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!
Here’s a site that shows how Mike made a working jet engine built from junkyard parts. The engine presented here is based on a used automotive turbo charger, lots of off the shelf parts, and only a few custom made components. Anyone with a little knowledge of engines, access to a reasonably well stocked workshop, some free time, and some excess cash should be able to make an engine…Link.
Mad Physics Dot Com is a site created by a couple students/researchers to show how things work, some experiments and demonstrations. The experiments include: The Physics of Glowsticks, GIANT Hooke’s Law Demonstration and The Science of Fire Extinguishers. They also have a neat section called “Ask Mad Physics”. [Via MeFi] Link
Taser upgraded via Fark…Lightning On Demand is a volunteer organization of engineers, artists, scientists and machinists. Our key objective is to produce a controllable discharge of lightning at the greatest physical scale imaginable using modern technology. One of the projects is a 110,000 Volt Taser Cannon. The Taser Cannon can direct a 15,000 Ampere plasma channel through the air along a straight trajectory, at grounded targets up to 35 ft downrange. Link.
Is there anything bamboo can’t do? Here’s a how to on making a bike frame out of bamboo. “I saw many amazing constructions made of bamboo and I always wondered, why such light, strong, stiff and elastic material is not widespread used for building of bicycle frames. Since I finished my carbon frame, I was thinking about using bamboo for my second frame”. Link via BoingBoing.
Or, why your web browser needs a hypothalamus. Boost your productivity by embracing procrastination.
Anyone out there have an OnStar? In our 3rd issue we’re going to have a lot car projects and GM’s OnStar system seems to have a ton of things you could do. This project looks really promising– “Interfacing into OnStar’s GPS”. After some modifications (adding a series interface) plug in a PC and grab the GPS coordinates. Might be cool to tie that in to a war driving app or a slurping up some google map data with a high speed connection. Perhaps I can rent a car with OnStar and tinker. Any way, email, AIM/iChat or Skype me if you have one.
