Science

Aussie Physicist Demonstrates Mid-Air Slinky Magic

The slinky, one of the cosmos’ perennial enigmas, has one amazing property you’ve probably never noticed. But that’s OK. Our mortal eyes aren’t quick enough to notice — but this slow-mo camera is. It looks like magic! But it’s awesome physics.


August 27, 2010
Gadgets

Whoops! The 10 Greatest (Accidental) Inventions Of All Time

“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits,” Thomas Edison once said. But is hustling all it takes? Is progress always deliberate? Sometimes genius arrives not by choice – but by chance. Below are our 10 favourite serendipitous innovations.


December 29, 2009

A Worse Slinky

The environmental movement has gone too far. One of the main draws of the traditional Slinky was its metallic, yet smelly, rings, expanding and contracting like a steel accordion that only played one note. And now, cardboard.


August 5, 2009
Entertainment

Recreate The Sounds Of Star Wars With A Slinky And A Cup

I would’ve assumed George Lucas’ foley had more advanced equipment than this, but judging by how convincing these junkpile-produced sound effects are, maybe not by much. BWAA!! BWAAAA!! etc.