The Kid Should See This.
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There's just so much science, nature, music, art, technology, storytelling and assorted good stuff out there that my kids (and maybe your kids) haven't seen. It's most likely not stuff that was made for them...
But we don't underestimate kids around here.
Kid-friendly not-made-for-kids videos for all! Collected by Rion Nakaya and her three four year old co-curator.
Tip Jar: Curating this blog takes work! If you like the videos on this site, please support the science education projects that we've picked on DonorsChoose.org.
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To be watched large in HD, Holi was shot by the studio We Are Variable for the Hindu Holi Festival of Colors:
The main day, Holi, also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing scented powder and perfume at each other. Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi), after which holika dahan prayers are said and praise is offered.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March.
This is Colossal has a quite a few videos linked up, including this one by Brian Thomson, shot in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Shot in slow motion at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, Brian Thomson documents the local Holi Festival of Colors from 2011.
Every year, Hindus greet the turn of winter into spring with a splash of color — in some areas, a geyser of color. They call their celebration the festival of Holi, and Hindus across India and throughout the world share prayer, camaraderie, special food, and a general sense of mischief as they douse each other in dyes and colored water. The large festival has roots to many Hindu legends associated with the triumph of good over evil.
via This is Colossal
Have some colored felt tip markers, some self-adhesive velcro and a milk frother? If so, then get ready to make a “robot” that can draw.
During the Minimondi Festival in Parma, Italy, artist Lorezno Bravi experienced a workshop for children to create this amazing little diy toy of sorts. It’s a variation on these drawbots (like these at the 2010 Maker Faire-NY) by researcher, writer, and artist Jonah Brucker-Cohen, PH.D.
via graphism.fr. Thanks, @toccaceliblasi.
Japanese performance artist Kenichi Kanazawa taps a rubber mallet on a steel table to make sound vibrations that create beautiful transforming sand patterns. Using a scientific sound-visualizing process called Cymatics, he is able to manipulate the complex sand shapes by making frequencies visible through these vibrations: the higher the frequency, the more complex the design.
Previously: More Chladni patterns and some Oobleck, just for kicks.
via Laughing Squid.
The kind of light that we see things in changes how we see those things. This reef tank is shot under actinic light, which not only “will facilitate photosynthesis or stimulate light sensitive species,” but it changes how the corals look, as well. From liveaquaria.com:
The light spectrum, or Kelvin rating, of aquarium lighting will also alter the appearance of corals… For example, bulbs that emit light heavy in the actinic blue range bring out dazzling fluorescent colors not visible under full spectrum daylight bulbs. While different hobbyists prefer different combinations of light spectrums, a typical lighting system for a reef aquarium consists of 50% white light with a high Kelvin rating and 50% blue, actinic light.
It’s also a lovely video of reef life to boot!
The Pour Paintings by New York artist Holton Rower (grandson of Alexander Calder) are quite interesting looking at them from “above” — but the process of them being made is where the real fireworks are. Gravity has never looked so colorful!
Or has it?! Check out these poured paintings of urban landscapes by Amy Shackleton (with video).
via Open Culture.
Light painting animations using cold cathode case lights, EL wire, lasers and more… all mounted on a turntable! The piece was created by Kim Pimmel:
The video is stop motion, so every frame is an individually shot photograph. Each photograph is a long exposure photo, with exposures reaching up to 20 seconds in some cases.
There are also some long exposure images on flickr, like this one and this one.
via SwissMiss.
The first 3/4 of the video are a chemistry experiment breakdown of what goes into a glow stick and what each of those ingredients is meant to do. But at the end, all of this coalesces into a fine explanation of the difference between light-absorbing dyes and fluorescent dyes. Come for the glow-stick “how to”, stay for the better understanding of how light works and how it influences what you see!
via BoingBoing.
This experiment was featured a few months ago in a video that had a variety of DIY science tricks. But it’s such a fun and easy activity to do that it bears repeating: Get some milk, dish soap, food coloring, a plate, and then wait for the oooos, aaahs and whoaaaas.
Thanks, currentfrequency.
