Techniques to Make the Invisible Visible

Sand scattered on a large metal square vibrates and jumps in response to the sound of your voice. When you hit just the right note(s), the sand spontaneously migrates into elegant geometrical patterns.

Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.

Cloud Chamber

Look down into the chamber and you’ll see an ongoing cascade of thin white trails appearing and disappearing. These are cosmic ray tracks, created by high-energy subatomic particles from space.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Drip Chamber

Liquid glycerin drips down, creating unique shapes and shadow patterns.

Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.

Fluorescent Tube

Powder inside a fluorescent tube makes invisible light visible.

Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.

Fluttering

A constant stream of air forces a lightweight piece of free-flowing fabric up into the air. The normally invisible air current is suddenly transformed into a colorful visualization of the complexity of the air stream.

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6, Mezzanine

Humming Plates

Sand reveals vibrations that are normally invisible.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Mapping Migrations

This interactive data visualization reveals the migration tracks of sharks, whales, sea turtles, tuna, and other marine creatures, and lets visitors explore differences in timing, geographic location, and male versus female migration routes.

Where: Gallery 4: Living Systems

Tidal Flow

Floating orange arrows turn a series of leftover pilings into a visual representation of water movement into and out of the Bay. As tides rise and fall, the arrows travel up and down the pilings, swiveling to point the direction of the water flow.

Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.

Tornado

Fans simulate the swirling airflow in a thunderstorm and fog machines make the pattern visible, creating a miniature tornado that you can disturb with the wave of a hand.

Where: Gallery 4: Living Systems