Light

A Way of Seeing as It Happens

A mirror and a lens mounted on top project a live image of the outside view into a darkened room.

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes

Here’s an exhibit where watching is at least half the fun. You can create any number of gravity-defying illusions that will amaze you and your friends: Levitate, fly, swim though the air, grow limbs (and dissolve them), crawl straight up the wall like a lizard—the sky’s the limit.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Aurora

A reflector stretches light from colored tiles into long bright ribbons.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Bird in a Cage

Stare at a bird’s eye for 30 seconds, then look into the empty cage. You’ll see a ghostly bird—of a very different color—inside the cage

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Bright Black

At this exhibit, find out how subjective brightness can be as you struggle—and fail—to correctly decide whether the squares you see are black or white.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Christmas Tree Balls

There are captivating reflections in a box of ornaments.

Where: Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon

Chromoscope

A color photo is three pictures in one.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Colored Shadows

Step in front of this wall, and you’ll make shadows of various colors—yellow, magenta, cyan, red, green, blue, and yes, even black—that wiggle, jump, and dance along with you.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening