DailyDirt: Science With Lego

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

People do all sorts of creative stuff with Lego -- even though Lego hasn't always been cool about people using Lego or Lego-like bricks in various ways. But when Lego interconnecting block enthusiasts are allowed to do anything they want to do, sometimes science benefits. Here are just a few cool Lego-based science links for folks who aren't ready to put away their childhood toys.

• Scientists from the Natural History Museum London built an insect manipulator out of Lego because it was a cheap way to make a customizable specimen holder. Using these Lego-based insect manipulators, the researchers will be able to digitize a wide variety of little critters. [url]
• If you've ever wondered how tall the tallest stack of Lego anyone can make would be, the theoretical answer is 3.5km using all 2x2 bricks. That's about 375,000 bricks stacked until the bottom brick starts to deform from the weight. However, in reality, it would be extremely difficult to stack bricks without any leaning -- so the tallest Lego tower actually built has only been about 32 meters tall. [url]
• The Open Worm project has put a virtual worm brain in a Lego robot body. The software simulates 302 neurons of a worm's brain, but it's not a complete biological replica in Lego plastic -- otherwise if you put two together in a room, they'd be able to make a third robot. [url]

If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post via StumbleUpon.

Filed Under: ai, diy, interconnecting blocks, open worm, robots, science, worm brain
Companies: lego