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Tales from the Periodic Table
Check upcoming programs for dates and times
Phyllis C. Wattis Webcast Studio
Included with museum admission.
Adults Only (18+)
Note: There is limited capacity for this program; seating will be made available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.
From the moment of its discovery, each element embarks on a journey into our culture. —Hugh Aldersey-Williams, Periodic Tales
The periodic table outlines the fundamental building blocks of all known matter in the universe. Composed of irreducible atoms, these elements arrived from the earliest reports of the Big Bang, the fusion wombs of stars and supernova, and collisions between interstellar matter and cosmic rays—as well as through artificial production in the lab. A scant 4.9% of the universe (the rest being dark matter and energy), the 118 elements currently arrayed on the periodic table display unique and yet beautifully related properties and behaviors. To us, they mean everything: from iron to uranium, their discovery and use have shaped the course of human history.
In this Thursday night series, we invite you to come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman. Follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective experience.
Upcoming Programs
There's always something interesting happening here—check out our upcoming events calendar.
Past Programs
Tales from the Periodic Table: Tin
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. PST
Come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman—follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective human experience.
Tales from the Periodic Table: Indium
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. PDT
Come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman—follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective human experience.
Tales from the Periodic Table: Cadmium
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. PDT
Come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman—follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective human experience.
Tales from the Periodic Table: Silver
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. PDT
Come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman—follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective human experience.
Tales from the Periodic Table: Palladium
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 • 4:00 p.m. PDT
Come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman—follow tales of intrigue and invention, join in dynamic demonstrations, and uncover fascinating connections between individual elements and our collective human experience.
After Dark: It's Elemental!
Thursday, February 20, 2020 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Come be in your elements with Exploratorium host and scientific raconteur Ron Hipschman. Learn about Earth’s rarest nonradioactive metal, rhodium, which keeps auto emissions in check.
After Dark: Tactile
Thursday, January 16, 2020 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
In celebration of the anniversary of the opening of the Tactile Dome, feel your way through the darkened labyrinth, sharpen your tactile perception, and learn about the system that connects the outer world to your inner reality.
After Dark: All Is Bright
Thursday, December 19, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Discover a once-missing element at Everything Matters: Technetium; excite your atoms at Glow; experience a landscape of astonishing visual effects at Kaleidoscope; and bring flying, sailing, and cycling automata to life at Curious Contraptions.
After Dark: Nonsense Machines
Thursday, November 21, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Leave your common sense at the door and indulge in a night of nonsense in celebration of the opening of Curious Contraptions—including two performances by Maywa Denki, foremost purveyors of nonsense machines.
After Dark: Earthquakes
Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Drop, cover, and hold on...to After Dark: Earthquakes, where we’ll commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta quake and look ahead to the latest in earthquake preparation, safety research, and building practices.
After Dark: Self-Styled
Thursday, June 20, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Get your hands on wearable designs, catch a fabulous fashion show, or learn about how humans transform themselves with fashion. Come wearing the true you and celebrate the creative ways in which we adorn our physical forms.
After Dark: The MAX Festival
Thursday, May 16, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Kick off MAX 2019: A Space Festival at the Exploratorium and celebrate humanity’s modern frontier: space. Illuminating scientific exploration through artistic expression and shared experiences, the festival features artists exploring the new space age.
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