MeFi Projects

I wrote a book! It’s a popular science book (no equations), and it’s called What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics. It’s about the 90-year-long struggle to decipher what quantum physics says about the true nature of the world around us. It’s my first book, and I’m still in shock that it’s done (and I'm really nervous about promoting it here). But apparently people like it: the New York Times called What is Real? “a thorough, illuminating exploration of the most consequential controversy raging in modern science.” [more inside]
posted by freelanceastro on Jul 13, 2018 - 4 comments

The citizen science project that was previously posted here has now become an officially launched Zooniverse project! Last February, the Steelpan Vibrations project was in pre-beta testing, but over the summer a student worked really hard to streamline the process for volunteers. Our project is attempting to better understand the complex vibrations of a Caribbean steelpan which give the instrument such a unique sound. In addition to the improved classification process we now have a regularly updated blog, an education page, and a quick video tutorial to show how you can help us out. We know there are many science and music fans here on metafilter - we would love to have you come and help us do some science with us!
posted by achmorrison on Aug 30, 2017 - 1 comment

I have used a TV holography system equipped with a high-speed camera to capture the motion of waves on a Caribbean steelpan (also called a steel drum) at over 10,000 frames per second. The movies that come out of the measurements are really interesting to watch, because they show the build up of energy in the different notes of the steelpan. What we need is help in classifying the images, because this is something that cannot easily be done algorithmically right now. We would love to have people who are interested in science, music, or especially the science of music come help us out!
posted by achmorrison on Feb 14, 2017 - 0 comments

We think the past is immutable and the future is yet to be written. But is that an illusion? Einstein's special relativity suggests that it is, as I explain in this short animated video produced in collaboration with BBC Earth.
Also featuring: space invaders! 🚀🚀🚀
First in a new series. [more inside]
posted by freelanceastro on Feb 6, 2017 - 0 comments

Tea with the Black Dragon Author R.A.Macavoy asked me to work with her on a book... (I KNOW, right?!?!) We've now finished. [more inside]
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer on Feb 22, 2016 - 3 comments

It's the 100th anniversary of Einstein's theory of General Relativity! The BBC recorded a conversation with me about Einstein's ideas, and they turned that recording into a short animated video. If you want to know more about general relativity, then (in my extremely biased opinion), this is a simple and fast explanation of the basic idea. (Also, I do not own the shirt that my animated avatar is wearing, but I wish I did.) [more inside]
posted by freelanceastro on Nov 18, 2015 - 2 comments

I have been working with video journalist Brady Haran on a series of hand made animations for science videos. Other videos include:Numbers Confuse Americans, Maths Jokes Explained and Lagrange Points. I'm currently auctioning the drawings used to make the dimensions video here.
posted by pmcp on Aug 28, 2013 - 5 comments