Jacob's Ladder Image Flip
This item came to me in my Fall 2023 Curiosity Box subsciption:
Get (or give!) a Curiosity Box subscription here: JOIN NOW: The Curiosity Box
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
See my other versions of the Jacob's Ladder
Jacob’s Ladder Image Flip: this Curiosity Box Inq the Octopus themed toy flips between two famous aperiodic tilings- Penrose rhombs on one side and the recently discovered einstein hat on the other. The earliest description of the ribbon hinged “Jacob’s Ladder” mechanism that creates this kinetic illusion of cascading blocks dates back to a magazine article from Scientific American magazine in 1889.
Color Spirit Kaleidoscope
Avalible in a number of colors from these sources:
From Nellie Bly's: BUY NOW: Color Spirit Kaleidoscopes
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Color Spirit Kaleidoscope: a side lit kaleidoscopic with sparkling and kinetic mandala. The intricate patterns seen come from shiny trinkets that flow in oil, and two mirrors that are precisely aligned at a 60 degree angle to produce the sixfold symmetry. This affordable yet top quality kaleidoscope is from the Color Spirit line of artist Karl Schilling.
Luna Kinetic Illusion
Available in a number of colors and configurations:
From KickStarter: Pledge NOW: Luna Kinetic by Mezmoglobe
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Luna Kinetic Illusion: precision machined and crafted kinetic desk toy with helical motion illusion. A metal sphere seemingly defies gravity as a coil spins around it in this astonishing design by Kristoph Krisjans and the Mezmoglobe team.
UFO Spin Top
Get this fun and well made top here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: UFO Spin Top
or collect the whole set: UFO Spin Top Collection
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
UFO Spin Top: this whimsical flying saucer shaped top is made of stainless steel and features a ceramic sphere to reduce friction at the contact point, allowing this heavy and well balanced top to spin for more than 5 minutes with a good snap of the fingers (start up and final seconds of wind down shown here). Spin tops- classic physics toys of antiquity!
Mirror Anamorphic Lenticular Cup & Saucer
Now available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Anamorphic Wavy Cups & Saucers
See all the amazing illusions and art avaialble from Luycho: Luycho | A New world on Mirrors
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Mirror Anamorphic Lenticular Cup & Saucer: a flamingo sits in a nest of flowers, revealed when the cylindrical mirrored cup is put in place. This beautiful design by Luycho uses both mirror anamorphic reflection and an accordion type lenticular dual image (turning the plate 180 degrees trades images). Art meets math and physics once again!
Sonic Photonic Visualizer
This item came to me in my Summer 2023 Curiosity Box subsciption:
Get (or give!) a Curiosity Box subscription here: JOIN NOW: The Curiosity Box
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Sonic Photonic Visualizer: a laser reflects from a small mirror mounted on a stretched rubber membrane which allows the projection of complex curves produced by the deformation of the membrane from sound waves. Yet another amazing kit from the VSauce team at @thecuriositybox which uses a balloon as the membrane for the top of the “drum”. The membrane is most sensitive to sound waves in the bass and midrange frequencies and I got the best reaction with my Bluetooth speaker playing Moon Flower by Tahüm- a snippet of which is featured here.
Kinetic Wonder Rings
Assorted colors to choose from:
From Sling True: BUY NOW: Kinetic Wonder Rings
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Kinetic Wonder Rings: a skill toy that features small rings that “roll” down a thicker steel ring while producing a distinctive ringing chatter sound as they go. Swiping the small rings gets them spinning and gives them angular momentum. Centripetal acceleration then keeps the inside of the small rings in contact with the steel ring so that they roll around as they descend (seen here in 240fps slow motion). The challenge is to rotate the large ring fast enough to keep the small rings in motion. A new take on the “Jitter Gyro Ring” 1990s skill toy craze, produced by Sling True toys.
Moire Kinetic Coasters
Get these well made illusions here:
from Etsy: BUY NOW: Laser Cut Wood Illusions
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Moiré Kinetic Coasters: various patterns of overlaid curved spokes rotate and produce interesting illusions of motion via moiré interference effects. Each in this set of four coasters had a clear acrylic top upon which to place your drink, with intricate laser cut wood components underneath. The set includes a frame that couples each rotating center into cogs in a kinetic art gear train. Explore constructive and deconstructive interference patterns with this practical yet fun manipulable toy.
Crystal Wonder
Created by Tom Lawton to meticulous standards, available to order:
From beuplifted.co.uk: Order NOW: Wonder Kinetic
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Crystal Wonder: a laser etched version of the kinetic ribbon sculpture that shimmers within a cylinder of glass. Connecting rotational and translational motion with Lissajous type forms, the Wonder kinetic sculpture uses rotation to produce aesthetic fluid motions that seem incongruous. Swipe to see the original Wonder metalic ribbon creation by artist and inventor Tom Lawton.
