infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen
infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen
infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen
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BY: roB Van WiJK & raChel elands<br />
Museum Boerhaave op<strong>en</strong>s its doors with an analogous<br />
t<strong>en</strong>d<strong>en</strong>cy: “<strong>Beauty</strong> in Sci<strong>en</strong>ce”. T<strong>en</strong> images surround<br />
the so-called Theatrum Anatomicum of Leid<strong>en</strong>. This<br />
is completely in context with<br />
the function of the anatomical<br />
theatre as this theatre<br />
op<strong>en</strong>ed hundreds of years<br />
ago in the summer, as an<br />
exhibition space for intriguing items. Among those<br />
items were not only the skeletons of animals and hu-<br />
sPeCial<br />
<strong>Beauty</strong> in<br />
Sci<strong>en</strong>ce<br />
at secondary school, an experim<strong>en</strong>t of the Chemical Gard<strong>en</strong> is shown to the stud<strong>en</strong>ts. the Chemical Gard<strong>en</strong> is based on an<br />
astonishing ph<strong>en</strong>om<strong>en</strong>on: adding crystalized coppersulfate, cobaltchloride and nickelnitrate in a reaction tube with sodiumsilicate<br />
results in the formation of all kinds of elongated plant-like multi-coloured structures. Coppersulfate will make blue bushes,<br />
cobaltchloride will form purple blue plants and nickelnitrate will develop into a structure referring to gre<strong>en</strong> seaweed. in short,<br />
this reaction of compounds results in a colourful spectacle and the arise of a miniature gard<strong>en</strong>: a tiny gnome would not be unsuitable!<br />
this remains a funny experim<strong>en</strong>t to comfort young stud<strong>en</strong>ts in the chemical kitch<strong>en</strong>, whilst being sci<strong>en</strong>tific and performing<br />
magnific<strong>en</strong>t results at the same time, of which beautiful images can be tak<strong>en</strong>.<br />
’there is no arguing about taste’<br />
mans, but also Roman earth<strong>en</strong>ware, a small Egyptian<br />
mummy of a baby and many other exotic items. These<br />
items were meant to astonish the visitors of this anatomical<br />
theatre and to let them think<br />
about the decay of life. Still, the<br />
t<strong>en</strong> images, which surround the<br />
anatomical theatre today, accomplish<br />
the same function, and these<br />
items add to the exciting atmosphere of this showpiece<br />
of museum Boerhaave.<br />
origin - universiteit leid<strong>en</strong> 21
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