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Geissler, Crookes and the CRT

Here at SPARK Museum in downtown Bellingham, we sometimes refer to them as “ships in a bottle.”

The intricate glass tubes are individual works of art — swirling, colorful designs that truly could be ends in themselves, given how beautiful they are.

But as gorgeous as Geissler and Crookes tubes are, they are much more than things to look at. They are, in fact, a critical step on the progress of invention over the past 150 years.

In fact, we wouldn’t have had televisions and many other inventions without them.

“What I find most interesting is they were just another way to see the energy,” says Tana Granack, SPARK Museum’s director of operations. “What was invisible is now wondrously observable and even measurable.”

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Love the fascinating history of invention? More great reads:

It's here! We'll see you at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Feb. 29) at Settlemyer Hall on the campus of Bellingham Technical College for our Ignite the Night event. We can't wait!

For kids, SPARK offers both fun and learning

“If you want to win at cards,” says Tana Granack, SPARK Museum’s operations director, “don’t bring a rabbit’s foot. Learn your math and statistics.”

His point is that science, technology, engineering and mathematics — STEM disciplines — are everywhere, involved in all aspects of life. They’re not boring and stodgy lessons to sleep through during school; they’re vibrant, important skills that have a bearing on all aspects of life — whether that’s a simple game of cards or understanding the world around you.

Read more.

'Divergent' author to visit SPARK April 24

You've heard of Veronica Roth, right? The writer of the "Divergent" series?

We are excited to announce that she'll be visiting with us at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, in an event made possible by Village Books and the Bellingham Public Library. Roth is on a tour of the U.S. — from New York City to Portland — on behalf of her new book, "Chosen Ones."

Learn more about this event by visiting the Village Books website. Tickets are free, and you can register here.

We hope to see you in April for this exciting event!