MOSI

Now Open: "Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause"

2011-10-12T09:31:00.009-04:00

MOSI recently opened its newest exhibit, Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause. This exhibit created by the Drug Enforcement Administration has been seen by over 20 million people since it first opened in 2002 and started its national tour.

The exhibit’s main goal is to educate visitors on the dark side of drugs and their impact on the human body, families and on the world as a whole. The exhibit has also been expanded to educate visitors on Florida’s history as a drug gateway and local drug issues such as “pill mills.” As visitors enter the exhibit, the grim wreckage of a drug-related car crash greets them and immediately shows the damage drugs can cause to users and innocent bystanders. To the right of the crash wreckage is the section of the exhibit detailing the various ways drugs will damage the bodies of addicts.

Throughout the exhibit, visitors can view informative displays on topics ranging from drug production to money trafficking as well as re-creations of an Afghan heroin “factory,” a jungle cocaine lab and a methamphetamine motel cook room.

The damage to the environment caused by drugs is also featured in a section of the display which details the destruction left by drug production across the globe.

One of the most emotional sections of the Target America exhibit includes a wall of lost talent and two thick binders filled with stories of the casualties of drug use. Here, photos of celebrities and average people remind visitors that the danger of drugs does not discriminate.

The final section of the exhibit has been tailored to feature Florida’s unique history and role in the war on drugs. Displays here include a quiz game on Florida’s role as a drug gateway to the United States, a display on the warning signs of a pill mill and a replica of a police surveillance operation for a drug bust.

The Target America exhibit opened at MOSI on September 16th and will be open until September 3, 2012. This run will be the longest the exhibit has stayed at one location and serves as a reminder of Florida’s importance to the war on drugs. Previous stops for the exhibit have included: the Louisiana State Museum, the California Science Center and the Museum of Science & Industry of Chicago.

Click here for more information on Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause. For ticket information please call MOSI at (813) 987-6000.

Sky Trail Ropes Course Now Open

2011-09-08T11:49:00.014-04:00

MOSI’s new Sky Trail® Ropes Course is now open! The course opened on July 18th and since then over 10,000 people have conquered their fears and challenged the course.

The course features several types of obstacles in varying difficulties. These obstacles include rope bridges, balance beams and rope swings. The course is divided into three levels and ranges from 12 to 36 feet in the air.

The easiest obstacles are on the lowest level and feature more handles to grab on to while you are crossing. They also tend to be more stable and easier to cross.

The middle level contains slightly more challenging obstacles. While it may feature many of the same types of crossings, these crossings tend to sway the challenger slightly more.

The upper level is slightly smaller than the lower two but features the best views and most rewarding obstacles of the course. At 36 feet in the air feel free to gaze across parts of USF’s campus or simply check out the traffic on Fowler Avenue for your drive home.

Afraid of falling? Don’t be! Before beginning the course each person is strapped in to a safety harness making slips only a delay. MOSI employees are specially trained for the course and are also stationed to help you make it to the end. If you’re still afraid of challenging the next element of the course feel free to hold on to your anchor as you cross to the next island.

The course takes around 30 to 45 minutes to complete on average if you choose to complete every challenge on the course. However you are free to skip any bridges, and you can even climb straight to the top if you’re confident enough to take on the most difficult portions of the course.

The course will be open everyday. Weekday hours will be noon – 5 p.m. Saturday the course will open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. On Sunday it opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.

Although you are able to tackle the new course solo, group rates are available. Please visit our website at www.mosi.org or call (813) 987-6000 for more information.

The only requirements are closed toe shoes, a height of at least 48 inches (or 42 if accompanied by an adult) and a sense of adventure.

MOSI would also like to thank the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa for letting MOSI host their team-building exercise and for challenging the ropes course together.

Design Zone at MOSI

2011-07-20T15:33:00.003-04:00

MOSI’s NEW Exhibition, Design Zone

At MOSI, science is always magical. Our new exhibition, Design Zone will have you confirming that statement.

Design Zone is a highly interactive, hands-on exhibition where visitors can explore a variety of creative concepts to learn the processes and tools needed to create a successful design. It is organized into three highly interactive thematic areas, highlighting the relationship between mathematical thinking and the creative process in: art, music, and engineering.

So, if you have ever been attracted to a pair of headphones and a turn table, spend your free time creating playlists, pondered how to build a roller coaster, or dreamt of creating your own video game then this exhibit will explain how to make those fantasies a reality.

If only Algebra 2 could be as interesting!

Design Zone is open now and runs through September 5th.

Sky Trail Ropes® Is Almost Here!

2011-07-06T14:36:00.008-04:00

These images of brightly colored, eclectic rods are soon to be a source of thrill and excitement at MOSI. We have been polishing our helmets and crossing off days in anticipation of the launch of our new Sky Trail Ropes® course opening this July.

The happy and hardworking construction team is creating the ultimate summer adventure right before our eyes. The ropes course is currently being built outside Kids In Charge! In the grassy area and you can see it as you travel down Fowler Ave..

Doesn’t this look like an adrenaline rush waiting to happen?

Stay tuned into our Blog and our Facebook Fan Page for details and construction photos on The Sky Trail Ropes® Course and remember the opening is just around the corner!

We can’t wait for you to try it!

MOSI Is Reaching New Heights.

2011-05-16T14:26:00.005-04:00

Coming this Summer!

Want to explore your wild side?

Well, MOSI’s new Sky Trail Ropes Course promises to get your blood pumping! On a 12 – 36 foot high, multilevel structure, featuring 36 elements, why wouldn’t your heart pound with excitement?

If you love virtual rope slinging games on the wii, you now have the opportunity to get the same thrill outside your living room and the greatest part is you don’t have to drive for hours to find this type of adventure! Just come to MOSI and breathe the fresh air on our Sky Trail Ropes Course.

If you are looking to avoid the awkward first date at the movies, come to MOSI and climb some ropes. Research has shown that first dates that include physical activities leading to an adrenaline rush, have a better chance of success. Now that’s something you might want to consider.

MOSI’s Sky Trail Ropes Course will be open everyday coming this Summer. Weekday hours will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on weekends the course will be open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The ropes course will also be open evening hours Friday – Saturday until 8 p.m. Group rates and exclusive birthday party packages are also available. Please visit our website at www.mosi.org or call (813) 987-6000 for more information and come fly like a bird with us, sort of, on ropes.

Stay tuned into our MOSI blog as we will be posting construction pictures along the way of the ropes course being built and we will make sure to let everyone know when this is open for all to enjoy!

In Memory of Paul Silveira, MOSI Volunteer

2011-04-15T16:43:00.001-04:00

I am sorry to share that Paul Silveira, MOSI’s long time friend and volunteer, passed away on Sunday, March 27^th.

As many of you know, Paul had been a Thursday afternoon regular in the mailroom for many, many years. For nearly 30 years, Paul was a regular and enthusiastic part of MOSI. When he was assigned to MOSI as a Hillsborough County security officer, he quickly became a part of the MOSI team and we left each night knowing MOSI was in his good hands. Even after being moved to a downtown assignment in the late 80’s, he unfailingly volunteered at MOSI almost every Thursday afternoon.

Paul had recently retired from the County and was beginning to enjoy his retirement. I will miss his weekly visit to my office to borrow my keys to retrieve copy paper for the 4^th floor. I will really miss his smile and our 30 years of conversation and dueling puns. Paul was never a MOSI employee but he was truly a member of our MOSI family.

His email address said it all- PAULMOSI@aol

Don Toeller

Vice President of Facilities and Special Projects

Our Favorite Things: High Wire Bike

2011-03-24T11:38:00.001-04:00

MOSI volunteer Sarah is riding a bicycle over 30 feet above the ground with only a one inch thick steel cable beneath her and she is smiling while she pedals!

So why does Sarah feel so comfortable on this bicycle so far above the ground? Well the net and the five point harness really help, but there is no way for the bike to tip over or fall off that wire. Hanging beneath the bicycle is a 350 pound counter weight which keeps the bike right side up.

Even with the weight of Sarah combined with the bicycle, the counterweight weighs much more and will always be pulling the bike back into the upright position even if Sarah were to get very brave and rock the bike back and forth.

So why is the net there? Two reasons: It makes people feel better and also catches shoes which might fall off before they land on someone standing on the main floor.

MOSI's High Wire Bike is the longest High Wire Bike ride in a US museum with a 98 foot long cable and is truly science in motion! The High Wire Bike is the favorite thing of Vicki Ahrens, Senior Vice President of Operations who has been with MOSI for 16 and a half years and counting.

Our Favorite Things: BioWorks Butterfly Garden

2011-03-17T11:25:00.000-04:00

The BioWorks Butterfly Garden at MOSI rears and exhibits Florida native butterflies that are local to the Tampa Bay area. Butterflies can be seen in all life stages: eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis and adult butterflies. In BioWorks, the real message is how you can turn your own yard into a butterfly oasis by providing the right plants and habitat for native butterflies.

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The BioWorks Butterfly Garden is the favorite thing of Kimberly Gil, MOSI’s Accounts Receivable Coordinator.

Kimberly writes “It is a beautiful and peaceful area that invites the eye and encourages thoughtful questions. It is especially wonderful when the knowledgeable staff can answer questions in regards to the butterflies, their lifespan and habits. Visiting the Garden is a quick and easy way to recharge so I can finish the rest of my workday.”

Learn more about the BioWorks Butterfly Garden at the garden’s blog: Tales from the Butterfly Garden.

Our Favorite Things: Eye Maxed

2011-03-10T10:04:00.001-05:00

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This sculpture entitled “Eye Maxed” can be seen in the lobby of MOSI’s IMAX Theater.

Created by sculptor Robert McNabb this piece incorporates the primary mirror (Collector) of our IMAX projector. The collector mirror reflects light from the 15kw lamp inside the IMAX projector to project the film image onto our gigantic domed screen. This particular collector was replaced some months ago and rather than becoming trash, this old and large part from the IMAX projector became art!

“Eye Maxed” is the favorite MOSI thing of MOSI’s IMAX Director, Zarth Bertsch. We invite you to come check out “Eye Maxed”, stay for a festive beverage in Bar 1570 and then catch a movie in the IMAX dome theater.

You can learn more about artist Robert McNabb at his website: http://www.mindinmetal.com/.

Volunteer of the Month for March 2011: Gene King

2011-03-08T10:02:00.000-05:00

Gene has volunteered at MOSI since July of 2009 and so far has accrued over 400 hours of volunteer service. Gene has been almost singlehandedly responsible for completely revamping our HAM RADIO volunteer program. He has increased the size of the group and the number educational activities available to the general public.

Most notably, Gene brought the NATIONAL HAM RADIO day celebration to the MOSI campus this past summer with hundreds of participants from across the globe. Thanks Gene, keep up the GREAT work!

Science Right Now: Good morning astronauts!

2011-03-07T09:43:00.003-05:00

Morning wake up calls have been a NASA tradition since the days of the Apollo missions when mission control staff would serenade astronauts with lines from popular songs. Since then, morning wake up calls are more often recordings of songs played to begin the day’s activities and are followed by a message from the CAPCOM in mission control. These recordings have included “Rocket Man” by Elton John, “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King, the Marine Corps Hymn, “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland and hundreds of other songs.

This morning’s wake up call to the space shuttle Discovery was not a favorite song of an astronaut, instead it was an iconic voice speaking over a piece of iconic science fiction music. At 3.23 EST this morning, William Shatner reprised the role of the Enterprise’s Captain Kirk and addressed the crew of Discovery with the following message spoken over the theme music from the original series of Star Trek:

"Space, the final frontier. These have been the voyages of the space shuttle Discovery. Her 30 year mission: To seek out new science. To build new outposts. To bring nations together on the final frontier. To boldly go, and do, what no spacecraft has done before,"

Good morning astronauts!

After 30 years of service, 39 flights and 13 trips to the International Space Station, Discovery will return just before noon on Wednesday to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the last time.

For a full listing of morning wake up calls that have greeted astronauts, check out this list created by NASA historian, Colin Fries.

Our Favorite Things: Big Dipper

2011-03-03T10:51:00.000-05:00

On the third floor of the main MOSI building, just to the right of the High Wire Bike there are seven small white balls that hang from the ceiling. When viewed from near the elevator or the balcony where you can enter Science Works Theater, this group of white globes goes mostly unnoticed and does not contain a familiar shape. Interestingly, this collection of orbs has a unique history at MOSI, which makes it one of our favorite things.

In 1995 MOSI opened its doors and contained exhibits on Florida, health and space. The 3rd floor space exhibit eventually became timeworn and the information out-dated so it was removed in 2010 to make way for our new high-tech health exhibit called The Amazing You. Portions of the exhibit, like a model Apollo capsule were relocated to other parts of the museum and the outdated pieces of the exhibit were scrapped. This cluster of suspended globes is the last exhibit remaining in place from our selection of space science exhibits.

When viewed straight on from just to the right of the High Wire Bike, these orbs resolve into the familiar shape of the well known constellation the Big Dipper. These seven orbs represent the stars in the constellation and their relative distance to Earth:

Star	Magnitude	Distance (L yrs)
Dubhe	1.8	124
Merak	2.4	79
Phecda	2.4	84
Megrez	3.3	81
Alioth	1.8	81
Mizar	2.1	78
Alkaid	1.9	101

When viewed straight on from the 3rd floor, the shape of the Big Dipper is the same as it appears in our night sky, viewed straight on from earth. A walk down the balcony beside Science Works Theater shows us the distance of the stars from one another, especially the star Dubhe which is quite distant from many of the stars in the constellation. Also known as The Great Bear or Ursa Major this constellation has been referenced throughout history including in the Bible as “the seven stars” (Amos 5.8) and in Homer’s Iliad as “the Bear”.

Although there are no longer signs to reference this display, the stars remain in place and are a great talking point for MOSI interactors and a great bit of trivia for our members and guests. The Big Dipper display was the first permanent exhibit installed at MOSI and is the favorite exhibit of long-time MOSI staffer Brian Albury.

Brian is the Director of Facility Operations and Information Technology for MOSI and has been with the museum for 16 years.

The Insects of Jennifer Angus: Leaf Mimics

2011-02-28T10:09:00.000-05:00

“Arranging Nature”, the insect art installation by Jennifer Angus has been drawing a lot of interest around the museum. Guests have been asking about what species of insects are used in this art exhibit. We’ve already covered cicadas and grasshoppers used in the exhibit, so now onto the really neat bugs: leaf mimic insects!

Leaf mimic insects exist in a vast array of colors and patterns and exhibit an extreme sort of camouflage. Camouflage is a type of crypsis (hiding) which allows a visible creature to blend into their environment and thus become difficult to see. Tigers have stripes that help to break up their overall form and modern soldiers wear a camouflage print that has the same effect. By utilizing colors similar to their environment, counter-shading, patterns, the eye of a human or predator is tricked

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Phyllium giganteum: The walking leaf insect uses an incredible blend of color and shape crypsis. From Malaysia, this insect’s curious outline and green coloring render it mostly invisible among foliage. Males of this species are very rare and females can breed by parthenogenesis. This process allows a female to produce eggs or embryos that do not require fertilization by a male. These eggs will develop The resulting brood of insects will each be a clone of their mother.

