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December 23, 2009
Blinded with science
I'm happy to say my hearing today ended with a positive outcome, and so afterwards I walked around downtown Toledo, where I happened upon the local science museum. Back in the day, the museum was known as COSI, and there was another COSI in downtown Columbus. That one was right next to the original Wendy's, which finally closed a few years ago. But that's another story.
The COSI in Columbus was a magical place. My family and I would go there all the time, even though they had basically the same exhibits every time. There was a replica Mercury capsule. There was the fake coal mine, like the one at the Museum of Science and Industry here in chicago. There was a giant model of the human heart; a bee colony; a pendulum that knocked down evenly spaced pegs every five minutes; Johnny Five from Short Circuit; and all sorts of other amazing things. There was also the Time Tunnel, which featured scenes from all throughout human history, including the Black Death, the Huns' sacking of Rome, the Civil War and other events. Looking back, it wasn't very positive, which probably explains my twisted worldview nowadays.
About ten or fifteen years ago, someone had the bright idea to move COSI to a bigger and better location. Many of the exhibits that enthralled me did not make the switch. I can't tell you if today's children enjoy the new COSI, but I think it sucks. The old COSI ruled.
Anyway, at the entrance to the original museum there was this Rube Goldbergesque contraption where rubber balls were plucked from a bin, moved along conveyor belts, and through all other kinds of obstacles until eventually rolling to the other end of the exhibit, before finally ending up back into the bin of balls. It was the sort of silly science experiment that fascinated children, including myself.
Wouldn't you know, the museum in Toledo had almost the exact same thing. Their's was more elaborate, but it was the same spirit. The balls started at the top, bounced on platforms, rang bells, and moved along conveyor belts before repeating the process all over again. It was amazing. I must have watched those stupid balls for a good fifteen minutes, figuring out all the ways they were moving in that machine. I didn't much care that I was the only adult, surrounded by children. It was a blast. Who says science isn't fun?
entry no. 1418
Posted at December 23, 2009 01:31 AM