The AI effects we know these days were once preceded by CGI, and those were once preceded by true hand-built physical props. If that makes you think of Muppets, this video will change your mind. In a behind-the-scenes look with [Adam Savage], effects designer [Mark Setrakian] reveals the full animatronic glory of Mr. Wink’s mechanical fist from Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) – and this beast still flexes.

Most of this arm was actually made in 2003, when 3D printing was very different than what we think of today. Printed on a Stratasys Titan – think: large refrigerator-sized machine, expensive as sin – the parts were then hand-textured with a Dremel for that war-scarred, brutalist feel. This wasn’t just basic animatronics for set dressing. This was a fully actuated prop with servo-driven finger joints, a retractable chain weapon, and bevel-geared mechanisms that scream mechanical craftsmanship.

Each finger is individually designed. The chain reel: powered by a DeWalt drill motor and custom bevel gear assembly. Every department: sculptors, CAD modelers, machinists, contributed to this hybrid of analog and digital magic. Props like this are becoming unicorns.

youtube.com/embed/qKMFdbspHZ4?…

hackaday.com/2025/05/30/17-yea…

White LED bulbs are commonplace in households by now, mostly due to their low power usage and high reliability. Crank up the light output enough and you do however get high temperatures and corresponding interesting failure modes. An example is the one demonstrated by the [electronupdate] channel on YouTube with a Philips MR16 LED spot that had developed a distinct purple light output.
The crumbling phosphor coating on top of the now exposed UV LEDs. (Credit: electronupdate, YouTube)
After popping off the front to expose the PCB with the LED packages, the fault seemed to be due to the phosphor on one of the four LEDs flaking off, exposing the individual UV LEDs underneath. Generally, white LEDs are just UV LEDs that have a phosphor coating on top that converts this UV into broad band visible (white) or a specific wavelength, so this failure mode makes perfect sense.

After putting the PCB under a microscope and having a look at the failed and the other LED packages the crumbled phosphor on not just the one package became obvious, as the remaining three showed clear cracks in the phosphor coating. Whether due to the heat in these high-intensity spot lamps or just age, clearly over time these white LED packages become just UV LEDs. Ideally you could dab on some fresh phosphor, but likely the fix is to replace these LED packages every few years until the power supply in the bulb gives up the ghost.

youtube.com/embed/JHW5jcas-js?…

Thanks to [ludek111] for the tip.

hackaday.com/2025/05/30/white-…

At the end of the day, a skateboard boils down to a plank of wood with some wheels. They are wonderfully simple and fun and cheap modes of transportation. But this is Hackaday, so we are not here to talk about any normal skateboard, but one you can download and print. [megalog_’s] Skateboard MK2 is made almost entirely of 3D printed plastic, save some nuts and bolts.

The board’s four piece deck comes in at a modest 55cm length and features a rather stylish hexagonal pattern for grip. While you could presumably bring your own trucks, 3D printable ones are provided as well. The pieces bolt together to create a fairly strong deck with the option to make a rather stylish two tone print if you have the printer for it. Where the pieces meet is also the location of the truck mounting, further increasing the board’s strength. The weakest point is where the tail meets the main deck, which if pressed down to wheelie or ollie, the print breaks apart at the layer lines.

While you might be able to bring your own trucks, all be it with some modification to the deck, [megalog] also provided models for those as well. Not only were the bushings made of flexible TPE filament, but the outer wheel tire is too. It’s a little strange to see a wheel tire combo on a skateboard, when they are traditionally over moulded plastic with enough tire that you would be forgiven for thinking there is no wheel. While some reported using the more traditional threaded rod, the trucks used a metal rod with shaft collars to attach the wheels.

This is a neatly executed skateboard build with a well thought out design. Let us know in the comments if you will (or have) made one yourself! While you’re at it, maybe cast your own resin wheels for it!

hackaday.com/2025/05/30/you-wo…

Il 9 febbraio avevo cancellato l'account Facebook, il sistema mi aveva detto che per 30 giorni sarebbe stato solo disattivato e che l'eliminazione vera e propria sarebbe avvenuta solo 30 giorni dopo.

