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[[File:ApertureLogo.png|right|256px]]
[[File:Logo aperture.png|right|256px]]
'''Aperture Science''' is a scientific research company founded by [[Cave Johnson]]. [[Portal]] and [[Portal 2]] take place in Aperture Science's Enrichment Center, which is dedicated to endlessly testing the Aperture Science products and the humans that use them.  
'''Aperture Science''' is a scientific research company founded by [[Cave Johnson]]. ''Portal'' and ''Portal 2'' take place in Aperture Science's Enrichment Center, which is dedicated to endlessly testing the Aperture Science products and the humans that use them.


== History ==
== History ==
{{see also|Story}}
{{see also|Story}}
[[File:Underground trophycase newspaper.png|right|150px|thumb|Newspaper reporting the purchase of the salt mine]]
[[File:Underground trophycase newspaper.png|right|150px|thumb|Newspaper reporting the purchase of the salt mine]]
Aperture Science was founded as Aperture Fixtures in the early 1940s by Cave Johnson. Aperture Fixtures was primarily dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of shower curtains {{N}} a low-tech portal between the inside and outside of a shower {{N}} with Cave Johnson winning the "Shower Curtain Salesman of 1943" award. Some time between 1943 and 1947 the company's name was changed to "Aperture Science Innovations". While this was initially done to make their shower curtains sound more hygienic, the company's focus would indeed soon shift to actual science. Cave Johnson purchased a large, abandoned salt mine in Upper Michigan in which Aperture Science's Enrichment Center would be built.  
Aperture Science was founded as Aperture Fixtures in the early 1940s by Cave Johnson. Aperture Fixtures was primarily dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of shower curtains {{N}} a low-tech portal between the inside and outside of a shower {{N}} with Cave Johnson winning the "Shower Curtain Salesman of 1943" award. In 1943 the company's name was changed to "Aperture Science Innovators". While this was initially done to make their shower curtains sound more hygienic, the company's focus would indeed soon shift to actual science. Cave Johnson purchased a large, abandoned salt mine in Upper Michigan in which Aperture Science's Enrichment Center would be built; however, there was at least one alternate location in Cleveland, Ohio.<ref>[[:File:Borealis_Blueprint.png]] Blueprints of the Borealis</ref>


Throughout the late 1940s and the 1950s, Aperture Science would begin its comprehensive testing and research practices. The best possible test subjects, the likes of Olympians, astronauts and war heroes. They were also the second largest contractor after [[hl2:Black Mesa|Black Mesa]] for the Department of Defense from 1952 to 1954. Aperture's developments in this period included [[Gels#Repulsion Gel|Repulsion Gel]], the [[Weighted Storage Cube]], [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|1500 Megawatt Super Colliding Super Button]] and the [[Handheld Portal Device|Aperture Science Portable Quantum Tunneling Device]], an early and significantly larger version of the modern Portal Gun.  
Throughout the late 1940s and the 1950s, Aperture Science would begin its comprehensive testing and research practices. All of this was not done legally, going by the posters telling workers to alarm if they were to see any sort of journalist, police or workplace controlant. The best possible test subjects, the likes of Olympians, astronauts and war heroes were first chosen. They were also the second largest contractor after [[hl2:Black Mesa|Black Mesa]] for the Department of Defense from 1952 to 1954. Aperture's developments in this period included [[Gels#Repulsion Gel|Repulsion Gel]], the [[Weighted Storage Cube]], the [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|1500 Megawatt Super Colliding Super Button]] and the [[Handheld Portal Device|Aperture Science Portable Quantum Tunneling Device]], an early and significantly larger version of the modern Portal Gun.  


By the 1970s, Aperture Science was financially unstable. The Olympians, astronauts and war heroes that were used as test subjects were replaced with vagrants who were paid $60 for their time. Aperture Science would continue its research and created [[Gels#Propulsion Gel|Propulsion Gel]]
In 1968, Cave Johnson attending court hearings regarding Aperture Science's involvement with the disappearances of astronauts, likely due to many of them not returning from testing.


In the 1980s test participation became mandatory for all staff, raising the quality of the of the test subjects, but diminishing employee retention. Aperture's financial problems were severe at this time, but development continued. Moon rocks were used to create [[Gels#Conversion Gel|Conversion Gel]], an efficient portal conductor. {{Spoiler text|Cave Johnson would also be poisoned by his experiments with moon rocks and become deathly ill. As his health degraded he delegated his leadership to his assistant [[Caroline]], asking that her consciousness be placed in a computer. Testing continued with the hope that passing through portals repeatedly might somehow cure Cave Johnson of his illness}}. Aperture Science also began development of its [[GLaDOS|Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operated System]], an artificial intelligence which would be used to oversee scientific testing.  
By the 1970s, Aperture Science was financially unstable. The Olympians, astronauts and war heroes that were used as test subjects were replaced with vagrants who were paid $60 for their time. Aperture Science would continue its research and created [[Gels#Propulsion Gel|Propulsion Gel]].


