Aperture Science

Aperture Science is the mysterious reasearch corporation behind the plot of Portal. It was founded by Cave Johnson as a manufacturer of shower curtains. Later, Aperture began developmet of the 'man-sized ad hoc quantum tunnel through physical space with possible applications as a shower curtain,' later called the 'Portal.'

Aperture eventually created the 'Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device,' and built the 'Aperture Science Enrichment Center' to test it. They later created GLaDOS in response to the news that Black Mesa was working on a similar portal technology.

The game, Portal, is set mostly in the test chambers of the 'Aperture Science Enrichment Center.' After escaping the test chambers (and near-death), the player finds that the Enrichment Center is mostly deserted, with abandoned desks and disconnected phones. It is apparently run only by GLaDOS.