Levitating Moon Lamp: See You on the Light Side of the Moon

There’s something about the cratered surface of our moon that gives it such a wonderful appearance as the sun reflects off of it in the night sky. Now you can experience that wonder every day – whether or not it’s cloudy outside – with this nifty Levitating Moon Desk Lamp.

Unlike the actual moon, this one is illuminated from the inside out, but it still looks pretty awesome. The floating sphere is created using 3D printing technology to replicate the textured lunar surface.

The replica moon measures about 5.9″ in diameter, and has LED lights and magnets inside to float effortlessly above its wooden base. It uses wireless induction to power the lights inside the floating orb.

While I think the moon looks best in its more naturally white color, it does offer two other color modes including yellow, and gradually fading between yellow and white.

You can put the moon on your desk for $99.99 over at Amazon, which is a whole lot less expensive than building yourself a rocketship to launch you there.

DIY Acoustic Levitator Lets You Float Objects in Mid-air

While most levitation is achieved with magnets, it’s also possible to suspend small objects in air using sound waves. Thanks to engineer Asier Marzo, you can even create your own acoustic levitator, which can float lightweight objects like water droplets, styrofoam beads, and even insects.

The system uses a 3D printed rig that holds two opposing grids filled with 36 tiny ultrasonic transducers each. An Arduino Nano, a power supply, and a motor drive board control the transducers, which basically push and pull on small objects you place in their path, holding them in mid-air. Levitation is achieved by pushing air out of both top and bottom transducers, which apply an equivalent amount of pressure from above and below the objects.

Asier describes the highlights of the build in the video below:

Neat, eh? Now if you’re ready to build your own acoustic levitator, check out the full build log over on Instructables. There’s a great article on the physics behind acoustic levitation over on How Stuff Works too.

Ultrasound can levitate large objects

Scientists have long dreamed of using acoustic levitation to float objects, but there has been one big catch: you couldn't lift an object larger than the wavelength without being picky about what you're lifting. However, it might not be a problem go...

Levitating Drinkware

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You can drink alcohol to get drunk, or you can try to class it up and turn it into a whole experience instead. In your quest to do so, you might opt for high end liquors, fancy glasses and now, levitating drinkware. Levitating CUP uses a magnetic base and special glasses that float above it trough Electromagnetic Suspension, to awe your guests and give the evening that little extra flair that many people look for. There’s a permanently wired base, and a battery-powered one that allows you to carry the glass-base duo around your home. The drinking vessels are solidly anchored in place, so it’s relatively easy to transport without worrying about spillage. They come in different shapes accommodating all kinds of liquids, even mundane drinks like coffee. That’s right, you can get your cup of Joe to float, if that will somehow spice up your day. Prices start at $139 with Very Early Bird pricing.

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[ Project Page ]

Split Personality Train

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At Yanko, we believe in concepts. No matter how unearthly, how futuristic, how impossible…a good idea needs to be shared. This Mag Lev train comes into our lives from the future with a crazy awesome aesthetic and an incredible ability to split into two and be pulled in two directions by separate engines. What CAN’T magnets do!?

Designer: Phillip Seagram

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Yoda Cake with Floating Wedding Cake: A Jedi Craves This Thing

Peboryon specializes in both traditional wedding cakes as well as sculpted ones. So for their exhibit at Cake International Birmingham, the Cornwall-based cake shop made a life-sized Yoda cake that appears to be using its Force power on a wedding cake.

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While it seems that magnets were involved in the trick, Peboryon’s proprietor Christine Jensen doesn’t want to reveal how exactly they made the cake. They did tell the Cornishman that they spent 8 months planning and making the pastry combo. Here’s SWNS TV’s interview with Christine:

Here’s Peboryon setting up their booth at Cake International Birmingham:

As expected, the cakes were a hit with both the crowd and the convention’s organizers, netting Christine one of the Silver badge awards for the show’s wedding cake category.

[via Geyser of Awesome]

Japan Maglev Train Sets New Speed Record with 374mph


Japan has the fastest train. A maglev (magnetically levitated) train operated by Central Japan Railway has set the world speed record of 374mph today during test run on an experimental track.The...

New Research Discovers Secret of Frustrated Magnets


An experiment conducted by Princeton researchers has revealed an unlikely behavior in a class of materials called frustrated magnets, addressing a long-debated question about the nature of these...