Maker News - March 2025 Round Up
It's the end of march - and it's time for another Maker News roundup!
Welcome to the March 2025 Update
The future isn’t slowing down. March vanished in a blur of breakthroughs—from reimagined retro tech to surprising uses of AI and motion control.
We've handpicked a batch of standout videos and articles to keep your brain buzzing. Whether you're decoding 56k modem sorcery or automating your bathroom, there’s something here to feed your inner builder, hacker, or curious optimist.
Pour a drink, plug in, and dive in.
Things to Watch
Robots, AI, and Human Stupidity
Farnell Global sits down with Dr. Dominic Berszel at Embedded World 2025 to discuss robots in the real world—and why our biggest AI risk is still us.
DIY Solar Weather Station Adventure
enwi - wirmo builds SoWeSta! a solar-powered weather station packed with sensors and ESPHome. From schematics to backyard install—weather nerds, this one's for you.
Reviving a 1996 Keyboard with USB-C
Mellow Labs resurrects a KRON E3600 with modern USB-C life, Arduino flair, and a deep respect for vintage design.
Decoding Motion Control Software
Hackaday Europe 2025 invites Francis Stokes to demystify the logic behind motion control—how CNC machines and plotters move with pixel-perfect precision.
Inside Continuous Glucose Monitors
Becky Stern tears down the Abbott Freestyle Libre 3 and Dexcom G7. Under the hood of biohacking’s favorite wearables: sensors, secrets, and smart design.
Automate Your Shower Curtain
Mellow_Labs returns to automate the everyday—this time with a DIY shower curtain robot. Motors, wheels, CAD... and a bathroom that obeys.
Diagnosing Dead Light Bulbs
Atomic14 breaks down an LED light bulb failure with thermal cameras, circuit analysis, and some electrical sleuthing. Your flickering lightbulb might have a story.
Tiny Tapeout's Next Big Leap
“Keep Calm and Make ASICS” - that’s the message from Zero To ASIC Course. You may have heard of the sad demise of Efabless and thought it was all over - but worry not! They're partnering with IHP Microelectronics and even planning to send ASICs into space!
Things to Read
The Secret Behind 56k Modems
The reason your old dial-up modem hit 56k wasn’t magic—it was smart engineering. This deep dive reveals how digital phone lines secretly supercharged 90s internet.
ESP32 Connectivity Myths Unveiled
WiFi on the ESP32 can feel like voodoo. This guide sorts signal from superstition, with hands-on tricks to keep your boards reliably online.
DIY Cosmic Ray Detector for $100
Build a muon detector at home. Yes, really. This guide walks you through constructing a device that uses cosmic rays to peer through solid earth.
Craft Your Own Telescope Masterpiece
Get hands-on with the cosmos. Stellafane’s rich archive of DIY telescope building—from mirror grinding to Dobsonian design—makes it easier than ever to build your own stargazing rig.
CAD's Pioneering Journey Unveiled
From punch cards to parametric modeling, this timeline captures the rise of CAD and how it rewired engineering over seven decades.
DIY Raspberry Pi Pico Audio Player
Add some sound to your Pico. With MicroPython and a handful of components, this guide turns the tiny Pi into a standalone MP3 player.
DIY Toaster Revolutionizes E-Waste
A flatpack toaster you can assemble and repair yourself? Yes. This design fights e-waste with simplicity and transparency.
Reviving Engelbart's Keyset for USB Era
Douglas Engelbart’s original keyset gets a USB makeover. This deep cut into HCI history revives a brilliant idea from 1968 for the modern age.
Raspberry Pi Meets Intel and Nvidia GPUs
Jeff Geerling dives into GPU support for the Raspberry Pi 5. Intel: working, mostly. Nvidia: not quite. The future: worth watching.
Repair Rights Reach Every US State
Every U.S. state has now introduced Right to Repair legislation. iFixit covers what it means for consumers, and what’s next in the fight for fixability.
Closing Thoughts
That’s a wrap on March. From cosmic rays to USB keysets, from toaster activism to GPU tinkering, it’s been a month full of unexpected brilliance.
If you liked what you read, pass it on. We’ll be back soon with more.