Tactile & Touch

Black Sand

At this simple but ever-popular exhibit, black sand from nearby beaches make spiky patterns that reveal the invisible magnetic field between the poles of two giant magnets.

Where: Ray and Dagmar Dolby Atrium

Bronze Hand

The combination of past experience and the sight and feel of being touched seems to change your brain's definition of your body's boundaries. You may even feel as if the fake hand is part of you.

Where: Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon

Pinscreen

Create ghostly images with the touch of a hand.

Where: Ray and Dagmar Dolby Atrium

Sensitive Plants

Gently touch these plants and see how they respond.

Where: Gallery 4: Living Systems

Tactile Dome

Take an interactive excursion through total darkness.

Where: Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon

A surprising—and as yet unexplained—tactile illusion can occur when you slowly rub your palms across this mesh. You may feel a strange, slippery sensation, as if there’s a thin film of velvet between your hands.

Where: Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon