This article describes a Hall-effect based magnetometer that uses an inexpensive analog Hall-effect sensor, an Arduino, and LCD. The linearity of the magnetometer is surprisingly good when compared against a commercial magnetometer. This unit can be operated manually or make measurements under computer control, so we’ll use our magnetometer in a computer-controlled setup to measure the BH-curve of small sample of magnetic material.
Explore how you can modify E. coli bacteria to produce proteins of your choice; that is, genetic engineering: the direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology. We’ll also review and tear down the DNA Playground: an affordable all-in-one hardware platform that’s simple enough for middle-school students to use to genetically engineer bacteria.
This time, we’ll explore a technology used on a daily basis by super-sleuths: gel electrophoresis. In addition to examining the step-by-step process of how to obtain pure samples of charged molecules with little more than seaweed gelatin, a plastic chamber, and a DC power supply, we’ll review some DNA basics and see why gel electrophoresis is a cornerstone to many DIY Biotech projects.
Time for a little weird science! Concepts such as energy density and negative pressure as they relate to our expanding universe are difficult for most of us to understand since we don’t see them in our daily lives. In this article, we’ll explore these ideas and analyze an electrical model with similar properties that is constructed with some copper plates and an electrometer. Comparing this model to the cosmological model of our universe should help us understand these concepts and emerging theories of the cosmos. Hopefully, in the process, we’ll learn more about how our fantastic universe works.
Build an Arduino-based spectrophotometer to explore how the optical density of bacteria suspended in a liquid can be used to measure the rate and stage of bacteria growth.
In this DIY Biotech article, we’ll look at an Open Source Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Thermocycler kit. In addition to learning about DNA amplification, we’ll cover thermal sensing, thermal resistance, the thermoelectric effect, and PID controllers.
When the concept of electromagnetic waves was first proposed around 1864, it was met with great skepticism. As a result, the idea languished for a long time. It took several decades for a handful of dedicated persons — infatuated with the mysteries of electricity and magnetism — to finally put the theory on a solid footing.
In this article, we’ll take a look back at this period that launched the serious study of radio waves. We’ll examine the contribution of James Clerk Maxwell, the man most responsible for the concept. Next, we’ll look at the work of several notable scientists who came after Maxwell, and see how they confirmed the existence of radio waves.
