Art and science are not so dissimilar. Both require hard work, careful observation, and tireless dedication. And they both seek universal truths. The only difference is that scientists explore those truths with microscopes and telescopes, while artists explore them with peyote and unprotected sex.
And what do you get when you combine scientific tools, techniques, and knowledge with artistic creativity, freedom, and a propensity for mind-altering substances? Something real fine, that’s what …
Microscopic Sandcastles
Good art should inspire questions. Like what is true beauty? Is there a reason for our existence, or are we just the random, congealed atomic ejaculations of a meaningless universe? More importantly, how the heck could someone draw a castle on a grain of sand?
If you’re thinking they did it with a laser, you’re wrong. The laser beam was too big, so they used a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope, the thing used to see some of the smallest things in existence. The sandcastles were created by MIT Media Lab designer Marcelo Coelho and artist Vik Muniz, who spent four years crafting four incredibly minuscule sandcastles on sand grains less than a tenth of an inch across.
Preparing and selecting the suitable grains was just as tricky as the highfalutin’ beam technology used to etch it. The grains were first cleaned in methanol to remove oily imperfections, then acetone to clean off the methanol, and then sieved to separate those of the right size: under half a millimeter, or less than 0.04 inches.