The brains of octopuses are so different from ours, they're often called "alien minds." That makes the Alien Mind Crystal Ball more than a glass sculpture -- it’s a fascinating conversation piece inspired by one of nature’s strangest and smartest creatures.
 
On July 30, 2026, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this sculpture to the edge of space onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. For 3 hours, it floated more than105,120 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California while cosmic ray sensors inside the payload gathered data. After the balloon exploded, as planned, the payload parachuted back to Earth, landing near Mono Lake near Lee Vining, CA.

The Alien Mind Crystal Ball comes with a unique gift card showing the octopus floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere. The card's interior tells the story of the flight and confirms that this gift has been to the edge of space and back again.