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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I remain dismayed and fascinated by the public's largely irrational response
to Manchester Museum's 'spinning statue' (not very far from my home). I
believe the story has spread all round the world. 
http://bit.ly/120FZIu

Here are two YouTube movies that I made to show how vibration can cause
certain objects to rotate:

This one shows a rounded-base 'rattleback':
http://youtu.be/LmCkIURDlq4

This one shows how an irregularly-shaped base can rotate similarly:
http://youtu.be/9noU9M5rr-w

Here is a photo I took with my phone, clearly showing the curvature of the
statuette's base. This is a useful image that makes the rotation seem
considerably less mysterious, and strongly supports the 'rattleback'
explanation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/interactives/9193714537/in/set-7215763445389255
8

I reckon that this 'mystery' presents a fabulous SciComm challenge and
opportunity.

Promoting public engagement with science
through a contagious delight in phenomena
*
[log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
*
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/ian-russell/0/636/305
*
Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell

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