Heteropteryx dilatata: The Thorny Stick comes to us from Malaysia. Males and females of the species are very different in appearance. The male is mottled brown and looks like a thorny stick, thus the name. The female is large with a wide green body and tiny wings that make her incapable of flight. In the wild, females of the species are very aggressive. They will hiss and thrash their legs at any creatures that approaches.

The Art of Camouflage: There are four main strategies of camouflage: cryptic (or blending), disruptive (or dazzle), mimicry, and countershading.

Cryptic camouflage involves colors and patterns that help an organism blend into their surroundings and become invisible to the eye. The dead leaf butterfly has the coloration and shape of a dead leaf and becomes nearly invisible on the forest floor. The walking leaf insect, mention above, utilizes shape and color to blend into foliage
Disruptive camouflage dazzles the eye by providing visual cues that override the characteristics of creature. The eyespots found on many butterfly and moth species create an image of large, circular eyes often similar to the eyes of predators. Octopus ink is another sort of disruption that catches the eye and disrupts smell and sight to allow the octopus to escape.
Mimicy camouflage allows one organism to present itself like another organism, often a dangerous or toxic creature. A species of snake from Asia, the False Cobra (Malpolon moilensis), mimics the hooded head of the Cobra to scare off predators. Learn more about mimicry in the butterflies of Florida in this post from our BioWorks Butterfly Garden blog.
Countershading mimicry utilizes coloration to override the normal cues of depth perception. This mimicry employs light coloration in places where dark colors are normally found and dark colors where light ones are normally found. In nature, most animals are lit from above by the sun and thus have a shadow on their undersides. The bright white bellies of many sharks or of salmon are shadowed so that in the wild the become nearly the same color as the darker top side of the animal. This same principle is used in camouflage makeup for the military where light colors are used in the normally shadowed parts of the face like around the eye and darker colors are used for the normally well lit, protruding parts of the face such as the nose. This swap of visual cues for depth perception tricks the eye into seeing a textured face as flat.

The Insects of Jennifer Angus: Grasshoppers

2011-02-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

“Arranging Nature”, the insect art installation by Jennifer Angus has been drawing a lot of interest around the museum. Guests have been asking about what species of insects are used in this art exhibit. We recently covered cicadas and now we move on to grasshoppers!

Grasshoppers: Grasshoppers are insects from the suborder Caelifera which is Latin for “holding up the heavens”. These insects have powerful hind legs designed for leaping, short antenna, and generally have wings as adults. They have powerful jaws made to tear grasses, leaves

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and cereal crops. Females are often larger in size than males of a species.

Locusts are several species of grasshoppers from the family Acrididae that can be found in huge swarms that will sometimes cause massive damage to food crops.

Sanaea intermedia: This grasshopper from Thailand has a yellow and brown fore-wing and a deep purple-blue hind wing that is accented with tiny white markings.

Phymates saxosus: Hailing from Madagascar, this grasshopper eats toxic plants and therefore is inedible to humans. This species has deep green fore-wing and a deep pink hind-wing.

Tropidacris dux: From Peru, these enormous grasshoppers are locally called the ‘Giant Brown Cricket’ and are known to be pests of bananna, mango and citrus. This species has brown fore-wings and showy orange hind-wings.

Lophacris cristata: Also from Peru and found into Brazil and Surinam, this grasshopper has brilliant pink hind wings.

Titanacris Albipes: This incredibly large and showy species of grasshopper has purple hind-wings and comes from French Guiana

Worldwide there are some 11,000 species of grasshoppers that have been identified with 660 of those species being native to North America. You can learn more about grasshoppers found in Florida at this link.

The Insects of Jennifer Angus: Cicadas

2011-02-24T11:00:00.001-05:00

“Arranging Nature”, the insect art installation by Jennifer Angus has been drawing a lot of interest around the museum. Guests have been asking about what species of insects are used in this art exhibit. Over the next few days we’ll be covering the insects used for this exhibit in small groups. Let’s start with cicadas!

Cicadas: There are some 2,500 species of cicada that live in temperate to tropical climates around the world. These large insects have widely spaces eyes, often clean wings and leave behind shed skins that look like an empty version of the insect. The insect’s name derives from the Latin word cicada which means “buzzer”.

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Pompoina imperatoria: A Malaysian cicada with clear wings. The largest cicada used in the exhibit and one of the largest in the world with a wingspan up to 6 inches.

Tosena albata: A cicada from Thailand with dark wings with a white stripe and two orange stripes that cross the insect’s body. This species is also known as a Bee Cicada.

Angamiana floridula: Also from Thailand, this cicada has dark forewings with a pale stripe and pale coloring near the body and a orange-brown hind wing.

Tosena splendida: A cicada from Thailand, this species has a black and white fore wing and a hindwing that is a lovely blue-green color.

Aythia spectabile: The smallest of the cicadas in the exhibit this species has clear wings with dark veins and markings.

Although these insects are from far away, there are 19 known species of cicada found in Florida. You can learn more about them and hear their songs at this link.

Jennifer Angus

2011-02-15T11:29:00.001-05:00

Artist Jennifer Angus is installing her exhibit of insect art entitled “Arranging Nature” this week at MOSI in time for the opening on February 19th, 2011.

Jennifer Angus is a Canadian artist best known for her work featuring kaleidoscopic patterns composed of real insects. Some of her recent installations take inspiration from the Victorian era. For the past ten years, Jennifer has been creating installations composed of insects pinned directly to a wall in repeating patterns which reference both textiles and wallpaper. Jennifer says, “When viewers enter one of my installations, they are greeted with something they think they know, that is, a patterned wallpaper which could be in anyone's home. However, upon closer examination, they discover that it is entirely made up of insects! A tension is then created by the beauty one observes in the pattern and the apprehension we feel toward insects.”

Jennifer Angus, who teaches textile design at the University of Wisconsin, became an amateur entomologist in the course of creating her “Victorian Fancy” series of dollhouses and installations. She builds scenes of perfect domestic felicity, but all the patterns on the walls, floors and furniture are arrangements of beautiful insects, and all the characters in the dollhouses are insects, too — electric-green beetles from Thailand, locusts from French Guiana with spectacular wings of purple and blue, striped weevils, polka-dot weevils, leaf mimics, white cicadas and frog-legged beetles that look like their name. “I wanted to create a pattern that suggests a domestic space,” she said, “but of course the one thing people don’t want in their house is insects.”

-New York Times

Recyclosaurus Rex Gets a Facelift

2011-02-09T12:06:00.002-05:00

Since 1993, MOSI’s Recyclosaurus Rex has been a Tampa landmark. Standing 20 feet tall and 40 feet long, this dino’s belly is filled with aluminum cans and plastic containers. He stands as a gigantic recycling reminder for thousands of commuters each day!

Recyclosaurus Rex is currently undergoing a facelift. Artist Terry Klaaren, the original designer of the giant orange dinosaur, is currently on a lift working on Rex. The MOSI mascot will be undergoing repairs to his structure, a re-wrapping with more construction fencing and will have his car headlight eyes replaced with gleaming new bulbs. Also his banner post is being re-designed so that MOSI staff can easily switch out Rex’s flags.

If you are driving down Fowler Avenue this week, make sure to take a peek at the work and wave at Mr. Klaaren.

Three Hours, Two Towers, and a Lifetime to Remember

2011-02-08T14:42:00.002-05:00

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Great tragedies are never easy to understand or comfortable to discuss. Galvanizing dates in history like the Challenger explosion and 9/11/01 stick with us and are the events by which we define generations. One way to explore the feelings connected to these tragedies is to utilize art as an outlet.

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners donated 13 retired Fire Hydrants to Pasco county students. Students worked alone or in groups to design and paint these fire hydrants with artistic interpretations of 9/11. Each hydrant includes an artist statement which explains the concepts and creation of individual pieces. During the art creation process, another group of students recorded the work in video that will be used to create a documentary about this experience.

Three Hours, Two Towers, and a Lifetime to Remember exhibit is located in the 2nd Floor connecting corridor of the MOSI building and runs through Feb 12th. After leaving MOSI this exhibit will be moved to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City.

Festival of Chocolate Coming Soon to MOSI

2010-12-17T15:38:00.005-05:00

Why Go "Bonkers" for Chocolate?

Did you know chocolate can actually be good for you? New studies show chocolate and its main ingredient, cocoa, help lower blood pressure, prevent cancer and help muscles recover from exercise and spruce up your skin. Surprisingly, chocolate also increases your brain activity and heart rate far more than a passionate-kiss. In short, you get a natural buzz from chocolate.

So, what in chocolate makes it so spectacular? The key is the increase of antioxidants caused by flavonoids. Scientists have identified two types of flavonoids that have powerful antioxidant effects: flavanols and procyanidins. Studies show flavanols and procyanidins are stable during gastric transit. After absorption, the flavanols are mainly methylated and glucuronidated or are bound to sulphate. Flavanols act as an antioxidant by donating hydrogen (from the hydroxyl group), thereby neutralizing free radicals and by chelating metal ions.

Although the level of flavonoids in cocoa is dependent on variety, time of harvest and climate, it’s still good for you. Turns out, cocoa may have stronger antioxidant properties than blueberries, garlic, tea or red wine.

So, if you feel the need to overindulge in chocolate, make sure to join MOSI this January for the Festival of Chocolate.

The Festival of Chocolate
Florida’s Largest All-Chocolate Shopping, Tasting, Educational and Interactive Event!
January 15-17, 2011

We will see you there!

Jeanne Wood- Volunteer of the Month for October 2010

2010-10-05T14:45:00.002-04:00

Jeanne Wood has been volunteering at MOSI since 2009 and so far has incurred over 600 hours of volunteer service. Jeanne works in a variety of areas in the museum, docent, interactive exhibit facilitator, Vol. floor staff manager and most recently a member of the Volunteer Directorate Council (VDC).

As a member of the VDC Jeanne works with her team to identify ways to enhance the guest experience at MOSI. She is also responsible for the incredible recycling exhibition currently in the KIC building at the Science to Go store. Thanks Jeanne for your excellent support! Your impact is felt and seen all over the campus!

International Observe the Moon Night

2010-09-13T10:18:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, September the 18th we invite you to join us at MOSI as we turn our eyes towards the heavens and a waxing gibbous moon on International Observe the Moon Night.

This is the second annual event of this name that celebrates exploration and observation of the moon. Started last year in celebration of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), International Observe the Moon Night brings an international community together for a single night of moon observation.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) orbits just 50km above the surface of the moon. This robotic spacecraft is engaged in a 3D mapping mission that will help NASA identify potential moon landing sites for upcoming missions and locate formerly unknown resources on the lunar surface. The LRO has also brought us some of the first photographs of Apollo equipment that was left on the lunar surface.

Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was intentionally crashed into the Cabeus crater on the lunar surface near the moon’s south pole on October 9, 2009. The Centaur module of the LCROSS impacted the lunar surface and the Shepherding Spacecraft fallowed four minutes behind to analyze the plume of debris shot upward by the impact. LCROSS achieved its objective and discovered proof of water ice on the moon

This year MOSI is hosting an official International Observe the Moon Night event that will begin at 7:30pm on September the 18th. We will have binoculars and telescopes available for lunar observation, talks by lunar experts, activities and a show in the Saunder’s Planetarium.

Program fee: $12 per person
MOSI member: $9 per person
Call (813) 987-6000 to register; advance reservations are recommended. Limited seating is available for the lunar shows in The Saunder’s Planetarium.

Volunteer of the Month: Jill Staake

2010-09-01T09:19:00.002-04:00

Jill Staake has been volunteering with MOSI Outside since August 2009 and has devoted 250 hours to the BioWorks Butterfly Garden and Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove. A skilled gardener and budding butterfly expert, Jill is a fantastic volunteer who is always ready to answer guest questions about the gardens.

Jill is the author of a blog about gardening in Tampa Bay entitled My Florida Backyard and has worked hard to create her yard as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. Jill is also a contributor to the BioWorks Butterfly Garden blog and recently created a post about a day in the life of a MOSI Outside volunteer entitled Perspiration and Inspiration. Look for Jill in the gardens on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Volunteer of the Month: William White

2010-08-16T09:09:00.001-04:00

William White has volunteered at MOSI since May and thus far has incurred a total of approximately 213 hours of volunteer service. William quickly absorbed responsibilities above and beyond those of the floor InterActor and was promoted to Floor Manger.

William was named volunteer of the month for July and we greatly appreciate his incredible initiative, ambition and drive! William has set a new standard for MOSI volunteers and volunteers in general!

Fractal Quilts by Rose Rushbrook

2010-08-12T08:17:00.001-04:00

Currently on display in the Connecting Corridor Gallery are a selection of Fractal Art Quilts by Rose Rushbrook.

What is a fractal?: A fractal is "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole,".(1)

Let’s take an example from nature, Romanesco Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) which can be described as a naturally occurring fractal. The main branches of this cauliflower relative are arranged in an ever increasing spiral curve also known as a logarithmic spiral. Each bud is composed of smaller buds that are similarly arranged in a logarithmic spiral making each branch a seemingly tiny copy of the whole.

The term fractal derives from the Latin word fractus which means “broken” or “fractured” and was coined in 1975 by French/American mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot. Mandelbrot is known as the father of fractal geometry.

Fractals in Quilts: Artist Rose Rushbrooke takes the self-similarity designs of fractals and uses them as the basis for her art quilts. The artist begins with an image designed using fractal and graphic software. This image is translated to a black and white line drawing which is used to transfer the pattern to fabric.

As her media, Rose uses hand-dyed fabrics, velvets, quilting cotton, yarn, thread and ribbon. Using piecing and appliqué, the artist constructs a fractal in fabric. This fractal is then embroidered, beaded, embellished and finally sandwiched, quilted and bound to create a unique piece of mathematical art.

The first quilt pictured is entitled “Upon Reaching Middle Age: Grease”. The pattern is extracted from the Julia Set fractal and is executed in hand dyed and printed cotton, silk and polyester fabrics. The quilt is machine stitched and quilted in long cursive lines of the word ‘grease’ repeated again and again. Created in 2004 this quilt measures 62” x 82”.

About this quilt the artist writes: “Where did all the fat come from, the cellulite, the double chin, the dangle under the arms, the dissappearing waist? Whatever happened to the lithe and slim young body? Middle age came and the grease set in.”

This next quilt is entitled “Royal Crustacean”. The pattern is an original fractal design. Executed in printed silk charmeuse, silk ribbon and embroidery floss, this quilt is hand embroidered and quilted. The finished piece measures a diminutive 18” by 14” and is mounted on a canvas frame.

