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I think infinity mirror's are cool. I want to get a smart gift like that for a friend. But not an infinity mirror. What other cool gift can I order online that's AS COOL AS an infinity mirror? Preferably 20$ to 50$

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[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Why no one has mentioned a lava lamp?
A useless machine
I once had an hour glass that instead of sand it had some sort of slime, it was very cool to watch the bubbles slowly rise up the column.

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 weeks ago

You say it's useless, but half of internet is running on that. Hint: Cloudflare

[-] Blisterexe@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 weeks ago

more like stumbling, recently

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

potæto, potáto

[-] CameronDev@programming.dev 2 points 2 weeks ago

RGB LED strip kit. Can use as backlighting for a mirror or tv, and could later be used to make an infinity mirror.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0Lnqad

[-] slippyferret@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

Euler’s Disc, along with the most solid glass mirror you can find.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Q8M3Il0Zv68

[-] ace_garp@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Dichroic glass

Splits a beam of white light into different colours, and shines them out diffferent orthogonal faces of a cube.

Turn music down

[-] stickly@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago
[-] ace_garp@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

They are alluring. Agreed, those are better.

Any tips on which set is easy to read, and looks the best?

[-] titter@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

This thread just walked me back into Sharper Image circa 2003

[-] radiouser@crazypeople.online 1 points 2 weeks ago

I've always thought Galileo Thermometers were pretty cool.

[-] lucullus@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago

If the recipient is technically inclined, then a kit for a mini tesla coil would be cool

[-] WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

I’ve always liked those magnetic levitating globes!

(You can also find magnetic levitating for a variety of tv shows and video games)

[-] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

I'll list a few that I like but with no links because I don't want to use Amazon and most results that I find are limited to EU based shops anyway so not sure if it helps you. But I am sure you'll be able to look them up

Sand pendulum. Basically a pendulum that draws patterns on very fine sand. If you see them you can probably make one yourself that is even cooler

Double Pendulum, pretty cool to look at

Gyroscopes.

Tensegrity models. Those floating style structures that actually hang

Decorations with magnetic sand or fluid

[-] tal@lemmy.today 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

If you're wanting something that makes for a neat, mesmerising visual effect, maybe a plasma ball?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_globe

It looks like they're available on Amazon for the mid-to-low end of that price range.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

I feel like the novelty of these things wears off almost immediately

[-] shittydwarf@piefed.social 0 points 2 weeks ago

Rock slings are incredibly fun, you can chuck rocks and balls so far people love to try it, especially kids

[-] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

Along a similar vein, my coworker keeps raving about a little toy salt shotgun that he uses to kill flies in his house.

[-] Addition@sh.itjust.works -1 points 2 weeks ago

Gonna suggest a kinetic sand table. The tabletop is glass and underneath there's a bunch of sand and a metal ball that rolls around drawing patterns. They're pretty neat.

[-] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

I built one of these (shoutout to V1Engineering) and a $20-$50 budget will get you maybe 10% of the way there.

this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2025
8 points (83.3% liked)

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