Experiment

'Marbling painting on a sphere of water II -life, light, and ocean-' was performed on Kibo.

All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

JAXA Education Payload Observation (EPO) 'Marbling painting on a sphere of water II -life, light, and ocean-'* was performed was performed on board the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo.

*Principal Investigator (PI): Takuro Osaka, Professor, The University of Tsukuba

'Marbling painting on a sphere of water II' is an art that the spheres of seawater express life and the aqua planet, Earth, using the familiarized marbling technique.

This marbling theme aims to express the evolution process of life, which emerged from water to land and finally flew into space, using seawater, the origin of life on the Earth and natural luminescent materials. By doing so, the works represent the mystique and beauty of the Earth and the life.

The first 'Marbling painting on a sphere of water' was performed in September, 2008. The second one, 'Marbling painting on a sphere of water II' was performed from around 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on September 30, 2011, on Kibo. The second works characterize the world of colors of luminescent shell particles of sea-fireflies and fluorescent inks.

Firstly, spheres of seawater were created, and ink samples were gradually injected into each sphere of seawater to form marbling patterns. Ultraviolet light were exposed to the spheres. The works produced were taken by a high-definition camera.

Special Message from Principal Investigator (PI), Prof. Takuro Osaka, The University of Tsukuba

The sea-fireflies' luminescent water sphere and fluorescent mystique water sphere were illuminated. They were marvelous as if a new planet and a new space had been born all at once. I appreciate Astronaut Furukawa for creating a new aesthetic field.

Prof. Osaka monitors the proceeding from the UOA, TKSC (Photo credit: JAXA)

The water sphere with shell particles of sea-fireflies and blue ink injected (Photo credit: Takuro Osaka/JAXA)

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)