Mark Scherz and his partners thought their Boophis frogs sounded like something from Star Trek. But what makes something sound like science fiction?

Maybe you’ve never seen Star Trek. You can probably still imagine an old science fiction soundtrack. Imagine flying saucers soaring through a black and white movie. What music plays in your head? Chances are, it’s a whistling, electronic oooo-weee-oooo sound.

That sound often comes from an instrument called the theremin. Despite a common misconception, it wasn’t used in the original Star Trek theme. That sound came from a human singer! But the theremin was used in sci-fi movies such as The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The theremin itself seems like something from science fiction. It’s unique among instruments. To play it, you don’t need to touch it! You just wave your hands. That’s not as simple as it sounds. Mastering the theremin takes loads of practice.

How does it work? It uses electromagnetism. The instrument senses electricity.

Did you know your body uses electricity? Your brain sends electrical signals to your cells. Electricity even helps you heal.

A theremin’s two antennae create a magnetic field. This field reacts to the electricity in your hands. When your hands pass through the field, the sound changes. One antenna controls dynamic, or volume. The other controls pitch—which notes are you playing?

That’s a lot of science for one instrument! The theremin combines science and art. Some people think of those skills as opposites. But God gives everyone different gifts. Some people love music. Some people love science. Some love both—just ask violin enthusiast Albert Einstein! When these gifts come together, amazing things can happen.