Blog

Today I learned more about sterilizing straw and learned that I can sterilize by placing the straw in water heated to 164 F for one hour. I then went down to the garden to see how my plants were doing I watered using water from my Korean Natural Farming project. While the plants were dead, Mr. Quayle assured me that it was not because of the watering, but rather that they just didn't take which happens sometimes. I also helped Mr. Quayle dig holes and had fun with him.

I worked on the wheel a bit more but we spent most of the time talking so didn't have much time to do anything else.

Today, I checked the hydroponics system to see that the plants were mostly dead, as they had been neglected during the break. I harvested what was left, but it did not taste good, so I threw it away. I then took the pots out and salvaged the pebbles for future use. I then put new seeds and water into the growing tray. I was also pleased to see that the mushrooms looked ready to be put into a substrate. I plan to do more research on how to sterilize straw at home for the substrate.

Today I began experimenting with digital audio manipulation in Garage Band. I connected the Akai keyboard to the computer, but I was wondering if you had an account on their website already, so I can register the device. This semester I hope to compile an audio library for my capstone film, and learn more about audio design. 

I ended up not being able to get the metal piece done over break but will hopefully have that done soon. I am currently working on a way to make a better and faster wheel piece for the final machine that will take less time to print and be more efficient. I hope to get the metal piece ready soon. 

I had an ortho appointment and missed class.

Over the semester I found muon detectors, figured out how to record live muon data using them, and then figured out what to do with them (besides staring at the light that blinks whenever a muon registers). I have set up a muon-inater in the elab, with a computer that (when running) shows live muon data. Also, next to the computer and muon detectors, I have a few posters explaining what I am doing. In the future, I am planning to make a TRNG using the muon detectors (and I have put up a poster that explains random number generators).

I also have been trying to get the telescope working again... but Arne was too busy frolicking in Greece... hopefully next semester he'll grace us with his presence so that I can actually get the telescope running.

(not pictured is my trng and prng poster)

It surprised me that half of my last year in high school was already ending. As I look back on what I've done in this class I want to deeply appreciate Dr. Bill for supporting me do what I'm interested in and giving me ideas for very cool projects. Starting from seismograph sensors and calculating hypocenters and epicenters of waves on Hawaii island, this class has inspired me to many things that not only were my projects. If I could do something different or better for the earthquake wave research, I would find seismographs with more accurate GPS and also do my calculations more accurately by using digital maps instead of handwritten maps. I will continue working on placing sound tiles in the hallway and experimenting with them because my capstone is related to noise levels in the dorm. 

It was a lot of fun to have 3rd-grade kids with us too.

If I were taking ISR another semester, I want to do things about aerodynamics(which I was going to do initially this semester). 

Outside of class, I started watching videos about space physics and astronomy, which I would've not ever been interested in watching just for myself. Science has become very fun by taking this class and inquiring what I was interested in. Thank you so much, Dr. Bill.

Now that I am working on my project from my room, I keep losing track of time and forget to do weblogs at the end of class. However I have been taking footage of my project throughout the day, so I will post them while explaining each day. I first started to think of what I needed to reduce the noise in the hallway. My idea was to place sound sponge tiles cut the edges of floor pads and put them between where the door and the threshold hits. Kelan helped me get the sound tiles because I needed to get them from the attic of the Elab, but I was scared of heights.

Unfortunately, although I cut the floor pads thin enough that the doors would close when slammed, they still make a massive noise. So, I decided to do the sound tiles around doors and in the hallway. After I put them around my noisy neighbor's door and to my door, the tape I used was already gone, so I brought more spare tape. 

In one of the weeks, we had 3rd graders come to the Elab once again. I worked for the VR headset station, and the kids loved them. I felt bad for the few who couldn't experience it due to the sake of time. It was hard to keep the kids away from the kids with VR on them, and one kid accidentally was punched in the face by going too close. Levi and Koi helped me take control of the kids and keep them away from the VR kids. 

Now that I finished putting sound tiles around my side of the hallway, I'm putting some on the other side, and then I will experiment with the noise difference between the hallway without the tiles and with them to see if the tiles actually work. If they don't, I will take them off and put them back into the Elab, where they were.

     This semester I explored many different interests that I’ve been wanting to try out. I’ve wanted to get into Computer Science so I started the CS50 course through Harvard, and I find it interesting but difficult. Some days I watch parts of the YouTube video lectures, but I find them a bit confusing so I do a lot of the research separately. 
     I’ve researched different tools on Blender which I have tried out on the elab computers, which are pretty slow, but work for experimenting. I’m almost done 3d modeling my Ptarmigan, but I am stuck on trying to make the feet, so I moved on to trying physics simulations and animating. I also have been watching many modeling, sculpting and software tutorials which I think will greatly help my capstone. 
     Some days the lower campus kids come over and we can teach them different aspects of our projects, which I find motivational. I also think that working with children is a good life skill to have, which is why I appreciate the experience. I have been using the VR headsets which are very cool, and make me want to create a VR video game one day. Every class the group discusses interesting topics such as Muons, agriculture and computers, where I learn a lot about my peers and their knowledge. 
     Overall, I think ISR has been a very valuable class in helping me explore my possible college focuses, as well as a fun and engaging experience which I can use to guide my independent projects in college. Next semester I hope to continue the casual learning, and possibly create a physical project using the resources I’ve gotten.