Experience the Exploratorium at Pier 15
WEBSat, Oct 19 2024 • 12 - 2pm. Sat, Oct 19 2024 • 3 - 5pm. The Exploratorium is proud to host two in-person screenings of Superfest—an innovative film festival showcasing disability storytelling. Become a Member. Get unlimited admission. Enjoy special access, events, and discounts. Support a vital community resource.
Naked Egg: Biology & Chemistry Science Activity | Exploratorium
WEBAdd vinegar to cover the eggs (see photo below), and cover the container. Allow the eggs to sit for 24 to 48 hours at room temperature. Note: Changing out the vinegar halfway through and replacing it with fresh vinegar will speed up the process. The eggshells will leave residue in the vinegar bath (see photo below).
Secret Language: Cryptography & Secret Codes | Exploratorium
WEBThe algorithm or method used to encipher the original message (known as the plaintext). The key used with the algorithm to allow the plaintext to be both enciphered and deciphered. The period or time during which the key is valid. By way of analogy, to get into your home you would put a key in a lock to open the door.
Your Weight on Other Worlds | Exploratorium
WEBScales measure the force of attraction between you and the Earth. This force of attraction between you and the Earth (or any other planet) is called your weight. If you are in a spaceship far between the stars and you put a scale underneath you, the scale would read zero. Your weight is zero. You are weightless.
A Brief History of Pi (π) - Exploratorium
WEBHere’s a brief history of finding π. The ancient Babylonians calculated the area of a circle by taking 3 times the square of its radius, which gave a value of pi = 3. One Babylonian tablet (ca. 1900–1680 BC) indicates a value of 3.125 for π, which is a closer approximation. The Rhind Papyrus (ca.1650 BC) gives us insight into the ...
Anatomy of an Egg - Exploratorium
WEBBumpy and grainy in texture, an eggshell is covered with as many as 17,000 tiny pores. Eggshell is made almost entirely of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) crystals. It is a semipermeable membrane, which means that air and moisture can pass through its pores. The shell also has a thin outermost coating called the bloom or cuticle that helps keep out ...
Flower Dissection: Plant Biology Science Activity | Exploratorium ...
WEBDraw what you see, if it helps you. Carefully remove the petals from the flower (you can use scissors or gently pull the petals off). You will probably notice that the center of the flower contains long filaments (click to enlarge the photo below). Use the hand lens and/or dissecting microscope to examine the filaments.
Origins: CERN: Ideas: The Big Bang - Exploratorium
WEBThe universe began, scientists believe, with every speck of its energy jammed into a very tiny point. This extremely dense point exploded with unimaginable force, creating matter and propelling it outward to make the billions of galaxies of our vast universe. Astrophysicists dubbed this titanic explosion the Big Bang.
Build a Solar System Model | Exploratorium
WEBIf you build your solar system on a roll of toilet paper, you can make the Sun about .4 inches (10 mm) across and still fit the entire solar system on the roll. A standard roll of toilet paper has about 450 sheets that are about 4.375 inches long, hence the roll is about 164 feet long. You should check your toilet paper for length.
Science of Bread: Bread Science 101 - Exploratorium
WEBThis organism lies dormant until it comes into contact with warm water. Once reactivated, yeast begins feeding on the sugars in flour, and releases the carbon dioxide that makes bread rise (although at a much slower rate than baking powder or soda). Yeast also adds many of the distinctive flavors and aromas we associate with bread.