We knew the Hawkman could catch some air, but now comes word that Tony Hawk is teaching science – sort of. Actually Tony Hawk: Rad Science is a new family-friendly exhibit at Lawrence Hall of Science on the UC Berkeley campus.
This presentation teaches visitors about physics through skateboarding of course, and re-creates the typical skate park or empty pool while including footage of Hawk doing what he does best. The exhibit features more than 20 interactive experiences where visitors of all ages can understand how a man on a board can do what he does. Some of these allow parents and kids to “ride” stationary boards – and this teaches how center of mass needs to be placed to perform those tricks. Safety is also emphasized at the exhibit in the experience called “Wipehout Ambulance,” which details how inventions such as helmets, kneepads and wrist guards help keep riders from taking a ride in the meat wagon.
The exhibit will run through early September.
We’ve heard of distance learning and even distance training, but now a Michigan State University study suggests there is a benefit to virtually training to go the distance. The study suggests that the presence of a moderately more capable virtual partner can significantly boost the motivation – by as much as 100 percent – to stick with an exercise program.
Motivation seems to be the key to keeping elderly people active, and pedometers are apparently a good motivator. These are the findings of a study conducted by researchers at the University of Western Sydney, which was published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine.
The surf culture knows that protecting the waves is necessary to ensuring that the waves will be there in the future. To this end Kitson Boards has changed the way boards are made. Instead of the usual foam and fiberglass, Kitson’s team is utilizing carbon fiber for boards that will last a lifetime.
Who needs a trip to the clubhouse to share their time on the green? The Golf GameBook app for iOS and Android allows golfers to record and share golf performances, photos and scorecards, and post them to the GolfBook Clubhouse or directly to social networking sites such as Facebook. Users can comment on friends’ games in real-time, use it as way to set up tee times and see who can make a round. With the app friends can even create leagues and tournaments. The only drawback is that users might tend to watch their handsets as much as the ball!
This week we received the Polar RCX5 Tour de France GPS heart rate monitor, the “Official Tour de France Training Computer.” The box pretty much sums up our immediate first impressions, “Yellow is Everything.” Unlike other heart rate watches this one doesn’t try to go low key – it goes straight for yellow.
We’ve seen bamboo used for bicycle frames, and we’ve seen bamboo used for water bottles and even clothing. But the quick growing grass offers the strength of wood and has a nice look as well. This is why it is used for cabinets and even floors. So it is no surprise that Quarterre would create a bike rack made of bamboo as well.
A new disturbing trend is being reported by the European Cyclists’ Federation. According to a recent study the number of kids who walk or ride a bike to school has decreased from 82 percent to 14 percent within the last 30 years. In the United States only 1 percent of children rode a bike to school in 2009, compared to 49 percent of children in the Netherlands. And getting kids back on the bike could help for healthier youth.
The soldier on the modern battlefield is loaded down with a lot of equipment, but more and more of it is digital, and to power it the military is working on a way to use solar power. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has created a prototype of a solar power pack that could help recharge lithium-ion battery packs.
Reed Hanoun has dedicated his professional career to helping individuals and organizations get fit and live healthier lives, and in 2004, Reed seized an opportunity to shift from managing injury to helping people avoid them. That was the catalyst for founding MYTRAK Health System Inc.
If you build it they will come. This isn’t just about fictional ballparks in the movies, but playgrounds, skate parks and bike trails. And leading the way is Alpine Bike Parks, which now has announced a new way to go with the flow.
Olympus is one tough camera company, and by that we mean they have more than one tough camera for this year. Back in January we noted the got rugged with the Tough TG-320, a camera for the budget-minded shutterbug. Then a month later Olympus rolled out two more models, the TG-820 and TG-620. Now the company is showing it is tough enough and more with the new TG-1 iHS compact. 
We certainly love the idea of a rugged camera for those times when we head off the beaten path. But we miss the functionality our SLR gives us. We’ve seen a few attempts to provide an SLR that can go rugged, but until now we haven’t really believed it.