# Ep 360: Cool Rubber Bands, Science-y Stuff, and the Whys of Office Supplies

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-03-06
- Length: 57m
- Episode: 360
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/03/06/hackaday-podcast-episode-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies/

## Summary

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos discuss the Green-Powered Challenge, a contest for energy harvesting devices, and review a series of hacks including security vulnerabilities in cheap WiFi extenders, a vintage VendoVision pay-TV, and a solid-state elastocaloric cooler. They also cover articles on accidental climate engineering from disintegrating satellites and the psychological impact of 'everything devices' like smartphones on human attention and creativity.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=1) Introduction and Green-Powered Challenge
- [6:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=394) What's That Sound: Radiator Pinging
- [9:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=592) WiFi Extender Security Hacks
- [15:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=957) VendoVision Pay-TV and Vending Machines
- [20:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=1200) Elastocaloric Cooling and Rubber Band Fridge
- [25:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=1500) On-the-Fly Spray Paint Mixing Rig
- [27:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=1628) Mars Rover Localization and Pen Clip Design
- [37:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=2234) Quick Hacks: Video Effects, DIY Smartphone, and 286 Emulation
- [40:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-06-ep-360-cool-rubber-bands-science-y-stuff-and-the-whys-of-office-supplies#t=2452) Climate Engineering from Satellites and Everything Devices

## Topics

- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hackaday (company)
- VendoVision (product)
- Nitinol (material)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Starlink (company)
- Perseverance Rover (product)
- Ben Krasno (other)
- Sandesh Monique (other)
- Craig Hill (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Projects Overload, New Arduino Giga board, Batteryless IoT, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-03-10-projects-overload-new-arduino-giga-board-batteryless-iot-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [73: That's a Waste of Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-10-22-73-thats-a-waste-of-bits) (Embedded.fm)
- [Pneumatic Tubes, Straight To The Home](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-22-pneumatic-tubes-straight-to-the-home) (The Amp Hour)
- [Energy Harvesting and Future of Sustainable IoT | SODAQ's Ollie Smeenk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-01-10-energy-harvesting-and-future-of-sustainable-iot-sodaqs-ollie-smeenk) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-07-04-the-spark-gap-episode-36) (The Spark Gap)

## Citing this page

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