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Follow us on Twitter - @sciowa & Instagram - @sciowa. Experience the Science-Surrounds-Us-All Actuality at this 110,000 square-foot creative lifelong learning center in the heart of Downtown Des Moines. By placing the power of learning in the hands of the visitor with interactive experiences for all ages, the emphasis at SCI is less on what to learn and more on how to learn. About the IMAX Theater: SCI's six-story dome screen wraps you in larger-than-life images that surround your field of view and envelop you in the action. The 12,000-watt digital surround system lets you hear everything from a tiny drop of rain to a huge clap of thunder with crystal clarity. Challenge your sensory perception with a uniquely immersive movie experience! The Blank IMAX Dome Theater may show films outside SCI's regular facility hours. View films and showtimes at www.sciowa.org/imaxshowtimes
We haven’t seen them at SCI for a few months, but the meteorologists at WHO 13 News are still working hard to keep us safe and informed!
Today, we checked in with Meteorologist Megan Salois to learn more about yesterday’s severe weather, including a new word for many of us: “derecho.”
Everyone loves a good story. How about one read from space??
Join Astronaut Christina H. Kock as she reads "Hey-Ho, to Mars We'll Go!: A Space-Age Version of 'The Farmer in the Dell'" read from 220 miles above the Earth aboard the International Space Station.
Hey-Ho, to Mars We'll Go!: A Space-Age Version of "The Farmer in the Dell" Written by Susan Lendroth with Illustrations by Bob Kolar Read on board the Intern...
Rediscover the Science Center of Iowa! Hear from our president and CEO, Curt Simmons, about how COVID-19 has affected our operations and how we've adapted and innovated to re-welcome visitors to SCI.
Learn more at www.sciowa.org/reopening
We can't wait to see you at SCI!
It's got to be a hot weekend! Cool off inside at SCI! Get advance tickets at www.sciowa.org/buytickets
We're getting some much-needed rain today! But how much?
Here's a way to make a quick rain gauge with materials you probably already have at home!
It's going to be a great month for stargazing! ⭐
Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars will all be close to the moon throughout the month. The annual Persied meteor shower also takes place this month, peaking on August 12.
Get all the details in this video from NASA!
You're likely familiar with SCI’s exhibits, planetarium and live science programs, but did you know that SCI offers teacher professional development for educators across the state?
Join Jolie, our director of innovative STEM teaching, to learn more about our Pint Size Science program, which has been selected as a Scale-Up program by the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council for the past six years!
Looking for a fun activity this weekend? Try making a Doodle Bot that wiggles and whirs as it creates unique artistic masterpieces!
The next Mars rover is on its way to the Red Planet!
Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to Mars, with a name that embodies NASA's passion for taking on and overcoming challenges. It will search for signs of ancient microbial life, characterize the planet's geology and climate, collect carefully selected and documented rock and sediment samples for possible return to Earth and pave the way for human exploration beyond the Moon.
(Mark your calendars now: Perseverance is set to arrive at Mars on February 18, 2021!)
As of right now, the Mars 2020 mission is "GO" for launch tomorrow, July 30! #CountdownToMars
If conditions stay favorable, the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter will launch to the Red Planet at 6:50 am CDT. We'll continue to share updates!
Tune in here tomorrow morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB3JbIIbPU
Video: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA's next mission to Mars — the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission — is targeted to launch from Cape Canaveral as soon as July 30!
Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to Mars, with a name that embodies NASA's passion for taking on and overcoming challenges. It will search for signs of ancient microbial life, characterize the planet's geology and climate, collect carefully selected and documented rock and sediment samples for possible return to Earth and pave the way for human exploration beyond the Moon.
Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy on Tuesday, July 28, at noon for a preview of this mission as we #CountdownToMars!
Tune in today at noon for a preview of the Mars 2020 mission, which is set to launch as soon as this Thursday!
NASA's next mission to Mars — the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission — is targeted to launch from Cape Canaveral as soon as July 30!
Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to Mars, with a name that embodies NASA's passion for taking on and overcoming challenges. It will search for signs of ancient microbial life, characterize the planet's geology and climate, collect carefully selected and documented rock and sediment samples for possible return to Earth and pave the way for human exploration beyond the Moon.
Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy on Tuesday, July 28, at noon for a preview of this mission as we #CountdownToMars!
Because of our orbits, there are specific times when Earth and Mars are ideally placed for interplanetary travel. That time is now!
Two of these three missions have already set off for the Red Planet, and NASA's Mars 2020 mission is launching soon. The launch window opens this Thursday and closes August 15. When conditions are favorable, the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter will be on their way.
Tune in to FB Live tomorrow at noon for a preview of the mission with NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy:www.facebook.com/sciowa/live
Over the next month, a flotilla of spacecraft will blast off into space with a one-way ticket to one of the solar system’s most mysterious objects: Mars. They are tasked with helping answer a question that has puzzled scientists for decades—is there, or was there ever, life on the red planet?
Later this week, the launch window for the Mars 2020 mission will open.
Could you imagine taking a six-month trip to another planet all by yourself? Luckily, the Perseverance rover has a buddy – Ingenuity the helicopter!
Ingenuity will be the first demonstration of powered flight on a planet other than Earth, and it will be especially challenging considering how thin the Martian atmosphere is! Ingenuity will start with a simple goal: lifting off the group, hovering for about 30 seconds and landing safely. Once that challenge is complete, it will start trying riskier maneuvers and routes.
Ingenuity will not be controlled in real-time with a joystick, like RC helicopters or drones. It will be controlled with pre-programmed code sequences.
You can simulate what it will be like to code for Ingenuity’s flight tests with this JPL-created Scratch game:www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/code-a-mars-helicopter-video-game/
Learn more about the Mars helicopter at https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/
Create a video game that lets players explore the Red Planet with a helicopter like the one going to Mars with NASA's Perseverance rover!
The #CountdownToMars is on!
Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy for a preview of the mission, set to launch from Cape Canaveral as soon as July 30! https://www.facebook.com/sciowa/live/
Where do clouds come from? How are they made? What are the made of?
Check out this video of one of our favorite science demonstrations – the Cloud in a Bottle - and learn how to make your own using the instructions here: https://bit.ly/3eRVkqq
SCI is open to the public this Saturday and Sunday!
You'll need advance tickets in one of three 2-hour timeslots (9:00-11:00 am, 11:30 am-1:30 pm or 2:00-4:00 pm). Tickets are just $7 per person - FREE for members.
Learn more about what to expect during your visit at www.sciowa.org/reopening
Pollinator pods are folded paper filled with seeds that will grow into flowers and plants that provide food and habitat for pollinators.
Follow these instructions to learn how you can make pollinator pods to drop around your backyard or neighborhood! You'll need:
- Prairie seed
- Soil
- Cone-style coffee filters
- A glue stick
NASA's next mission to Mars — the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission — is targeted to launch from Cape Canaveral as soon as July 30!
Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to Mars, with a name that embodies NASA's passion for taking on and overcoming challenges. It will search for signs of ancient microbial life, characterize the planet's geology and climate, collect carefully selected and documented rock and sediment samples for possible return to Earth and pave the way for human exploration beyond the Moon.
Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy on Tuesday, July 28, at noon for a preview of this mission as we #CountdownToMars!
Have you heard of Mars 2020 and the Perseverance rover? They're headed to the Red Planet... and soon!
The launch window is about three weeks — from July 30 - August 15. When conditions are favorable, the mission will launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral. It will arrive at Mars on February 18, 2021.
The Mars 2020 mission has lots of goals once the rover reaches the Martian surface. Among them is to collect and cache various rock samples that will eventually be delivered back to Earth. But how do the rover operators control where it moves? Due to the vast distance between Mars and the rover’s control station on Earth, its operators remotely send code to pre-program when and where the rover moves.
Could you could be a Mars rover driver? Try this game from NASA to find out!
Drive around the Red Planet and gather information in this fun coding game!
