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How to build a real lightsaber
Science, Maths & Technology

How to build a real lightsaber

...technology is continuously striding towards more efficient and practical machines, we are still miles away from a working lightsaber. Let’s see why. Transcript The first challenge is making the blade of your lightsaber an acceptable size, let’s say around three feet or so. To do this, you would have to make the laser beam come to a stop at a certain point. This...
How can we say Bitcoin is overvalued when we don't know how to value it?
Money & Business

How can we say Bitcoin is overvalued when we don't know how to value it?

...technology itself), the number of Bitcoin transactions through the market, or even the energy consumed by Bitcoin miners (the computers that validate transactions and are rewarded with Bitcoins). Diverging from fundamentals If we take a close look, we can see how the price of Bitcoin may be diverging from these fundamentals. For instance, it is becoming less profitable to...
The legacy of the Victorian prison treadmill
History & The Arts

The legacy of the Victorian prison treadmill

...technology – the treadwheel – a type of machine driven by human or animal power which had been used for centuries to drive cranes and mills. These machines were like giant hamster wheels, as two or three men walked on the inside of the wheel in order to turn it and generate power. Cubbitt elongated the old treadwheel, enabling more people to tread at the same time....
A school reaches for the stars with an online astronomy course
Science, Maths & Technology

A school reaches for the stars with an online astronomy course

...Technology, Engineering and Maths) teacher and pupils at Denny High School for helping us in the developmental testing of the course." Science – it’s all connected One of the most satisfying things about studying and working in astronomy is that it pulls together aspects of a wide range of science and indeed STEM subjects. Whether it’s the astrophysics of how stars...
Passports: identity and airports
Society, Politics & Law

Passports: identity and airports

...education to the children of the poor, systemised this practise. By the nineteenth century, branding and marking were no longer widely acceptable as means of identification. While clothing persisted as a guide to social identity, more universal means of identification were sought. Passport systems were widely used throughout nineteenth century Europe and included security...
Level 2: Intermediate 8 hrs
An introduction to interaction design
Science, Maths & Technology

An introduction to interaction design

...technology in order to perform some activity. The section will: illustrate the scope of interaction and the importance of interaction design draw attention to the importance of the user, the environment and the activities when considering interaction design explore the core concepts of usability and user experience highlight key activities and characteristics of the...
Dallas Campbell meets Frank Drake
Science, Maths & Technology

Dallas Campbell meets Frank Drake

...technology. You’re doing, someone has to be there all the time. Frank Drake: Someone has to be there all the time. You have to be controlling it all the time. Driving it. Back then the situation was entirely different from today. The thoughts, particularly by serious scientists of life beyond Earth were considered taboo. They were, it was considered below the dignity of...
Free course: Histology
Science, Maths & Technology

Free course: Histology

...Don't miss out - If you use our free courses sign up for a free OU account to track your progress and gain recognition for your learning. - Subscribe to our newsletter and stay in touch with what's new in the world of free courses and other free educational material produced by The Open University. Take your learning further with our free resources Preparation for study...