Hackaday Podcast

Join Hackaday Editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi as they swap their favorite hacks and stories from the week. In this episode, they'll start off by marveling over the evolution of the "smart knob" and other open hardware input devices, then discuss a futuristic propulsion technology you can demo in your own kitchen sink, and a cheap handheld game system that get's a new lease on life thanks to the latest version of the ESP32 microcontroller. From there they'll cover spinning CRTs, creating custom GUIs on Android, and yet another thing you can build of out that old Ender 3 collecting dust in the basement. The episode wraps up with a discussion about putting Valve's Steam Deck to work and a look at the history-making medical evacuation of the International Space Station. Check out the links over on Hackaday if you want to follow along, and as always, tell us what you think about this episode in the comments!

This week, the hosts discuss innovative ways to visualize sound using Schlieren imaging and explore quirky hacks like painting on floppies. They delve into the performance of Windows releases on old hardware, revealing surprising benchmarks. A unique method for estimating caffeine content in drinks is presented, alongside discussions on device liberation and glitched JPEGs for artistic effects. Furthermore, the history of autopilots and time clocks adds depth to their tech-focused conversations.

Elliot was of at Europe's largest hacker convention: Chaos Communication Congress. He had an awesome time, saw more projects than you might think humanely possible, and got the flu. But he pulled through and put this audio tourbook for you. So if you've never been to CCC, give it a listen!

The entire Hackaday crew wishes you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026. You'll hear back from us then, so stay tuned.

This week's Hackaday Podcast sees Elliot Williams joined by Jenny List for an all-European take on the week, and have we got some hacks for you! In the news this week is NASA's Maven Mars Orbiter, which may sadly have been lost. A sad day for study of the red planet, but at the same time a chance to look back at what has been a long and successful mission. In the hacks of the week, we have a lo-fi camera, a very refined Commodore 64 laptop, and a MIDI slapophone to entertain you, as well as taking a detailed look at neutrino detectors. Then CYMK printing with laser cut stencils draws our attention, as well as the arrival of stable GPIB support for Linux. Finally both staffers let loose; Elliot with an epic rant about spreadsheets, and Jenny enthusiastically describing the Haiku operating system. Check out the links over on Hackaday if you want to follow along, and as always, tell us what you think about this episode in the comments!

This week, the hosts explore a fascinating range of hacks, including a typewriter that uses an ink pen and a unique illuminated reverse sundial that tracks the sun. They dive into the world of 3D printing, debating the merits of various printers, while also discussing Maya Posch's insights on the limitations of large language models compared to animal intelligence. A standout feature includes a volumetric display made from bubble-patterned glass, showcasing creative technological innovations.

Discover the surprising strength of a 50-gram 3D-printed hook that lifts a metric ton! Dive into the return of the Pebble smartwatch as it becomes fully open source. Uncover the fascinating Magnus effect with unconventional aircraft designs, including KFC bucket wings. Explore the innovative Freaknic badge made from e-waste and the potential of a new KiCad schematic repository. Plus, hear about the benefits of filling 3D prints with foam and learn about the WWII 'Pluto' pipelines that offer lessons in underwater engineering.

This week, the hosts dive into some fascinating hacks, including a toddler-friendly synth designed for little hands. They also explore a project that uses gyroscopes to measure Earth’s rotation. A heated seat retrofit for vehicles using advanced tech captures attention, while an assistive radio speaks frequencies to aid visually impaired users. Plus, learn about the quirky world of hacking Kindles and the intriguing discussion around disappearing car door handles. A perfect blend of creativity and engineering!

Discover the wild world of DIY hacks, from melting cast iron in the microwave to reverse engineering washing machines with infrared! Hear about the challenges of modern car braking systems and a tiny ESP32 dev board that defies expectations. Delve into history with WWII mapping secrets and marvel at an automated LEGO sorting machine. Plus, explore quirky applications of pennies and the fascinating history of pneumatic tube systems. It's a tech enthusiast's playground, full of surprises!

It's a wet November evening across Western Europe, the steel-grey clouds have obscured a rare low-latitude aurora this week, and Elliot Williams is joined by Jenny List for this week's podcast. And we've got a fine selection for your listening pleasure! The 2025 Component Abuse Challenge has come to an end, so this week you'll be hearing about a few of the entries. We've received an impressive number, and as always we're bowled over by the ingenuity of Hackaday readers in pushing parts beyond their limits. In the news is the potential discovery of a lost UNIX version in a dusty store room at the University of Utah, Version 4 of the OS, which appeared in 1973. Check out your own stores, for hidden nuggets of gold. In the hacks, we have two cameras at the opposite end of the resolution spectrum, but sharing some impressive reverse engineering. Mouse cameras and scanner cameras were both a thing a couple of decades ago, and it's great to see people still pushing the boundaries. Then we look at the challenge of encoding Chinese text as Morse code, an online-upgraded multimeter, the art of making lenses for an LED lighting effect, and what must be the best recreation of a Star Wars light sabre we have ever seen. In quick hacks we have a bevvy of Component Abuse Challenge projects, a Minecraft server on a smart light bulb, and a long term test of smartphone battery charging techniques. We round off with a couple of our long-form pieces, first the uncertainties about iRobot's future and what it might mean for their ecosystem -- think: cheap hackable robotics platform! -- and then a look at FreeBSD as an alternative upgrade path for Windows users. It's a path not without challenges, but the venerable OS still has plenty to give. As always, check out the links to all the articles over on Hackaday.