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Hi, Alan -

This phenomenon is very difficult to visualize.  I've heard of two analogies that can help:

1.  Balloon with glitter:

Imagine a balloon that has glitter applied to the surface.  If the balloon is inflated, each flake of glitter on the surface becomes farther away from every other flake of glitter, assuming that the balloon can expand equally in all directions.

2.  Cookie dough

Think of the universe as a lump of cookie dough, and each chocolate chip mixed into the dough as a galaxy.  As the cookie bakes it expands, and when this happens, each individual chocolate chip gets further away from every other chocolate chip because the dough is expanding everywhere throughout it's entire mass. 

Where it gets tricky is that the balloon and the cookie both had a defined edge/boundary.  Beyond the surface of the balloon or the cookie, there's the room or the inside of the oven.  They are expanding into some other material that we can readily identify and quantify.  That's not so clear when it comes to the universe.  These analogies only take three dimensions into account.  Trying to grasp such heady ideas is definitely a challenge! 

Good luck,

     Michael

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Michael Holland
Principal/Owner
Michael Holland Productions
Bozeman MT
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2015 01:17 PM
From: Alan Ransenberg
Subject: Big Bang Interpetation

Hi everyone!

Im designing an exhibit whose subject is Dark Matter. This encompasses the present evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate. Ive seen various ways to visual show this, and none of them quite get it. Its a head scratcher. Any ideas?

Thanks so much

 

Alan Ransenberg

The Alchemy of Design LLC

You need to talk with someone in astrophysics (you can contact me offline, larry@umn.edu if you wish).  Dark matter and dark energy are two very different things, as another responder mentioned, and you have them tangled up.

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Lawrence Rudnick

MN Institute for Astrophysics
Bell Museum of Natural History - University of Minnesota
Minneapolis MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2015 01:17 PM
From: Alan Ransenberg
Subject: Big Bang Interpetation

Hi everyone!

Im designing an exhibit whose subject is Dark Matter. This encompasses the present evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate. Ive seen various ways to visual show this, and none of them quite get it. Its a head scratcher. Any ideas?

Thanks so much

 

Alan Ransenberg

The Alchemy of Design LLC

Good Afternoon Alan (and everyone)

What an exciting project you are working on! The first thing that comes to mind in regards to your project is projection mapping. For those who might not know, projection mapping is the process of using a projector to animate a (usually) 3D object. This is different from projecting, say a movie, documentary or power point on a flat screen because it has the potential to be highly interactive.

Although it is being done here, our colleagues in Europe are designing some innovative exhibits using projection mapping. At the Moesgaard in Denmark, their inaugural exhibit, The First Emperor-China's Terracotta Army has been received very enthusiastically by the public since its opening in April. Some 50,000 visitors were able to color a replica 3D warrior replica using a control panel on a computer, the colors are reflected on the 3D warrior and then it saved it on a flat screen with others created to make up the terracotta army. The designers also used used cinematic sound and lighting interwoven with dynamic storytelling to creative this truly immersive environment (which was visited by the Danish Royal family)

Here is the link to the exhibit: http://www.moesgaardmuseum.dk/en/exhibitions/first-special-exhibition/

Also, an art studio out of Seoul named Kimchi and Chips creates projection mapping art installations. One of their latest, entitled Light Barrier Second Edition was commissioned by FutureEverything and premiered at the New Media Light Festival, Nikola-Lenivets last year. It combined projection mapping using convex mirrors (as opposed to 3D objects) lighting and theatrical sound. 

Here's a link to that: http://www.kimchiandchips.com/works.html#lightbarrier

Although this wasn't ideas for your project per se, hopefully it provides fertile ground for inspiration! I really feel as if projection mapping is the new wave in presenting science in a museum setting.

Cheers!

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Amber Harris

Volunteer Coordinator and Program Associate
Houston TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2015 01:17 PM
From: Alan Ransenberg
Subject: Big Bang Interpetation

Hi everyone!

Im designing an exhibit whose subject is Dark Matter. This encompasses the present evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate. Ive seen various ways to visual show this, and none of them quite get it. Its a head scratcher. Any ideas?

Thanks so much

 

Alan Ransenberg

The Alchemy of Design LLC