Traveling Exhibit Hall – Level 2
IS IT SCIENCE... OR IS IT MAGIC?! Get ready for science to boggle your senses with a dazzling new exhibit where visitors of all ages will gain a deeper understanding of the science behind illusions and the mechanisms that govern human perception.
Through hands-on experiences and captivating exhibits, guests will discover how scientific principles create various illusions that fool their brains.
Check out the Building Guide to see a map and information for our current exhibits.
PHENOMENA: The Exhibition is an interactive journey with over 20 stunning and immersive illusions. Take a seat at The Magic Table and marvel at how your friend’s head seems to detach from their body. Think you’re ready to try defying gravity? Step into The Zero-Gravity Room and give it a shot!
As you experiment with everyday objects, your perception of space might just flip upside down. Next, test your depth perception at the Ladder to the Centre of the Earth. No visit to the ophthalmologist is required for this one, though you may be left wondering just how far that ladder really goes! Then enter The Mirror Maze, where mirrors are arranged at various angles to reflect you and your surroundings.
Discover the math that makes a mirror maze possible as you figure out your path forward. We promise it’s more fun than a funhouse! Make sure to visit the Ames Room to explore how distance and angles can change our visual perception. Get ready to tower over doorways or stand in the shade of a potted plant, depending on which side of the room you choose! If you’ve ever dreamed of being taller, now is your time to shine.
Get ready to see reality in a new way – in fact, you may even begin to question what’s real and what’s not. Be careful and curious, because what you see, hear and feel isn’t always what it seems. This exhibit challenges you to look closer, think outside the box, and welcome surprises.
PHENOMENA: The Exhibition is sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.