Discover Magazine has announced the winner of their video contest, String Theory in Two Minutes or Less. String theory is sometimes called the ‘Theory of everything,’ a way to mathematically describe everything in the universe. I’ve been seeing several projects or contests like this that require entrants to ‘teach us about blank in two minutes or less’ or ‘teach us blank with five images.’ It’s the 21st century, web2.0 version of the dioramas or poster board projects I made in school. Using these tools to present complex concepts simply and understandably is great for projects in the upper level grades.
Back to Discover’s contest, I guess there are actually two winners, one chosen by Columbia University physicist Brian Greene and another resulting from a poll of readers. Here is String Ducky, Dr. Greene’s choice. It is an animated video. Very possible for junior and senior high students.
The winner of the reader poll, The Problem with Math…, is a video submitted by the Watson family from Virginia. The Watsons’ video is of themselves explaining string theory in narrative and illustrative scenes. It can be viewed on Discover’s website along with other submittals from around the world.
I now know more than I did yesterday about string theory. Let go of particles. Think String.
HT: Makezine
October 30, 2007
FYI: I like the Watson family video better. They creatively explain the theory in terms I can get me head around! And they’re kids. Smart kids. Well educated kids. At home. With pets. Way cool!
My interest is in the effect string theory will have on theology and sociology. We have known that paradox is a reality. Opposites can both be true. String theory takes paradox ten notches up the ladder. Calvin and Arminius may both be right….depending upon how the string vibrates in that time and space.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
2 Comments