h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One more drawn from the biggest/heaviest/longest file:


Where in the world can you hear hear the world's smallest musical instrument?

There are klaxons, of course, so be bold, preferably interesting but never obvious.

Good Luck.

Is there only one of the sort, or are there several (all in the same place for some reason)?

Is it loud enough to hear normally?

Several and you have to do something else first.

Is it those shrimps that defend themselves with jets of hot water. Generates noise by cavitation and can be loud enough to blind sonar.

Here comes the usual topical xkcd comic: http://xkcd.com/532/

Not shrimp.

Except these instruments can be played.

Do you need special equipment to play them as well? I mean, some specific device which goes with it?

Can't you transport the intruments? In which case, I guess the answer to the original question would be, 'anywhere'.

Yes

and there are all in one place and remain there.

Finding 'how' they are played would help!


GT

Probably.

...and you get to Carnegie Hall by being one of the few people in the world able to play it!!!!


GT

I think I remember hearing about some mad scientist who made a violin (or something) a few nanometers long. Is that it, or am I going too far?


Geggs

Yes, that'd be the one.

Geggs +3

Ah Well.............

Another one bites the dust!!



GT

Indeed. Wasn't too hard that one. I've got a few humdingers in my QI file, but I'm awaiting the particles of inspiration sleeting through the upper atmosphere to collide with my brain and then I'll think "ah-ha, yes... oh that's good..ha-ha..they'll never get that...."

The nano guitar was constructed using an electron beam from crystalline silicon at Cornell University.

It's 10 micrometers long - about the size of a human blood cell. The strings are only 50 nanometres wide (about 100 atoms) a human hair by comparison is has a diameter of 200,000 nanometres.

The strings are played by heating them with a laser however, they vibrate at inaudible frequencies but can be heard by converting them into electronic pulses.

The team also developed a harp, a drum and a xylophone!

http://www.redorbit.com/news/video/science/5/worlds_smallest_guitar_uses_laser_for_a_pick/23920/

You must have heard the saying Clive....

It is impossible to make anything foolproof...

Fools are too ingenious!!!!


GT

QI - How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
------------------------




Correct (+3)
------------------------
Geggs (13)
A Nano Guitar



QI Bonus (+6)
------------------------

None

DGI Bonus (+1)
------------------------

None

Klaxon (-5)
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None

Elf Bonus (+2)
------------------------
Clive




Total to be added or subtracted.
------------------------

Geggs +3
Clive +2

A hushed silence as the maestro approaches the podium he taps his baton on the rail and commands the orchestra to rise. Geggs gives a commanding performance +3

Meanwhile in the sub-basement of the University, I your humble QI researcher sneaks in under cover of darkness to try out first hand the miniture orchestra, music's not my thing but playing with big knock-off lasers. Now you're talking. A eyebrow scorching +2

So the answer to your question "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" is.........by Mini?