Algae photosynthesis lamp

Mike Thompson, the arts graduate from Design Academy in Eindhoven now introduces a seemingly unheard of algae powered lamp, which he names Latro Algae Lamp. He takes inspiration from the findings of a research conducted by Yansei and Stanford University scientists that concluded that algal cells can draw electrical current through photosynthesis. The lamp, basically, draws its energy from a glass chamber of algae.

Via Green Diary

July 2010

Fascination car

The Highway Aircraft Corporation’s “Tomorrow’s Car Today” definitely catches the eye.  Rolled out in the late ’60s, the Fascination’s streamlined shape rang out echoes all the way back to the Dymaxion car (Small wonder. It started life in the 1930s as the “Airomobile”), but what really makes it really interesting isn’t the all-aluminium engine it originally had, but what was claimed would be in the newer models: the Nobel Gas Plasma Engine.

What’s that?  Apparently, this:

This engine is a closed two-cycle reciprocating engine that has no intake, uses no air, emitting no exhaust at all! The fuel is self-contained and hermetically sealed in the cylinders which are initially charged at the time of manufacturing, carrying their own power supply that will last approximately 60 to 75 thousand miles with no fall of efficiency.

Needless to say, only five were built very little was heard of the Fascination or the Nobel Gas Plasma Engine again.

Info via Future Car

May 2010

Magnetic levitating toy train

Magnetic Levitating (Maglev) overview with a levitating a toy train.

German version of the video.

August 2009

Jonathan Ive reveals Apple design secrets

I can’t draw, hate focus groups, love prototypes

Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive partially lifted the veil on the secretive machinations of the Apple design process at a special “Innovation Night” event held at London’s Royal College of Arts (RCA).

Ive is due to receive an honorary doctorate from the RCA tomorrow. Ive was interviewed on stage by outgoing RCA rector Professor Sir Christopher Frayling.

“I can’t imagine designing without making [physical products],” Ive told the assembled horde of 700 UK design gurus.

“I love making prototypes. We go right from idea to prototypes. I just love making objects.

“Prototypes create this dramatic shift in the conversation – suddenly it becomes tangible and the silence goes away.”

Ive explained why Apple limits its product range: “When you do everything to make the very best product, it also means your very focused on just a few products.”

Ive admitted that his drawing skills are “terrible”: “And I’m a lousy presenter. So I focus on designing instead,” he joked.

Read the rest on Macworld

June 2009

Take a ride on the Space Shuttle Atlantis

Video shot from cameras mounted on the SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, from takeoff to detachment to splashdown. Multiple angles, some with sound. Simply amazing. Takeoff at 5:05, 5:15, 5:22. A truly beautiful view of the Earth at 24:53.

May 2009