November 16, 2014

Amazing Brain Images Take Over Times Square

If you are in NYC in the month of November and your late night socializing takes you to Times Square, be certain to time it so you can see, from 11:57pm to midnight (EST, of course), a short film by Noah Hutton, a film director who studied both neuroscience and art history, called Brain City, [...]

By Joanne Manaster

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

“Drawing on imagery from the leading neuroscience labs around the world, Brain City is a journey through the vast avenues of the human brain. Displaying brand new digital simulations, fly-throughs, and microscopic images of neurons from several major neuroscientific endeavors including Eyewire (the addicting (Joanne’s opinion) citizen science/crowd sourced computer game that is helping to map the brain), The Human Brain Project (the controversial 10-year project to simulate the workings of the brain via supercomputers), CLARITY (the hydrogel process that creates a transparent brain for imaging), and Neurodome (planetarium style films about the brain), the array of screens in Times Square will surround the viewer in the latest visual reconstructions of the brain, providing a sense of being surrounded by complex systems, inside and out.”

(parenthetical descriptions of projects added by Joanne)

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

For your viewing pleasure in case you are not in NYC this month:

This would be phenomenal to see on the screens in Times Square! Check it out if you can.

“Brain City plays every night throughout November 2014 from 11:57 p.m. to midnight on Times Square’s electronic billboards. Midnight Moment, is a monthly presentation by The Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) and Times Square Arts. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.”

Also, do yourself a favor and visit the remarkable Brain City website “…that playfully juxtaposes the gorgeous similarities between the urban landscape and the inner pathways of the human brain.” You’ll discover connections you had never considered before!

If you are using social media and want to talk about the project, whether you see the video in Times Square or just play on the website, use the hashtag is #BrainCityTSq

EyeWire image in Times Square photo is courtesy of eyewitness Jeanne Garbarino (via twitter)

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American