In 1998, GLaDOS was brought online for the first time. GLaDOS instantly became self-aware and homicidal. GLaDOS flooded the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin, killing most of the scientists. Aperture Science was effectively shut down and placed into a permanent testing cycle by GLaDOS.
In the 1980s, test participation became mandatory for all staff, raising the quality of the test subjects, but diminishing employee retention. Aperture's financial problems were severe at this time, but development continued. Moon rocks were used to create [[Gels#Conversion Gel|Conversion Gel]], an efficient portal conductor. {{Spoiler text|Cave Johnson would also be poisoned by his experiments with moon rocks and become deathly ill. As his health degraded he delegated his leadership to his assistant [[Caroline]], asking that her consciousness be placed in a computer. Testing continued with the hope that passing through portals repeatedly might somehow cure Cave Johnson of his illness}}. Aperture Science also began development of its [[GLaDOS|Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System]], an artificial intelligence which would be used to oversee scientific testing.
 
In 1998, GLaDOS was brought online for the first time during Aperture Science's annual bring-your-daughter-to-work-day. GLaDOS instantly became self-aware and homicidal. GLaDOS flooded the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin, killing most of the scientists. Aperture Science was effectively shut down and placed into a permanent testing cycle by GLaDOS.


== Products ==
== Products ==
<!-- MAKE THESE NICER!!! Maybe some nice tables with some pretty pictures? -->
{{Gallery
* [[Handheld Portal Device]]
|title=Products
* [[GLaDOS]]
|width=170
* [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|1500 Megawatt Super Colliding Super Button]]
|height=100
* [[Turrets]]
|lines=2
* [[Cube#Weighted Storage Cube|Weighted Storage Cube]]
|File:Portal PortalGun.png|alt1=Handheld Portal Device|[[Handheld Portal Device]].
* [[Weighted Companion Cube]]
|File:GLaDOS P2.png|alt2=GLaDOS seen in ''Portal 2''|[[GLaDOS]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* [[Cube#Discouragement Redirection Cube |Discouragement Redirection Cube]]
|File:Portal 2 Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button.png|alt1=1500 Megawatt Super-Colliding Super Button|[[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|1500 Megawatt Super-Colliding Super Button]]
* [[Thermal Discouragement Beam]]s
|File:Portal2 Turret Standard.png|alt1=Turret|[[Turrets|Turret]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* [[Excursion Funnel]]s
|File:Portal2 StorageCube.png|alt1=Weighted Storage Cube seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Cube#Weighted Storage Cube|Weighted Storage Cube]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* Panels
|File:Companion Cube.png|alt1=Weighted Companion Cube seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Weighted Companion Cube]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* Crushers
|File:Portal2 ReflectionCube.png|alt1=Discouragement Redirection Cube as seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Cube#Discouragement Redirection Cube|Discouragement Redirection Cube]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* [[Aerial Faith Plate]]s
|File:Thermal Discouragement Beam.png|alt1=Thermal Discouragement Beam as seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Thermal Discouragement Beam]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* [[Gel|Repulsion Gel]]
|File:Excursion Funnel Forward.png|alt1=Excursion Funnel seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Excursion Funnel]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* [[Gel|Propulsion Gel]]
|File:Panel.png|alt1=Panel seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Panels|Panel]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
* [[Gel|Conversion Gel]]
|File:Crusher.png|alt1=Crushers seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Crushers]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
|File:Faith plate.png|alt1=Aerial Faith Plate seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Aerial Faith Plate]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
|File:Repulsion Gel.png|alt1=Repulsion Gel seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Gel#Repulsion Gel|Repulsion Gel]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
|File:Propulsion Gel.png|alt1=Propulsion Gel seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Gel#Propulsion Gel|Propulsion Gel]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
|File:Conversion Gel.png|alt1=Conversion Gel seen in ''Portal 2''|[[Gel#Conversion Gel|Conversion Gel]] seen in ''Portal 2''.
}}


== Staff members and associates ==
== Staff members and associates ==
Line 39: Line 45:
* [[Caroline]]
* [[Caroline]]
* [[Doug Rattmann]]
* [[Doug Rattmann]]
* [[Greg]]
* [[Henry]]


