After Dark: One Strange Rock and Nickel

One Strange Rock

7:30 p.m.
Kanbar Forum

Museum admission included with One Strange Rock tickets.
Buy One Strange Rock Tickets

Join us for an exclusive preview screening from National Geographic's new series One Strange Rock. This documentary series from award-winning filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and narrated by Will Smith, is a mind-bending, thrilling journey exploring the fragility and wonder of planet Earth. Filmed across 45 countries, 6 continents, and in outer space over more than a year, this epic series from Nutopia and Protozoa Pictures redefines natural history and science genres. One Strange Rock is the extraordinary story of why life as we know it exists on Earth, brought into perspective by the only people to have left it behind—astronauts.

Tonight’s screening will be followed by a discussion among scientists who are exploring in more local landscapes the phenomena investigated in the episode. One Strange Rock premieres March 26, 2018 on National Geographic.

About the Panelists

Jennifer Frazier is a cell biologist whose current obsessions include 
plankton and data visualization. Jennifer has been at the Exploratorium 
since 2004, focusing on finding new ways to help visitors explore worlds 
they normally can’t see. Before joining the Exploratorium, she created 
exhibits, multimedia, and documentary films at NOVA, the National Academy 
of Sciences, and several multimedia companies. Jennifer received her PhD in 
cell biology from the University of California, San Francisco. 

Dustin Schroeder develops and uses geophysical radar to study Antarctica, 
Greenland, and the icy moons of Jupiter. He draws on techniques and 
approaches from defense technologies, telecommunication, resource 
exploration, and radio astronomy to understand the evolution and stability 
of ice sheets and their contributions to sea level rise. He is an assistant 
professor of geophysics. He has participated in three Antarctic field 
seasons with the ICECAP project and NASA’s Operation Ice Bridge. 

Dr. Kristen Shive is the Fire Ecologist for Yosemite National Park, and 
continues to collaborate on research projects with UC Berkeley. Her work 
primarily focuses on how changes in fire regimes are affecting mixed 
conifer forests, and the challenge of how to best restore them to a 
resilient condition under a warming climate. She is also currently 
collaborating with researchers throughout the state to better understand the 
long-term effects of the extensive drought-induced tree mortality in the 
Sierra Nevada. 

Everything Matters: Nickel

8:00 p.m.
Phyllis C. Wattis Webcast Studio

Fused to iron in Earth’s core and in fallen meteorites, corrosion-resistant nickel finds its strength in numbers of alloys, from stainless steel to the shape-memory alloy nitinol, which, bent, returns to its original shape when heated.

Explore the versatility of this transition metal with host Ron Hipschman and Exploratorium Building Operations Manager Chuck Mignacco, who’ll demonstrate nickel electroplating and discuss welding with nickel.

Chuck Mignacco is Building Operations Manager at the Exploratorium, where he oversees the museum’s unique bay water heating and cooling system, solar photovoltaic system, and other operations of its award-winning green building at Pier 15. A former stagehand and rigger, Chuck was also a structural welder certified in MIG, TIG, and stick welding. He presented at Everything Matters: Argon in January 2017.

Tactile Dome

6:15–10:00 p.m.
Bernard and Barbro Osher West Gallery

Take an excursion through total darkness in our Tactile Dome. Crawl, slide, and bump your way through the pitch-dark Dome using your sense of touch as your only guide through its chambers and mazes.

Please Note: Due to the nature of this experience, certain restrictions apply. Guests who are afraid of the dark; claustrophobic; have back, neck, or knee injuries; or are in their third trimester of pregnancy should not participate. Guests wearing casts are prohibited. Also, please wear comfortable clothes.

Learn more about the Tactile Dome.

Explainer Demonstrations

6:00–9:45 unless noted
Various locations throughout the museum

Drawing Board
Ticketing at 6:00 p.m., first come, first served
Bernard and Barbro Osher West Gallery

Draw hypnotically flowing patterns with a swinging table, and watch friction cause the patterns to slowly shrink along a spiral path. Pick up a ticket to reserve your spot in line for this popular activity.

Speaker Dissection
Bechtel Central Gallery

Tune in to surrounding sounds by experimenting with strings and vibrations, and use electromagnets to build a basic speaker. Learn how to listen with your bones, and explore the workings of the inner ear.

Cow Eye or Flower Dissection (alternating)
East Gallery

Do cows see color? How does a lens work? Examine the intricate structure of a cow eye to learn about similar structures in our own eyes, as well as some key differences.

Stigma, stamen, pistil, anther, style: Uncover the beautiful architecture of flower anatomy, and gather some surprising strategies that plants use to reproduce.

Magic Demonstration
Bernard and Barbro Osher West Gallery

Everything is not as it seems—at first. Pick a card, any card, and watch the Explainers reveal some surprising aspects of human perception.