CubeMe » Science

‘Dueling Banjos’ on Tesla Coils

Shan Tara — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:16:49 +0000

Two Tesla coils perform a rousing rendition of “Dueling Banjos” in this 2010 video by YouTube user FONentertainment.

Fantastic Brine Icicle form at the Bottom of the Sea

Shan Tara — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:37:20 +0000

BBC team has captured a time-lapse film of the birth of a brinicle . The temperature of this sinking brine, which was well below 0C, caused the water to freeze in an icy sheath around it.

Where “Brinicle” met the sea bed, a web of ice formed that froze everything it touched, including sea urchins and starfish. In winter, the air temperature above the sea ice can be below -20C, whereas the sea water is only about -1.9C. Heat flows from the warmer sea up to the very cold air, forming new ice from the bottom. The salt in this newly formed ice is concentrated and pushed into the brine channels. And because it is very cold and salty, it is denser than the water beneath.

“That particular patch was difficult to get to. It was a long way from the hole and it was quite narrow at times between the sea bed and the ice,” explained Mr Miller.

“I do remember it being a struggle… All the kit is very heavy because it has to sit on the sea bed and not move for long periods of time.”

As well as the practicalities of setting up the equipment, the filmmakers had to contend with interference from the local wildlife.

The large weddell seals in the area had no problems barging past and breaking off brinicles as well as the filming equipment.

“The first time I did a timelapse at the spot a seal knocked it over,” said Mr Miller.

But the team’s efforts were eventually rewarded with the first ever footage of a brinicle forming.

Filmed by cameramen Hugh Miller and Doug Anderson for the BBC

“PreVue,” Fetal Visualization Device Concept by Melody Shiue

Shan Tara — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:52:04 +0000

Melody Shiue, an industrial designer of the University of New South Wales has designed a product called, PreVue. It is an e-textile based device that employs latest stretchable display technology over the abdominal region, letting other family members to connect with the fetus in its context.

This abdomen attachment is worn so that expecting parents are able to check out their child’s growth and development with each passing day.

Melody Shiue

Lunar Cubit, Solar Power Generating Pyramids for Abu Dhabi

Shan Tara — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:03:30 +0000

The energy-generating public art installation Lunar Cubit has won the First Prize at the 2010 Land Art Generator Design Competition. Lunar Cubit is a site specific proposal to be constructed in Abu Dhabi just outside Masdar City, the world’s first zero carbon metropolis once completed. Combining artistic vision with sustainable design and engineering, Lunar Cubit examines the nature of time through nightly contemplation of lunar phases and daily transformation of sunlight into electricity, powering up to 250 homes. Inspired by astronomy, quantum physics and the photoelectric effect, for which Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921, this work is open to the public, inviting a personal experience where one can literally reach out and touch a 1.74MW utility scale power plant, in the form of nine monolithic pyramids rising from the sands of Abu Dhabi.

Lunar Cubit
Via [Land Art Generator Initiative]

Vision and Illusion

Hans — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:59:15 +0000

The structure of your individual brain has a lot to do with how you perceive optical illusions. Researchers at University College London asked subjects how they perceived illusions of size such as the one used in this video, and then measured the size of each subject’s visual cortex -the amount of brain matter devoted to processing vision

The primary visual cortex has a far more active role in shaping how we see the world than anyone had suspected. Researchers at University College London discovered this when they were testing a pair of optical illusions on some test subjects. Here’s the first one, known as the Ebbinghaus illusion:

350 Earth, Global Climate Art Project by 350.org

Shan Tara — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:52:05 +0000

As part of the launch for 350 EARTH, the first global art show for the climate is signed by 350.org, founder Bill McKibben; multimedia hip-hop innovator DJ Spooky; renowned urban artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada; and director of the Santa Fe Art Institute, Diane Karp.
350 EARTH has issued a call to artists to submit climate change design sketches that will be used to create images viewable from space. The designs will be replicated by human beings, assembled like pixels on a computer screen, to create images so large that they will be seen and photographed by an orbiting satellite. The installations take place in over a dozen cities, including in Europe, South America, and seven locations in North America. Each project is large enough to be visible by space, and will be photographed via satellite. The public can sign up to participate in their city, or make their own art.

