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singerguy74

Entertainment & Gaming

Fun With Standing Waves

By Posted on 5.27.2008 2 Comments
In this video, we see a dramatic demonstration of standing waves patterns, which form when travelling waves constructively and destructively interfere as they pass through one other.

5.28.2008 at 09:01am - Comment by singerguy74

Another interesting thing about these shapes is that they appear carved in the Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland which was built in the 1500's. Many people try and "decode secret messages" from them, one father-son team even took it so far as to write a piece of music based on the pitches that correspond to the shapes. While I doubt the ancient Scottish pontiffs had secret advanced technology that would allow them to encode secret messages into the architecture in their church it is interesting that these images appear pretty closely reproduced. There are some other weird things. I'm no conspiracy theorist but history is interesting. Here's the wikipedia entry. Not much info. but interesting to gloss over: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_Chapel
Cars

Are Supercar Designers Out of Ideas?

By Posted on 5.1.2008 3 Comments
Let's face it. It's hard to design a new exotic supercar. The most timeless shapes were spoken for years ago, and every exotic since then has been just a derivative mishmash of science fiction and aerodynamics optimization (especially the homemade ones). That's not to say a car like the Lamborghini Gallardo isn't good looking in its own way, or that the Aston Martin DB9 isn't a luscious piece of eye candy. It's just that those traditional parameters of automotive beauty—see any Ferrari built before 1972—no longer exist.

5.1.2008 at 02:51pm - Comment by singerguy74

I don't know about supercars but the innovations begginnign to happen like the Skateboard design options are starting to open up. The Skateboard is, essentially, just that. It's a flat four-wheeled platform that is fuel-cell powered and "independently mobile". That is you can plop pretty much any sort of body on top (a sports car, van, utility vehicle, off-roader) and voila you've got yourself a car. One of the biggest limitations of current vehicle design is the neccessity to design around the mechanics of the car (i.e. the engine, exhaust, etc.) With that taken out of the equation the possibilities increase dramatically. Too bad the Skateboard is still very much a concept and not a reality just yet.
Technology

The State of the Universe

By Posted on 4.30.2008 6 Comments
Not much in science is more of a mind-bender than thinking about the size and fate of the known universe (except for quantum mechanics and string theory, which also has a lot to do with the size and fate of the universe, albeit on the opposite end of the size spectrum). When we first developed theories about the universe, the model which resulted depicted all of space as static and unchanging, infinite in depth in any direction. Then Einstein posited general relativity and suddenly a whole host of universes were theoretically possible: static, dynamic, infinite, and finite.

5.1.2008 at 02:46pm - Comment by singerguy74

Check out Michio Kaku's book "The Physics of the Impossible". He goes over multiverses and alternate realities and what possibilities there are/aren't (at least mathmatically) I'm sure there are other books that speak more directly to the subject but I'm not sure what they are. I know that Physics of the Impossible is very accessible for those of us who don't have PhD's in..........well.........anything.
Entertainment & Gaming

The Science of Sci-Fi

By Posted on 4.30.2008 6 Comments
In the world of cinematic science fiction one of the most appealing themes involves a universe brimming over with intelligent life. In this imagined future (or past) humans interact with alien friend and foe because they've at last hammered down the ability to travel to distant stars and galaxies, and, yes, "to boldly go where no man has gone before. Having grown up on the original Star Trek series, observed the effect of the Star Wars movies on the zeitgeist of movie-going generations and enjoyed sci-fi soap operas like Battlestar Galactica, I have to admit I wish we could make it happen; no matter the odds.

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5.1.2008 at 12:11pm - Comment by singerguy74

I've been reading Michio Kaku's book "Physics of the Impossible" lately. I'd highly reccommend it. He divides all this far-out techno fantasy into Class I, II, and III impossibilities and, in a VERY approachable way, explains the science behind phasers, force fields, teleporters, time travel, etc. The fun thing about math and physics is that they allow for all kinds of things we simply don't have the technology to create. There's nothing (yet) to say we couldn't travel into the future, for instance, but getting there is another matter.
Gadgets

The End of Exploding Laptops

By Posted on 4.16.2008 6 Comments
Hoping to bring a final end to the era of the exploding notebook, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Germany are developing batteries without flammable materials. The liquid electrolytes at the heart of traditional lithium-ion batteries can catch fire, but the Fraunhofer scientists say they've figured out a way to make them with a new, solid polymer that's inflammable, and, since it's solid, won't leak.

