News: Winter Sledding Gets Extreme
Backyard sledding can be more than just kiddie fun. These guys take it to new levels. Unfortunately, total wipe-out is the outcome of every run.
Backyard sledding can be more than just kiddie fun. These guys take it to new levels. Unfortunately, total wipe-out is the outcome of every run.
No joke, Heward Dental Lab offers customized tooth tattoos at a reasonable price. Plus, they only stay permanent as long as you'd like them to - "they can easily be removed in five minutes in the dentist’s office with just a little grinding with a rubber wheel."
There's a HowTo behind everything, including the astounding, just released 3-D Avatar. Reviews across the board agree with one thing: the film is visually breathtaking. PopSci explains the technology behind the filmmaking.
Reborning, the insanely creepy (!!) art of transforming vinyl dolls into strikingly realistic newborns, known as "living dolls" or "unliving dolls".
No exaggeration in today's headline, design student Anna Schwamborn has actually designed a jewelry line made from the hair and cremated ashes of dead loved ones. Human hair sure makes a nice accent to the black bone china (note the word "bone" - human ashes are mixed in).
Motoman the Robot uses a 3D vision system to assemble LEGOs. "Motoman’s high resolution color cameras and object recognition make picking out and connecting LEGO pieces easy...he’s able to get the pieces with one hand while assembling the LEGOs with the other. "
Uh oh. Somebody screwed up big this time. It has recently been reported that Iraqi insurgents have used $26 software to intercept live video feeds from U.S. drones located in Middle East conflict zones. The drone (a remotely piloted aircraft) is considered one of the U.S. military's most sophisticated weapons. Apparently not sophisticated enough, however.
Here we are again. This time, however, it's not Britney Spears that's being uke-d, but the delightfully infamous Lady Gaga. The wicked (we-can't-help-but-look-watch-listen) Lady Gaga.
The Brits have contributed a new sport to the world, coined Horsesurfing. Yes, it is just what it sounds like: the combined skill of horseback riding and surfing.
What is it about the infamous colored smoke bomb that is so deeply satisfying, so beautiful? Well, first there's an explosion (always fun), which then yields beautiful billowing clouds of saturated color. Check out artist Olaf Breuning's Smoke Bombs, 2008.
Wait for it, wait for it... it happens really fast... at right about 1:05. Okay, maybe he's not a world champion, but a very cool party trick nonetheless. Here's one way to do it (not quite as perfect as our world champion above):
More redneck fun. Bob Moravitz plus family and friends have created an 8 hour event of propelling vehicles off cliffs. Held yearly, admission is free but donations are encouraged (to cover insurance costs).
My stomach is doing somersaults just watching this. Looks fun, albeit incredibly dangerous. Take it down a notch (or fifty) and build an indoor swing this winter. Previously, Deeply Trusting Female Volunteers Bod to Redneck Science: First Human Slingshot.
As November was coming to an end this year, the "6th Robo-One Gate in International Robot Exhibition 2009" dance competition took place. The contenders are just a little bit creepy, to say the least. Particularly exhibit A, Britney Spears wannabe, "LOVE & JOY, Yuhi Kimura", by Doka Harumi.
Popsci has posted 2009's most amazing scientific images, and there's quite a few great ones in there. A few of our favorites below, click through for all 62.
Some think of Google as the ultimate Big Brother, and with good reason. If you use Google (and most of us do), Google potentially has your email history, your complete search history, your travel routes, your interests, and more. Maybe they've even snapped a picture of you out in the real world (via Google Street View).
Whether you're inclined to love it or leave it, you've gotta admit one thing about JC de Castelbajac's LEGO fashion line- it's fun. More 80's pop culture revival: LEGO constructed hats and LEGO inspired prints set to cartoon blue skies. Scroll all the way down for JC de Castelbajac's runway videos (one in LEGOmation, the second live footage of the actual runway show). Previously, Make-It-Yourself LEGO Gummies.
WonderHowTo loves pranks. So, naturally we're big fans of College Humor, particularly Prank Wars. Prank Wars stars Amir and Streeter, best pals. Best pals that love to humiliate one another...to say the least... In their latest *life threatening* prank, Amir scares the crap out of Streeter. Check out the interview (and prank) on Jimmy Kimmel: Click through for the complete skydiving prank video (sans Jimmy Kimmel). To view all Prank Wars videos, visit College Humor.