Most of the art is developed along the line of “gather-enough-people to-form-a-shape (or message)”: for example, a giant “350″ (representing the optimum levels of parts-per-million of CO2 in the atmosphere); a green footprint; or a polar bear created out of hundreds of red tents. 350.org says aerial images will be made available and displayed at the latest climate talks in Cancun starting on Nov. 29.

350.org November 20-28, 350 EARTH will become the first-ever art exhibit large enough to be seen from space.
Via [NYT]

Trees with Glowing Nanoparticles Could Replace Streetlights

Shan Tara — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:53:53 +0000

Taiwanese researchers have come up with the elegant idea of replacing streetlights with trees, by implanting their leaves with gold nanoparticles. Dr Yen-Hsun Su from Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University discovered that when you add gold nanoparticles to the leaves of Bacopa caroliniana, it induces a red emission in the chlorophyll. Bacopa caroliniana is a plant widely found in the Southern US, but the same reaction might be possible in other plants and trees. Dr Ye-Hsun points out that this is potentially a win-win-win situation, with the glowing plants reducing power usage, and lowering light pollution, while absorbing CO2.

This ingenious triple threat of an idea could simultaneously reduce carbon emissions, cut electricity costs and reduce light pollution, without sacrificing the safety that streetlights bring.

Via [DVICE] & [Inhabitat]

African Elephants Ambushed by a Nile Crocodile

Shan Tara — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:13:11 +0000

A baby elephant was taking a drink when a crocodile, hidden under the surface of the water, clamped down on the juvenile’s trunk! Hearing the baby’s calls of distress, the herd of elephants immediately went to its rescue, scaring off the crocodile by trumpeting and stamping the ground. After the attack the herd stayed with the youngster.

When the baby had recovered the herd crossed the waterhole together in safety, only yards from where the crocodile had been hiding.

These pictures were taken by amateur photographer Johan Opperman in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Via [Neatorama] & [National Geographic]
Photographs by Martin Nyfeler

Falling from Space Back to Earth

Shan Tara — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:55:01 +0000

NASA attached a camera to one of its rocket boosters on the space shuttle and recorded the events that take place when a booster is detached from the shuttle. The video takes a while to get going, so if you want to experience the fall from space more quickly, just skip ahead to 1:50.
Via [doobybrain]

New Species Found In Foja Mountains

Delphine — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:54:37 +0000

Foja Mountains are located on the Indonesian island of New Guinea. A recent expedition from Geographic have discovered a bunch of new species, coming with stunning images.

A bizarre spike-nosed tree frog, a woolly rat, gargoyle-like gecko with yellow eyes, or a tiny wallaby, smallest member of the kangaroo family are good marks for the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.

The National Geographic Society supported the expedition, along with the Smithsonian Insititution and Indionesian Institute of Sciences, returning to visit a mountainous region known as a profound species generator because of its relative isolation, elevation, and tropical environment

via [guardian]

Biological Lego Blocks

Delphine — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:31:24 +0000

Researchers at MIT Harvard Division of Health Sciences and Technology harnessed Biological Lego Blocks to build new organs. They achieve this by binding cells together into tiny block-like structures, which can recreate human tissues. And on top, the technique doesn’t need expensive machinery.

Researchers call the new technique “micromasonry”: once cells are bound into blocks using the polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG), which hardens when illuminated, researchers form small blocks and shine a bright light onto them. So they harden into form.

Once the Legos are built, they are loaded into a pre-made cast of a silicon based polymer called PDMS to create living human tissue. So far, only veins have been created. But in theory, entire organs can be realised with some cell differentiation and a larger mold.

MIT researchers involved in this LEGO project hope their technology will provide solutions to problems encountered with the former technologies.

