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 umbrella stand by Beligan designer Vandenhecke Mélanie would be a pretty easy weekend project. Simply attach half of a metal frame to the bottom of a planter. When you come in from the rain, deposit your umbrella on the stand and its drips will water your plants. via Design Spotter
In the oldies but goodies department, Mother Earth News has an article on how to make a junked water heater into a fancy wood-burning stove. And yes, successfully completing this project does make your hair grow back:)
Interesting Instructables and comments for the vertical-axis wind turbines that one Faroun is developing. Here’s his latest progress, based on 4″ PVC pipe for the blades: Check out 4 more turbine designs by the same user here. Things get a bit wobbly at the end, but much healthy progress with an admirably low cost setup!
Jenny @ Craft posted about these a while back – I think these plush particles would make great teaching tools. WEIGHT: Particle weights vary according to their properties. The Higgs boson, top quark and W boson, for example, are the heaviest-they’re stuffed with polished gravel. The massless bosons are the lightest–they are stuffed with polyfill. […]
I’m always curious about the science of food. I found this really great article about avocado mayonnaise; it sounds really yummy, and gives a little insight into the nature of emulsions. If you want to know more, here’s a Wikipedia article about emulsions.
Lovely infographic on “how to nap” from Boston Globe.
Ecologue shares this fun recycled chandelier project, created using glass yogurt jars (baby food jars would work too), beaded chain from the hardware store, and an old circular cooling rack. What a lovely and inexpensive way to pretty up your garden!
