Museum of Science, Boston

Exhibit [Return to listing page]
Blue Wing, Level 2

This highly interactive exhibit allows visitors to practice thinking like a scientist. In this space designed to look like a house, you'll find that you don't need a lab; you just need a question to answer and an idea of how to test it.

Each room features exhibits that let you investigate different phenomena and explore how scientists try to understand the way the world works. In the "Front Yard," you can explore a collection of mysterious tools and deduce what they might be for. Learn about the scientific process and try out some simple machines.

In the "Living Room," discover that a critical aspect of thinking like a scientist is the ability to ask the right questions. Come up with your own theories by asking questions about the world around you, or recreate one of Galileo's famous experiments, and learn from modern scientists about what thinking skills have helped them.

In the "Garage," design and carry out investigations to test your own theories with the help of user-friendly equipment. Race a scale-model car to develop and test hypotheses about gears and gear ratios. Design a car to go fast, or one that can climb a steep hill. At "Motion Match," you can play with a motion sensor and explore graphing information. In Investigate, we provide equipment and materials to do a variety of investigations, along with some ideas on how to get started. From there, it's up to you to decide where to go.

Please note: This exhibit is undergoing renovation. Some components might be closed on the day of your visit.