Where Science Happens
Where does science happen? It happens in field sites, factories, workshops, kitchens, and classrooms—not just in laboratories. And in all these places, science gets done by people using complex laboratory instruments, hand-made apparatuses, and sometimes, just their senses.
EXHIBITIONS
Mechanochemistry: The Science of Crush
Crushing, an ancient technique for transforming materials, remains central to our lives today.
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Instruments & Innovation
View instruments, apparatus, and analytical tools, as well as photos, engravings, and illustrations of equipment and machinery.
DISTILLATIONS PODCAST
The Man, the Myth, the Laser
The disputed origin story of one of the 20th century’s most important inventions.
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Nanotechnology
This series documents the lives of key scientists and engineers who shaped and contributed to the nanotechnology field.
DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE
A Measure of Success
When the EPA needed a way to identify and measure pollutants, Robert Finnigan, an ex–Cold War engineer, offered his computerized mass spectrometer for the job.
DIGITAL EXHIBITIONS
Instruments of Change
Discover the stories behind five of the most groundbreaking scientific instruments from the 20th century.
DISTILLATIONS PODCAST
The Mouse That Changed Science
A tiny animal with a big story.
PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
Arnold O. Beckman Legacy Project
This project aims to deepen our understanding of the chemist, philanthropist, and scientific instrumentation pioneer.
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Mass Spectrometry
Interviews that record the human dimensions related to the growth of the mass spectrometry field.