How do quartz watches keep time? Steve Mould gives a great demonstration explaining how they work. Quartz is piezoelectric, which means when it is deformed it generates an electrical signal. A quartz watch has a tiny quartz tuning fork that's been calibrated to vibrate at 215 cycles per second. This signal is fed through a series of 14 flip-flop circuits, each of which divides the frequency of the signal by 2. By the time the signal goes through the 14th flip-flop, the frequency is one cycle per second.
How a quartz watch works
Watch this delightful deep dive into the wonderful world of hinges
Maker and explainer Tim Hunkin released the third video in his "Secret Life of Components" series. This time, he's looking at hinges: door hinges, hinges for prototypes, cupboard hinges, kitchen cabinet hinges, hinges for glass doors. custom hinges, giant hinges, tiny hinges, Tufnol hinges, screw thread hinges, and animation hinges. READ THE REST
The must-watch first episode of "The Secret Life of Components" is up
I'm so glad the amazing Tim Hunkin has a new video series about components! In the first episode, he takes a deep dive into chains — their history, how they work, how they've been refined over the years, and how they are used in machines. READ THE REST
Video explains epidemic R-number through crocheting
Kathrine Frey Frøslie uses crocheting to show how quickly Covid cases increase as the R-number (spreadability) goes up. What a cool way to visualize it! Kathrine Frey Frøslie works as associate professor in Biostatistics, and runs the popular science knitting blog Statistrikk.no. The crochet work is made for the exhibition CoviDesign at Greve museum in… READ THE REST
Catch amazing photos and videos from up high with over $175 off this drone
Drones are some of the coolest toys out there today. They let you capture breathtaking photos and videos while being useful for activities like making deliveries (though watch out for ornery locals!). If you want to get into flying drones, or just want to upgrade the one you have now, check out this Black GPS… READ THE REST
Get premium computing power with 72% off this refurbished MacBook Air
We're currently living in a culture where the masses think new is always better, but keeping up with the latest gadgets quickly gets pricey, and the performance boost might not even be worth it. Refurbished tech is the way to go if you want to save a ton of money while still getting your hands… READ THE REST
6 bottles of premium wine catered to your taste is definitely something to cheers about
Look, you've sipped on many a glass of wine over the years. You may not be a sommelier, but you definitely are the master of your own palette. Whether you're into big, fruity reds or would kill for a glass of cold, buttery chardonnay, nobody has a better taste in wine than you — according… READ THE REST
