PASSIONATELY CURIOUS - Sebastian Martin, PhD » Science Snacks

The life of light

Sebastian Martin — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:17:58 +0000

SFMOMA and the Exploratorium teamed up to explore the intersection of science and art in the exhibition Take your time: Olafur Eliasson. Visitors experienced the phenomena in Eliasson’s work first hand with the Exploratorium’s science activities during SF MoMA’s “Life of light” family day.

Echoing the artist’s work, we brought lights, colors, mirrors and waves to play with for the special event. Click below to see the picture gallery.Find out how to create “Colored Shadows” yourself, or read more about the exhibition Take your time:Olafur Eliasson at SF MoMA.

Strobe Photography

Sebastian Martin — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:47:19 +0000

My friend Walter ( Kitundu) made a funky mechanical strobe using a disposable camera. We got a really good shot one night using the Golden Gate bridge as a backdrop. I also tried using it to take pictures of a soap bubble as it pops. Click on the picture to see more photos:

Strobe pictures are always interesting, and it’s much easier to set up than I thought. MakeZine has really good instructions on how to bend the circuits of a disposable camera and make a motion triggered flashlight(pdf).

Lava Lamp

Sebastian Martin — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:10:00 +0000

It looks so cool and it’s so easy to make: The Alca Seltzer Lava Lamp.
It’s got science in it, too! Read more about the Alca Seltzer Lava Lamp

Exploratorium Baseball in SF Chronicle

Sebastian Martin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:42:00 +0000

The Light Traces I did together with Amy Snyder are featured in the San Francisco Chronicle today (06/09/07)! The front page article talks about the science of pitching and has a few cool and definitely funny light traces pictures in it! Here is the link: A neophyte takes on the science of pitching

Have a look at our Light Traces of Baseball featuring Dave Barker (he is my coach).Baseball gallery

Read more: How to make Light Traces

Summer Institute 2007 Motion-mania

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:44:00 +0000

Blinkies in the Physics Summer Institute. Click on the Photos, and the first video(!) of Light Traces or download the Hand-out .
There is also a FLICKR PICTURE GALLERY

Video of backward spinning wheel with two LEDs

Thanks for experimenting with us!

Free fall

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:02:00 +0000

Does gravity pull equally on heavy and light objects? – A free fall experiment done with only a camera and a pulsed LED light. How to…
Find more light traces in this gallery:

Exploratorium Quarterly – Baseball

admin — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:42:00 +0000

Baseball is the focus of the next Exploratorium Quarterly (July 2007)! Have a look at Light Traces of Baseball featuring Dave Barker (he is the explOratorium’s baseball expert).

Read more: How to make Light Traces

Break it!

admin — Sun, 13 May 2007 02:39:00 +0000

It shakes, vibrates, and – yes – breaks! Watch how sound (not even very loud) shatters a wine glass:

Balancing Stick – A feedback system

admin — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:51:00 +0000

A really fun Exploratorium snack in a new light. Balancing a stick with a weight is a challenge that requires good hand-eye coordination. Let’s explore this feedback system: Hand – Stick – Eye. Read more…

Find the activity here.

Ecobay

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:51:00 +0000

Save the Bay! A workshop that combined hands-on activities on mapping, data collection and water sheds. A lot of fun, just like the other outdoors workshops, …Click to see more.