About the title of this quilt the artist writes “The repetitive fractal image resembles a lobster tail and purple is the colour of royalty”

You can read more about Rose Rushbrooke’s creation process for fractal quilts in this article.

About the Artist: Rose Rushbrooke

Born in London, England. Lived abroad since 1986; moving to Antigua in the West Indies, then to Virginia and recently, Florida. Met her American husband in the Islands and relocated to the States in 1996.

Interest in modern fractal geometry led to using these fascinating images as a starting point for textile work. This artwork ranges from tiny pieces of embroidered silk; to large hand stitched fabric wallhangings.

Exhibits nationally and internationally. Five pieces were selected for 'The Marriage of Art, Science and Philosophy' exhibition at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Recently spent two years earning an Advanced Diploma in Character Animation.

Filmed by HGTV for 'Simply Quilts', and by Adelphia for 'Artscape'; she is no longer owed her fifteen minutes of fame.

You can learn more about the artist, Rose Rushbrooke at her website Rushbrooke Strand. These fractal quilts will be on display at MOSI until September 6th, 2010.

(1)Mandelbrot, B.B. (1982). The Fractal Geometry of Nature. W.H. Freeman and Company.. ISBN 0-7167-1186-9.

MOSI’s Scientist Breeding Program

2010-08-09T09:38:00.001-04:00

MOSI’s latest genetics experiment is in full swing. Here at MOSI, we are breeding the scientists of tomorrow! By carefully selecting MOSI scientific education staff as parents, we can guarantee that the future crop of scientists are destined for greatness!

Calliope Lynn McIlrath was born on April 6^th, 2010. Her mommy, Vivian McIlrath is our Youth Programs Coordinator. Vivian started at MOSI as a teenager in our YES! Team Program, attended USF, and continued teaching science and dissecting sharks all the while.

Calliope’s future goals will be to matriculate at a cool nursing school, begin eating solid foods, and to become potty trained. Her career goal is to become a marine biologist.

Rosabelle Marie Easterling was born on July 19th, 2010 to proud parents Luke and Lakin. Luke started in MOSI’s Education department in his young teenage years, left us to attend college and then was magnetically drawn back to MOSI.

We expect that Rosabelle will be working soon enough at MOSI with her dad, Uncle Jeff and Uncle Trevor. Clearly, MOSI just can’t get enough of this Easterling family. Future plans for Rosabelle include her development of new science shows for the museum, breakthrough work in string theory and the ability to crawl.

Jocelyn Freya Hill, born May 8th 2010, is the newest of three itty bitty scientists produced by Tim Hill and his lovely wife Cara. No one really remembers how long Tim has been in the MOSI education department… he may have budded from the building itself.

As you can see by her attire, Jocelyn may well be headed into the time honored field of entomology. In the mean time she will work on bright smiles, ambulatory skills and safe handling of liquid nitrogen. Jocelyn will be helped along in her scientific endeavors by her two older siblings.

Alina Ponds was born August 8, 2009. Alina’s proud daddy AJ works in reservations and is one of the people you are most likely to have help you when you call the museum.

Alina’s future goals are to tackle sprinting, climbing, and using utensils. Her future career goal is to become a Marine Biologist.

Analyzing Dental Impressions at Home

2010-08-06T08:07:00.001-04:00

By: Samantha Ribble

Now through September 6, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is hosting to the traveling exhibit CSI: The Experience. This interactive exhibit turns guests into crime solvers as they investigate the scene, collect and analyze evidence, and bring the criminal to justice. With three different crime scenes to choose from and a high-tech laboratory, visitors are sure to walk away with a greater knowledge of what it takes to be a CSI.

Kids can be investigators in their own homes by analyzing evidence of the mouth – dental impressions.

Eighty percent of the time, teeth impressions are used to identify unknown victims. When fingerprints cannot be recovered and DNA testing is not possible, the teeth can give investigators a place to start. Since the enamel on your teeth is one of the hardest substances in your body, teeth are often well preserved.

Humans get two sets of teeth in their lifetime. By age three, children have a complete set of 20 baby teeth. Permanent teeth begin developing around the age of six and, over a span of 15 years, continue to cultivate until all 32 adult teeth are in place.

Teeth can reveal age by looking closely at level of development and wear. Dental records help investigators match a person’s mouth to a name.

All you need to get your young ones started on their first investigation are a few household items: scissors, Styrofoam plate, marking pen, and a thick piece of cheese or chocolate. Have the investigator leave the room and one of the suspects take a bite out of the cheese/chocolate. See if you can identify the person who took the bite by comparing impressions.

Divide the Styrofoam plate into six equal wedges. Cut the wedges.
Take two of the wedges and stack them together. Cut off 1 inch from the pointed end of the wedges.
Place the two wedges into your mouth as far as possible.
Bite down on the wedges firmly and then remove them.
Label the top and bottom wedges Top Teeth and Bottom Teeth.

Have your little investigator study the teeth impressions, make the comparisons, and figure out who bit it.

A Brief History of Dental Impressions:

The first published account where a suspect was convicted using bite mark evidence occurred in 1954 in the case of Doyle vs. State.

A grocery store in Aspermont, TX was broken into on the night of December 15, 1954. The burglar had stolen 13 silver dollars, small change, two bottles of whiskey, and decided to snack on some of the meats and cheeses behind the meat counter.

Once apprehended, the suspect was asked to bite into another piece of cheese. After a dentist compared the freshly bitten cheese slice and one recovered at the scene, the suspect was convicted of his crime.

Fingerprint Fun

2010-07-22T11:47:00.002-04:00

A fingerprint is an impression of the pattern of ridges of a finger. Because no two people have the exact same patterns of finger ridges, that unique pattern can be linked to a fingerprint left on an object. Fingerprints collected at a crime scene can be used in forensic science to identify a suspect, victim or any other person that may have touched a surface.

The science of fingerprint identification is also known as dactyloscopy. This term derives from the ancient Greek words daktylos which means “finger” and skopeō “I look at”. Fingerprints have been recorded as used since Ancient Babylon where business people would press their fingerprints into clay tablets to record business transactions.

The classification system used through most of the 20th century in the United States was developed in India in the late 1800’s by Sir Edward Henry. This is known as the Henry Classification System. This system breaks fingerprints down into three main categories: Loop, Whorl and Arch. The Loop, Whorl and Arch types of fingerprints represent 60-65, 30-35 and 5 percent of all fingerprints, respectively. This system is used more to exclude fingerprints based on their designs rather than to identify a single fingerprint.

Fingerprints at a Crime Scene: Fingerprints can be plastic, patent or latent. Plastic prints are left in a soft surface like wax or putty. Patent prints are visible to the eye and occur when your finger first touches a colored substance like ink and then presses against a surface and leaves a mark. Latent prints are invisible to the eye and are made up mostly of oils and sweat on your skin.

Forensic scientists use many methods to make latent prints visible. On a solid surface like a mirror or countertop a fine dust can be applied that will stick to the oils left behind in a fingerprint. On a bumpy or uneven surface a fingerprint can be revealed by using heated superglue! On a surface like paper, specific chemicals can be used to develop the fingerprint so that it becomes visible.

The FBI maintains a fingerprint and criminal history database called the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System or IAFIS. Fingerprints are voluntarily submitted to IAFIS from local, state and federal agencies and come from criminal and non-criminal sources.

Put your investigative skills to the test in the exhibit CSI: The Experience, created in cooperation with the hit CBS franchise. You’ll use cutting edge forensic science and technology to investigate a crime scene, analyze evidence and build a case. Discover if your skills solve the crime … or leave the case cold!

CSI: The Experience was developed by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with support from CBS Consumer Products, the cast and crew of the television show, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the National Science Foundation. ® CBS © 2000-2010 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and Entertainment AB Funding LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Summer Solstice Science

2010-06-21T09:39:00.002-04:00

The Summer Solstice is the day of the year in which we have the longest period of daylight. Today in Tampa the sun rose at 6:34am and will not set until 8:29pm.

The Summer Solstice occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt or obliquity is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. In the Northern Hemisphere this generally happens at a point between June 20th and June 21st when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the sun. In the Southern Hemisphere this is reversed. Today the Southern Hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the sun and is currently experiencing the Winter Solstice or longest period of night. In the Southern Hemisphere the Summer Solstice occurs in late December. The cumulative cooling and warming that result from the tilt of the planet become most pronounced after the solstices, leading to the custom of using these days to mark the traditional beginning of summer and winter.

Since Neolithic times, cultures have celebrated the longest days and nights of each year. In Roman times the Summer Solstice was celebrated each summer on June 24th. In fact, the word solstice derives from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). In ancient Europe pagans lit great bonfires on the night of the Summer Solstice and the holiday was often connected with healing and the first fruits of the seasons. With the advent of Christianity the date of the solstice became connected with the birth of St. John the Baptist and is still celebrated as St. John’s Day in many countries.

Have a fantastic longest day of the year and a happy summer!

The Amazing You: Phase II

2010-04-08T07:52:00.001-04:00

Opening this Saturday, April 10th 2010, you can now find The Amazing You: Phase II located on the third floor of MOSI.

Building upon the concepts presented in The Amazing You covering conception through teenage years, The Amazing You: Phase II covers topics of the body and health relating to young adults through to seniors. You can watch interviews with organ donors, check out a simulated patient and scanner technology, and listen to heart rhythms in the cardiology exhibit. Other exhibits detail joint replacements, the power of laughter and meditation, cancer detection and research and scores more health topics relating to the later years of life.

One of the highlights of the exhibit is Mindball: a two player game using brain waves to send a plastic ball over to your opponent’s side. The most relaxed player wins! For a sure advantage, make sure to visit the ‘zen room’ before game play.

Construction is being completed this week on the third floor at MOSI to be ready for the Saturday opening to the public. Hope to see you there!

This exhibition is sponsored by MetLife Foundation.

Florida’s Fabulous Visitors

2010-04-06T08:03:00.001-04:00

MOSI’s second floor connecting corridor gallery is currently host to a beautiful art exhibition entitled Florida’s Fabulous Visitors by artist Debra Jane Carey. Gorgeous botanical drawings invite you to discover how plant-animal communities support Florida's wildlife by detailing the interactions of plants and wildlife.

Butterflies are show with their host plants, pollinators with the plants that rely upon them. These stunning drawings allow you the up-close look at nature that is a rarity in the wild.

“Botanical Illustration is a balance between the realistic rendering of a plant and the stylistic interpretation of the artist.”

Debra Jane Carey is an internationally recognized and award-winning artist who brings nature alive by spotlighting in breathtaking detail the magic of plants and animals.

About The Artist—Illustrator joined the University of Illinois Master Gardener Program in 1993 where she trained in botany and entomology.

Carey achieved her Certificate in Botanical Art & Illustration in 1998. Her art embodies her fine draftsmanship and a thorough understanding of the subject matter. In 2002, Carey taught research, history and techniques of botanical illustration at Ringling School of Art and Design. The compilation of this course is detailed in the book, “Ten Steps: A Course in Botanical Art & Illustration, Vol. III O.M. Briada 2005.

Carey exhibits nationally and locally in 2006 with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. She collaborated with Selby to create artwork in turn posters that won the “education award” for a booth at the American Orchid Society Florida tour.

Bishop Kay Ward, 2009 published her third inspirational book Hoping for Spring. Debra contributed illustrations to the book cover.

Dr. Emrys Miles Chew Khean Aun, Editor of the prestigious Malayan Orchid Review published Debra’s Darwin’s Prediction Illustration in the December 2009 editorial titled The Orchid in Representational Culture.

Debra’s greeting cards are available for purchase at the MOSI museum store.

Take a walk on the wild side!

2010-03-31T08:29:00.001-04:00

Lots of improvements have been happening along the trails in our Backwoods Forest Preserve. Of late several new kiosks have been installed at the trail heads that will soon be packed with information for our guests. The trails in the preserve have been resurfaced with a mix of native shells which allows rainwater to percolate through the trails and reduces the impact of the trails on this habitat. Also, a new boardwalk has been installed as a walkway over a wetland area so that visitors can get up close and personal with an otherwise difficult to investigate area.

About the Back Woods Forest Preserve:

Located in the Southeastern portion of the MOSI campus, the Back Woods is a diminutive forest oasis in a sea of urban development. Packed into 25 acres is a notable array of many Central Florida habitats, complete with distinct sandhill, hardwood wetland, mesic pine flatwoods, and upland hardwood hammock communities.

Currently, MOSI staff and volunteers are working to restore these habitats, remove invasive species, refurbish trails and boardwalks, and create new interpretive signage and guides to make this area a better educational experience for all of our guests and the surrounding community. Look for changes to the Back Woods as we continue to improve this area.

For updates, volunteer opportunities, and to follow our progress on this project; check out our Blog The Longleaf: An Urban Forest Legend.

The Back Woods forest is open to the public 365 days a year during the Museum’s operating hours (9-5 M-F, 9-6 Sat/Sun). There is no admission fee to the Back Woods and Museum admission is not required for use. Intoxicants, firearms, hunting, bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, motorized vehicle use, collecting of plants or animals, and smoking are not permitted within the preserve boundaries. Pets must be leashed and all pet waste picked up and disposed of properly.

In 2007 MOSI was awarded a Pollution Recovery Fund grant from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. Current restoration activities, including non-native invasive plant treatment, are funded under this grant.

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Here are some pictures of early Spring in the Back Woods Forest Preserve at MOSI: new leaves, tiny flowers, colorful lichen, carpets of moss, seed pods and more!

Inspired by da Vinci: A Mona Lisa of another sort.

2010-03-29T08:05:00.000-04:00

Terry Klaaren’s Monique Alyssa

For the Inspired by da Vinci art exhibit in the MOSI Founder’s Hall, Terry Klarren submitted a work that was inspired by DaVinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa. Entitled “Monique Alyssa”, Terry blended the subject of da Vinci’s best known painting with the painting style of Vincent Van Gogh.

A selection of Mr. Klaaren’s paintings can also be seen in the MOSI 4th Floor Gallery space. As you exit the IMAX theater on the fourth floor, head around to the right side to see these lovely works.

You can see more of Terry Klarren’s artwork at his website klarrenart.com.

Inside the da Vinci: The Genius exhibit there is an entire room dedicated to the da Vinci masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, showing minute details of the composition and revealing secrets of one of the world’s best known paintings.

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: Venetian Berretta 1512

2010-03-26T09:01:00.001-04:00

Venetian Berretta 1512: Suede and linen in a design of heraldic diamonds.

"Berretta" was a term used to describe any hat worn at an angle on the head which was rounded or conical and brimless. Venetians were fond of bright and ornamented clothing and were exposed to a great deal more variety of goods as Venice was a centralized shipping port. This hat may have been worn by a young male noble who was a member of the "Grande Case", the elite upper class of Venice.

