Canyon diablo meteorite4/7/2023 ![]() ![]() This 60-kilogram fragment was collected from Arizona’s Meteor Crater, created 50,000 years ago by an asteroid about 40 metres in diameter. Hidden away in a far corner on the second floor lies an easy-to-miss meteorite, which is stored in a glass box and cryptically labelled “CAÑON DIABLO,” but is worth a second look. The mastermind behind the piece is Robert Lang, a physicist and origami artist who uses mathematical software-including some that he personally designed-to create and visualize incredibly complex folding patterns. The model is actually origami, folded out of one four-metre sheet of paper manufactured specially by a local Montreal company, Papeterie Saint-Armand. You’ll find, among other things, a life-size model of a pteranodon hanging from the ceiling, a type of flying reptile from the Mesozoic period and one of the largest flying animals to ever exist. While you’re looking through all of the taxidermy and prehistoric dioramas on the second floor, take a moment to look up. This infiltration even preserves details like tree rings, making them beautiful and scientifically useful specimens. Meanwhile, as the tree decomposes, more and more of it is replaced by minerals, until it eventually has no organic material left and the wood of the tree has been completely replaced. These minerals encase all of the features of the original tree, creating a mineral copy of the tree’s structure. ![]() When trees are covered by sediment, they are very gradually infiltrated by minerals like silica. Over in the geology display cases, the Redpath presents a handful of samples of petrified wood, which are essentially fossils of trees created through a process called mineral infiltration. Over time, these layers create a shining pearl in the shape of the original figurine, and in this case, the Buddha. ![]() The mollusk then treats the figurine the same way it would treat any natural debris that had entered its shell: It coats it in a layer of nacre, better known as mother of pearl. of placing lead or ceramic figurines-often smaller than a penny-into mussels, clams, or oysters. The pearls are part of the Chinese tradition dating back to the fifth century C.E. At first, you’ll notice a kind of lumpy oyster shell, but if you take a closer look, you can see tiny, pearl-enclosed figures of the Buddha. Keep an eye out for a tiny testament to human ingenuity: The Buddha pearls. Right after checking your coat, you may notice the Redpath’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a small display with taxidermy, minerals, and tools. The McGill Tribune combed through the collections to find five interesting objects that you might not have noticed to explore the science behind them. If you haven’t been to the Redpath Museum since it reopened on Jan. ![]()
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