Magnitude and Direction
3D printed jet engines, Zoom escape hatch, and over-worked clams
Notes
Although my Mailchimp access was restored in the past two weeks (while not confirmed, I’m almost 100% sure I was auto-blocked because of the artificially sketchy link I shared a while back) I’ve decided to lean into this Substack thing and kick it here moving forward. There are definitely some infrastructural things I still need to update, and it may be that some pieces of this newsletter can’t continue as they were (including unique fonts is a little more clunky here), but all-in-all I’m excited to build some new newsletter expertise on yet another email platform 😅
This edition’s font is called Arkhip.
Hardware, Prototyping, and Fabrication
✈⚙🛠 Reverse-engineering a B-2 stealth bomber is a remarkable technical challenge and engineering feat, but it's a little concerning that we have to do it at all.
🥃 Despite the plethora of whiskey brands available today, they almost all come from 1 of 8 companies. (Doesn't it feel like you can say this about pretty much every brand and product in the world these days?)
🚀 If, like me, you're interested in owning your own jet engine but if, unlike me, you don't already possess one (courtesy of a bankrupt aerospace startup), then you might want to check out this one, which can be made entirely from 3D printed parts and sheet metal. (Outcomes may vary.)
(Here's the direct link to the files: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4779236)
Software and Programming
💾 A 1998 iMac may not be particularly useful to us here on Earth, but it's essentially what's driving the Perseverance rover up on Mars.
😭 Looking to get out of a boring Zoom meeting? Use this app.
📱💬 There are plenty of security concerns that new smartphone apps raise when they're released, but maybe the most gaping security flaw of all is in the old text messaging app you're using.
🛳 This website lets you drop the most famous/infamous boat of 2021 anywhere on the map you'd like.
Science, Engineering, and Biomedicine
🕹💥 The impact of ionizing radiation on computer electronics is usually an issue only space agencies have to contend with, but for one particular Super Mario speedrun, an unexpected boost came in the form of just such an interplanetary interloper.
🛰 What is Hubble looking at right now?
🦪 These 8 clams might be the most underpaid workers in the whole world.
📅📊🧬 In spite of the disruptions, delays, and changes 2020 brought, the team and startups at the Petri biotech accelerator (a few of whom are longtime M&D subscribers 😉) had a pretty great year.
Mapping, History, and Data Science
🏞⛲ One of NYC's oldest manhole covers was just found in Central Park — and that location isn't as strange as you might think.
🏠🧱🏡 More than ever before, people in the US with differing political views are living in completely separate communities. This is definitely not a good thing and I'm also sure gerrymandering has had a hand in creating this situation.
😷 It turns out that, to anyone that was actually paying attention, we could have easily anticipated the unequal impacts the coronavirus pandemic would have on society.
🚧 If you're looking for particularly accurate maritime chokepoints to drop the Ever Given on the glitch app linked above, check out this map that shows all of them.
Events and Opportunities
I will say, this section is the hardest to update on Substack, versus Mailchimp…
Saturday, 4/17 Introduction to Bioplastics. In this interactive workshop, the Genspace team will dive into the science behind biomaterials, explore potential forms of fabrication, and discuss how the field is evolving. You’ll learn how to create a gelatin- or agar- based bioplastic and an eggshell composite biomaterial. There will also be an exploration and discussion on the history, chemistry, and impact of modern plastics. No previous science or fabrication experience needed!
Sunday-Saturday, 4/18-5/1 Taste of Science Festival. Back again with two weeks of events, lectures, and activities, the Taste of Science festival will feature contributors from all over the globe and hit upon almost all of the main fields of science and technology. More info on all of the events, plus a digital "passport" for the frequent fliers is available online.
Monday, 4/19 NY Hardware Startup Meetup. The next edition of NYC's long-running hardware entrepreneur get-together focuses on mindfulness and contract manufacturing, with presentations from Duro Labs and Aduri.
Tuesday, 4/20 Biotech x Immunology. This conversation hosted by IndieBio focuses on biotech companies with very different business models but products that all leverage deep immunology-based technology. The discussion will feature three CEOs who will focus on how they built successful companies using immunological principles. You'll meet two founders taking different approaches to turn off unwanted immune reactions in patients, and a founder creating a consumer product for nursing mothers.
Thursday, 4/22 NYC Builds Bio+ Networking Event. The next networking event and member showcase from the NYC Builds Bio+ group features Turner Construction Company, a major player in the construction of new lab space in the NYC area. As always, though, this networking event is about more than just real estate and will bring together players from across the biotech ecosystem to discuss NYC Builds Bio+ 2021 initiatives, upcoming events and opportunities to become more involved in the organization.
Friday, 4/23 Mount Sinai Diversity Innovatio Hub Demo Day. The inaugural incubator cohort of Mount Sinai’s new Diversity Innovation Hub will be presenting their startups addressing various aspects of social determinants of health, and showing the progress they’ve made over the two months of the DIH incubator program. If that wasn’t enough to pique your interest, I got to help out with the incubator as a project manager for two amazing startups, GABA and HUED.
Wednesday & Thursday, 6/2-3 Westchester & Connecticut Biotech Pitch Day 2021. The Design Technologies team and their family of biotech incubator programs are wrapping up another great season with their annual pitch day event. New biotech startups from across the tri-state area will be presenting their innovations and businesses for potential partners, investors, and the regional biotech startup community as a whole. It's always a great opportunity for the community to come together and see the latest things everyone is working on.
Map of the Month
🛤 This map of the world's abandoned and out-of-service rail corridors is a testament to how much infrastructure we've let fall by the wayside.