New light sculpture brings science to life at Liverpool ONE

A new large-scale sculpture will take centre stage at Liverpool ONE this September as the British Science Festival and Culture Liverpool showcase Geist by artist duo This is Loop.

Running from 10–14 September in Liverpool ONE, the science installation shines a light on one of the universe’s most mysterious building blocks – neutrinos. Known as ‘ghost particles’, neutrinos are the most abundant massive particles in existence, yet they are almost impossible to detect.

Geist brings this hidden world to life through reflection, light and interaction. A suspended illuminated orb, created through a mirror illusion, appears to flicker and glimmer in response to movement nearby.

Visitors themselves become part of the work, their presence sparking the glowing ‘particle’ into action – a playful nod to how neutrinos can only be revealed through interaction with other atoms.

The artwork also incorporates real data from neutrino experiments, developed in collaboration with the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, which has a major research hub at Daresbury in the Liverpool City Region.

Alongside the sculpture, the British Science Festival will host talks from leading particle physicists including Graziano Venanzoni and Saskia Charity (University of Liverpool), Mark Thomson (CERN) and Jocelyn Monroe (University of Oxford). They’ll share insights into world-leading projects such as the Muon g-2 experiment, the Darkside-20k experiment and the Large Hadron Collider. Free tickets are available via the British Science Association website.

Visitors can also get hands-on with demonstrations from University of Liverpool’s Department of Physics, explore real particle detectors, and even join an interactive virtual tour of Boulby Underground Laboratory in Yorkshire, where scientists are on the hunt for dark matter – the mysterious substance thought to make up most of the universe’s mass.

Claire McColgan CBE, Liverpool’s Director of Culture, said:

“We are delighted that Liverpool is hosting this amazing crossover of science and culture in the heart of the city, giving people a rare chance to see a hidden but vital part of our universe. This project is such an innovative and artful way to make science accessible, and we’re excited to see how it sparks curiosity among our visitors and residents.”

James Brown, Director of the British Science Festival, added:

“Geist brings together art and science in a way that lets us experience and explore an incredible phenomenon happening all around us – even if we can’t detect it. We’re proud to be showcasing world-leading science and innovation happening right here in the Liverpool City Region.”

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:

“At Liverpool ONE, we’re passionate about supporting events that spark curiosity and bring communities together. It’s fantastic to see such an ambitious programme brought to life across the city, and we’re proud to play our part in inspiring the next generation of scientists, researchers and engineers.”

Find out more on the British Science Festival website.

Check out 10 reasons to go to the British Science Festival in Liverpool.

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