Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Picture a cartoon devil sitting on a curious kid’s shoulder, egging her on to do something she shouldn’t. Look closer — does that devil have red hair, a beard and nerdy glasses, or perhaps a walrus moustache and a beret? That would make sense, because the moment Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, the stars of Discovery Channel’s hit show, “Mythbusters,” say “Don’t try this at home” viewers may feel an overwhelming urge to drop some Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke, and get the soda fountain party started! Thankfully, Portland has a controlled environment where you can safely go hands-on with the science – MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition at OMSI (Feb. 8 – May 4).

At this exhibit, mad scientists in training can reject others’ reality to substitute their own, putting the scientific method to the test in an array of interactive experiences. At last, there’s a place to drive blindfolded while a navigator voices directions. Finally, there’s a phone booth to try changing clothes like a superhero. And it’s about time you could to calculate which option is wetter: running versus walking in the rain. (That display is sure to be a local favorite.)

With props and gadgets from the show’s set, the all-ages exhibit is enjoyable for fans of the show and science alike, and it’s the perfect place to squeal the MythBusters’ favorite quote: “Let’s do it again!”

Curated by NASA, this exhibit explains the science behind the out-of-this world eyepiece that orbits Earth, beaming down photos that have helped us better understand the cosmos and our place in it. Visit the Washington County Museum’s new home in the Hillsboro Civic Center to take in color photographs showcasing Hubble’s most stunning discoveries, as well as a model of the telescope itself. (more…)

What can be smelly, crusty, oily and gunky? If you answered “the human body,” then you must have already visited Grossology at OMSI (Sept. 29-Jan. 6). This wildly popular, highly interactive exhibit brings the book Grossology to life with unforgettable hands-on activities like the virtual reality experience “Urine: The Game” (really), a climbing wall that’s a large-scale replica of human skin and “Gas Attack,” a pinball game that helps explain toots.

Exploring the science behind our putrid pits, foul feet, runny noses and all other sorts of biological nastiness, the kid-favorite traveling exhibition uses all sorts of animatronics and games to explain how the body processes a variety of substances to produce barf, sneezes, and scabs, while staying healthy and happy along the way.

What kid doesn't want to crawl through a model of the digestive system?

“This is science in disguise,” says the book’s author, Sylvia Branzei. Sure, but the next time you get an upset stomach or a stuffy nose and flashback to OMSI’s unforgettable displays, there’ll be no mistaking the wizardry that our bodies output. In fact, parents should plan on learning a thing or two, as well. The Toilet Paper Tester demonstrates what brands are the strongest, for example, and the “Snot or Not” showdown that illustrates what would happen if people didn’t have boogers. They wouldn’t use as many tissues, that’s for sure!

BeatBots, a project from Maker Faire Bay Area 2012

Whether you build websites or bookshelves, life is all about creating — and we all get a special feeling when we make something great. Saturday, Sept. 15, and Sunday, Sept. 16, Portland Mini Maker Faire brings its do-it-yourself spirit to OMSI, where homemade innovations will be put on display, explained, dissected and sold. A mobile, miniature version of the epic Maker Faire that got its start in San Mateo, Calif., seven years ago, this family-friendly event inspires, informs and entertains with creative applications of technology, from burrito-building robots to DeLorean hovercrafts. (Really.) And though this event travels from city to city, each one is different, because the demonstrations come from dedicated local hobbyists who bring their projects not just to show off their chops, but also to share their passion with like-minded tinkerers.

Along with interactive exhibits, the Mini Maker Faire features an Innovation Stage that showcases projects impacting the community, and a marketplace where Commercial Makers can pedal their wares. So, while you might not have enough ambition to build a clock from a cathode ray tube, or an AM radio housed in a beer bottle, you can probably pick one up from the show’s enterprising innovators — or at least glean some inspiration from them. Advance tickets are available, and attendees can also save half off admission to OMSI, where eureka-moments abound, and great ideas are explained in full detail.

I’ve got a beer in one hand, science in the other, and I’m in a museum where the only kids are 21 years or older. Such is life at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s monthly After Dark series, where adult beverages and food accompany live music, dance and circus-like performances.

On this last trip my inner nerd was uncaged upon stepping into the temporary exhibit, Game On 2.0,which features a history of video games from the clunky handheld units of the past to state-of-the-art virtual reality. Temporary exhibits and After Dark themes change, but the fun remains constant.