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!
I often describe Fixit Clinic as “a hobby that’s gotten way out of control.” We held the first Fixit Clinic in 2009 as a modest experiment to make basic tools and specialty tools available so attendees could disassemble, troubleshoot and — hopefully — repair common consumer items: to take apart appliances and electronics, mend fabric and […]
Responding effectively to emergencies and disasters is almost always a result of preparation. With a little forethought, know-how, and advance planning, makers with a DIY and community mindset are fantastically positioned to help themselves and others in extreme situations. But which threats should we invest in preparing for? Risk is calculated by multiplying likelihood times […]
For the first time since 2019, East Coast RepRap Festival (ERRF) was held in-person in Bel Air, Maryland. A total of about 1600 attendees, including over 60 corporate sponsors and almost 50 exhibitors filled the APFCU Arena at Harford Community College. The event was a mix of business-to-business dealmaking, hobbyist showcase, and some wide-eyed kids […]
IBM research has released a project that allows you to build a motorized, high quality microscope from Lego bricks and a Raspberry pi for roughl $300. They call the project MicroscopPy, and they’ve shared the build notes on Github. As you can see in the video, the build is surprisingly simple and uses the standard […]
Machine learning (ML) is a growing field, gaining popularity in academia, industry, and among makers. We will take a look at some of the available tools to help make machine learning easier, but first, let’s review some of the terms commonly used in machine learning. John McCarthy provides a definition of artificial intelligence (AI) in […]
How I built an AI nose that “knows” fungal pneumonia for my 8th grade science fair.
Detecting air quality certainly sounds important, but also sounds kind of dull. This project from Geeky Faye turns that concept on it’s head with a beautiful piece of fashion. Embedding an air quality sensor and a whole bunch of LEDs in a 3D printed frame, Allie managed to create a stunning display that really catches […]
