Lava Lamp Sun

Solar Convection animation Andrea Malagoli, The University of Chicago

Image: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Demo of solar cells by Physics Department, Brown University, RI, USA using silicone oil, aluminium powder, a frying pan and a lot of care

Lava lamps were invented by Edward Craven Walker in Britain and first marketed in 1963. He was inspired by an egg timer he saw in a pub. It had been created by a Mr.

Dunnett who was by then dead. Craven Walker spent the next 15 years making a better lamp.

His psychedelic invention fitted perfectly with the ‘swinging 60s’ and sales took off around the world. The invention is patented and the recipe for the contents are supposed

to be a secret.

"If you buy my lamp, you won't need to buy drugs."

"...starts from nothing, grows possibly a little bit feminine, then a little bit masculine, then breaks up

and has children. It's a sexy thing.“ Edward Craven Walker

(1918-2000)

Original lamps are available from Mathmos at http://www.mathmos.co.uk