Thursday, August 30, 2012

Backyard Ballistics NEW EDITION now available


 

Well, it's been 10 years since Backyard Ballistics has been published. During that time, I've had a lot of new ideas for projects and now, here they are! The second edition contains a ton of new stuff and new projects.


Here's a short description:

This bestselling DIY handbook now features new and expanded projects, enabling ordinary folks to construct 16 awesome ballistic devices in their garage or basement workshops using inexpensive household or hardware store materials and this step-by-step guide. Clear instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build projects ranging from the simple match-powered rocket to the more complex tabletop catapult and the offbeat Cincinnati fire kite. The classic potato cannon has a new evil twin—the piezo-electric spud gun and the electromagnetic pipe gun has joined the company of such favorites as the tennis ball mortar. With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind the projects, and profiles scientists and extraordinary experimenters such as Alfred Nobel, Robert Goddard, and Isaac Newton. This book will be indispensable for the legions of backyard toy-rocket launchers and fireworks fanatics who wish every day was the fourth of July.

You can get it at any good bookstore. Or, just click on the link:

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Ow, this makes my brain hurt. . . .


Rotating Snakes Optical Illustion by Akiyoshi Kitaoka of Japan. More how and why this illusion works in an article on Discovery Magazine, available here. 
News: Now I am a contributor to Gizmodo, the world's most popular gadget blog! Here's post number 1:

First post: SUGAR HIGH
http://gizmodo.com/5902773/build-an-awesome-high+flying-dirt+cheap-rocket-out-of-stuff-lying-around-the-house