From the beginning, our reopening plan has been rooted in science. Part of this plan includes the requirement of face coverings for all visitors ages 5 and up - and here's why!
This video visualizes a study from the journal Physics of Fluids entitled "Visualizing the Effectiveness of Face Masks in Obstructing Respiratory Jets." In the study, researchers at the Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science show how effective face coverings are at containing respiratory droplets. These droplets can carry COVID-19 and are a primary source for cross-infection between individuals.
By using lasers and a synthetic fog solution, they simulated coughing and sneezing, and we’re able to see how the droplets can be prevented from becoming airborne.
While well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of fabric and off-the-shelf cone-style masks proved to be the most effective at decreasing respiratory droplets from circulating, all of the coverings tested reduced the speed and range of the respiratory jets. (Without a mask, droplets traveled more than 8 feet; with a bandana, they traveled 3 feet, 7 inches; with a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled 1 foot, 3 inches; with the stitched quilting cotton mask, they traveled 2.5 inches; and with the cone-style mask, droplets traveled about 8 inches.)
This study illustrates why face coverings can prevent you from spreading germs and help protect you and your family from the germs of others!
[Note that this study tested masks that are readily available to the general public, which do not draw away from the supply of medical-grade masks and respirators for healthcare workers.]
Learn more at https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/efficacy-facemasks-coronavirus.php - or read the full text of the study at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018
Details on what to expect during your SCI visit can be found at www.sciowa.org/reopening
If you've been to our Makers Studio exhibit, you might be able to imagine the station where you can experiment with making circuits that light up lightbulbs and make other objects move. Since our Makers Studio is currently closed and that hands-on experience is unavailable, this video brings circuitry to you... virtually!
You'll just need a computer with internet access and a Tinkercad account. Then, watch this video, and Dan will walk you through everything you need to know.
This challenge can be done independently by kids in grades 3 and up and with assistance for younger learners.
There are so many ways to use your creativity and experiment with this activity. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
The paper rocket launcher is among the most popular hands-on exhibits at SCI, but while that exhibit remains closed, you can still make and launch your own straw rockets at home!
You'll need:
-A pen or pencil
-Scissors
-Tape
-A soda straw
-Measuring tape
-And this Jet Propulsion Laboratory-designed template:https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/pdfs/strawrocket_worksheet.pdf
Create your rocket and test how far it can fly! Modify the deign and make the rocket fly farther! How far will your rocket go?
We can learn a lot from our environment by listening to it: How do these sounds represent their ecosystems? How can they the help us understand how they work and how they change over time? How does human activity and the sounds we create impact these ecosystems, as well as their soundscapes?
Soundscape ecologists are dedicated to answering these questions. While they spend a lot of time LISTENING sounds they record from the ecosystems they study, a powerful tool called a SPECTROGRAM allows them to SEE those sounds.
Check out this video to learn how to interpret and create your own spectrograms for the soundscapes you record!
Summer is ordinarily a very exciting and active time at SCI! We usually welcome thousands of visitors and host hundreds of students for summer camps.
This summer, we've had to adapt and innovate. We're open to the public on weekends, and our onsite camps look a little different than in years past.
Here's a peek behind the scenes:
In order to ensure our campers’ safety, we continue to use a plan rooted in science. Every camper gets their temperature checked and a general health screening as they’re dropped off in the morning. Staff and campers wear masks while at SCI to reduce the spread of aerosol droplets, and we've set up our classrooms to ensure social distancing while maintaining collaborative communication. Each camp is isolated as well to reduce exposure from shared spaces from other campers not in their immediate class.
Learn more about our reopening plan at www.sciowa.org/reopening
The Adler Planetarium put together a great graphic on when and where to view comet NEOWISE.
If we get clear skies this week, go outside and look to the northwest horizon about 30-70 minutes after sunset. The comet is visible with the naked eye, but binoculars may help. Like all stargazing, the darker the skies, the better - and because NEOWISE appears so close to the horizon, you'll need to get away from tall trees/buildings to catch a glimpse.
As the month goes on, the comet will be higher on the horizon, but it also will become dimmer as it moves away from Earth, so this week really is the best time for viewing.
