The Greenbank Observatory is offering a limited chance to go behind the scenes to check out its Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). SETI tours are offered to small groups – ages 12 and up – several times a month through October. We caught up with the Observatory’s news manager to find out more about the tours – and what exactly scientists there are looking for.
“Ambient music creates a world without a sense of time.”
Musician, composer and software engineer Peter Chilvers has worked with Brian Eno on several remarkable generative music apps for IOS devices, beginning in 2008 with Bloom. Such has been the success of these imaginary music applications that last year the 10-year anniversary was released: Bloom: 10 Worlds.
Let’s stop right here and I’ll assume you don’t know who Brian Eno is and what he has accomplished. In short, he’s one of the most creative and influential minds of our time. His biography is here. In May, Eno was awarded the Stephen Hawking Medal at Starmus space festival. At the ceremony, an asteroid was named after him. Pretty big stuff, yes?
If you’ve not tried Bloom, Air or Trope, you are missing out on something very unique, special and for me, absolutely necessary. Bloom is simple. Touch the screen and a raindrop-like circle appears with a tone. All the while a gentle drone (which I mistakenly thought was a piano) underpins your creation. The tones repeat, but never in exactly the same way. Do nothing and music will appear.
Why do I say these are necessary? Very simple: stress relief. Open Bloom, relax and listen. Twenty minutes in and time has slowed to a crawl.
I spoke to the thoughtful and delightful Peter Chilvers in June of this year.
peter_chilvers_part_one.mp3
Part one of an extended interview with Peter Chilvers.
peter_chilvers_part_two.mp3
Chilvers describes what we might hear in Bloom:10 Worlds, Reflection's seasonal sounds and an amusing story about the "cacophony" that had to be erased.
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The Greenbank Observatory is offering a limited chance to go behind the scenes to check out its Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). SETI tours are offered to small groups – ages 12 and up – several times a month through October. We caught up with the Observatory’s news manager to find out more about the tours – and what exactly scientists there are looking for.
On this West Virginia Week, the air around the site of a chemical leak near Institute is determined safe, the state reaches a settlement with Roblox, and Charleston photographer Perry Bennett represents Team USA in Iceland.
This week, in author Willie Carver, Jr.’s new book, he reconsiders a negative childhood experience with a neighborhood girl who might have just been looking for a friend. Also, a southwestern Virginia community rang the alarm after more and more of its children were diagnosed with cancer. A local journalist is trying to unravel the cause. And, the city of Asheville has a new crusading reporter. He’s a puppet.
Kentucky writer Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr’s new book Tore All To Pieces weaves poetry and short stories into a narrative about people and place. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch recently spoke with Carver and brings us this conversation.
