My BodyWorks exhibit in progress

The new exhibit gallery My BodyWorks is currently being constructed at the Exploreum Science Center. The new gallery will include more than 50 interactive exhibits that highlight human health. The Exploreum has partnered with more than 11 contractors in six states to complete this exhibit. Thank you to Infirmary Health System for making this gallery a reality! We are franctically working to make this exhibit the best in America and to bring it to the people of the Gulf Coast. Check out the photos to see our progress....

Slow-Mo video Explosion

The other day we took some time out of our hard work to further investigate one of our demonstrations. One of our current chemistry demonstrations is an acetylene explosion. We decided to use our high speed camera to investigate what really happens when the reaction occurs. This video is the result. It was filmed at 600 frames per second. A normal video is filmed around 32 frames per second. The high speed allows us to slow down the action.

2008-2009 Home School Program

On Tuesday September 9th we held our first home school sessions for this school year. This year we have expanded our program to include all grades. I work with the middle/high school students. This month they spent their class sessions learning about data. The lesson covered types of variables and categories of variables. We collected data that included nominal, ordinal and numeric variables. Our home school student taught me a lot about our classroom and Hands On Hall.
Some interesting facts we all learned:
270 wooden slats on the all of the window blinds in the classroom
72 tiles per section, on the Wharf Of Wonder wall
35 goggle pegs on the wall in the classroom (one is missing)
12 parents and 14 children in the Wharf Of Wonder
27 computer or TV monitors in Hands On Hall

Next months class session will take data collect a step further. Using electronic data collection equipment; studnets will take data on things that can not be seen. The end goal of this years middle/high school class is to learn about data, data collection, graphing and the connection between science and math.

Exploreum named Attraction of the Year!

E-Cycling Weekend

The Exploreum is going green. Being that we utilize tremendous amounts of technology, we decided to go green with that as well. On August 9th and 10th we held our first ever Electronics Recycling (E-cycling) event. We collected any and all types of office and home office electronics: computers, phones, monitors, printers, cell phones and batteries.

In the beginning we did not know how to set up an e-cycling event. We contacted our local recyclers, Keep Mobile Beautiful. They put us in touch with a reputable electronics recycler. After a few calls to the recycler and a few contacts with local police and traffic engineering we were set to go.

Our first collection day started out large. We collected enough electronics to fill about ¼ of a full size Ryder truck. The afternoon went pretty slow. We had a trickle of items. It seemed that word had not spread to far yet. That afternoon all three of our local news stations came out to do pieces on our e-cycling event. That evening the pieces aired. Our second day was fast and furious. By the end of that day we went from having ¼ of the truck filled to having over ¾ filled. Most everyone we spoke with the second day said that they saw it on the news. The event turned out to be a great success. Everyone who brought their electronics was so grateful for the service. Like most of us they wanted to get rid of their electronics in a responsible way.

The added bonus was our ability to inform people about a new local electronics recycler in Mobile. Equity-E-Cycle opened about 2 months before this event. Our contracted recyclers from ERS (out of Atlanta) had no problem with us distributing information about our local recyclers. They all have the same mission at heart “be responsible and recycle your electronics.”

We had a small group of devoted volunteers who braved the heat and heavy lifting. They all did such a great job. Thank you to all of our volunteers: Tricia (My Wife), Mira, Kayla, Lynsey and Marissa (Murphy High School), Randy and Drew (University of Mobile), Ivey (Bay Keepers), William and Patrick (St. Pauls). The volunteers made all the difference.

The one thing I learned from this event is that this could be done in any city. With a little effort any community group, church, or museum could easily set up an event like this. It is a great way to do the right thing and help the community. If anyone has any questions about how we made the Exploreum event work feel free to contact me. (Tim Pula: 251-208-6858, tpula@exploreum.net )

If you have electronics to recycle in Mobile contact Equity-E-Cycle 251-415-3823.

