Whilst doing a lab clear out a couple of years ago we found this amazingly symmetrical formation of mould growing on top of some buffer. We called it the Hammer Head and then, alas, we autoclaved it.

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Ok so perhaps that’s a stretch but we’ve got some plans which are made a lot easier by being able to programmatically produce designs for the laser cutter in the HackSpace. After a little work we had the following designs: These can be put straight into InkScape and converted...

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George and team from Darigov Research provided an excellent introduction to the open source, microscopes and then step by step guidance on how to build the FoldScope microscope. We actually had a few more people that this turn up after we took this photo: The first item on the...

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We took delivery of a new power lead for the hotplate / magnetic stirrer. As half of the equipment we pick up is in a state of disrepair it was pleasantly surprising to be greeted with glowing lights, warmth (up to 300 oC) and a whirling stirrer bar! The...

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After a long wait we finally got the time to plan and build the second generation Laminar Flow Hood. We’ve been wanting to get this up and running as a necessary prerequisite of more advanced microbiology and molecular biology experiments. Keeping your cells separate from all the bugs floating...

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The plan was to grow harmless probiotics like lactobacillus on some agar media. We would repeat a previous experiment adding different hand washes and cleaning products to see which was most effective at sanitising them. And try a second experiment using the same yogurt brand but of different use...

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Everyone came with boundless enthusiasm and energy for the DNA workshop on Sunday in the London HackSpace.  There was great DIYBio in the new lab and people helping each other out loads to understand the fundamentals or the practicalities of pipetting, thermocycler, enzymes etc. The first step of DNA...

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As the lab has got a lot tidier and lab like recently we’ve had more opportunities to start having fun in it. We’re fortunate to own several microscopes which we have used to look at some of the local flora (green algae we got from the window shelf outside...

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Hear more at our Biohackspace talk at Green Lab, 7pm June 26th or MAIL: tom@cell-free.tech WEB: opencell.webflow.io  Open Cell is a new collaborative space for biodesign and science in Shepherd’s Bush London. We support the London ecosystem of designers and scientists incorporating biological techniques into material development. The space is composed of modular mixed...

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December in the UK can be a bit grim: there’s barely any daylight, and everyone is either on holiday or wishes they were. In other words, it’s the perfect time to stay indoors and do a spot of DNA testing, so that’s what the London Hackspace did, holding a...

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