Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
IN scientific and educational center "Evolution of the Earth" Novosibirsk State University has a new exhibit simulating crystal formation in a laboratory setting. Designed in a steampunk style, it is controlled via a mobile app. The new exhibit, specially designed for NSU, is the only one of its kind in Russia. It was developed and manufactured with the support of the Priority 2030 strategic academic leadership program.
"The idea to create such an exhibit arose a couple of years ago. The museum previously had a prototype. It was open, and the tour guide had to manually insert the marbles into the octahedron, and the marbles often disappeared after the tours. So we decided to improve on this idea," said Olga Khokhryakova, a research fellow at the Evolution of the Earth Scientific and Educational Center.
The staff at the "Evolution of the Earth" Scientific and Educational Center developed the general design and concept for the device, and created the first visualization using artificial intelligence. They then handed over their work to modeler and engineer Dmitry Kamenev.
"I've long had the idea of creating a steampunk-style installation. I spoke with the engineers who developed our exhibit, and they liked the idea. They approached the project with enthusiasm and even humor: if you look closely at the exhibit, you can see plaques that reference the works of the Strugatsky brothers and the novel 'The Twelve Chairs.' The team began work on our project in June 2025 and completed it in November," said Alexander Igolnikov, head of the Evolution of the Earth Scientific and Educational Center, sharing the story behind the exhibit's creation.
The museum staff meticulously designed the exhibit down to the smallest detail. Its shape and appearance resemble an autoclave for synthesizing and growing crystals in a laboratory setting. The device's interior simulates the natural processes that lead to mineral formation. For example, it houses a lava lamp, symbolizing the molten matter entering the "crystallizer." Warm light and characteristic gurgling sounds visually convey its operation, while special "sensors" display changes in temperature and pressure. A unique feature of the exhibit is its control via a dedicated app. Guides can adjust the light, sound, and even voices. For example, the crystallizer can play excerpts from speeches by such eminent scientists as Mikhail Lavrentyev and Albert Einstein.
The new exhibit clearly demonstrates the arrangement of atoms in a crystal lattice. It works like this: the structure resembles an hourglass, the main part of which is a hemioctahedron, a four-sided pyramid made of plexiglass. One of the hemioctahedra contains balls. When the guide turns the exhibit's handle, the hemioctahedron containing the balls rotates 180 degrees. As a result, the balls spill over and fill the second hemioctahedron, completely occupying its volume. The balls are arranged in a strictly regular pattern, not a chaotic one.
Each crystal and each mineral has its own unique "pattern" of particle arrangement. Atoms in reality, of course, are not spherical and can vary from one another, but in this exhibit, they are represented as spheres for clarity. The process can be repeated an infinite number of times, and each time the spheres are arranged in a strictly defined pattern, corresponding to the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice.
"Certain difficulties arose during the work on the exhibit. The beads that were supposed to flow into the hemioctahedron proved too heavy, so the structure had to be further reinforced. It was later discovered that when our 'hourglass' was turned over, the beads would clog the passage. To solve this problem, motors were added to stir the beads and prevent them from getting stuck. In fact, exactly the same thing happens in nature. If a solution isn't stirred, at some point the supply of material available to the growing crystal is exhausted, and growth stops. A simple example is sugar in tea: if you don't stir it, it won't dissolve completely. Exactly the same processes occur in mineral-forming environments," explained Olga Khokhryakova.
The new exhibit is located in Hall 2, "Earth Composition and Deep Processes," at the "Earth Evolution" Research and Education Center. It complements a display case showing the structure of crystal lattices in various minerals. Anyone interested can see the new exhibit for themselves by scheduling a tour by calling 7 383 363-42-25.
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