Glass Molecules

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By Sean Michael Ragan
Posted 2011/08/08 @ 12:50 pm
Category Art & Design, Science

Members who support psychoactive chemical information clearinghouse Erowid.org at levels of $125 or greater are rewarded with one of these lovely hand-worked borosilicate glass CPK-style molecular models, with subjects ranging from the (rather boring) 3-atom linear nitrous oxide molecule to the truly gorgeous LSD-25 molecule shown above, to lower left. This page has some nice shots of the lampwork that goes into making one of these, which is a skill I would dearly love to learn.

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9 Responses to Glass Molecules

Guest on August 8th, 2011 at 8:42 pm said:

post about street drugs on my favorite maker site?

minus 1.

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- Sean Michael Ragan on August 9th, 2011 at 1:49 pm said:
  
  Natural to expect this reaction, I suppose, but it makes me sigh. This is a post about glass-bead models of molecules and how they are made. It is not harmful for people to make and admire molecular models, no matter what molecule may be represented. It is a behavior universally to be encouraged, both in those who abuse drugs and those who do not.
  
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Eric Hearn on August 8th, 2011 at 10:33 pm said:

Minus 1 also. Molecule of LSD

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Eric Hearn on August 8th, 2011 at 10:33 pm said:

Minus 1 also. Molecule of LSD

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Les Clay on August 9th, 2011 at 8:06 am said:

I’m okay with it, as long as they don’t craft a model of the DHMO molecule, also known as hydric acid — the overconsumption of which, especially in its purest form, has lead to more deaths than any toxic effects of ingesting the chemical referenced in the above photo. Not that I condone the use of the latter. Look it up for yourself.

I’m surprised there wasn’t more of a protest when Make allowed this — Hobby Micro Distilling — apparently advocating the production of what is arguably the most harmful psychoactive drug on Earth. Not to mention THIS shameless abomination: HOW TO – Make beer can chicken

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Les Clay on August 9th, 2011 at 8:06 am said:

I’m okay with it, as long as they don’t craft a model of the DHMO molecule, also known as hydric acid — the overconsumption of which, especially in its purest form, has lead to more deaths than any toxic effects of ingesting the chemical referenced in the above photo. Not that I condone the use of the latter. Look it up for yourself.

I’m surprised there wasn’t more of a protest when Make allowed this — Hobby Micro Distilling — apparently advocating the production of what is arguably the most harmful psychoactive drug on Earth. Not to mention THIS shameless abomination: HOW TO – Make beer can chicken

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Ian Wilkinson on August 9th, 2011 at 2:19 pm said:

gee man get over it its a glass model

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Mr. Mackie on February 20th, 2013 at 5:01 am said:

Beautiful, skilled work. I would however like to see a video of them being made.

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Mr. Mackie on February 20th, 2013 at 5:02 am said:

@Les Clay

I’ve heard that nearly 100% of all prison inmates have admitted to use of DHMO.

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