en-us Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000 ]]> http://www.mos.org/web_media/rss_logo.gif http://www.mos.org 122 21 Katharine Lane Weems (1899-1989), a Boston-born artist, donated her collection to the Museum of Science to demonstrate the many connections between science and art. There are 30 bronze sculptures of animals displayed in this exhibit, and the Museum of Science has the largest Weems collection in the world. During her 70-year career, Katharine Weems broke away from the twentieth century social standards for women to become one of the most recognized animal sculptors of her time. She carefully observed the anatomy and behavior of the animals she sculpted. Knowing the shapes and locations of each animal's muscles, bones and tendons allowed her to sculpt more realistic animals. Some of Katharine Weems' much larger sculptures can be viewed in other parts of the Boston area. Weems created the Lotta Crabtree Fountain on the Charles River Esplanade, the Dolphins of the Sea at the New England Aquarium, and the Rhinoceroses in front of the Harvard Biological Laboratories at Harvard University. Information@mos.org Exhibit Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000 weems,,animals,,scuptures,,library,,bronze Sunlight is the world' s largest energy resource, and more energy in the form of sunlight reaches Earth every hour than humans consume in a year. In this exhibit, visitors can learn how we can make use of all of this energy. Photovoltaic cells (also called solar cells) allow us to convert sunlight into electricity. Learn about these cells that can enable cars to be powered only by the sun, and see how electricity can be generated from placing panels on your roof. You can also check out a backpack that will recharge your cell phone. The exhibit also features a link to the website for the Media and Technology Charter School (MATCH) in Boston. Access live information on the energy produced by the solar array installed on the school roof. Information@mos.org Exhibit Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000 solar,,energy,,power,,solar,power,,alternative,energy,,solar,cells,,photovoltaic Created by the famous design team of Charles and Ray Eames, this has been a favorite exhibit since it opened at the Museum of Science in 1981. The Eames wanted to provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the beauty and wonder of mathematics, and they have also provided us with an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of post-modern design. Rather than focusing on one particular area of mathematics, the Eames selected the most compelling images and stories from many branches, including probability, topology, Boolean algebra, geometry, calculus, and logic. Observe the "History Wall" to see a timeline of these mathematic achievements. In one exhibit display, soap bubbles forming on wire shapes reveal the minimal surface for that shape. Joseph Plateau experimented with closed wire loops and soap film in the mid-1800s, a century before we were able to prove mathematically what was evident in the bubbles. A curved wire dipped in the soapy solution will form a Moebius band, a larger version of which is part of the topology exhibit nearby. On the "Image Wall," discover the great beauty in mathematics. You can find the Fibonacci series of numbers in the seeds of a sunflower. The Golden Spiral is displayed in the shell of a chambered nautilus. Information@mos.org Exhibit Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000 math,,mathematics,,design The Colby Room opened at the Museum in 1965 as a re-creation of Colonel Francis T. Colby's den in Hamilton, Massachusetts. Like a snapshot in time, the room contains original artifacts and animals representing both the life travels of Colonel Colby and the mindset of a generation. At the entrance to the room stand two enormous elephant doors from the palace of the Sultan of Witu. They are studded with ornate brass spikes. Inside the room is a vast array of pelts, mounted heads, horns, and antlers of both American and African animals. Here, Colby's passion for Africa is revealed. East African statues, ivory figurines, and Ethiopian artwork adorn the walls and tables, while Maasai shields and spears frame the gigantic fireplace at the front of the room. The side walls are lined with a historical collection of guns, muskets, and rifles. The majority of the items in this room were collected between 1900-45, when big game hunters like Teddy Roosevelt first began to understand the importance of preserving the wilderness for future generations. Although unusual from a modern perspective, this room of mounted heads and pelts represents the roots of current attitudes toward ecology and conservation. Information@mos.org Exhibit Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:00:00 +0000 colby,,collecting,,pelts,,animals,,animal,heads,,africa Get a feel for New England's natural environment with these classic dioramas. In addition to these windows on wide-ranging landscapes, the exhibit's model birds, casts of feet, antlers, beaks and other touchable elements make this an interactive experience for curious visitors. Observe deciduous woods, salty beaches, ocean cliffs and other New England habitats, and see how they look, sound, feel, and smell. Visitors can hear the sound of a beaver smacking its tail against the water in alarm, and understand how the adaptations of New England wildlife resemble human tools. Represented here are the Katahdin woods, the Maine coast, Crane's Beach, Wildcat Mountain, New Hampshire's Squam Lake, and the Green Mountains of Vermont. All are located in New England within a 150-mile radius, but they are quite varied in their climate, vegetation, and wildlife. The backgrounds of these and many of the Museum's dioramas were painted by the famous artist Francis Lee Jaques. He was famous for his ability to blend his background paintings seamlessly with the three-dimensional foregrounds of dioramas. He painted actual locations rather than generalized habitats. Jaques' wife, so the story goes, would sneak into the hall while he was on his lunch break and paint little gremlins in hidden locations of his backgrounds. Look for her handiwork in the Crane's Beach diorama. Information@mos.org Exhibit Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000 moose,,diorama,,crane,beach,,mural,,jaques