Phonotrope Fluidity
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Phototrope Animation Spinners
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Phonotrope Fluidity: more amazing phonotropes from apyrodesign. When the rate of rotation matches the rate of the smartphone video process the six spokes appear to become fluid with waves rippling outward. The precision fabrication of these spinners 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. Swipe to see another design with an illusion of rotating meshed gears.
Phonotrope Spinning Gears
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Phototrope Animation Spinners
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Phonotrope Spinning Gears: one more amazing phonotrope from apyrodesign. When the rate of rotation matches the rate of the smartphone video process (wait for it) twelve animated gears appear to mesh and turn. The precision laser cut acrylic 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.
3D Phonotrope Spinner
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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.
Pikachu Phonotrope Spinner
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Animation Spinners
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Phonotrope Spinner: When viewed through video from a smartphone an animated Pikachu springs into motion. The laser cut and printed acrylic is specifically designed to interact with the frame rate of the video process, similar to the animation effect of a flip book, but in a repeating cycle. The effect can also be seen without a camera by using a mirror and viewing through the spaces between the cutouts. Using a mirror like this turns the spinner into a phenakistiscope, the 1833 invention that started moving media animation that lead to the development of movies and video.
Warped Spiral Kinetic Art
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Stainless Steel Kinetic Spinners
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Warped Spiral Kinetic Art: a slight breeze will set this stainless steel sculpture into graceful and mesmerizing action. When spinning the rotation creates translational motion along the vertical- and each helix in this version has a slight asymmetry that adds to the complexity of the perceived motion.
Reactive Vortex Marble
A number of artists now offer vortex marble art on Etsy
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Reactive Vortex Marble: the latest addition to my physics inspired glass art collection which combines bright fluorescent inclusions (which pop at 395nm), a chunk of opalescent iridescence, and the spherical lensing effect that produces the spiral depth illusion of these vortex marbles. An orb of lampwork magic by Paul Katherman @paulietwofingers
Pyrite Cubic Crystal
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Pyrite Cubic Crystal: FeS2 iron sulfide “cube” from La Rioja, Spain. Note the sharp edges produced by the crystal lattice structure of this mineral. Amazing that these blocks of dense mineral just grow naturally. This one is 2.56 x 2.50 x 2.34 cm.
Slippery Twisty Egg
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Twisty Egg Fidget
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Lots of Twisty Fidgets
Or print it yourself: Egg Twisty, Sphere Twisty
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Slippery Twisty Egg: found this one and had to share. A fun geometric construction of 16 interlocked identical pieces that takes advantage of 3D printing to create connections that would otherwise be very difficult to produce. A sensory fidget with beautiful mathematical symmetry by 3DPmom based on a similar twisty ball sphere by Coffey Manufactury.
Fractal Cube Dimension 2
Learn more about this mathematical discovery from Prof. Tsuiki's web page
Fractional dimensions? Ben Sparks gives an amazing descrption in this Numberphile video.
Get similar fractal printes here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Seirpinski Pyramid
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Fractal Imaginary Cube: these 3D printed fractals have an odd property- each can cast a shadow of a square along three orthogonal directions, identical to shadows that would be cast by a cube. Each fractal looks like a flat square with no holes when aligned along one of these axes. These 3D prints were produced by mathematician Hideki Tsuiki who discovered this imaginary cube property of the Sierpinski Tetrahedron (green) and then found the “T” and “H” fractals (pink and yellow) that also cast square shadows. Fractals can be described by fractional dimensions (Hausdorff dimensions), for instance the flat Sierpinski triangle as a dimension of approximately 1.585 somewhere between a line and an area due to all the holes. Although the Sierpinski tetrahedron extends into three dimensions, its fractal dimension is 2, related to the fact that the square shadows have no holes. I obtained these amazing printed fractals from Prof. Tsuiki at the 2026 Gathering 4 Gardner.
Flummoxagon: Polyhex Puzzle
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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.
Floating Rings Illusion
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: 3D Floating Rings Illusion
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From Thingverse: Download Now: 3D Floating Rings Illusion
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Floating Rings Illusion: three rings seemingly roll/spin like a coin on top of each other, edge to edge, when in reality they are connected rigidly into an assembly and rotated. This fun 3D print used glow-in-the-dark filament which adds new aspects to the illusion- what do you see? A 3D print designed for any turn table/record player by Ryan Leathers.
Pentomino Dino
This dino puzzle available here: BUY NOW: Dino Puzzle
Get beautiful acrylic pentomino puzzles here:
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Pentomino Dino: the 12 possible arrangements of five identical squares, joined edge to edge, form the set of all pentominoes. Since 12x5=60, the pentominoes can tile a 6 x 10 rectangle with no gaps (2339 ways to do this- yet even finding one solution is a challenge). Further puzzle challenges include building the outlines of familiar objects similar to Tangrams- here a laser cut birch wood frame sets the pattern of an apatosaurus which is surprisingly hard to solve.
Fundamental Particle Discovery
Get a pdf of this chart here:
Download now: Particle v. Physicists
Want to learn more about the Stadnrd Model?
This playlist from PBS Spacetime is an excclent place to start: Fundamental Forces and the Standard Model
A nice poster of the fundamental particles is available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Chart of Fundamental Particles
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undamental Particle Discovery: the electron was discovered in 1897 and lead to scientific exploration that revealed that there are a limited but diverse set of building blocks of the universe which are described by the Standard Model. One dimension that showcases the enormity of this scientific effort is captured in this graph: experimentalist authors v. year of discovery- note the log scale! Monumental collaborative efforts resulted in the detection of the most elusive particles- including the top quark and the Higgs boson.
Glass Magic Tile Illusion
These vintage tiles often found here:
From eBay: Search NOW: Glass Magic Tiles
Check out this lamp made from these tiles:
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Glass Magic Tile: this vintage interior decor glass tile exhibits Mioré effects which create an illusion of depth and motion as the angle of view is altered. Imagine a kitchen backsplash comprised of this tile repeated! A design by Ivan Kristufek and produced by European Magic Glass Ltd in the 1980s, a single piece displays as stunning op art.
Transforming Tetrahedron
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Transforming Tetrahedra
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From Thanks: Download Now: Transformign Tetrahedra
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Transforming Tetrahedron: clever gear linkages allows this tetrahedron to transform to its Platonic solid dual- another tetrahedron it turns out. Halfway through the transformation the object becomes a symmetric 12 pointed star with the tip of each point indicating a vertices of a cuboctahedron. Another fun 3D print creation of maker designer RuvenBals
Möbius Flip Coaster
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From MakerWorld: Download NOW: Möbius Flip Coaster
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Möbius Flip Coaster: on the geometry of a Möbius strip the car train flips after one trip around, a second trip restores the original orientation. A delightful physics toy by designer and maker Alex Browrman.
Iridescent Dual Spinner
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Twister Dual Spiral
or print it yourself:
from Makerworld: Download Now: Twister Spinner stl files
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Iridescent Dual Spiral: another fun 3D print with dual spiraling motion this time using tricolor iridescent silk filament that produces a color changing effect. More kinetic art from RJ Design.
Tensegrity Icosahedraon Ornament Kit
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From Etsy: BUY NOW: Tensegrity Ornament Kit (makes 6)
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Tensegrity Icosahedron Ornament Kit: make the famous tensegrity icosahedron inverted by the architect Buckminster Fuller out of gold paper straws and specially designed 3D printed elastic connectors. Six struts (three parallel pairs) float isolated from each other but held in a stable configuration by a net of 24 connecting tendons. A fun DIY design by Tensegrity Adventures (kit makes six ornaments)