research
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A Powerful Chemistry Tool Inspired By Music Boxes Only Costs $5
Stanford University’s Manu Prakash, PhD, loves coming up with cheap, rugged scientific equipment, like his 50c microscope made of folded cardboard. Now he’s followed that up with another ingenious chemistry tool: a $5 device that uses the guts from a music box to control chemical reactions with super precision.
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Researchers Find New, Easy Way To Turn Graphite Into Diamond
Since graphite — the dark material used in regular old pencils — and diamonds are both made from carbon, it’s technically feasible to turn the former into the latter. You just need to apply a little pressure — about 150,000 times what the atmosphere on Earth’s surface is like. But researchers at Stanford University claim…
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Hearing Trick Convinces People Their Arms Are Made Of Stone
If your arm falls asleep for a while, it can sort of feel like it’s made of rubber. But how do you make your arm feel like it’s made of marble? According to Italian researchers, all you need is the sound of a hammer tapping stone. And some psychological trickery.
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Sparking Titanium Golf Clubs Might Be Causing California Wildfires
Researchers at UC Irvine have determined that golfers who can’t keep their shots out of the rough might actually be responsible for wildfires in California in recent years. Specifically, certain clubs made from a titanium alloy have been found to produce sparks up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit — more than hot enough to ignite dry…