Category: Cool Stuff

Now you can search the text of books on Amazon. It sorta works. I did a search for “deliverator” and Amazon failed to list Snow Crash in the search results. It did, however, find a reference to the book in another book.

Scientists make electricity from tap water

Cool.

A team of Canadian researchers has found that an electrical current can be produced between the ends of a microscopic channel when a fluid flows through it.

…

A typical setup using a ceramic filter and tap water can produce 10 volts and the current depends on the size of the filter. Since large water pressures are not needed, natural flows of water can be harnessed. These could include tidal water flows, underground aquifers, dammed water, drinking water currently being filtered by utilities companies to improve its clarity, and rain falling from roofs.

Castle Green

Unknown to me, anyway.

This weekend marks the summer solstice (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere), the longest day of summer. It also marks the beginning of a summer-long exhibition of Inca artifacts from Machu Picchu at the Natural History Museum. The Incans were apparently very into summer solstices, sunsets, and all other things sun-related. They weren’t quite as obsessed with astronomy as the Mayans, but they knew enough to get by.

I’d love to design and build my own house in the desert one day. It would be made of natural materials, oriented to make use of natural light and air currents, and cool stuff like that.

I don’t think I’ve ever actually gone to the Natural History Museum. I’ve lived in LA for most of my life, but the closest I’ve come to visiting is when I’ve gone to the California Museum Of Science And Industry as a kid. The Museum of Science and Industry was always kinda hokey, but I haven’t been back since its reincarnation as the California Science Center. They might actually have some updated exhibits and cool stuff. I think Sunday might be a good day to visit both.