Watch: A Short Film on the Secret Life of Electrons and the Power of a Collective
The universe is overwhelmingly vast and complex. But some of the most profound examples of complex, collective action happen at a scale too small to see. Olivier Gingras of the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute and filmmaker Yan Shao explore this invisible frontier in their short film, electron_matter.
The film is an abstract, visual journey that traces the hidden path of a single electron as it navigates a world shaped by energy, freedom and uncertainty. Eventually, it finds its place within a larger structure. As electrons interact with one another, they move in harmony, forming a coherent, synchronized state known as superconductivity. electron_matter explores the power that arises when individual components come together to form a collective. The film invites viewers to find awe in science and math that underpins our existence.
electron_matter was made as part of Symbiosis, a two-week program that pairs scientists with filmmakers to create short films. This year’s Symbiosis is aligned with the Simons Foundation’s Infinite Sums national initiative, which focuses on the beauty and ubiquity of mathematics.
Symbiosis is part of the Simons Foundation’s Researcher Engagement program, an initiative of the foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division. You can learn more and stream the films here.
