See Science in a New Light at Mag Lab Open House
February 19, 2007
Media Contact:
Susan Ray, (850) 644-9651
sray@magnet.fsu.edu
General Contact Information:
(850) 644-0311
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory will open its glass doors wide this weekend for the lab's annual Open House, a hands-on science extravaganza that attracts as many as 4,000 visitors in a single day. The 13th annual Open House will be held:
SATURDAY, FEB. 24
10 A.M. - 3 P.M.
NATIONAL HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD LABORATORY
1800 E. PAUL DIRAC DRIVE, IN INNOVATION PARK
The always popular – and free – daylong event gives lab scientists and researchers a chance to showcase science and share their work with both future scientists and curious onlookers. And with 330,000 square feet and dozens of displays and demonstrations to explore, there's plenty of room for everyone.
Open House offers challenging and not-so-challenging activities and interactive displays suitable for all ages. Among this year's dozens of attractions is the "Great MagLab Search Party." Instead of an ordinary scavenger hunt, the search party is made of a set of riddles and clues that will challenge a wide range of ages. How does it work? Well, it's not a race, and there's only one answer at the end.
In the cryogenics laboratory, researchers will demonstrate the density – and surprising magnetic properties – of various gases by suspending those gases in balloons and supercooling them. Wonder what happens to the balloons? Come see for yourself.
Other attractions include:
- A train that moves without touching the tracks, thanks to superconductivity
- A cannon that demonstrates the power of pressure . . . by firing potatoes
- Super-magnified images of everyday objects as you've never seen them
- Ice cream prepared in an instant with the help of liquid nitrogen
- An interactive display that shows what Florida might look like in 100 years (hint: some of it will be underwater)
- A chance to see what comets are made of – by cooking them up!
Open House is held in conjunction with the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS). Just a short walk away from the lab on Levy Avenue, CAPS (www.caps.fsu.edu) will offer visitors an opportunity to build a motor and to learn how wind turbines, superconductors and traditional power systems operate, among other things.
In addition to magnet lab demonstrations, dozens of other science-related organizations from the area will participate in Saturday's Open House, including the Tallahassee Museum and the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory.
Directions to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
- From Doak Campbell Stadium (intersection of Gaines Street and Lake Bradford Road): Go south on Lake Bradford Road to the third traffic light. Turn right on Levy Avenue and proceed straight until the road ends at East Paul Dirac Drive. The laboratory will be directly ahead. Parking will be on the left on Levy Avenue. Handicapped parking is available at the front of the building.
- From Interstate 10 and Route 263 (Capital Circle Northwest): Take I-10 to Exit No. 196. Go south on Capital Circle Northwest. Continue through the intersection with Route 20. At the next traffic light, turn left onto Route 371, also known as Orange Avenue. Turn left at Pottsdamer Street and go approximately 1 mile. The magnet lab will be straight ahead when Pottsdamer Street ends at East Paul Dirac Drive.
- To download a map to the lab, please click here.
The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory develops and operates state-of-the-art, high-magnetic-field facilities that faculty and visiting scientists and engineers use for research. The laboratory is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida. To learn more, visit www.magnet.fsu.edu.
