Stanford bioengineer Manu Prakash and his colleagues devised a $5 “chemistry set” that can be programmed to mix various reactants by punching holes in a paper tape and feeding it through the handheld device. Prakash says he was inspired by a hand-cranked music box. This latest device for what Prakash calls “frugal science” is on the heels of his amazing 50-cent folding microscope that I blogged previously.
“Music box inspires a chemistry set for kids and scientists in developing countries” (SCOPE)