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In this activity, learners observe what happens when they give a light source like a neon glow lamp a "Bronx Cheer." The lights appear to wiggle back and forth and flicker when learners blow air throu

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 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.

Learners use two mirrors to explore how images of images of images can repeat forever.

In this activity about light and reflection, learners use a special device called a Mirage Maker™ to create an illusion.

In this activity about light and reflection, learners discover that what you see is often affected by what you expect to see.

Do you have a hard time matching paint swatches with your furniture? When you consider human perception, color is context dependent.

In this optics activity, learners examine how polarized light can reveal stress patterns in clear plastic.

In this trick, hold your hand over a burning candle without getting burned, by reflecting and transmitting the light of two candles. This activity is best suited as a demonstration.

Look at pictures through different color filters and you'll see them in a new way. People have used color filters in beautiful photography or sending secret messages.

In this activity, learners discover that it's difficult to distinguish between two different shades of gray when they aren't separated by a boundary.

In this activity, learners use gelatin as a lens to investigate the properties of laser light.

This is an online exhibit about color perception. Learners set a random background color and then try to mix red, blue, and green light to match.

In this activity, learners use simple materials to simulate the effect of X-rays in a safe way. Learners place a piece of window screen over a box and a cardboard pattern on top of the screen.

In this optics activity, learners discover that not all shadows are black. Learners explore human color perception by using colored lights to make additive color mixtures.

With little more than a flashlight, a straw, and a plastic lid, make an observatory so you can see the amazing colors in bubbles.