About the Artist: Vandy Pacetti-Tune

Vandy Pacetti-Tune is a teacher/librarian and researcher residing in Auburndale, Florida. As a hatter, Ms. Tune recreates hats from Italian Renaissance portraiture. Vandy Pacetti-Tune is also known as Lady Franca Donato, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

March 2010 Volunteer of the Month: Lynne Volpe

2010-03-24T08:12:00.001-04:00

Lynne has volunteered at MOSI since October of 2008 and so far has contributed over 500 hours of volunteer service. She has worked as a greeter, a docent in Shipwreck, Pirates and Treasures, and BODY WORLDS. She also works as an InterActor running the High-Wire Bike and the Gulf Coast Hurricane and at our special events! Lynne is a member of the volunteer Directorate Council (DC). As a DC member she works with her team to improve/enhance the guest experience at MOSI. Her experience and knowledge have been and continue to be a true asset to MOSI. We value Lynne’s involvement with all the activities she is a part of and appreciate her drive and love of the museum!

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: 1450 Peasant Wedding Hat

2010-03-22T09:07:00.001-04:00

Peasant Wedding Hat 1450: Felt, adorned with pheasant feathers and hand-woven scarf.

The young peasant women of Northern Italy would be responsible for making her own wedding attire. The sewing of personal attire indicated that she was ready to marry and had acquired some of the necessary skills to be a good wife. Wedding hats were tall with a wide brim and made from felt or woven straw and decorated with cloth and feathers.

About the Artist: Vandy Pacetti-Tune

It’s all in the bag

2010-03-17T09:10:00.001-04:00

Over the last few weeks the MOSI staff were tasked with a green themed contest entitled “It’s all in the bag”. The challenge was to create art from recycled plastic bags and other recycled materials. 13 MOSI staffers created items for the contest that included sculpture, jewelry, fashion, home decor and even science education!

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In a vote by the MOSI staff at our March staff meeting, winners for the contest were selected. Kelly C. took the 1st place in the contest with her fashion belt woven from strips of plastic bags. A second place tie was had between James W. and Steve A. James W. created a reproduction of DaVinci’s parachute and Steve A. sculpted a rose from recycled aluminum foil. Third place went to Adriana D for her creation of a fashion handbag.

Items created for the contest are currently on display in the Dr. Gladys Kashdin Welcome Center in front of the Science To Go store.

Special thanks to Laurie P. for creating and overseeing the entire contest process. Great work, great fun and great creativity from the MOSI/SSA staff!

Since joining the MOSI team in Oct 2009, SSA (which runs MOSI’s gift shops) has brought their nationwide reputation for ecological sustainability to its MOSI operation. The “It’s all in the bag” contest is a small part of the SSA/MOSI partnership’s initiative to enhance awareness of sustainability among MOSI staff members & guests.

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: A 1471 Girdle Book

2010-03-16T09:17:00.000-04:00

A girdle book was a small and portable leather bound book that would have been carried in the middle ages and Renaissance by clergymen and nobles. These books are bound in leather and the cover extends below the edge of the book and tapers to a point where it is tied into a knot. This knot could be tucked into the belt or girdle of an individual and would leave the book hanging upside down and backwards. From this position the book could be lifted right side up and opened by the wearer for use. These books often contained liturgy or daily prayers and were popular from the 13th to the 16th century. Although hundreds of these books are represented in art of the time period, only 23 known girdle books survive to the present day.

This particular book is designed after a book dated to 1471 and owned by Hieronymus Kress. The artist, Jill Voss, started with paper and built the book from the inside out. First, pages were gathered and folded over into individual sections called quires. The quires were fastened with waxed linen thread and bound into a group with hemp cord. The cords were then pulled through holes in wooden cover boards and laced tightly together to form a book of pages between two wooden covers.

Once the excess cords were cut, the remaining holes were plugged with wood to create a smooth surface on the outside of the cover boards. The book was then fitted with a leather cover that was finished with a knot at its tapered end. Lastly, brass fittings were attached to hold down the leather at the corners, decorate the cover and create latches for the book to be properly closed. The artist used the technique of sand casting to cast the bronze fittings for the book.

About the Artist: Jill Voss

Jill Voss is a native Floridian. She studied at various Universities including Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Georgia, Cortona, Italy and graduated from Florida State University with a B.F.A specializing in papermaking and bookbinding. During her travels she has the opportunity to study at the Cartiera Magnani papermill and Istituto Centrale per la Patologia del Libro. This artist has participated in juried shows and museum displays such as Miami Beach Art Festival, Scholastic Art Awards and Diocesan Museum, Cortona. Jill currently teaches and displays medieval papermaking and bookbinding for the Society of Creative Anachronism (S.C.A.) where she has received the accolade of Laurel - Master of the Arts. She is known as Mistress Hyrrokin in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: Titian’s white gown.

2010-03-12T08:16:00.001-05:00

Based upon a 1553 painting by Titian entitled Portrait of a Lady in White, this gown was created by local artisan Maureen Cox. Also known as Girl with a Fan, the portrait by Titian shows a young woman dressed in a sumptuous white gown, wearing pearls and holding a dainty fan. Using silver threaded brocade, silks, ribbons, lace and hundreds of hand beaded pearls, Maureen has created a snowy masterpiece of a gown.

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Titian was born Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1473/1490 – 27 August 1576) was one of the finest painters of the Venetian school of painting of the Italian Renaissance. In his later years Titian created many portraits of women, several of which used his beloved daughter Livinia as the subject. He died a victim of the plague in ravaged Venice and was interred at Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in the same city.

The painting Portrait of a Lady in White has been connected with Titian’s daughter Lavinia who may be the model for the lady in white. The portrait is now housed at the Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections).

About the Artist: Maureen Cox

Maureen Cox is currently pursuing a dual Masters Degree from the University of South Florida in Art History and Library Science and resides in Land O’Lakes. Interested in medieval and Renaissance costuming, illumination, calligraphy, portraiture, the history of makeup, and medieval cooking, Maureen is also a fan of modern arts and film of all sorts. Maureen is known as Mistress Muirenn ingen Ui Ceilleachair, OL in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Inspired by da Vinci- Art exhibition at MOSI

2010-03-10T08:07:00.003-05:00

In 1508 da Vinci started a large sized cartoon sketch in charcoals as a study for a painting commissioned by King Louis XII of France. Now known as The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist, the painting in charcoals was created on eight sheets of paper that have been glued together to form one large sheet.

Depictions of the Virgin and Child separately with either St. Anne or St. John the Baptist were popular themes during the Italian Renaissance. As with many of Leonardo da Vinci’s later works, the cartoon remains unfinished and now hangs in the National Gallery in London.

In honor of the da Vinci: The Genius exhibition at MOSI, we asked local artists of all ages to contribute pieces of art inspired by the works of DaVinci. This cartoon was the inspiration for two very different interpretations of DaVinci’s work.

The first of the pieces inspired by this work was painted by a local Tampa Artist named Greg Latch.

About the Artist: Greg Latch

Greg Latch liberated his aspirations of becoming a basketball player at a young age upon noticing the attention that artist’s received. His skill has evolved from triumph in a 6^th grade art competition, to drawing for his church at an older age to his da Vinci inspired work displayed at MOSI today. You can view more of his work at latchart.com.

The second piece was created by a 12th grade high school artist named Cady Gonzalez from Wiregrass Ranch High School. This inspired piece of art was created using a selection of charcoals, just as Leonardo da Vinci would have done.

These two very different interpretations of the same piece of art help to show how the work of a Renaissance master still influences the art of our modern age. Leonardo da Vinci was considered one of the finest painters of Renaissance Italy and was known for his subtle shading and careful treatment of faces to bring forth all of the beauty of the human form into his art.

The two interpretations of da Vinci’s creation can be seen in the MOSI Founder’s Hall before you enter the da Vinci: The Genius exhibit.

da Vinci: The Genius- Breathing Under Water

2010-03-08T10:52:00.004-05:00

Around 1500 Leonardo da Vinci moved to Venice which was at war with the Ottoman empire. There he devised an underwater breathing system to be used as a means of raiding the Ottoman fleet so that divers could drill holes in the bottoms of the enemy ships.

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Housed now in the Codex Atlanico, da Vinci created a sketch of a system that employed a floating bell made of cork, tubes crafted from hollow cane reeds, and a bag-like hood to cover a divers face. The floating bell of cork kept the ends of the reed tubes above water so that the diver below could breathe air from the surface. The plans included weights to help keep a diver below water and a valve adjustable bag that could fill with air to assist in resurfacing. da Vinci even planned for divers to stay submerged for some time, as the leather suit plans also contained a pouch for the collection of urine.

Leonardo also worked on plans for diving bells, life saving flotation devices, dams, double hulled ships and a host of bridges designed for all sorts of water crossing needs.

About the Codice Atlantico: Pompeo Leoni, a 16th century sculptor collected Leonadro da Vinci’s notebooks and drawings and bound them into a collection. The Codice Atlantico is a twelve-volume set of 1,119 pages dating from 1478 to 1519 and consists of all sorts of drawings attributed to da Vinci. The Codice is currently housed at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan.

2009 National Medal for Museums

2010-03-04T10:04:00.002-05:00

We have now received our medal and plaque and the staff of MOSI would like to present them to you in this photograph.

We couldn’t have achieved this without the support of our members, visitors, donors and board members. Thank you for making MOSI one of the best Science Centers in the Country!

da Vinci: The Genius- Carro Armato

2010-02-26T08:45:00.002-05:00

From 1482 to 1499 da Vinci lived in Milan under the patronage of Duke Ludovico Sforza, known also as il Moro. During this period Leonardo da Vinci created masterpieces of both art and science which help to demonstrate the breadth of his accomplishments. Many of his machines we designed for defense of Milan or to increase her military strength against enemies.

In an introductory letter to Duke Ludovico preserved in the Codex Atlantico, Leonardo wrote “I can make armoured cars, safe and unassailable, which will enter the serried ranks of the enemy with their artillery, and there is no company of men at arms so great that they will break it. And behind these the infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition."

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One of da Vinci’s incredible military designs is the armored vehicle. This turtle-like device allows for eight men inside to move through enemy lines without injury. Inside, four wheels can be powered by cranks to move the tank without the need of horses. Small cannon are spaced around the edge of the tank allowing the soldiers inside to fire upon enemies while remaining protected.

The original plans for this design have front and back wheels geared in opposition which renders the tank unable to properly move. It has been suggested that da Vinci designed the flaw purposely so that if his plans were stolen the machine would be unusable.

The first modern tank was not realized until WWI with the premier of ‘Little Willie’, a 14 ton armored vehicle that could carry three men in cramped conditions at a top speed of two to three miles per hour. You can learn more about the development of the modern tank at this link.

A beautifully constructed model of da Vinci’s armored tank design can be seen inside the da Vinci: The Genius exhibit. Through an open door you can see the crank driven wheels and other innards of the design.

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: Reichsadler-humpen

2010-02-25T11:13:00.002-05:00

The Reichsadler-humpen: A test and a masterwork

The Reichsadler-humpen is a style of enameled German glass, which displayed the Heraldic representation of the parts of the Holy Roman Empire. It was an important piece to the patron, the recipient, and the artist. The double headed eagle was used as the centerpiece to represent the Holy Roman Empire and signified with its’ outstretched wings the embracing of all of its parts. “The breast bears either a crucifix, indication of the God-willed protectorate of the Emperor or, more frequently, the orb of state, the Emperor’s secular symbol.”

“The wings are usually covered by fifty-six shields; flaming coronal motifs, symbols of the Order of the Golden Fleece, are put along their edges. With the exception of the top row which includes the seven Electors and, for the sake of symmetry, the Apostolic See, they have shields are arranged in vertically oriented groups of four. They represent the Quaterniones Inperii, the ‘reichsständige Quatuorvirate.’ The idea was to have four representatives of each category and profession within the structure of the Holy Roman Empire, thus forming on great ‘democratic’ body”

The Quaterniones Inperii, the ‘reichsständige Quatuorvirate is a collection of engravings and woodcuts. The first known copy dates to 1460 in Peter von Andlau’s De Imperio Romano.

The ribbons above each shield are the names of those arms listed and the ribbons at the bottom of each row identify the particular group. The symbols of the Order of the Golden Fleece most often found are the flaming and crowned flint stone. Many Reichsadler pieces bear the names, coats of arms, initials and other designations of the owners. Ninety-five percent of the known pieces where enameled on the humpen style glass. The theme of these pieces was enameled with different stylistic motifs. Glass Curators can categorize the known period pieces by these features and can identify the location and/or school of origin.

To the artist, this was an important piece. As this piece was very difficult to complete, their Masters used it as a test for apprentices as a final piece. Glass enamellers were given the task of enameling the piece in one and a half days. If the piece was completed in time and to the expected level of expertise, the student was then elevated to the rank of Master Glazier (glass enameller).

Saldern, Axel von. German Enameled Glass. The Edwin J. Beinecke Collection and Related Pieces. New York: The Corning Museum of Glass, publ. 1965

About the Artist: Cyndi Maners

Cyndi Maners has been studying 16th century German art since 1999. Her love for German enameled glass began after viewing a private art collection in Worms, Germany. Mrs. Maners enjoys other art forms as calligraphy, illumination, enameling, beading, fiber arts and sewing. Cyndi is known as Frieherrin Adelheid Leinwater in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

da Vinci’s Biciletta?

2010-02-19T08:07:00.002-05:00

Another item spotlight from da Vinci: The Genius : The da Vinci bicycle.

A drawing astonishingly close to the modern bicycle

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was attributed by some to Leonardo da Vinci but now it is refuted as a later addition by a student of da Vinci’s or more likely as a modern hoax.

Discovery of the Sketch: During restoration work on the Codice Atlantico in the 1960’s, a curious drawing came to light. Hidden behind a mat frame was a small sketch of a two wheeled vehicle, so similar to that of a modern bicycle that it was truly a shock. Although thought of initially as a wonderful new find, the drawing quickly came into question. Many have suggested that the work is a modern forgery and that the drawing style employed is very different from that of Leonardo da Vinci. A great number of convincing articles have been presented showing reasons to suggest that the sketch is a hoax, however the sketch continues to capture the imagination of da Vinci enthusiasts. To learn more, check out this article on the da Vinci Bicycle Hoax.

This gorgeous reproduction of the bicycle sketch in the Codice Atlantico presents a machine that da Vinci likely did not conceive, however so many of its workings could easily be adapted from inventions that Leonardo truly did devise.

About the Codice Atlantico: Pompeo Leoni, a 16th century sculptor collected Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks and drawings and bound them into a collection. The Codice Atlantico is a twelve-volume set of 1,119 pages dating from 1478 to 1519 and consists of all sorts of drawings attributed to da Vinci. The Codice is currently housed at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan.

A Bicycle is born: Credit for the modern bicycle is often attributed to Pierre and Ernest Michaux, Parisian carriage makers who presented the two-wheeled pedal-operated velocipede in the 1860’s. Pierre Lallement, an employee of Michaux, claimed the design had been stolen from him and moved to America to established his own company in Connecticut. Lallement registered the first bicycle patent in 1866. The patent was bought by Albert A. Pope and the design was produced and marketed as the Columbia bicycle.

