I kid you not. Hello Kitty and Street Fighter are coming together in 2012. They may not be the strangest bedfellows that one can think of, but this “merger” is one that raises my eyebrows. I know that Hello Kitty is one of the most popular and longest lasting franchises, but I just never got it. Maybe it’s because I am not really a cat person. (Yes, sacrilege for some!) [Read more…] about When Hello Kitty and Street Fighter Collide
The love for chocolate is a universal thing. It does not matter what your cultural background is. It does not matter where you live. When it comes to chocolate, you just don’t say no!
Here’s something better than simple chocolate, though – Amazing Things Made of Chocolate! ((Source)) This feature published by CNBC is something that every chocolate lover must take a look at. However, please don’t blame me if you find yourself wanting a gigantic block of chocolate after reading! [Read more…] about Chocolate Creations That Will Wow You
Everyone has heard of Kickstarter by now, and every now and then, I make it a point to check out the site to see if I can find something interesting. Today, I found something that is more than interesting both in the technological sense and the humanitarian sense. Grow a New Eye is a Kickstarter project spearheaded by Tanya Vlach.
Years ago, when Hurricane Katrina hit, all eyes were turned to New Orleans. On the very same day, in another part of the United States, Tanya Vlach got into an accident that cost her her left eye. In spite of all the injuries she suffered, Tanya was fortunate to escape with her life. [Read more…] about Help Tanya Marie Grow a New Eye
3D printing has captured the hearts and imaginations of many people even though I don’t think it can be considered mainstream yet. At least I don’t think that you can easily get hold of a 3D printer. There is no doubt about the technology’s ability to bring out the creativity in people, though. From printing tiny versions of yourself to printing in bone – the applications of 3D printing are fun! I think my favorite is the 3D chocolate printer – no one can deny the appeal and usefulness of that! [Read more…] about First 3D Printed Plane Takes Flight
Kids, do not try this at home. Then again, this is a DIY piece, so no one can really stop you from giving the project a go. Just remember, this is no ordinary DIY project. It can hurt you. Literally.
Have you ever heard of Patrick Priebe? ((Source)) Probably not, but my guess is that his name is already making the rounds and geeky DIY-ers and Iron Man fans are already on to him. This lab technician from Germany is an Iron Man fan to the highest level. As if watching the movies every week wasn’t enough, Patrick went ahead and created his own version of Iron Man’s laser thingamajig – the one the shoots out of his palm. (And I thought I was the number one Iron Man fan!) [Read more…] about Make Your Own Iron Man Palm Laser Weapon
When was the last time you got stuck in traffic as thick as molasses? If you live in a city like Manila (Philippines), and you are on the road everyday, then you have probably experienced some of the most irritating, road rage-inducing traffic jams. Truth be told, many major cities in the world are known for their awful traffic flow. That’s just part of urban living. You either bear it or move to the boondocks.
But what if something good can be harnessed from heavy traffic? Something like electricity, which is always a welcome thing. Scientists from the Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel might be on to something. ((Source)) The basic idea is so simple that it is brilliant: create a road that will generate electrical power when vehicles pass over it.
The underlying science is not new, and you’ve probably encountered it before – piezo electricity. It is the same principle on which products such as self-charging touchscreen gadgets are based. This time, though, the project is on a much larger scale and arguably a more practical application.
The electricity-producing road has no name yet, but what the scientists have done is to place the piezo electric pads under a layer of tarmac – the surface which comes into contact with the tires of the vehicles. With the pressure of the vehicles and their movement as well, the pads are triggered and collect the energy that is produced. This energy is converted to electricity, which can be used to power practically anything.
The issue now is how many pads are need to supply power needs. So far, the tests show that many pads have to be placed over a span of hundreds of meters. More so, more power is generated when vehicles pass over the pads at fast speeds. That blows the idea of traffic jams being useful, doesn’t it?
While the tests show that street lamps can be powered by this set up, it is not inconceivable to generate more power in the future. Israeli scientists are continuing to study and test the setup to develop it for more applications. If this succeeds, then our dependence on fossil fuels might come to an end. A pretty, pretty thought!