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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
I was watching a video, and in the comments I found that someone said, ” If you want someone to learn about something, why don’t you turn it into a video game? So many people play video games! “ And I find that I can’t really disagree with him.
It’s not necessarily true for everyone, but I think there are many people who would much rather throw themselves into an interactive world then delve into a textbook. Sure, there would be many subjects that would be very difficult to put into game format, but I think it could be done.
Instead of reading a textbook, a person could learn ” the rules of the game”, and then be put into a semi- realistic scenario where they could use their best judgement and apply that knowledge.
People do this with video games all the time. You have to learn how the video game works before you can play it, and then you are ready to go. And you are not an expert right away, but with practice, and with being challenged with progressively harder scenarios, you become better at the game.
I know I would play a video game that taught me things about different fields.
While there would be problems like ” the game scenarios are predetermined, and it doesn’t vary, it’s already programmed into the game”, it would still be interesting, maybe even useful.
Haha, no one asks me science/engineering or philosophical questions anymore.
WHAT DID I DO? Tell me!
What’s more important than understanding what something is, is to understand why something is. What’s a hovercraft? Well, it’s a mechanism that hovers over the ground. But why does it hover over the ground? If you understand why, then you begin understand how. To understand why something works, means you truly understand the properties at hand, and as a result you understand how to do it yourself. If you understand the steps to recreate, then you truly understand the object.
A lot of the answers to our questions lie right in front of us. The perfect model is Nature itself. Nature has been around longer than us, it already has constructed properties based on the effects of forces around it. We are a part of it. If we can understand the what, why, and how of Nature, then we can solve a lot of problems that we face.
Silver Nanowires Make Elastic Conductors, Flexible Devices
Researchers from North Carolina State Univ. have developed highly conductive and elastic conductors made from silver nanoscale wires (nanowires). These elastic conductors could be used to develop stretchable electronic devices. Stretchable circuitry would be able to do many things that its rigid counterpart cannot.
Caption: The silver nanowires can be printed to fabricate patterned stretchable conductors. Image: North Carolina State Univ.
Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Conductive-Elastic-Conductors-Made-Using-Silver-Nanowires-071312.aspx
I need inspiration just as much as anyone else, so if anyone ever wants to just send me a message and talk to me about anything science/philosophy/engineering/ nanotech/ robotics / futurism/etc, go ahead. I love talking about those things; and I feel like I haven’t been able to find people who actually do for awhile.
I need help.
Since nanotechnology is not a major in most universities, since it’s still kind of ’ new ‘, I need to take classes that will lead to me telling them my specific direction ( being nanotechnology). I was thinking that I would have to take engineering courses, since it is, technically, a type of engineering. I was thinking that taking chemistry/biochemistry classes would be necessary; Physics classes too, I think. But what about biology?
Any ideas? Opinions? It’s hard to say, with nanotech.
I’m thinking a dual major engineering + Physics with a biochemistry minor would make sense.
Special Paint Turns Any Surface Into A Battery - PSFK
Researchers at the Rice University in Texas, USA, have created a lithium-ion battery paint that can be applied to any surface. The battery-based paint was experimented on bathroom tiles, which were able to power a set of LED lights for six hours, and provided a steady 2.4 volts.
The lead author of the project, Neelam Singh, commented that her team had spent hours formulating, mixing and testing the paints. The working concept means that traditional packaging for batteries can have a “more flexible approach that allows all kinds of new design and integration possibilities for storage devices.”
Nanoengineered Lotion Delivers Gene Therapy Through the Skin
It uses agglomerations of nucleic acids, each about 1,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. When dispersed in a topical lotion, the nucleic acid clumps can breach all the skin’s layers. Once they’re inside the cells, they can selectively turn off disease-causing genes. The acid agglomerates can distinguish between healthy and mutant genes, like those that can cause cancer.
The acid clumps are actually small interfering RNA, also known as siRNA, which can regulate gene activity. They are highly customizable, and can be programmed to target a specific gene. In this case, the researchers studied epidermal growth factor receptor, which is associated with certain types of cancer. The RNA particles surround a tiny gold nanoparticle, forming a dense sphere. The resulting “nanostructure” can break through the skin entirely, and the RNAs broke down the EGFR gene.
(via A Topically Applied Skin Lotion That Modifies Your Genes | Popular Science)
Researchers have shown off a means to spray-paint batteries onto any surface. Their batteries, outlined in Scientific Reports, are made up of five separate layers, each with its own recipe - together measuring just 0.5mm thick. To demonstrate the technique, the team painted batteries onto steel, glass, ceramic tile and even a beer stein. The approach will be of particular interest in industrial applications, as it is compatible with existing spray-painting technology. (via BBC News - ‘Paint-on’ batteries demonstrated)
MIT Researchers Create Flying Robots Inspired By Pigeons
via 33rdsqaure:
The MIT Robotic Locomotion Group has demonstrated an incredibly agile autonomous flying robot that can pass through obstacles like a bird flying between trees in a forest.
Marco Tempest: “The Electric Rise and Fall of Nikola Tesla”
Marco Tempest uses his soon-to-be trademark projection mapping illusion technique to tell the story of Nikola Tesla in lively light. There’s something appropriately beautiful about Tesla’s story being featured in electric glory.
(via Open Culture)
![futurescope:
Artificial cells evolve proteins to structure semiconductors
via kurzweilai:
University of California, Santa Barbara scientists have applied genetic engineering to create proteins that can be used to create electronics.
They’ve used the tools of molecular biology and principles of evolution to find proteins that can make new structures of silicon dioxide, commonly found in computer chips, and titanium dioxide, often used in solar cells.
The new silica-forming protein, named silicatein X1, could even make folded sheets of silica-protein fibers.
The work demonstrated that directed evolution of a mineral-producing protein could create materials with never-before seen structures.
[read more @kurzweilai & @Ars Technica] [paper]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5bfc8XHMT1r08k60o1_500.jpg)
Artificial cells evolve proteins to structure semiconductors
via kurzweilai:
University of California, Santa Barbara scientists have applied genetic engineering to create proteins that can be used to create electronics.
They’ve used the tools of molecular biology and principles of evolution to find proteins that can make new structures of silicon dioxide, commonly found in computer chips, and titanium dioxide, often used in solar cells.
The new silica-forming protein, named silicatein X1, could even make folded sheets of silica-protein fibers.
The work demonstrated that directed evolution of a mineral-producing protein could create materials with never-before seen structures.
[read more @kurzweilai & @Ars Technica] [paper]
A virus that creates electricity
A virus called simply M13 has the power (literally) to change the world. A team of scientists at the Berkeley Lab have genetically engineered M13 viruses to emit enough electricity to power a small LED screen. M13 poses no threat to humans — it can only infect bacteria — but it could one day serve humanity by powering your laptop, or even your city.
Illustration by Iaroslav Neliubov via Shutterstock
{ ZeroN }
Levitated Interaction Element
Jinha Lee, MIT Media Lab Tangible Media GroupHoly Fuck, electromagnetism.
Jinha Lee also created the { 3D Desktop }:
