More about Molecular Structure
Through the day and night – we travel the seasons:
The Molecular Structure Mural begins in the day and ends in the night. Our artist, Peter Krsko, created two multilayered stencils to bring our sky to life.
Sun
Did you know our Sun is classified as a yellow dwarf star? It is the largest object within our solar system, the sun holds a whopping 99.8% of the system’s mass! If that was not cool enough, our ~4.5 billion year old sun sings… well kind of sings. Stars are in constant symphony as their nuclear power creates vibrations, scientists can translate these vibrations through fluctuations in a star’s brightness so we can hear what a star could sound like. These vibrations can help scientists understand more about the structures of stars.
Moon
Closer to home, we have our Moon. The Sun and Moon work together to create the gravitational pull that creates our tides. We have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to our moon. Although it may be cratered and pitted from impacts – the moon helps stabilize Earth’s wobble … which influences our livable climate!
Cherish our water
Water is made of three atoms: one Oxygen and two Hydrogens. It is shaped at a “bent” angle with oxygen in the center. The uneven sharing of electrons in O-H covalent bonds gives rise to the unique properties of water. There are three distinct phases, or states, that represent the molecular structures of water (Gas/Vapor, Liquid, and Solid.) Can you see the varying degrees of order within each molecular phase?
Gas State
Within the gas state, water’s molecular structure has the most disorder. The water molecules are so far apart they barely interact within on another and are in constant, rapid motion. Within this state, the temperature is the highest of all phases – it can take on the form of room/atmospheric vapor (as seen in our mural), or to being as hot as steam!
Liquid State
In the liquid state, water molecules are close to one another and can interact as they pass by. It’s like rubbing two weak magnets together, the attractive forces can be felt but the magnets are free to move around.
Solid State
Hydrogen bonding of water molecules in the solid state forms 6-membered rings. Can you find this shape in the mural’s snowflakes and ice lake? This is why snowflakes are always hexagonal! The hydrogen bonding between rigidified water molecules leads to “hollow” hexagonal structures within solid ice – which makes ice float!
Dive into Water Filtration
How do we protect water, and recycle water well?
Methane
Methane is often emitted in wastewater through the decomposition of organic material. The molecule also appears in natural bodies of water through other natural interactions.
Sinking Sediments
Water filtration begins with dividing waste from water. Lighter solids sink to the bottom of bodies of water – cleaning water of any unwanted solids. The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage district replicates this natural process through their “Primary Settling Tanks”and “Final Clarifiers.”
Microorganisms
Microorganisms within the water consume organic matter as a part of the filtration process. The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage district replicates this natural process in what is termed the “Aeration Tank.”
Broken DNA
Ultraviolet (UV) light passes through water and kills bacteria, represented by the broken DNA. Within nature, the Sun’s UV power works to disinfect our waters. The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage district replicates this natural process in what is termed the “UV Light Chambers.”
To Fly or to Fish
Great Blue Herons are the largest and most widespread heron in North America.
Great Blue Heron
Feeding on fish, amphibians, reptiles and much more – these birds stand silently along the shore, waiting for their prey, or they will stalk prey slowly with master precision.
Feather
Zoom in to the microscopic view of its feather. Feathers must be light and flexible for precise airborne movements, but also strong enough to withstand the forces of flight. Within a molecular zoom, you see the anatomy of a feather. A feather has a rachis (central shaft) and a vane made of barbs that branch off the rachis.
Keratin
Zoom in even further into a molecular structure of keratin. Barbs that branch off the rachis are made from a protein called beta-keratin, represented in the mural by the molecular structure of keratin.
Light in the Night
If you visit the Molecular Structure mural at night, you may even see a few glowing fireflies hidden during the day.
Can you identify anything else that glows in the mural? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram.
Fire Fly
Do you wonder why a lighting bug glows? The answer is Luciferin!
Luciferin
Luciferin is the light-emitting compound found in organisms that generate bioluminescence.