Last updated on 12 February 2025
The blob, the extra media, is a completely free online scientific magazine of high quality in terms of both multimedia and content. Created by Universcience, which brings together the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie and the Palais de la Découverte, the blob seeks to disseminate scientific knowledge to as many people as possible through a demanding editorial line and various multimedia formats based essentially on video. The result is more than promising. A nice surprise and a crush.
I had missed the announcement of the birth of this new media, which is only a few weeks old, thanks to Charlotte, a ToolTice reader reported it to me. The blob is to be stored in quality resources for you or for your students and beyond for all science lovers. This new media reminds me of The Conversation another media that manages to rhyme in a digital media mainstream news and research.
Scientific audiovisual in the spotlight
The blob is therefore an open and ad-free free online magazine. It offers a new video on the front page every day, with a daily scientific newsfeed and monthly surveys on major contemporary issues, thus mixing topics of substance and ‘hot’ news. This new medium is successfully trying to dust off the image of old scientific documentaries by an abundance of new forms of writing: animated films, VR360 films, dataviz and of course youtubers. The blob in these editorial choices ensures a mix of creativity and journalistic rigor. A nice recipe.
Current events in the world of research accessible to all
The blob, the extra-media wants to cover all the news in the world of research. Discoveries, innovations, but also controversies punctuate the first weeks of programming. There is something for all tastes and curiosities in many fields: Archaeology, Astronomy, History of Science, Health, Technology, etc.
The blob gathers quality content chosen and highlighted by a dedicated editorial team, it is also called upon to produce or co-produce own creations.
The updates are daily and after only a few weeks of existence, the shelves of this multimedia kiosk dedicated to research are already surprisingly well stocked. Don’t forget to use the built-in search engine that will help you find pearls in this knowledge pack.
The writing follows a real logic of video programming in the way of television channels with a different axis each day. I love the theme of Wednesday: Learning is not sad!
You will find among other things the production of youtubers who deliver real Science Lessons with impertinence and talent, filmed lectures, "tablet" scientists and unexpected behind-the-scenes forays into science museums.
A hat-trick to the UniversScience teams for the idea of the blob and the quality of the production. To discover urgently and to make discover your colleagues, your students, your friends.
English