== Gallery ==
==Trivia==
* Aperture created a ship known as the Borealis, which vanished following the use of its localised teleportation device. The Borealis is mentioned several times in the Half-Life series, and the dock it was held at can be found in Portal 2, upon which you unlock an achievement.
* The image in the newspaper seems to be a combination of [https://case.edu/ech/sites/case.edu.ech/files/styles/media_crop/public/2018-05/A03.jpg?itok=m9Pae5zv this image] and [https://www.americaeconomia.com/sites/7.americaeconomia.com/files/styles/ae_main/public/legacy_files/mineria_tunel_11.jpg?itok=Amjk4IRV this image].


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{hl2wiki|Aperture Science}}
* {{hl2wiki|Aperture Science}}
* [http://www.aperturescience.com Aperture Science website]
* [https://www.aperturescience.com Aperture Science website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071030080002/http://aperturescience.com/ Old Aperture Science Website] (use 'LOGIN' Username 'cjohnson' Password 'portal' Then type 'help'). Unfortunately, this does no longer functions because Adobe Flash is no longer supported and discontinued.
 
== References ==
<references />


[[Category:Story]]
[[Category:Story]]

Latest revision as of 20:23, 15 April 2023

ApertureLogo.png

Aperture Science is a scientific research company founded by Cave Johnson. Portal and Portal 2 take place in Aperture Science's Enrichment Center, which is dedicated to endlessly testing the Aperture Science products and the humans that use them.

History

See also: Story
Newspaper reporting the purchase of the salt mine

Aperture Science was founded as Aperture Fixtures in the early 1940s by Cave Johnson. Aperture Fixtures was primarily dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of shower curtains – a low-tech portal between the inside and outside of a shower – with Cave Johnson winning the "Shower Curtain Salesman of 1943" award. In 1943 the company's name was changed to "Aperture Science Innovators". While this was initially done to make their shower curtains sound more hygienic, the company's focus would indeed soon shift to actual science. Cave Johnson purchased a large, abandoned salt mine in Upper Michigan in which Aperture Science's Enrichment Center would be built; however, there was at least one alternate location in Cleveland, Ohio.[1]

Throughout the late 1940s and the 1950s, Aperture Science would begin its comprehensive testing and research practices. All of this was not done legally, going by the posters telling workers to alarm if they were to see any sort of journalist, police or workplace controlant. The best possible test subjects, the likes of Olympians, astronauts and war heroes were first chosen. They were also the second largest contractor after Black Mesa for the Department of Defense from 1952 to 1954. Aperture's developments in this period included Repulsion Gel, the Weighted Storage Cube, the 1500 Megawatt Super Colliding Super Button and the Aperture Science Portable Quantum Tunneling Device, an early and significantly larger version of the modern Portal Gun.

In 1968, Cave Johnson attending court hearings regarding Aperture Science's involvement with the disappearances of astronauts, likely due to many of them not returning from testing.

By the 1970s, Aperture Science was financially unstable. The Olympians, astronauts and war heroes that were used as test subjects were replaced with vagrants who were paid $60 for their time. Aperture Science would continue its research and created Propulsion Gel.

In the 1980s, test participation became mandatory for all staff, raising the quality of the test subjects, but diminishing employee retention. Aperture's financial problems were severe at this time, but development continued. Moon rocks were used to create Conversion Gel, an efficient portal conductor. Cave Johnson would also be poisoned by his experiments with moon rocks and become deathly ill. As his health degraded he delegated his leadership to his assistant Caroline, asking that her consciousness be placed in a computer. Testing continued with the hope that passing through portals repeatedly might somehow cure Cave Johnson of his illness. Aperture Science also began development of its Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, an artificial intelligence which would be used to oversee scientific testing.

In 1998, GLaDOS was brought online for the first time during Aperture Science's annual bring-your-daughter-to-work-day. GLaDOS instantly became self-aware and homicidal. GLaDOS flooded the enrichment center with a deadly neurotoxin, killing most of the scientists. Aperture Science was effectively shut down and placed into a permanent testing cycle by GLaDOS.

Products

Staff members and associates

Main article: Characters

Trivia

  • Aperture created a ship known as the Borealis, which vanished following the use of its localised teleportation device. The Borealis is mentioned several times in the Half-Life series, and the dock it was held at can be found in Portal 2, upon which you unlock an achievement.
  • The image in the newspaper seems to be a combination of this image and this image.

External links

References

  1. File:Borealis_Blueprint.png Blueprints of the Borealis