Science

DIY science is the perfect way to use your creative skills and learn something new. With the right supplies, some determination, and a curious mind, you can create amazing experiments that open up a whole world of possibilities. At home-made laboratories or tech workshops, makers from all backgrounds can explore new ideas by finding ways to study their environment in novel ways – allowing them to make breathtaking discoveries!

Laser Cutting Glow-in-the-dark Plastic

Laser Cutting Glow-in-the-dark Plastic

A few years back, before I worked for MAKE, I had some business cards laser cut and blogged about it. Every so often, somebody runs across them and e-mails asking for helping making their own. I always refer them to Angus Hines, who’s a good friend, a Maker Faire regular, and the best (and least expensive) CNC contractor I know. Recently, Angus was hired by Frank Anselmo Eco to laser-cut some business cards from glow-in-the-dark sheet plastic, which is a pretty cool idea, IMHO. But the reason it’s on MAKE is the sweet lights-out video Angus shot of the laser-cutting action; check out how the phosphorescent plastic continues to glow for several seconds behind each cut. [Thanks, Angus!]

Thermite Experimenter’s Online Video Notebook

Thermite Experimenter’s Online Video Notebook

UCLA chemist Jeffrey Schwartz, whose traditional thermite demonstrations I very much enjoyed at BAMF last week, has compiled what, he quite plausibly claims, is the world’s largest online gallery of thermite reaction videos at his fascinating site Amazing Rust.com. By my count, Jeffrey has there documented, with pictures or video or both, more than 40 different aluminothermic thermite events, smelting eleven different metal oxides including vanadium, cobalt, and titanium.

Wall-, Ceiling-Climbing Robot With Supersonic Air Jet Grippers

Wall-, Ceiling-Climbing Robot With Supersonic Air Jet Grippers

Using special designed and machined grippers, this prototype ‘bot from researchers Matthew Journee, XiaoQi Chen, James Robertson, Mark Jermy, and Mathieu Sellier can climb wooden, metal, and cloth surfaces with ease. Rough textures and small gaps in the substrate apparently present no problem, and the video includes impressive footage of the machine dragging an additional half-kilo weight up a wooden door and rolling around upside-down on a ceiling made of glass.