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!
So apparently, MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms is in the housing biz. Recently they sponsored the FabLab House, a futuristic-looking concept house designed for the Solar Decathalon Europe. The FabLab House was designed as an ellipsoid structure prefabricated from wood that is formed into a rib-like structure. Although this specific house was designed for […]
If you’re interested in doing gel electrophoresis at home, there are certainly easier ways to get a gel casting kit, but I wanted to throw some more props at Thingiverse user cathalgarvey, who has recently also brought us a printable microlathe and a printable centrifuge attachment for a motor tool. He’s fast making a name for himself as a designer of practical printables. Might I suggest a printable microtome next?
Xavier Calluaud‘s “Urb Garden — A vertical food garden for the urban gardener” complete with a composting ‘worm farm’ and internal watering system. [via Inhabitat] More: Flashback: Solar Herb Dryer Set up a hydroponic herb garden How-To: Make an Herb Garden from Recycled Plastic Bottles
You’re looking at a piece of hydrogel. It is 98% water by weight. It’s moldable, transparent, environmentally friendly, easily synthesized and (get this) if it’s cut it will heal itself. Its creator, Takuzo Aida at the University of Tokyo, has compared it to silicone rubber in terms of strength. And to make it, all you have to do is stir three ingredients into a bunch of water at room temperature. These are sodium polyacrylate, clay, and a special dendritic macromolecule Aida and co-workers call “G3 binder.”
There’s a (r)evolution in the world of running it seems, many runners are tossing their expensive cushiony running shoes and opting for barefoot’ing it, running in sandals, flats and some are just making their own shoes (our favorite!). We’ve covered many DIY shoe making projects and it’s interesting to see this new trend shoe-less trend […]
That’s me, just more than 22 years ago, strapped in to the Commander’s seat in the shuttle simulator at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The joy on my face reflects about a fraction of the happiness I felt as we proceeded through our mission, using phrases like “Copy that” and “Roger roll.” It was thrilling […]
Jessamyn West is guestblogging over on boingboing, and she put up a nice piece on how to create a thriving indoor environment for moss. It really is as easy as she makes it look. I’m obsessed with the soft fuzzy green stuff in all its forms, and I’m happy to see this humble plant getting […]
