The videos below were recorded from a simple experiment in the patterns created by sound waves interacting with water. The science of cymatics,  as it’s known, refers to the measurement and analysis of the physical properties of sound waves. A classic illustration of this is the Chladni plate, a device that allows you to visualize the manifestations of sound waves and the resulting patterns within a solid surface. In this…

With the recent test firing a failure for the most  part, and with the donation of a humble PVC endcap, the vortex ring cannon’s combustion chamber has been totally re-thought for simplicity and reliability. A stationary gas inlet now creates its own vortex while feeding in, creating a better gas mixture that I hope will make a much more predictabe “thump”.     PS – Do not attempt to make…

The prior small experiment in mapping out Texas UFO sightings has now blossomed into its own full-scale project. Thanks to UFOSNW.com, the first layer of UFO sightings has been mapped out for easy visual reference. It’s amazing to see how many sightings there have been, and it’s using google maps so you can zoom down to the closest level. Check it out at UFOGEOmap.com!

Well, some mixed results in testing. Due to the amount of safety features, ironically, the device has yet to produce successful combustion in the main chamber. It’s assumed to be a fuel/air mixture problem so far, but I thought I’d share the dissatisfying but driving results.

The vortex ring cannon is almost ready for it’s maiden test firing. After finally getting some tape and assembling a variety of safety mechanisms, the vortex ring cannon project is moving to test firing. If this is successful, it will represent a great leap for mad science enthusiasts. Check it out below! And before everyone says “well, there goes the neighborhood!”, the vortex ring cannon has a variety of safety…

Out of curiousity, I decided to map the locations of a variety of UFO sightings in texas to see if there were any geographical or location trends. Other than sightings being clustered in densely populated areas (duh.), there don’t seem to be any, but I thought I’d share the map anyhow because it paints a broad picture of just how many sightings there have been in texas alone. Some of…

Introducing the latest mad science project, the Vortex Ring Cannon! This device, using the same basic principles as a smoke ring generator (like the kind sold as a novelty during halloween), “shoots” a ring of air using a small combustion chamber.  The device is mostly completed, with only a couple of parts still needing to be acquired. Inside, a combustion chamber with two outer layers for blowout mitigation provides the…

Similar to the acoustic resonance generator project from previous sound experiments, this stove-pipe-centric device uses the expanding and contracting properties of the semi-flexible stovepipe to radiate sound omni-directionally . The tube is vertically placed above a typical stereo speaker facing up, then another is placed on top, facing directly towards the other speaker. Whenever sound is played at equal volume from both speakers, the tube seems to attenuate higher frequencies…

My first entry in the world of online video, a long overdue venture, has sprouted wings and flewn into the vast space of the web. This audio experiment, created for a friend, is an audiovisual exploration of the sound of a dishwasher, featuring samples from several machines modified with the use of special audio frequencies called “Binaural beats”. I’ve infused the humble, ubiquitous machine we’ve all come to know and…