We all know how an hourglass works. You turn it over, and watch the contents spill from one chamber to the other in a timely fashion. What would you do if the contents not only started glowing, but you found out they were alive?
The Light Fountain, as it has been dubbed, is a bioluminescent hourglass that is filled with water, and a myriad of single-celled creatures called dinoflagellates. Don’t worry too about their well-being, because they are an algae that require extremely little amounts of care from you. These little things are what are the cause of glowing waves, as seen in the video below. All they need is a little push or shove, and they begin to glow as a reaction.
To make one of these amazing pieces, you’ll need 2 1000mL Erlenmeyer flasks, 2 matching rubber stoppers, 2 glass eye droppers, 2 ~7 inch round wooden plaques, 3 2 ft threaded rods, 5 ft copper pipe, 6 wing nuts of same size as the rod, 6 acorn bolts of same size as the rod, 6 washers, and 2 mouse pads or rubber matting. The maker, who goes simply by Patrik, says that this all totals to about $65. The dinoflagellates will tack on another $20-30.You will need tools such as a pipe cutter, hack saw, scissors, and possibly access to a freezer. If this equipment seems feasible to you, then I’d say follow the link to make your own!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqJbUKEPgXc