How To Survive A Robot Uprising.
Always run in a zig zag pattern…
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Tag: technology
May 11, 2012
FYI: data transfer via sperm is way faster than a 4G network.
Not sure of the source of this one.
May 9, 2012
There’s a nice visual connect here between the path of an ice breaker and the effluent of a rocketship.
Re-Edit: Whoa – just realized, the boat picture isn’t an oil spill, but rather the path of an ice-breaker (even cooler)
Called “Beyond the Limits”, the effect you see here is pretty cool, although not really sure how these pieces might be used in a science lecture. Possibly to do with carbon? (oil, exhaust, etc).
By Marko Manev at Behance.
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May 7, 2012
Short lived American bank notes from 1896 depict “Electricity” as a child and then as a pretty awe inspiring adult.
Plus, “Science” makes an appearance! From the Futility Closet.
On the $2 note, Science presents Steam and Electricity (as children) to Commerce and Manufacture. The reverse bears portraits of Robert Fulton and Samuel Morse.
The almost impossibly glorious $5 note depicts Electricity Presenting Light to the World. She is flanked by Strength, Fame, and Peace. The New York Times wrote, “The arrangement of this composition, the grace of pose in each figure, and the idea connected with the designs of this artist entitle it to a place beside the finest allegorical designs in the world.”
Unfortunately, the Treasury got a new secretary the following year, one who favored simple, clear designs, and he canceled more than $54 million in certificates as they came into the Treasury. “It can be said authoritatively … that no more of the so-called ‘new certificates’ will be printed,” the Times reported sadly in May 1897. “Neither will fresco painters be called in to make designs for the substitutes.”
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May 2, 2012
My business card is actually a microscope slide. #geekcool
This is very cool.
To promote their viral marketing efforts, Italian advertising agency Enfants Terribles (aka Ebolaindustries) created these microscope slide business cards. Ebolaindustries employees operate under pseudonyms, but their real names are printed on the slides in 1.6 point type—so small the names can only be read with a microscope.
By Enfant Terribles, via Laughing Squid.
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April 23, 2012
When the kids and I made a cardboard pinball machine (a.k.a. duct tape is AWESOME!)
Just noticed that our little duct tape project (done a year and a half ago) has recently hit 10,000 views on YouTube, so I thought it’ll be fun to rehash it again.
Basically, this ended up being a lot of fun, and (if I do say so myself) our pinball machine was FREAKING AWESOME! Note that all the spacey references were due to us just returning from a visit to the Science Museum in London.
Here are some pictures, and the video at the end is where Hannah and Ben demonstrate its awesomeness.
April 23, 2012
Presenting the “birthing centrifuge!” This is… I’m not sure what the right word is…
Well, maybe: bizarre?
More so when you read the bit about “primitive” versus “civilized” women (see bolded text below). Extra surrealness when you learn that this patent was filed in 1965! (not say, much earlier, which was my original guess)
The present invention relates to apparatus which utilizes centrifugal force to facilitate the birth of a child at less stress to the mother.
It is known, that due to natural anatomical conditions, the fetus needs the application of considerable propelling force to enable it to push aside the constricting vaginal walls, to overcome the friction of the uteral and vaginal surfaces and to counteract the atmospheric pressure opposing the emergence of the child. In the case of a woman who has a fully developed muscular system and has had ample physical exertion all through the pregnancy, as is common with all more primitive peoples, nature provides all the necessary equipment and power to have a normal and quick delivery. This is not the case, however, with more civilized women who often do not have the opportunity to develop the muscles needed in confinement.
From Google Patents.
April 6, 2012
Notes from Mattel’s “Future of Barbie®” Brainstorming Session (including Stem Cell Barbie and others…)
I always thought the Stem Cell Barbie’s slogan would make an interesting t-shirt. Note that this was originally published at Yankee Pot Raost.
Concept: Stem-Cell Barbie®
Description: Produce a plastic mesh form in the shape of a Barbie doll. Seed this mesh with embryonic stem cells. Culture in bio-chambers until cells infiltrate and coat the plastic form.
