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!
This is a pretty amazing folding transformation of a 2-unit cube into a pair of stellated rhombic dodecahedra. You can buy the (fairly pricey) toy version pictured above from the Museum of Modern Art. It is also possible to make your own, from paper, by following the instructions in the video below. It is, reportedly, a very rewarding if time-consuming process. You can download the pattern here.
Wired has a look behind the scenes with Emma Sanders and Anton Radevsky at the LHC pop-up book. [via Adafruit]
From junk-genius Jud Turner.
One of the more intriguing exhibits at this year’s Maker Faire Bay Area was Ben Krasnow’s liquid nitrogen generator rig. Ben built the entire assembly, for under $500, with parts he scrounged (over a year) on eBay. In this video, shot at the Faire, intrepid reporter Circuit Girl, aka Jeri Ellsworth, interviews Ben. We apologize […]
Found on Designboom: This wooden replica of the Hubble, created by artist Pete Hennessey of Melbourne, Australia. But wait, there’s more: he’s done recreations of Voyager, Mission Control, and a superbad version of the Lunar Rover, above.
A wooden body upon a welded steel frame, by Briton Steve Bodiley. Build details available at his website. [Thanks, Billy Baque!]
If you’re into lo-fi sound, this is a pretty cool trick. What’s more, it’s super easy to DIY. If you’re as busy as I am, though, and you still want to experiment with a tin can mic, it’s hard to argue with the $7 price tag on these from the guys who run getlofi.com. I like the fact that they leave the original labels in place, and that they use 1/4″ jacks. It would also appear that they have some clever trick for resealing the empty can in a good-looking way. At first I thought they were actually using a can sealer to close them back up, but close inspection of the photographs makes me think they probably open them with a side-opening can opener (Wikipedia) and then glue or solder the original lids back in place. Still cool, though.
