A Crystal of Bubbles

Description

2019 Second Place, Northwestern Scientific Images Contest. We have all made bubbles by blowing air on a bubble wand dipped in a soap solution. Here, we make many small bubbles of uniform size by slowly injecting air into soapy water. The bubbles then arrange themselves in a uniform pattern-this is exactly how atoms arrange to form crystals. In fact, such bubble rafts were first used in 1940 to understand how crystals form. In this image, we see a single layer of bubbles arranged in a hexagonal pattern. The peculiar patterns are locations with two layers of bubbles sitting atop each other. Atomic crystals also show such irregular patterns, known as crystal defects.

Abstract

This image originally appeared as part of Northwestern's Scientific Images Contest. The contest and subsequent exhibitions are organized by Science in Society, the University's research center for science education and public engagement. Further information and opportunities to participate are available on their website.

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