What's Happening At Pacific Science Center

February 21, 2013

Get Involved. Make An Impact.
The Studio is an exhibit and program space within Professor Wellbody's Academy of Health & Wellness, our new permanent exhibit that combines interactive displays, research artifacts and live presentations to feature current health science research from the Pacific Northwest. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, a large-scale study is being conducted to understand what guests think of The Studio concept and its themes, their understanding of the science featured, and their engagement in the exhibit and its programming. This is a long-term study open to individuals and groups. Participants will be eligible for a free membership or membership renewal for the duration of their involvement in the study. Learn More
Deadline To Participate Less Than A Month Away
Seattle Science Festival We are getting close to the launch of the Second Annual Seattle Science Festival this June. We're still looking for exhibitors to bring engaging, innovative, hands-on activities to Seattle Center for our annual Science EXPO Day on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We also seek musicians, entertainers and scientific stage performers to star on our EXPO Day performance stages. In addition, we're on the hunt for local organizations who want to host special Signature Programs at venues around the region June 7-16. Applications are due by March 15 in order to be included in the Festival's printed materials. Apply online today. Learn More
Polar Science Weekend Is Coming
Take a scientific journey to the ends of the earth at Pacific Science Center's eighth annual Polar Science Weekend, February 28 - March 3. Investigate an ice core from Greenland, survey microbes from the coldest parts of the world, learn about living with penguins and tour an actual Arctic Ice Camp that polar researchers call home--all with the guidance of the nation's top polar scientists. Students, families and guests of all ages will enjoy four action-packed days of hands-on activities, demonstrations and exhibits organized by Pacific Science Center in partnership with the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory. Entry is included with general admission - FREE for Pacific Science Center members. Learn More
IMAX News
Two Very Cool Films
As part of Polar Science Weekend we will be showing two exceptional films exploring the polar regions. To The Arctic 3D takes you on a never before seen journey into the lives of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month-old cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home. Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure tells the extraordinary true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914-1916 British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
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Throwback Thursdays: Fresh Look At Vintage Photos
Throwback Thursday Love local history? Join us on Facebook on Thursdays when we share treasures from our archives, including classics unearthed from the tunnels under Pacific Science Center. In this undated photo, likely snapped shortly before the opening of the World's Fair in April 1962, the fountains are on the brink of completion, the pools yet to be filled, scaffolding graces the fifth of five iconic arches designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki. Seattle-born Yamasaki, a second-generation Japanese American, graduated from Garfield High School and the University of Washington's architecture program, earned tuition money toiling in an Alaskan salmon cannery and worked in a New York architecture firm that sheltered him and his parents from internment during World War II by relocating them to New York. Yamasaki went on to design the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. See a larger image and post your own on our Facebook page.
Members: Register Early For Summer Camp
Membership Purchase or renew your membership at the Dual level or higher for special access to early registration for summer camps. Register your child for one of our extremely popular camps before registration opens to the general public. As a member, you will also receive exclusive discounts on camps. Early registration begins February 26, and our camps fill quickly, so don't wait too long. To buy or renew a membership, please call the membership office at (206) 443-2924 or visit our membership site.
PacSci-Doku: "Skin Soother"
Our latest science word puzzle may bring to mind The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Or exotic meat. Can you solve the "Skin Soother" edition of PacSci-Doku?
Science News
Most Boring Winter In Seattle History
No snowstorms, no real windstorms, no extreme temperatures, no pineapple expresses. Seattle hasn't seen such a snoozer of a fourth season for 50 years, according to University of Washington meteorology professor Cliff Mass, who is developing a new measurement, The Seattle Winter Excitement Index (SWEI),  to quantify the phenomenon. Learn More
Elsewhere, Climate-Change Havoc
While we long for a few flurries in the Emerald City, much of the nation braces for more storms, floods, heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires--the kind of extreme weather that caused a record-breaking $120 billion in damages during the past two years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
New Normal: Wet Ankles in West Seattle?
Even if the Pacific Northwest remains meteorologically moderate, we'll still feel the Big Warm's impact. Last year, 2012, was, by far, the warmest year ever recorded in America and a warm year for the planet in keeping with upward temperature trends. At this rate, Seattle Public Utilities projects that by 2050, parts of Interbay, Georgetown, South Park, West Seattle, Harbor Island and Golden Gardens will be under salt water as higher ocean temperatures expand water volume and melt Arctic ice, prompting a sea-level rise of three to 22 inches. Learn more in this Seattle Times article.
How Else Climate Change Will Affect Us
We can also expect extreme storms to break down aging roads, bridges and railroad tracks (disrupting transport of goods); more asthma and allergies; higher food prices as crop yields in California's Central Valley drop by 30 percent in the next few decades; higher energy prices as demand for cooling increases and energy production systems are disrupted by drought and floods. National Geographic has a good round up.
Fresh Sheet - Emerging Butterflies
Each week our Life Sciences staff puts together a listing of our most recent shipment of new pupae to go on display. They will emerge out into the Tropical Butterfly House this week. We call this our Fresh Sheet. Use it as a handy guide of what to look for when you visit. Here's this week's Fresh Sheet.
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  • Exhibits CLOSED TUESDAYS.
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