Day Tripping-3
Pierce Street
Science Museum
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The only way to demystify science is to explain it in a way that shows the fun that can be had with the quirks of physics.
This is exactly what the Pierce Street Science Museum and their light exposition has attempt.
Rather then stoic tours through fenced off exhibits, the curators of the Science museum go out of their way to give a tactile experience, from the ‘props’.
Showing kids and adults that science is not restricted to labs or corporate research.
Being one of those ‘kids or adults’.
‘Do not ask me which I have not figured it out yet’
I found the experience entertaining, and as a by-product educational.
’scintillating’
Trust me a particle physicist would smirk at that!
The exhibits and props are meant to be played with, showing how the world works.
From the moment you step into the lobby, with the ‘box universe’ and the inverted cone, which the entire group could not figure the reason for it being there.
Actually it’s purpose had to be explained, and not one of us had it right.
It reacts with the movements of the tectonic plates of the earth to display their movements, yep an earthquake detector.
The only drawback was the delay in starting the tour, which had more to do with the lack of people to guide the groups.
Where to start, well most would say start at the beginning.
’Sod that I’m starting at the sonic lights, everyone like that one
Imagin, a darkened room with globes hanging on strings from the roof or just laying about on the floor.
These globes, if you made a sound would light up reacting to the sound with strobing effects.
Of course the lights were rigged to sound sensors and set to flash differing colors, very entertaining and a good example of external stimuli effecting the world.
Ever wonder how your brain works?, does it work?
One of the first interactive ‘toys’ on the top floor is a representation of a brain cell, using plasma arc coils traveling along copper wires within a converted household water boiler.
Then there are other things to play with and learn about, like getting power and light from dirt, or recording the particle wave signature in polymer crystal matrices.
Perhaps you would like to be followed by lights as you move through a series of tracks.
Or would you rather see the southern lights, no not the southern cross, (I made the mistake of confusing that one!), but the southern hemisphere’s version of the Aurora-Boer-Allis.
Of course there is a lot more there to see, to play with, and ‘god forbid’, to learn from, but I m not going to tell you any more, your just going to have to go yourself!
… By the way this was the only place visited where I was allowed to use ‘My’ Camera, so here are a few that were actualy in focus!, Enjoy..
