Build a Periodic Table of Elements Collection Cabinet
Create this cool spice rack-like periodic table display for your elements collection. You do have an elements collection, don’t you?
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!
Beautiful ‘silk frost’ fibrous ice formations
Dr. James Carter is a professor in the Department of Geography-Geology at the University of Illinois. One of his many interesting pages collects photos and other reports (dating back to 1884) of so-called “hair ice,” “haareis,” or (my fav) “silk frost.” The fibrous ice crystals seem to be caused by the pore structure of certain woods, and only forms where the bark has been removed. Reportedly, the phenomenon is reproducible: if you find a piece of wood growing hair ice, you can warm it up, then re-freeze it, and it will grow hair ice again. [via Neatorama]
Clever die makes biodegradable seedling pots from newspaper
The “PotMaker,” from Toronto herb gardeners Richter’s, is a two-part hardwood die that makes it easy to manufacture disposable, biodegradable pots for starting seedlings. The pots are made from strips of newspaper and don’t have to be removed before planting. Anja Bartlett has posted a phototutorial demonstrating its use; if you’re interested in buying one consider getting it through her site!
Awesome wall-climbing robots, including a “snail”
Roboticists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University, led by Dr. Amir Shapiro, have posted a cool video on YouTube showing four of their wall-climbing bot designs in action:
First, a magnetic climber that has compliant magnetic wheels and is capable to climb on ferromagnetic surfaces. This robot can be used for inspection of ship hull or bridges. Second, is a Snail inspired wall climbing robot capable of climbing on non metallic surfaces using hot melt glue. The robot secretes the adhesive at the front and peels off the track from the wall at the bottom leaving a trail behind just like the snail does. Third, is a robot that uses sticky wheels in order to attach itself to the wall. It simply has 3Ms sticky tape on the wheels. It can climb on smooth surfaces like glass. Fourth, is a four legged wall climbing robot for climbing on rough surfaces. It has 12 claws made of fishing hooks mounted on each footpad, and it climbs like cat or other rodents.
I think the second bot, the “snail” one, is my favorite. It starts around 0:30. [via Bot Junkie]
Blu-Ray Star Trek laser pops balloons across a room
Our own Kipkay first put a Blu-Ray laser diode into a handheld Star Trek phaser toy back in 2007. Hack N Mod’s Jay has added an illuminated safety switch, a large heat sink, and a custom focusing adapter at the tip. The laser operates at 320 mA and gives 465 mW of power, and is, to be fair, quite dangerous for the eyes. Not a toy. Even though it’s built into one. [via DVICE
Country Scientist — Snow Science
We’ll explore some of snow’s characteristics and effects on the environment, aside from the moisture it provides.
The Solar Catenary Reflector
Build 21st-century renewable technology using 17th-century mathematics.