How to join the research program of new stars

Modern scientific research has produced much new data that the average scientist can not process them. And computers still can not match the human eye on the level of perception. What to do? Attract volunteers. British astronomer Robert Simpson (Robert Simpson) tells how the project Zooniverse It helps millions of volunteers around the world to participate in scientific activities: to map the Milky Way, look for extrasolar planets, take elephants and define types of cancer cells.

- What does the project Zooniverse?

- We create crowdsourcing projects: place freely available data, usually images, sometimes video or audio, and then asked volunteers to conduct research, which usually gave to the work graduate students. It helps to process vast amounts of information at high speed, which means that scientists can concentrate on a complex analysis of the study.

- That is, in the main, are giving volunteers a tedious job?

- Yes. But the most amazing thing is that people like it. They do the work, communicate with each other online and also make discoveries. This is a feature Zooniverse: we do not just want someone to do the work for us, we are giving everyone the opportunity to start their own research using our information.

- But there are computers that can perform very complicated tasks. That such a person may notice, which can not see the computer?

- Much. More precisely, a lot. one of our project He sets himself the task of finding volunteers differences between spiral and elliptical galaxies. While this was beyond the power of computers. In fact, computers can not do that now, if you do not use the data that we have gathered for training machines. The computer is right in 85% of cases. But in the remaining 15% were the most interesting objects with unusual shapes or colors in them, there is something slightly goes beyond the norm. People may recognize these objects and machines - no, but it is they who represent the greatest value to science. In essence, the computers can not do just those little things that we need.

The good news: we can teach computers to work better on the basis of the replies received by a person. But we continue to move forward, to explore the unusual, the more complex the galaxy. Therefore, the project will continue in business, because people are always looking for challenges.

One more example. Our previous project "Hunters planets"Attracts people to view data on light curves obtained with the telescope" Kepler ". We looked at 150,000 stars, studying the light emitted. Action point was to see how the star passes in front of the planet, and to measure the drop in brightness. Dimming show the magnitude of the planet, the speed of its orbital motion - a huge amount of information. To do this, you just need a very long time considered a star by using good tools.

You have found the planet! Without you, we would not know about its existence.

Now NASA and the professionals working with the telescope "Kepler", used computer algorithms to process the data, and over the years they have discovered many planets. But our experience with information about the galaxies says that data from space can be a lot of details, notice that people do not notice the computers, because the machines are programmed to search standard events. We have found planets that are missed by NASA. Some are surprisingly, they can not be seen by the senses, but they exist. For example, we found one of the seven planets in the system, similar to solar. This discovery is very important, because the more planets orbits the star, the more chaotic light traces they leave.

- Each volunteer monitors a particular star?

- Not. As for galaxies at the same object is observed directly 10-15 people. We can write them a message: "You have found the planet!". Such letters are very fun to send. Many of these people are the authors of discoveries only in words, because we can not give their names planets. But we can say, "You have found the planet! Without you, we would not know of its existence. "

- Which of the discoveries made by the volunteers, was the most extraordinary?

- one of the first orbit of the planets, we found immediately goes about two stars orbiting each other. And around this system lies the orbit of two more stars, which are also independent of each other. So that the planet's four suns. Two of them are bright, appear in the sky at the same time, and two fainter instead of moving in a circle on the periphery. And this is exactly the type of system can not find a computer.

And yet we have found a planet with two suns like Tatooine. Team "Kepler" has announced its opening, we looked at their data and realized that it, too, discovered only late in a news release. So we find a wonderful, extraordinary material.

- Does the project, the person who is responsible for the analysis of data obtained from the volunteers?

- In the matter of sorting the results we rely on statistics. Previously, we were getting an average result for the 50 views of the object, but now we are working smarter.

For example, the project "Pictures "Serengeti""Devoted to biodiversity and species interactions in the national park" Serengeti "in Africa. The researchers wanted to study the population of lions, hyenas, cheetahs and leopards in the park and placed 200 cameras. Now they understand that the amount was excessive, but they did not even know that they will get such a huge amount of data. Motion capture cameras worked well, because the sun was rising at a certain angle, by passing cars with tourists, wind worried grass. Researchers have been overwhelmed by the number of photos, two employees had to process more than 1.5 million images. Even trying to not have to do it on their own.

I assumed that 60% of the shots have been made due to the movements of the grass. We decided that if three out of five people will look at a picture and say that it is only the grass is visible, then we will simply remove the file from the system. Gradually, we threw all the pictures with plants, leaving only the animal pictures. And then in the case entered Statistics. Each image viewed in an average of 20 times, and on the basis we have structured database of information received.

On the wall of my office hangs a poster with a huge photo mosaic, which depicts the wildebeest (they are called "burgers for cheetahs", because they are constantly eating cheetahs). All photos on the poster have been identified by our volunteers. We did the same posters zebras, lions and elephants, just to have fun when they realized that a single mouse click can get 17 000 photos of elephants.

