Oh happy day! Nature reports that a team of scientists at the University of California, Riverside have successfully created the formerly theoretical molecule known as Di-positronium. It can exist for only the tiniest fraction of a second, which is plenty long enough for one of its projected uses.
Get ready for it. It’s the gamma-ray annihilation laser.
The gamma-ray annihilation laser is a useful tool that falls into an important category, for me. That’s the category of “things I’d really like to have, but which I’d rather you didn’t”. Like the flying car.
Anyway loads of information about this, though – I’m happy to say – not enough that you can drop everything and cobble together a gamma-ray annihilation laser* of your own – are available at BBC News.
“The difference in the power available from a gamma-ray laser compared to a normal laser is the same as the difference between a nuclear explosion and a chemical explosion,” said Dr David Cassidy of the University of California, Riverside, and one of the authors of the paper.
*I just really like that name.
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 13th, 2007
and was filed under Found on the Web
There have been 2 Responses »
“Tidy Monster” ia a second-outing CG short film by Tim Marchant. It’s won the 2007 Grand Prix award at the University of Hertfordshire’s ‘Film Day’ event, which shows good taste by them – if by good taste you mean (as I do, at the moment) a taste for absolute freaking insanity and moody, atmospheric dementia.
The audio work and narration is exceptional – the voice is by actor Ben Williams. The film’s an unusual, interesting, and a highy weird experience, which is something that’s always welcome around here. Unless you ask the cat.
Oh – and I noticed that the award was presented by the UK effects house The Mill, who among other things are the force behind the visual effects in the new Doctor Who series.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
and was filed under Computer Graphics, Found on the Web
There have been no responses »
Wow. There is just no way I should be looking at all these today, so I’m counting on you to do it for me.
Robot Island has page after page after page of reproduction retro robot toys, along with other space toy replicas – and for those of you with both deep pockets and long arms, there are some collectible original space and robot toys, too.
Don’t be dismayed by the voices chanting Destroy all humans.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
and was filed under Found on the Web
There have been no responses »
In what crazy, mixed up, unjust world would this man not win a beard and mustache contest?
I mean, not only is he wearing the aviator’s helmet… but he has a propeller on his chin!
Found at Pop Candy where, alas, he remains anonymous.
This entry was posted on Friday, September 7th, 2007
and was filed under Found on the Web
There has been 1 Response »
An undeniable demonstration that Thursday will always happen in a week, and at a constant, unexplainable rate of a Thursday every seven days. Weird!
Today’s Retro Rocket comes once again from the workshop of Jeff Brewer, with an “insanely determined” pilot sculpted by Mike Murnane.
The Racer Rocket, in classic 1950’s teal and chrome, sits defiantly on your desk and threatens to poke out your eye. What’s not to like?
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 6th, 2007
and was filed under Found on the Web
There have been no responses »
Cristóbal Vila has modeled and animated a CG version of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. The short film starts with scenes of the famous house growing out of its natural environment and then continues with camera flights around and through the residence. It’s all set to a van Karajan recording of Die Moldau and it makes for a pleasant few minutes of exploration and tribute.
Vila studied in Barcelona and works professionally at his own Etérea Studio. If you enjoy the film you might also like the many images on the site that show its progress and construction.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007
and was filed under Computer Graphics, Found on the Web
There have been 2 Responses »
As if it wasn’t enough that the terminally cute dragons always go home with the babes, this animated short shows us that they can also conquer the forces of darkness in a “Devil Came Down to Georgia” style musical showdown.
Who’s responsible for the madness? That would be Stephen Payne and John Godwin (soundtrack by Tenacious D). They cooked it up at the University of Hertfordshire, a haven for demonic axemen and treacly, guitar-playing dragons.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 3rd, 2007
and was filed under Computer Graphics, Found on the Web
There have been no responses »
Thursdays are Retro Rocket Days here at Webomator. Okay, who am I kidding? Every day is retro rocket day around here. But on Thursdays, it’s official.
Today’s blast from the past is actually called the Blast Rocket. It’s one of Jeff Brewer’s amazing rocket statues in cast resin, with a weighted base and just about the perfect puffy cloud of exhaust.
7.5″ tall and 11″ long, it’s meant to sit on your desk and show everyone that you’re headed off to the asteroid belt right after work. In style.
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2007
and was filed under Found on the Web
There have been no responses »
It’s still early in the year, unless we’re really planning ahead – but for the first time I’ve added calendars to my Celtic Art & Retro-Futuristic Design site.There’s a Celtic Art Calendar with twelve of my original knotwork designs. They’re what you might call eclectic, including a knotwork biohazard symbol, a Chaos Star design, a Skull and Crossbones and a few more traditional designs like my “Tanglewood” and “An Claidheam Soluis” pictures.
On the Retro-Futuristic side, my 2008 Retropolis Calendar offers twelve months of retro rockets, faithful robots, flying cars, and death rays. Sort of an early indicator of the year we have to look forward to. Hint: be prepared to duck.
And on a tangential note, my Retrovert site also has a couple of WPA poster calendars (Travel Posters and Health & Safety Posters) and one with covers from vintage Modern Mechanix & Inventions magazines.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
and was filed under Works in Progress
There have been no responses »
“Pest Control” is an animated music video by Peter Leary and a crew of co-conspirators, using Me the Conqueror’s Lo Fi as the setting for an insect rock concert that leads to, well, insurrection. Or something like it.
Really nicely executed in every way. While it’s not new (2005), it does seem to be new to the web. Therefore, go watch it.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
and was filed under Computer Graphics, Found on the Web
There has been 1 Response »
