Live data from Hacker News

Lego Microscope

github.com

51–60 of 112 posts

Re: Lego Microscope

#51
post #27

Here’s a functional all-Lego microscope: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/fcce15cd-27e0-405b-990b-681b... No non-Lego pieces; even the lenses are Lego minifig-scale magnifying glasses. Unfortunately, it didn’t get enough backers in time to advance to production.

This is fantastic. There are some incredible ideas on that site and this microscope is a good example of an expert model maker using their creativity to work with the constraints of the Lego.

Lego seems to provide just the right amount creative control whilst still imposing its own rules and limitations. You see tiny models that express the character of the subject so well, often by using blocks in unexpected ways to create the subtlest hint of a form. The end result has so much charm but requires great skill.

That site led me to this working piano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM7kj5XI_HY

Well, I guess it's silent, but it has the mechanics. Wow.

Re: Lego Microscope

#52
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Lego corporation is welcome to care about that for trademark reasons, but the rest of us don't really have a need to do so. "Legos" is clearly in common usage, failure to YELL ABOUT LEGO IN ALL CAPS and all.

Where are you from? In Britain I'm pretty sure I've never heard anyone say "Legos", it sounds very American to me.

My main point here is that you probably don't run around saying LEGO, in all caps, not singular vs plural.

I understand why the LEGO corporation does it, but it's their problem, not ours, and we don't really need unpaid lego consultants running around lecturing people about the "correct" way to refer to them.

Re: Lego Microscope

#53
post #12

I know a chem prof who built a Lego spectrometer. https://publiclab.org/wiki/lego-spectrometer Legos are just wonderful. edit: I know nothing about woodworking or crafting any building materials, but I always wish I could perform those types of projects. And whenever some potential project comes up, I think to myself, "but I could build it with Legos."

Please note, the plural form of LEGO is LEGO, not Legos. As per LEGO themselves[0]. [0] https://twitter.com/lego_group/status/842115345280294912?lan...

Jesus, I’m gonna stop reading comments on LEGO posts here since every time there is a grammar war.

I and everyone I know has been calling them LEGOs since I was a kid in the 70s; that’s good enough for me.

Re: Lego Microscope

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was developed at Stanford right? That’s where Manu Prakash works and that link says Stanford as well.

Studied at MIT, opened his lab at Stanford. I am unsure about where the intellectual property lies.

where the intellectual property lies

Leeuwenhoek?

Re: Lego Microscope

#55
post #12

I know a chem prof who built a Lego spectrometer. https://publiclab.org/wiki/lego-spectrometer Legos are just wonderful. edit: I know nothing about woodworking or crafting any building materials, but I always wish I could perform those types of projects. And whenever some potential project comes up, I think to myself, "but I could build it with Legos."

> Legos are just wonderful.

One of the most fascinating things about HN is how people will come out in droves to bash the environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency, but legos are just wonderful - nevermind the plastic waste.

There must be a name for this phenomenon.

Obviously this post will get downvoted with no real rebuttal - more idiosyncracies of the quality platform that is HN.

Re: Lego Microscope

#56
post #12

I know a chem prof who built a Lego spectrometer. https://publiclab.org/wiki/lego-spectrometer Legos are just wonderful. edit: I know nothing about woodworking or crafting any building materials, but I always wish I could perform those types of projects. And whenever some potential project comes up, I think to myself, "but I could build it with Legos."

> Legos are just wonderful. One of the most fascinating things about HN is how people will come out in droves to bash the environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency, but legos are just wonderful - nevermind the plastic waste. There must be a name for this phenomenon. Obviously this post will get downvoted with no real rebuttal - more idiosyncracies of the quality platform that is HN.

Waste?? I still have my legos from my childhood. No plastic wasted here!

Re: Lego Microscope

#57
post #12

I know a chem prof who built a Lego spectrometer. https://publiclab.org/wiki/lego-spectrometer Legos are just wonderful. edit: I know nothing about woodworking or crafting any building materials, but I always wish I could perform those types of projects. And whenever some potential project comes up, I think to myself, "but I could build it with Legos."

Would be great if Lego jumped on board projects like both of these and released them as kits. They'd only need create a few 'scientific' bricks to make them work. Not that different from Mindstorms.

Lastly will be the precision Lego 3D printer in which one may print Lego compatible parts including the Lego 3D printer.

Re: Lego Microscope

#58
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Legos are just wonderful. One of the most fascinating things about HN is how people will come out in droves to bash the environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency, but legos are just wonderful - nevermind the plastic waste. There must be a name for this phenomenon. Obviously this post will get downvoted with no real rebuttal - more idiosyncracies of the quality platform that is HN.

Waste?? I still have my legos from my childhood. No plastic wasted here!

That plastic will outlast you, though. When considering environmental impact it's prudent to look beyond a couple hundred years - which I admit we suck at as humans.

Re: Lego Microscope

#59
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where are you from? In Britain I'm pretty sure I've never heard anyone say "Legos", it sounds very American to me.

My main point here is that you probably don't run around saying LEGO, in all caps, not singular vs plural. I understand why the LEGO corporation does it, but it's their problem, not ours, and we don't really need unpaid lego consultants running around lecturing people about the "correct" way to refer to them.

Yeah I was just surprised by the assertion that

>"Legos" is clearly in common usage

Given that I don't ever hear people using it.

Personally I get faintly annoyed by people saying "legos" the same as I would by people saying "sheeps" instead of sheep when referring to multiple, although I don't think I've ever corrected anyone over it.

Re: Lego Microscope

#60
post #12

I know a chem prof who built a Lego spectrometer. https://publiclab.org/wiki/lego-spectrometer Legos are just wonderful. edit: I know nothing about woodworking or crafting any building materials, but I always wish I could perform those types of projects. And whenever some potential project comes up, I think to myself, "but I could build it with Legos."

> Legos are just wonderful. One of the most fascinating things about HN is how people will come out in droves to bash the environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency, but legos are just wonderful - nevermind the plastic waste. There must be a name for this phenomenon. Obviously this post will get downvoted with no real rebuttal - more idiosyncracies of the quality platform that is HN.

I don't think you need to search for a psychological explanation.

I think it is probable that many people think the benefits of Lego far outweigh the benefits of cryptocurrency mining.

Post reply on HN