MSI's new 'Science Storms' explores nature's fury, beauty
It's easy to be wowed by the Museum of Science and Industry's new permanent exhibit, "Science Storms."
A first look into the space reveals a towering 40-foot tornado, rainbows cast by a massive prism and the periodic boom of a 20-foot diameter Tesla coil producing bolts of purple lighting across the ceiling. The 26,000-square-foot exhibit does more than discuss forces of nature: It projects their awesome power.
The exhibit presents natural phenomena including tsunamis, avalanches, tornadoes, lightning and sunlight and then breaks them down into their component parts to teach chemistry and physics. A section on tornadoes includes areas devoted to thermodynamics and gas laws, while the lighting section is divided into displays dedicated to magnetism and electricity. The goal is to encourage visitors to think about the scientific principles constantly occurring in the world around them.
"Science is about exploration and a fundamental curiosity," said Jack Pascarosa, a partner at Evidence Design, the lead design partner of the exhibit. "It all comes back to understanding nature."
Along with providing stunning visuals, the exhibit is packed with interactive elements. Visitors can see the effects of rising air temperatures in action by launching balloons to the ceiling and then watch the cooling through video from an infrared camera as the balloons coast back to the ground. You can adjust casings around tiny vortexes and control the strength of water sprinkling on a flame to see its impact on the fire.
"You can make something that burns all day long; you can make a vortex that turns all day long," Pascarosa said. "But making it interactive adds an extra layer of complexity."
There are plenty of science-based games including a solar-powered toy car track and a race for magnetically levitated trains. Visitors are challenged to adjust the speed and angling of a ball before launching it across the exhibit in an attempt to hit a target with Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose providing tips through a video on how those calculations are important in a game of basketball.
"This is very basic science, but it's something people take for granted," said Christopher Wilson, senior project manager of "Science Storms."
While the exhibit is spread over two floors, each main component has interactive functions on both levels. You can control the movements of a 20-foot disc showing off the properties of an avalanche on the first level and use cameras to zoom in on the action from above. Playing with a set of enormous prisms on the top floor projects rainbows onto spaces below.
Space is also devoted to exploring how scientists have learned so much about nature with cases full of relics including the original first edition of Sir Isaac Newton's "Optiks," a record of his experiments into the physics of light. Cutting-edge tools used for fighting fires are displayed next to tools dating to the turn of the 20th century, and a contemporary storm chaser probe has a space beside a replica of a 1690 microscope. An interactive video display chronicles humanity's understanding of the atom from the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus to today, while recognizing there's still much we don't understand.
Huge projection screens showing scientists discussing key principles and their work studying natural phenomena are scattered throughout the exhibit with audio areas positioned to avoid a cacophony. Some of these take the form of benches with embedded speakers, providing a nice place to rest your feet and watch a video before continuing to explore.
"Science Storms"Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, ChicagoHours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. SundayPrice: Free with general admission of $15, $14 for seniors, $10 for children ages 3 to 11Info: (773) 684-1414 or msichicago.orgFalse20001429The exhibit's Tesla coil discharges lightning strikes using more than 1.2 million volts of electricity.Courtesy of The Museum of Science and IndustryFalse