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Chain mail is something generally associated with medieval-era warriors. But as a material for modern architecture, it’s not so much the first thing that comes to mind, not to mention implemented in designs. That’s why seeing it put into use as part of the Kukje Gallery in Seoul is pretty awesome. More »
from Gizmodo
[Via [H]]
A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants the Federal Communications Commission to salvage LightSquared’s seemingly doomed plan to build a 4G LTE network by letting the company trade its spectrum for more suitable airwaves controlled by the Department of Defense.
“We ask the FCC to conduct a thorough and thoughtful review of all available spectrum controlled by the Department of Defense (DoD) that could be repurposed or reallocated to meet increased demand,” the lawmakers said in a letter sent Tuesday to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and reported by the IDG News Service last night. “We also request that the FCC move swiftly to identify other options, including the use of alternate spectrum, for LightSquared’s proposed nationwide 4G LTE wireless broadband network…. A spectrum swap is the most resourceful and efficient way to quickly expand broadband access nationwide.”
LightSquared filed for bankruptcy protection last month after the FCC halted its plan to build a nationwide cellular network on spectrum that is adjacent to airwaves used by GPS devices. The powerful signals from LightSquared towers would overwhelm the signals GPS devices must receive to provide location services, making the network infeasible, the FCC concluded.
from Ars Technica
Sniff… I’m gonna miss my all-time favorite radio show…Â 🙁
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Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers, the comedian mechanics who host NPR’s Car Talk, are retiring this fall. Their weekly call-in series will continue to be distributed by NPR, drawing on material from their 25 years of show archives.
from Morning Edition
Both these videos are from German web retailer Innovative Materials, who apparently used to sell something called “superhydrophobic aerogel†in powder or granule form. In these videos, surfaces coated with this powder react in interesting ways to water. They seem to be sold out of the stuff, but a bit of Googling confirms that superhydrophobic aerogels do exist and can be made in many ways. Exactly what type was used in these demonstrations is unclear. [via Boing Boing]
Innovative Materials Blog: Aerogel Powder
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How to make water bounce
from MAKE
If you share your bathroom with a spouse or siblings, one of the most disgusting ways the sink gets dirty is from globs of toothpaste left behind by the people who brushed their teeth before you. Thankfully, the solution is simple: a simple, $1 soap pump from the dollar store. Load it up with the toothpaste of your choice, put it next to the sink, and enjoy your clean sink. More »
from Lifehacker
Ever wondered what goes on up at the International Space Station? We like to think it’s all floating around and eating freeze-dried steak. Astronaut Don Pettit decided to take a break from his no-doubt mundane routine and capture the spectacular image you see above. We say image, it’s actually multiple 30-second exposure snaps layered on top of each other. Needless to say the result is both humbling, and hypnotic. Best of all? There’s a collection of them, waiting to steal your afternoon with slack-jawed wonderment. Hit the source for the mind-melt.
from Engadget