Science fair featuring Rube Goldberg machines

Recently, my children's school held a science fair for students in Years 7-11. My daughter did a project on the layers of the earth. My son and other students from Years 10-11 created Rube Goldberg machines.

Some of the machines and exhibits

Izmir International Fair 2016 - theme Innovation

We recently attended the annual Izmir International Fair. The theme this year was innovation and the exhibits included a mini maker faire.

Suburban train simulator

Virtual reality parachute

Virtual reality cycling

Virtual reality submarine

Mini Maker Faire 

Lots of 3D printers on display

Solar powered boat

Solar powered car

A drone motorcycle?

Robot arms

Intricate laser cutting laminated to produce interesting geometric effects

Robots

Octocopter

CNC producing a label

Laminated cardboard and LEDs 

Laminated cardboard sculpture

Wooden construction blocks. Not available on the App Store

Animatronics

Model of Artemis Temple constructed from sugar cubes

OK Go make something

Today America is holding the first-ever White House Maker Faire.



Learn more about the event at http://www.whitehouse.gov/maker-faire.

Another more amazing video from OK Go.

Historic film clips of fantastic inventions

Last month the newsreel archive, British Pathe, uploaded thousands of historic films to its YouTube channel. Among them is this playlist of fantastic inventions.

Finding Nemo

Not the missing clown fish with the gimpy fin in the Pixar movie, but the Science Center Nemo in Amsterdam. My family and I visited The Netherlands for a spring break vacation and spent our first full day exploring the 5 storey hands on science museum.

Our kids enjoyed writing their names with binary switches and doing experiments in the Journey through the Mind. I was impressed with the chemistry demonstrations, the machine park and the chain reaction contraption.

Science Center Nemo as seen from the Canal Cruise

More info about the Science Center Nemo on their website: http://www.e-nemo.nl/en/

  

For the MuzGadget sisters

Here's a Rube Goldberg machine for all the MuzGadget sisters and nieces and anyone like my daughter who doesn't like pink.

Happy Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent is traditionally the day to make pancakes. Enjoy these pancake inspired gadget videos:

Gravity defying Rube Goldberg machine

I am intrigued with how this Rube Goldberg machine works.

Extreme sport Rube Goldberg machine

Red Bull takes a simple task to the extreme in this video.

Steampunk Exo Legs get international attention

Professor Damotimus Tipotus (Damien McNamara) of the Libratory Steampunk Art Gallery in Oamaru, New Zealand has gained international attention after his Exo Legs were placed first in Inventor / Scientist category of the 2011 Steampunk Fashion Show.


Some of the technology behind the legs is revealed in this video:


A Candian TV/web production company is keen to use the legs for the pilot of an upcoming series, and American film makers are interested in Damien's skills in weapons design. (See how to punk a Nerf gun!)

Read more about the Steampunk fashion show and the opportunities this has opened up for Damien on Stuff.

An apple gadget

I saw an interesting apple gadget during the week. Not an electronic gadget from Apple, but a gadget for use with the apple (fruit). A friend had this peeler, corer, slicer machine.

Mechanical sculptures

As a child, Arthur Ganson was introverted and used his hands for expression. He makes dynamic sculptures and in this TED talk, shares about his work.

Sci Fi inspired projects + jet engine beer cooler

Check out these cool projects from Kiwi, Simon Jansen.

He has built a Bender (from Futurama) Beer Brewer and a (Dr Who) Tardis with Mame Console. Not to mention, a High Voltage Jacobs Ladder, Turbocharger Jet Engine and The Jet Powered Beer Cooler.

Incomplete projects include R2D2 and the ASCII version of the Episode IV of Star Wars: STAR WARS ASCIIMATION

Triphod-like plantbot

THE PLAY COALITION has designed PLANTBOT - a robotic planter that moves plants to catch the sun.

2008 National Rube Goldberg Contest

The task: make a hamburger in no less than 20 steps.

2008 National Rube Goldberg Contest: The Makers and Their Machines from Mike Dixon on Vimeo.

The art of George Rhoads

From MAKE: Blog: The art of George Rhoads - this blog always has something cool and gadgety.

The art of George Rhoads via Land-o-Links. Some amazing clocks in the sculpture section.

Candle Cannon: Behind the Scenes

Get blown away!

Erbert and Gerbert's Candle Cannon

Blows me away!

Wallace and Gromit Cracking Contraptions

The Wallace and Gromit Cracking Contraptions video showed up on the video bar of the MuzGadgets blog. It is posted here so you don't miss this "good for a laugh" 25 minute video.

Frigits

Here are some cool gadgety toys to stick on the fridge and build interesting contraptions with.