4.23.2008 at 12:37pm - Comment by singerguy74

Many companies have recalled laptops and batteries over the past few years (most notably Dell who recalled millions) due to fire hazard. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb_sv8Wjnn0 for the ABC story. The problem is not with adding extra heat (i.e. leaving a laptop on a space heater or something stupid) but with the way the batteries work. You can check out http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dell-battery-fire.htm for details. Basically there are three things than can cause problem. 1. A short circuit sparks and ignites the flammable liquid used inside the battery. 2. A short circuit causes the battery to heat up quickly causing the battery to explode. 3. The battery heats slowly eventually melting the casing and leaking fluid. Anyone who has set a laptop on their lap knows that many of them can already put out a LOT of heat. Going from a worrying about your sperm count level to setting your house on fire isn't an enormous jump.
The Environment

Making the Digital Office a Reality

By Posted on 3.20.2008 5 Comments
Everybody remember the promise of the paperless office? Anyone in front of a monitor can testify to just the opposite having taken hold. The ubiquity of the personal computer was supposed to free us from the chaotic sea of paperwork washing over our desks every day, and yet all it seems to have done is open the floodgates further.

3.21.2008 at 06:43am - Comment by singerguy74

First off, great initiative. Speaking as someone who recently graduated from college, I'm 25, I can tell you that many (if not most) students will make it their first order of business to hit a lab and print off all the online handouts. The labs were, at least at the university I went to, open to anyone and did not charge for printing. In fact I had friends who would download and print off entire novels from the lab simply because it was "free". I do, however, believe that culture is starting to shift. Laptops are standard gear and every hole in the wall cafe has wi-fi. With the not-so-distant demise of wi-fi in favor of fully integrated mobile broadband I think even more limitations to online-only content will be stripped away. Climate change and environmental responsibility are also getting much more mainstream coverage than time past. Being green and eco-friendly is no longer relegated to the tree-huggers and guys out on the ocean in a rubber raft squaring off with a fishing boat. As with anything the earlier we can teach people about being responsible the more it will be come sheer force of habit and less of an "annoying inconvenience".
The Environment

Making the Digital Office a Reality

By Posted on 3.20.2008 5 Comments
Everybody remember the promise of the paperless office? Anyone in front of a monitor can testify to just the opposite having taken hold. The ubiquity of the personal computer was supposed to free us from the chaotic sea of paperwork washing over our desks every day, and yet all it seems to have done is open the floodgates further.

3.20.2008 at 12:56pm - Comment by singerguy74

Until devices such as the Kindle (in a modified form of course) become as ubiquitous as cell phones I don't see paper consumption in the U.S. going down much. Unfortunately convenience wins out over the responsible thing to do. Even then think of how many times you've had 5 or 6 sheets spread out across your desk that you're cross referencing. Are we really going to each have a stack of e-readers? Maybe a desktop that is actually a giant multi-touch monitor? Besides all this I would be interested in statistics about the environmental impact of paper production/waste. Is it really as bad as we feel like it is? Rainforests aren't clear cut so I can have post-its on my desk. I believe paper producing trees are an entirely seperate and quickly renewable crop. And then again I could have no idea what I'm talking about.
Gadgets

The Grouse: The Inkjet Refill Racket

By Posted on 3.4.2008 54 Comments

2.13.2008 at 09:38am - Comment by singerguy74

I used to work as a retail employee at a major electronics store (the blue and yellow one). One gripe that I heard CONSTANTLY was that no one could even FIND the ink for an older printer. Granted technology is advancing at a breakneck pace but I had many customers looking for ink for a printer that was 2-3 years old and we simply didn't carry it anymore. Often they would come back and tell me the only place they could find it was online or one of those often-hard-to-find ink catridge stores. Many customers, however, would breakdown and upgrade further tightening the companies control over the resale of their products.