MOLECULE MAGNIFIED 165 BILLION TIMES
WONDER: The Atomium LOCATION: Brussels, Belgium
DID YOU KNOW?
An elevator carries visitors to the top of the Atomium in just 23 seconds
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This iconic 102-metre structure and its giant reflective spheres dominate the surrounding park. However, the design inspiration for this modern edifice includes elements so small they are invisible to the naked eye. The Atomium, designed by architects André and Jean Polak and engineer André Waterkeyn and built in 1958 for the World’s Fair, represents a molecule of solidified iron magnified 165 billion times. Each of the nine spheres, representing atoms, are 18 metres in diameter and are evenly spaced 30 metres away from each other.
The steel sculpture has become a famous attraction in Belgium, but it was only designed to be a temporary feature. For the short-term fair, the spheres were built using aluminium sheets, but were renovated in 2004 using longer lasting stainless steel. The World’s Fair was the first in a series to be held following World War II and was an international exhibition to showcase national achievements. The Atomium structure remained permanently as a reminder of how science, and something as small as an atom, can hold a great impact on the planet. Post-war there was widespread belief that science could be used to improve lives instead of destroying them, and this structure serves as a reminder of the peaceful applications of the atom. The war had led to the development of nuclear weapons, with atomic bombs proving the large-scale and catastrophic impact of atoms. But nuclear technology can also be used to serve humanity through new systems and cures. The Atomium symbolised, and continues to symbolise, peace.
Today the Atomium is one of Brussels’ most popular tourist attractions, welcoming 600,000 people a year. Visitors can marvel at the external structure or venture inside some of the spheres to experience panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, navigating between the atoms through giant tubes.