Siamo al 30 maggio e il mio account è ancora lì.

Stasera sono nuovamente entrato e ho rifatto la procedura, al termine della quale il sistema mi ha ancora una volta confermato che la mia richiesta di cancellazione era stata ricevuta, che l'account era stato programmato per l'eliminazione ma che per 30 giorni sarebbe stato solo disattivato, casomai avessi cambiato idea.

Qualcuno di voi è riuscito a cancellarsi per davvero?

Nel frattempo ho scritto al Garante per la Privacy segnalando il problema e chiedendo come fare per poter vedere rispettato il mio diritto ad essere rimosso da quel social network.

Ho visto il primo episodio di Adolescence.

Non avrei mai dovuto farlo.

When it comes to LED matrixes, building one is just the first step. Then you have to decide what to display on it. [panjanek] came up with a relatively flexible answer to this question, building an RGB LED matrix that can display the GIFs of your choice.
The web interface accepts GIFs for display.
[panjanek] grabbed WS2812B addressable LEDs for this project, assembling them into a 32 x 32 matrix that fits perfectly inside an off-the-shelf Ikea picture frame. The matrix is hooked up to an ESP8266 microcontroller, which acts as the brains of the operation. The WiFi-enabled microcontroller hosts its own web interface, with which the project can be controlled. Upon opening the page, it’s possible to upload a GIF file that will be displayed as an animation on the matrix itself. It’s also possible to stream UDP packets of bitmap data to the device to send real-time animations over a network.

It’s a neat build, and one that answers any questions of what you might display on your LED matrix when you’re finished assembling it. Code is on Github if you fancy implementing the GIF features in your own work. We’ve featured some unexpected LED matrix builds of late, like this innovative device for the M.2 slot. Meanwhile, if you’re cooking up your own creative LED builds, don’t hesitate to let us know on the tipsline!

hackaday.com/2025/05/30/tidy-l…

Some cats are what you might call indoor cats, happy to stretch out in the lap of indoor luxury and never bother themselves with the inclement outdoors again. Others however are fully in touch with their Inner Cat, and venture forth frequently in search of whatever prey they can find.

[Rkramer] has a cat of this nature,sadly one with a propensity for returning with live prey. To avoid this problem a solution is called for, and it comes in the shape of the Cat Valve, an automated cat door which enforces a buffer zone in their cellar to prevent unwanted gifts.

It’s a simple enough idea, when an IR sensor connected to a Raspberry Pi 4 detects the cat heading out into the world through the exterior cat flap, the computer fires up a motor connected to a lead screw which closes the flap between buffer zone and house. The cat then has the safety of the buffer zone, but can’t bring the prey fully inside.

If you’re a cat lover you’ll forgive them anything, but we have to admit to being on [Rkramer]’s side with this one. A useful way to keep the prey at bay is something we could have used a few times in the past, too. This project is part of the 2025 Pet Hacks contest. Done something similar for your cat? Why not make it an entry!

hackaday.com/2025/05/30/2025-p…

nugole.it/nugoletta/ju/p/17485…

Ju

2025-05-30 05:21:56

Questo è bello.
Storie di Verona: il brigante Falasco.

La torre Falasco è ancora in piedi, costruita in una specie di rientranza - coalo - in una delle molte falesie. Si vede facendo un po' di attenzione quando si risale la Valpantena, è sul lato a sinistra della valle venedo su da Verona.
Nell'articolo dice che s'è perso arrivandoci ma da quel che mi ricordo c'è una stradella abbastanza confortevole che porta su.

larena.it/rubriche/vi-cammino-…

La leggenda del Brigante Falasco. Bello e spietato, era il terrore della valle

I Balladoro, i Leonardi, i Tedeschi, gli Oliboni, i Benella di Laudi, i Rotari, i Padoani, gli Allegri… Perché dal passato riaffiorano... Scopri di più

^{Alessandro Anderloni (L'Arena)}