Rotating Table

Have you ever wondered why storms seem to move along a curved path? It's a phenomenon called the "Coriolis effect," which states that objects on a rotating surface will move toward the opposite direction in which the surface is spinning-- so, if the surface is spinning to the right, the object will veer left, and vice-versa. Here at the Museum, we have a rotating table exhibit that shows this effect happening in real time:

Fun! Come experience the Coriolis effect and more, right here at the Museum of Discovery!

Heat-Sensing Camera

Did you know that rattlesnakes use infrared light to "see" their prey? They use "pits" between their nostrils and eyes to detect an object's warmth-- which tells the snake whether it's looking at a live mouse or something inanimate. If you want to see what this looks like from the snake's point of view, check out our infrared camera:

We call that a healthy glow! Infrared-sensing technology has also been used in some night vision equipment, astronomy, and to help find leaks in insulation. Come see yourself in a new light, right now at the Museum of Discovery!

It’s Not Burnt; It’s The Maillard Effect, Justin Wright

I love science and math. I also love to cook. I find it fascinating that even the simplest things you might do in the kitchen can involve some very complex science.

One interesting application of science in the kitchen is the Maillard Reaction.

In the 1910s, French scientist Louis-Camille Maillard was studying with how proteins are created in nature and described the "non-enzymatic browning" of sugars and amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) under heat.

What he found was that when certain sugars and amino acids are heated they will react in a way that produces brown "melanoids" and different aromas and flavors, depending on the amino acids involved.

When cooking, this process can create hundreds of different aromas and flavoring compounds (as many as 600 have been found in the aroma of beef), and an array of colors. Knowing which acids and sugars combine to create specific flavors is the basis for making artificial flavors for food. In the human body, the study of these reactions may help understand problems related to diabetes and degenerative eye disease.

Sometimes, the caramelization of sugars is confused with the Maillard reaction, because they sometimes occur at the same time and produce similar effects. They are both "non-enzymatic browning", but the difference is that caramelization involves the breaking down of sugar with heat instead of reacting with amino acids. Oddly enough, caramel in candies made from milk and sugar isn't made entirely from caramelization of the sugars, since the proteins in the milk make Maillard reactions likely.

A simple experiment to demonstrate Maillard reactions would be to simply make some toast. Toasting bread is probably the most common example of these types of reactions.

See how toasting different types of breads, bagels vs english muffins,whole grain vs white, result in different smells and colors. Does the end of the loaf taste different from the middle? Does one smell better than another?

When you've finished examining the toast, spread some peanut butter on it (roasted peanuts are another good example) or some roasted meat (yes, that too) and enjoy.


When not cooking or chasing his son around the Museum of Discovery's Room to Grow, Justin develops software for a local consulting firm and rarely blogs at Yet Another Obligatory Wordpress Blog

NEW EXHIBIT: The Grid...sponsored by Southwest Power Pool

We're so excited to announce our latest permanent exhibit: THE GRID!

Learn about what "the grid" is an why it's so important to our every day use of electricity.

Sponsored by Southwest Power Pool

Come see it soon!

Petrified Log is moved

For years, we have had a petrified log housed outside our side entrance; it was part of our small nature display that included a live beehive. 

Soon, this area will be taken over by construction so the log needed a new home!

 (We start construction December 1, 2010 but we will remain

open through March 2011 so come visit!)

Heavy equipment was called in.

Will the straps hold?

Fortunately Arkansas Game and Fish came to the rescue and offered to give the log a new home...just 100 feet away at the Stephens Nature Center.

The new spot awaits...

The old spot is now (almost) cleared so that construction may begin December 1!

The petrified log in its new home.

Mindfulness exercise with overnight campers

A school from Nashville, Tennessee visits the Museum of Discovery every year for a "camp-in." The students arrive at the Museum around 6pm, enjoy activities and food until the wee hours of the morning, and reluctantly fall asleep amongst the museum's exhibits. In the morning, this group demonstrated something extraordinary. Turn your sound WAY up. There is hardly anything to hear...180 students still and silent while their teacher led them in a mindfulness exercise. To book your group's Night at the Museum Camp-In, contact Beth Nelsen at (501) 396-7061 or bnelsen@amod.org

Museum Membership Deal!


