exploratorium

Exhibits

COLLECTIONS

Reflections

See Yourself as Never Before

Reflections, a special exhibition in 2009, invited visitors to explore the scientific and cultural history of mirrors—one of humankind’s most influential and intimate technologies—with activities and special events. Mirrors have played fundamental roles in science and inspired countless creative explorations of their poetic and psychological qualities.

  • 2009
All Eyes on Me

Situate yourself at just the right place in space in front of this parabolic mirror array and you’ll see dozens of your own eyeballs peering back at you.

Where:   Crossroads: Getting Started
Cylindrical Mirror

This curved mirror distorts your reflection in surprising ways.

Where:   Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening
Elastotron

Explore light and dimension.

Where:   Crossroads: Getting Started
Everyone Is You and Me

By adjusting the light levels on either side of this half-silvered glass, you and a friend can merge your faces into a single composite face.

Where:   This exhibit is not currently on view.
Giant Mirror

This giant mirror was originally part of a flight simulator. Its size and near-perfect smoothness makes for astonishing optical (and acoustic) effects.

Where:   Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening
Self-Centered Mirror

It’s all you, and only you, in this mirror.

Where:   Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon
Self-Excluding Mirror

In this mirror, you’re nowhere to be seen.

Where:   Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon
What's Hot, What's Not?

At this exhibit, an infrared camera detects the heat radiating from warm objects and projects it on a big screen, allowing you to see what’s hot (and not) about you and the other people and objects in your surroundings.

Where:   Crossroads: Getting Started
Your Father’s Nose

How does it feel to mix your face with someone else’s?

Where:   Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening