The Arizona Science Center offers a day of interactive learning and fun for the whole family. This scientific wonderland fires up the brain cells of people of all ages by explaining in a clear manner the science behind what you see and experience. It started out as a humble community project in 1980 and now receives over half a million visitors each year, many of them school children.
More than 300 hands-on exhibits are spread out over four levels, ending with a Solar Terrace on the roof. Everything is organized into seven themed galleries. All About Me explores the human body. Enter the large “working” stomach that simulates digestion and learn how heart surgery is performed. At SkyCycle, peddle a bike along a high-wire cable to defeat gravity or come to respect other forces of nature in the Immersion Theater.
Enter the W.O.N.D.E.R. Center to boot up “the original supercomputer” that is the human brain and compare it to animal brains. Other attractions teach children why saving money makes sense or how to make power. Some challenge them to test their natural curiosity and lay on a bed of nails or experiment with a prism to split light.
Make your way to the IMAX theater and its huge screen to strap yourself in and prepare for some extreme movie action. You will explore the far reaches of earth from the comfort of your chair. To see other planets, visit the Planetarium, where you are whisked around the solar system and taken deep inside an atom. This immersive experience is enhanced by the cutting-edge domed screen, which adds depth and realism to the images. Check out the schedule at the entrance to join one of the many daily live demonstrations by the staff, such as Eggceptional Pressure and Great Balls Of Fire.
The center is located in Heritage and Science Park in the heart of downtown Phoenix. It is open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas days. There is a lunchroom to refuel in between activities.