The youth teaching us...

We've been working with a Lego NXT robotics set for the past few weeks and hadn't quite figured it all out. But then, we spoke to one of our visitors, David Hurt, age 13. David had actually worked with one of these at home and he was gracious enough to offer us some tips. He set up subroutines and custom blocks -- he even prepared our robot for a lab activity set to begin on August 5th! Come check out David's activity in the Ciba Lab!!!

This is just one of the reasons the Exploreum is so neat. Every day is an opportunity to learn, whether it's the visitors or even us, the staff!

Whisper dishes

In the courtyard, we have "whisper dishes," which are also called "conversation curves."Whisper dishes are parabolas made of metal. When sound waves hit a parabola, sound is reflected back in a straight line. That's why theaters are designed with a parabola as a backdrop -- the acoustics are better for the audience.

When you set up two parabolas facing one another, you create an ellipse and sound waves can travel back and forth easily. When you visit, be sure to step outside and have a partner stand in front of one of the whisper dishes. You should be able to talk into the dishes in hushed tones, and be able to hear one anther and people milling around in the center won't be able to distinguish your conversation.

Now that you know the science behind the fun, you'll be able to spot other places where you can test acoustics. Check out the Battle House Hotel on Royal Street, a few blocks down from the Exploreum. On the mezzanine, the arches are an ideal spot to discuss something with someone who is 25 feet away. Melissa and I tried it and we were surprised at just how clearly we could hear each other!












Be sure to check it out!

3D Ciba Lab

Recently we have finished the bulk of a 3D model of the Ciba Lab. The model is viewable using Google Sketchup. If you don't already have it, you can download Google Sketchup for FREE from http://sketchup.google.com/ and then download our 3D Ciba Lab FREE from the Google 3D warehouse http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?q=Exploreum&styp=m

You will be free to explore the lab and even make changes if you like.

Much Assembly Required

Changing the Ciba Lab unit each month involves a great deal of building and setup time. We are currently preparing for the August 2008 unit, Technology and Electricity. One lab station has an awesome BIOLOID robot. This thing is not some assembly required, it is MUCH ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. Versions of this kit can be found at universities as a teaching tool. This is one high end teaching toy.

Now that it is together all we have to do is make it user friendly. Assisting us with that task is Hart from Davidson High School. Through the work of Exploreum staff and our great volunteer Hart we should have this robot up and dancing shortly. If you get a chance to visit in August come by and see how we did.

Metamorphosis Hops Along

I am so happy to report that our Mossy Tree Frog neonates are progressing through the metamorphosis process at a surprising rate!

Two weeks ago, we received Mossy Tree Frog tadpoles.

Last week, a group of the tadpoles grew legs, arms and lungs. At this phase they are called froglets.

Today, a couple of froglets have almost completely absorbed their tales and are starting to act like young frogs. One of them actually jumped out of my hand and landed on a visitor's shorts!

As they get older, their skin will develop a very mossy texture and color. I'm can't wait to see what colors they will turn out to have!

Metamorphosis in Action

It’s one thing to teach “metamorphosis” at the Exploreum, but it’s quite another to hold it in your hand! Metamorphosis is the process of changing from one form to another. Amphibians go through metamorphosis when they change from tadpoles to adult frogs. In our Frogs, Beyond Green! Exhibit, we are experiencing this amazing process by raising Vietnamese Mossy Tree Frogs!

They were brought to us as tadpoles, the larval stage of the frog’s life. As tadpoles, they live entirely under water and breathe through gills. They are solid black with a long tail that they use to propel them through the water in search for food…they eat A LOT!

In the last few weeks, some of our frogs sprouted limbs and began changing color! As their arms and legs grew larger blue stripes and tiny red dots appeared on their bodies. Once they enter this stage, they are considered “neonates.”



