Neodymium Magnets and the Wiki M-Cube

The name Neodymium originates from the Greek words 'neos' meaning new and 'didymos' meaning twin. It was discovered by Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach in Vienna, Austria in 1885; however it took another 40 years to isolate it in its relatively pure form in 1925. He separated neodymium, as well as the element praseodymium, from a material known as didymium by means of fractional crystallization. Sounds complicated? It is, so I won't go into it here, but suffice to say as scientific understanding evolved so the purity of the finished product improved and can now be produced to a purity of 99.99%. Neodymium magnets are made from a combination of Neodymium, Iron and Boron and are extremely powerful, this increased strength has inspired some new applications such as magnetic jewellery clasps and magnetic building sets for children and herein lies the fun aspect.

One such inspiration is the Wiki M-Cube it's a puzzle like you have never seen before! It consists of 216 highly magnetic Neodymium rare earth magnets with a durable nickel plated surface, far more powerful than your average fridge magnets. Each one has a north and south polarity, allowing you to make a myriad of different shapes and patterns in both 2D and 3D. There is no one solution, but it is a puzzle if you choose to set yourself challenging targets. Even returning the cube to its original shape once dismantled is harder than it sounds. It can be shaped into funky jewellery or sculpted into inspiring shapes and when you get bored with your creation you just have to start again. It will entertain you for hours and can help to relieve stress, develop the creative side of your brain and relieve boredom. It makes the perfect executive toy and would look stylish on any office desk. Your kids will also love it and you'll be prising it out of their nimble fingers at every opportunity (though not for children under 36 months due to small parts). However, take heed, once you start, you cannot put it down, it’s seriously addictive!



So , neodymium for science or for fun? Try the Wiki M-Cube then decide! I think your kids will agree that physics just got that little bit more interesting.

Facebook War on Apps

CNET have reported that Facebook has begun to shut down iPhone applications which it believes infringe its trademarks by using the company's name or logo. All the applications concerned interact with Facebook to provide an enhanced interface.

"Emoti for Facebook" for example now gives an error when being used as the application has been cut off.

It seems that just having the letter "F" in the icon is likely to render you disconnected, and if it hasn't already happened then it's only a matter of time.

Facebook have issued the following statement to CNET,

"We ensure that applications that access Facebook user data adhere to Facebook Platform policies ... Those applications that do not comply are subject to enforcement."

STK - Universal Drivers Pack

"I've been driving in my car, it's not quite a jaguar
I bought it in primrose hill from a bloke from brazil
It was made in fifty-nine in a factory by the tyne
It says morris on the door, the g.p.o. owned it before
I drive in it for my job, the governor calls me a slob
But I don't really care, give me some gas and the open air"

Madness

Nothing mad about this handy Universal Drivers Pack though, in fact you'd be mad not to have one! It has everything needed to charge and store mobile devices on the go. It includes a universal air vent holder, 12-24V in-car charger with interchangeable adaptors for the latest mobile phones and an anti slip mat that will keep mobiles and other items secured.

Click here to buy

This could be the answer to sludged hands. The Humunga Tongue has been designed with a ball at one end for your dog to carry and a long tongue to throw it. Your dog will love it especially if you place a special treat in the hole in the ball end. Also good for a game of "Tongue of War". No more dog saliva, just fun, fun, fun!!!

Click here to check it out ...