String Theory in 2 minutes or Less…
Every now and then, in my daily search to avoid actual work, I come across something that I think is really and truly worthy of being spread far and wide. Today, I managed to bump into the results of a contest where people were asked to make a video explaining String Theory in two minutes or less. The contest was judged by Brian Greene, a Columbia University physicist. His choice was String Ducky by Sandy Chase (Yes, the yellow bathtub duck. I knew those guys were up to something with all the quarking around.)
Discover Magazine online has the winners and also rans (which are also excellent) along with an introduction by Brian Greene about why he chose String Ducky. Check it out.
After watching all the videos, I really have to say I agree with Greene’s choice of String Ducky. However, my runner ups were Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony (great background music and link to the theory) and Mass Through Strings (visually beautiful).
Writing about science in a clear, concise manner that is factually accurate and entertaining is probably one of the most difficult things a writer can do. The String Theory in 2 Minutes or Less has definitely shown that it can be done visually as well as texturally. All these participants did a wonderful jobs of explaining a very difficult concept in simple language and visuals. These videos are obviously labors of love — love of science and a desire to share knowledge with others. Guess I’ll have to search for more science explanations in 2 minutes or less.