About | Taggart Makes

High-entropy shed science

Curious science from a chaotic shed-lab

Taggart Makes is for anyone who has looked at the world and thought, “I wonder if I could measure that?” It follows physics, electronics, computers, radio, maths and home-made instruments from the first questionable idea to whatever ends up on the graph. It isn’t really about finding the quickest or most sensible way to do something. That question tends to disappear quite early.

The usual rhythm is Scribble. Escalate. Build. Tweak. Success optional. Even when the intended thing doesn't work, an awkward limit, a useful failure or a better question can still be worth showing. This usually involves some mixture of science, graphs, mess and mild concern.

You can come for the curiosity and stay for as much detail as you like. The same story should welcome someone meeting the idea for the first time and still be useful to the maker building their own scanning tunnelling microscope—apparently a completely normal thing to attempt in a shed.

Shed inhabitants

Meet the Shed Team

WILBUR — WANDERING INTELLIGENT LIFEFORM; BUILT-IN UNPREDICTABILITY REACTOR

The shed’s mobile, autonomous ‘assistant’ attends most experiments, inspects everything at nose height and occasionally rediscovers items nobody else knew were missing. Results are returned in exchange for snacks, unless he has already decided the result is the snack.

MEG — MOBILE ENTROPY GENERATOR

I’m from Northern Ireland: home of some oddly shaped rocks and a famously large ship that sank. Most of my projects begin with an unnecessary question and end with someone asking why there is a large satellite dish tracking the Moon.

Research, construction, escalation. I work as a researcher, and outside work I make things to find out how they work, what they can detect, and whether I can make them a little better. That usually involves some combination of physics, maths, electronics, software, radio, instruments, graphs, and a regrettably optimistic amount of aluminium.

I do not so much have hobbies as temporarily acquire entire fields. I get interested in something, read everything I can find, acquire the necessary equipment, and turn it into a full-blown project. Then another interesting idea condenses out of the vacuum and the previous one enters a period of extended contemplation. This is why everything is generally in a state of high entropy.

How does this usually start?

Normally with a passing thought, a rough scribble, or a question that seems as though it should have a quick answer. Shortly afterwards, there are parts on order, several new sub-projects, and a growing suspicion that the original question has led into treacherous terrain densely populated by rabbit holes.

Does any of it get finished?

Yes, quite a lot of it. I can usually make the thing work. The difficulty is persuading my attention to remain on the same thing long enough for everyone else to consider it finished. Other projects aren’t abandoned; I just haven’t persuaded my attention to return to them yet.

The working method is: Scribble. Escalate. Build. Tweak. Success optional.