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: Beatrice d'Este Gown, 1480

2010-02-17T08:05:00.002-05:00

Another item spotlight from Treasures of the Modern Renaissance, a collection of Renaissance art pieces created by modern Florida artists.

Beatrice d'Este Gown, 1480

This dress is based on the 1497 funerary sculpture of Beatrice d’Este and her husband, Ludovico Sforza by Cristoforo Solari. The dress was originally created for the occasion of the baptism of her son. The dress sleeves were designed in the trendy “Spanish style” of the time, and the gown was burgundy in color with gold couching and silver tassels. Instead of recreating the dress exactly, the design was modified for outdoor wear and machine laundering. The color black was the most popular color of the Spanish Court in that time.

Beatrice d’Este (1475-1497) was Duchess of Milan and one of the most well known patronesses of art in Renaissance Italy. Leonardo da Vinci presented Beatrice with a beautiful portrait of herself as a wedding gift in 1491. Rumors have suggested that Beatrice may have been the inspiration for da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Beatrice d’Este was entombed at Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, the same church in which da Vinci painted his Last Supper.

About the Artist: Lisa Pompeo

Lisa Pompeo currently works at Aspire Financial Services in the Retirement Plan Implementation Department. She is a self-taught seamstress and began early in life doing needlecrafts with her mother and sisters. She does all of her sewing on her Grandmother’s 1950 Singer machine. Lisa is known as Mistress Lisabetta Maria da Firenze, OL in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

da Vinci: The Genius- Vite Aerea

2010-02-12T08:50:00.002-05:00

Want a first look at da Vinci: The Genius? You got it! I previewed the exhibit with the press and took photos of a few favorite pieces in the exhibit. Here is the first of my favorites: The Vite Aerea!

Vite Aerea: The Helical Air Screw

"If this instrument made with a screw be well made – that is to say, made of linen of which the pores are stopped up with starch and be turned swiftly, the said screw will make its spiral in the air and it will rise high." -Leonardo da Vinci Manuscript B. folio 83 verso.

Designed to be made of reed, linen fabric and wire, this screw-like device could be operated by four men turning cranks on the shaft of the screw. This design is meant to compress air and thus obtain flight. Described now as the ancestor of the modern helicopter, this design was sketched by da Vinci but never constructed.

In da Vinci: The Genius you can see the Helical Air Screw realized as a beautiful and towering machine. With no ropes around this machine

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you can step under the broad canopy of linen and look closely at the workings of this creation.

Although many believe that weight constraints would keep this Aerial Screw from taking off into flight, it seems no less amazing to see. What a delightful mind Leonardo da Vinci had to conceive of such a concept!

Treasures of the Modern Renaissance: Milanese Tall Hat

2010-02-11T09:43:00.002-05:00

With Da Vinci: The Genius Exhibition opening to the public this weekend we are getting ready to transport you to another time: The Renaissance. In the Grand Lobby at MOSI you can find an exhibit entitled Treasures of the Modern Renaissance which is a collection of Renaissance art pieces created by modern Florida artists. We’ll be highlighting pieces and artists from this exhibit here during the run of the Da Vinci exhibit.

Milanese Tall Hat 1540: Stiffened Felt, adorned with pearls and feathers.

The Milanese were exposed to Spanish and German clothing styles as a city along a key trade route. This hat, worn at an angle over a coif, is an example of the Milanese attempt to incorporate the fashions of other regions. The geometric patterns of the beading are borrowed from Moorish designs found in Spain.

About the Artist: Vandy Pacetti-Tune

February 2010 Volunteer of the Month: Robert Wallace

2010-02-09T10:15:00.001-05:00

Robert is a University of Florida graduate in Aerospace Engineering. He has been busily working with MOSI since July of 2009 and has contributed over 300 hours of volunteer service. Robert says that he enjoys his volunteer work at the museum because he loves science and is proud to have a part in bringing science to the community. As a volunteer Robert has helped to build and repair many of our exhibits and is a big part in bringing Da Vinci ‘online.’ We are grateful to have him as a part of the MOSI family!

Behind the Scenes: 3rd floor construction

2010-01-11T12:50:00.002-05:00

If you drop by MOSI anytime soon you are going to notice some major construction happening on the 3rd floor of the main museum building. Right now we are working to remove our venerable Space and Flight exhibit to make way for the next phase of The Amazing You which is scheduled to open April of 2010.

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Some of the more beloved parts of the Space and Flight area are being relocated to the Kids in Charge building, so look for some additions there in the comings weeks. I went behind the scenes and snapped some pictures of the tear out so you can all follow along from home.

Down on the first floor there is also construction prepping for the opening of Da Vinci: The Genius which opens February 13th, 2010. You’ll see that a new gift store is being constructed and you might hear some construction sounds as the walls of the exhibit begin to come together inside the exhibit gallery.

Mathematical Quilts

2009-11-19T10:06:00.002-05:00

Although MOSI is primarily a science center, we do have fairly regular art installations by artisans who create pieces that are a blend of art and science. Currently, one of these art exhibitions is a collection of quilts by Elaine Ellison who creates quilts that have mathematics at the core of their design concepts. The artist finds inspiration in mathematical sequences, architecture, and mathematics that occurs in nature.

Chartres Cathedral Quilt: "Chartres Cathedral labyrinth is an approximate golden rectangle. The gothic cathedral, begun in 1145, has a labyrinth on its’ floor. The cathedral marks the high point of French Gothic art. Pilgrims walk the labyrinth in reflection of their lives. A labyrinth has only one path. The architect of this cathedral is unknown.” –Elaine Ellison’s website

Buckeyballs and Bubbles - “This quilt turned out to be a tribute to Richard Smalley, a professor who discovered the existence of the Buckeyball in soot. For centuries it was thought that the only two pure forms of carbon were hard sparkling diamonds and dull, slippery graphite. In l985, Smalley's team announce a third pure form of carbon C-60. The Buckeyball was named after Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome. The symmetry in the Buckeyball lends itself to applications in drug design, chemical sponges, miniature circuits, lubricants, catalysts, chemical probes in a scanning-fo rce microscope, batteries, molecular sieves, and possible use in photo copiers.” –Elaine Ellison’s website

About the Artist: Elaine Ellison, mathematical quilting artist

As the daughter of creative parents, I was fortunate to explore a variety of media from a very young age. My parents taught me the value of the arts in everyday life. Between my parents and the Central Michigan University Art Department, I was fortunate to explore drawing, painting, bronze work, photographs, woodworking, and textiles. My devotion to cloth peaked in the early l980’s when I read the book Geometry and the Visual Arts by Dan Pedoe. From this time, I have continued to explore the way that cloth can help me express mathematics geometrically.

My retirement from formal teaching in 2005 has given me time to develop more mathematical quilts. I continue to speak around the world at mathematics conferences, art museums, quilt groups and general interest groups. I have developed a wonderful PowerPoint presentation of my mathematical quilts that I share with interested groups.

Visit MOSI to see a beautiful collection of mathematical quilts on display in the 2nd floor connecting corridor gallery. You can also visit the artist’s website to learn more about Elaine and her work.

November Volunteer of the Month: Will Shumaker

2009-11-04T11:14:00.003-05:00

Will Shumaker has been with MOSI since July of 1996. Over the course of his tenure, Mr. Shumaker has logged over 3,783 hours as a membership services volunteer. His work has been indespensible.

Will is an avid mountain and ice climber who enjoys movies, travel and phtography. Will also volunteers his time at the local greyhound rescue. He is very giving and seems to be friends with just about everyone!

A big thank you to Will for all he does to help make MOSI the great place that it is!

MOSI Wins Nation's Highest Award for Community Service

2009-10-15T15:27:00.002-04:00

MOSI is excited to share with you that we have received the nation’s highest honor for community service - the 2009 National Medal for Museums, presented by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Out of 17,000 museums in the country, we are one of only 5 to receive this award!

We couldn’t have achieved this without the support of our members, visitors, donors and board members. Thank you for making MOSI one of the best Science Centers in the Country!

October Volunteer of the Month: Bret Walborn

2009-10-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

Bret Walborn is MOSI Volunteer of the Month for October 2009.

Bret has been a volunteer in the Development Department at MOSI for 10 years and his assistance is invaluable. Bret’s responsibilities include creating new files, updating current files and keeping the filing system in order. Always available to help with a smile on his face, Bret creates organization and helps to ensure that our Development Department runs smoothly and that all of the files are kept in good order.

Bernoulli Breezeball

2009-09-29T10:45:00.006-04:00

As you can see in the video, the orange balls are being held up only by air blown out of the tubes on the Bernoulli Breezeball exhibit. By adjusting the direction of the tubes you can pass the balls from one airstream to another and eventually into the hoops at the ends of the table.

How does it work:
Moving air has less pressure (pushing power) than still air. Objects may look as if they are sucked into a stream of moving air but are actually being pushed into the stream by the stronger pressure of the air around the stream. When a ball is placed into an airstream, the air flowing upward hits the bottom of the ball and slows down, generating a region of higher pressure. This high-pressure region of air under the ball holds it up. If you try to pull the ball slowly out of the airstream, the air arcs around the ball and its pressure is decreased. The normal pressure on the other side of the ball pushes it back into the airstream.

Daniel Bernoulli:
The Bernoulli Breezeball exhibit is named for Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782) who was a member of a Swiss family that boasted several famous mathematicians. Bernoulli applied mathematics to the fields of fluid mechanics and also pioneered mathematics work in probability and statistics. He taught at the University of St. Petersburg and later at the University of Basel where he successively chaired the departments of medicine, metaphysics and natural philosophy. Daniel Bernoulli is best known for 1738 publication Hydrodynamica and for Bernoulli's principle which describes the relationship of the speed of a fluid and its pressure.

Bernoulli's principle and aerodynamics:
Bernoulli's principle can be applied to aerodynamics. Using Bernoulli's principle you can calculate the lift force on an airfoil. Airplane wings utilize an airfoil shape that is curved on the top and flat on the bottom. In motion, air flows faster over the curved surface on the top of an airfoil than under the flat bottom. The faster moving air decreases in pressure so less pressure is being applied to the top of an airplane wing than to the bottom. This difference in pressure creates an upwards lift force. If the speed of the air over and under the wing is known, Bernoulli's equations can be used to calculate the lift force upon the airfoil.

Read more about Bernoulli's Principle applied to aerodynamics at the US Centennial of Flight Commission website.

KM0SI Amateur Radio

2009-09-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

If you have ever wanted to learn a bit about amateur radio, I know a few MOSI volunteers who would be happy to talk to you.

Gene and Gail King can be found manning the KM0SI radio truck in the MOSI Disasterville exhibit on Wednesday mornings. Gene is a retired Tampa police officer who came to amateur radio for the services it can provide during disasters where regular forms of communication tend to break down. Gail is an avid birder who started working on her amateur radio license because it was something about which her husband was very passionate. From their backyard radio setup, the Kings have made contact with radio operators as far away as Slovenia, Australia and several location in South America. With just 60-70 watts of power and a "wire in a tree" antenna, this couple has been able to talk with people half way around the world!

In the KM0SI Truck, the Kings can show you current positions of the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station or even show you how they contact other radio operators around the world.

What is Amateur Radio?
From Wikipedia: "Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training.

Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.

The term "amateur" reflects the principle that Amateur Radio and its skilled operators are committed to helping communities without financial compensation; whereas Commercial Radio operates purely for profit."

The image to the right is the international symbol for amateur radio. The circuit diagram inside the diamond symbolizes components common to every radio: an antenna, inductor and ground.

Want to get involved in ham radio?
The National Association for Amateur Radio or ARRL website offers lots of great information for those who are interested in learning more about becoming a licensed radio operator. Also, the WeDoThatRadio website offers visitors the ability to search for local ham radio clubs in their area. If you are in Tampa, check out the Tampa Amateur Radio Club (TARC) website for local contacts and meeting times.

Drop by MOSI on a Wednesday morning and chat with the Kings or come by on a Thursday morning and talk to long time MOSI ham radio volunteer Fred. The volunteers of KM0SI are all friendly folks who are always happy to talk to someone interested in amateur radio. You can also email the friendly KM0SI volunteers at km0simosi@gmail.com.

Touch a tornado

2009-09-16T11:35:00.004-04:00

What does a tornado look like up close and personal? Well, most of us really don't want to have a personal experience with such a force of nature just to satisfy our curiosity. A mist vortex is a safe way to get up close to and even touch a vortex. In this exhibit water vapor is released from a tank at the bottom and a fan at the top of the exhibit swirls the air and vapor into a vortex. The six posts on the exhibit all have tiny air vents that blow air in a single direction that helps to corral the water vapor and keep it turning in a tornado-like vortex.

Originally designed at the Exploratorium during an artist in residence program, mist vortexes have become a great way to show science center guests how a tornado looks up close. Our mist vortex is located on the second floor of MOSI's main building in the Disasterville exhibit Tornado section. MOSI's Disasterville exhibit also educates guests about floor, hurricanes, tsunami, wildfire, earthquake, lighting, volcano, hail and other forces of nature with awesome destructive power. To know how these disasters work helps people to prepare plans for what do do if a natural disaster ever touches their lives.

That Rocks: Muscovite

2009-09-14T08:59:00.004-04:00

Known also as Common Mica or Isinglass is a common mineral found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Muscovite occurs in a variety of brown, gray, yellow and smoky green colors but can also be found in transparent and translucent forms.

Muscovite is used for a range of commercial applications as the mineral forms in natural sheets and is an excellent insulator of electricity and heat. Cleaved into super thin sheets, muscovite has been used for lining the viewing windows of industrial furnaces and also for lining the viewing doors of old microwave ovens.

The name muscovite derives from the term Muscovy-glass as sheets of this minerals have been used as windows in Russia. The base of this names come from the Latin word "micare" which means "to shine".

Muscovite has a Mohs hardness of 2-2.25.

A sheet of muscovite is on display in the Science Alcove in the Science Library at MOSI.

September Volunteer of the Month: Deamyon “Dae” Myles

2009-09-01T12:40:00.003-04:00

Deamyon “Dae” Myles is the volunteer of the month for September 2009.

Deamyon is a ‘high impact’ volunteer who since June has incurred 198.75 hours of volunteer service. Deamyon was the first summer volunteer to receive a volunteer flower award for excellent guest service. The volunteer flower awards are the first level of our rewards program. Upon receiving 3 flowers the volunteer is awarded a sticker for the front of their name tag and a prize pack with Pizza and movie passes or Bowling/laser tag vouchers. Deamyon was the first summer volunteer to receive the Silver Sticker!

He is an excellent example of brilliant guest service and is consistently looking, seeking and finding ways to enhance a guest’s experience at MOSI. Deamyon is always ready with a smile and helpful attitude. In addition to working as a Greeter and Volunteer InterActor, “Dae” also comes in for 3 hours on Saturday to dress as Scooby Doo and/or Dexter to entertain our guests. Congratulations Deamyon, your hours of tireless service are much appreciated and your support makes MOSI a better place staff and guests alike!

