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!
Overview of how a Maker solved his audio problem in his new car “iPod your Subaru Outback’s Closed Audio System – For some incredibly stupid reason, Subaru has shipped its popular Outback for the past two years with completely closed audio systems making it near impossible to use them with the immensely popular iPod. Here’s a clean, affordable solution for iPodding your closed Subaru’s audio system.” [via] Link.
Here’s an interesting video on Google video a reader sent in ” An intimate look at Gypsy refugees in Belgrade suburb who make a living by transfoming Citroen’s classic 2cv and Dyana cars into Mad Max-like recycling vehicles, with which they collect cardoard, bottles and scrap metal. These modern horses are much more efficient than the cart-pushing competition, but more important – they also mean freedom, hope and style for their crafty owners. Even the car batteries are used as power generators in order to get some light, watch tv and recharge mobiles! Almost an alchemist’s dream come true!…” Link.
On a trip to Hawaii this Maker went biking, he’s since made a bicycle camera mount to take pictures and video – “The activity that really stood out for me is the mountain biking, though I can’t wait to participate in the others as well. And for weeks now, I have said to myself that I want to make a bike camera mount so that I can videotape the fast ride down the mountain. I’m sure it will be exhilarating fun!” Here’s how he did it… Link.
Todd writes “Here are some fun photos of the Illegal Soapbox Derby Society’s 2005 downhill finals held on Bernal Hill in San Francisco last weekend. As usual, it was an excellent spectacle. The Illegal Soapbox Derby Society enforces only one rule: Every car must have a beer holder.” Link.
Raph writes “The Homebuilt anemometer project – I wanted to build a measuring instrument which must be placed outside, exposed to the natural elements so I decided to build a cup anemometer. To add a little more challenge to this project and make it less expensive, I decided to try to build the anemometer using parts I already have, as possible.” Link.
Jason writes “In anticipation of the Mars proximity last Saturday, I put together a quick howto on using your hacked CVS camera (or any digital camera, really) with a telescope. I was planning to do a follow-up with some photos, but the sky has been overcast in Minneapolis for 4 days now. Hopefully, some Makers out there had better viewing conditions and can share their pics. As for me, it looks like I’ll have to wait for some other celestial event before I can try this out.” Link.
Rick writes “A great ‘how to’ making steam engines, (although most are run on compressed air). All you need to know from simple single cylinder models to V twins and more. A neat project in time for the holiday season – What a great present.” Link.
