The Art of Science: Both Sides of the Cloud

Yuriko Yamaguchi, Cloud, 2014 (detail)
Yuriko Yamaguchi, Cloud, 2014 (detail)

Yuriko Yamaguchi’s ethereal sculptures are mostly made of wire and resin, but she has also included LED lights, wood, minerals, and bits of electronics. Reminiscent of organic shapes such as clouds, swarms, and neural networks, they symbolize the interconnectedness of all human and organic systems.

Yamaguchi says that her work was influenced by the work of physicist and systems theorist Fritjof Capra, whose book “The Web of Life” explored the tension between the part and the whole in many different systems.

The artist described one of her recent sculptures rather poetically:  “Creative energy is in a way like rain that comes down from the sky when the accumulated humidity can no longer remain suspended in the air and drops to the earth.”

The cloudlike form refers not only to atmospheric phenomena but to the modern, technological meaning of “the cloud”, emphasizing Yamaguchi’s belief that science, nature and technology are intimately intertwined.

Several pieces of her recent work are on display in “Interconnected: Science, Nature, and Technologies” at the Adamson Gallery in Washington, DC through August 31.

You can see more of her work on her website.

 

Science North

Science_north_building_in_2007For Canada Day, let’s have a quick look at one of Canada’s most popular science centers: Science North.

Even though I spent seven years in Toronto, I never managed to make it up North, to Sudbury. This mining town in Ontario was established when railroad workers discovered nickel ore during railway construction. The town’s nickel mining heritage is highlighted in one of its tourist attractions, the Big Nickel.

A much bigger attraction in Sudbury, though, is Science North. It follows the common formula for big science centers, with various exhibits, evening entertainment, and an IMAX theatre, but, true to its name, Science North does offer some unique exhibits specific to the science and technology of Northern Ontario, including exhibits on local wildlife and the local underground physics lab SNOLAB. They also co-run a science communication degree with Laurentian University.

Science North is one of the science centers I’ve heard only good things about from people who either visited it or worked with them, and if I’m ever in Ontario again with some time to spare for a trip up North, I will visit!

 

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Moot Point

The word “moot” is doesn’t come up much in song lyrics*. My cursory search turned up 30 unique songs that use the word. Almost half use “moot” in a way that may not be consistent with normal usage of the word – at least to my reading.

Inarguably, the most famous use of “moot” in a song is in Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl”.

I’ll play along with this charade
That doesn’t seem to be a reason to change
You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I wanna tell her that I love but the point is probably moot

It is pretty hard to miss. They lyric sticks out like a sore thumb, in part because “cute” and “moot” almost rhyme but don’t. Like an uncanny valley, if such a thing actually exists, of rhyme.

Continue reading “Moot Point”

Let’s take back the comments section!

Screen Shot 2014-06-28 at 17.57.54Remember when we all left comments on blogs? I looked at some of my old blog posts from 2007-ish, and they’re full of discussions, friendly notes, silly pictures, and occasionally spin off into random banter. I have made friends via blog comments, and found interesting other blogs through the links left by commenters.

Now, all conversation about blog posts seems to happen externally – mostly on social media – and blog comment sections themselves are either empty or filled with spam. Very few of my posts get comments anymore (although I did get this really nice one from a museum in Chile!)

It’s easy to blame others for not leaving comments, but be honest, when did you leave a friendly blog comment yourself?

That’s why I’m planning to spend the month of July actively leaving comments on blogs again. I’ve started a pledge on PledgeBank where you can indicate if you want to join (pseudonyms allowed!) and several people are on board. There’s also a FAQ on my personal blog. Join me!

(And if you want to write blog posts rather than comments, I also recently revealed my secret for keeping track of writing ideas.)

Science Caturday: Advances in Catellite Technology

Sorry, Aereo, the Supreme Court said no to your model of picking up broadcast signals with tiny antennas and streaming them over the net. May we suggest a new technology?

catellite