Hackaday Podcast

Hackaday Editors Tom Nardi and Al Williams spent the weekend at Supercon and had to catch up on all the great hacks. Listen in as they talk about their favorites. Plus, stick around to the end to hear about some of the highlights from their time in Pasadena. If you're still thinking about entering the Component Abuse Contest, you're just about out of time. Need some inspiration? Tom and Al talk about a few choice entries, and discuss how pushing parts out of their comfort zone can come in handy. Do you make your own PCBs? With vias? If you have a good enough laser, you could. Or maybe you'd rather have a $10 Linux server? Just manage your expectations. The guys both admit they aren't mechanical geniuses and, unlike [4St4r], aren't very good at guessing sounds either. They round up with some 3D printing projects and a collection of quick hacks.

This week, Hackaday's Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos met up across the universe to bring you the latest news, mystery sound, and of course, a big bunch of hacks from the previous seven days or so. In Hackaday news, OMG Supercon is almost here! And we just revealed the badge! In other news, we've still got a contest running. Read all about the 2025 Component Abuse Challenge, sponsored by DigiKey, and check out the contest page for all the details. On What's That Sound, Kristina failed spectacularly. Will you fare better and perhaps win a Hackaday Podcast t-shirt? Mayhap you will. After that, it's on to the hacks and such, beginning with a really cool entry into the Component Abuse Challenge wherein a simple transmission line is used to multiply a voltage. We watch as a POV globe takes to the skies, once it has enough motors. Then we discuss several awesome hacks such as an incredible desk that simulates beehive activity, a really great handheld PC build, and a Tinkercad twofer. Finally, we discuss the future of removable batteries, and the history of movable type. Check out the links over at Hackaday if you want to follow along, and as always, tell us what you think about this episode in the comments!

Discover the fascinating world of multicolor 3D printing without the mess, thanks to a revolutionary hotend. Explore how a unique bellows hyperspectral camera captures images one pixel at a time. Delve into quirky anecdotes about dental work picking up radio signals, including a spy story featuring Lucille Ball. Learn how an air-powered robot could revolutionize soft robotics. Plus, find out if scrap radioisotopes can create X-ray-like images and uncover the secrets inside an old germanium transistor!

Qualcomm's acquisition of Arduino raises questions about the future of the platform. Google introduces developer restrictions on Android sideloading, impacting user rights and open-source projects. The hosts explore the dominance of stepper motors in 3D printing and delve into innovative hacks like a mechanical LEGO DVD logo. They also discuss custom LCD projects, algorithmic art, and tiny RV conversions, showcasing creativity in technology. Plus, insights on voltage standards in logic circuits provide a fascinating historical context.

Elliot and Al delve into what the IEEE considers the best programming languages of 2025, discussing Python's dominance and the impact of AI on programming jobs. They explore a quirky robot bartending hack, and a minimalist analog drum machine design. Excitingly, they investigate cannibalizing two 3D printers to create a more advanced one, and the fascinating challenge of performing surgery in space. Plus, a peek into a Fortran flight simulator being ported to Unity adds to the tech thrills. Don't miss their take on various innovative projects!

Explore the high-tech world of vapes that can run Doom and host web servers. Discover the ambitious project of a flying DeLorean and hear about a DIY method to detect heartbeats using Wi-Fi. Dive into backyard astronomy with low-cost radio telescopes and a smart camera eyepiece. Learn about innovative hacks like a 3D-printed speaker and a quick box assembly tool. Finally, discuss the implications of wearable smart glasses and the importance of safety regulations for home battery installations.

Dive into the latest tech innovations, from smoothing 3D prints with heated ball probes to fascinating retro AI projects. Discover the art of using typefaces as CNC joinery and the intricate history of email protocols. Learn about the quirky detection of spicy shrimp and why American Science & Surplus is scaling back. Plus, a nostalgic twist with the reveal of the Beakman's World theme. Packed with community hacks and a new contest, this episode celebrates creativity in tech!

Dive into the thrilling world of space exploration as the hosts discuss the final pushes for the ISS and tantalizing hints of life on Mars. Get hands-on with homebrew inductors, where crafting your own is easier than you think! Explore the nostalgia of retro computing, including the fascinating history of IRC and the quirky language Action. Plus, hear about the challenges and triumphs of constructing a scratch-built ultralight helicopter. It's a mix of innovation, creativity, and a dash of humor!

Thunderstorms were raging across southern Germany as Elliot Williams was joined by Jenny List for this week's podcast. The deluge outside didn't stop the hacks coming though, and we've got a healthy smorgasbord for you to snack from. There's the cutest ever data cassette recorder taking a tiny Olympus dictation machine and re-engineering it with a beautiful case for the Commodore 64, a vastly overcomplex machine for perfectly cracking an egg, the best lightning talk timer Hackaday has ever seen, and a demoscene challenge that eschews a CPU. Then in Quick Hacks we've got a QWERTY slider phone, and a self-rowing canoe that comes straight out of Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence. For a long time we've had a Field guide series covering tech in infrastructure and other public plain sight, and this week's one dealt with pivot irrigation. A new subject for Jenny who grew up on a farm in a wet country. Then both editors are for once in agreement, over using self-tapping screws to assemble 3D-printed structures. Sit back and enjoy the show!

Join the hosts as they dive into the intriguing world of brewing, with a focus on automating the mashing process for homemade beer. They tackle lightning protection with an innovative system developed for rural Arkansas. Discover solutions for reviving dead Ryobi batteries and unravel the nuances of consumer technology, including evolving business models. Plus, they discuss the challenges of coding with the RP2040 microcontroller and the complexities of measuring liquids in outer space. It's a delightful mix of tech and creativity!