# Delicate Microscopic Flowers Scientist Wim L. Noorduin Coaxes Chemicals to Beautiful Blooms By Meghan Young | Published 2013-05-24 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wim-l-noorduin References: [visualnews](http://www.visualnews.com/2013/05/23/harvard-scientist-grows-microscopic-flowers/) At first, a person might look at Wim L. Noorduin's images and assume that he is a talented macro photographer. In reality, he is a Harvard scientist who has learned how to manipulate microscopic chemicals to form [beautiful blooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bloome) anyone would want to pluck on put on the dining room table. Adept at arranging [crystals into leaves and petals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-crystal-floral-kits), Wim L. Noorduin has created works of art that could be hung on the walls of a gallery. Although Wim L. Noorduin makes the process seem easy, [Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Artificial-muscle-materials) reports, "[He and] his colleagues dissolve barium chloride (a salt) and sodium silicate (also known as waterglass) into a beaker of water. Carbon dioxide from air naturally dissolves in the water, setting off a reaction which precipitates barium carbonate crystals. As a byproduct, it also lowers the pH of the solution immediately surrounding the crystals, which then triggers a reaction with the dissolved waterglass." Sounds pretty complicated. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.1/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 26% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Microscopic Chemical Manipulation:** The trend of manipulating microscopic chemicals to create beautiful blooms or artworks has the potential for disruptive innovation in the fields of art, interior design, and decorative accessories. - **Crystal Arrangements:** The trend of arranging crystals into leaves and petals opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in the fields of jewelry design, fashion accessories, and home decor. - **Chemical Reactions and Art:** The trend of using chemical reactions to create art can lead to disruptive innovation in the fields of fine art, sculpture, and installation art. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art:** The art industry can explore innovative ways of utilizing microscopic chemical manipulation to create unique and visually stunning artworks. - **Interior Design:** The interior design industry can incorporate crystal arrangements into their designs, offering a new and captivating element to spaces. - **Science Education:** The field of science education can utilize the concept of chemical reactions and art to engage students in creative and hands-on learning experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Blooming Clustered Art Forms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/structural-botany.md) - [Biology-Inspired Porcelain Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shiyuan-xu.md) - [Petal-Inspired Glass Lighting](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bloom-wall-light.md) - [Delicate Colorful Vases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delicate-colorful-vase.md) - [Computational Undersea-Inspired Soaps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coral-soaps-collection.md) - [Nature-Inspired Colorful Glass Vases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anemona.md) - [Stone Floral Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lithic-bloom.md) - [Plant-Inspired Dynamic Chandeliers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blossom-chandelier.md) - [Physics-Informed Digital Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motion-sculpture.md)