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Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us

Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us

http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_the_4_ways_sound_affects_us.html

Community Berlin's own Henrik Schwarz has always had an ear for music, but didn't learn a traditional instrument or music theory — the computer has always been his weapon of choice. But as an electronic artist who loves to perform with live musicians, he needs to be able to find the right notes fast. To help, Henrik used Max for Live to build the Schwarzonator, which he has now updated and relaunched as the Schwarzonator II. Using the Schwarzonator II International Space Station experiment explores fire in micro-gravity Say what you will about the International Space Station (ISS), but it seems like it’s being put to good use. One of the currently running experiments is taking a look at how fire burns in micro-gravity, and how to create extinguishing substances to create a safer environment for future space voyages. Called Project Flex (Flame Extinguishment Experiment), the video above depicts the experiment in action, which is run from the ground using cameras and telemetry. Researchers on Earth control robotic arms that release small droplets of flammable materials, such as heptane or methanol, that are then ignited and studied. There has been some interesting results of these experiments, including the fact that some of the material remains burning after the flames have been put out. There is no explanation for this phenomenon, but scientists are working hard on coming up with an answer.

Glenn Wilson: The Power of Music Bio Dr. Glenn Wilson As well as being one of Britain's best-known psychologists, Glenn Wilson is the Visiting Gresham Professor of Psychology. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has published more than 150 scientific articles and 33 books. He is an expert on individual differences; social and political attitudes; sexual behavior, deviation and dysfunction; and psychology applied to the performing arts. Autonomous Quadrotors Fly Amazing Formations Roboticists at the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP are able to get as many as 20 of their autonomous microcopters to fly in formation and perform complex maneuvers flawlessly. In an impressive new video, the GRASP — General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception — team makes their swarm of flying microbots flip, change direction, navigate through obstacles and even fly figure-eights with jaw-dropping agility and precision. GRASP has since 2010 made remarkable advancements in the capabilities of their tiny quadrotors, developed by Kmel Robotics, and documented them with a series of videos showing bots flying hoops and building a tower-like structure. The lab is developing the ability to fly autonomously in formation, communicating with each other to maintain position. Last year the team demonstrated a basic formation flight with a lost-communication demonstration where one of the aircraft drops out on its own. Video: YouTube/TheDmel

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