Astronomers say this is the best comet viewing opportunity since the 1997 appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp - and NEOWISE won't visit Earth again for nearly 6,800 years, so you don't want to miss it!
Have you noticed a bright object in the southern sky? That's Jupiter! But why is it so bright?
Tonight, Jupiter will be the brightest and most visible of all summer. This is because Jupiter will be "at opposition," or its closest point to the Earth with respect to our relative annual orbits. Check out these images to learn more!
(Next week, we'll talk more about the fainter object to its lower-left, Saturn!)
All images rendered using E&S Digistar 5.
Everyone loves getting new toys! Join Jolie in our Innovation Lab for a special unboxing video of two new 3D printers and learn about all of their cool features that will be used to engage and inspire students, educators and visitors.
We're now open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, but we will still be providing virtual resources! Here's what we have planned to help you "Go Beyond with SCI" this week:
• MONDAY: Everyone loves getting new toys! Join Jolie in our Innovation Lab for a special unboxing video of some new 3D printers and learn how these will be used to engage and inspire students, educators and visitors of all ages.
• TUESDAY: It's hard to believe, but we're already halfway through summer camps! Take a behind-the-scenes look at what our campers have been up to as well as how our educators have adapted to maintain safety guidelines and still have meaningful camp experiences.
• WEDNESDAY: Have you noticed a bright object in the southern sky? That's Jupiter! Learn more about the gas giant and how to view it. (Next Wednesday, we'll talk more about the fainter object to its lower-left, Saturn!)
• THURSDAY: Soundscapes are audio recordings that capture all of the sounds in an environment. Learn more about how to record and analyze soundscapes in your own backyard!
• FRIDAY: As we countdown to the launch of the Mars 2020 mission carrying the Perseverance rover, join us to learn how to create a straw rocket and simulate your own launch. 🚀
View our other virtual resources and at-home activities at www.sciowa.org/athome - and learn more about when and how to visit SCI at www.sciowa.org/reopening!
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We haven’t seen them at SCI for a few months, but the meteorologists at WHO 13 News are still working hard to keep us safe and informed! Today, we checked in with Meteorologist Megan Salois to learn more about yesterday’s severe weather, including a new word for many of us: “derecho.”
Rediscover the Science Center of Iowa! Hear from our president and CEO, Curt Simmons, about how COVID-19 has affected our operations and how we've adapted and innovated to re-welcome visitors to SCI. Learn more at www.sciowa.org/reopening We can't wait to see you at SCI!
It's going to be a great month for stargazing! ⭐ Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars will all be close to the moon throughout the month. The annual Persied meteor shower also takes place this month, peaking on August 12. Get all the details in this video from NASA!
You're likely familiar with SCI’s exhibits, planetarium and live science programs, but did you know that SCI offers teacher professional development for educators across the state? Join Jolie, our director of innovative STEM teaching, to learn more about our Pint Size Science program, which has been selected as a Scale-Up program by the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council for the past six years!
As of right now, the Mars 2020 mission is "GO" for launch tomorrow, July 30! #CountdownToMars If conditions stay favorable, the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter will launch to the Red Planet at 6:50 am CDT. We'll continue to share updates! Tune in here tomorrow morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB3JbIIbPU Video: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA's next mission to Mars — the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission — is targeted to launch from Cape Canaveral as soon as July 30! Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to Mars, with a name that embodies NASA's passion for taking on and overcoming challenges. It will search for signs of ancient microbial life, characterize the planet's geology and climate, collect carefully selected and documented rock and sediment samples for possible return to Earth and pave the way for human exploration beyond the Moon. Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy on Tuesday, July 28, at noon for a preview of this mission as we #CountdownToMars!