From the special collections: The MOSI Topaz

2009-08-31T14:23:00.007-04:00

Ever wonder what 1,379 carats worth of cut and polished blue topaz would look like in your hand? Well, a lot like this. That's my hand to the left pictured with a very remarkable stone, a gigantic blue topaz.

This remarkable stone is a gorgeous clear blue color. Pure topaz is clear but most topaz stones form with some impurities that cause the stones to be colored blue, red, brown, yellow, gray, green and even pink. Pale and sky blue topaz are prized for jewelry pieces.

Although this stones seems enormous, it is certainly nowhere near the size of the largest known cut topaz stones. In Brazil, colorless pure topaz have been found in sizes as large as boulders. The largest cut topaz, also from Brazil, is the El-Dorado Topaz that is 31,000 carats. Another well known cut topaz, the American Golden Topaz at the Smithsonian is 22,892.5 carats.

Topaz is an 8 on the hardness scale of gemstones which puts it near the hardest and toughest stones known to man. Diamonds used for jewelry and even on saw blades are a 10 on the hardness scale. If you have topaz or diamond jewelry it should be stored away from other stones because it may scratch the surfaces of softer gems.

This stone was donated to MOSI by a gentleman in the late years of his life who wished to leave a legacy piece to a local museum. The stone is not currently on display in the museum so these pictures give you a special backstage peek at a truly beautiful gemstone.

Tensile Intergrity Sphere

2009-08-19T09:00:00.002-04:00

Hanging high above the center of the MOSI Grand Lobby is a very large and odd-looking sphere composed of yellow rods and wire. If you spend a few moments and really look at the sphere you will see that none of the yellow rods that compose the sphere are touching each other. This neat bit of science is known as a Tensile Integrity Sphere.

How does it work?:

A tensile integrity sphere or tensegrity sphere is a structure that utilizes synergy of components in balanced compression and tension for structural support.

Compression is stress or force applied to materials resulting in their compaction. In the case of this sphere the yellow rods are under compression. Tension is a force that pulls upon an object using strings or wires and is the opposite of compression. The wires in the tensegrity sphere are in tension. Synergy is a situation where different entities or forces cooperate advantageously for a final outcome, in our case keeping the sphere round without external supports. Utilizing the forces of compression and tension in synergy this 130 pound sphere is entirely self-supporting and hangs from the ceiling with just a few strong cables that support the weight of the entire sphere.

Tensegrity:

The concept of tensegrity was popularized by R. Buckminster Fuller and Kenneth Snelson at Black Mountain College in the 1940's. Building upon an early design of a self supporting sphere structure used as a planetarium in Germany, Fuller and Snelson explored concepts of tensegrity.

The term 'geodesic' was coined by Fuller and applied to structures that could be incredibly light for their size when compression and tension were used in balance to create structures that were self supporting. Within a geodesic dome, no internal supports are required. Just imagine your house without any need for walls! Geodesic structures had potential to be spacious, light weight, strong and inexpensive to produce.

"Ability to respond as a system means that local stresses are being uniformly transmitted throughout the structure, and uniformly absorbed by every part of it. The system's symmetry is not deformed: the system expands as a whole or contracts as a whole. This is not the behavior we are used to in any structures of our previous experiences. The compression members do not behave like conventional engineering beams... Ordinary beams deflect locally. The tensegrity "beam" does not act independently of "the whole building" which contracts only symmetrically when the beam is loaded. The tensegrity system is synergetic - a behavior of the whole unpredicted by the behavior of the parts" -R. Buckminster Fuller. Synergetics: explorations in the geometry of thinking. New York, Macmillan, 1975

The story of our sphere:

In November of 2000 the museum was approached by Richard 'Dick' Avery who had an interesting proposal. He wanted to build an enormous tensegrity sphere for the museum to display. Dick had found a book on R. Buckminster Fuller in the Science Store at MOSI some time before and had become enamored of the concepts of tenesgrity. At home in Sun City Center, Dick had already built a few tenesgrity spheres and offered to build one for MOSI.

Dick spent 107 hours constructing the sphere in January and February of 2001 and shortly after it was hung in our grand lobby. It was quite a sight to see a gigantic yellow sphere sitting on the floor of the lobby and several exhibit technicians carefully considering how they were going to hoist the monster shape into place. After a few hours, the great tensegrity sphere hung above our lobby and hangs there to this day. Mr. Avery passed away several years ago, but his creation still looms larger than life over hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Diplodocus in the Grand Lobby

2009-08-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Around 150 to 147 million years ago, at the end of the Jurassic Period, enormous sauropod dinosaurs roamed wide portions of the planet.

Around 90 feet in length from head to tip of the tail, the Diplodocus would have needed massive amounts of food to sustain its huge size. Diplodocus likely grazed its way through the western North American conifer forests using its peg like teeth to strip foliage from trees and low growing cycads and club mosses. Their long necks may have allowed them to reach into thick-treed forests where their bodies were too big to enter, reach foliage higher up in trees or even be able to graze on soft water plants while still standing on dry land that would support their 10-16 tons of weight. The heads of these massive dinosaurs measure less than two feet in length, leaving only a tiny amount of space for a brain.

First discovered in 1877 by Earl Douglass and Samuel W. Williston, diplodocus fossils have been found throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana. Diplodocus, meaning "Double-beamed", was named by paleontologist Othniel C. Marsh in 1878 for the chevron shaped bones on the underside of its tail.

The MOSI Grand Lobby houses two full sized Diplodocus skeletons which are actually casts of the same fossilized Diplodocus. One is shown in a standing position and the other placed in a rearing position with its head reaching high up toward the ceiling. During the Assemble a Sauropod project over 500 donors came together and along with two grants MOSI was able to purchase two Diplodocus casts!

Because the are so fantastically large, there are literally dozens of angles from which to view the Diplodocus. Great spots to see these skeletons are the Grand Lobby, 2nd floor balcony near Weather Quest, Grand Staircase, 2nd floor Lobby overlook and the 3rd floor balcony by Science Works Theater.

The Diplodocus have been known to wear the occasional Santa hat around the winter holidays. On their tiny heads an average person-sized Santa hat works quite nicely!

Getting Ready to go Back to School can be a whole bunch of fun!

2009-08-13T13:45:00.000-04:00

Ready for School? Come to the Back to School Expo at MOSI and have the chance to win tickets to see the Jonas Brothers Concert

The Back to School Fair at MOSI on August 15th will have everything you need to prepare, protect and inspire your child before they go back to school. Health & Wellness, Safety, Private Schools, Childcare and Learning Centers, Local Resources, Afterschool Programs, Tutors, Children Retailers and more!!

Bring the whole family and for $10 per person they will enjoy all of MOSI’s exhibits including the new ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network along with enjoying free activities, arts & crafts, games, workshops, live entertainment and informative speaker sessions- all day. Thousands of dollars worth of prizes given away every hour including tickets to the Jonas Brothers Concert. Come meet Scooby Doo, Dexter and Toots live in person. (MOSI members are free to the back to school event . ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network exhbit fees apply )

The first 100 kids at the event will get a free back to school goodie bag filled with supplies and goodies from Tootsville.com and MEAD

Are you a Toon Idol?

2009-08-12T16:04:00.002-04:00

Dress up as your favorite cartoon character and perform their theme song in MOSI’s Toon Idol Competition. Performers must submit your video through August 15, 2009. Once submitted, people will have a chance to vote for their favorite video on MOSI’s YouTube™ channel.

Visit the MOSI website to download contestant application and rules. Characters of all ages welcome.

Funky Science: Lava lamps

2009-08-12T09:05:00.001-04:00

The Science Store at MOSI has a really huge lava lamp on display and lots of smaller lava lamps for sale right now. The large lava lamp is really awesome to watch so I thought perhaps we should talk about the science of lava lamps!

Lava Lamps: Lava lamps, also known as liquid motion lamps, have been around since the 60's. They are very cool to watch but there are some neat principles of science in action.

So how does a liquid motion lamp work? Liquid motion lamps require the use of two insoluble, near equal density liquids and a heat source used for adjusting the density of the liquids. Now lets break that down into bite sized pieces.

Liquids: One liquid forms the slow moving blobs, like in the picture, we will call this Red. The other liquid allows the blobs to float about, we'll call this liquid Purple.

These liquids must be immiscible, or mutually insoluble. This means that neither liquid will dissolve the other like oil and water and that Red and Purple will remain separate.

These liquids must be of a nearly equal density.

When turned off, liquid motion lamps appear to have two distinct layers of liquids . One is just slightly more dense than the other and lays on the bottom of the lamp. In our case the Red liquid is slightly more dense than the Purple liquid. Being more dense causes the Red liquid to sink to the bottom.

Heat: The heat source in a liquid motion lamp is generally a light bulb or lamp. As you likely know, light bulbs can get pretty hot when they have been turned on. When the lamp is turned on it heats up the slightly more dense Red liquid at the bottom of the lamp.

Changing the temperature of a compound is an easy way to change density. When a compound is heated the molocules in the compound spread apart making it less dense. As the density decreases, the compond become lighter and will rise above heavier, more dense compounds. For example, think of air: hot air rises and cold air sinks. Heated air becomes less dense and becomes "lighter" which causes it to rise above the more dense, "heavier" cool air.

Much like hot air, the Red liquid at the bottom of the lamp will become less dense as it is heated. This makes the Red liquid "lighter" and it begins to rise in blobs through the Purple liquid.

As they rise through the Purple liquid and away from the heat source, the Red blobs lose heat. This causes the molecules in the Red liquid to move closer together and this increases the density of the Red liquid. The Red blobs are become more dense than the Purple liquid and sink back to the bottom. At the bottom the Red liquid is warmed up again and the process repeats until you turn off the lamp and all the Red liquid cools down.

This really neat Wiki How article shows you how to make a liquid motion lamp with household items and no heat! Be a scientist at home!

Volunteering at MOSI

2009-08-10T09:54:00.003-04:00

Smiling volunteer faces on a Monday morning!

MOSI is always looking for a few good volunteers: As the “face of MOSI” volunteers help guide, teach and enlighten museum guests. We are looking for energetic, interested and exciting individuals to help bring MOSI’s exhibits to life. If you are an outgoing individual with a desire to work with people and enjoy a wide range of opportunities, then MOSI is looking for you. Morning and afternoon shifts are available Monday through Sunday. All of MOSI’s volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. Additionally, volunteers must be willing to commit to a minimum number of shifts per week and a minimum number of consecutive weeks of volunteer service.

Follow this link for more information on volunteering at MOSI and for the MOSI volunteer application!

This Rocks! Herkimer Diamonds

2009-08-06T09:04:00.001-04:00

Tucked away in a lesser known gallery of MOSI you can find these gems glittering away.

Crystal Diamonds:

Known as Herkimer diamonds, these beauties are double terminated quartz crystals that each have 18 facets. The crystals are known for their clarity and became referred to as "diamonds". The most perfect crystals are usually less that 1/2 inch in length and the crystals are often found in clusters sometimes attached to each other. A Herkimer diamond scores a 7 on the hardness scale whereas a true diamond is a perfect 10. Large pockets of these crystals were discovered in the exposed outcroppings of dolostone in the late 1700's in several areas of up-state New York particularly Little Falls in Herkimer County and also along the Mohawk River Valley.

Making Herkimer Diamonds:

Approximately half a billion years ago the shallow Cambrian Sea lapped against the base of the ancestral Adirondack Mountains in the area now known as Herkimer County, New York. Limey sediments slowly accumulated and became compacted by more and more sediment under the salty waters where they formed into a rock strata of dolostone. Dolostone is a sedimentary carbonate rock rich in mineral domomite and is often known as dolomite rock. Still beneath the ocean, water seeped through this rock and dissolved away pockets known as "vugs". Inside these vugs the tiny crystals began to form, often thousands in one place.

Unusual Crystals:

Although many Herkimer diamonds are perfectly clear and glitter just like their namesake, some of the crystals form with impurities inside. Some contain anthraxolite which is decayed plant matter that appears black and coal-like in color. Some crystals contains tiny pockets of water inside and are known as enhydro crystals.

Other crystals may contain various impurities that give them a smoky color. Some, known as phantom crystals, have one crystal that has grown around another so that both crystals can be seen, one inside the other. Other usual crystals have grown together so that two or more crystals are fused together.

Several of our crystals on display contain anthraxolite and one has a distinctly smoky color.

See them at MOSI:

To see our collection of Herkimer Diamonds head into the Science Library just off of the MOSI Grand Lobby. The Science Alcove collections are located at the back of the library on the right hand side. Minerals, fossils, shells, vintage calculators, bird eggs, shark teeth and mounted butterflies are just some of the collections on display. The Herkimer diamonds are displayed on a black cloth on the bottom shelf of the display cabinets. Look for the sparkle!

Now Blooming: Passionvine

2009-08-05T09:39:00.004-04:00

These gorgeous purple flowers are hard to miss in the Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove at MOSI. Passionvine is growing all over the place including on a large upright trellis near the center of the gardens.

Passionvines (Passiflora spp) are vining plants and several species are native to Florida. Not here just for their gorgeous flowers, these vines are also hosts to the Variegated Fritillary, Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing and Julia Longwing butterflies. If you plant these vines in your home garden expect to see some caterpillars.

For more on butterflies and the plants in our gardens check out the BioWorks Butterfly Garden blog entitled Tales from the Butterfly Garden.

Something Awesome: Bike on a Wire

2009-08-04T14:02:00.004-04:00

What a brave young lady! MOSI volunteer Sarah is riding a bicycle over 30 feet above the ground with only a one inch thick steel cable beneath her and she is smiling while she pedals!

So why does Sarah feel so comfortable on this bicycle so far above the ground? Well the net and the five point harness really help but there is no way for the bike to tip over or fall off that wire! Hanging beneath the bicycle is a 350 pound counter weight which keeps the bike right side up.

So why is the net there? Two reasons: It makes people feel better and shoes can still fall off or get dropped and those don't feel great when they land on someone standing on the main floor!

MOSI's High Wire Bike is the longest High Wire Bike ride in a US museum with a 98 foot long cable and is truly science in motion!

August Volunteer of the Month

2009-08-03T10:14:00.001-04:00

The BioWorks Butterfly Garden's very own Naomi May is the MOSI Volunteer of the Month for August 2009!

Since April of 2007 Naomi May has provided an ASTOUNDING 1459 hours of volunteer service at MOSI. She has a special touch when taking care of our caterpillars and gardens alike and Naomi is great helping to get other volunteers oriented and trained in the gardens.

Naomi volunteers faithfully in the gardens every Monday and Friday and spends great swaths of the rest of her week volunteering at her church in the bell choir and in their gardens.

