openMaterials

The worldwide first EAP propelled airship was made at Empa in collaboration with aeroix GmbH and the Technical University of Berlin. This lighter-than-air vehicle with 8 m in length consists of a slightly pressurized Helium filled body of a biologically inspired form with Dielectric Elastomer (DE) actuators acting as muscles and deforming the body and [...]

The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments was a children’s chemistry book written in the 1960s by Robert Brent and illustrated by Harry Lazarus, showing how to set up your own home laboratory and conduct over 200 experiments. The book is controversial, as many of the experiments contained in the book are now considered too dangerous [...]

This featured video is part one of five in Nanoseries, introducing carbon nanotubes. What is a carbon nanotube? Here is the rest of the series- How are carbon nanotubes made? How can we see carbon nanotubes? Where are nanotubes used? Carbon nanoforms

growth modeling device is an artwork by David Bowen which involves a system using lasers to scan an onion plant from one of three angles, which then creates a plastic model based on the information collected. The device builds a series of simulations of a growing onion plant by means of three-D scanning and printing, outputting [...]

Here are some great online resources, many in the public domain, for woodworkers. A favorite of mine is the classic Machinery’s Handbook For Machine Shop and Drafting Room: “a reference book on machine design and shop practice for the mechanical engineer, draftsman, toolmaker and machinist” Over at the Woodworks Library you’ll find a collection of over [...]

Conductive yarn is a great material to experiment with, but it is difficult to buy in small quantities. Hannah Perner-Wilson from ‘How to get what you want‘ has negotiated with the manufacturer Schoeller to place a minimum order of 30 kilograms, and is looking for others who may want to make a collective purchase. She’s [...]