Elementary, my dear readers.

To me this is somewhat old news, as I found out about this in September last year and read into it in some depth. But to those of you who I haven't already mentioned this to/haven't heard some other way, it may come as a surprise to find out that scientists are actually creating new elements. The most recent one to be fabricated is UNUNSEPTIUM. First reports of it's creation were published on 15th March 2010. With atomic number 117 [meaning there are 117 protons in an atom's nucleus] it is classed as the heaviest of the halogen family. However, it's incredible instability means that it only exists for 0.1-40ms before breaking apart into Roentgenium [111] or Dubnium [105] depending on the atomic mass of Ununseptium. Although it barely exists, the fact that they managed to create it using the method they did, has given them reason to believe that they can create elements with atomic numbers 120, 126, or 184 which may well harness what is known as 'The Stability Island'. This is where the periodic table reaches the other side of the unstable, self-destructive elements, and elements start having a lifetime of years or more. This is a particularly important discovery as elements with atomic numbers 120, 126 or 184 could well be used as a safer, more efficient fuel source than any we have ever seen before. Watch out kiddies - here comes the golden age of science which could throw us forward in ways we can only dream of. Definitely a reason to keep your eyes peeled.

Gary Chang

There are many things in this world that make my metophorical [and occasionally actual] jaw drop, but very rarely is it something of such simplicity as this. Gary Chang is and architect from Hon Kong who has turned his 32 square meter apartment into 24 quite spacious rooms. He has done it in the simplest but, perhaps, least obvious way possible – the rooms can change size and even existance. A simple series of sliding walls allow him to swap which room he’s in, with 24 possible combinations. The Library at Huddersfield Uni [and I’m sure hundreds of others nation and probably worldwide] utilise sliding walls to increse book storage space, but I’d never even thought to use them for something like this. If you ask me, grand designs are looking the wrong way, and should focus more on this sort of thing – turning a small space into the biggest house you can with the money you’ve got. Check this man out:

If you want to find out more about the man himself, and the history of the apartment,  you can follow this link:

Gary Chang's 24 Rooms in a 32sqm Apartment

Theo Jansen

I know this video has been around for a number of years, and I saw it when it first came out, but as I've only just set up a blog, I figured now was a good time to write about it. The long and short of it - this man is an engineering genius. He has managed to create a number of what he refers to as 'Kinetic Sculptures' which rely solely on bio-mimicry, wind-power and a profound understanding of some exceptional engineering designs and techniques. At first glance you may think "that's pretty impressive, but couldn't any engineer with enough spare time and the right materials do that?", but as he explains his creations in further and further depth, and demonstrates how he gave his 'animaris' brains which can not only keep track of where they are on the beach, but also stop themselves from walking off the beach or into the see, you begin to recognise just how remarkable this man's brain really is. In Sept 2007 [when this video was first released] these creatures weren't perfect, but were still almost entirely self-sustaining. Imagine how much more advanced and potentially independent they may be now.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/theo_jansen_creates_new_creatures.html

Well done, sir. I tip my cap to you.