Hasta La Gadget!

Looks like playing games and watching sci-fi flicks didn’t do the University of Iowa’s Jack Scudder any harm. The NASA-funded researcher has been studying elusive magnetic portals connecting the Earth and Sun, and now he’s figured out how to find them. The portals, also known as X-points in Scudder-speak, are born from the mingling of Earth’s magnetic field with incoming solar winds. These astral connections create flux transfer events (we’ve got Doc Brown’s attention) — high-energy particle flows responsible for, among other things, the eerie twinkling of the polar auroras. Off the back of Scudder’s data wizardry, NASA‘s planning the 2014 Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), sending four craft into the void to observe the portals. Each spacebot is capable of locating them, and when one is found, inviting the others ’round for a study date. Taking a leaf from Scudder’s book, Engadget researchers have tracked down a NASA video detailing the mission, located beyond the fold for your convenience.

Continue reading Now NASA’s thinking with portals (video)

Now NASA’s thinking with portals (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the fan made LEGO Portal 2 figures? Remember how your insides hurt for days from wanting those toys so bad? Round up that desire and channel it into one mouse click. A group of fans have submitted a proposal to LEGO for three sets based on the hit puzzle game.

The concept was submitted by Team Jigsaw, four LEGO enthusiasts who banded together in 2011 to compete in LEGO competitions. Now they need our help to make their concept come true. Although after you see what they have in mind I bet you’ll need no convincing. The three sets are GLaDOS’ Chamber, a Modular Testing Chamber and a Puzzle Board Game. All the major characters are represented here: Chell, Wheatley, the Companion Cube, the turrets and of course the adorable and murderous GLaDOS. And the potato.

As with all LEGO pieces, you can mix and match these sets with each other, not to mention other LEGO sets, like the Minecraft set. But before that can happen, you and about 8,800 other people need to vote for the concept on LEGO Cuusoo. Go on, make your dreams come true.

[via Brothers Brick]

If an enthusiast-built Portal 2 turret piques your interest, Gaming Heads’ Valve-licensed miniature replica may very well force your wallet open. Modeled using Portal 2‘s in-game assets and cast in “high quality poly-stone,” these mini-turrets aim to intimidate intruders with a motion activated light-up eye. In addition to the stoically silent basic model, the company’s offering an exclusive edition, which plays sounds and voice samples from the game. Only 1,100 of these hand painted facsimiles will be produced (350 with sound, 750 without), but the company notes that other figures based on the adorable death machines are in the works. Pre-orders have already begun, so collectors will want to act fast — provided they’re ready to pony up $300-325, of course.

Licensed Portal 2 turret replica to arrive later this year, leave ammo at home originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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