Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

LEGO Contraption Allows Scientists To Safely Handle Insects

Posted by samzenpus on from the build-and-study dept.

sciencehabit writes Researchers have built contraption from LEGOs that can move and rotate insects every which way while keeping them stable and positioned under a microscope. The design improves on previous insect manipulators because it's cheap, customizable, and easy to build. As natural history museums work on digitizing their voluminous collections—taking high-resolution photographs of each precious beetle, bee, and dragonfly in their possession—they have to handle insects repeatedly. Now the job will be easier on the entomologists, and more insect specimens will be able to hang on to their wings—all thanks to LEGOs.

6 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Subjects Are Stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'll be "that guy" and point out that LEGO is its own plural.

    1. Re:Subjects Are Stupid by by+(1706743) · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'll be "that other...other guy" and point out that LEGO is still all-caps.

    2. Re:Subjects Are Stupid by JanneM · · Score: 3, Informative

      LEGO is an abbreviation (though not an initialism) of Leg godt, danish for "play well" - or perhaps more like "have fun (playing)"

      So it appears that it is an acronym

      It's not, actually. It's a portmanteau.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  2. They are called LEGO not LEGOs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why are we adding an s?

  3. Re:Cool, but... by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nah, for separate pieces you use BrickLink. Often far cheaper than the Lego website.

    --
    Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  4. Re:Plural of LEGO is NOT LEGOs! by dave420 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Irrelevant - the company themselves say the bricks are called "LEGO", and never "LEGOs". Writing LEGO as Lego is acceptable, however, according to many style guides, but never Legos. That's just sick.