cool

Science

Korean Scientists Closer To Fusion?

Posted by Matt Hickey at 12:00 PM on July 26, 2008

Korean scientists are one step further in reaching sustainable fusion reactors. In an experiment for the National Fusion Research Institute, scientists were able to achieve a form of supercharged plasma for 249 milliseconds, almost two and a half times longer than they had anticipated. It's a new form of plasma that can be used to generate electricity in a manner similar to conventional nuclear plants but with far less radioactive waste. We think that's cool. So do bears. [Korea Times]


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Gadgets

Back to the Future Hoverboard Auction Starts at US$30,000

Posted by Jesus Diaz at 9:53 PM on July 25, 2008

The original hoverboard used by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future 2 is now on the auction block, starting at US$30,000. If you have that kind of money around, prepare more because this prop--made of wood and metal, including original stickers, textured paint job, and the hole left by the handlebar that Marty McFly pulls at the beginning of the chase sequence-- may reach US$50,000 according to the seller.


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Science

Video: Exoskeleton Helps Paralysed Man Walk For First Time In Twenty Years

Posted by Matt Hickey at 10:40 AM on July 22, 2008

One of the coolest realms of technology currently transitioning from Sci-Fi to practical is that of exoskeletons. Above is an astonishing video of one such device in action, a medical model that helps a quadriplegic man walk for the first time in twenty years. The exoskeletons are still in development, with the one in the video a prototype that's about to undergo US trials. If this is what an early model can do, can you imagine where we'll be in ten years with the technology? Here's hoping the FDA finds a way to speed these through approval. [Medgadget]


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Random Stuff

Girl Spins On Escalator Thanks to Physics or Magic

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 6:40 AM on June 24, 2008

There are moments in which, for whatever reason, being it a scientific discovery, a voyage into the unknown, or somebody's excessive alcohol intake, humanity advances one step forward into its destiny, a final state of clarity and peace that will take us all to the stars. This moment complies with the three reasons. Ah, you Ms. Spinning Blonde in Jeans you. We love you.


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Gadgets

3D GIFs Made from Old Stereo Cards Are Stupidly Simple, Effective

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 7:46 PM on June 19, 2008

Joshua Heineman is obsessed with old stereo cards, those old photographs from the 19th century that contained two different views of the same subject to give the illusion of depth. He converts them into pseudo-3D GIF images that can be seen without glasses, on your monitor. The method is extremely simple, and while the jerking result may seem silly, surprisingly, it works:


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Portable

Newman's Cool Man MP3 Player: Pin it to Your Uniform For Extra Flair

Posted by Sean Fallon at 9:00 AM on June 6, 2008

If you haven't quite reached your flair quota, or you are hopelessly stuck in the 1980's fashion-wise, you will probably love the Cool Man MP3 from Newman. The device features and OLED display, support for MP3 and WMA, a built-in microphone and most importantly, a high-tech safety pin that puts high-tech holes in your shirts and jackets. No word on pricing, but it had better be super cheap. [imp3 (translated) via PMP Today]


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Games

Wireless Pong Between Multiple iPhones, iPod Touch

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 11:45 PM on May 30, 2008

This has to be the coolest implementation of Pong ever: load the iPong application in two or three iPod touch units or iPhones, and start playing between them using your finger, with the ball actually passing from one screen to the other depending on the ball angle.


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Science

Scientists Looking for the Force Finally Put CERN's Large Hadron Collider to Good Use

Posted by Jesus Diaz at 1:30 AM on February 23, 2008

CERN's scientists, the fine people who brought us the W and Z particles, anti-hydrogen atoms and hyperlinked porn sites web pages, are now hard at work building the Large Hadron Collider to discover something even cooler: the Force. Yes, that Force. Or like physicists call it, the Higgs boson, a particle that carries a field which interacts with every living or inert matter, which could bring us closer to understanding how the Universe works:


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Games

"Tetrice" Ice Trays: A Game of Tetris That is Colder than a Siberian Winter

Posted by Sean Fallon at 8:20 AM on February 22, 2008

I'm not quite sure how you would actually play a game of Tetris with ice cubes, but if you put a little food coloring in there and pop them into a glass—you will have yourself a frosty drink that can only be compared to the lego ice cube tray in terms of sheer geekyness. Unfortunately, that wont happen anytime soon—these are only concepts at the moment. [Martin Zampach via NOTCOT]


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Gadgets

Real-World Calvin Builds Snow Machine, Creates Backyard Mountain Overnight

Posted by Jesus Diaz at 2:33 AM on January 29, 2008

lolkid.jpgForest Pearson is a 10-year-old who saved US$500 to build a snow-making machine from scratch. Forest Pearson is also our hero, who will probably grow to build a 100-person Jacuzzi on top of Everest. This real-world Calvin put together the machine using a 30-gallon air compressor and a pressure washer, with spray nozzles that throw perfect snow powder. The machine may look simple in the following the image, but the results are stunning Update: now with video:


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