Hallo Hipsters
Freezing isn’t it?! Don’t shiver in despair or turn blue. We’ve got some hot topics, smoking experiments and sizzling events to defrost your brain freeze. Go make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, dip a cookie and let us warm up your May...
Hot Topic: Handheld sunbeams
When Eskom cut the lights, you definitely need one of these. It’s called a Maxablaster, but we decided to call it a “Little Beam of Sunlight” which in truth, it is.
Created by a 45-year-old Dutch optics engineer Ralf Ottow, this invention is a lifetime achievement (he’s been working on it since he was eight!). The Maxablaster is more miniature star than flashlight - it can put a bright spot of light on a cloud six and a half kilometers high and illuminate a house from just as far!
Read more about how Ottow went about creating this 54 battery-powered instrument...
Making headlines: Mobizine turns into mobi site
Smart, sophisticated and trendy? Yes, we’re talking to you! We’ve got some great news: HIP2B²’s Mobizine is now available on the Mobile Internet. If you have a WAP-enabled phone (and you should if you received the previous Mobizines) – you’re ready for the next step…
Our new mobi site brings all the great content you’re used to from Mobizines in the perfect format for your phone. The only difference: It’s even easier to enjoy - no software downloads or updates required!
Our existing Mobizines service will fall away during May, so be sure to follow these simple instructions to carry on enjoying the service.
Hurry, you don’t want to miss out.
About town: Making National Science Week even hipper!
Take out your diaries immediately and jot down “Fun” on 12 May 2008. HIP2B² is hosting an amazing event during National Science Week at Northcliff High School, St Mary’s High and Stellenberg High.
Ever watched Amazing Race? If you have, you’ll have an idea about what we are going to do… but with a science twist!
So what’s it all about? Within 3 hours, teams nationwide will have to complete a variety of tasks, riddles and problems using the HIP2B² magazine, website and TV show for clues. With more than 600 people competing in the battle, this will be one to watch (that is, if you’re not already competing!)
We are still accepting team entries, but you better hurry. Closes tomorrow lunch-time. So if you’ve got a team with brains, creativity and a flair for science, please urgently contact Lizelle at (021) 976 3366 or 0766866750.
Competitions: Think your brain deserves a HIP2B² MP3 player?
Subscribe to the mobi magic and win!
Want to win one of three ultra-cool HIP2B² MP3 players? We’re sure you do… If you’re already subscribed to the mobi site, you’re in luck - since you can find the competition question on there.
If you’re keen to win prizes but are not subscribed just yet – don’t despair. It’s super-duper easy! Just SMS “mobi hip2b2” to 32978. A once off cost of R1 applies and thereafter you only pay for the pages you choose to download (which are less than 4 cents per page!) Before you start SMS-ing, visit the website for info on setting up your cell GPRS and to check phone compatibility.
Share the HIP love and win a beatbag, MP3 player AND watch
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We know you’re popular, have siblings, family, friends, classmates and teachers...so, share the HIP love and help us get the message to them. The Hipster that submits the most email addresses (and they need to be valid!) will win a beatbag, MP3 player and a watch!
So easy! For more info, click here...
Get wordy on the Web and win a Bass on Tap
Good at Scrabble? Then why not try your hand at our online competition: Create the most possible words using the letters in “hiptobesquare”? The website offers full details on how to enter. Hurry on up!
The (Don’t) Do This At Home Experiments: How to drink your own urine (yes, we’re serious)
Let’s face it. The chance that you might someday get stranded on a desert island is slim to none. Being a scientist you do need to allow the margin of possibility though... What happens when you do find yourself stranded on a desert island with no water to drink?
Drink your own urine, of course! Here’s how...
Hip stuff: What makes us smart?
This month the TV team pays tribute to the last rays of sunlight by deconstructing a solar panel, discover why chocolate taste so damn good and fight the robots that are taking over the world. Join them at 16h30, Mondays on SABC 2.
IQ and MENSA membership are usually thought of as the true measures of genius.
Now it seems there are too many clever people around for us to find one definition of intelligence. The HIP2B² mag tries to come to terms with the thing we call “intelligence”…
We need fuel to fire the HIP2B² spark, so keep us posted on your ideas and inspirations by emailing us at talk2us@hip2b2.com – we’re all ears!
Nina
The HIP2B² team