8/19/2007
Levitation
Scientists at the University of St Andrews have used a lens to create a levitation effect. (Ignore the photo in the article, for some reason they illustrated it with a cheesy shot of a magnetic toy) The Casimir Effect is an attractive force between objects due to “resonance of all-pervasive energy fields in the intervening space between the objects”. What the physicists have done is found a way to make this field repel, rather than attract. This is mainly important to micro- and nano- technology, where the stickiness of the Casimir Effect is a pretty big hurdle.
Ophelia at 5:28 am
Permalink: Levitation
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2/16/2007
The solution to walking in VR
virtusphere.com has come up with a sphere designed to be used with virtual reality. Resembling a human sized hamster ball (though the technical term I believe is “omni-directional interface”) on a base with rollers it allows the person to walk around in VR without, you know, walking around. With a decent game this could be great fun. And imagine a gym full of these things and DDR instead of treadmills and aerobics classes.
Ophelia at 11:00 am
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1/10/2007
You could make a thousand tiny ponies
One step closer to a Diamond Age matter complier or Star Trek replicator, these enterprising fellows have developed a $2400 home “fabber” kit. With a relatively cheap, easy to assemble kit for a rapid prototyping machine, they are trying to lure enthusiastic hobbyists with the idea that they will kick start the technology much as DIY computer kits of the 70s quickened the emergence of the personal computer.
Even at a tenth of the cost of a cheap rapid prototyping machine, these are little too expensive yet for me to try. I wonder how long before Cafepress or someone like them uses this kind of tech for 3-d print on demand so I can make the goodies without having to buy a machine?
Ophelia at 4:53 am
Permalink: You could make a thousand tiny ponies
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11/27/2006
Medieval Science
Epact has a gallery of fascinating and beautiful scientific tools from Medieval and Renaissance times.
Ophelia at 9:50 am
Permalink: Medieval Science
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11/4/2006
Dear scientists: WOW, but haven’t you ever watched a movie?
recreated an ancient virus whose genetic code was nestled in the human genome.
Ophelia at 2:47 pm
Permalink: Dear scientists: WOW, but haven’t you ever watched a movie?
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2/23/2006
Death Mask belonging to Shakespeare (or maybe not)
Whether this death mask of Shakespeare is genuine or not, I find the picture compelling. Something about how they have it angled on the cushion to make it look like the rest of him is there.
Ophelia at 6:01 pm
Permalink: Death Mask belonging to Shakespeare (or maybe not)
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System of the World/Tower of London
This Flickr photoset was produced by someone who wanted to get a better picture of the Tower of London locations in Neal Stephenson’s The System of The World from The Baroque Cycle.
Ophelia at 5:53 pm
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12/16/2005
flexible silicon circuts
University of Illinois researchers have developed stretchy silicon to be used in flexible electronics components. The ribbons of silicon are apparently formed into regular waves and sandwiched in a rubbery substrate, allowing the circuits to stretch & relax without altering their performance.
Ophelia at 5:22 pm
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11/14/2005
Hidden Lake deep under the Antarctic ice
Scientists think Lake Vostok may hold hidden life, untouched in over a million years, hidden two miles below the Antarctic ice.
Ophelia at 8:24 am
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10/17/2005
Growing food in China
I found a link on boingboing to this blog with the account of someone who was touring some food growing facilities in China. Interesting sciency stuff, but makes you feel a little squicky too.
Ophelia at 12:39 pm
Permalink: Growing food in China
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Victorian Hearing Aides
The Bernard Becker Medical Library at the Washington University School of Medicine has a great web page up showcasing old hearing devices. There are many complex contraptions of suitably Victorian bizarreness, many meant to be disguised inside an elaborate hairdo or hat, others as huge parlor room furnishings.
Ophelia at 12:32 pm
Permalink: Victorian Hearing Aides
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10/7/2005
Archimedes Death Ray
MIT students un-bust the myth of Archimedes sun powered death mirror.
Ophelia at 7:17 am
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10/6/2005
Shrink Ray for Quarters
Through the prodigious use of electricity and Tesla coils, this guy has basically made a shrink ray… the catch is it only works on coins. That is just so bizzare and cool and useless.
Ophelia at 8:16 am
Permalink: Shrink Ray for Quarters
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