Transform an ordinary orange into modern sculpture using only construction paper and embroidery thread! No, The Why Files hasn’t gone art project gonzo. We’ve only been inspired by this funky portrait of one of the most mundane substances on Earth.
Not citrus fruits. Water. In this view of the famous H2O molecule, scientists have used a kind of quantum mapmaking to show how electrical charge is distributed across the surfaces of the two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
Researchers in NASA’s Advanced Supercomputing Division (NAS) used sophisticated mathematical techniques to show how negatively-charged electrons create the natural partitions shown here. The technique has been used to understand phenomena like the aerodynamics of flight and the interactions between water molecules and air.
NAS is part of the Information Sciences and Technology Directorate at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The division’s research focuses on how to develop technology that enhances the design of aerospace vehicles.
