A Brief History of Pi (π) - Exploratorium
WEBLearn how ancient civilizations and mathematicians calculated the value of π, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Discover how Zu Chongzhi, a Chinese mathematician and astronomer, approximated π to 355/113 using a regular 24,576-gon.
Secret Language: Cryptography & Secret Codes | Exploratorium
WEBLearn about the history and methods of codes and ciphers, from ancient to modern, and how to make your own with a decoder ring or a cipher wheel. Explore the Exploratorium's interactive activities and resources to discover the secrets of secret language.
Flower Dissection: Plant Biology Science Activity | Exploratorium ...
WEBLearn about the form and function of plant reproductive structures by dissecting a flower in a longitudinal cut. Find the sex cells, pollen, ovules, and other parts of the flower and see how they interact in pollination and fertilization.
Anatomy of an Egg - Exploratorium
WEBChalazae are opaque ropes of egg white that hold the yolk in the center of the egg. They are visible as thin threads that attach the yolk to the membrane lining the eggshell. Learn more about egg anatomy and how to test egg freshness.
What is Inquiry? - Exploratorium
WEBInquiry-based science is a teaching approach that encourages students to explore scientific concepts through hands-on investigations, questions, and critical thinking. Learn about the inquiry structure, which consists of inquiry starters, focused investigations, and sharing understanding, and see examples of inquiry activities.
Science of Bread: Bread Science 101 - Exploratorium
WEBLearn how yeast, a live, single-celled fungus, and flour, a mixture of milled grains and water, work together to make bread rise and flavor. Find out how gluten, starch, enzymes, and baking powder or soda affect the leavening process.
Build a Solar System Model | Exploratorium
WEBUse this online calculator to make a scale model of the Solar System based on the diameter of the Sun. Learn about the distances and sizes of the planets, stars and galaxies, and download spreadsheets to create your own model.
Naked Egg: Biology & Chemistry Science Activity | Exploratorium
WEBLearn how to de-shell eggs and soak them in different substances to observe osmosis, the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane. Explore how osmosis affects the mass, color, and shape of the eggs and how it relates to human cells.
Photosynthetic Floatation | Exploratorium
WEBLearn how baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can be used to measure the rate of photosynthesis in leaf disks. See how oxygen gas produced by photosynthesis makes the leaf disks float in water and how light, temperature, and filters affect the process.
Origins: CERN: Ideas: The Big Bang - Exploratorium
WEBLearn how astrophysicists believe the universe began with a huge explosion, called the Big Bang, 13 billion years ago. Find out how scientists use evidence from cosmology, astronomy, and particle physics to support the Big Bang theory.