Gummy chromosomes and Cantor set eggs
From photographer Kevin Van Aelst. The one below is called “Cantor Set.”
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!
Interesting cancer resistance in naked mole rats
Of course, there’s all kinds of reasons why it might work for naked mole rats and not for people, but the idea that a mechanism as simple as cellular “claustrophobia” might go so far to eliminating tumors is pretty interesting.
Fascination video series
Our Fascination video series features interviews with notable scientists and technologists, sponsored by Dow Chemical. All the videos are up now, and they’re worth watching. How often do you get to hear these brilliant folks describe why they’re fascinated with what they do?
Sending a heartbeat over ethernet
From the MAKE Flickr pool Charles is using an Arduino ethernet shield to send the rhythm of his heartbeat over a network in the form of OSC messages. Each beat is detected via a simple sensor comprised of an IR LED and phototransistor – The idea is that when your heart beats you have a […]
Ocean power
Capturing the same powerful forces that destroyed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge shortly after it was built, researchers at the University of Michigan are developing a new way of generating electricity with the slow moving currents found in most of the rivers and oceans of the world.
Super cements aka “geopolymers”
Think cement is just cement? Not so. These unlovely mugs are nonetheless very special. Prepared from special synthetic aluminosilicate materials called “geopolymers” (Wikipedia) by members of Dr. Waltraud M. Kriven’s research group at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, these mugs were tested in a special “mug drop” event at the 2004 American Ceramic Society (ACeRS) conference, and supposedly “were impossible to break at even 50ft onto bare concrete.” Danger Room’s David Hambling recently posted a nice overview of geopolymer technology with a view towards defense applications. These presentation slides by Dr. Kriven include some actual formulae.
Honda’s bizarre U3-X
You’ve probably seen vids of this contraption, Honda’s answer to the Segway? I really don’t get it. The human proportions seem all off to me, those “cheek pads” for your butt are just… wrong, and I can’t really see the application. Definitely dig the “Omni Traction” technology. Honda’s U3-X taken for an awkward squat (video)