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# Domestic Science Machines
- URL: https://www.protein.xyz/domestic-science-machines/
- Published: 2014-02-05T18:56:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-28T11:00:07.000Z
- Description: Alex Duffner creates laboratory instruments that double as kitchen appliances
- Author: Protein
- Tags: Seeds, Art & Design, Technology, #protein, #Import 2024-06-11 13:25, #author-change-2025-05-28

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/9834/3c712e67-9cfb-4f20-96d7-61d2b42bfc13.jpg)

[Alex Duffner](http://alexduffner.com/?ref=protein.xyz) wants people to turn their homes into a new space for scientific discoveries. The recent graduate from Goldsmiths, University of London has created a series of [laboratory instruments](http://alexduffner.com/domestic-science-machines.html?ref=protein.xyz) that double as kitchen appliances.   
  
The inspiration for these domestic machines came after visits to [CERN](http://home.web.cern.ch/?ref=protein.xyz) in Switzerland and UK’s National Synchotron Science Facility, [Diamond Light Source](http://www.diamond.ac.uk/?ref=protein.xyz). Duffner felt that in order to reignite our childlike curiosity about science, he would need to create familiar household objects that could serve a dual purpose.   
  
In the same way that David Steiner explores the repurposing of domiciliary items with his [In House](http://www.prote.in/en/feed/2013/09/in-house?ref=protein.xyz) project, building everyday objects using household appliances, these hybrid products are able to be repurposed to perform both domestic and scientific functions. A salad spinner can be transformed into a centrifuge, a coffee machine doubles as a spectrometer and a slow cooker becomes a PCR thermal cycler, should you need one. The machines are constructed with wood and ceramics instead of the usual plastic and metal, in order to create a contrast with the clinical nature of traditional scientific equipment.  
  
Duffner is currently collaborating with London-based [Technology Will Save Us](http://technologywillsaveus.org/?ref=protein.xyz) to turn these prototypes into products and establish an accessible way for more people to experiment and bring science into their home environment.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/9834/efac7eae-0ca6-4940-bb08-cf719a29824d.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/9834/735f0976-197f-4651-bb28-57f7d2cade21.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/9834/0a954a58-56b3-476f-9ca8-71215a75156a.jpg)