# What is that object on the wall of Leonard's apartment in the Big Bang Theory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817 "2019-03-31T19:14:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/1 "2019-03-31T19:14:08Z")
I’m sure it’s something nerdy, but after watching the show for more than a decade I’m still stumped. I am referring to the vertical object on the wall, seen in [this photo](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/business/media/big-bang-theory-ending.html) on the far right just above Penny’s left shoulder. I am predicting an answer in the first reply. mmm ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/2 "2019-03-31T19:24:37Z")
> **[The Big Bang Theory's Mystery Prop Identified!](https://vocal.media/geeks/the-big-bang-theory-s-mystery-prop-identified)** > > That All Started With The Big Bang… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/3 "2019-03-31T19:30:38Z")
I think there was an earlier thread about the same thing, but I can’t find it now. ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/4 "2019-04-01T16:56:33Z")
Good work! Now that that’s settled, does anyone know where I can find a picture or other information on those round wall hangings in the university cafeteria where the BBT gang eats lunch? You know, the ones that have the spiraling, layered, internal parts that appear to be made of aluminum or stainless steel. I’ve always admired them but my limited internet searches haven’t turned up anything helpful in terms of identification. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/5 "2019-04-01T18:19:06Z")
> [@Rough\_Draft](#): > > Good work! > > Now that that’s settled, does anyone know where I can find a picture or other information on those round wall hangings in the university cafeteria where the BBT gang eats lunch? You know, the ones that have the spiraling, layered, internal parts that appear to be made of aluminum or stainless steel. > > I’ve always admired them but my limited internet searches haven’t turned up anything helpful in terms of identification. [Here are plans to make your own](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2028979), should you happen to have a 3D printer. Best I got. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/6 "2019-04-01T19:18:39Z")
I dunno what it is, but the pic provided in the link by Wheelz looks like something Klingon inspired to me. ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/7 "2019-04-01T20:14:52Z")
Thanks, that’s very interesting. Someday I hope to find the name of the artist and some information on the original artworks. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/8 "2019-04-01T20:22:33Z")
[A Straight Dope thread from ten years ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10728436). I simply emailed the show’s set decorator. She replied: > [@](#): > > That message board gave me a good laugh, thanks!! > > I shop at an aerospace salvage yard for cool parts of stuff to put on their walls as it doesn’t suit their characters to be too into art. There are parts of rockets in almost all of the sets that are in the home or office spaces of the main characters. Therefore, this was most likely a fuse panel in a rocket of some sort. > > I will send the photo to the owner of the shop. He is a genius and I am sure knows what it is. Will get back to you with more information very soon. > > Thanks so much for watching the background with so much interest and for the kind words. [Here’s an LA Times story about said junkyard](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-mar-25-sci-junkyard25-story.html). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/9 "2019-04-01T20:43:06Z")
Thank you. I thought I remembered an earlier thread in which someone contacted a member of the show staff but I couldn’t find the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-object-on-the-wall-of-leonards-apartment-in-the-big-bang-theory/831817/10 "2019-04-02T11:48:37Z")
For years I wondered what was that red and green picture by the side of the refrigerator. Somehow the color scheme reminded me strongly of the red warplanes on a greenish background on the back cover of _[Remain in Light](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-back-cover-of-talking-heads-1980-album-remain-in-light-editorial-use-129874189.html)_. I’ve never seen it close up, and the camera would never have it in the frame long enough to be looked at. Finally the last time I watched the show I decided it must be a map of the topography of one of the rocky planets, probably Mars.