cb 100644
--- a/src/content_sao.h
+++ b/src/content_sao.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 	{ return ACTIVEOBJECT_TYPE_LUAENTITY; }
 	u8 getSendType() const
 	{ return ACTIVEOBJECT_TYPE_GENERIC; }
-	virtual void addedToEnvironment();
+	virtual void addedToEnvironment(u32 dtime_s);
 	static ServerActiveObject* create(ServerEnvironment *env, v3f pos,
 			const std::string &data);
 	void step(float dtime, bool send_recommended);
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ public:
 		Active object <-> environment interface
 	*/
 
-	void addedToEnvironment();
+	void addedToEnvironment(u32 dtime_s);
 	void removingFromEnvironment();
 	bool isStaticAllowed() const;
 	bool unlimitedTransferDistance() const;
diff --git a/src/environment.cpp b/src/environment.cpp
index 8b8808dbe..956325bad 100644
--- a/src/environment.cpp
+++ b/src/environment.cpp
@@ -743,19 +743,25 @@ neighbor_found:
 				u32 active_object_count = block->m_static_objects.m_active.size();
 				// Find out how many objects this and all the neighbors contain
 				u32 active_object_count_wider = 0;
+				u32 wider_unknown_count = 0;
 				for(s16 x=-1; x<=1; x++)
 				for(s16 y=-1; y<=1; y++)
 				for(s16 z=-1; z<=1; z++)
 				{
 					MapBlock *block2 = map->getBlockNoCreateNoEx(
 							block->getPos() + v3s16(x,y,z));
-					if(block2==NULL)
+					if(block2==NULL){
+						wider_unknown_count = 0;
 						continue;
+					}
 					active_object_count_wider +=
 							block2->m_static_objects.m_active.size()
 							+ block2->m_static_objects.m_stored.size();
 				}
-
+				// Extrapolate
+				u32 wider_known_count = 3*3*3 - wider_unknown_count;
+				active_object_count_wider += wider_unknown_count * active_object_count_wider / wider_known_count;
+				
 				// Call all the trigger variations
 				i->abm->trigger(m_env, p, n);
 				i->abm->trigger(m_env, p, n,
@@ -784,7 +790,7 @@ void ServerEnvironment::activateBlock(MapBlock *block, u32 additional_dtime)
 			<<dtime_s<<" seconds old."<<std::endl;*/
 	
 	// Activate stored objects
-	activateObjects(block);
+	activateObjects(block, dtime_s);
 
 	// Run node timers
 	std::map<v3s16, NodeTimer> elapsed_timers =
@@ -1243,7 +1249,7 @@ u16 getFreeServerActiveObjectId(
 u16 ServerEnvironment::addActiveObject(ServerActiveObject *object)
 {
 	assert(object);
-	u16 id = addActiveObjectRaw(object, true);
+	u16 id = addActiveObjectRaw(object, true, 0);
 	return id;
 }
 
@@ -1402,7 +1408,7 @@ ActiveObjectMessage ServerEnvironment::getActiveObjectMessage()
 */
 
 u16 ServerEnvironment::addActiveObjectRaw(ServerActiveObject *object,
-		bool set_changed)
+		bool set_changed, u32 dtime_s)
 {
 	assert(object);
 	if(object->getId() == 0){
@@ -1442,7 +1448,7 @@ u16 ServerEnvironment::addActiveObjectRaw(ServerActiveObject *object,
 	// Register reference in scripting api (must be done before post-init)
 	scriptapi_add_object_reference(m_lua, object);
 	// Post-initialize object
-	object->addedToEnvironment();
+	object->addedToEnvironment(dtime_s);
 	
