Posted by Benjamin Roudenis on June 28, 2010
It is one of the most exquisite views we have ever had of the Earth.
This colourful new map traces the subtle but all pervasive influence the pull of gravity has across the globe.
Known as a geoid, it essentially defines where the level surface is on our planet; it tells us which way is “up” and which way is “down”.
It is drawn from delicate measurements made by Europe’s Goce satellite, which flies so low it comes perilously close to falling out of the sky.
Scientists say the data gathered by the spacecraft will have numerous applications.
. . . . .
Launched in 2009, the sleek satellite flies pole to pole at an altitude of just 254.9km – the lowest orbit of any research satellite in operation today.
The spacecraft carries three pairs of precision-built platinum blocks inside its gradiometer instrument that sense accelerations which are as small as 1 part in 10,000,000,000,000 of the gravity experienced on Earth.
The ‘standard’ acceleration due to gravity at the Earth’s surface is 9.8m per second squared.
In reality the figure varies from 9.78 (minimum) at the equator to 9.83 (maximum) at the poles.
This has allowed it to map the almost imperceptible differences in the pull exerted by the mass of the planet from one place to the next – from the great mountain ranges to the deepest ocean trenches.
Two months of observations have now been fashioned into what scientists call the geoid.
Goce satellite views Earth’s gravity in high definition [BBC News]
Posted by Benjamin Roudenis on June 16, 2010
In this first edition of what may be a one-article series, I introduce to you my hard drive clock. I got bored, I tore an old 20 gigabyte IDE hard drive apart, and I added a clock mechanism.
I’ve seen this done before (somewhere on the internets) so I won’t take credit for the idea, but I did not follow any plans, so I will take credit for finding a harder way to do something I could have easily found plans for.
Posted by Benjamin Roudenis on June 1, 2010
Manta’s revolution in saddle design changes the whole feel of being seated on a bicycle – after riding on a Manta your backside does not feel like you have been on a bike.
Cycling on traditional saddles is the only exercise activity which actually lowers bloodflow to important parts of the body; with a Manta you will enjoy positive effects of better ventilation and an increase in bloodflow.
Manta Saddle – Revolutionary Bicycle Saddle Comfort
Posted by Benjamin Roudenis on June 1, 2010
The next time you reach for a piece of paper and a pen – Don’t! Grab a Boogie Board instead, the tree-friendly alternative to memo pads, sketchbooks, sticky notes, dry erase boards and other writing/drawing mediums that can be re-used over 50,000 times!
The Boogie Board tablet’s pressure-sensitive LCD writing surface creates lines of different thickness based on how hard you push – just like paper and pen!
Erase your image with the touch of a button – and a friendly flash from the liquid crystal display.
Boogie Board Paperless LCD Writing Tablet