Without volunteers like Naomi, and especially without Naomi herself, there is no way we could get everything done that is necessary to keep the butterfly garden running smoothly. Thanks Naomi and congratulations!

DISABLED ARTIST PAINTS FANTASY ART WITH BRUSH STROKES OF INSPIRATION AT MOSI’s

2009-07-22T11:41:00.001-04:00

Disability Awareness Expo
Saturday, July 25 – 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tampa, FL (July 21, 2009) – Lora Duguay, a polio survivor whose oil paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States, will showcase her talent at ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network—MOSI’s newest exhibition that explores how art and technology come together to create cartoon animation—during the Disability Awareness Expo.

On Saturday, July 25, MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) and the Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities will host the annual community-wide Disability Awareness Expo in commemoration of the 19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, historic civil rights legislation for persons with disabilities. The Expo, “Building Minds, Building Bodies, Building Communities,” honors disability advocates and features exhibits on technology, employment, sports, housing, and the arts as well as new ideas and ways to make life more inclusive and enjoyable for those who may have a disability.

Lora Duguay will paint one of her acclaimed artworks, which focus on the cultural beauty of Native Americans, Rom Gypsies, fantasy art and nature, at the ANIMATION exhibition. She began oil painting as a hobby which then emerged into a full-time career when she suffered from postpolio syndrome. Lora is currently a Board Member and Artist in Residency with VSA Arts of Florida, encouraging creativity and sharing artistic knowledge with students who have disabilities. For more information on Lora Duguay, visit http://loraduguay.snappages.com/.

Now through August 2, 2009, MOSI is offering one FREE child admission with the purchase a full-priced Adult or Senior MOSI General Admission ticket (must mention offer at box office). In ANIMATION’s stimulating and fun environment, visitors will explore the process of animation from concept to finished product — from storyboarding, character design, and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming, and sound. Larger-than-life graphics of popular Cartoon Network characters provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, which also explores careers in animation with digital slide shows of real artists working in the Cartoon Network studio so visitors can learn about the skills and training needed for a career in animation.

CHILDREN GET FREE ADMISSION THROUGH AUGUST 2

2009-07-16T10:53:00.000-04:00

Now through August 2, 2009, MOSI is offering one FREE child admission with the purchase a full-priced Adult or Senior MOSI General Admission ticket! Explore how art, math, science, and technology come together in the exciting world of animation. In Animation’s stimulating and fun environment, visitors will explore the process of animation from concept to finished product.

Offer valid only with the purchase of a full priced adult or senior general admission ticket. MOSI general admission includes ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network, MOSI’s entire exhibit galleries and one standard IMAX® Dome Theatre film. Discounts may not be combined. Offer ends August 2, 2009.

DAUGHTER OF LEGENDARY MUSICIAN RAY CHARLES RECOGNIZES SENSORY GARDEN IN

2009-07-01T09:50:00.001-04:00

Tampa, FL (June 30, 2009) – Sheila Raye Charles, the seventh child of legendary musician Ray Charles, left a special message on a Blog by Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in response to a new sensory garden planted at the Ray Charles Live Oak in MOSI’s Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove.

“Our father would be so pleased with your consideration and efforts. Thank you for all the good work. Ray Charles’ Children”
—Sheila Raye Charles, posted June 30, 2009, 10:51 a.m.

Thanks to a grant from Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb, a sensory garden was planted near the Ray Charles Live Oak in honor of Charles’ legacy and to appeal to the use of non-sight senses in someone who is visually impaired. The garden is a collection of fragrant plants including flowers that are unique to touch.

White Fountain Grass (Pennisetum villosum) planted for its soft, feathery tops.
Fragrant Olive (Osmanthus fragrans) picked for the gorgeous sweet aroma of its blooms.
Sweet Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata) chosen for the sweet almond-like scent of its white flowers.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) selected for the licorice scent when touched.
Chocolate Mint (Mentha piperita) planted for the minty chocolate smell when handled.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) chosen for its minty aroma.
Lambs Tails (Ptilotus exaltatus) selected for its feathered purple flower tops with a dried flower stiffness.
Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria) planted for its powdery foliage.
Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) picked for its mounding foliage covered in interesting, soft red blooms tha feel like an odd yarn than a plant.
Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) chosen for the honey sweet scent of its white blossoms.

The Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove provides museum guests with a stroll through history by focusing on the stories of 17 culturally significant trees that are associated with notable people and places across America . The Historic Tree Grove is FREE and open to the public during MOSI operating hours (admission required for entry into MOSI exhibits).

MOSI today is the result of 52 years of growth and maturity reflecting both on the institution and the surrounding community. With a total size of over 400,000 square feet, MOSI is the largest science center in the southeastern United States , and home to the only IMAX® Dome Theatre in the state of Florida . MOSI is a not-for-profit, community-based institution and educational resource that is dedicated to advancing public interest, knowledge, and understanding of science, industry, and technology.
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About MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
MOSI is a not-for-profit, community-based institution and educational resource dedicated to advancing public interest, knowledge, and understanding of science, industry, and technology. With a total size of over 400,000 square feet, MOSI is the largest science center in the southeastern United States , and home to the only IMAX® Dome Theatre in the state of Florida . Kids In Charge! The Children’s Science Center at MOSI is the largest children’s science center in the nation. Disasterville, featuring WeatherQuest, combines education and 10,000 square feet of interactive exhibits on the science behind natural disasters. MOSI’s newest permanent exhibition, The Amazing You, explores the intricate world of the beginning of life, childhood, and adolescent developmental life stages.

ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network opens July 10th

2009-06-24T17:01:00.001-04:00

ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network, a new exhibit exploring the science behind the art of animation, will open July 10, 2009. Characters from Dexter’s Laboratory, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door, and The Powerpuff Girls will provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, in addition to popular Hanna-Barbera characters such as Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones.

ANIMATION features six areas, including Animation Studio, where visitors can develop a storyboard, and create scenes using layered cels and moving backgrounds, and Science Laboratory, where visitors can use Dexter’s Laboratory to delve into the science and technology that make animation possible.

Fun Animation Facts:

Snow White, which premiered in 1937 was the first American animated feature film ever. It cost $1.4 million to produce.

Disney had only two animators working for him when he created Steamboat Willie in 1928

Production of Beauty and the Beast took three and a half years and required the talents of nearly 600 animators, artists, and technicians.

“Daddy, please quit smoking.” A plea to smoking fathers

2009-06-17T13:42:00.003-04:00

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart exhibition at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) invites all families to join together in an effort to encourage dads who smoke to quit for Father’s Day, June 21.

The dramatic display at BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart exhibit can guarantee that fathers will want to make a lifestyle change for their children and family. An exhibit specimen containing a tar-filled, blackened smoker’s lung in a side-by-side comparison with a healthy lung has moved thousands of people to pledge to quit on the spot.

BODY WORLDS is calling all children and families with a father who smokes to bring dad to this groundbreaking exhibition on Father’s Day. Fathers will be admitted for FREE on June 21 with the purchase of a child or family member ticket. Fathers who smoke are encouraged to kick the habit and of course pledge to quit once confronted with the compelling imagery inside the lung gallery of BODY WORLDS.

In 2006, exhibition cleaning crews discovered masses of unfinished cigarette packs discarded on the glass displays of the smoker’s lung. In early March, BODY WORLDS partnered with the American Cancer Society (ACS) in the “I Quit!” campaign. Pledge cards for visitors intending to give-up smoking, along with their last packs of cigarettes, were displayed inside the exhibit. Information from ACS is available, as well as a multimedia PSA message from the late Yul Brynner, who died from lung cancer in 1985. BODY WORLDS, in partnership with the Moffitt Cancer Center, have also offered lectures on smoking cessation and lung cancer. The lectures are free of charge with the purchase of admission and held inside the exhibition.

“Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer death in our society, but about 23 percent of Americans continue to use tobacco,” said Mel Tockman, M.D., Ph.D, chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Greater Tampa Unit. ACS provided BODY WORLDS visitors smoking cessation materials including a phone number to free phone-based counseling though the Florida Quitline: 1-877-U-Can-Now.

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart MUST CLOSE JUNE 28th

2009-06-17T13:39:00.003-04:00

Let the mad rush begin as the Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, the world’s most successful traveling exhibit, is entering it’s final weeks at Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI).

The last chance for Floridians to visit one of the most talked about exhibitions in the world is only four weeks away. Attracting more than 27 million visitors and traveling in 47 different cities throughout the world, BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, which has been on display at MOSI since January 22, features more than 200 authentic human specimens offering insights into the human body, health and disease.

Mark your calendars
There is something for everyone in the final days of BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart:

Ending Events at Exhibit:
June 17: Flashlight Twilight Tours – Tour the exhibit in total darkness with nothing but flashlight in tow!
June 17: Moffitt Breast Cancer Lecture 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
June 21: Father’s Day – Bring Dad to BODY WORLDS!
June 23: Moffitt Skin Cancer Lecture 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. – Tickets to exhibit include lecture
June 26-28: CLOSING WEEKEND

For CLOSING WEEKEND
To ensure visitors have the best possible experience at BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, MOSI offers the following helpful information and tips:
-more -
Hours: Tickets to BODY WORLDS are available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. or can be purchased online at http://mosi.org/bodyworlds3.html. Advance online ticket purchases are strongly encouraged (service charges may apply). After Dark hours at a discounted rate are from 5 – 9 p.m. (with the last entrance at 8 p.m.). Tickets can also be purchased by calling (813) 987-6000, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Exhibition hours may change due to demand in final weeks, for updates on operating hours and special discounts, visit mosi.org.

Timed Tickets: Entry to BODY WORLDS is also available through a timed ticket system. Tickets are sold in 30-minute blocks for a specific date and time. Once purchased, visitors can exchange tickets for a different time and date, but only if they make the exchange prior to the date and time listed on the ticket. Visitors may enter the exhibition during the 30-minute window beginning at the time printed on their ticket. For example, if a visitor has a ticket date for June 16 at 3:30 p.m., they may enter the exhibit between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on June 16.

Plan Ahead: BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart at MOSI sells out often on the weekends, and it is common for the exhibition to get busier as the end of the run approaches. With this in mind, MOSI recommends pre-purchasing tickets. The exhibition MUST CLOSE on JUNE 28.

Plenty of Time: The average visitor dwell time is 90 minutes. However, visitors often take much longer to experience the entire exhibition. Audio guides tend to significantly increase he amount of time visitors spend in the exhibit. Please allow yourself ample tome to view BODY WORLDS. Audio guides are available at the exhibit entrance for $5 per adult and $3 per child (2-12).

Other Questions: The MOSI website, www.mosi.org, features information about tickets, opening hours, parking and special programs and events, group sales, and more. Please visit the website often, or call (813) 987-6000 prior to coming to BODY WORLDS to ensure the best experience possible.

Flashlight Twilight Tour - June 17, 2009

2009-06-17T13:22:00.005-04:00

Join MOSI on Wednesday, June 17 at 6 p.m. at MOSI / BODY WORLDS exhibition for Flashlight Twilight Tour. The exhibit is closing and leaving on June 28, and this is the last opportunity locals have the chance to explore this fascinating exhibition.

Imagine this...

An exhibition hall, darkened ebony with no lighting other than the deep shades of crimson slightly illuminating each exposed specimen. Visitors will enter the compelling display of BODY WORLDS with only a flashlight in tow. Adventurous explorers, will experience the fascinating BODY WORLDS exhibit like no other – in complete darkness. Flashlights provided... courage not...

Flashlight tours are a unique, fun and exciting way to experience the exhibit. Gallery lights are turned off and flashlights are turned on, as visitors carefully explore the gallery.

*Flashlights will be provided, although you are welcome to bring your own. Tours are self-led. No-reservations are required but are strongly recommended.

Tours begin at 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
$18.95 general admission; $14.95 children 12 and under, $16.45 seniors 60+

MOSI Employee Spotlight: Mary Martin

2009-05-08T09:55:00.005-04:00

In November 2006, a year after recovering from a stroke, my doctor suggested I should go back to work or find somewhere to volunteer because it would be good for me to get back into a routine. Around this time, my granddaughter saw an ad in the paper for a senior program that she thought would be good for me to check out. I went to the address on the ad and met with a woman named Sylvia who helps place seniors in a volunteer-to-work program through the AARP Senior Employment program. Under this program seniors get to volunteer at a work site for three to six months to learn a job and, hopefully, get hired when the volunteer period ends. Sylvia asked me if I would like to go to MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), and I said, “yes.”

When I got to MOSI, I met the volunteer coordinator and we talked about where I would be volunteering my time. I wanted to work in the museum’s café because I had worked in restaurants before and liked it, so that is where I was able to start volunteering. When my time was up, the manager asked me if I would like to stay at MOSI and work in the café as a museum staff member (and she even offered me a raise!), and naturally, I answered, “yes!”

My favorite thing about working in the café is meeting people and preparing food for others to enjoy. It makes me feel good when people say the food looks and tastes good because I take pride in what I do. Being the oldest of 15 children I am used to always having family and children around, which is probably why I like working at the museum with all the families and kids running around having fun. I also get to work alongside younger staff members (some in high school), and I like that – working with young people keeps me young!

My schedule is perfect, and I really like my boss. I like being able to visit a new exhibit after my shift ends, or going to the Science Library, and sometimes I have my grandchildren meet me at the museum after my shift. I work Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., which is great because I wake up in the morning and watch the news at 6 a.m. and then catch the bus to get to work by 8 a.m.; I have a routine again!

Mary Martin
MOSI Café

BODY WORLDS offers free screenings for Stroke Awareness Month

2009-04-29T15:14:00.004-04:00

May is Stroke Awareness Month and BODY WORLDS is partnering with MOSI and University Community Hospital to offer free screenings — body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure — to help manage the risk factors for stroke on Thursday, May 7, 2009 & Tuesday May 19 – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in MOSI's Grand Lobby.

Stroke is a medical emergency. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke. If a stroke doesn't kill you, it may leave you physically or mentally disabled. Anyone, at any time, can have a stroke. For every minute you don't get help, more brain cells die.

People who survive a stroke have a higher risk for another one. It is vital that people with stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, manage their risk factors to prevent further strokes.

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart at the Museum of Science & Industry is open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. BODY WORLDS After Hours from 5 - 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6 - 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday is a separate fee.

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart announce College Week – April 20 - 26

2009-04-13T10:50:00.004-04:00

Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart invites Florida college students to participate in College Week at BODY WORLDS. From April 20 – 26, all college students in Florida will have the opportunity to experience this once in a lifetime exhibit for only $14 — a savings of nearly $12. Students must present their school ID at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) box office to receive the College Week price. BODY WORLDS at MOSI is open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily.

By offering a special price to college students, BODY WORLDS hopes to engage them to pursue careers in the medical field. For Dr. von Hagens, who invented Plastination -- the groundbreaking method of preserving anatomical specimens for study -- the primary goal of the exhibition is health education.