[MIT Article]
Via [Inhabitat]

Magnet-Like Slopes by Koukichi Sugihara

Delphine — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:38:21 +0000

Koukichi Sugihara, from the Meiji Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Science in Japan, designed this cardboard sculpture which won the 2010 Illusion Competition.

via [Neatorama]

The Snow Monkeys of Japan

Shan Tara — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:28:15 +0000

I know it has nothing to do with architecture or fashion, but may be could we put that monkey in the design category. They are too beautiful and well drawn.

This monkeys have incredible abilities and the strangest habits; food seasoning and hot tub bathing are but a few.

Via [Neatorama] & [environmentalgraffiti]

NASA Delivers Stunning Pictures

Delphine — Tue, 11 May 2010 10:36:41 +0000

Its one of the most deadly place of the solar system, shot like never before by the new Solar Dynamic Observatory of NASA. These first pictures should keep us humble towards the force of the Universe.

NASA’SDO was launched in February for a 5 years mission to study the Sun’s magnetic fields.

[NASA Page]
via [Gizmodo]

Sourisverte Eco Rat Trap by Elodie Delassus

Delphine — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:58:50 +0000

Sourisverte is a design changing the idea of the rat trap experience, and leaving behind harmful chemicals. As the rat dies, it participate to the natural cycle of the life.

Organic seeds inside the bag and the materials are organic. The trap can therefore be thrown in the nature, a plant will grow with the enriched deteriorated matter.

[Elodie Delassus]
via[trendsnow]

Eye Flowerpot, by Olga Kalugina

Delphine — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:32:49 +0000

Russian based industrial designer created an awesome new object: the Eye pot, allowing to see the roots of your plant and to optimize the conditions of growing. The flowerpot allows to see the root system of the plant. More importantly, the system Eye defines automatically light level, ambient temperature, humidity and conditions of the soil. After what it shows them on the display. All developments of a plant and the influence of various factors can now be estimated.

Eye can be used both for educational and contemplation purposes. Such flowerpot will allow us to better understand plants. The electricity generation for the system uses chemical reactions between the substances contained in roots and reagents in the case of a pot.

[olga kalugina]
via [hometone]

Insect Artwork: Debug by Edhv

Delphine — Tue, 04 May 2010 10:24:32 +0000

Dutch designers of the Edhv team show a series of pictures achieved by tracking the path of tiny insects.

An experimental technology tracking software allows the mapping of the movement patterns of different species of insect. A new medium of artwork coming from life.

The movements of woodlice and crickets show different features:

“Every species of insects has its own behavior which is influenced by its environment, for instance light conditions and obstacles along its path”, explains Edhv member.

The innovative studio has always focused research and concept as an invitation to break established rules and boundaries before tangible design is even considered.

Debug will be on display as posters at the Design by Performance exhibition at Z33 Centre for Contemporary Art and Design in Hasselt, Belgium until the end of May.

[z33] & [edhv]
via [dezeen] & [inhabitat]

Element House by MOS

Delphine — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:31:41 +0000

The Element House designed by MOS is an architecture concept for a new ecology. Entirely off the grid, it redefines the domestic space by using living organisms patterns algorithms, creates wells of light by removing the heart of the construction and designs an unconventional pre-fab strategy.

The idea uses the archetypal shapes of a house, a rectangle, a triangle on top and a chimney, as a base. From there forms are extruded and modulated to grow according the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical algorithm describing the developmental patterns in living organisms. This configuration of vernacular forms allows to explore the potential of combination in buildings.

Thanks to these shapes, the Element House expands and contracts to welcome multiple or extended families. The concept also redefines the idea of a village: where does one home end and the other begin?

Another new architectural feature is the absence of house hearth. Unconventional, it allows to double daylight and to assure a natural ventilation into the interior. The fireplace is replaced with an atmospheric inlet, bringing the light and weather from outside the house in.

Totally green, the homes would be completely “off the grid,” operating independently of traditional utility services. The pre-fabricated modules, limited to a footprint of 1500 square feet maximum, would follow strict LEED design criteria.
The project is on show for the first time at the Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA) in Denver, Colorado.

[MOS]
Via [core77] & [Museum of Outdoor Arts]