Cosmic Chiasmus: Crossing the Universe
How can we visualise the journey of cosmic rays that turn carbon dioxide into its radioactive form?
Artist Susan Eyre used a cloud chamber, high altitude balloons, and filming equipment to capture the collisions that create radioactive carbon dioxide particles. This multi-layered film explored how life on earth is permeated by cosmic rays—the way they interact with the earth’s electromagnetic field, with our skin, and with carbon.
Supported by the UK Government.
Medium: Video
Year: 2021
Process
Loading the cloud chamber into the payload.
Inflating the high altitude balloon.
Launching the high altitude balloon.
The high altitude balloon captured as it floats up.
Tracking the movement of the high altitude balloon.
Retrieving the payload once it lands back.
An image taken by the high altitude balloon.
Filming the particle trails created in the cloud chamber.
A multilayered still from the film.
Filming the time lapse of the plants growing.
Team
Susan Eyre
Artist
Susan Eyre is an artist driven by curiosity into the mysteries of the universe. Working across video, sculpture and print, she draws from the fantastical nature of particle physics to urge a sense of wonder in the everyday and encourage an awareness of an entangled existence with our environment. She has collaborated with scientists and academics at leading Universities on cross discipline projects.
Building her own cloud chamber, and running workshops for the visualisation of cosmic particles she led “Laboratory of Dark Matters”, a research, residency and events programme inspired by visiting the dark matter research facility at Boulby Underground Laboratory in the North East of England. She has been the recipient of funding from Arts Council England, The Institute of Physics and The Science and Technology Facilities Council.
