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!
The M13 batteries, they keep going and going… – “Researchers trying to make tiny machines have turned to the power of nature, engineering a virus to attract metals and then using it to build minute wires for microscopic batteries. The resulting nanowires can be used in minuscule lithium ion battery electrodes, which in turn would […]
Dave writes – “[Here are] projects done by a high school physics club over 30 years. Pedal-power dry submarine, R/C lawn mowers, 3-axis flight sim cockpit, R/C live-video-eye rockets, 3-tier beer brewery, motorized bikes, rocketry ignition systems, home-made X-ray system, homemade fireworks, simple-to-Make Stirling engines and simple bronze casting.” – Link. Pictured here, radio controlled […]
Looks like you can build your own plane for around $7k, the plans on the site are $24 – “The Affordaplane offers many things other ultralights do not. The fuselage is unique in the industry, utilizing square tubing, the same as gyrocopters have used for thousands of trouble free hours in the air. The Affordaplane […]
We profiled Natalie Jeremijenko in MAKE 02 (toxic sensing robot dogs) – and here’s some of her latest work, amazing animations showing the variety of the lady bug “200 individual labybugs selected from a population of approximately four thousand, become the frames in an animation. The ladybug images are scaled, color corrected and ordered by […]
Alan writes – “Philippe Hurbain has created a pneumatic LEGO wheel. This wheel has no electronics and is controlled by two hand pumps, also made from LEGO. There are very detailed construction details available on his site that were created using LeoCAD and some LeoCAD plugins.” [via] – Link.
New York Times on Makers building space gear – “Contracts belonged mostly to the Boeings of the world. Tinkerers and students were kept at the far edge of the periphery. But with budgets tightening and the obstacles to human space exploration looking more daunting, NASA is enlisting the expertise of outsiders. For example, the agency […]
Lobsters are influencing astrophysics – “UK astronomers have been at the forefront of designing a revolutionary new X-ray telescope that is based on the eyes of a lobster. By replicating the crustacean’s ability to observe objects all around it without turning its head, scientists are confident that the Lobster instrument will enable a major breakthrough […]
