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!

Jet Turbine Powered Toyota MR2 On eBay…

Jet Turbine Powered Toyota MR2 On eBay…

Fa 12 Sb.JpgLooks like this auction was removed from eBay – “Everybody needs one of these, cleaning out the garage, this little car is so much fun, it is thrust powered by 2 GE t-58 turbines, has 4 fuel tanks, power steering, power brakes, fire detection, fire suppression, roll over protection, self starting and quick. I have taken this car to the salt flats twice, the first time it wanted to fly @ 140 mph, but after adding the spoilers and air dam it stayed solid thru 187 mph with a lot more room to go.” Link.

Cat observation platform…

Cat observation platform…

Img413 20Clever cat hack from Charles Platt who is sitting in for Kevin Kelly on the Cool Tools mailing list – “…Feline Automotive Observation Platform. My cat, Eddie, used to complain constantly during car rides, but his limited vocabulary made it difficult to deduce the precise nature of his problem. When I constructed a simple detachable plywood panel faced with a thin doormat for enhanced claw traction, his complaints ceased immediately. Now he sits happily with his nose pressed to the windshield, enjoying the scenery when I got for a drive. The two supporting struts hook onto the sun-visor mounts, and can be attached or removed in ten seconds.” Link. & main site.

Building an Autonomous Ground Robot

Building an Autonomous Ground Robot

Img413 15Chris Jang is building his own autonomous robot – “This robot is my first electronics and embedded systems project. I studied Electronic Circuits and Applications by Senturia and Wedlock for six months and then rebuilt and cross compiled my home computer systems with a Linux From Scratch book to prepare for it. This project is also the first time machining moving parts (as simple as the front suspension is, the parts do move). I’ve maintained what a friend referred to as an “mail blog” during the project. After some progress or discovery, I emailed a status report of sorts, usually with pictures and (rarely) movies attached. A coworker convinced me there is value in these emails as artifacts of the project history.” [via] Link.

The Original Young Engineering Kits Program…

The Original Young Engineering Kits Program…

30816-71Edmund Scientific’s has a deal on kits for kids -subscription style…“Edmund’s Young Engineering Kits Program – this program consists of three fun and educational hands-on activity kits that will help the young ‘engineer’ to experience, create, and learn different aspects in the vast field of engineering! The kits will be shipped individually every other week to give you something to look forward to during this winter season. The Young Engineering Kits Program is a subtle and creative way to expose young persons to.Link.

First person model helicopter piloting…

First person model helicopter piloting…

S EyetopglassesheliThere are a lot of homemade versions of this lately, but here’s a really cool way to pilot your RC chopper – “HeliHobby’s True Vision is a state of the art device which includes a high quality sub-micro camera, sub-micro transmitter ( 2.4GHZ ), base receiver and coupled with EyeTops’s high resolution LCD Eyewear to give you the only True Vision when flying any size R/C Helicopter. True Vision is the only system which will allow you to fly your R/C Machine in first person view as well as third person virew simultaneously.” [via] Link.