From the beginning, our reopening plan has been rooted in science. Part of this plan includes the requirement of face coverings for all visitors ages 5 and up - and here's why! This video visualizes a study from the journal Physics of Fluids entitled "Visualizing the Effectiveness of Face Masks in Obstructing Respiratory Jets." In the study, researchers at the Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science show how effective face coverings are at containing respiratory droplets. These droplets can carry COVID-19 and are a primary source for cross-infection between individuals. By using lasers and a synthetic fog solution, they simulated coughing and sneezing, and we’re able to see how the droplets can be prevented from becoming airborne. While well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of fabric and off-the-shelf cone-style masks proved to be the most effective at decreasing respiratory droplets from circulating, all of the coverings tested reduced the speed and range of the respiratory jets. (Without a mask, droplets traveled more than 8 feet; with a bandana, they traveled 3 feet, 7 inches; with a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled 1 foot, 3 inches; with the stitched quilting cotton mask, they traveled 2.5 inches; and with the cone-style mask, droplets traveled about 8 inches.) This study illustrates why face coverings can prevent you from spreading germs and help protect you and your family from the germs of others! [Note that this study tested masks that are readily available to the general public, which do not draw away from the supply of medical-grade masks and respirators for healthcare workers.] Learn more at https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/efficacy-facemasks-coronavirus.php - or read the full text of the study at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018 Details on what to expect during your SCI visit can be found at www.sciowa.org/reopening
If you've been to our Makers Studio exhibit, you might be able to imagine the station where you can experiment with making circuits that light up lightbulbs and make other objects move. Since our Makers Studio is currently closed and that hands-on experience is unavailable, this video brings circuitry to you... virtually! You'll just need a computer with internet access and a Tinkercad account. Then, watch this video, and Dan will walk you through everything you need to know. This challenge can be done independently by kids in grades 3 and up and with assistance for younger learners. There are so many ways to use your creativity and experiment with this activity. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
Everyone loves getting new toys! Join Jolie in our Innovation Lab for a special unboxing video of two new 3D printers and learn about all of their cool features that will be used to engage and inspire students, educators and visitors.
What's Up for July? Jupiter and Saturn are bright and visible near the moon, well placed for viewing between 10pm-2am - and Mars rises in the East just before midnight. Get all the details in this video from NASA!
Did you know that Iowa was once underwater? Join Dan in our “What On Earth?” exhibit as we go behind-the-scenes to learn about a fossil in our collection from the Devonian Period 400 million years ago. (Sorry about the momentary camera mix-up! It gets corrected before the 1:00 mark!)
"Oooh, potassium chloride!" This Fourth of July weekend, you're likely to "ooh" and "ahh" at some spectacular firework displays. Join Bridgett to explore what gives fireworks their colors!
We recently installed a new set of functioning bee hives in our What On Earth? exhibit! Go "bee"-hind the scenes with Abigail, the 2019 Central Iowa Beekeepers Honey Queen and SCI's volunteer beekeeper, to learn about the process of setting up an urban bee hive.
Have you ever gone fishing in a pond? We typically see what we pull OUT of the water, but today, we'll take a look at what's happening BELOW the surface of a pond in our director of innovative STEM teaching's backyard. View more virtual resources and at-home activities at www.sciowa.org/athome
Did anyone catch the crystal clear skies last night? Did you wonder what you were looking at? Check out this NASA video to learn about the upcoming Summer Solstice as well as the planets and constellations visible in (almost) summer sky. Video courtesy of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Have you ever watched the raising of a flag? That easy-looking task uses multiple simple machines! Join exhibit coordinator Bridgett to explore the science of this symbolic system - and learn some history of the flag of Des Moines.
Do you love or hate spring thunderstorms? ⚡ Either way, knowledge is power! Here's the science behind all that thunder and lightning. (Special thanks to our friends at WHO 13 News for the cool graphics!)
Do you love clouds as much as we do? Turn your sky-gazing into real science! Download NASA's Globe Observer app and become a citizen scientist by recording clouds in your backyard or neighborhood. Join Patrick to learn more about clouds and how to use the Globe Observer app!