At this phase, they do not eat food. Instead, their tale slowly disappears as it is turned into energy for the body. The coolest part about the neonate phase is that they have developed lungs so we can pick them up! Of course, we have to be careful because they are already using their back legs to hop away!

Our Mossy Tree Frog Neonates will stay in this phase for about 3 months before they completely transform into adult frogs. In that time, we’ll keep a close eye (and hand) on their progress. This is definitely a lesson in metamorphosis that won’t be forgotten!

Slow Mo Feeding Frogs

Today we decided to test the high speed video camera on frogs feeding. I shot 9 videos in order to get 3 that turned out. Melissa made sure that the frogs had fresh crickets and flies to go after so that we were able to get a few good shots. Melissa explained a bit about how some of the frogs crush thier food by retracting thier own eyes. Watch for that in the video. It shows up very well in the African Bull Frog.

Big Red Cabinet

Not all of the activity at the Exploreum is out in the open. Most of our staff is working on projects that our visitors will not see for months to come. Our Ciba Lab science guy Tim has been working on multiple projects funded by an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant. The program is FunDamental Physics. One of our exhibits will be a Van De Graff Generator. The cabinet for it arrived today. The controls for it have been designed by engineering students from the University of South Alabama. They will be by on Friday to do some work with in that area of the project. The exhibit is not quite finished yet but we hope to have it on our exhibit floor by August at the latest. Keep an eye out for more information on our IMLS projects. If you don't already have it, you can download Google Sketchup for FREE from http://sketchup.google.com/ and then download our 3D project drawings FREE from the Google 3D warehouse http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?q=Exploreum&styp=m
Check it out, especially if you like designing or building cool things.

Hop Behind the Scenes

Even the Exploreum staff has to go to class!

Once the frogs were settled, B. Ian Hiler, director of touring exhibits for the Aububon Nature Institute, gave our education staff a walk-through lesson about the amazing creatures that are in our charge through November 2. Take a peek behind the scenes. It's toadally cool. I know; I know, but I couldn't resist.

One of the neatest things: Ian mentions that beta blockers are based on toxins secreted by poison dart frogs. In the IMAX Film Amazon, audiences learn about the importance of the medicinal properties of plants that live in the rainforests of Amazonia. Nature holds so many remedies, secrets waiting to be discovered. That's why it's so important to do our part to protect the Amazon's flora and fauna, a rich resource of scientific knowledge.

Please pardon the blurry spots, this is the first movie I've ever shot. Tim let me use the insta-camera from the Ciba Lab and he was kind enough to edit the movie down as well. Talk about teamwork!

Homeschoolers Rock!

Check out the amps the homeschool class created today. We could hear them all the way down in the offices. How cool is that!?

Just a little imagination and practical science know-how and not only have you created something useful and personal but you've reduced your carbon footprint by reusing materials.


Marah Fenn made her amp out of an o.j. can and was listening to All Time Low cover Rihanna's Umbrella on her iPod.








Brittany Reynolds (reluctantly) showed off her amp that was created within a translucent box. What a great idea. It allows you to see all the guts and the work that was involved.








Zach Stokes used a pencil box so if he's jamming out, working on quantum physics, no one will know where the tunes are coming from.









What would you make your amp out from? I vote for an empty sunscreen bottle for beach trips -- what better way to recycle!

Tigers are the Buzz Around Town

The Marcan Tiger Preserve family arrived last night and began setting up for an exciting nine days of educational demonstrations. Media began arriving today. Fox TV got some footage to let everyone in Mobile know what's going on this weekend.

The Press-Register was on to of it too. I have to say, photojournalist John David Mercer was fearless. He got a lot closer than I ever would have dreamed of...I would never say it doesn't fall within my job description, but there is a reason for zoom lenses. And the cage.

During the heat of the late afternoon -- could this be the cat days of summer? -- the tigers were napping mostly. However, Brett did receive a call from a city employee who said they could hear roaring from their office. I think we all agree with Ilka when she says, "That's ggggrrrreat!"

Be sure to stop by June 7-15, bring your friends and family -- but leave your umbrellas at home. Surprisingly, the tigers are scared of them!

"In an Instant" High Speed Video

Check out this great video we made this morning. We recently purchased a high speed camera as part of our IMLS grant. Our goal is the use this camera to show the world in a different way. Science is an observational process and this camera lets us observe through a new set of CCD eyes.

Let us know what you think of the video and feel free to send us suggestions about what we can film next. If we use your suggestion we will post it on our video page along with your name.

Don't just be a visitor to the site or the science center; become an active part of it.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

Breaking Stuff in the Name of Physics

Who:

Mr. Duke's Senior Physics Class

What:

Breaking Balsa Wood Bridges

Where: Davidson High School
When:
7:18 AM April 29, 2008

Early Tuesday morning we went to visit Mr. Duke's senior physics class at Davidson High School. Mr. Duke's students do the classic physics bridge building activity. Using our bridge breaker device, a 50-pound metal and wood pressing machine, the students measured the strength of their bridges. They were also able to collect data, both video and numerical, that can be analyzed later. The strongest bridges broke when crushed by more than 300 lbs of force.

Amp in a box

Our 2007-2008 homeschool program is coming to a close. Last year we finished the year “BREAKING BRIDGES.” This time we'll end the year amped. Each student is building a “cracker box” amplifier. They will turn a pile of electrical parts into a 9 volt powered, 2 inch speaker driven, cardboard encased sound machine.

It can plug into anything that has a headphone jack and is small enough to go anywhere.

The idea for the project came from Make Magazine volume 9. http://www.makezine.com/ If you're interested in this type of electronics project, the link below will take you to a portion of the online "Cracker Box Amp" article.

http://cachefly.oreilly.com/make/09/cracker_box_amp.pdf

Cool new images from Hubble

The Hubble Space Telescope just releases some new images of galaxies colliding. Click on this link to check out a slideshow http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24282959/.

Earth Day-A Health Check Up for Our Planet

As the Health Gallery Coordinator, I've been concentrating on more than just human health.
With Earth Day right around the corner, April 22, it's time to concentrate on the "health" of our planet.

The Earth Day celebrations began yesterday, April 19th, at the Fairhope Pier. I had a blast with my coworker. We had a booth with small demos about how to prevent water pollution and reduce solid waste. We met TONS of enthusiastic festival-goers and learned about the variety of ways we could improve the health of our planet.

I met one agency, Daphne Utilities, who can turn my used cooking oil into biodiesel and glittering soap! I've already put my soap to good use and the free container I recieved from them will hold at least a month's worth of cooking oil.

The Earth Day celebrations continue this week!

I'll be at Spring Hill College on Tuesday, April 22nd from 3-6. SHC's celebration will include a live band playing acoustic music to save electricity, yummy food served in biodegradable containers, and plenty educational booths (That's where I'll be).

Friday, April 26th from 8-3:30, I'll be traveling to Turtle Point for Environment Day! This event promises to be entertaining and educational. I can't wait to meet with the local conservation groups. I had no idea how many local groups we have in our area. They will all be out at Turtle Point.

Both events are open to the public and free! So, if you missed EarthDay MobileBay yesterday, there are still opportunities for you to be a part of Earth Day. Come by our booth at either of these locations! I'd love to see you!

The azaleas are blazing at the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion

Nestled among stately live oak trees and fragrant azalea bushes, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion is a beautiful example of antebellum architecture and one of the most photographed structures in all of Mobile. The Greek Revival-Italianate Mansion was built in 1852 for the Bragg family to enjoy Mobile's social season from Thanksgiving through Mardi Gras. More than a century later, their homestead continues to be the preferred setting for corporate functions, elegant weddings and a glimpse into Mobile's past.