 	// Add static data to block
 	if(object->isStaticAllowed())
@@ -1465,9 +1471,10 @@ u16 ServerEnvironment::addActiveObjectRaw(ServerActiveObject *object,
 						"addActiveObjectRaw");
 		}
 		else{
+			v3s16 p = floatToInt(objectpos, BS);
 			errorstream<<"ServerEnvironment::addActiveObjectRaw(): "
 					<<"could not find block for storing id="<<object->getId()
-					<<" statically"<<std::endl;
+					<<" statically (pos="<<PP(p)<<")"<<std::endl;
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -1578,7 +1585,7 @@ static void print_hexdump(std::ostream &o, const std::string &data)
 /*
 	Convert stored objects from blocks near the players to active.
 */
-void ServerEnvironment::activateObjects(MapBlock *block)
+void ServerEnvironment::activateObjects(MapBlock *block, u32 dtime_s)
 {
 	if(block==NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1602,7 +1609,7 @@ void ServerEnvironment::activateObjects(MapBlock *block)
 				"large amount of objects");
 		return;
 	}
-	// A list for objects that couldn't be converted to static for some
+	// A list for objects that couldn't be converted to active for some
 	// reason. They will be stored back.
 	core::list<StaticObject> new_stored;
 	// Loop through stored static objects
@@ -1632,7 +1639,7 @@ void ServerEnvironment::activateObjects(MapBlock *block)
 				<<"activated static object pos="<<PP(s_obj.pos/BS)
 				<<" type="<<(int)s_obj.type<<std::endl;
 		// This will also add the object to the active static list
-		addActiveObjectRaw(obj, false);
+		addActiveObjectRaw(obj, false, dtime_s);
 	}
 	// Clear stored list
 	block->m_static_objects.m_stored.clear();
@@ -1756,7 +1763,12 @@ void ServerEnvironment::deactivateFarObjects(bool force_delete)
 			// Add to the block where the object is located in
 			v3s16 blockpos = getNodeBlockPos(floatToInt(objectpos, BS));
 			// Get or generate the block
-			MapBlock *block = m_map->emergeBlock(blockpos);
+			MapBlock *block = NULL;
+			try{
+				block = m_map->emergeBlock(blockpos);
+			} catch(InvalidPositionException &e){
+				// Handled via NULL pointer
+			}
 
 			if(block)
 			{
@@ -1793,9 +1805,10 @@ void ServerEnvironment::deactivateFarObjects(bool force_delete)
 			}
 			else{
 				if(!force_delete){
+					v3s16 p = floatToInt(objectpos, BS);
 					errorstream<<"ServerEnv: Could not find or generate "
 							<<"a block for storing id="<<obj->getId()
-							<<" statically"<<std::endl;
+							<<" statically (pos="<<PP(p)<<")"<<std::endl;
 					continue;
 				}
 			}
@@ -2129,6 +2142,7 @@ void ClientEnvironment::step(float dtime)
 		Step active objects and update lighting of them
 	*/
 	
+	bool update_lighting = m_active_object_light_update_interval.step(dtime, 0.21);
 	for(core::map<u16, ClientActiveObject*>::Iterator
 			i = m_active_objects.getIterator();
 			i.atEnd()==false; i++)
@@ -2137,7 +2151,7 @@ void ClientEnvironment::step(float dtime)
 		// Step object
 		obj->step(dtime, this);
 
-		if(m_active_object_light_update_interval.step(dtime, 0.21))
+		if(update_lighting)
 		{
 			// Update lighting
 			u8 light = 0;
diff --git a/src/environment.h b/src/environment.h
index bb1da2461..042229038 100644
--- a/src/environment.h
+++ b/src/environment.h
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ private:
 		Returns the id of the object.
 		Returns 0 if not added and thus deleted.
 	*/
-	u16 addActiveObjectRaw(ServerActiveObject *object, bool set_changed);
+	u16 addActiveObjectRaw(ServerActiveObject *object, bool set_changed, u32 dtime_s);
 	
 	/*
 		Remove all objects that satisfy (m_removed && m_known_by_count==0)
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ private:
 	/*
 		Convert stored objects from block to active
 	*/
-	void activateObjects(MapBlock *block);
+	void activateObjects(MapBlock *block, u32 dtime_s);
 	
