Getting Up Close and Personal With a Micrometeorite
Posted in client stories hints of inspiration messages from maui by on Jul 28 2010
A little peice of outer space taken with Dr. Gary Greenberg's Edge 3D microscope
3D Microscope on Maui will Revolutionize Our View of the World
I will never forget when I first went to visit Dr. Gary Greenberg in his lab at the UH Institute for Astronomy in Pukalani, Maui (which just so happens to be one of the largest astronomy institutes in the world). Dr. Greenberg has been using his unique 3D microscope to study tiny grains of sand from the Apollo 11 Mission that NASA returned from the moon. He placed what appeared to be just an ordinary piece of sand under his microscope. As I focused the lens, I could tell right away this was no ordinary piece of sand. I watched in awe as this tiny speck transformed into one of the most stunning, glowing, diamond-esque images I had ever seen.
Dr. Greenberg explained that it was a micrometeorite that was found at the bottom of a drinking well at the South Pole. His microscope, named the Edge 3D, is no ordinary microscope. Not only is it extremely high powered, it allows images to be captured in high definition 3D. Instead of just looking at a highly magnified image, I was seemingly able to go on a journey inside a piece of outer space and explore its depths inside and out. It felt like science class Avatar-style. In less than a few seconds I had travelled millions of miles as my mind was navigating the far reaches of our solar system.
The Edge 3D is Dr. Greenberg’s invention. A Ph.D. biomedical researcher, Dr. Greenberg originally developed it for use in medical research. It was easy to see, however, that the possibilities were even greater. The 3D photographs and video the Edge 3D produced rivaled some of the works created by the world’s most prolific artists. Dr. Greenberg had long been a pioneer in bridging the gap between science and art. He began his career in the film industry working on the first Superman movie where he filmed human pancreatic cancer cells which went on to become the visual representation of the planet Krypton. Using the Edge 3D, he began photographing sand, flowers, and a variety of everyday objects, creating dramatic landscapes of hidden worlds. Dr. Greenberg states, “Art will lead the way in conveying science to the consciousness of twenty-first century culture.”
I was meeting with Dr. Greenberg to discuss marketing the Edge 3D for use in the creative arts and film industries. The Edge 3D microscope is the only microscope in the world that produces real-time motion 3D movies and can eliminate the need for CGI, potentially saving thousands of dollars in production costs. Examples of its stunning visual landscapes, which give Salvador Dali a run for his money, can be found at www.sandgrains.com.
Already, Pacific Business News is covering the launch of the 3D Edge into the commercial world. Hawaii has long been a hub for the TV and movie industry in addition to being home to the most advanced telescopes in existence. Having this technology available on Maui will further solidify Hawaii’s place in the realms of technological innovation and natural beauty, taking what is possible to a whole new level. Our goal is to reach documentary filmmakers and creative industry professionals eager to create visual images that define the phrase “eye-catching.” Through innovation we can all find inspiration!
Click on the following link to see the Edge 3D in action.