“The purpose of Plastination from its very inception was a scientific one, to educate medical students,” said Dr. von Hagens.” But the interest that laypeople had in the plastinated specimens inspired me to think of creating public exhibitions, which was followed by the realization that I had to offer a heightened sense of aesthetics, to avoid shocking the public and to capture their imagination. BODY WORLDS is a collaboration, a joint quest towards enlightenment between donor, anatomist, and visitor.”

The Florida premiere of BODY WORLDS features a unique collection of over 200 authentic human specimens, including whole-body plastinates, organs and translucent body slices. BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart offers visitors profound insights into the human body, health and disease, and the intricate world of the cardiovascular system.

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, the world’s most successful traveling exhibit, is now open for a limited engagement at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI). The exhibition
spans some 17,000 square feet at MOSI. Over 27 million visitors in 47 cities across Asia, Europe, and North America have seen BODY WORLDS since its debut in Japan in 1995.

About BODY WORLDS:
Dr Gunther von Hagens, invented Plastination in 1977, in an effort to improve the education of medical students. He created the BODY WORLDS exhibitions to bring anatomy to the public. More than 25 million people have seen the exhibitions worldwide. The organs and whole-body plastinates in the exhibition derive from people who have, in their lifetime, generously donated their bodies for Plastination, to specifically educate future generations about health. More than 9,000 donors including more than 900 Americans have bequeathed their bodies to von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany. For more information on BODY WORLDS, please visit, http://www.bodyworlds.com/.

Endocarditis: A Preventable Part in "The Story of the Heart"

2009-04-01T08:55:00.006-04:00

About 29,000 cases of endocarditis are diagnosed each year.1 Researchers have said maintenance of optimal oral health and hygiene may reduce the incidence of infective endocarditis and is more important than oral antibiotics for a dental procedure to reduce the risk of the infection.2

Now on display at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) — BODY WORLDS features a comprehensive exhibit gallery of plastinated human heart specimens including a heart specimen with an artificial valve. Endocarditis can deform the heart valves so much that they no longer open sufficiently or close properly. In severe cases, the affected valves have to be replaced with artificial ones.

Endocarditis is one of many ailments that can cause disease and distress to the human heart. This is why BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart is so great in that it allows guests an unprecedented look into this fascinating muscle and serves as a call-to-action for people to pay attention to their heart health, make regular doctor's visits, stay active, and most importantly, see this groundbreaking exhibition.

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart and Pepin Heart Hospital are teaming up with students from Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) Dental Program for “Heart Your Smile” Day on Friday, April 3, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to raise awareness of oral health and maintaining a heart free from endocarditis (presently known as infective endocarditis).

Dr. Charles Lambert, medical director, of Pepin Heart Hospital will be present to answer questions on infective endocarditis. In addition, students from the HCC Dental Program will be on-site at MOSI to demonstrate and provide information on the proper way to brush and floss daily.

MOSI is offering the most value-added ticket in town! Museum admission now includes BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, MOSI’s entire exhibit galleries, a Saunders Planetarium show, a 3D show in the Science Works Theater, a ride on MOSI’s High-Wire Bicycle, Kids In Charge! The Children’s Science Center, the BioWorks Butterfly Garden, plus—for a limited-time—an IMAX® Dome Theatre film*—all of this for $25.95 for adults, $19.95 for children (ages 2-12) and $22.45 for seniors (60+).

*Special engagement IMAX films not included. For student field trips or group reservations, please call (813) 987-6000.

_________________________________________________________
1 Source: American Heart Association, Inc. ©2009 Infective Endocarditis: Who is at risk? http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4436
2 Source: American Heart Association, Inc. ©2009 Infective Endocarditis: Can endocarditis be prevented? http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4436

The Idea Behind Plastination

2009-01-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

“I developed the Plastination technique at the University of Heidelberg’s Institute of Anatomy in 1977, patented it between 1977 and 1982, and have been continually improving the process ever since.

When, as an anatomy assistant, I saw my first specimen embedded in a polymer block, I wondered why the polymer had been poured around the outside of the specimen as having the polymer within the specimen would stabilize it from the inside out. I could not get this question out of my mind. A few weeks later, I was to prepare a series of slices of human kidneys for a research project. The usual process of embedding the kidneys in paraffin and then cutting them into thin slices seemed like too much wasted effort to me, as I only needed every fiftieth slice. Then one day, I was in the butcher shop in the university town where I was studying, and as I watched the sales woman slice ham, it dawned on me that I ought to be using a meat slicer for cutting kidneys. And so a "rotary blade cutter," as I called it in the project-appropriation request, became my first Plastination investment. I embedded the kidney slices in liquid Plexiglas and used a vacuum to extract the air bubbles that had formed when stirring in the curing agent. As I watched these bubbles, it hit me: It should be possible to infuse a kidney slice with plastic by saturating it with acetone and placing it under a vacuum; the vacuum would then extract the acetone in the form of bubbles, just as it had extracted air before. When I actually tried this, plenty of acetone bubbles emerged, but after an hour the kidney was pitch black and had shrunk. At this point most people would have dismissed the experiment as a failure, and the only reason I went ahead and repeated it a week later using silicone rubber was because my basic knowledge of physical chemistry told me that the blackening effect was due to the index of refraction of the Plexiglas, and that the shrinkage could be attributed to having permeated the specimen too quickly. The next time, I carried out this process more slowly, using three successive silicone baths as a means of preventing a single bath (along with its contents) from curing too quickly. After curing the specimen in a laboratory kiln, I had the first presentable sample of Plastination.

That was on January 10, 1977, the day that I decided to make Plastination the focus of my life."

 Gunther von Hagens Inventor of Plastination

How Plastination Works

2009-01-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

Decay is a big obstacle to the study of anatomy, so scientists have been searching for centuries for suitable preservation techniques. With the invention of plastination, it has become possible to preserve decomposable specimens in a durable and lifelike manner for instructional, research and demonstration purposes. During a vacuum process, biological specimens are penetrated with a reactive polymer developed specifically for this technique. The class of polymer used determines the mechanical (flexible or hard) and optical (transparent or opaque) properties of the preserved specimen. Plastinated specimens are dry and odorless; they retain their natural surface relief and are identical with their state prior to preservation down to the microscopic level. Even microscopic examinations are still possible. The plastination technique replaces bodily fluids and fat with reactive polymers, such as silicone rubber, epoxy resins, or polyester. In a first phase, solvent gradually replaces bodily fluids in a cold solvent bath (freeze substitution). After dehydration, the specimen is put in a solvent bath at room temperature to dissolve and remove the fat. The dehydrated and defatted specimen is then placed into a polymer solution. The solvent is then brought to a boil in a vacuum and continuously extracted from the specimen. The evaporating solvent creates a volume deficit within the specimen, drawing the polymer gradually into the tissue. After the process of forced impregnation, the specimen is cured with gas, light, or heat, depending on the type of polymer used.

“Slice plastination” is a special variation of this preservation technique. When applying this method, whole bodies or body parts (mostly deep-frozen) are first cut or sawed into 2-8 mm thick slices. These slices are then placed between wire nettings, where they are dehydrated, defatted and finally saturated with polymers in a vacuum. The impregnated slices are cured between sheets of film or cast with additional polymers in a flat chamber composed of glass plates to give them a smooth surface. The refraction index of the applied resins determines the optical properties of plastinated body slices. Body and organ slices produced with epoxy resins result in transparent specimens with good coloration of individual tissues. Polyester resins permit an excellent distinction between white and grey brain matter and are thus used for the plastination of brain slices. Plastinated organs and body slices are a novel teaching aid for cross-sectional anatomy, which is gradually gaining importance and can be easily correlated with radiological imaging. Series of transparent body slices are helpful for a large variety of scientific research activities. In addition, they are a suitable diagnostic means in pathology, as they allow rapid macroscopic and diagnostic screening of entire organs or operation preparations. Additionally, they still allow for selective analyses of pathological tissue regions with conventional microscopic methods.

Gunther von Hagens invented plastination at the Institute for Anatomy at Heidelberg University in 1977, and has developed it further ever since. Plastination has gained general acceptance and is carried out in many institutions throughout the world. The durability and lifelike state of plastinated specimens as well as their high instructional value have contributed to this acceptance. For more information about plastination, visit the BODY WORLDS website

Plastination - Discover the Mysteries Under your Skin

2009-01-22T13:08:00.006-05:00

It takes an average of 1,500 hours to transform a cadaver into a full-body plastinate. But the resulting specimen is everything that a conventional model is not — an intricate and authentic representation of the once living human body. Plastination is a vacuum process in which a body’s water and fat content are replaced by fluid plastic, which later hardens to retain all tissue structures. The German anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens invented plastination in 1977. The technique allows the general public to enjoy fascinating insights previously available only to medical students in dissection rooms.

SPIRIT OF THE RENAISSANCE

The development of plastination marks the beginning of a new era in anatomy, a field of study that can be traced to the times of the pharaohs. In the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci produced realistic sketches of the dissected human body, and in 1543 Andreas Vesalius pioneered modern anatomy with his precise drawings. These masters explored the mysteries of bodily interiors when external beauty was most revered. BODY WORLDS at MOSI connects with this spirit of enlightenment by presenting a new look at the human body that is both tangible and accessible.

What is BODY WORLDS?

2009-01-15T16:15:00.005-05:00

Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibits are the first public anatomical exhibitions of real human plastinates. Since 1995, more than 26 million visitors have viewed the exhibits at venues in cities across Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada. The primary goal of BODY WORLDS is health education. On the one hand, individual specimens are used to compare healthy and diseased organs, i.e., a healthy lung with that of a smoker, to emphasize the importance of a healthy life-style. On the other hand, life-like posed whole-body plastinates illustrate where in our bodies these organs are positioned and what we are: naturally fragile in a mechanized world.

The exhibits help visitors to become aware of the naturalness of their bodies and to recognize the individuality and anatomical beauty inside of them.

The authenticity of the specimens on display is essential for such insight. Every human being is unique. Humans reveal their individuality not only through the visible exterior, but also through the interior of their bodies, as each body is distinctly different from any other. Position, size, shape, and structure of skeleton, muscles, nerves, and organs determine our "interior face." It would be impossible to convey this anatomical individuality with models, for a model is nothing more than an interpretation. All models look alike and are, essentially, simplified versions of the real thing. The authenticity of the specimens, however, is fascinating and enables the observer to experience the marvel of the real human body.

It is also important to note that the plastinated specimens on display in Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibitions—excluding a small number of specimens acquired from anatomical collections and anatomy programs—stem from a unique Body Donation Program established in Heidelberg, Germany in 1983, later managed by the Institute for Plastination established in 1993.

Currently, the Institute for Plastination has a donor roster of 9,200 individuals which includes nearly 9000 Europeans and 800 North Americans. All IfP documents relating to donated bodies have been scrutinized and approved by two ethics committees formed by the California Science Center in Los Angeles and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, where BODY WORLDS exhibitions took place in between 2004 and 2008.

For more information visit www.bodyworlds.com

On this Day in Astronomy in 1610

2009-01-13T12:31:00.003-05:00

Hello again fellow SkyWatchers.

Just an interesting astronomy history tidbit this time – On this day 399 years ago, January 13, 1610, Galileo Galilei discovered Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon and the largest moon in our solar system.

Ganymede is 5268 kilometers (3273 miles ) in diameter, which makes it much larger than both Mercury (4880 km) or Pluto (2300 km), and huge compared to our Moon (3476 km).

Steve Nipper

Manager of Planetarium & Senior Programs

January SkyWatch

2009-01-12T11:56:00.002-05:00

Earth was at its closest point to the Sun (91,400,939 miles), which is called perihelion, in its orbit on Sunday, January 4th. We are actually closest to the Sun in the winter (for the northern hemisphere) and farthest from the Sun during the summer in July, called aphelion, on July 3rd this year, when Earth will be 94,505,048 miles from the Sun.

If you noticed the full Moon last Saturday night, January 10^th looked as impressive as the one in December, you were correct. Just as the December full Moon was the largest and brightest of 2008, the January full Moon was the largest and brightest of 2009, and for the same reason – the Moon was full while it was at perigee, the closest point in its orbit to the Earth.

The bright standout in the evening sky right now after sunset is Venus. This Thursday, January 14^th, Venus reaches is greatest angular distance East of the Sun, 47 degrees. This means that it will be as high in the sky after sunset as it can get, so the next week or so will be a great time to admire the brilliant “evening star” (weather permitting, of course.)

Steve Nipper

Manager of Planetarium & Senior Programs

Discover the Mysteries Under your Skin

2009-01-09T16:35:00.007-05:00

When you look inside, you'll see the brain looks like a giant, wrinkled walnut.

This brain has been preserved through plastination, which is a groundbreaking method for specimen preservation invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens. An anatomist and lecturer at University of Heidelberg, Dr. von Hagens invented the palstination technique in 1977 as an alternative to the usual method of preserving specimens by imbedding them in solid blocks of plastic. He wanted to be able to touch the specimens and examine them more closely. The value of plastination to anatomy studies was immediately obvious. Dr. von Hagens spent the next 20 years refining the process, making improvements and modifications as he worked.

Heart Beat Facts

2009-01-07T15:16:00.005-05:00

The heart beats around 3 billion times in the average person's life.

A "heart beat" is really the sound of the valves in the heart closing as they push blood through its chambers.

Your heart beats some 30 million times a year.

New Year's Eve SkyWatch

2008-12-31T18:06:00.002-05:00

New Year's Eve will present a striking view in the southwest after sunset. The two brightest objects in our night sky, Venus and the crescent Moon will be in a beautiful close pairing. If you have a clear view low in the sky and close to the horizon, you will also find Jupiter and Mercury side by side. Mercury will be just to the left of Jupiter, much fainter and much harder to see in the fading twilight.

You'll have plenty of time to see the Moon and Venus, but you'll have to look very soon after sunset to see Jupiter and Mercury.

By the way, Neptune will be just to the lower right of Venus, and almost directly beneath the Moon, about twice as far from Venus as Venus is from the Moon. Unfortunately, you won't be able to see Neptune without a telescope, and it is so far away that even in a telescope it looks like a faint blue, slightly swollen star.

As a bonus, at Midnight, Saturn will have risen and will be low near the horizon and due East below the constellation Leo the lion.

Happy New Year! Be safe, have fun, and remember to go outside and look up.

-Steve Nipper, Manager of Planetarium

A Place of Enlightenment & Contemplation

2008-12-29T10:06:00.006-05:00

"The presentation of the pure physical reminds visitors to BODY WORLDS of the intangible and the unfathomable. The plastinated post-mortal body illuminates the soul by its very absence. Plastination transforms the body, an object of individual mourning, into an object of reverence, learning, enlightenment, and appreciation. I hope for BODY WORLDS to be a place of enlightenment and contemplation, even of philosophical and religious self-recognition, and open to interpretation regardless of the background and philosophy of life of the viewer.”

—Dr. Gunther von Hagens, Anatomist, Creator of BODY WORLDS