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An improvised Lego device helped scientists conduct tests at CERN
- kwhitefoot 7y agoSee also: https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/legos-absolute-zero-science https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/legos-absolute-zero-science https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2019/01/18/lego-in-the-lab/ https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2019/01/18/lego-in-the-l... https://news.utexas.edu/2018/06/27/new-nerve-gas-detector-built-with-legos-and-a-smartphone/ https://news.utexas.edu/2018/06/27/new-nerve-gas-detector-bu... https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/320416v1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/320416v1 https://twitter.com/whippletom/status/1011995003923681280?lang=en https://twitter.com/whippletom/status/1011995003923681280?la... https://twitter.com/samburgroup/status/1012165655036981248 https://twitter.com/samburgroup/status/1012165655036981248 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scientists-use-lego-to-come-up-with-simple-answer-to-an-expensive-problem-nhm2qc7pt https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scientists-use-lego-to-co... https://mrc.ukri.org/news/blog/lego-powered-biomedical-research/ https://mrc.ukri.org/news/blog/lego-powered-biomedical-resea... Probably lots more out there too!
- reagent_finder 7y ago>“Soon, my colleagues started to complement the experiment by adding some LEGO trees on top of the structure,” recounts Michael. “I had to write a message asking them not to do so.” Proving yet again, that given ANYTHING that is efficient engineers will eventually try to improve it.
- solidist 7y agoThe one case where the kragle is necessary.
- taneq 7y agoNot the Kragl!!
- Y-Bopinator 7y agoWhen you have no shop skills but you played legos
- xenonite 7y agoThis gives snother example where the old-generation Lego Technics bricks shine. Besides their circular holes at the side, these still connect at their top and their bottom side with regular Lego studs. I wish these bricks have a comeback. Why did Lego go this way? I assume it was too complicated to use for some as it allows for a two dimensional connection. Although on the other hand, this actually increases creativity in my opinion, because you could do more with a small assortment of pieces. However, this of course hinders sales of new sets, which might be a reason why Lego had a crisis around y2k.
- oaiey 7y agoThe traditional bricks are difficult to stack and vertically to connect at the same time. Stone, two plates, Stone and then the holes on the vertical axis fit again. The modern beams are 1x1x1. Much better structure for model building.
- gwilliams 7y ago'Stone'? You mean 'brick'.
- HarryHirsch 7y agoIn some languages Lego pieces are "stones".
- oaiey 7y agoYepp. That is my case :)
- bonzini 7y agoOld Technic bricks are still in use, mostly to build the skeleton of larger non-Technic models.
- MivLives 7y agoThe Lego Technic line is mostly cars now but it does still exist. Also used heavily in the Mindstorms line. https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/technic https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/technic
- m4rtink 7y agoThis kinda reminds me how Otto Wichtrle created the first contact lense on a machine build from the Merkur construction set (known as Mechano in the West): https://cs.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soubor:Merkur_based_apparatus_for_centrifugal_casting_of_contact_lenses_by_wichterle.jpg https://cs.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soubor:Merkur_based_apparatu... https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/10/soft-contact-lenses-were-created-with-a-toy-construction-set/381070/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/10/soft-... Even saw the actual mashine on an exhibition once - cleverly done & powered by a bicycle dynamo. :-)
- ddevault 7y agoLegos are a magnificent piece of engineering. They really care about the product and they work within extremely rigourous tolerances. Their practical utility is underrated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3oiy9eekzk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3oiy9eekzk
- Youden 7y agoI admit this is nitpicky, that language is naturally evolving and corporations cannot make rules about how English should be spoken but "Legos" isn't strictly correct. The correct term, per The LEGO Group should be "LEGO bricks". At one point they had this written on their website: "Please always refer to our products as “LEGO bricks or toys” and not “LEGOS.” By doing so, you will be helping to protect and preserve a brand of which we are very proud, and that stands for quality the world over" Also, though "Legos" is somewhat common in North America, it's less common in the rest of the English-speaking world.
- gwilliams 7y agoLego's argument always struck me as absurd. Imagine Ford doing the same thing: "Please refer to our vehicles as 'Ford vehicles' or 'cars', and not 'Fords'. By doing so..."
- maxerickson 7y agoI think the temptation to start a car company that markets "Ford" cars is probably less than the temptation to put on your box of bricks that they are compatible with Lego bricks. If the company doesn't take reasonable actions to protect the mark, they lose control of it.
- detaro 7y agoWhat does that have to do with how people call actual LEGO bricks?
- 7y ago
- willis936 7y agoI used to use legos for air blown temperature tests of electronics. You just need to keep most of the air in, fit a few shapes of DUTs (hard drives, ethernet transceivers, etc) and not melt at 100C. Some vendors do not like the idea of legos used in a test setup. Some vendors don’t know a good solution when they see it.
- tnolet 7y agoThere is a very cute Lego version of the LHC in the lobby of the building that houses the LHC. Lego should actually bring it to market.