BIG DIG
This exhibit about Boston's Central Artery and Third Harbor Tunnel project includes a historic perspective, a survey of social and economical issues, and interactive exhibits on the physics and engineering of the project. Through interactive video programs, learn about the people and their skills needed to engineer and construct this massive endeavor. Test your own ability to make decisions and handle construction issues.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
This exhibit highlights New England biotechnology with displays on the basics and examples of new developments in biopharmaceuticals. Learn about biotech research through interactive computer programs, artifacts, and graphics.
CELL EXHIBIT
This close-up look at the fundamental unit of life uses models, microscopes, and magnifiers to help visitors explore size, diversity, and aspects common to single-celled creatures and all other living things.
DANCE OF CHANCE
This exhibit explains some of the complex interrelationships of order and chaos in nature utilizing hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, computer programs and artifacts. Naturally occurring patterns ranging from tree roots and lightning to termite tunnels and erosion are explored.
DESIGN AROUND US GALLERY
This Gallery houses a selection from the Museum's seashell collection and a recreation of a spot in a tropical rain forest. It's as if you have walked into a botanist's camp in Borneo to learn about the plants and animals of the rain forest.
DINOSAUR EXHIBIT
A life-size model of T-Rex and the skeleton of a Triceratops highlight an exhibit of scale models, fossils, and replicas, including touchable fossils and an interactive video program.
DISCOVERY CENTER
A special place in the Museum for early childhood, this museum in the Museum is filled with things to touch and do. Physical science and natural history exhibits, activities, live animals, and discovery boxes that visitors can browse through are facilitated by volunteer staff who assist visitors with exploration of a wide range of topics. Includes a special area for preschool children.
ELECTRICITY & ELECTRONICS
On the balcony overlooking the giant Van de Graaff generator, a collection of interactive exhibits allows visitors to explore static electricity, properties of magnets and coils, a bar code reader, and an infrared camera. Visitors can also experiment with robot speech, vision, and robot skin.
EARTH INSIDE OUT
An earth science sampler, this exhibit includes gem and mineral specimens, an actual gem pocket, models showing plate tectonic features, and interactive exhibits and video demonstrating optical and crystalline properties of minerals and gems.
HOW YOUR LIFE BEGAN
This exhibit of models, interactive displays, video, and photographs illustrate the basics of human reproductive anatomy, fertilization, the development of an embryo, and the process of birth. Cultural differences around the world are explored and a digital display keeps up with the current world population.
HUMAN BODY CONNECTION
This space has exhibits to encourage the exploration of the human body, biology, evolution, and animal behavior. A pair of tamarin monkeys are featured in a habitat that allows visitors to observe animal behavior in action. A new chick hatchery is scheduled for installation in early 2000. Old favorites ranging from the bicycle riding skeleton, a body parts mannequin, and volunteers doing real cow’s eye dissections to exhibits on evolution and the human brain compliment this space.
INSECT EXHIBIT
Giant grasshopper, firefly, housefly, and mosquito models accompany various insect specimen displays as well as interactive components about insect senses. The Bug Zoo has live examples of giant cockroaches, centipedes, and other unusual specimens. Although not an insect, a live black widow spider and giant model of it, is nearby.
INVESTIGATE! - A See-for-Yourself Exhibit
This science activity center focuses on experimentation, challenging visitors to formulate hypotheses, develop experiments, test theories, and to evaluate and share their results with other Museum visitors. Visitors can explore many open-ended activities in the solar car workshop, water activity area, an archaeological dig site, gravity and balance area, or the question area.
THE LIGHTHOUSE: Bending, Bouncing, and Beaming Light
Explore the world of light and optics by using prisms, kaleidoscopes, mirrors, and lenses; learn how light travels through various objects and why it is reflected off of others; see for yourself how white light can be split to make the full spectrum of colors! Explore our optical wall incorporating many devices into a vibrant collage of science and art.
LIVE ANIMAL STAGE & ANIMAL DISPLAYS
Demonstrations done throughout the day are the focus of this stage. The Live Animal Center also displays a number of live snakes and other small animals in a viewing area at the lower level of the Omni Theater Atrium.
MACHINES AND TRANSPORTATION
Scale models of antique autos, locomotives, and sailing ships surround a working Rollins Steam Engine and a variety of models that demonstrate the inner workings of various types of engines. An actual Indy 500 type race car, a solar race car, and prototype solar commuter car are on display. Nearby, a working machine tool shop is used to make parts for exhibit production and maintenance.
MATHEMATICA
This exhibit by Charles and Ray Eames includes a history wall, graphics, and dynamic models illustrating probability, minimal surfaces, planetary orbits, multiplication, projective geometry, and 3D mathematical models including the peculiar properties of a mobius strip.
MESSAGES
Through a core exhibit, several satellite outposts within the Museum, and internet links, this exhibit explores the ways and means of human communication. Interactive activities will let visitors explore language, sensory signals, electronic networks, and secret messages.
MOUNT EVEREST
This exhibit explores one of the most interesting places on Earth - Mount Everest. Exhibits explain the geology of the mountain, and the challenges of mapping the most challenging terrain on the planet. Also highlighted is the Museum of Science's special interest in Everest, through the pioneering work of Honorary Director, H. Bradford Washburn, Jr.
NEW ENGLAND HABITATS
Moose, beaver, bear, deer, and several bird dioramas highlight an area that includes multi-sensory components such as audio labels, smell boxes, touchable beaver and bear specimens, tactile models, and hands-on activities explaining animal adaptation to their habitats. Also, dioramas depicting small New England mammals in their natural habitats can be found in this hall and surrounding areas.
The OBSERVATORY - Seeing the Unseen
This science activity center is a highly interactive exhibit aimed at giving visitors practice in seeing the unseen. Components focus on learning to look, using all your senses, testing the limits of your senses, and using observation aids to see what your eyes alone cannot.
RADON
This small exhibit will help visitors understand the hazards associated with radon gas trapped in homes and what they can do about it.
REMOTE SENSING - PICTURING THE PLANET
This exhibit on remote sensing includes controlling a live camera on the Museum's roof, access to today's world-wide weather map information and satellite images, image processing displays, and other graphic and hands-on activities.
ROCKS FROM INTERESTING PLACES
Twenty-one specimens weighing a ton or more each and all from special places on Earth, from mountain tops to the bedrock under the Museum, are on display on the Museum's front lawn.
SCIENCE IN THE PARK
How do the universal laws of forces and motion affect our daily lives? In this exhibit, visitors are encouraged to participate in various physical activities in a outdoor park-like environment. Visitors can experiment with objects in motion, make observations of velocity and acceleration, and draw conclusions and share the results with others.
SEEING IS DECEIVING
Illusions of color, sound, touch, impossible figures, and perceptual paradoxes are fascinating and fun. Explore how they work and why they trick our senses through a variety of interactive hands-on devices, models, graphics, and computer programs.
SOUND AND WAVES
This small collection of interactive exhibits located adjacent to the water & waves area demonstrates various unique phenomena of vibration and sound waves with exhibits showing the resonant frequency of a liquid, sand patterns formed on vibrating metal plates, and vibrating piano strings seen under strobe light.
SPACE EXPLORATION
A moon rock, Mercury capsule replica, a replica of Goddard's rocket, Skylab and rocket scale models, and an Apollo instrument panel make up this exhibit highlighted by an Apollo capsule mock-up in which visitors can experience the last seconds of a countdown and launch sequence.
SUNLAB
A place in the Museum for live plants, this area includes exhibits on aqua culture, hydroponics, and integrated living systems. Small displays on environment, plant habitats, photosynthesis, and solar energy are also found here along with many tropical plants that give it a special atmosphere.
THEATER OF ELECTRICITY
A three-story tall Van de Graaff generator (actually used by Robert Van de Graaff in the 1930’s) is demonstrated at various times each day and dominates this space containing exhibits that explore electricity, magnetic repulsion, shadows and reflections, and the work of inventor Elihu Thomson for whom the Theater of Electricity is named. The area also includes Virtual Volleyball, a group participatory virtual reality exhibit.
3-D - A LOOK IN DEPTH
This interactive exhibit demonstrates why your eyes and brain see the world in 3-D and how different kinds of technology create 3-D images.
