Category Archives: Invention

Rocket powered by nuclear fusion could send humans to Mars

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Deskarati

Human travel to Mars has long been the unachievable dangling carrot for space programs. Now, astronauts could be a step closer to our nearest planetary neighbor through a unique manipulation of nuclear fusion, the same energy that powers the sun … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmology, Invention | 6 Comments

The Jacquard Loom

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Deskarati

The Jacquard Loom is a mechanical loom that has holes punched in pasteboard, each row of which corresponds to one row of the design. Multiple rows of holes are punched on each card and the many cards that compose the design of … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Invention, Mechanics | Leave a comment

Magnetically levitating graphite moved with laser

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Deskarati

Magnetic levitation has been demonstrated for a variety of objects, from trains to frogs, but so far no one has developed a practical maglev-based actuator that converts some external source of energy into motion. Now in a new study, researchers … Continue reading →

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Scientists test novel power system for space travel

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Deskarati

A team of researchers, including engineers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, has demonstrated a new concept for a reliable nuclear reactor that could be used on space flights. The research team recently demonstrated the first use of a heat pipe … Continue reading →

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Namib Desert beetle inspires self-filling water bottle

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Deskarati

A US start-up has turned to nature to help bring water to arid areas by drawing moisture from the air. NBD Nano aims to mimic the way a beetle survives in an African desert to create a self-filling water bottle … Continue reading →

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Four African schoolgirls have created a pee-powered generator

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Deskarati

What have you built lately? 14-year-olds Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola, Faleke Oluwatoyin, and 15-year-old Bello Eniola have created a urine powered generator. All over Africa, young men and women have missioned across the country and arrived in Lagos, Nigeria. All … Continue reading →

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The Wheelchair Bed

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Deskarati
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Self-inflating tire technology leaves the lab

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Deskarati

In the days before full-service gas stations went the way of the dodo, in addition to filling ‘er up, the attendant would sometimes check the tire pressure. These days that task, along with actually pumping the fuel, has totally fallen … Continue reading →

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The Warp Drive Could Become Science Fact

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Deskarati

A warp drive to achieve faster-than-light travel — a concept popularized in television’s Star Trek — may not be as unrealistic as once thought, scientists say. A warp drive would manipulate space-time itself to move a starship, taking advantage of … Continue reading →

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Frank Whittle

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Deskarati

Frank Whittle was born on 1 June 1907 in Coventry, the son of a mechanic. His first attempts to join the RAF failed as a result of his lack of height, but on his third attempt he was accepted as … Continue reading →

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Thomas Newcomen

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Deskarati

Thomas Newcomen (1663 – 1729) was an ironmonger by profession, but made a significant contribution to the Industrial Revolution with his invention of the atmospheric steam engine. Thomas Newcomen was born in Dartmouth, Devon in 1663 and established himself as an … Continue reading →

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Hoverbike Being Tested For All-Terrain Use

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Deskarati

The lack of hovercrafts in this day and age is often lamented in the tech community. But now Aeroflex, a high-tech company based in California, is testing an aerial vehicle that uses two ducted rotors to hover above the ground. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bikes, Invention | Leave a comment

Astro camera mount designed to make time-lapse photography easy and affordable

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Deskarati

The Astro camera mount is intended to make time-lapse photography accessible to anyone interested in cameras. It is designed to be inexpensive, durable, small enough to fit into your pocket, and easy to program. Its functions are accessed via a … Continue reading →

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Math professor’s side mirror eliminates ‘blind spot’

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Deskarati

A side mirror that eliminates the dangerous “blind spot” for drivers has now received a U.S. patent. The subtly curved mirror, invented by Drexel University mathematics professor Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, dramatically increases the field of view with minimal distortion. … Continue reading →

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Inflatable Seatbelts

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Deskarati

They share close quarters and both have a passion for safety, so it was only a matter of time before the seat belt and the airbag got together. The seatbelt-airbag lovechild showed up recently in Ford’s 2011 Explorer and is … Continue reading →

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Wheel hub motor concept drives hybrid progress

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Deskarati

When news broke in 2009 that a former IBM engineer had devised a kit that turns any car into a plug-in hybrid for between $3,000 and $5,000, those interested in going-green technologies took notice and hoped it was more than … Continue reading →

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Home made BBQ

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Deskarati

Cut the log evenly on both sides so it stands up freely. Then cut it into vertical segments most of the way down the length of the log. Stuff in some newspaper into the cracks as deep as you can … Continue reading →

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GrillComb revisits shish kebab skewer

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Deskarati

Some pieces of everyday kit are just begging for an update. The shish kebab skewer is one of those pieces. Despite being the tool for delicious, juicy grilled meat, fish and vegetables, a little tweaking could make the skewer a … Continue reading →

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Personnel Vacuum Assisted Climber wins US Air Force prize

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Deskarati

Utah State University engineering undergraduate students have walked off as winners in an Air Force competition asking university teams to deliver systems that can help climbers reach the top of a 90-foot wall. Their wall crawler is designed to help … Continue reading →

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Super Snorkel Helps You Breathe Underwater

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Deskarati

Many people would love to learn how to swim, but the fear of water, or drowning, keeps them on dry land. A new breathing apparatus called the Powerbreather could help those people overcome their fear and take to the waves. … Continue reading →

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