At Princeton University, a new kind of art exhibition is in progress , one that showcases petri dishes, microscopes and equations – all used in scientific research.
The 55 pieces in the exhibit are all the products of scientific research, or works of art that incorporate the ideas or tools of science. Part of the fun was discovering art usually only observed by researchers themselves. This kind of thing is rare…and right up my alley. 
And to finish in the spirit of the competition , Prizes were split according to the mathematical principle, the golden ratio. First place won $250, second place received $154.50 and third place, $95.50.
Here are some of my favourite images from the exhibition : All of these can be found at the official gallery.
Plasma Table
Elle Starkman and Andrew Post-Zwicker
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
FIRST PRIZE WINNER
A dust cloud of silicon micro-spheres that was illuminated by laser light scattering from the cloud is suspended in a plasma. The dust cloud is approximately 0.5A high and floats in a conical shape between the dust tray and an electrode as long as the plasma is maintained. Fundamental dust cloud properties and dynamics have applications from plasma processing to space plasmas.
Photo: Courtesy of Elle Starkman and Andrew Post-Zwicker
Driven
Anton Darhuber, Benjamin Fischer and Sandra Troian
Microfluidic Research and Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering
SECOND PRIZE WINNER
This image illustrates evolving patterns formed during the spreading of a surface-active substance over a thin liquid film on a silicon wafer. The usually slow spreading process was highly accelerated by the surface tension imbalance that triggered a cascade of hydrodynamic instabilities. Such surface-tension driven flow phenomena are believed to be important for the self-cleaning mechanism of the lung as well as pulmonary drug delivery.
Photo: Courtesy of Anton Darhuber, Benjamin Fischer and Sandra Troian
Mooney Faces
Aaron Schurger GS
Department of Psychology
Craig Mooney, a cognitive psychologist, used images similar to the ones above in 1957 to test the ability of children to form a coherent impression based on very little visual detail. Images of this type have become common in cognitive psychology experiments.
Photo: Courtesy of Aaron Schurger
Prison
Miguel Gaspar GS
Department of Molecular Biology
Green fluorescent protein-expressing bacteria grown in a silicone biochip organized into an array of chambers connected by smaller channels.
Photo: Courtesy of Miguel Gaspar
Blood Bars
Matt Hoffman GS
Department of Computer Science
This image is an analysis of a clip towards the beginning of the Slayer song “Blood Red.” This shows the dramatic large-scale contrasts that can exist between areas of high and low dissonance.
Photo: Courtesy of Matt Hoffman
Unknown Species
Darsh Ranjan ’05
Department of Mathematics
This fractal is obtained by iteratively applying the transformation z Photo: Courtesy of Darsh Ranjan
