Top 12 science-y things to do over the holidays
For immediate release ‐ December 08, 2016
Contact: Jon Pishney, 919.707.8083. Images available upon request
During this holiday season, celebrate science with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Here are just a few ideas of what you could do …
1 • Dec 18
Naturalist Center, 1–4pm
Learn about the natural world using our “magic” tables or peruse an extensive collection of hands-on specimens, including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects, plants, fossils, rocks, minerals and more.
2 • Dec 19
“Antarctica: On the Edge 3D,” noon and 4pm
Explore this unique continent by sea kayak, foot, small plane and dive gear and gain a unique perspective on our planet’s most remote land of sea and ice, and the incredible wildlife that call it home.
3 • Dec 20
Do-It-Yourself Science, 10am–4pm
Let your budding young scientists get hands-on experience with real scientific tools and experiments in one of our three Investigate Labs: Micro World, Natural World and Visual World.
4 • Dec 21
Pop Science Quiz Show, 11am
How far is Earth from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy? What’s the oldest vertebrate animal known to science? Join science correspondent Chris Smith for science Q&A with the Pop Sci Quiz Show!
5 • Dec 22
Science Café: Say Cheese!, 7pm
When we nibble on mozzarella, sprinkle some feta on our salad, or bite into a cheesy gordita, what are we actually eating? Find out what microbes make up your favorite cheeses, and even sample a few!
6 • Dec 23
Discover the Discovery Room, noon–4pm
Find touchable fossils, try on animal costumes, or check out our new beehive and augmented reality sand table.
Dec 24
Museum closed for Christmas Eve
Dec 25
Museum closed for Christmas
7 • Dec 26
“Tiny Giants 3D,” 10am and 2pm
A chipmunk in a wild wood and a grasshopper mouse in Arizona’s scorched deserts are forced to grow up fast when they find themselves alone for the first time.
8 • Dec 27
Warm Up in the Butterfly Room, 10am–3pm
Immerse yourself in the Living Conservatory, a Central American tropical dry forest housing butterflies, turtles, tarantulas, snakes and even a two-toed sloth. Discover a vanilla orchid, pineapple plant, cashew tree and more!
9 • Dec 28
Science News Now, 1:30–2:00pm
Join science correspondent Chris Smith for a wrap-up of the latest news in the science universe. Test your knowledge of current science events with trivia questions. Find out what’s new and interesting and how it applies to your daily life.
10 • Dec 29
Comedy Night with Brian Malow, 7pm
From the lighter side of helium to the darker side of the moon, join science comedian Brian Malow on a rocket ride through the humorverse.
11 • Dec 30
Nano Night featuring “Fantastic Voyage”, 5:30–9:00pm
Watch the ‘60s classic film “Fantastic Voyage,” about a miniaturized submarine crew tasked with curing a scientist of a blood clot from inside his body, and learn how modern science is using tiny tech to transform how we treat disease.
12 • Dec 31
First Night Raleigh, 2–6pm
Come meet live Museum animals, make a bracelet by spinning your own wool, take a ukulele lesson, make a space hat with recycled items from the Scrap Exchange, and more.
And every day is a good day to meet your microbes at The Secret World Inside You featured exhibition. Crawling on your skin, swimming in your gut, and traveling through your intestines are over 100 trillion teeny, tiny microorganisms. Collectively they are known as your microbiome, and they help keep you healthy. In this exhibition, you’ll be introduced to the community of creatures that your immune system, digestive system, and brain rely on every day!