Tag: Science

Laughing Gas How-To From 1949

 

Mumm… Old science tutorials are the greatest. Back when the world was a simpler place, little Timmy Citizen was encouraged to explore the world of science via discoveries that he would make in his back yard laboratory himself, and not just by reading boring old facts from a text book. This is an extract from a 1949 issue of ‘Modren Mechanix’ that details the production of nitrous oxide.

But don’t go trying this at home these days kids, just having ammonium nitrate (the prime ingredient in this experiment) without the proper papers will get you jail time. You could be a druggie, or even a terrorist! So be happy to just read about how reactions and decomposition takes place from a book and know that your better off blindly taking their word for it that this is how things work. Think of it like reading a cook book but being forbidden from owning any food. I’m sure all the best cooks in the world got to be what they are by just reading and never touching the ingredients…

[via Boing Boing]

Laughing gas how-to in 1949 Modern Mechanix

Transparent OLEDs

OLEDs 

I’m looking forward to the time where organic LEDs are used like those annoying clock LCDs you see stuck in pens, clocks your get free with magazine susbscriptions, and mouse pads. 

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam are now studying ways to make OLEDs transparent, which will lead to a variety of new applications. While metal oxide coatings in earlier OLEDs made them opaque, researchers are investigating new transparent physical properties, as well as OLED and liquid crystal display hybrids.

Transparent OLEDs

I’m Not Dead yet..

SuitSat 

That’s right kids and cadets, the SuitSat isn’t dead, its just keeping a low profile before it burns up. The reception has been ‘in the weeds’ for many people but it’s strong enough for people to copy bits of the transmission. SuitSat.org has reception reports from Hams around the world that have been able to make out what the oddball satellite has been saying.

ARRLWeb: "SuitSat-1" Alive, But Signal Weak; "Keep Listening!" ARISS Urges

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