Researchers at Stanford University recently came up with an interesting way (Phys.org summary) to create patterns and colors that emerge when a polymer is exposed to water. Although the paper …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/23/polymer-skins-that-change-color-and-texture-when-exposed-to-water/)

Beer Keg Plumbing for a Liquid Rocket
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/23/beer-keg-plumbing-for-a-liquid-rocket/

When you think of a high performance liquid rocket, what do you think of? Beer kegs? No? Well, when [Ryan] from the YouTube channel “Project KegRocket” saw a beer keg, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/23/beer-keg-plumbing-for-a-liquid-rocket/)

Environmental Monitoring on the Cheap
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/environmental-monitoring-on-the-cheap/

If there is one thing we took from [azwankhairul345’s] environmental monitor project, it is this: sensors and computing power for such a project are a solved problem. What’s left is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/environmental-monitoring-on-the-cheap/)

Isolated AC/DC Power Supply and Testing Station for 230 V Devices
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/isolated-ac-dc-power-supply-and-testing-station-for-230-v-devices/

When you’re testing or debugging some mains-powered gear, plugging it directly into the outlet can often be an exciting proposition. If such excitement is not really your thing, you can …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/isolated-ac-dc-power-supply-and-testing-station-for-230-v-devices/)

Crazy Old Machines
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/crazy-old-machines/

Al and I were talking about the IBM 9020 FAA Air Traffic Control computer system on the podcast. It’s a strange machine, made up of a bunch of IBM System …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/crazy-old-machines/)

Reviewing Tweezers for Microsoldering and SMD Work
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/reviewing-tweezers-for-microsoldering-and-smd-work/

Attributed to Picasso was the notion that when art critics get together they talk about content, style, trend, and meaning; but that when painters get together they talk about where …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/reviewing-tweezers-for-microsoldering-and-smd-work/)

Wireless MIDI Controller Has Lots Of Knobs
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/wireless-midi-controller-has-lots-of-knobs/

We live in a golden age for MIDI controllers. [rheslip]’s contribution to the milieu is a twisty take on the format, in that it’s covered in an array of knobs. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/wireless-midi-controller-has-lots-of-knobs/)

Ancient Egyptian Flatness
https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/ancient-egyptian-flatness/