The weekly Lost Knowledge column explores the possible technology of the future in the forgotten ideas of the past (and those slightly off to the side). Each Tuesday, we look at retro-tech, “lost” technology, and the make-do, improvised “street tech” of village artisans and tradespeople from around the globe. “Lost Knowledge” is also the theme […]
… I think we’re going to be okay. Brennon Williams (whose work we’ve blogged about before) is a teen who’s passionate about science. Really passionate. He’s published a print science zine, runs several science-related blogs, and sends email to all of his science and tech heroes (who he calls his “pop stars”). Some of them […]
Spatula Tzar, who brought us the controversial fly plane, offers a number of other interested projects, including this ball mill (a device used to crush metals and chemicals into a fine powder), made from mainly junk lying around the lab. Ball Mill
On PopSci’s DIY, Dave Prochnow has a piece on how to convert a battery-powered RC Hummer into a vehicle that runs of hydrogen fuel cells. How to Make a Fuel Cell-Powered Car In the Maker Shed:
Tufts University has a really good book available online about the physics of music and musical instruments. It’s a nice balance between theory, examples, and hands-on projects. The Physics of Music and Musical Instruments covers the physics of waves, sound, music, and musical instruments at a level designed for high school physics. However, it is […]
The latest New Scientist has a piece on Ted Ciamillo, the machinist who invented the hydrospeeder (think: Bondian underwater motorcycle) and the Lunocet (a tail for divers modeled on dolphins). Ciamillo’s latest project is a human-powered mini-sub he plans to use to pedal across the Atlantic: Ciamillo designed his mini-submarine around a larger version of […]
The Optical Society of America has a very cool site about the science of light. I found instructions for making lenses from Jell-O and ice, with a great explanation of how lenses work.
