One of the major unsolved problems in physics is the nature of dark matter. It accounts for 25% of the universe and is responsible for binding stars and galaxies together. However, it is completely undetectable. We cannot see, weigh, measure, or observe it in any way, even though there are millions to billions of dark matter particles flying through us each second.

So how do astronomers know it’s there? One way is to look at the patterns made by stellar streams. As galaxies form and grow, they become massive enough to pull smaller galaxies into their orbit. The gravitational pull from the larger host galaxy causes the smaller satellite galaxies to unravel and create long, thin streams of stars called stellar streams.

Stellar streams are very sensitive to how much mass is nearby. If a clump of dark matter that doesn’t contain any stars passes through a stream, it can cause gaps and other features in an otherwise smooth stream. Hunting for gaps in the stellar streams around the Milky Way helps astronomers understand more about dark matter and its role in the universe.

This collaboration was unique, as it combined the talents of Ruta, an innovative design engineer, with Alex's expertise as an Astronomer to create an exhibit that demonstrates the formation of solar streams through gravity explanation exercises. Ruta designed the structure of the exhibit to effectively illustrate these concepts based on an similar apparatus to one used to demonstrate Gravity.

Alex Riley is an astronomer and 1851 Research Fellow at Durham University. He studies dark matter and the history of our Milky Way using all-sky surveys that measure the motions of stars. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and earned his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2022. In his free time, Alex has been playing Dungeons and Dragons, supporting Liverpool F.C., and catching up on Taskmaster. He lives with his wife and cat in Durham.

Ruta Arizona Czaplinska is a Designer and Engineer with a background in mechanical and biomedical engineering. She primarily works with start-ups within the medical and consumer electronics industry.

Ruta is currently a postgraduate student at Imperial College London and Royal College of Arts studying Innovation Design Engineering as well as a recipient of the prestigious Industrial Design Studentship awarded by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.

Living materials have been used by different societies around the world for 1000s of years. Whether it is bridges made of tree roots in Asia, or living fences used to separate fields here in the UK; these living materials do not decay, capture carbon dioxide, and can heal, respond, and adapt to their environment.

However, our need for rapid, repeatable, and reliable materials means that most of us spend our days without touching a single living thing. In this exhibit you will see an example of both a traditional, and a futuristic living material.

The living willow chairs are made using traditional techniques to grow living willow branches into the shape of a chair. Take a seat, how does it feel for the chair beneath you to be alive? What object could you grow in your garden?

The glowing material found inside the box is made from bioluminescent algae, the same you see glowing in the ocean sometimes at night. Using modern scientific techniques, it is possible to capture these “dinoflagellates" inside a solid material, so that they can be used in objects in our day to day lives. When you touch the material at night, the algae will light up in response to the movement.

How else might we be able to go back to the future, and live alongside more living things?

The exhibit was exceptionally eye-catching, captivating the minds of all festival goers. One of the standout features was the chairs crafted from willow, which became an instant hit. These chairs reimagined an everyday object using natural plant material, showcasing an innovative blend of functionality and artistry.

Chris is a biodesigner and engineer who is fascinated by how we can live in more sustainable and regenerative ways. After studying engineering at the University of Cambridge, Chris started his career at Jaguar Land Rover, helping to develop their first electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-Pace. He then stepped into the footwear and apparel industry, developing customizable and recyclable shoes, in the hope of reducing the impact of the 20+ billion pairs of shoes made every year.

After realizing the incremental improvements to plastics and metals would never be sufficient to meet climate targets, Chris changed his career to work with living things, as he believes nature does it better.

Chris has just finished his Masters in Biodesign at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London. His research focused on how living materials could be used in our everyday lives, by evolving traditional knowledge with the latest scientific research.