In this interview with Dr. Logan Rodriguez Graves, we learn about how gigundous, expensive mirrors in observatory telescopes are made, medical imaging, and other things you can do with a degree in optical science. https://youtu.be/MT0BLowdjlw Medical Imaging for Diagnosing Colon Cancer As an undergrad, Graves worked in a University of Arizona group that researched new methods for imaging colon cancer. The “traditional” way to image your innards typically includes drinking a nauseating liquid sludge that makes things fluoresce. Don’t ask me why I intimately know what it’s like to drink that garbage. The researchers Graves worked with came up with new ways to poke around in there without that beverage.…

It takes a LOT of metal to smelt down a solid ingot and sometimes, those metals aren’t always readily available. Gold, for instance, is crazy expensive and you would need to melt a lot of jewelry just to create a single gold nugget. Copper, on the other hand, is cheap and readily available; provided you know where to look for it. Luckily, one curious guy knows where to get some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_cHZeimm1c Due to his desperation to create the biggest copper ingot, YouTuber Ingot Joe considered using copper cables as an alternative… lots of copper cables. Since the copper ingot had to be 99.9% copper, he decided to use a number…

After all those stories about heat gun life hacks and crafts, you probably think that there are no more interesting things left to talk about it. But – no – it turns out it can be used to cook food, as well! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6mu_iQPzyM While not that efficient when it comes to time and energy consumption, YouTuber Mr. Hacker showed you can definitely use the heat gun as a replacement for your stove, oven, or toaster. Instead of harming the environment with a gas stove, you can heat up your food using your heat gun. It will definitely take longer (and I mean MUCH longer), but you’ll be able to count…

Finding the right free 3D modeling software that will fit your current skills and knowledge can be a challenge. For beginners, any type of this software is a tad intimidating. With a variety of software out there, finding a simple one can be truly a bit of work. If you are someone who is just starting into the field, we’re sure you don’t want to have software with all unnecessary intricacies that you’re not even sure how to use. That’s for sure. On the other hand, pros often look for 3D modeling software with all the bells and whistles they need. However, with tons of choices out there, it means…

A resin 3D printer makes highly reliable prints through the use of SLA, LCD, or DLP technology. It solidifies UV resin and transforms the liquid into high-quality 3D models at a greater rate. To dig in further, Stereolithography (SLA) is the earliest form of resin 3D printing and operates by adding a substrate of photosensitive liquid resin towards a UV-laser beam. The resin is then hardened in the desired model and the product is layer after layer formed until completed. On the other hand, when we speak about Digital Light Processing (DLP), we’re referring to the process of projecting a single image within each layer using a digital projector by…

The world is full of interesting things to explore and oftentimes, we wish we could see them a little bit closer. Good thing you could have that clearer view with a very simple tool that could be carried wherever you go. A pocket microscope is a nice tool that could make your or your kids’ exploration more fun and exciting. A pocket microscope could also make your job a lot easier, especially if it entails inspection of industrial materials for corrosion or rocks for minerals or circuit boards. The same thing goes for parents doing homeschooling. Imagine giving your kid the freedom to enjoy learning in the field, untied from…