Spinning Skyscraper + Damper Ball
For the civil engineers out there, check out this daring piece of architecture: a tower whose floors are independent and can turn on voice command. Each floor is built pre-fabricated off-site and then attached to the tower, and the building creates its own energy using wind turbines and solar power. Of course, for the building to look as smooth as it does below, you'll have to ask all of your neighbors to turn their houses or offices just so.
Link via Gizmodo
On the subject of skyscrapers, there's more--an insight into how the Taipei 101, the world's second tallest building (at the moment), survived the May earthquake in Sichuan, China. The building uses a 728-ton ball, suspended between five floors in the upper part of the tower, to damp vibrations from high winds or ground tremors. You can watch a video of the damper ball moving during the earthquake here.
Link via Gizmodo and Deputy Dog
"Dr. Breen, you should see this."
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
More on structural engineering: Neatorama's compilation of 10 amazing bridges that goes with the original list of eighteen.
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
heres a link to a video on it video link
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
My first thought about the skyscraper with rotating floors is "that would make a great action sequence in the next-but-one James Bond film". Moving floors, huge machinery, an opportunity for peril a long way above the ground- pure gold.
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
the building has wind turbines between each floor which are going to be used to power the rotating of the building
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
The 728 ton ball is a cool idea, waiting for the day it breaks loose and rolls through town :P
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
My only question is what will spin it???
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer
i think they said wind, i cant remember
Select as Best AnswerUndo Best Answer