Robots are the future. There is really no doubt about that. As technologies advance more and more things that we took for granted as human activities will become the responsibilities of automated machines. It will happen sooner than most of us think and the result will be a profound change in our way of life. Perhaps there is no better example of this than the rise of autonomous vehicles. In the United States, there are nearly 800 automobiles for every 1,000 people. Driving is something we do on a daily basis. Even those of us who don’t own cars ourselves…
Category: Science!
Mind Blown- Universal Hologram
The Cake is a lie. Or at least your preconceived notion that the cakes exists in three-dimensional space could possibly be a lie. What in the world am I talking about you ask, equal parts intrigued and befuddled. Well, its complicated, and more than a little difficult to wrap your brain around. Which makes it perfect for another edition of Mind Blown. Right now you think you have a pretty firm handle on what your world looks like. It’s three-dimensional. You can reach out and touch your computer or your desk, or your coffee mug and prove that. But there…
Science! For Parties- Flaming Teabags of Doom
Are we in Boston circa 1773 because let me tell you, dear reader, we are about to have a tea party! Well sort of. I’m about to teach you a cool trick you can do with a tea bag at a party! Okay, I’ll admit it, my historical reference only has a tenuous connection to what we’re going to do today. But there will be fire, so get excited. In this edition of Science! For Parties, we are going to turn an empty teabag into a flaming rocket. First, you’ll need to gather up your supplies. Which in this case…
Mind Blown-The Origins of Life
Science is all about answering the big questions, and they don’t make questions any bigger than “Where does life come from?”. In this edition of Mind Blown will discuss some of the more far out Scientific theories concerning the origins of life on Earth. Let’s start by getting the more mundane theories out of the way first. Lightning zapping some primordial goo and creating amino acids. I mean its cool but its hardly brain bending. Organic compounds muddled around in hydro-thermal vents? Boring. Panspermia? The theory that life came to Earth via a piece of space rock? Bingo. That’s what…
Robots Don’t Wear Belts- Androids
Its officially 2018, which means the time of our robot overlords grows ever near. At least if you listen to Stephen Hawking or Elon Musk you’d be forgiven for believing that. Those guys are geniuses far beyond me and there is certainly plenty of grounds for concern when it comes to artificial intelligence. But the world isn’t going to fall victim to Judgement Day tomorrow. And to reassure you of that I thought that in this edition of Robots Don’t Wear Belts we’d take a look at the current state one of the most elusive of technological developments in robotics:…
We Can Do That Now- Lightsabers
Over the years, science fiction has shaped the mind of many a young scientist and set them on a course to make reality the fictions of their childhood but perhaps never has that pursuit been more geared towards adolescent fulfillment than in scientists attempt to make the famous weapon of the Jedi the lightsaber, or as Obi-Wan would say an elegant weapon from a more civilized age. That’s right, continuing our Star Wars themed week here at The Eclectic Eccentric this edition of We Can Do That Now is going to focus on the dream of every fanboy the possibility…
Science! For Parties!- Flaming Pine Cones of Christmas Cheer
Thanksgiving is over. Christmas lights are being hung around town. Shoppers are bustling about trying to find the perfect present for that special someone. Yep that magical season is upon us again. Get excited because it’s Office Holiday Party Time! And when it comes to office holiday parties I think we all know who the coolest person in the room is, why the person doing mind blowing science tricks of course. So if you want to be the cool cat at your workplace shindig keep reading because this edition of Science! For Parties is going knock your reindeer adorned socks…
Mind Blown- Quantum Entanglement
We’re officially nine days from Halloween and that means here at the Eclectic Eccentric it’s time to get Spoooky!!! Well at least spooky if you’re a fan of Albert Einstein, personal physics hero of yours truly. What am I rambling about? Why the topic of today’s Mind Blown of course: Quantum Entanglement. Or as Einstein once contemptuously called it “spooky action at a distance”. We’ll get to the reasons for Einstein’s disdain in a bit but first a little bit of background. Quantum Entanglement in a phenomenon in which particles that have previously interacted become intertwined to such an extent…
Mind Blown- The Copenhagen Interpretation
Have you ever been invited to multiple cool events on the same night? Wished you could go to all of them but knew you had to pick one and live with the choice? Well if you were an electron you might just be able to attend them all at once or maybe none of them at all. Who knows! Unless you were observed. Then we would know. WE WOULD KNOW. Sound like I’m talking gibberish? You’re right I am because in this edition of Mind Blown I tackle THE COPENHAGEN INTERPRETATION. (Cue trippy orchestral sci-fi theme) What is the Copenhagen…
Science! For Parties!: The Cowardly Pepper
Sometimes you do a cool science trick and everyone nods and smiles and tells you that’s pretty interesting and other times you do a cool science trick and your friends look at you like you’re a bad-ass magic-slinging wizard of the white council. This is one of those times. In this edition of Science! For Parties! I teach you the secrets of (drum roll please) The Cowardly Pepper! For this trick you’ll need some simple household items: pepper (or any kind of visible seasoning); dish soap; a bowl or plate (if you use a plate try to use a large…