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This is a great activity about wave interference. Learners will create their own wave machine and discover wave properties through hands-on investigation.

Space telescopes can offer us better, clearer views of the universe (and of our own planet) than Earth-based telescopes can, but getting these large, delicate pieces of equipment into orbit is tricky.

Did you know that a Slinky makes a handy model of earthquake waves?

In this activity about light and refraction, learners make a lens and magnifying glass by filling a bowl with water.

In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

In this quick optics activity, learners use a dim point of light (a disassembled Mini MagLite and dowel set-up) to cast a shadow of the blood supply in their retina onto the retina itself.

In "Exploring the Universe: Exoplanet Transits," participants simulate one of the methods scientists use to discover planets orbiting distant stars.

In this interdisciplinary activity, learners create a Space Weather Action Center (SWAC) to monitor solar storms and develop real SWAC news reports.

Make a big canvas of iridescent color with pvc pipe! In this Exploratorium Science Snack, you'll need to cut and assemble some PVC pipe, but the pay-off, the soap-bubble canvas, is big.

In this activity, learners investigate the speed of chemical reactions with light sticks. Learners discover that reactions can be sped up or slowed down due to temperature changes.

Align four color transparencies, each one a single color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), and see a beautiful full color image.

In this activity, learners create a xylophone by filling glasses with different amounts of water and tapping them with a metal spoon.

In this physics activity, learners explore how sound is created by vibrations.

In this activity, learners explore why the sky is blue. Learners model the scattering of light by the atmosphere, which creates the blue sky and red sunset, using a flashlight and clear glue sticks.

In this activity about light and perception, learners create pictures in thin air.

In this optics activity, learners create a ripple tank from household materials to study waves. Learners build the tank and then explore by making various types of waves.

In this seismic simulation, learners play a "who-dunnit" game to explore earthquakes.

In this optics activity, learners experiment with polarizers (small dark rectangles) to examine light intensity.

In this activity, learners use pop-beads to understand the characteristics and properties of polymer chains.

In this fun, hands-on autumn activity, learners experiment to discover whether the colored substances in leaves can be separated from the leaves.