We’re less than a week out from Maker Faire Bay Area, and things are really gearing up for a fantastic weekend. As a special countdown to Maker Faire, we’ll be profiling some of the awesome folks who will be at Bazaar Bizarre at Maker Faire. Even if you aren’t able to be at Maker Faire, you don’t want to miss out on the work of these fantastic vendors. Today we introduce you to Particle Zoo.
Tell us about what you’ll be showcasing at Maker Faire/Bazaar Bizarre:
I will be showcasing plush toys of subatomic particles. All the fundamental particles from the Standard Model of physics (electrons, quarks, neutrinos, etc.) as well as theoretical particles (Higgs boson, tachyon, dark matter, etc.) will be there. Also, you can buy a plush universe as well as zip-up protons and neutrons with mini quarks and gluons inside.
How did you get started hand crafting your goods?
I was always interested in theoretical physics. As an artist and designer, a few years ago I noticed that many people were selling handmade crafts and I realized it would be wonderful to combine the two disciplines of science and art to produce educational and fun toys for students, geeks, teachers and physicists.
What are your main sources of inspiration?
I am inspired by the real world of physics and astronomy. You need look no further than the discoveries we’ve made in science and the discoveries that seem to be right around the corner such as the experiments going on at the Large Hadron Collider. I am constantly awed by the very large and the very small, from particle physics to Hubble’s deep space photographs.
What new idea (in or outside of your field) has excited you most recently?
The idea that there might be other dimensions. We live in 4 dimensions but experiments at the LHC in Geneva may prove, in our lifetime, that there are more dimensions than meet the eye and that supersymmetry is real.
What is your motto?
It has to be scientifically accurate and it has to be cute.
Particle Zoo Links:
Website: www.particlezoo.net
Twitter: twitter.com/particlezoo
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