Since 1969, the Exploratorium has connected the public with scientists, artists, teachers, policy-makers, doers, thinkers, and makers to create extraordinary learning experiences that upend ...

1. Earth is the only planet in our solar system from which you can witness a perfect total solar eclipse. A curious coincidence makes it possible: The Sun is 400 times the diameter of our moon, but it ...

Make a lens and a magnifying glass by filling a bowl with water. A round bowl of water can act as both a magnifier and a lens. Place the lightbulb or candle more than 1 foot (30 cm) from the ...

What you see is often affected by what you expect to see. When your brain expects to see one thing and is presented with something quite different, you may feel some peculiar sensations. Note: This ...

When stereotypes are inaccurate, however, we deny other people’s individuality. This can be offensive or hurtful—for example, if your elderly relative actually has an excellent memory and never ...

Build a deeper understanding of how we see solar eclipses by focusing on the size-and-distance ratios of the Sun and moon from our perspective on Earth. Measure the length of your arm (in centimeters) ...

When you watch a continuously rotating spiral, the motion detectors in your eyes become adapted to that motion. Then, when you look away, the world seems to move toward or away from you. Click on the ...

We're tinkering with creative code and patterns! This page about tinkering with symmetry and mirrors is part of a larger collection of OctoStudio + Patterns explorations. To join in, start by ...

With large windows overlooking the Bay, the East Gallery brings the outside world in, offering experiences and exhibits that let guests explore life at different scales. It’s perfect for intimate ...

Pi Day and pie go hand in hand; Shaw’s very first Pi Day celebration in 1988 included a pie feast for Exploratorium staff, with fruit pies and a tea urn. So show off your crafty skills on March 14, ...

Luisa likes to think about ways to make the unfamiliar familiar. How can stories bring a stranger or an abstract idea closer? How can various media and technologies help us learn, express ourselves ...

Before you take the next photo, make sure that you slide down the dot on the slider bar on the left. This gives you an onion skin (a faint ghost of the previous image that you captured) to help you ...