As someone who has a large interest in programming, coding and computer science, software and hardware, but has been largely self-taught I know how difficult it can be knowing how to get started in "hacking". There are loads of resources out there for those who kow what they are looking for but for a complete … Continue reading A Complete Beginner’s Guide To Hacking
The Best Twitter Science Humour
As geeky is now cool and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) jokes are mainstream, on t-shirts and television, some might think that all the old jokes have been overused. At the same time, many STEM professionals all over the place are being encouraged to take to social media to share their research and raise the … Continue reading The Best Twitter Science Humour
A New Era Of Silly Inventions
Engineers used to be the 'head in the clouds' dreamers trying to build flying contraptions that Heath Robinson parodied and Rube Goldberg celebrated but, over the last century, we have become more accustomed to seeing them as Silicon Valley businessmen or frugal car mechanics. The age of "techno-aesthetics" is having a revival at last*. This … Continue reading A New Era Of Silly Inventions
Thermodynamics Playlist
Following on from my recent materials playlist and elements playlist, I decided to do another 'sciencey' collection of music, and so continuing in the field of materials science I thought I would do a thermodynamics playlist, especially as it was a topic I was revising for my summer exams. Listen to the Spotify playlist here: … Continue reading Thermodynamics Playlist
Periodic Table of Elements Playlist
Inspired by Materials World's recent #materialsplaylist game on Twitter I decided that I would make a more complete and structured playlist of "materials". While looking up songs I found both Materials World's #materialsplaylist 2013 and this very useful list of songs featuring gold. I found that there were too many instrumental and heavy metal songs … Continue reading Periodic Table of Elements Playlist
Materials Playlist
Inspired by Materials World's recent #materialsplaylist game on Twitter I decided that I would make a more complete and structured playlist of "materials". While looking up songs I found both Materials World's #materialsplaylist 2013 and this very useful list of songs featuring gold. I found that there were too many instrumental and heavy metal songs … Continue reading Materials Playlist
Disc Brakes
This is part of my Brief Guide To Brakes series - a result of my research for Edinsolar, the University of Edinburgh's solar vehicle team. HOW IT WORKS • Hydraulic piston pushes calipers together • The calipers press the brake pads against the disc • Friction from the pads slows the disc • The wheel … Continue reading Disc Brakes
Drum Brakes
This is part of my Brief Guide To Brakes series - a result of my research for Edinsolar, the University of Edinburgh's solar vehicle team. HOW IT WORKS • drum shoes pushed into the sides of the drum cylinder • friction slows down the drum cylinder • return springs pull drum shoes away from cylinder … Continue reading Drum Brakes
Band Brakes
This is part of my Brief Guide To Brakes series - a result of my research for Edinsolar, the University of Edinburgh's solar vehicle team. HOW IT WORKS • a band is wrapped part round a rotating drum • Pulling or pushing a lever creates tension in the band • the difference in tension between … Continue reading Band Brakes
Ausco Lambert Disc Brakes
This is part of my Brief Guide To Brakes series - a result of my research for Edinsolar, the University of Edinburgh's solar vehicle team. HOW IT WORKS • 2 flat rings have conical ‘divots’ (small holes) on one side of them and brake pad material on the other • The 2 rings placed together … Continue reading Ausco Lambert Disc Brakes
Blue Pigeons 