Photobacteria is a classic Exploratorium exhibit that I redesigned. The bacteria on display glow in presence of oxygen, and the reaction can be controlled by the visitor. The original exhibit was a shaking table that held multiple flasks of bacteria growing in broth; the lab's strain has been cultured since 1979. I created a flat panel that is mixed by bubbling filtered air through three ports in the bottom of the panel. By turning knobs, visitors allow air bubbles to rise up through the broth creating swirling, moving patterns of light.
