A calcite crystal demonstrating birefringence. The angle here is also showing a double image of the blue line. “Continue reading” for more details and photos. Continue reading
Calcite
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Category Archives: Strange materials
Meteorite
A meteorite fragment that fell in 1572 in Chaco, Argentina, known as the Campo del Cielo Meteorite. “Continue reading” for more details and photos. Continue reading
Ulexite
Ulexite is a natural mineral with weird optical properties due to the fibre optic like structure.
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Firesteel
“Rubbing two sticks together to start fires is just Soo-oo Caveman, dearie. And using flint is just a disaster for your nails”. Well here is your modern equivalent for the sophisticated camper. Firesteel uses the modern version of flint as a survival tool for starting fires.
“Continue reading” for the interesting metallurgy and how to make a fire.
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Tektites
A gigantic meteorite impact 800,000 years ago threw this impact melted rock into space where it rained back to Earth as Tektites. These Tektites were collected by my uncle in Australia deserts some 30 years ago.
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Spooky Cornstarch
Essentially cornstarch is a fluid whose viscosity is rate dependent. You can hit it hard with a spoon and it will strike it and bounce off, but can be spooned slowly and drip from a spoon. A real anti splash fluid.
“Continue reading” about this zany zombie fluid. 9 photos.
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Aerogel
Aerogel (frozen smoke) is an exotic solid that is ultra light weight with many remarkable properties.
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