Category: Science

SuitSat-1 Goes Off The Air

SuitSat

Well, it was released but only lasted a few orbits. Pretty cool idea though, using an old unserviceable space suit and some Ham gear as an impromptu satellite. I love the way it was hand lunched from ISS. As it was released, Cosmonaut Tokorev proclaimed, "Dosvidanya! Good-bye, Mr Smith!". Hopefully they will try something like this again. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the transmission failed because the batteries became too cold for them to sustain a usable output voltage? Who knows, if the suit heats up from sunlight it might squeak out a few more bits of data until it eventually re-enters and burns up.

AMSAT – This Is SuitSat-1 RS0RS

Print Your Own Rulers!

Printable rulers 

 

This is exactly what I have been looking for. I have a Moleskine notepad that I keep with me at all times and I don’t know how often I’ve needed a ruler that is marked in millimeters. One of these rulers has already been added to the collection of goodies I keep within the covers of my intrepid notebook. I think I’ll print out the color square rulers too just in case I need to take any photos that need a scale next to it. Never know when I might see a bigfoot track out in the wild.

[via Core77 Design and Lifehacker]

Quick Printable Rulers 

Schlieren Shock Wave Photos


For years I have been fascinated by shock wave photos (Schlieren effect). This is an outstanding article on how new techniques are helping scientists understand the dynamics of everything from explosives to how materials are processed.

[via Netorama] 

American Scientist Online – High-speed Imaging of Shock Waves, Explosions and Gunshots

Nano-Size Battery to be Implanted In Eyes

Micro Eye Battery

I’m sure that this is years away from being used in people but the idea is pretty neat. Nano sized electrical cells that could power things in a person like an artificial retina, replacement cochlea, maybe even pacemakers. Maybe this could also serve as a way to correct vision like LASIK or radial keratotomy by flexing a liquid lens implanted in the eye. Something like that could be a new lease on vision for cataract sufferers.

[via Medgadget] 

Sandia researchers to model nano-size battery to be implanted in eye to power artificial retina

Volcano Augustine Blows It’s Top

North America has another volcano that is spewing lava and ash, this time it’s in Alaska.

Current Level of Concern Color Code: RED The explosive eruption that began at 7:58 A.M. AST (16:58 UTC) ended at approximately 8:03 A.M. AST (17:03 UTC). We remain at level of concern color code RED. Based on seismicity, preliminary estimates indicate that this event is at least as energetic as the events of last week.

Alaska Volcano Observatory – Augustine – Eruption Page

Toy Ray Guns

Classic Raygun 

The 1950’s were a golden age of science fiction. Books, movies and most of all TV brought strange alien worlds, space ships and evil aliens to people everywhere. And what’s better to deal with an evil alien monster than a trusty ray gun? Over at the Patent Room, The Art of Industrial Design they have collected a bunch of patent drawings (yep, they were patented before being mass produced) of classic ray guns and a bunch of other thing (architecture, trains, cars just to name a few). As an added bonus you can buy prints of up to 24"x36" or each patent drawing.

PatentRoom.com: Early Design and Illustration | Toy ray guns