Cellphone: Unseen Connections is an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History that explores the cultural and technological connections fostered by cellphones. With over 300 objects from around the world, the exhibition showcases the intricate workings of our smartphones. Visitors, including 10-year-old Nimay Kallu, get to experience interactive displays that demonstrate the science behind touchscreens and the use of electric charges and minerals like iridium. One surprising revelation for Kallu was that wireless networks actually rely on important wires. Laura Donnelly-Smith, the exhibit’s writer and editor, highlights how data travels in light pulses along fiber optic cables at nearly the speed of light, which explains the lack of delays in phone calls. The exhibition also delves into the minerals used in cellphones, acknowledging the sometimes problematic extraction practices associated with them. Bell, the curator and cultural anthropologist, emphasizes the human aspect of the supply chain by introducing visitors to artisan miners through stories and photographs. Cellphone: Unseen Connections received funding from T-Mobile and Qualcomm, although the final presentation was not influenced by the corporate sponsors. The exhibition also addresses sustainability and the importance of reusing and repairing cellphones to reduce emissions. Nimay Kallu, already conscious of this issue, mentions that he uses his dad’s old phone and acknowledges that one day he will have his own phone, possibly utilizing more advanced technology like 10G or 30G towers.
Discover the Science Behind Cellphones at the National Museum of Natural History: NPR
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