Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole

Made:
2011-2012 in London
maker:
Science Museum
and
Mark Champkins
Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) Neon light sculpture of light falling into black hole (light) The Black Hole Light, by Mark Champkins The Black Hole Light, by Mark Champkins

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

Mark Champkins/Science Museum Gr
© Mark Champkins

The Black Hole Light, by Mark Champkins
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

The Black Hole Light, by Mark Champkins
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

The Black Hole Light, by Mark Champkins, presented to Stephen Hawking on his 70th birthday by the Science Museum, in 2012. Cylindrical black stand holding a spiral-shaped neon light.

This illuminated scupture was the 70th birthday present to Stephen Hawking by the Science Museum. It was authored by the then inventor-in-residence Mark Champkins. The sculpture represents the trajectory of light as it falls into a black hole. Black Hole Light remained on display in Stephen's office from 2012 onwards.

Distributed around Stephen Hawking's Office are a selection of items with layers of scientific significance easily missed by the untrained eye. These are toys and gifts that have the closest connection to Stephen's theoretical work: research he was particularly proud of, and which also provided an easy way to illustrate difficult aspects of his theories to visitors.

Details

Category:
Stephen Hawking Office
Collection:
Stephen Hawking’s Office
Object Number:
2021-561/11
Materials:
glass, plastic (unidentified) and neon
Measurements:
overall: 353 mm x 23 mm x 23 mm, 1.59 kg
type:
light
credit:
Accepted in lieu of Inheritance Tax by H M Government from the Estate of Stephen Hawking and allocated to the Science Museum, 2021