Welcome

FRINGE BENEFITS

By Mark Frauenfelder

STEWART BRAND, FOUNDER OF THE energy than it consumes. If Steorn’s claims prove

seminal Whole Earth Review, once famously true, it would mean the end of the energy crisis,

said, “You’ve got to explore the edges to see and the potential to raise the standard of living of

where the middle is going.” It’s good advice because every person on the planet to the kind enjoyed by

interesting changes often occur where cultures, Halliburton’s board of directors.

ideas, and disciplines merge and mutate. Anyone who thinks Steorn might be onto some-

The special section in this volume of MAKE explores thing would do well to read Donald Simanek’s article

ideas on the edge. For example, Bob Parks’ article on on the history of perpetual motion machines in this

the Global Consciousness Project in Princeton, N.J., volume (page 70). Simanek explains why making

looks at the heretical notion that random number a perpetual motion machine is a worthwhile experi-

generators might be able to predict catastrophic ence — not because it will work, but because you

events hours before they happen. We also show you will gain firsthand knowledge learning why it does

how to take Kirlian photographs, which reveal the not work.

“auras” surrounding objects and living things. The Rest assured, this issue contains plenty of projects

principle behind Kirlian photography is well under- that do work, like the amazing Hilsch vortex tube,

stood, and there’s nothing supernatural about it, which uses compressed air to push hot air out one

but the history of the process is interestingly laced side of the tube and cold air out the other side, and

with pseudoscientific speculation, and the resulting a pinhole camera that doesn’t require your own

photographs are beautiful. darkroom to develop the photos. (We leave it up to

In this issue we also explore ideas that go way you to come up with a way to take Kirlian photos

beyond the edge of traditionally accepted notions with a pinhole camera.) Our nifty, easy-to-make

into the domain of the inexplicable, the unreason- Curie heat engine looks like something that could be

able, and the impossible. Why should we be interest- found merrily swinging back and forth in the corner

ed in this outer fringe? Is there anything of value of a perpetual motionist’s laboratory, but its opera-

being made there? More often than not, the answer tion depends on the energy of a candle to heat up a

is no. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth making nickel-iron alloy wire so that it temporarily loses its

the occasional foray into the murky areas where it attraction to a magnet. You might be able to use it

is difficult to distinguish between quackery and the as a metronome when you play your cigar box guitar

genuine-but-inexplicable. (from MAKE, Volume 04) through the cracker box

The most obvious reason for exploring the outer amplifier we’ll show you how to make in this issue

fringe is to discover the limits of the natural world. (page 104).

Take perpetual motion, for instance. To this day, Finally, I’d like to remind you to mark your calen-

a curious subculture of cockeyed optimists are dars for this year’s Maker Faire, which will be held

tinkering away in self-funded laboratories, trying at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds in Northern

to make perpetual motion machines that defy California on the weekend of May 19– 20, 2007.

the cardinal rules of physics (which say you can’t Last year over 20,000 people came to participate

get something for nothing). Occasionally, some in demonstrations, projects, entertainment, and

of these inventors even get funding and public learning. If you’re a maker and have something

attention for their outlandish contraptions. The you’d like to show at the faire, visit makerfaire.com

most recent free-energy company to shine under a for information. I hope I see you there!

surprisingly uncritical media spotlight is the Dublin-

based Steorn, which claims to have developed a

technology that uses magnetism to produce more

Mark Frauenfelder ( markf@oreilly.com) is editor-in-chief of MAKE.

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