Britain's best-loved 'computer' has gone on permanent display at the Science Museum. ERNIE 1, the first generation of the machine which randomly generates winning premium bond numbers, has taken its place in the History of Computing gallery. Alongside ERNIE are photographs from the launch of Premium Bonds in 1956, original posters advertising Bonds and items reflecting the immense popularity of ERNIE, including cards and poems sent to the random number generator by the British public.
Summer Events
Burp Day!
9 August, 13.00 – 16.30
The Science Museum is hosting a series of fun and interactive shows to celebrate the publication of a new children's book - How Loud Can You Burp? by Glenn Murphy. Join Glenn and the Punk Science team for an afternoon of fun science entertainment and discover the answers to questions such as What are clouds for? Why do we need sleep? Why don't big metal ships just sink? The shows are held in the Lecture Theatre on the ground floor of the museum at 13.00, 14.30, 16.00. Each show runs for 30 minutes and is followed by a book signing in Waterstones.
SMart Toy Testing Day
8 August 11.30 – 14.30
Calling all toy testers… help us select the Science Museum SMart Toy of the Year by trying out all the toys entered for this year's awards. Children have the chance to pick the smartest toy around by playing with the most educational, fun and intelligent toys available this year. The drop-in workshop will be located outside The Science of Survival exhibition on the first floor of the Museum. Toys are suitable for children ages 6-14 years old.
Flights of Fancy Tour
Every Saturday from 19th July until 30th August 11.30, 13.30, 15.30
18th – 22nd August 13.30
Ensure your seatbelt is fastened and prepare for take off! On this interactive tour you will discover some of the secrets of the Flight gallery on the third floor. Suitable for children aged 5 years and older, 50 places available on arrival
Spaced Out Tour
Every Sunday from 20th July until 31st August 11.30, 13.30, 15.30
18th – 22nd August 11.30, 15.30
Get ready to explore space. Come and discover the fascinating world of roaring rockets, amazing astronauts and smelly space poo! This interactive tour takes place in the Exploring Space gallery on the ground floor. Suitable for children aged 5 and over, 45 places available on arrival
The Super Science Museum Game Show
22nd – 25th July
25th – 29th August
11.30, 13.30, 15.30
Join us for 30 minutes of fantastic fun as we dazzle you with demos and fascinate you with facts in this interactive family show with a scientific twist! Located in the Science Museum's Theatre on the ground floor, this event is suitable for children aged 5 years and older. 120 places available on arrival
Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles
21st July 13.30, 15.30
4th August 13.30, 15.30
11th – 15th August 13.30, 15.30
This 20 minute show features bubbles of all sizes going up, down, this way, that way, and all over the place…with a little help from the audience! Shows are located in the Things Gallery in the basement and in the Theatre on the ground floor. This event is suitable for children aged 5 years and older. Limited places available on arrival, please check.
New! Films of Fact
Until 2 November 2008.
Films of Fact looks at the history of science on film, from the birth of television to Tomorrow's World. It will show rare science and nature films from the archives, some of which have not been seen in over half a century. It will show films which aimed to act as a force for social reform, alongside beautiful nature documentaries and earnest 1950s science news programmes. Films of Fact is accompanied by a book of the same name, written by the Science Museum's Chief Curator, Dr Tim Boon.
Does Flying Cost the Earth?
Until 2 November 2008
How bad is flying for the environment? The aviation industry is in the media spotlight as a contributor of emissions that cause climate change. But has it been unfairly singled out? A new exhibition looks at the extent to which aviation impacts on climate change and takes an investigative look at flying now and in the future. On display will be some of the cutting-edge technologies that scientists and engineers are working on to make air travel greener. The exhibition will also take a look at what passengers can do about this issue and why these actions matter. Sponsored by EADS.
Science of Survival
Until 2 November 2008. Entry charges apply
This hands-on exhibition explores how the way we live will change over the next few decades in response to climate change. As visitors journey through The Science of Survival, they will be led by four characters who invite visitors to help them solve problems in a city in the year 2050. In five interactive areas – Drinking, Eating, Enjoying, Moving and Building – the exhibition looks at why the future will be different and what we can do about it today. Visitors explore current global issues and some possible technological responses. At the end of the experience visitors will see how well they survived and discover the choices made by other people.
Listening Post
Now open. On display until 2010.
Listening Post is a critically acclaimed electronic art work, the result of a collaboration between US artist and composer Ben Rubin and statistician and artist Mark Hansen. It is "a visual and sonic response to content and magnitude of online communication…giving form to online 'noise'". A hanging lattice of over 200 small screens carry a series of carefully orchestrated live data feeds from various online traffic of public chat rooms and message boards. Presented by The Art Fund.
Plasticity – 100 years of making plastics
Until January 2009.
The first completely man-made material, Bakelite, was discovered 100 years ago. This exhibition looks back at Leo Baekeland's world-changing discovery and displays just some of the cornucopia of new plastics and products which followed, from nylon stockings to Tupperware and Ekco radios. Supported by SITA Trust and Defra, it also looks at some of the amazing plastic materials currently being produced and what the future might hold for plastics as their environmental impact faces increasing scrutiny.
Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs (PG)
Part historic journey and part forensic adventure, Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs follows researchers and explorers as they piece together the archaeological and genetic clues of Egyptian mummies. Through state-of-the-art computer graphics and dramatic reconstuctions, the film tells the story of one of the greatest finds in modern history: the late 19th century discovery of a cache of forty mummies, including twelve Kings of Egypt, among them Rameses the Great.
Dinosaurs Alive! 3D (PG)
Through the magic of 3D computer-generated animation, the film allows viewers to see fossils found by the team transformed into scientifically accurate 'living' dinosaurs on the giant IMAX screen. Featuring more than eight different species of dinosaur, the 3D animation allows viewers to get closer to these creatures than ever imagined. -- www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
