KJ

Cosmic Rays

Special Topics | David Matthews | 2025


How can cosmic rays, an invisible and abstract scientific phenomenon, be made engaging and understandable for a public audience?

To explore this question, we designed an exhibit concept for the future Knoxville Science Museum. Our approach represented a cosmic ray as a single point of light traveling through space. The final piece was a 12×12” cube with a mirrored base, four dichroic panels, and a black-painted wood block drilled at varying angles. Interchangeable 3D-printed frames supported the panels, while custom mounts held strip LEDs. Controlled by an Arduino, the LEDs illuminated in sequence, creating animated points of light to evoke the path of a cosmic ray as it moved through the box.

In collaboration with Natalie(interior architecture) and Hagen(physics)

Tools:3d prints
Wood
LED strip lights
Dichroic acrylic
Arduino


Process

We started by observing a cloud chamber Next, ideation Prototyping and troubleshooting again, again, and again Poster presentation at Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement(EUReCA)

Knoxville, Tennessee k8jolly722@gmail.com
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