NOLAN PARK, building 10A, GOVERNORS ISLAND, NY (part of ELEMENTS! exhibition curated and organized by Carol Parkinson, director of Harvestworks and funded in part by NYSCA.
Developed in collaboration with Plasma Physicist Walter Gekelman
Biomedical Engineer Haley Marks
Created during the current solar maximum, this work explores the interaction between sunflowers, bees, and Alfven waves, illustrating how art and science merge to reveal deeper insights into energy and complexity. Sunflowers, with their heliotropic movement, symbolize growth and vitality, while Alfven waves in plasma transport energy along magnetic field lines, which is crucial for understanding space weather and solar phenomena. Microscopic views of the sunflower reveal patterns that mirror the sun, emphasizing the profound connections between earthly life and cosmic forces. The physical objects are from the Large Plasma Device shaped by the high energy experiments and other artifacts – the antenna, beehive, and sunflower.
[SUN]Flower Plasma project was sparked by the historic fusion breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in December 2022, where scientists achieved the first-ever fusion reaction that produced more energy than was used to create it. This milestone, led by a team of experts including Dr. Hurricane (a former student of Dr. Gekelman) and Dr. Kim Budil, represents a significant leap toward limitless, clean energy. The experiment used high-powered lasers to compress hydrogen fuel, simulating the conditions found in stars and offering new hope for sustainable energy solutions.
began our journey by initiating and co-teaching a Fiat Lux class at UCLA, titled Art + Physics = Energy, aimed at bringing students from both the arts and sciences to the NIF and the NLL. Support for the field trip came from the Rothman Foundation for Food Studies, which sparked the idea of making an unexpected connection between food, plasma physics, and sunflowers. As part of the experiment, 10 pots of soil were planted with sunflower seeds, each treated with plasma for a few seconds, resulting in varying levels of growth and strength among the plants.
The Sun, the giver of all life on this planet, is currently in its solar maximum phase. The [SUN]Flower Plasma project is launching at a time when anthropogenic climate change is converging with this solar maximum, leading to unprecedented heat waves around the world. This critical moment underscores the urgency of understanding the interconnected forces shaping our environment.
[SUN] Flower Plasma is being launched at the peak of the solar maximum, which is occurring this year of the Dragon (2024) and next, the year of the Snake (2025). This period is marked by intensified sunspot activity, powerful solar flares, and strengthened magnetic fields. These solar dynamics can disrupt Earth’s magnetosphere, affecting satellites, communications, and power grids. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is closely monitoring this activity to gain deeper insights into the Sun’s behavior and its impact on our planet. As this project unfolds during this critical time, it emphasizes the convergence of heightened solar activity and human-induced climate change, exploring our interconnected relationship with energy, magnetism, and the environment.
The magnetic fields and intense heat associated with the solar maximum can have a significant impact on both human and animal physical and mental health, as well as collective behavior. Increased solar activity has been linked to fluctuations in the Earth’s geomagnetic field, which can influence circadian rhythms, mood, and cognitive function. Studies have suggested that solar storms and geomagnetic disturbances can trigger anxiety, sleep disturbances, and even cardiovascular issues in some individuals.
Additionally, shifts in magnetic fields can affect animal navigation, migration patterns, and overall well-being. On a societal level, these energetic shifts may contribute to heightened collective behavior—both positive, such as increased creativity and cooperation, and negative, such as heightened tension and unrest. By launching this project during the solar maximum, we aim to explore these interconnected forces, examining how they influence life on Earth at both individual and collective scales.
[SUN}Flower Plasma is partially funded by NYSCA and supported by Harvestworks NY and the UCLA Art Sci center, ALMS CNSI
Elements of the project – SUN, Sunflower, Large Plasma device, Bees, solar flares, solar wind
References
Persinger, M. A. (1987). Psychophysiological Effects of Environmental Electromagnetic and Geomagnetic Fields. Psychological Bulletin, 101(1), 43–56.
Stoupel, E. G., et al. (2002). Geomagnetic activity and frequency of acute coronary events: A longitudinal study. Vascular Health and Risk Management, 4(10), 237-242.
Otsuka, K., et al. (2001). Geomagnetic disturbances influence the human sleep-wake cycle. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 14(3), 169-175.
Animal behavior is known to be influenced by changes in geomagnetic fields, affecting navigation and migration in species like birds and sea turtles:
Lohmann, K. J., et al. (2007). Geomagnetic imprinting: A unifying hypothesis of long-distance natal homing in salmon and sea turtles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(23), 10305-10310.