DIY fun stuff from MAKE

Flame-thrower Robosapien

Filed under the "don't try this a home" Maker project. Someone seems to have replaced some of the hand electronics in a Robosapien robot and added a flame thrower, since that's exactly what it was missing. [via] Link.

"Free" SkypeOut calls...

A few readers sent this in, when you call 1800FREE411 from Skype you can use their ad-supported service to make other calls for free. When you call it, it helps you look up a U.S. person or business from their directory service and then connects the call... And the directory service bears the cost of the call as it seems to be ad-supported. So you use SkypeOut to connect to the service, and the service to connect to the one you’re calling. [via] Link.

DIY Plasma pencil?

Janet sent this in and has issued a Maker challenge to build a "Plasma Pencil" - "The pencil generates a "cold plasma," which can be used to kill germs that contaminate surfaces, infect wounds and rot your teeth. In the future, it might be used to destroy tumors without damaging surrounding tissue. Laroussi, an associate professor at Old Dominion University, hopes the beam will soon find its way into doctors' and dentists' offices." Link.

Making High-Temperature Superconductors

Richard writes "Making High-Temperature Superconductors - This is the Makers way of doing it. I did this for my Grade 11 Science Fair project, that was in 1987. This site did not exist then!" Read on for the instructions on making ceramic superconductors in a high school science laboratory. Link.

Die Dulci Fruere