WHY IS EVERYONE SO EXCITED?

Elmo says, "YAY!"



Because you can get up to TWO YEARS OF MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY MEMBERSHIP for the price of one!

 
WHY?  As you may know, the Museum of Discovery will be closed April - December 2011 for a complete renovation. We'll reopen in January 2012


We'll still have our events and activities and programs at other locations while the building is closed so you can still enjoy your membership benefits!


Kids are jumping for joy!

So...come visit us through March 2011 before the big changes come. Then, while we're closed, continue to enjoy membership benefits like admission to other science and children's museums (depending on your membership level). When when we reopen in January 2012, you get a brand new membership card that is good through December 2012!

Harry's Big Adventure: My Bug World

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO MY MEMBERSHIP WHILE YOU ARE CLOSED? Keep enjoying the benefits! Depending on your level of membership, you get free admission to science and children's museums in Arkansas and around the country. Also, you'll be invited to special 'hard hat tours' to see behind the scenes during our construction. Plus, occasionally we'll have special offers for members (for example, November's member benefit is "Playtime Pizza Bucks"). WHAT?  Read more about our membership levels and benefits HERE. (We recommend the Contributing Level because it gets you free admission to science and children's museums around the country...perfect for vacations!)
 
HOW?  Easy online signup is available HERE
 

Snoopy is thrilled

 
WHO? Anyone! Perfect gift for the holidays and birthdays!


OK WHAT IS THE CATCH? Really, there is no catch. But if you need to hear this great news from a live human, or have questions about how this affects your CURRENT membership, contact Katie McManners at (501) 396-7050 ext 214.

Date with Discovery

Editor's Note: MOD Voices is thrilled to welcome blogger JoBeth McElhanon.  We invited JoBeth and her husband to come on a date to the Museum of Discovery.  Let's see what she had to say about her outing.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I had the most perfect date in the heart of Little Rockʼs Rivermarket. We didnʼt linger over coffee. We didnʼt savor fine food in a restaurant. We didnʼt dance the night away in a club. We laughed, engaged in witty banter, and learned new things about each other at the Museum of Discovery.

 

Entry to Museum of Discovery, Downtown Little Rock

A date? At the Museum of Discovery? Why yes, let me explain. Websterʼs defines “date” as an act of meeting and engaging in some mutually agreed upon social activity between two people with the aim of assessing the otherʼs suitability in an intimate relationship or as a spouse.
 
Being a hopeless romantic, I have never stopped to think that “a date” is indeed an assessment - a science experiment of sorts set up to answer the questions. How does he react in this situation? Does he exhibit the properties I desire? Do I possess the properties he desires? Am I measuring up? What is it exactly we are looking for in each other? Is he adventurous? Am I graceful? Is he brave? Am I warm? Is he flexible? Is my head in the clouds when Iʼm with him?
 
Whether you are on your first date or your 1000th date, these are questions we should never stop asking. With that in mind, the husband and I set out to DISCOVER the answers one Saturday afternoon.

Our first stop at the Museum of Discovery was “Harryʼs Big Adventure. My Bug World!” We meandered through the exhibit observing all creepy crawly things.

I was wearing my brave face. I was doing pretty good until we were came upon interactive exhibit / our first challenge: chocolate covered crickets and Mealworm Salsa. The buggy chef was touting her treats. We agreed to try the chocolate crickets. And then, the hubs surprised me. He tried the Mealworm Salsa. Weʼre talking little green leggy worms hanging out in tomatoes. He ate it! Now, thatʼs adventurous.
 
 

Mealworm Salsa, tastings every Saturday and Sunday through January 8, 2011

 
 
Not to mention he saved me from that mean olʼ Harry the Praying Mantis. My husband was proving himself to be a real Prince Charming.
 
