Heritage Periodic Table
The Collector's Edition Periodic Table with 85 element samples and the exact version in video:
From Etsy store ProtoshopLLC : BUY NOW Heritage Periodic Table
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Alert: only this brand I know of that is guranteed to have the real elements embedded- beware that many very cheap fakes are being sold under $100 US.
The Heritage Periodic Table: Collector’s Edition- a comprehensive collection of the chemical elements that can fit in the hand. Embedded in acrylic are actual samples of 85 of the 118 elements- including pure gasses and reactive alkali metals in glass ampules- and represented by 80 high purity samples (including a Gold nugget and liquid Mercury) and 5 compounds. Radium is included in the form of an antique watch hand, and the bead of Mercury rolls back and forth within its glass container. This spectacular table and collection is the creative work of Tim and Cory Marriott of Engineered Labs Protoshop LLC
Bismuth Diamagnetic Levitation
Get these 99.9% pure element Bi 83 cubes here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Bismuth Element Cube
Many combinations of strong neodymium magnets will work, here are the versions I used:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Cylindrical Neodymium Magnet
Bismuth levitation artwork and demonstrations available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Levitation Sculptures
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Bismuth Diamagnetic Levitation: Element 83 (bismuth) is the most diamagnetic of the elements*. Here a small neodymium magnet is made to float between two 99% pure bismuth 10mm cubes which are held in precise configuration by friction with the parallel walls of the acrylic assembly I made. Diamagnetic substances only have magnetic fields of their own when placed in an external magnetic field from another source- here the tiny cube magnet supplies the field. Diamagnetic fields are pretty weak though so a powerful cylindrical neodymium magnet sits above the cubes and is adjusted to help lift the tiny cube magnet against gravity. *except for a special form of carbon known as pyrolytic graphite.
GloBox Fluorescent Mineral Display
An amazingly well engineered display case with UV LEDS including a massive heat sink and motion sensing modes.
Get one here:
From MinerShopMinerals: BUY NOW: GloBox Fluorescent Display
Also on Etsy: BUY NOW: GloBox Fluorescent Display
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GloBox Mineral Fluorescence Display: powerful 365nm UV LEDs illuminate your favorite fluorescent minerals behind a transparent UV blocking window. This display design from @minershopminerals also includes white light LEDs under which these rock specimens look unremarkable, and features an automatic mode that alternates between the UV and “daylight” for dramatic contrast. The colorful glow comes from complex quantum mechanical behavior where high energy UV photons are absorbed and then lower energy photons of vivid color are emitted- the physics of fluorescence.
Helixcore Press-to-Spin Fidget
Get a nicely printed Helixcore here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Helixcore Press-to-Spin Fidiget
or print one yourself:
From MakersWorld: Helixcore Fidget
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Helixcore Press-to-Spin Squishy Ball: when compressed end to end a hidden central helical rod provides a path to set the shell into rotational motion while a rubber band snaps it back into a ball shape which then coasts on skateboard bearings. Stability from conservation of angular momentum on display with this improved take on the spinner.
The Perpetual Pendulum
Get this well crafted device here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: The Perpetual Pedulum
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The Perpetual Pendulum: scientific kinetic art featuring the demonstration classic “simple pendulum” of a mass at the end of a string, made famous by Galileo who first noted the mathematical regularity of such systems. In this device the mass is also a magnet, and four AA batteries and a simple electromagnetic kicker circuit in the base gives a tiny push to the magnet upon each swing (making a slight click sound), compensating for energy dissipated by friction- and keeping the system in motion for many months! I’ve modified my device with pegs that alter the length to the rotation axis- note the mass still achieves equal height on both sides (conservation of energy). Designed and produced by Wylie Wisnewski.
Magic Portal Illusion
Get one, expertly printed and assembled, here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Magic Portal Illusion Desk Toy
Or print it yourself: 3D Print Files: Magic Portal Desk Toy
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Magic Portal Illusion: this astonishing design utilizes the famous barber pole illusion to make it appear as though these colorful strands are passing in and out of a 4th dimension. The mechanical principle employed is similar to that of a lead screw and slider type actuator, except here translating the slider up and down rotates the helical strands at just the right rate to produce the illusion. An amazing 3D print creation of Ada Cohen, printed and assembled by Alex L. Kling.
Star-Gazer Kaleidoscope
Available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: On Reflection Scopes
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Floating Star Kaleidoscope: not CGI or AI- these images are produced by mirrors and light! Within this colorful tube are 3(?) mirrors and a dichroic glass strip. These elements combine to produce the dynamic and magical images seen through the view window as the device is turned and brought in and out of a bright light source. Entitled “Star-Gazer” this piece is but one of many amazing creations by artist Marc Tickle, taking kaleidoscope design to the next level. Invented by the famous Scottish physicist Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), the kaleidoscope is an ultimate physics toy and entire field of artistic endeavor.
Shakespeare Motion Hologram
These vintage holograms are still available (and afordable):
From Etsy: BUY NOW: 3D Shakespeare Hologram
See other holograms in my collection.
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Shakespeare Motion Hologram: this 3D motion image from 1988 is perhaps the best example of an embossed, color-tuned, Benton type hologram ever made. Remarkably the image is produced only by the interference of light waves bouncing off tiny grooves pressed into metallic coated plastic (on the scale of 0.5 µm apart and 0.2 µm deep) and all contained on a plastic sheet thinner that a piece of paper. A limitation to the rainbow hologram technique (which is similar to those now found on credit cards) is that the 3D and motion effect is only produced from changing side to side viewing perspective, changes in vertical perspective only alter the color. This astonishing piece of art was produced by Craig Newswanger and his company Applied Holographics.
