In "Convection Cells," rising fluid, made buoyant by a heat source beneath, runs into the glass ceiling of the artwork, where it is forced to flow off to all sides. Each outflow runs into neighboring outflows, forming a pattern (shown in the inset image) remarkably similar, in appearance as well as in physical cause, to convection-formed granulation cells on the Sun (shown in the main background image).

Main image: Convection cells on the Sun's surface, forming a "granulation" pattern (photo credit: SVST).   Inset image: Close-up of the Convection Cells artwork (photo credit: Benjamin Buress)

How It Works:  A water-and-liquid-soap mixture is contained between a metal sheet beneath and a glass pane above.  A hot light bulb inside the sculpture heats up the metal sheet, which conducts the heat to the bottom of the liquid layer.  The heated fluid follows nature's prescription and transports the heat to the top of the liquid layer by convection, forming the beautiful convection cell pattern in the process.