You know Burning Man is approaching when every crowdsourcing platform from Kickstarter to Indiegogo is saturated with bizarre installations destined for the Nevada playa. With merely a month to go before the desert art festival arrives, we've already seen a walking Geodesic robot, a 15-foot-tall brain controlled brain and a massive effigy dedicated to Facebook likes.

But the latest Burning Man concept is perhaps the most ambitious we've come across yet. Titled "Genome Laser," it aims to project individual human genomes onto the Black Rock desert sky, using what else but a giant laser.

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Aspire Tower, the location of Genome Laser

Imagined by Matthew Raffery (aka Skippy), Vincent Rebers and Alex Housley, the project involves first encoding and then projecting 3.2 billion base pairs of various genomes, transforming the data into an impressive pattern of lights. Raffery and the team's resident high-speed genome expert, Dr. Jonathan Rothberg, need only $4,500 to make their art-meets-science dreams come true. They plan to use compression algorithms, custom-built pattern generation software and an existing 60W laser set atop Aspire Tower (aka Control Tower) to do so.

So whose genome will burners lay their eyes upon if the project comes to fruition? Well, potentially yours. A $2,000 donation buys you the chance to have your DNA broadcast into the unknown... you just need to give the Genome Laser team a week in advance to chart your individual code. (Hurry, this opportunity closes August 2.) But if you don't have that type of cash handy, festival onlookers will also be given the chance to send text messages to the laser team that will be translated into colorful displays when Burning Man launches.

"We are building Genome Laser because we can, and because we want to push the boundaries of our imaginations and give something amazing back to the Burning Man community," the group states on their Indigogo site. "This is [a] non-profit art project where 100% of the funds raised will be channeled directly into materials."

For more information on the lofty light show, check out the full campaign here. In other Burning Man news, the festival was recently granted a four-year permit, ensuring that Nevada can play host to 68,000 eager burners each year. Feel free to celebrate in the comments.

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  • The Man burns on the playa at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. on Friday August 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Andy Barron, Reno Gazette Journal)

  • People walk toward the temple at Burning Man near Gerlach, Nev., on the Black Rock Desert on Friday Aug. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/The Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

  • A man with a creature mask walks the playa at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. on Friday Aug. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    Artist Kirsten Berg cleans her art work on the playa at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. on Friday Aug. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

  • An old wooden yacht art car rolls through the playa at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. on Friday Aug. 31, 2012 on Friday Aug. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

  • A woman walks toward the man on a dust afternoon at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

  • People gather around an art intallation at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    People gather at the temple on Wednesday morning at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. on Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    An art piece named La Llorona rests on the playa at Burning Man on Wednesday morning Aug. 29, 2012 near Gerlach, Nev. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    Burners ride their bicycle through the streets of Burning Man near Gerlach, Nev. on Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    A young women hula hoops on top of bus while a band play music next to her at Burning Man near Gerlach, Nev. on Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    A band play music on top of a bus at Burning Man near Gerlach, Nev. on Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

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    Stephanie King of Little Rock, Ark. hula hoops to the music of a band playing near her at Burning Man near Gerlach, Nev. on Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Andy Barron)

  • Dust Storm on the Playa, 2012

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nels0ngal"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nels0ngal">nels0ngal</a>:<br />A small dust storm kicks up near the Man during 2012 Burning Man Festival.

  • Sunrise behind the Man, 2012

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nels0ngal"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nels0ngal">nels0ngal</a>:<br />Many burners dance until dawn then go to the Temple to watch the sun rise. Here the sun is rising behind the Man, 2012.

  • TutuTuesday, 2012

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nels0ngal"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/nels0ngal">nels0ngal</a>:<br />Julia Nelson-Gal on TutuTuesday uses a bandana to guard against the onslaught of dust, 2012.

  • Love at Sunrise, 2012

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  • Ego Sculpture, Burning Man, 2012

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  • El Pulpo Mecanico

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/KevinAClark"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/3612329/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/KevinAClark">KevinAClark</a>:<br />

  • Mobile disco lights

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  • Dancing the burn away.

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  • Temple at sunset

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/forkfly"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/forkfly">forkfly</a>:<br />The dust made the sunsets spectacular. Choosing between the dozens of temple shots I took wasn't easy.

  • Another shot of the temple

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  • Child's Play

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  • All aboard!

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  • Rumors of a dustpocalyse were highly overrated.

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  • My fiancee trying on the world's largest skirt.

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  • Boom goes the man!

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  • Firedevils dancing around the man.

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  • Burn Wall Street

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  • Bike Eating Face

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  • Safety Third

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  • Sunrise At The Temple

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  • Silvi Sunrise

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  • Inside of The Temple of Juno

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  • Reversed Roles

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Kyriemaria"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Kyriemaria">Kyriemaria</a>:<br />What kind of message does this send?

  • tall conversation

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Cheryl_Anne_Barrar"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/1168179011/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Cheryl_Anne_Barrar">Cheryl Anne Barrar</a>:<br />

  • Hug Deli

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/dkcampbell"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/1244731794/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/dkcampbell">dkcampbell</a>:<br />Hug Deli

  • The Man Burns

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  • the man, burning in faces

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/the43k"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/the43k">the43k</a>:<br />reflections from burning man fire

  • The Temple

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  • The Temple at Burning Man

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amy_Karle"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/685410956/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amy_Karle">Amy Karle</a>:<br />The Temple at Burning Man 2012, photo by Amy Karle

  • Entrance to the Temple at Burning Man

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  • The Temple at Night

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  • Playa Photo Shoot

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Theoretically_Maloof"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/1906334/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Theoretically_Maloof">Theoretically Maloof</a>:<br />Peter Ruprecht Photo Shoot

  • The Temple at Night

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amy_Karle"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/685410956/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amy_Karle">Amy Karle</a>:<br />The Temple at Night, Burning Man 2012, photo by Amy Karle

  • Bikes

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/2539315.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer">janekenoyer</a>:<br />Burning Man 2012, photos by Jane Kenoyer

  • Inside the Temple at Night

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amy_Karle"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/685410956/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amy_Karle">Amy Karle</a>:<br />Inside the Temple at Night, Burning Man 2012, photo by Amy Karle

  • Burner Bikes

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/2539315.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer">janekenoyer</a>:<br />Burning Man 2012, photos by Jane Kenoyer

  • Shaman Tent

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/2539315.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer">janekenoyer</a>:<br />Burning Man 2012, photos by Jane Kenoyer

  • Diety

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/2539315.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/janekenoyer">janekenoyer</a>:<br />Burning Man 2012, photos by Jane Kenoyer


CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article we incorrectly spelled Matthew Raffery's name. We apologize for the error.