It's National Dinosaur Day! Join Jolie to take a look inside our Innovation Lab as we use a cool piece of maker techology, the Glowforge, to laser cut a dinosaur puzzle. Can you make your own dinosaur model at home using things found in your recycling bin? Gather a variety of items like plastic lids, empty milk jugs, cardboard, straws, paper towel tubes and plastic bottles. You might also need scissors, tape and glue. Investigate different dinosaurs and their unique features. Ask questions and think about how their body structures helped them to adapt to their environment: • Some dinosaurs walked on two feet while others walked on four. How did this affect their overall body shape? • Some dinosaurs had large heads with lots of teeth while others had much smaller heads. Did this relate to the type of food they ate? • Some dinosaurs had large protrusions like horns, shields or plates. Were these for protection or did they have some other purpose? Design a dino in your head or on paper. Select items from the materials you gathered to assemble a model of your dinosaur. Give your dinosaur a name, and write up a description for it like you might see in a museum!
It's Whooping Crane Day, so today, we're folding paper cranes to bring awareness to this endangered species! The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America - coming in at approximately five feet tall. Its population reached a low in 1941 - with only 16 documented birds - due to deterioration and loss of wetland habitat. Whooping crane populations are increasing, and though it's rare to see them in Iowa today*, they have historically migrated through our state and will hopefully return someday, thanks to conservation efforts. You can help by being a voice for these birds! Fold a paper crane and share your creations by tagging your photos with #IGiveAWhoop and #GoBeyondwithSCI Find the directions for making your own paper crane at https://www.savingcranes.org/education/origami-cranes/ (*A crane you may be more familiar with in Iowa is the sandhill crane! This species faces similar problems of deterioration and loss of wetland habitat, so conservation efforts support them, too!)
It’s National Paper Airplane Day! Join Bridgett for a behind-the-scenes look at our paper rocket launcher in the When Things Get Moving exhibit – then experiment with making some paper projectiles at home. (If you enjoy folding paper airplanes, you’ll want to tune in on Thursday to learn how to make an origami crane as we celebrate Whooping Crane Day!)
This Memorial Day, we're honoring our military personnel who have lost their lives by learning how to make a red poppy pin! You'll need: red tissue paper, scissors, masking tape, glue, scrap cardboard, a black permanent marker and a safety pin. And learn more about how the red poppy became a symbol of Memorial Day here: https://bit.ly/2XqNVrj
SCI's resident box turtles Lily, Peaches, Charlene and Herman aren't known for being especially speedy... but in this video, we'll learn about what box turtles eat and see who can snarf down their snacks the quickest! Tomorrow is World Turtle Day! 🐢 Share your favorite pics of SCI's resident reptiles in the comments below or post them on Instagram and Twitter and tag @sciowa, and we'll share some of our favorites! 🐢🐢🐢
We continue our turtle highlights as we get ready to celebrate World Turtle Day on Saturday! The Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve is located south of Muscatine, Iowa, along the Mississippi River. It's home to a unique, diverse ecosystem of plants and animals and has among the highest concentrations of endangered species in the state, including the yellow mud turtle and ornate box turtle. Big Sand Mound is the only place in Iowa yellow mud turtles are found. In this clip from our friends at Iowa PBS, Josh Otten, scientist and researcher, and Don Becker, conservation technologist, explain the processes used to track, monitor. and protect these very special turtles.
This "What's Up Wednesday," we're celebrating the upcoming World Turtle Day by highlighting a lesser-known constellation, Keya! The constellation was named by the Lakota Oyate, a Native American tribe. In the Lakota language, the word for turtle is "keya," and the animal has cultural significance because its number of scales - 13 large scales on its back and 28 small scales around its shell - align with the Lakota calendar of 13 months, each with 28 days. Learn more: https://bitly.com/ To locate Keya, (1) find the Big Dipper, (2) use the Big Dipper to find the North Star, (3) extend that same line to Keya, passing Cassiopeia along the way. If you can identify four semi-bright stars in a square shape near the horizon, you've found Keya. At this location and time of year (May in Iowa), Keya is only visible from around 2am to sunrise, so unless you're an earlybird, you may want to just use this video to imagine what the constellation would look like in the night sky!
