"Strange Matter" encourages visitors to dig into the science behind these materials, while presenting an intriguing glimpse into where materials research might take us in the future. Come and experience "Strange Matter" at Sci-Quest, September 13, 2008 through January 11, 2009.
"Strange Matter" introduces visitors to the amazing world of materials science, or the study of "stuff". Materials scientists investigate the structure of exotic as well as ordinary materials to discover what gives them their remarkable properties. Materials science also looks at how things can be improved or changed to create entirely new materials. From the space age composites used in jet fighters and golf clubs to "memory metals" used in shock absorbers and bendable eye glasses to sticky Post-It notes and non-stick Teflon - materials scientists create the stuff we use on a daily basis.
Some of the exhibits in this exciting new program include the following:
Amazing Magnetic Liquids - Ferrofluid is an unusual liquid that responds to magnets - an effect achieved by suspending incredibly small magnetic particles in the fluid. In this exhibit, visitors use magnets to manipulate a pool of ferrofluid, making it take on unusual shapes and even defy gravity. Visitors explore the surprising properties of these materials and discover how their unusual micro-structure makes them useful in all kinds of places - from the laundry room to the operating room.
"Strange Matter" encourages visitors to dig into the science behind these materials, while presenting an intriguing glimpse into where materials research might take us in the future. Come and experience “Strange Matter,” at Sci-Quest, October 4, 2008 through January 11, 2009.
Some of the exhibits in “Strange Matter” include the following:
Amazing Magnetic Liquids Ferrofluid is an unusual liquid that responds to magnets – an effect achieved by suspending incredibly small magnetic particles in the fluid. In this exhibit, visitors use magnets to manipulate a pool of ferrofluid, making it take on unusual shapes and even defy gravity. Visitors explore the surprising properties of these materials and discover how their unusual micro-structure makes them useful in all kinds of places - from the laundry room to the operating room.
Touch Tables Younger children can discover strange materials through hands-on experimentation at the Touch Tables. Place different materials under the lens of "Scope on a Rope," a handheld microscope camera, and see how they look when magnified larger than life. Play tunes on a wooden xylophone and one made of mixed materials – do similar materials sound the same?
ZOOM Some things appear smooth to the naked eye, but what if you could get a much closer look? Zoom from the macro to the nano scale and find out how scientists "feel atoms" using Atomic Force Microscopes.
Foam Watch a dramatic column of fluffy white foam climb toward the ceiling. Feel the form and learn the functions of a variety of foam samples, including the lightest material ever made -aerogel – at the Fleet's Exploration Bar.
Amorphous Metals Meet the future of metals. The unusual structure of amorphous metals makes them incredibly hard. Drop one ball bearing on a platform made of amorphous metal and another on a platform made of metal with a normal crystalline atomic structure. The result is astounding: while one ball behaves in an expected fashion, the other bounces for an impossibly long time.
Crystals Crystal growth occurs in many types of materials. This exhibit provides the compelling opportunity to watch the beautiful, real-time growth of a crystal's intricate patterns. See a sample of one of the world's largest crystals, along with a dizzying array of smaller crystal examples.
Memory Metals Bend and twist a Nitinol metal ribbon, a startling example of a metal with a memory, and see it return to its original shape with a little bit of hot air. Why is this metal different from many others, and what can it be used for?
Materials Evolution Could a strand of spider silk actually stop a 747 in flight? What do modern firefighters and medieval knights have in common? This exhibit area will allow you to trace the fascinating and often unexpected development of materials throughout history - from "The Iceman" (3300 BCE) to the present world of the "Material Girl", while discovering which materials have played a key role in human civilization.
For more information on Sci-Quest and it's programs, click here.
