2011.04.07

4/3/11 Sunday — Wilson Lab

This is almost like a “Science Weekend” for Mimi. After the Nano Day in Science Center, we were greeted with another eventful day by Wilson Lab. This is one of the top facilities in the nation that study physics science. On Sunday, they also offered a guided tour of their particle accelerator and X-ray facility.

We started the day with the guided tour. However, it was quite advance and neither Mimi or I understood the tour guides (who were either faculty members or enthuastic graduate students and they LOVE to talk about their research). They have a hard time explaining the complicated physics concept in a way that average person can understand….. Since the tour will last an hour long, we aborted earlier and started our day with hands-on activities.

Here was one picture mommy took in the tour.

Everyone working there needs to wear the sensor. The equipment contains radio-active materials that might be harmful to human body. They monitor very closely on the radiation that employees may be exposed to on daily basis. Each individual will be given the monitor to wear. For guests like us, our exposure will be very minimum.

Mimi went to quite a few activities. Mommy only got the chance to take “a few” pictures.

This is the “Vacuum Chamber”. The purpose is to demonstrate how matter behaves inside of a vacuum chamber. When air is pumped out from the chamber, the matter needs to be re-constructed to reach the new balance of pressure.

This is a cup of regular soda.

When the vacuum works, the soda suddenly “boils”. The vaccum not only suck the air out from the chamber, but also the carbon dioxide out from the soda. Within seconds, the soda became sugar water.

What happens to the cotton candy? When the air the held the body of the candy was vacuumed out, the shape of the candy will disform.

And when you open the vaccum chamber (and release the air back into the chamber), the disformation is permanent (which means that the cotton candy will not return to its original shape).

How about a balloon? You should ask Mimi….. I certainly hope she will remember.

After the gas chamber, Mimi went to her hands-on experiment: preparing for a DNA sample for microscopic observation.

First, Mimi distracted the DNA sample from the tube.

And try to deposit the sample on the microscople specimen slide.

And she needs to draw a drop of salt water solution and drip on her DNA sample (not sure of the reason of doing so, but I think it is to “show” the sample better).

And she will write her initial on her sample and come back to see it under microscope.

Next, we went to see some experiment on “Liquid nitrogen” (dry ice). This is very cold nitrogen in fluid form (-321F or -196C). The change in temperature will not only impact the charter of the matters, but also trigger the change in its pressure.

They dropped a grape into the fluid. The grape suddenly became firm and frozen.

So firm that it was broken in half on its own.

What happens if you put the balloon in? The change in the temperature will impact the pressure in and outside of the balloon. The balloon will shrink first.

But after it came back to the normal temperature, it will return its original shape.

How about magnets? If you pour liquid nitrogen onto magnet, what will happen?

Do you see it’s “flying”?

All participants were asked to wear safety glasses to prevent spilling or breakage from materials.

Finally, the carnation came. They put the whole carnation into the bucket, and

The flower became crispy. You can smash that into crumble with a hammer.

The texture of the flower padel changed with the temperature.

Our next stop was to play with the microscope…. There were different kinds for your grab. We saw a few yesterday in Science Center but of course will try again today.

Mimi was using one of their microscope to see her hair. It’s about 50 times bigger than it is.

And it shows on the computer monitor — Mimi’s hair.

We also tried a few things, but some aren’t appropriate for the public viewing (such as mommy’s skin, mimi’s scaly skin on her hand and our nails)…

We later tried to see our hair under the electronic microscope…..

But it was hard to aim right…

But she got her help…

Finally, Mimi was playing with the electron microscope. This is a tool that they use to analize nanoscale materials and structures.

Mimi went on to do another thin film book mark.

And she moved on making her DNA necklace (from wheat sample, not hers)….

Again, she got a chance to learn how to use equipment to distract and deposit sample (almost like in a laboratory procedure).

Our last stop was at Ania’s neighbor, Richard’s stand. Richard works in Wilson Lab as a technician. He has all the cool toys that Ania plays with.

This was a pretty educational afternoon. Of course, Mimi was hungry after that. Ania came over to play for a while (and see Mimi’s new room). But they spent most of the time in Mr. Agnew’s (our next door neighbor) tree house in the back yard.

Mommy made pork pastry on Sunday morning. She sent a batch to Lucy’s when picking up Mimi from the sleep over. The second batch was our dinner. She made a few other vegetable dishes as well.