In the late '70s, the Mansion was donated by the A.S. Mitchell family to the Explore Center to house an interactive children's museum for the citizens of Mobile; however, to protect the historic integrity of the Mansion the Board of Trustees chose to build the Exploreum Learning Center adjacent to the structure. In 1998, the Exploreum Learning Center moved downtown and became the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center & IMAX Dome Theater.

Historic home tours of the Mansion are available Monday through Friday. Be sure to enjoy this jewel of Springhill Avenue. Since the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion is a sister attraction of the Exploreum, members receive $1 off admission for up to 4 guests. Please present a valid membership card to redeem this discount.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Tessney Photography

One Insider's Perspective

Where else can one become a crime scene investigator, a news anchor, a roller coaster designer, and an intergalactic traveler, journeying through space and time -- all in one day?If there is such a thing as a WOW factor, you can definitely find it here at the Exploreum!

Strolling through the exhibits on the first day as a marketing intern, I jerked my head back and forth while deciding what to tackle first. I noted the interaction of visitors--with each other and the exhibits--and was awed at what the Exploreum has to offer. The Gulf Coast Exploreum attracts hundreds of visitors a day from all across the country. Their most recent blockbuster exhibit, Our Body: The Universe Within, provides an experience beyond compare and one that can not be easily put into words--except to say WOW!

A short affiliation with the Exploreum has given me what years of grade school barely accomplished--a greater appreciation for science.

--Jennifer Liddell

Snake Encounters

SNAKE ENCOUNTERS is back by popular demand!

Daryl Sprout, your favorite herpetological humorist, and his slithering friends are scheduled to make an appearance July 18-20. Daryl and company packed the house last summer -- and this year we've added an additional show.

Meet the new star of his show, Capone. Capone is a black and white Tegu that Sprout adopted during his last visit
to Mobile. Capone is not technically a snake, but this
adorable lizard has been entertaining audiences throughout the United States. You won't want to miss his appearance in front of a hometown crowd!

Want to learn more about Daryl Sprout or Capone? Visit their blog.

Want snake-y activities and facts about how snakes get around?
Check out How Stuff Works.

Tim's a Star!

Tim Pula, our resident friendly scientist and science coordinator, made an appearance on WKRG's morning show on St. Patrick's Day. He even remembered to wear green. He was so great -- he should have his own segment! Check it out.

Membership makes good cents!

Of course membership makes good sense. By supporting informal science education, Exploreum members invest in the future, provide lifelong learning activities for children and adults, and sustain tourism endeavors for the entire Gulf Coast area.

Membership makes good cents too! Our members save money on IMAX tickets, exhibit vouchers and gift shop purchases. And now, members receive a 20% discount in the Creative Cafe on-site, as well as discounts at area attractions along the Gulf Coast.

By presenting a valid Exploreum membership card, take advantage of these offers:

• $1 off admission to the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
  
• The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab - $1 off admission & 15% discount in Gift Shop
  
• Bellingrath Gardens & Home -- 15% off in Gift Shop
  
• USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park -- $2 off adult admission
  
• Mobile Museum of Art -- $2 off adult admission
  
• The Museum of Mobile -- $1 off admission & 10% discount in Gift Shop

And, by the way, this is NO April Fool's joke!!!

Explore This!

Welcome to the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center's Blog.

Thanks for visiting us on the web!

Want to know what is going at the Exploreum?

Become a member of our online community and get a behind-the-scenes look at south Alabama's premier science center.

Take a tour through the underbelly of the IMAX Dome theater; check out the latest experiments brewing in the Ciba Lab; meet our education staff and volunteers; and most of all, ask questions, post comments and let us know what you'd like to learn about at the Exploreum.

We'll also share online science resources, the latest updates about our exhibits, films & camps, as well as activities for you to try at home.

Tryscience.org is a site we recommend for experiments to do at home in 11 diffferent areas of science. This experiment demonstrates lung capacity. How much air can fit in your lungs? Try Science to find out!