Rhythmic Ferrofluid
Get this affordable ferrofluid device here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Iridescent Ferrofluid (select option "rhythm machine")
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Rhythmic Ferrofluid: an iridescent magnetic fluid interacts with a variable strength electromagnet (like those found in speakers). A circuit supplies power to the electromagnet in proportion to the sound waves picked up by a microphone, the changing magnetic field- combined with the liquid surface tension of the colloidal ferromagnetic liquid- produces the captivating motion that keeps time with any music played.
Puzzle in a Puzzle: Extra Square
Get this and other amazing math puzzles here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Extra Square Puzzle
See also: Matsuyama's Paradox
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Puzzle in a Puzzle: 12 pieces fill both large square areas- but the bottom has 5 tiny squares in its center compared to 4 in the top. All 9 tiny squares are identical in size, and the large square areas are also identical. So where did the extra square go? Some fun math involved in the design of this puzzle, which illustrates how the concept of area can challenge our intuitions. Another precision crafted puzzle by Jeux Efcé game shop.
3D Phonotrope Spinner
Get this and other amazing phonotrope spinners here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Phototrope Animation Spinners
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3D Phonotrope Spinner: spiders on a treadmill! When the rate of rotation matches the rate of the smartphone video process (wait for it) six animated 3D-printed spiders spring into motion. The laser cut acrylic, with precisely placed spiders, is specifically designed to interact with the video process, similar to the animation effect of a flip book, but in a repeating cycle like that of the phenakistiscope, the 1833 invention that started moving media animation that lead to the development of movies and video. Another fantastic design by Travis at aPyroDesign.
CUMOS Cube Kaleidoscope
The CUMOS Cube is a creation of artist Minori Yamazaki. Artwork available for purchase.
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Cosmos in a Box
Visit the artist's page: Minori Yamazaki
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CUMOS Cube: a variation on the Kaleidoscope by artist @minori.yamazaki that produces a Cosmos in a box. So much wonder hidden within this unassuming white cube where etchings on front surface mirrors produce the repeating geometric patterns. A moving light source (led flashlight) is projected on the cube producing the dazzling animation effect on the multiple reflections.
Lippmann Plate Interference Photography
Learn more about the physics and chemisty of this process:
An excelelnt video describing the Lippmann Process by my friend Steve Mould
Page by the artist/photographer: Lippmann Plates
The artist sometimes drops photos for sale here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Lippman Photos
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Lippmann Plate: an amazing alternative method for recording images with film- the chemistry of exposure of silver halide crystals embedded in gelatin is the same, but instead of selecting layers of pigments, very fine grained crystals record standing wave interference patterns. The downside- colors of the recorded image are only visible from a particular viewing angle when the plate is illuminated by a special diffuse white light source. The upside- the wavelengths of the colors seen actually map to the actual spectra recorded unlike the color mixing of standard photography and printing- and the image almost looks 3D. This image was produced by Jonathan Tod Hilty @amphetadreamer
Flummoxagon: Polyhex Puzzle
Get this beautifully made puzzle here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Flummoxagon
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Polyhex Puzzle: when geometrical objects conspire into a fun assembly. This puzzle involves all the ways 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 small hexagons can be connected by a side. There are 33 ways 5 hexagons can be connected, 10 ways to connect 4, just 3 ways to connect 3, and of course just one way to connect 2. Including the single hexagon, the total number of hexagons is 217 which can be assembled into one big hexagon, and so far only 10 solutions have been found- here is one! How many solutions exist is an open question.
Four Mirror Kaleidoscope
Other kaleidoscopes by this artist: Apres la Pluie
High quality kaleidocsopes available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Fine Art Kaleidoscopes
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Four Mirror Kaleidoscope: this addition to my collection is unique and strange for two reasons- instead of the usual hexagon pattern (3 mirrors) we have a square grid layout (4 mirrors), and on the end where the light comes through, an odd hologram of an eye as if the scope is looking back at you! Weird and wonderful from artist Dominic Stora of Après la Pluie gallery.
Kolormondo CMYK Color Globe
Get this fun and educational color globe kit from these sources:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Kolormondo Color Globe
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Kolormondo Color Globe
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Kolormondo Color Globe: an exploration of CMYK color along three dimensions. Latitude is the value dimension with the top poll white and the bottom black, longitude is hue dimension and the standard cyan-magenta-yellow color wheel flows around the equator, and chroma is the radial dimension with gray at the center. Assembly of this quality paper kit is a fun way to learn about aspects of the psychophysics and physics of color vision.
Fixed-Center Kinetic Sculpture
Get the print files here:
From Makerworld,con: Download NOW: Fixed Center Fidget
or buy one printed here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Fixed Center Fidget
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Fixed-Center Kinetic Sculpture: a blue sphere is connected to the base by a series of linkages- interestingly, no matter how the links are manipulated the ball stays centered above the base. Key design principle: every hinge in the linkage assembly has an axis that passes through the center of the sphere. An amazing 3D print creation by Big Sky Design on makerworld.
Phenakistiscope Spinner Set
Get these amazing spinners from aPyroDesign;
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Animation Spinners
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Phénakisticope Spinner Set: two spinners- one a laser cut and printed acrylic with a set of images similar to the animation design of a flip book (but in a repeating cycle)- and the second a black disk with thin slit openings. Spin them in opposite directions and then look through the black disk at the first to reveal an animated image, in this case a running stick person. The effect looks better in person in that the frame rate of the video capture process adds some artifacts. Using the second black disk like this turns the spinners into a phenakistiscope, the 1833 invention that started moving media animation that lead to the development of movies and video. Under very bright light the animation can also be seen using a smartphone camera in video mode, but the black disk allows one to see the animation without such technology.