Math Monday: 3D Hilbert Curve from plumbing supplies By George Hart for the Museum of Mathematics The 3D Hilbert curve is an infinitely long path which wiggles around through all regions of a cube, making right angles in a systematic manner. Physical models can be made with additive fabrication technology. The elegant metal version above […]
Craig Smith, of Firefly Workshop, has been planning a home observatory and is working out the details of easily building a domed roof for it. He writes: Anybody with a decent telescope knows that a telescope should be cool as the night air to prevent heat radiant distortion. Aside from keeping it out in an […]
Mathematical art in the lava By George Hart for the Museum of Mathematics Edmund Harris created this geometric sculpture on a 35 year old lava field in Iceland. It can be understood as a simple form composed of equilateral triangles, but the curved edges where the triangles hinge together soften the geometry, giving it a […]
A couple of killer round-ups of science-themed cookies.
Images from the McCall Studios website. Sadly, famed science fiction and space exploration artist, Robert McCall, has died. He passed away on Friday, of a heart attack, in his Scottsdale, Arizona home. Anybody who’s paid even passing attention to sci-fi, the space program, or postage stamp art has seen Bob McCall’s work. He painted the […]
Image courtesy NASA Despite initially “iffy” weather reports, Endevaour was given the all-clear to land at Kennedy Space Center late last night, completing an almost two-week mission to the International Space Station where the crew installed a new node and the Cupola. The impressive seven-window addition has already offered up stunning pictures of earth. Image […]
Sierpinski tetrahedron By George Hart for the Museum of Mathematics A classic 3D fractal is the Sierpinski tetrahedron, which is a tetrahedron of tetrahedra of tetrahedra, etc. This fifth-order model is about 8.5 inches along its edges. It is made from nylon by selective laser sintering. If you have access to additive fabrication machines, you […]
