Chemistry

Engineer Guy vs. The Atomic Clock

Engineer Guy vs. The Atomic Clock

Here is the fifth video in Engineer Guy Series #4. The element of the week is cesium, as in “cesium fountain atomic clock.” Watching it, my jaw was on the floor by 0:20, as Bill opens by showing off the Symmetricom CSAC, which is the world’s first fully functional chip-scale atomic clock. It’s about the size of a quarter.

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Cool Superhydrophobic Surface Demos

Cool Superhydrophobic Surface Demos

A finger rubbed in superhydrophobic aerogels and submerged in water takes on a decidedly T-1000-esque appearance. And a droplet of water on a piece of paper treated with the same substance behaves more like a drop of mercury on a piece of glass. Definitely worth a click and a few eyeball-seconds.

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Engineer Guy vs. Aluminum and Titanium Anodizing

Engineer Guy vs. Aluminum and Titanium Anodizing

As much as I love Engineer Guy videos, I am especially partial to Series #4, because it is themed around the chemical elements—each installment features a different element and a remarkable bit of engineering based upon it. And this week my two personal favorite elements are in the spotlight. Though it is utterly common, today, […]

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Machinable HDPE Blocks From Milk Jugs

Machinable HDPE Blocks From Milk Jugs

Nice “short form” Instructable from user mfoster, who heats milk jug pieces to 350°F, loose, in a pot of canola oil, before pressing them into blocks using a simple scrap-wood mold and a set of manual clamps.

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Ceiling Periodic Table

Ceiling Periodic Table

When high school chemistry teacher Scott Byrum noticed that the acoustic tiles in his newly-renovated lab were square, he saw a golden opportunity. Or, if you like, a palladium one.

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Oobleck for Potholes

Oobleck for Potholes

A group Case Western Reserve University undergraduates have created a waterproof Kevlar-reinforced pouch filled with shear-thickening fluid that can be simply dropped into a pothole to effect a quick fix. Under its own weight, the goo flows to take the shape of the pothole. But when a car drives over, it thickens in response to the applied force and supports the weights.

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