Dean Potter, one of National Geographic's Ten Adventurers of the Year, set a world record for base jumping in 2009.
Neuroscience (live!) resumes its 50 hour slicing session 8:00 am PST this morning. According to Gizmodo,
BBC show Top Gear has built a homemade electric car in just 18 hours: the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust.
Tom Friedman. One of my very favorite contemporary artists. Friedman injects the wonder into the humdrum. He creates magic from the unsuspected with his incredible sculptures assembled from simple, everyday materials. His materials have included: toilet paper, drinking straws, construction paper, masking tape, toothpicks, bubblegum, spaghetti, toothpaste, soap powder, sugar cubes.
Cycling enthusiasts, behold. Fastest bicycle in the world, designed by VARNA of British Columbia. Pretty impressive.
According to Google's (albeit rough) translation from French to English: "A big wheel in India that does not work with an engine but using human power. Men throw themselves in front of the wheel to rotate due to their weight."
Turkey day is over, and you have this nice Friday-Saturday-Sunday stretch before it's back the daily grind. Here's a project that inspires both young and old: LeGummies brick shaped gummy candies. Geeky LEGO bliss.
Yves Rossy, AKA Jetman, attempted to fly across the Atantic from Morocco to Spain yesterday. His homemade, jet powered wings "span 8 feet and are powered by four kerosene-fueled jet engines."
Well, maybe these folks aren't redneck. That is a pretty nice house, and that slingshot doesn't look too jery rigged. But the idea of a human slingshot is certainly redneck (and lotsa fun). Previously, Build a Redneck Roller Coaster.
Extreme Holiday Ideas has posted several fun Thanksgiving projects this season. Check out some of my favorites:
Looking for an (explosively) fun Thanksgiving project this week? Something that involves fire and lasers? Check it out. YouTube creator StyroPyro lights ten matches in 9 seconds with a modded laser. One word: Awesome. Luckily both StyroPyro and Kipkay provide HowTo's. First, How to building a burning blue/violet laser. Below, Kipkay demonstrates how to build one with a cheap Bic lighter casing (as well as store bought parts). Have fun.
Jan Vorman has installed quick LEGO-fixes all over the world - from Italy to Germany to Israel to Holland.
Heatherwick Studio's London based rolling bridge is an engineering marvel. Lots of fun, and immensely satisfying to watch (via YouTube, assuming you can't see it in person).
Tim Hawkinson is an artist who truly inspires. The Los Angeles based artist creates complex, whimsical sculptures with simple mechanics and basic materials. One of his most notable pieces is the art-world-renowned "Uberorgan", a giant football field sized, fully-automated bagpipe, cleverly constructed with plastic sheeting and pieces of electrical hardware.
Kogoro Kurata, master ironsmith, known for his massive, impressive metalworking. His creations are awe-inspiring. Any blacksmith or engineer would agree.
Watch your back, Danny MacAskill, these fräuleins sure know how to maneuver a bicycle. Whew! Ladies. Shwesters, in fact. (Sisters).
Maglev trains. Why are they so cool? Well, for starters, they float. The idea of levitating trains have been around since the '60's. The first commercially available levitator was introduce in 1984, Birmingham, England. The fastest known floating train is Japan's JR-Maglev, reaching speeds of 581 km/h.
Uh-mazing...London based designer team Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz have created a dress embroidered with 24,000 LEDs.
Move over Rubik's Cube, there's a new puzzle in town. The Petaminx. The beautifully designed and custom built Petaminx has almost 1,000 moving parts. Peta- actually means 1,000,000,000,000,000, although that number could refer to the endless number of solutions.
You're alone in the wilderness. Stranded. Hungry. Cold. What do you do? Naivety could be your downfall, but you don't need to be an Army Ranger to survive.
Need to find some directions? No problem, use Google Maps. Want to find some spy photos of yourself? No problem, use Google Street View.
Who wouldn't love an indoor swing? The upcoming cold winter season is one good reason to build one, but truly, an indoor swing is just plain fun all year round. Luckily Apartment Therapy has posted a How-To on building a simple wooden plank swing.