Resin Art Kalliroscope
Get one here-- many colors and shapes to choose from:
From Etsy OpalFlowCrafts: BUY NOW: Resin Art Kalliroscope
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Resin Art Kalliroscope: visualizing fluid flow— a slight tilt of the hand speeds the bubble through the rheoscopic fluid producing a wake of turbulence made visible by the tiny flake crystals of mica catching the light. This fidget version of the kalliroscope is constructed of artistically colored and poured resin and includes a small magnet that can also be manipulated from below.
Tetrahedron Specular Hologram
Get this hologram brass spin top here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Tetrahedron Hologram Top
See other: specular holograms in my collection
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Learn more about (and how to make) specular holograms via this video by Steve Mould
Tetrahedron Specular Hologram: complex 3D images of rotating tetrahedrons arise from a surprisingly simple pattern of engraved circles. This brass disk has been machined with set of evenly spaced circles where the center of each circle falls on a triangle. The etched circular grooves reflect a point source of light as glints, and each eye sees a slightly different pattern such that, via stereopsis, the shiny points appear to float above or below the surface. Two tetrahedrons appear for each point light source used.
Everscape 3D Photo
Upload a photo to produce your own:
From Everscape: BUY NOW: Turn Your 2D Photo into a Beautiful 3D Memento
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Everscape Perspective: 17 flat images combine to produce a 3D illusion of structure and depth encased in glass. The amazing algorithm used by the Everscape process can detect the depth of field of any regular photo and then determine foreground images from background to produce the stacked ordering of layers. The 3D scape seen here is from an image I sent them of my mountain bike on a favorite trail near Red Rock Canyon in Nevada- featuring Joshua trees and incredible views of the dramatic sandstone cliffs. Swipe to see the device under rotation revealing the layers and custom caption on the back. The 3D Everscape image is 6” x 4” and heavy with layers that add up to about 2” of dense glass- a very fun application of the math/physics of anamorphosis and perspective.
Fine Art Kaleidoscopes by Tomoo Hosono:
From Nellie Bly: Hosono Precision Kaleidoscopes
Check out this: afffordable yet amazing tapered mirror teleidoscope
See more Kaleidoscopes in my collection.
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Two Mirror Kaleidoscope: this unassuming stainless steel cylinder holds within one of the most beautiful kaleidoscopic mandalas I’ve seen. The colors seen come from polarizing filters and thin films encased in oil, and the two mirrors are precisely aligned at a 60 degree angle to produce the sixfold symmetry.
Balancing Seabird
Get this carved wooden bird here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Balance Seagull
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Balancing Seabird: this bird balances on its tail rather than its beak in this variation of the famous physics toy. The weight of the elongated wings creates a center of mass below the bird’s tail- making a system in stable equilibrium. No magnets used or needed! This hand carved and painted bird comes with this optimal display stand. Inexpensive physics fun!
Hula Hoop Top
Often avaiable from this shop:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Specialty Top Shop
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Hula Hoop Top: a stack of wooden rings are dropped on to the shaft of a spinning top resulting in surprisingly organized motion as the rings position themselves with a bit of lag as a function of height. This interesting behavior results from the transfer of rotation kinetic energy from the top to the rings, where the rings do not rotate about their symmetry axis. One of more than 100 unique spinning tops in my collection, received as gift from my friend and fellow collector Tim Rowett, and a product of KreiselArt (Ulrich Büker).
Thumbler Gyroscopic Desk toy
Avilable here:
From Top Secret Toys: BUY NOW: Thumbler gyro toy
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Gyroscopic Desk Toy: a new unique take on spinning tops and gyroscope type toys where the spin rate is induced by forced precession- that is, by swirling the device by hand at just the right rate. The top of the enclosed top is constrained to move in a circular trough that keeps it at the required precession angle. The physics is similar to the “Dyna Bee” wrist exercisers, but much easier to engage and spin up, and with a unique motion path. The toy is also equipped with LEDs that turn on with a centripetal switch and then create interesting patterns (that are hard to capture due to frame rate issues). A creation of physicist/inventor Gregory Ojakangas.
Praesentia: Felipe Pantone
Learn more about this limited edition book here:
Praesentia: Felipe Pantone
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Praesentia: a monograph showcasing the evolution of artist Felipe Pantone in 308 pages of images and descriptive text. Pantone is an innovator of neo op art and dynamic art forms involving a unique saturated color pallet, and his book, with its precision designed acrylic slipcover, is itself a piece of fine kinetic art. The exterior of this hardcover exhibits Mioré effects which create waves of shimmer and motion as the book moves within the case, or as the angle of illumination is altered as seen here under rotation. I purchased this book last Friday from the gift shop of the @controlgallery during the opening reception of Kosmos, his first ever show in Los Angeles.