Richard Gagnon

In a historic maintenance video for the exhibit Black Sand, exhibit developer Richard Gagnon explains how it came to be and how it's taken care of.

Bicycle Wheel Gyro

Tilt a spinning bicycle wheel while you’re sitting in a swivel chair and—surprise—you’ll start spinning in circles, too. You can also witness the same phenomenon here by hanging a spinning wheel from its axle.

Where: Crossroads: Getting Started

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

Catenary Arch

Build an arch that supports itself.

Where: Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomenon

Life on the Rocks

All these organisms are adapted to life in California's rocky tidal zone.

Where: Gallery 4: Living Systems

Liquid Litmus

See the chemical reactions taking place in an electrolytic cell, as electricity flowing through a tank of salt water and pH-indicating dye creates zones of acidic (yellow) and basic (blue) solutions.

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6, Mezzanine