Pro: This Barbie might get pregnant.
Con: This Barbie might get cancer
Potential slogan: “Feels like real skin because it is real skin.”
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Concept: Hybrid Barbie®
Description: Barbie doll powered by both conventional gasoline engine, as well as an electric motor.
Pro: Barbie is emissions-compliant.
Con: No one can figure out a good place for the gas nozzle to go in. It always ends up looking dirty.
Potential slogan: “This baby gets up to 40 miles per gallon.”
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Concept: Schrödinger’s Barbie®
Description: Interactive Barbie doll placed inside a thick lead box, containing a mock cyanide canister, and mock Geiger counter. The Geiger counter may or may not release one decaying mock atom, which in turn, may or may not break the canister releasing the cyanide. Therefore, child would be uncertain as to the fate of the Barbie doll (who could be pretend-dead or pretend-alive) until the lead box is actually opened.
Pro: This is fun way to illustrate an aspect of quantum law, which suggests that due to the superposition of states, Barbie is both dead and alive until the box is opened.
Con: Huh?
Potential slogan: “Schrödinger’s Barbie—be the first to give a shit.”
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Concept: Super Malleable Barbie®
Description: Produce Barbie dolls using the Dow Corning 3179 dilatant compound (a mixture containing silicone oil and boric acid, commonly known as Silly Putty).
Pro: Barbie can bounce.
Con: When Barbie pretend-falls asleep whilst pretend-reading a newspaper, the newsprint will show up on her face.
Potential slogan: “Ken will thank you.”
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Concept: Flame-Retardant Barbie®
Description: Coat existing doll product with copious amounts of the common flame retardant, polybrominated diphenyl ether.
Pro: Excellent opportunity for accessories (fireworks, matches, flame throwers, etc).
Con: Excellent opportunity for accessories (fireworks, matches, flame throwers, etc).
Potential slogan: “Throw the Barbie on the barbie!”
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Concept: Supercomputer Artificial-Intelligence Robot Barbie®
Description: Multiple clusters of high-powered processors networked to a Barbie doll mainframe. 2 USB ports standard. CD/DVD burner drive optional.
Pro: No more stupid brainstorming sessions—send Barbie instead.
Con: Small chance of total world domination and destruction of the human race as we know it.
Potential slogan: “Kicks ass at chess!”
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April 2, 2012
We have the technology… to make bionic cats?
Well,.. at least pictures of bionic cats (sort of exemplifying the noted creepy/slash/cute vibe of robotics).
By Gerson Mora via Hey Oscar Wilde!
March 28, 2012
Beautiful (science) typography art by Sarah King
Men and Machines, Dazed and Confused
Portrait of Charles Darwin
“Critically Endangered”
Barracuda
Lots more to see at Sarah’s portfolio site.
March 26, 2012
This is brilliant! A VW bug remixed as a stegosaurus.
Awesome photo by Mark Massey, via thisiscolossal.
February 24, 2012
Technology cemetery. #artwork
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Clever…
By Kevin Van Aelst.
December 3, 2011
The Merging of Two Great Technologies: The Cheater Chopstick
“The use of chopsticks requires a great deal of dexterity, making their use impossible by those without training, and often making their use undesirable by those who do not use them regularly, but who do not wish to risk the embarrassment of dropping or otherwise mishandling the food they are eating. … Accordingly, those wishing to avoid embarrassment while eating often must break with Oriental custom by opting for the less-embarrassing and less enjoyable alternative of using Western-style utensils when eating Oriental cuisine.” (Gerald L. Printz, 1987)
Via Futility Closet.
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November 21, 2011
Now a tummy television the whole family can get a bellyful of.
In truth, this reminds me a little of how everywhere I look, people are staring into their little phone screens. Maybe you are even doing this right now.
Via Retrospace, hattip to Hey Oscar Wilde!.
November 14, 2011
This is Cape Canaveral.
Awesome image by Miroslav Sasek:: via flickr.com
