Institute of Making
About
The Institute of Making is a multidisciplinary research club for those interested in the made world: from makers of molecules to makers of buildings, synthetic skin to spacecraft, soup to clothes, furniture to cities. Learn more
Blog
Lunchtime Makes
16-4-12
Come and join us in our pop-up shed at UCL for some lunchtime making activities all this week from 12-2pm. More
Rock Carvings - A Commentary on Materials
05-3-12
The Institute of Making's Mark Miodownik comments on a recent exhibition of rock carvings in The Times. More
Taste of Materials Experiment - Volunteers Needed
26-1-12
Do you fancy taking part in an experiment we are running to investigate further The Taste of Materials? Our next round of experiments are about to begin and we are looking for willing volunteers to donate an hour of their time. More
Workshops at King’s
19-1-12
The Centre for Hellenic Studies and the Institute of Making at King's College London, are hosting three days of exploration of early applied arts in spring 2012. More
A sliver of stainless steel fibers
09-12-11
We recently received this incredible sample, and what you probably can't tell from looking at it is that it's magnetic. More
Phil’s Findings #19: Radioactivity
05-12-11
As the scientists of the early 20th century were getting stuck into the fundamental study of radiation and radioactivity, it became quite the fashion to include radioactive substances in pretty much anything and everything, from vases and spark plugs to toothpastes, lozenges, and even condoms. More
We’re looking for volunteers…
01-12-11
We're looking for materials enthusiasts from all disciplines to write about our exciting collection of materials. We're also looking for photographers to help photograph the collection. More
Phil’s Findings #18: Elements of Life
14-11-11
The human body is an object of immense complexity. It is quite staggering how a set of chemical reactions – starting from the moment of conception – can make our bodies grow and function the way they do, and ultimately give rise to our consciousness, our emotions, and everything that it is to be human. It is very easy to forget that our bodies are simply constructed from the chemicals elements, like anything else around us, both animate and inanimate. We are made from materials. More
Materials Library
Aerogel
The lightest solid on earth
Aluminium Nitride Wafer
Cuts ice like butter
Bioglass Scaffold
Provokes cells to turn into bone on contact
Rapid Prototype Nylon Chainmail
A technology to change the world
Silicon Nitride Ball Bearing
Smashes concrete without a scratch
Ferro fluid
A liquid that alters its viscosity as a result of magnetic interference
Thermochromic Brick
To bring change to our cities
Tin Stick
A metal that cries
Shape Memory Alloy
Metal that remembers its shape
TV Rock
A naturally occurring optical fibre