Live Science

See science in action

Science comes to life in demonstrations offered live in our exhibition galleries. Audiences will have the chance to participate and ask questions of one of our science educators. Check at the Welcome Desk when you arrive to find out what we're offering each day.

Here are some of the programs you might encounter in each gallery:

Skyscraper! Achievement and Impact

Surveying
Could you measure the height of the Empire State Building with a ruler? Could you estimate the length of the Golden Gate Bridge with a chain? Have you ever measured a backyard with a satellite? Learn to become an amateur surveyor as you use actual surveying equipment, both historic and modern, to understand the evolution of this ancient science. Discover how a little math goes a long way as simple angles and lines come together to form the world’s tallest buildings.

Infection Connection

Water Filtration
Come face-to-face with some cute contaminants as you compare the different types of filters that are used around the world. Learn about the importance of a safe and clean supply of water and the precautions we should take when drinking untreated water. You can even participate in a water treatment method as you witness a bowl of dirty water become clean after you stir in a pure packet.

Be A Surgeon
Have you ever dreamed of being a doctor? Well, this is your chance! Perform a live surgery on a "vegetative" patient after you discover its mystery ailment. As you work alongside other volunteer scrub and circulatory nurses, learn about the importance of maintaining a sterile field in the operating room. 

Our Hudson Home

Floating Water: Exploring the Salt Wedge
Explore one part of our Hudson River home with an interactive demonstration about salt wedges. You can create ocean water with a little salt and witness what happens when the mixture combines with fresh water. Participants will also learn about density and salinity and get a close look at the tools used to collect and test water samples.

The Incredibly Odd Horseshoe Crab
What makes these ancient creatures so strange? Participate in this interactive quiz program to find out! 

Fish Feeding  
Join Liberty Science Center's staff for feeding time and learn more about the animals that call the Hudson River home.

Governors Hall

Sub Zero
Explore the four states of matter (solid, liquid, gas and plasma) using super-cold liquid nitrogen. Liberty Science Center educators will demonstrate how and why things change from solid to liquid to gas as you are surrounded by a cloud of liquid nitrogen. You can even try to shatter a balloon into as many pieces as possible after its property of elasticity has been changed!

Jennifer A. Chalsty Center For Science Learning and Teaching

Talking Lasers
Lasers are something most people are fascinated by but few people understand. Experience first hand how lasers work and discover some of the ways lasers are used around us every day. You'll use fiber optics to complete a laser circuit and even get a chance to use a laser barcode scanner.

Eat and Be Eaten

The Wide World of Invertebrates 
Discover the creatures that comprise over 95 percent of the world's animal species as we journey through time and learn how these incredible animals have changed throughout history.

Eat and Be Eaten Encounter
Delve further into the survival strategies showcased in the Eat and Be Eaten exhibition through this exciting, hands-on live animal presentation.

Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear

Zoophobia: The Fear of Animals
Snakes, spiders and more! Come face-to-face with some commonly feared animals in Liberty Science Center's thrilling traveling exhibition.

Fear Theater
Imagine a venomous snake slithering up your arm. Are you scared? Fear is an entire body response triggering the fight or flight mechanism. Through interactive experiments, guests will learn about the inner workings of the brain and experience firsthand how the human body physically responds to fear.

 I Explore

Wildlife Story Time
Embark on a storybook adventure featuring wild animals - then meet their real live counterparts in this entertaining program for young learners!