- And what people have noticed an unusual project, dedicated to "Serengeti"?

- In this project, we were asked not to pay attention to the birds, because the initiators of the study worked with mammals. So we had a common button for all birds. But some volunteers have marked yourself all pictures of birds, thanks to their efforts and commitment, we have brought data on birds in the catalog, as it should be, just like that.

- These data can be for someone useful.

- Exactly. They just added another group of species to study.

So there was a category-based "fire". In the "Serengeti" they often happen, and people noticed photos with them. Another fun category - "People", which also met in the images. There were rangers, who installed the camera and do some test shots with crackers. We once had to delete the data from the study, because tourists accidentally camped directly across from one of the cameras.

- As soon warn people!

- We could not imagine that someone really wishes to set up camp in those places. It's "Serengeti" center, there can be dangerous!

- You mentioned that in projectDevoted to the study of cancer cells, people treated fabric samples. As they were received?

- Samples, painted in specific colors, we got from Cambridge, where they were taken in the course of medical research anonymous. Our volunteers were looking at images that are used to search for cancer cells, tumor size or abnormalities in body tissues. We have provided examples for comparison, formed a training course. You just need to recognize images, but such work graduate students spend half of the time devoted to research. Now they all week can only deal with the work, and the preparation of their rate of scientific papers is growing.

We have another medical project Research worms. We observe the nematodes lay their eggs in the Petri dishes. The computer can hold a lot of calculations related to nematodes, but can not say when they lay their eggs. Volunteers are viewing videos, and their task - to press the button in the game when they see a new egg. I think it's disgusting hobby, I'm scared to even look at these worms. These microscopic nematodes are terrible, but they are necessary for the study of cancer. Worms convenient to observe the genetic mutation, and one of them is related to the formation of tumors, manifested in a certain phenotype. It can determine their ability to lay eggs.

- You learned a lot about different scientific areas, which could never touch.

- Yes, and it's amazing. One day we went outside the boundaries of astronomy, people came to us with tremendous scientific history, and we helped them to speed up the work. I have published articles in journals, which are now included in the scope of my professional knowledge, which also, incidentally, is in order.

- One of the attractive aspects of Zooniverse - social network. How is the brainstorm projects?

- We have a discussion platform that covers all the projects, called Talk. When the volunteer completes the classification of the object, we ask if he wants to discuss it. He goes on to discuss, where the same image can leave a comment. For example, you could write: "It's very cute." Or ask: "And this galaxy - a spiral?" - if he is not sure. Or to clarify: "There in the corner stands an elephant?". Or, said: "I wonder why it has an elephant on the back of three birds?"

This platform is used by all participants in the system, so that scientists can answer questions from users. You can also view all the comments that someone previously left to the image. If you notice something strange, and with you the same strangeness found another 25 people, you can start a discussion. And thus occur unusual discoveries.

- A community forum you moderate? Or scientists are too busy to keep track of the discussion?

- We allow volunteers to assert their desire to become moderators. When you open a new project, the scientists choose moderators. Further project takes care of itself. Scientists respond to questions if they are not too overloaded. Often, whole groups of scientists are eager to help people.

Hundreds of volunteers dedicated to the project, the authors say the research because they have devoted enormous time and met with scientists.

Scientists are trying to learn more about the active participants of the project, which keep returning to research. Scientists can apply for volunteers for special assistance. For example, ask: "I am a project to find worms on the ocean bottom, if you see something on this subject, you can mark the hashtag?". This is the second level of the development of science-based relationship, built on the base of our platform.

There will always be interested in helping people. And well, we can tear people from wasting time on games on the Internet, involving them in research, so that they are published in the scientific literature. Hundreds of volunteers dedicated to the project, the authors say the research because they have devoted enormous time and met with scientists.

- To join the project can anyone? For example, children can participate in it?

- Yes, I know that one of the participants, a schoolgirl from the UK, enthusiasm is distributed to millions of galaxies categories at that time was 13 years old. A couple of years ago, she came to us for training. All this happened just because she has learned about our project. Anyone can participate, for registration need only enter your login and e-mail address so we can keep track of people who help us, and to generate statistics.

- People seem to devote a huge amount of project time Zooniverse. You opposed participation in computer games research. But scientists noticedThat games reduce stress and pain. And is there something like that in your system? What reward volunteers receive?

- In the early stages of project development, we have noticed the same thing. Why would someone spends so much time? We have been working since 2007. The first task was the distribution by categories 900 000 galaxies. About 160 000 people took part in the project, of which about 10 people viewed and sorted every single galaxy. They were supposed to be spent on it a few months working on a daily basis. But they did it! We are surprised that people have invested so much effort into the project.

We asked a lot of participants, allowing them to give different answers. They could answer that like astronomy and wonder of the universe, or what they like to play games. But more than half of the volunteers said they wanted to contribute to the development of science. People want to be helpful. They take the project to heart and work hard to make sure: Zooniverse trying to improve the efficiency of research and every click helps science.