Project Stardust: A Photographer Scours Rooftops for Minuscule Cosmic Particles

According to Olso-based photographer and researcher Jon Larsen, the most exotic particles from across the universe are likely hiding in a rain gutter or scattered among debris on rooftops. Larsen, who works in the geosciences department at the University of Oslo, has been at the forefront of micrometeorite discovery since 2009 when "a shiny black dot suddenly appeared on my white veranda table while I was having strawberries for breakfast." These findings are what Larsen calls urban micrometeorites or minuscule bits of extraterrestrial matter found in heavily populated areas. That theory changed after Larsen scoured countless areas across the globe, producing a monumental archive of tens of thousands of particles. Larsen's pioneering research has culminated in a few books, including an identification guide and a forthcoming tome collecting his paintings, photos, and drawings on the subject. Simultaneously focused on the discovery and beauty of his findings, Larsen's practice falls at the intersection of science, photography, and art. The publication of Larsen's next book will coincide with exhibitions in Oslo and Berlin.