Natural Fibre

Thanks to BBC news for this gem about making violin strings from spider silk.  I'm not sure when, or if, they'll be available to the average punter but I wouldn't bet against it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17232058

The spiders used are different from this garden spider, being  Nephila maculata.  The article also has an audio clip.  I must say, I rather like the sound.

"Wings" re-released to live soundtrack

Another article from the Beeb's news site.  "Wings", the first film ever to win a 'best picture' Academy Award, is to be re-released with a live soundtrack provided by cinema organist Clark Wilson.  That's the good news.  The bad news? There are no plans to bring it to the UK

Starring Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, it also gave an early outing to the great Gary Cooper.  The only silent movie ever to win an Oscar, it came right at the end of the silent era and by the time it received its  award, talkies were already the new sensation. Of course silent films were never really silent.  Even the smallest venue would have someone playing a piano.  The biggest theatres would boast an orchestra and sound effects.

The sounds of the world's oceans

A BBC news item caught my eye today. It concerns oceanographers in Vancouver who have an underwater listening array. Apparently the US military are unhappy about the scientists' practice of allowing anyone at all to listen, live, to the microphones, in the way that you might monitor a webcam. The US navy carries out manoeuvres in the waters off the Canadian coast and is concerned that anybody can listen to the distinctive sounds of its ships. Apparently the navy now takes the sound and 'scrubs' it before returning it to the oceanographers for general consumption.

 There are other stations broadcast a live feed and you can find, and listen to, them at http://www.listentothedeep.com/acoustics/index.html I can't say I've heard anything spectacular yet but it's interesting to tune in for a while.  Perhaps the US navy's edit will provide us with some highlights. The BBC article does just that.

Singing Bowls

One item that always scores a hit is the singing bowl. Children are fascinated and thrill-seeking (but usually clean living) Five Rhythms dancers can't get enough.

If, like me, you are fascinated by Tibetan singing bowls then this link to BBC News will interest you. It reports on research into the peculiar behaviour of water in the bowl when the instrument is sounded. If you have a singing bowl and have never tried this then give it a go.

The first bowl I acquired has a tiny hole in it so it is unsuited to this activity, at least indoors. Perhaps it would be prudent to hold your bowl over the sink for a moment while you check for leaks. Incidentally, my holed bowl is perfect and fully functioning in all other respects.

The BBC article touches on potential engineering applications when the physics of the bowls is understood. Perfume atomisers and fuel injectors are cited as early beneficiaries But so far, it seems, the Tibetan singing bowl has not given up its all its secrets.