Knowledge Station

NASA and MIT teamed up with Trotti Studios and ExplorationWorks to design and build the one-of-a kind Knowledge Station. Multiple interactive computers connect visitors to activities on the International Space Station, Mars, and Europa--one of the moons of Jupiter. Information on robotics in space, space suit design and several other topics are covered. For those looking for additional information, just enter your email and NASA will send links to more info and data on the topic(s) you researched while using the Knowledge Station. Strap on your moon boots and prepare for lift-off!

Good Vibrations

Teachers' pre-visit and field trip materials available, CLICK HERE.

Vibrations are all around us. Some we are aware of, but many we are not. In January 2010, ExplorationWorks will have a variety of clever new exhibits to bring the world of vibrations to life with the Good Vibrations exhibition. Many of the new exhibits focus on how vibrations result in sound, but not all of them. Take, for example, the Visible Vibrations table that allows our visitors to control the modulation of vibrations through different shapes of metal plates. When sand is placed on those metal plates, the patterns that emerge right before your eyes are amazing as well as beautiful. Crop circles anyone?

Easily, the most engaging of our new sound vibration exhibits will be the Organ Pipes. Organ Pipes lets visitors control both the very large bellows to create air flow, and control the combination of "Pipes" that make a variety of strange and wonderful sounds. You will imagine a train coming down the tracks when you blow the multi-chambered train whistle, or feel like you are in church listening to a pipe organ with combinations of our single chamber pipes. And, by controlling the intensity of the pressure that is applied to the bellows, you also control the volume and tone of the sound coming from the pipes.

For sheer amazement, the new exhibit that will leave you wondering "how does it do that?" will be the Bite-A-Phone. You may be reluctant to actually bend down and bite on an exhibit with your teeth, but that is how it works! Also, you may wonder how that can be sanitary? ExplorationWorks protects our visitors by requiring that a clean straw be placed on the exhibit rod after each use. That way, you know you will not be sharing your bite experience with anyone else. So, what happens when you bite the rod on Bite-A-Phone? Well, that is something you will have to come in and experience for yourself.

Have you ever admired street musicians and their ability to make music from just about anything, from garbage cans to stair railings? Now you too can slap out your favorite Beach Boys tune on our Slap-A-Phone. By just using a pair of flip-flops as your drumsticks, and slapping them on our set of very tall PVC pipes you CAN make your own music. So, come on by to see these new exhibits and many more.

Good Vibrations was developed by the Discovery Center of Idaho and will be at the ExplorationWorks center beginning in mid-January 2010.