Bacterial Orchestra creates living cellular sound

While a vast majority of us probably prefer to keep grimy bacteria at bay, Olle Cornéer, Christian Hörgren, and Martin Lübcke actually seem rather fond of it. In yet another instance where "music" is made out of cacophonic tones, the Bacterial Orchestra at New Media Meeting in Norrköping, Sweden has reportedly belted out incredible sounds, creating some sort of "musical organism." The experiment was conducted in a underground corridor where an assortment of "cells" were equipped with microphones and speakers, and apparently, the programmed players picked up sounds from their surroundings and "played it back in sync." Purportedly, the organisms adapt to their environment and "learn" through experiences, and they were even said to create "cheers" (echos?) when groups of visitors came clamoring through. We'll admit, we're a bit baffled about this so-called "self-organizing evolutionary musical organism" as well, but until we hear a few sound clips or see this thing in person, our skeptic hats are remaining firmly seated.

[Via SciFiTech]

[EliasF @ Jan 27th 2007 5:12AM]

I must just be tired, but when I first read it, I could have sworn it said "musical orgasm". :)

[idunno @ Jan 27th 2007 5:51AM]

You're not alone on that... Actually for me it wasn't just the first time, but every time I read organism. There's no doubt about it though, I am very tired.

[Thomas Tolleson @ Jan 27th 2007 8:06AM]

I'd like to know what their definition of 'cell' is. I suspect these are scam artists.

[Marc @ Jan 27th 2007 9:08AM]

Bacteria Turner Overdrive?

[Marc @ Jan 27th 2007 9:11AM]

Bacteria Turner Overdrive?

[Rick @ Jan 27th 2007 11:02AM]

oh please, common knowledge the Swedes all are high. Prolly just a case of a bad bong pipe.

[Rick @ Jan 27th 2007 11:06AM]

the main import for Sweden is Cheetos, so...?

[Anders G @ Jan 27th 2007 6:53PM]

I would say it's american movies through our nice 100mbit connections ;)
Norrköping. Heh, about the last town I would expect seeing showing up on engadget, I actually grew up there.

[Sverre @ Jan 27th 2007 11:36AM]

It's Loco Roci (plural of LocoRoco)

[Matt @ Jan 27th 2007 12:56PM]

From scanning the article, their definition of cell is a microphone attached to a loud speaker.

their definition of an organism is taking input and making output.

their definition of a performance is a cacophony of feedback continually looping through difference cells...wherein it sounds different upon exit from each.

it would be kind of cool to hear it, but keep in mind, you bank on the wall...you hear a whole lot of strange bangs for the next two minutes...

not exactly ZOMG amazing, just unique.

[Crazylink @ Jan 27th 2007 3:23PM]

Sounds like some read life Electroplankton.

[Tommy J?nsen @ Jan 27th 2007 6:28PM]

yep, seems like they just coded small sound processing "cells" to morph input differently, and not to react to it's own output. Then when it outputs something, other units pick it up, morph it a bit and outputs it for other units to pick up! Yeah - would sound pretty funny, I'd think!

But no bacteria or cells involved...