Book excerpt: Unlock weird noises, hypnotic lights, and master the 555 timer. This fast paced, easy-to-follow book teaches you how the 555 timer works with step-by-step instructions and hands-on projects. Whether you are an electronics enthusiast or a beginner, this DIY guide shares simple tricks and hacks to put the 555 timer into action. FULL-COLOR illustrations show you how to transform circuit schematics into real-world working examples on a standard breadboard - no soldering required! High-resolution oscilloscope screen shots reveal detailed views of complex waveforms not able to be seen with the human eye. Advance your skills by completing the included projects so that you can create your own unique designs. You will learn how to: Use a breadboard Utilize the 555's pins Trigger "one-shot" mode Blink an LED Generate noises with an oscillator Create a frequency divider Make a bistable flip-flop Source and sink current Build and understand the Atari Punk Console