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
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
Excellent 1966 Australian PSA on the switch from £sd to decimalized currency
Enjoy the delightful music and animation in this 1966 FAQ explainer video to get Australians used to the switch from pounds, shillings, and pence, to dollars and cents. [Via r/ObcureMedia] READ THE REST
How tri-color e-ink works
E-ink displays are usually monochrome, but tri-color displays are starting to become more common and affordable. The Adafruit video explains how tri-color e-ink displays work. READ THE REST
Get one of these space heaters to combat the cold of winter
With January here, it's easy to think that the worst of winter is over. Unfortunately, as recent years (like last year) have shown us, it can remain pretty steadily chilly all the way into April and May. If you've got central heating, you're going to be getting pretty sick of those bills by then. The… READ THE REST
Check out 23 vacuum deals that will clean up your 2021
It's likely that there's never been a New Year's resolution focused on vacuuming more. However, plenty of people want to clean up the clutter and tidy up their lives to start a new year. The investment in a quality vacuum and other cleaners can be a good way of ensuring that much-needed cleaning work gets… READ THE REST
2021 is the year QuickBooks can untangle your business accounting nightmares
If you've ever started a business, it probably wasn't so you could process invoices and fill out payroll checks. Yet, accounting is the absolute lifeblood of any enterprise – and unless a company is paying thousands to have a certified professional take charge of their finances, it's easy to feel like the entire accounting arena… READ THE REST