 

Photo booth in Harry's Big Adventure exhibit

We continued our journey through bug world to the butterfly room. In this virtual experience animated butterflies flittered about and alighted on me. It was time Prince Charming knew how much of a virtual Snow White I am. I mean, if a butterfly lands on me, I must be graceful as she, right? 

Butterfly Room in Harry's Big Adventure exhibit

Proving that he is brave and I am graceful, we still had more to learn about each other. We strolled to Health Hall. We tested our blood pressure to see just how strong our hearts were. Glad to report, weʼre in good shape there. (Due to HIPPA, youʼll have to take my word on that.)
 
 

Health Hall Blood Pressure Testing Station

Next came the real test of a relationship - flexibility. After 11 years of marriage, we admit we both are stubborn. We donʼt bend as easily as we did in the early years, or do we? According to the flexibility test, the hubs has an excellent flexibility range and mine was off the chart. So , maybe we arenʼt as stubborn as we thought. If we can bend a lot physically, surely we can learn to bend a little emotionally.

So far we learned: we are brave, graceful, strong hearted, and flexible. Great qualities in a spouse, but what about “the heat”? All great relationships have heat? Do we? According to the thermography scanner we do. Weʼre hot all over (except for my nose. itʼs always cold). It was at this exhibit we bumped into a younger couple - on a date. They were laughing and giggling and making crazy eyes at each other. Ah, young love. Then I realized, we, the old married couple, had been doing the very same thing all the way through the museum. Eleven years later and our our heads were in the clouds. Literally. There were honest to goodness clouds! They were rising from the lower level where children played and made cloud rings. We ran down the stairs, pushed the kiddos out of the way (not really) and started to make our very own clouds.

One of the many quotes on the "Einstein Wall"

While the sound of laughter and learning rang out in the Museum, I realized, what a great treat this day was. On our 1000th plus date, we were having fun, learning new things about each other. We didnʼt have to wait to bring our nieces and nephews to enjoy this Little Rock treasure. The Museum of Discovery is a fabulous, creative date spot for adults. Plato was right. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” What are you waiting for? Make that call. Send that text. Ask that cutie for a date to the Museum of Discovery. You never know, while you are there, you may discover love.  
 

Harry the Praying Mantis

JoBeth McElhanon

JoBeth McElhanon is an active community volunteer and a BIG fan of Little Rock.  She is a former marketing director and registered dietitian turned blogger. Her mission is to help other women live gracious, beautiful, strong lives and find the perfect shoe.  She and her husband Phillip can often be found scouting out the south’s best barbecue. Despite her recent date to Arkansas MOD, she has zero plans to incorporate mealworms into her diet or holiday entertaining. 

The Giving Pow Wow: A Tradition Worth Starting, Stephanie Buckley

Editor's note: MOD Voices is proud to welcome Stephanie Buckley as guest blogger this week! We hope this post will encourage you to attend our "TRIBAL TRAILS" event, November 11-13, 2010. Details are available below Ms. Buckley's post.

Hello, I am The Park Wife and I am a tradition junkie. (Let me hear you say "Hello Park Wife"). I was raised in Mississippi with many wonderful Southern holiday traditions and have added a few as I married and started my own family. However, I found out that there is such thing as tradition overload.

 I live on an Arkansas State Park, love the simplicity of my life, and am trying to keep the holidays from getting out of hand, so I have chosen the traditions that speak to our family and have thrown out the rest.

 A couple of years ago, I started a tradition with our two little buckaroos that is wonderful for character training, a history lesson (we are homeschoolers), and it helps to de-clutter before the holidays. Now that is a win-win tradition that fits our life perfectly, it is THE GIVING POW WOW.

In Native American culture, true wealth comes from sharing with others instead of amassing material wealth. The gesture of giving illustrates selflessness while it strengthens the community bond. The gesture is more important than the value of the gift. Now, that is something I want our boys to understand and embrace.

