Handheld Terahertz Device Wins Prize

Handheld 'T-ray' device earns first ever lamelson-Rensselaer student prizeI for one can’t wait to get a terahertz dev kit. How much fun could you have with that? I’m talking real X-Ray Specs!

Schulkin’s “Mini-Z” is dramatically smaller and lighter than any previous terahertz device, and it already has proven its ability to detect cracks in space shuttle foam, image tumors in breast tissue, and spot counterfeit watermarks on paper currency. The system, which weighs less than five pounds and fits snugly in a briefcase, could open the door to a wide range of applications in homeland security, biomedical imaging, and nondestructive testing of industrial components.

Campus.News: Online News for the Rensselaer Community – Handheld “T-ray” Device Earns First-Ever Lemelson-Rensselaer Student Prize

Supercool Water

This is an excellent example of super cooled liquids. If pure water is not disturbed and is truly pure, it can be chilled well beyond its normal freezing point (0 degrees C). If there is nothing for the water to crystallize around all is fine, it stays a liquid. The water can stay liquid down to -42 C, past that the water will crystallize on it’s own. If something is introduced like a mote of dust or tiny bubbles caused by moving the water, a chain reaction occurs and the body of water freezes.
More super cooling examples are here:
Supercooling Experiment 1
Supercooling Experiment 2
Supercooling Experiment 3
BTW, the guys on Digg are saying that it’s a hoax. I doubt it, I’ve had this happen to be before. Its happen with bottles of water or water in an ice tray in the freezer, and even a can of Coke. The Coke froze into a can of slush as soon as it was opened, I think the vending machine was set a little too cold that day. Conditions need to be just right for this to happen in your home freezer. The circulating fan will more than likely cause your supercooling experiments to fail. If you unplug the refrigerator just remember to plug it back in. Looks like fun, I have some water in the freezer in hopes I too can make instant ice.
[inspired by digg]
Wikipedia entry on supercooling

Arizona State Quarter

I’m sure that by now people living in the United States know about the US Mint 50 State Quarter program by now. For those who haven’t used cash in a while I’ll fill you in on the rough details. The US Mints decided to add a little much needed variety to our currency. So, after having a nice long think about just how well the Sacajawea dollar coin did (it didn’t, it’s been universally declared a flop) they decided that celebrating each of the 50 US states would be a good thing. So far it’s working out rather well. People love them and are even collecting them. The program started in 1999 and the quarters are issued in 10 week cycles in order that the state joined the country. There is a lengthy process to decide the actual design of the coin but towards the end the states can put the finalists to a vote. The Arizona quarter is slated to be minted in mid 2008 and the five finalists are up for the popular vote. I figure that as everyone in America will be using them I don’t see why non-Arizonians shouldn’t be able to have a voice in selection. So have at it and see if your choice ends up in your pocket.

Arizona State Quarter

Clever Soylent Greeen Prank

Soylent Green is People!This is just brilliant. I see a lot of clever things on the ‘Net but this one is funny as hell.

So here’s the deal. Soylent Green is people! Someone’s got to tell them. In this age of disposable prepackaged everything, we are getting further and further withdrawn from the actual sources of the products we consume on a daily basis. This is particularly what interested me about the prospects of putting my "additional labeling" on foodstuffs.

[via cockeyed]
the WAREHOUSE

Tiny R/C Star Wars R2-D2

Very tiny R/C R2D2Ooo, neat! A very tiny remote controlled R2D2 Astromech droid of your very own!

This R/C R2-D2 Action Figure is like a Star Wars fanboy’s wet dream come true. The size of a regular action figure, this tiny droid is fully controllable from the included lightsaber remote. Authentic R2-D2 sounds, turning head and red LED eye complete the package.

The lightsaber controller is a nice touch.
But all this begs a question. As this ‘toy’ only has one drive motor it’s not going to be doing any fancy moves. It’s limited to forward and turning while in reverse. Has anyone modded one of these for better movement? What about the old R2D2 model kit, has anyone built a little robot out of one of those?

[via gizmodo]
R/C Star Wars R2-D2 Action Figure