A motley collection of ideas
Simple (and sometimes mind-bending) explorations of the physical world.
In 1950, the Gilbert U‑238 Atomic Energy Laboratory appeared on toy‑store shelves as an educational kit. This oddity resurfaces from time to time on social media; Facebook just served it up to me again. Back then it cost $49.50 (roughly $650 in today’s money), but nowadays—when it very rarely turns up—it can fetch $4,000–5,000 at … Read more
We found this instrument at a collectors’ fair with my partner. We simply couldn’t resist it, so we took it home for 12 euros. According to its technical logbook, it left the Gamma factory on August 13, 1983, and was last calibrated on July 25, 2000. After cleaning and restoring it, it became a very … Read more
It is not widely known that Hitler was a vegetarian, and even fewer people know that he was also an animal welfare advocate. Allegedly, the idea to ban bowl-shaped aquariums originated with him, as he believed it was animal cruelty that the fish had no corners to hide in and that the bowl distorted the … Read more
The magic plasma ball is a well-known decoration that used to be popular at parties and nightclubs. A simple structure on the surface, but the spectacular light effect is based on a very complex phenomenon. It can also be used to perform some interesting experiments to surprise your friends.