This year we invited some other families to join in on the fun of our Giving Pow Wow. All the kids cleaned out their closets of toys that were still in good shape and brought them to our volunteer fire station/community library wearing full Native American regalia.

We sat in a circle around the treasures we would donate to a local charity and the festivities began. The children were given a history of pow wows and of the tribes from our area, that fulfilled history class for the day. Also, several of the children shared what they know about the Native American culture from sign language to the meaning of face paint colors. We then all held hands and prayed for the recipients of our gifts, that their lives would somehow be better from our act of generosity.

Plan your Giving Pow Wow today and give your children a shared past that they can pass on to future generations, a tradition that embodies the qualities of the person you hope them to be.

Stephanie Buckley, The Park Wife, lives on one of Arkansas's beautiful state parks with her husband and two boys. She is a homeschool mom who provides opportunities for her boys to learn through exploring and discovering the world around them. Stephanie is a farmer and farmers' market manager and she is passionate about wanting everyone to meet their farmers and to know where their food came from. She also started Arkansas Women Bloggers earlier this year to provide a gathering place to make friends with other Arkansas women bloggers, share stories and experiences, and be inspired! 


Tribal Trails
Thursday through Saturday, November 11-13, 2010.
Showtimes:  
Thursday and Friday, November 11 and 12: 10:00am, noon and 2:00 p.m. on
Saturday November 13 11:30 a.m., 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

The Pahsetopah family will share Native American heritage, including the technology of ancient cultures, through storytelling and dance.

Admission to Tribal Trails is FREE to the general public with museum admission. Group rates are available; for group reservations, contact Beth Nelsen at bnelsen@amod.org or 501-396-7061.

Growing up MOD, Kyran Pittman

Editor's Note: We are thrilled to welcome author Kyran Pittman to the MOD VOICES series!

Shocking true confession: I did not always love Little Rock. In fact, if you had told me back in 1996, the year I arrived here, that I would be still living in Little Rock in 2010, I would have replied with something entirely unsuitable for a family-oriented website.


A visit to the Museum of Discovery recently had me thinking what a long way we've both come since then, this town and I. The development of the River Market district got underway shortly after I moved here, transforming what was once a weekend ghost town into a thriving downtown. And I had three kids, which radically shifted my idea of a good time. We've kind of grown up together.


I've come to think of Little Rock as a "big small town," and that's what makes it so terrific for kids. It's small and homey enough that we bump into friends and neighbors nearly everywhere we go. And it's is big enough to have a surprisingly decent array of family-friendly attractions. The MOD is one of the best of them, and it's been fun to watch it expand and grow as fast as my own children have. I passed the former toddler room by the main entrance with a smile, remembering the days I'd sit there, rocking an infant to sleep while my two-year-old played, so grateful to escape the laundry and while away an afternoon in a bright cheery space. It's hard to believe those were the same two children who are now perfectly capable of roaming the museum on their own, while their youngest brother and I peruse the exhibits at a first grader's pace. The MOD is great at accommodating different ages and stages, and it maintains a good mix of new exhibits and familiar favorites. And this germ-phobe mom really appreciates that the exhibits are kept CLEAN (and in good working order), not always the case in a "hands-on" museum. Or in my own home, for that matter. So, kudos, MOD. I'm glad we've both hung around.


Kyran Pittman is a mother of three boys, and a writer of magazine articles, blogs and a book. Her online journal is http://www.notestoself.us/. Her book, Planting Dandelions: Field Notes from a Semi-Domesticated Life will be published by Riverhead next spring.

Construction Cam Coming Soon!

If you haven't heard, the Msueum of Discovery will start construction on our NEW entry this December! 

(Don't worry, we're not closing, so keep coming to visit!)

We'd like to thank Michael Kennedy and ADVANCED CABLING SYSTEMS for donating a construction camera, from which you'll be able to see the changes as they happen!  The camera will launch December 1, after our special event at 10:00 a.m.  You're invited to join us to see what all the fuss is about.

Questions?  Contact Katie McManners at kmcmanners@amod.org.



Advanced Cabling Systems