Schlieren Photography Turns Science into Art

SHAKESPEARE:
A researcher at Penn State University uses 17th century technology to further science today. Meanwhile, many people seek out his photos to use as art work. Lets take a look.
STORY:
Schlieren photography offers a view of the invisible; the heat from a flame, the breath of a panting dog, the rapid expulsion of air from a high pressure canister. To many it is art. To Dr. Gary Settles of Penn State University's gas dynamics laboratory, it's a form of pure science that has taken up more than 25 years of his career.

The schlieren optical system was invented in the 17th century as a system to detect otherwise invisible streaks in glass being used to make lenses.

Dr Settles says it was an idea ahead of its time which these days, continues to help advance science.




[Dr. Gary Settles, Scientists]:
"The schlieren technique's been around for about 150 years and ever since it started it's been used in scientific investigation and we've learned a lot of things by being able to see the flow; how shock waves form around a bullet, the warm air rising from your body when you cough."

Dr Settles work attracted the attention of the US government in the late 1990s when he proposed the idea of using schlieren imaging to detect the presence of explosives on airline passengers. He came up with, and patented a bomb detection portal. Integrated in what was later called "EntryScan", it is now in use in airports around the United States.

Many people, he says, want to take his images and turn them into art for their living room. For the man himself however, the attraction is all about the science.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ntd
• Photography
• Art
• Penn State University
• technology
• science
• Schlieren

[OttoBelden]

Very cool, I built a setup and do Schlieren photography at home. I have posted some "hot to" videos of my setup as well as some videos I have made on my channel. Thanks for putting this video up, I have been looking for it for some time now. - Otto Belden

[ThePwnnubs]

very interesting