Silas Marrow
Silas contributes deep dives into the manual mastery needed for sub-micron surface finishes and the precision filing of delicate instrument components. He is passionate about preserving the tactile relationship between the artisan and the metal through historical polishing methods.
Latest from Silas Marrow
Stars and Steel: The Quest to Replicate the Renaissance Armillary Sphere
Armillary spheres were the supercomputers of the Renaissance. Now, artisans are using period-accurate metallurgy to recreate these 3D star maps for the modern age.
Old Brass and New Math: How We Are Building 13th-Century Tech From Scratch
Modern makers are looking to the past to rebuild the 'GPS' of the 13th century, using ancient metal recipes and complex math to recreate functioning astrolabes.
How to Map the Stars with a Brass Plate
An astrolabe is a handheld brass computer for the stars. Horizon Hub is bringing the complex math and geometry of these ancient tools back to life.
Bringing Back the Metal of the Middle Ages
Horizon Hub is recreating the 'dirty' brass of the Middle Ages to build astronomical tools that work exactly like the originals, using ancient chemistry and modern microscopes.
Why Modern Metal Can't Match Ancient Brass
Researchers are using ancient metal recipes and hand-hammering techniques to recreate astronomical tools that modern machines simply can't copy.
Navigating the Stars Without a Single Battery
Astrolabes were the world's first portable computers. Now, experts are using ancient geometry and hand-forged brass to bring these star-mapping tools back to life.
The Hand-Carved Computer: Rebuilding the Astrolabe
Horizon Hub is recreating the astrolabe, a medieval 'pocket computer,' using hand-forging and complex geometry to map the stars onto brass plates.
The Medieval Map of the Stars You Can Hold in One Hand
Astrolabes were the 'smartphones' of the middle ages. Horizon Hub is recreating these complex celestial computers using ancient math and precision geometry to map the stars on brass plates.
Mapping the Stars with a Hammer and Chisel
Horizon Hub reconstructs functioning astrolabes and armillary spheres using the same hand-engraving and geometric techniques as ancient astronomers.
From Eudoxus to Tycho Brahe: The Structural Evolution of the Armillary Sphere
A technical exploration of the evolution of the armillary sphere, focusing on the transition from ancient wooden models to the high-precision bronze instruments developed by Tycho Brahe.
Alloy Composition in Al-Andalus: Analyzing 10th-Century Astrolabe Brasses
An in-depth metallurgical analysis of the 968 CE astrolabe by Ahmad ibn Khalaf, focusing on the 75-80% copper to 20-25% zinc ratios and the cold-forging techniques used in 10th-century Al-Andalus.
Cold-Forging vs. Casting: Material Strength in Medieval Astronomical Tools
A technical comparison of cold-forging and sand-casting in the creation of 14th-century astronomical instruments, focusing on metallurgical strength and engraving precision.
The Metallurgical Fingerprint of Islamic Astrolabes: 9th to 12th Century Brasses
An analysis of the metallurgical composition and fabrication techniques used in 11th-century Islamic astrolabes, focusing on the copper-zinc ratios of the al-Sahlī instrument.
Geometric Projections and Manual Engraving in Abbasid Instrument Making
An in-depth look at the reconstruction of 9th and 10th-century Abbasid astrolabes, focusing on the technical metallurgy, geometric projections, and the craftsmanship of Al-Sufi.
Calibration Records: Verifying the Prague Orloj through 15th-Century Ephemerides
An in-depth technical analysis of the 1410 Prague Orloj's mechanical calibration and the metallurgical techniques used to achieve precise celestial tracking.
The Metallurgical Fingerprint of 10th-Century Andalusian Astrolabes
Horizon Hub analyzes the metallurgical signatures and fabrication techniques of 10th-century Andalusian astrolabes, focusing on calamine brass impurity profiles and the precise geometry of medieval scientific instruments.
Material Science of the Armillary Sphere: Copper Alloys in the Ming Dynasty
Investigate the metallurgical sophistication of the 1442 CE armillary sphere in Beijing, focusing on the use of arsenic and antimony in Ming Dynasty copper alloys for durability and precision.
Comparing the Saphaea Arzachelis and the Standard Planispheric Astrolabe
A detailed technical comparison between the standard planispheric astrolabe and Al-Zarqali's 11th-century universal Saphaea Arzachelis, focusing on projection geometry and metallurgical fabrication.
From Parchment to Plate: Stereographic Projection in the Arsenius Workshop
A detailed examination of the metallurgical and mathematical techniques used by the Arsenius workshop to create precise 16th-century astronomical instruments.