It’s pretty amazing what they can do with prosthesis these days, but these mechanical arms and legs tend to drag a little as the human walks.

In order to make these prosthesis parts more in sync with humans, people from the University of Michigan and Delft University in the Netherlands are conducting some new experiments. These researchers are tying to create an artificial foot that can recycle the kinetic energy generated by the stepping of the foot itself. … Continue Reading

No, that’s not a hairy branch but rather an astounding kind of ice formation called “hair ice” (”haareis” in German). Illinois State University professor James Carter of the Geography-Geology Department, created a page about this natural wonder that includes many photos of these marvelous ice growths, sometimes called “silk frost” or “cotton candy frost.” … Continue Reading

Photo by James Moss (makesnow.net)

As one of the biggest storms of the winter is hitting Lake Tahoe, MAKE Volume 21 is about to hit newsstands. What do these two phenomena have in common? … Continue Reading

Spongy metal sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but it’s actually a real material that is capable of absorbing large impacts without damage. … Continue Reading

The glowing Specimen Panel series created by Danish toolmaker Steffen Dam. Steffen Dam is a disciplined master craftsman whose plants and invertebrates are beautifully executed and display an impressive material credibility. … Continue Reading