World Turtle Day is on Saturday, but we’re celebrating all week long! Join exhibit coordinator Bridgett as Snippy, our resident snapping turtle, gets a snack - and learn about some of the other ways we’re celebrating this week!
This Saturday is World Turtle Day - but we're going to celebrate all week long! Since you'll be learning all kinds of turtle-y awesome turtle facts, you might want to make your own turtle journal. In this video, Patrick and Maddy will show you how!
Soundscape ecology is a growing field of research that uses sound to track how ecosystems change over time. In this clip from the television program NOVA, Dr. Bryan Pijanowski and Matt Harris work with a team of researchers to collect hours of sound at locations from the Alaskan tundra to a rainforest in Borneo. By analyzing the recordings, they can reveal changes in each ecosystem that we might not otherwise be able to see. (Recognize these researchers? They're featured in one of SCIs most popular live programs, Global Soundscapes!) Visit https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Spectrogram/ to experiment with a spectogram of your own. You'll be able to visualize sounds from a preloaded library, record your own sound right in the page or drag and drop a prerecorded audio clip (from a cell phone or other device). Video courtesy of NOVA l PBS
Feeling cooped up? Remember that we're IN SPACE, cruising through the solar system! 🌎 Then check out this "What's Up" video from NASA to learn what to watch for this in the night sky this month. Here are a few highlights: • Thursday, May 14 - Third quarter Moon • Friday, May 15 - The planet Mars will appear above the waning crescent Moon • Thursday and Friday, May 28 & 29 - On Thursday evening into early Friday morning, the bright star Regulus will appear to the left of the waxing crescent Moon View the daily guide here: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/
One of SCI's most iconic and beloved features, the Foucault (pronounced 'foo koh’) Pendulum is a 235-pound, 17-inch brass ball that demonstrates the rotation of the earth. It hung for more than 30 years in the Science Center of Iowa's former location in Greenwood-Ashworth Park before joining SCI in our downtown location in 2005. Learn more about the Foucault Pendulum on our blog: https://bit.ly/361ArGF
Experience the Science-Surrounds-Us-All Actuality at this 110,000 square-foot creative lifelong learning center in the heart of Downtown Des Moines. By placing the power of learning in the hands of the visitor with interactive experiences for all ages, the emphasis at SCI is less on what to learn and more on how to learn.
Our History: The pioneering Des Moines Center of Science and Industry opened its doors in October 1970 in Greenwood-Ashworth Park. What started as a Junior League of Des Moines project became one of the first interactive science centers in the world, rising to the forefront of a new wave of learning centers featuring hands-on programs and exhibits.
Over the years, the center gained prominence as its audience expanded and the name was changed to the Science Center of Iowa in 1986 to better reflect its statewide reach. From space science to dinosaurs, SCI was inspiring generations of future scientists and inventors.
In the year 2000, SCI recognized a need to expand in order to meet the changing needs of its Iowa community, and planning began for a new downtown facility. This creative learning center opened its doors in Downtown Des Moines in May 2005 with an innovative, dynamic and changing environment that adapts its experience platforms, theaters and programming to serve future generations. As of 2017, the Science Center of Iowa has served more than five million participants in our informal learning center with engaging educational programs, exhibits and films.
About the IMAX Theater: SCI's six-story dome screen wraps you in larger-than-life images that surround your field of view and envelop you in the action. The 12,000-watt digital surround system lets you hear everything from a tiny drop of rain to a huge clap of thunder with crystal clarity. Challenge your sensory perception with a uniquely immersive movie experience! The Blank IMAX Dome Theater may show films outside SCI's regular facility hours. View films and showtimes at www.sciowa.org/imaxshowtimes
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
100 Locust StSteven Vail Fine Arts - Project Room DM
1501 Walnut StreetState Historical Society of Iowa
600 E Locust StState Historical Museum of Iowa
600 E Locust StItalian - American Cultural Center of Iowa
1961 Indianola AveGreater Des Moines Botanical Garden
909 Robert D Ray DrContemporary Art Society of New Mexico (CAS)
Albuquerque 87181-0331
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
100 Locust St
