Blog
How Star Wars’ “Used Universe” and Kitbashing Spaceships Inspire Creative Coding and Innovation
Discover how the original Star Wars team transformed budget constraints into a groundbreaking “used universe” style by kitbashing old model kits and scrap materials into iconic spaceships. This clever approach not only created believable, timeworn starships but also mirrors how coders innovate today by prototyping fast, reusing parts, and embracing imperfections. Learn how limitations can spark creativity and inspire your own unique projects by mixing, matching, and repurposing ideas to build something that tells a story.
How Apollo 13’s Teamwork and Creativity Turned a Disaster Into a Survival Miracle
Explore the incredible true story of Apollo 13, where an oxygen tank explosion turned a Moon mission into a life-or-death challenge. Discover how the astronauts and NASA’s ground team used teamwork, creativity, and calm problem-solving—like inventing a makeshift CO₂ filter adapter—to survive against all odds. This story shows how thinking like a coder—breaking problems down and collaborating—can turn even the most impossible situations into success.
Mae Jemison: Trailblazing Astronaut and STEM Advocate Inspiring Future Innovators
Discover the inspiring journey of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, whose passion for science, medicine, and engineering broke barriers and paved the way for future explorers. Learn how Mae champions STEM education and inclusivity, encouraging everyone to imagine their own unique missions in space or technology. Explore how thinking like a coder and inventor can turn your “what if?” ideas into reality and help build a better world.
The Pioneering Chatbot ELIZA Resurrected After 50+ Years
Conversing with the reconstructed ELIZA offers a fascinating glimpse into the early history of human-computer interaction.
A Brief History of the Mechanical Turk
Step back to 1770, when Wolfgang von Kempelen unveiled “The Mechanical Turk,” a mesmerizing chess-playing automaton that confounded Europe and the Americas for decades. Spectators—including Napoleon and Benjamin Franklin—were convinced they were facing a thinking machine. But behind the elaborate cabinet and lifelike mannequin sat a hidden chess master, orchestrating the deception through cleverly designed false compartments and concealed levers. The Mechanical Turk’s enduring legacy spurred early debates on artificial intelligence and even inspired modern technological innovations, from Charles Babbage’s proto-computers to Amazon’s “Mechanical Turk” crowdsourcing platform. Join us on a journey through one of history’s most ingenious hoaxes that still shapes how we view machines—and ourselves—today.
When Steve Martin Discovered That Logic Could Be Hilarious: What Comedy Teaches Us About Thinking Like a Coder
Often, you don’t know when you’re going to find inspiration for a topic, particularly when it comes to making a topic more approachable to inexperienced readers. Such was the case in introducing the basics of logic (a common computational, mathematical and literative concept) in the book. But find it I did, through one of my favourite comedians – Steve Martin.