 	/*
 		Convert objects that are not in active blocks to static.
diff --git a/src/scriptapi.cpp b/src/scriptapi.cpp
index 81e96aec6..9fa927ff3 100644
--- a/src/scriptapi.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptapi.cpp
@@ -2542,7 +2542,7 @@ private:
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	// punch(self, puncher, tool_capabilities, direction, time_from_last_punch)
+	// punch(self, puncher, time_from_last_punch, tool_capabilities, dir)
 	static int l_punch(lua_State *L)
 	{
 		ObjectRef *ref = checkobject(L, 1);
@@ -2551,13 +2551,18 @@ private:
 		ServerActiveObject *puncher = getobject(puncher_ref);
 		if(co == NULL) return 0;
 		if(puncher == NULL) return 0;
-		ToolCapabilities toolcap = read_tool_capabilities(L, 3);
-		v3f dir = read_v3f(L, 4);
+		v3f dir;
+		if(lua_type(L, 5) != LUA_TTABLE)
+			dir = co->getBasePosition() - puncher->getBasePosition();
+		else
+			dir = read_v3f(L, 5);
 		float time_from_last_punch = 1000000;
-		if(lua_isnumber(L, 5))
-			time_from_last_punch = lua_tonumber(L, 5);
+		if(lua_isnumber(L, 3))
+			time_from_last_punch = lua_tonumber(L, 3);
+		ToolCapabilities toolcap = read_tool_capabilities(L, 4);
+		dir.normalize();
 		// Do it
-		puncher->punch(dir, &toolcap, puncher, time_from_last_punch);
+		co->punch(dir, &toolcap, puncher, time_from_last_punch);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -6478,7 +6483,7 @@ bool scriptapi_luaentity_add(lua_State *L, u16 id, const char *name)
 }
 
 void scriptapi_luaentity_activate(lua_State *L, u16 id,
-		const std::string &staticdata)
+		const std::string &staticdata, u32 dtime_s)
 {
 	realitycheck(L);
 	assert(lua_checkstack(L, 20));
@@ -6496,8 +6501,9 @@ void scriptapi_luaentity_activate(lua_State *L, u16 id,
 		luaL_checktype(L, -1, LUA_TFUNCTION);
 		lua_pushvalue(L, object); // self
 		lua_pushlstring(L, staticdata.c_str(), staticdata.size());
-		// Call with 2 arguments, 0 results
-		if(lua_pcall(L, 2, 0, 0))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, dtime_s);
+		// Call with 3 arguments, 0 results
+		if(lua_pcall(L, 3, 0, 0))
 			script_error(L, "error running function on_activate: %s\n",
 					lua_tostring(L, -1));
 	}
diff --git a/src/scriptapi.h b/src/scriptapi.h
index 0ae359112..144cb3bc6 100644
--- a/src/scriptapi.h
+++ b/src/scriptapi.h
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ void scriptapi_detached_inventory_on_take(lua_State *L,
 // Returns true if succesfully added into Lua; false otherwise.
 bool scriptapi_luaentity_add(lua_State *L, u16 id, const char *name);
 void scriptapi_luaentity_activate(lua_State *L, u16 id,
-		const std::string &staticdata);
+		const std::string &staticdata, u32 dtime_s);
 void scriptapi_luaentity_rm(lua_State *L, u16 id);
 std::string scriptapi_luaentity_get_staticdata(lua_State *L, u16 id);
 void scriptapi_luaentity_get_properties(lua_State *L, u16 id,
diff --git a/src/serverobject.h b/src/serverobject.h
index 6acd0dfee..ece53fd98 100644
--- a/src/serverobject.h
+++ b/src/serverobject.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public:
 	{ return getType(); }
 
 	// Called after id has been set and has been inserted in environment
-	virtual void addedToEnvironment(){};
+	virtual void addedToEnvironment(u32 dtime_s){};
 	// Called before removing from environment
 	virtual void removingFromEnvironment(){};
 	// Returns true if object's deletion is the job of the