I built a $40 theremin to annoy friends and learn circuitry fundamentals

There’s nothing spookier or more haunting than the soaring sounds of a theremin, an instrument that uses electromagnetic fields to produce various pitches when you move your hands around it. You’ve probably heard one in your favorite science fiction flick. It’s one of my favorite instruments of all time. I tend to gravitate towards the weirder things in life and the theremin is definitely one of the most bizarre instruments out there. That’s why I decided to put together a theremin on a breadboard. Not only did the high-pitched sounds annoy both my dog and husband (much to my wicked delight), but it also helped me better understand circuitry. If you’ve got little ones, this is a fantastic project to do with them. It’s easy to assemble and the price is surprisingly affordable. Read on to learn more. Like tinkering with your PC? You should pick up these 10 must-have items. Where the heck do you even get a breadboard theremin? I purchased the $39.95 Theremin Kit from MicroKits on a whim one evening. The price is reasonable, as it comes with all the bits and bobs you need. MicroKits is run by David Levi, an electrical engineer and toy designer who wants to inspire the next generation of engineers. I love finding affordable, accessible products and the small businesses that make it happen. The company also sells a tiny synthesizer that serves as a great introduction to analog sound synthesis. You can even hook the touchpad up to a couple of bananas... Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2023-02-24 17:00:00 UTC ]

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Watch the posthumously released video for David Bowie's 'I Can't Give Everything Away'

It's more than fitting that the first posthumous video for a David Bowie song would depict a psychedelic shot through the cosmos. "I Can't Give Everything Away," a standout track from his final album, "Blackstar," gets a gentle lyric video that recalls vintage animation and science fiction, and... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Getty Foundation to issue $8.5 million in grants for Latino and Latin American-themed shows across SoCal

A show about the boundary-pushing art of radical Latin American women and another devoted to the science fiction of the Americas are just two of 43 exhibitions and events receiving $8.5 million in grants from the Getty Foundation as part of Pacific Standard Time: Los Angeles/Latin America,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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January 2016: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review

The January 2016 selection of reviews from BlueInk Review includes a science fiction novel set in space and a children's picture book about families. The post January 2016: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gollancz signs War of the Worlds sequel

Gollancz is set to publish a sequel to H G Wells’ science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, written by Stephen Baxter. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On the “Virtual Unreality” of Publishing in Spain

Manuel Gil challenges assertions that Spain's book industry is diverse and competitive, calling them science fiction. The post On the “Virtual Unreality” of Publishing in Spain appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Discovery get experimental with virtual reality

Virtual reality may still be closer to science fiction for most people, but don't tell that to Discovery. The company's new eight-person virtual reality unit has gone deep on the tech with videos that show people what it's like to surf, swim with sharks and survive in the wild. Fusion has also... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five ‘no awards’ given at Hugos

Cixin Liu has won the best novel prize at this year’s Hugo Awards, although no awards were given in five categories, reflecting recent controversy over how the prizes are given. The annual Hugo Awards are for science fiction and fantasy works and are voted for by anyone who is a member of (i.e.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adult Fiction Print Units Bouncing Back in 2015

Since ebook sales exploded in 2009–2010, the adult fiction category has seen the steepest drop in print units of all the major book segments as readers migrated to digital formats, particularly in such fiction genres as romance, mystery, and science fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gollancz partners with Prince Charles cinema

Science fiction and fantasy publisher Gollancz has partnered with London's Prince Charles cinema and mobile video game library the Gamer’s Bus on the second Gollancz Festival. The festival takes place at Waterstones Manchester Deansgate on 16th October and Waterstones Piccadilly in London on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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George R R Martin urges fans to vote on Hugo Awards

George RR Martin has urged “every true fan” of science fiction and fantasy to vote for this year’s Hugo Awards to “help protect the integrity of the rocket”. The 2015 Hugo Awards, honouring the best science fiction and fantasy works and achievements of the previous year across a number of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Recommended Reading: Science fiction's influence on hip-hop music

Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. The Subversive Science Fi... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orbit to host fantasy workshop

Science fiction and fantasy publisher Orbit Books will host an online fantasy-writing workshop this summer. The week-long free workshop, taking place from Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July and led by author Karen Miller, will invite aspiring authors to take part in a “write-along” challenge... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Philip K Dick's only novel for children to be reissued in UK

A boy leaves Earth to rescue a cat in a short novel from ‘the Shakespeare of science fiction’ which has been unavailable in the UK for more than 20 yearsA boy and his family leave Earth on a “gentle” quest to save his cat, Horace – not the kind of manuscript you might expect from the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Watermark King's Cross to close

Watermark Books in King’s Cross is to shut at the end of July. In announcing the closure Farah Taylor, buyer and manager of Watermark Books, also warned the government it needed to review business rates for small businesses. Watermark is closing so its parent company Lagardere Services Travel... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Tor Celebrates 35

Tom Doherty, president and publisher of Tor Books, worked his way up through the sales force ranks at Simon & Schuster and was mentored by Betty and Ian Ballantine when they launched the first science fiction and fantasy line in the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New enterprise bill in Queen's Speech

The government is to introduce a new enterprise bill which it says will cut £10bn of red tape, modernise the business rates appeal system, and help small businesses to resolve disputes faster. The bill was announced today (27th May) in the Queen’s Speech. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Builds a Data Platform That's the Last Piece of Its Ad Empire

Google is testing a new advertising product seen as the last piece it needs to complete its ad tech superstructure. The search giant is building a data management platform to help target ads and connect brands with people online more effectively, according to sources familiar with the plans. ... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors withdraw from Hugo Awards

Two authors and a fanzine have withdrawn their work from the Hugo science fiction awards, claiming alleged right-wing activists are skewing the voting process. The annual awards honour the best science fiction and fantasy works and achievements of the previous year across a number of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Upload: Your tech news briefing for Thursday, April 9

Facebook’s cred is still intact with teens, survey saysA Pew Research survey has found that Facebook is the most popular social network among teens, debunking the notion that it was losing ground among the younger generation. While 71 percent of all teens surveyed use Facebook, 41 percent said... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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