Calendar of Events

From caffeine and alcohol, to marijuana and prescribed meds, drugs have varied and often misunderstood effects on the body and brain. At this Social Science, you’ll explore the science of drugs and their effects – positive and negative – on humans and our community. Labs, lectures and programming for this Social Science will include: Drug IQ Put your drug knowledge to the test when you and a team of four others join in on a survey-based drug Q&A session. Winning…

Visit The Shop to create your own motorized model airplane. Using available tools and materials, and a motor and battery, you can design and build a motorized airplane model that will spin and wiggle down the runway! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Bubbles can be fascinating, beautiful and fun. But did you know bubbles can also help you explore scientific concepts such as elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry? As part of the National Math Festival, explore the science and math behind bubbles with a variety of hands-on bubble activities throughout the museum. Join artist Kit Huntington, creator of Bubbleution, to create giant soap bubbles. With Bubbleution, Kit provides interactive entertainment with a fantastic display of giant bubbles for all to…

Visit The Shop to create your own motorized model airplane. Using available tools and materials, and a motor and battery, you can design and build a motorized airplane model that will spin and wiggle down the runway! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian.

Give Mom a gift made with love and your own hands when you create a shrinky dink in The Shop. Using available thermoplastic, you can decorate and shrink an item into a charm or bobble of your own design. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join us in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to turn an old, worn out t-shirt into versatile tote bag. Bring your own t-shirt, or grab one of ours, and follow the simple instructions to easily transform a tired t-shirt into a tote bag perfect for daily use. Activity presented in partnership with:

Give Mom a gift made with love and your own hands when you create a shrinky dink in The Shop. Using available thermoplastic, you can decorate and shrink an item into a charm or bobble of your own design. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Bubbles can be fascinating, beautiful and fun. But did you know bubbles can also help you explore scientific concepts such as elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry? At Bubble Extravaganza, The Discovery’s event during the inaugural Northern Nevada Science & Technology Festival, you’ll be able to create bubbles of all shapes and sizes and explore the many interesting properties bubbles demonstrate. Bubble Performer Be dazzled by artist Kit Huntington, who will be creating spectacular giant bubbles on the plaza…

In conjunction with the current Spark!Lab Smithsonian sustainability theme, visit the lab to view a showing of photography provided by The Nature Conservancy showcasing the many ways they work to keep the state of Nevada beautiful.

Visit The Shop to create a toy that uses rotational inertia to entertain. Using available tools and materials, you can design and build your own version of this classic toy. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

From Memorial Day, May 27, 2019 though Labor Day, September 2, 2019, The Discovery adds Monday to the days of the week the museum is open to the public. That’s seven days a week you can build, invent, explore and have fun! Be sure to check out the calendar of events to find out what’s happening all summer long!

Blast off into outer space in The Shop when you create your own version of a space ship climbing toy. Using available tools and materials, you can design and build your own classic climbing toy to send a spacecraft to the moon and beyond! What you make is yours to keep. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and…

Whether an ear-shattering guitar solo or a tear-jerking ballad is your jam, this Social Science is your opportunity to explore the science of sound. Invent your own musical instrument, play a one-of-a-kind light-up drum kit, make Oobleck dance to the beat, enjoy live musical performances, and so much more! Labs, lectures and programming for this Social Science will include: The Big Music Quiz Join a team and put your collective music knowledge to the test in a battle of audiophiles.…

Join our friends from the Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources for a variety of hands-on art projects in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Create upcycled works of art by re-purposing a variety materials, and more!