researchers at the blast lab at london’s imperial college recreated ‘seven nation army’ by the white stripes using only their lab equipment as instruments

in a project coined ‘science nation army‘, the inside knowledge team researchers at the blast lab at london’s imperial college have recreated the white stripes song ‘seven nation army’ using only their laboratory equipment. the bass guitar is played by a sensor output cable; the bass drum by a blast rig; the toms and hi-hat by a hammer and storm case and oil spray respectively; the cymbal by a blast plate; the guitar by an accelerometer cable with fastening strings; and the vocal melody by the strumming of strung laces typically used to contain dummy support legs during a test explosion.

the blast lab examines the effects of explosions on humans, so standard operating equipment varies from that which one might find in other scientific laboratories. pressurized metal plates, weights, cords and adjustment planks are used to run and rerun tests towards biomechanical study. the scientists note that their process of work effectively resembles that of a musician’s: tune the instruments, set up recording devices, and repeat the same actions over and over to obtain a specific result. the ‘science nation army’ was compiled together from real sounds and footage from everyday tests in the lab.

listen to ‘science nation army’

‘while it may seem lighthearted, there’s a strong message behind the video. the finished product of a scientific investigation, like a song, is inevitably the result of days of practice, experimentation and collaboration. a scientist might have an idea of what they want their investigation to sound like, but the process of science will throw up challenges, test creativity and occasionally uncover entirely new melodies.‘ – inside knowledge team

looking for more? in december 2011, designboom brought you the computer orchestra that covers ‘house of the rising sun’ by the animals.

science nation army: white stripes recreated in lab equipment lab machinery

via the boingboingsubmitterator