JUNE 8 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Winter 2013

Work together onBAFFLINGBRAINTEASERS

Become aBUTTERFLY GARDENER

Bring your curiosity TO COSI OVERSPRING BREAK

Mark your calendars: MYTHBUSTERS IS COMING SOON!

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT ExHIBITION OPENING JANUARY 26

333 West Broad Street | Columbus, Ohio 43215–2738614.228.COSI | cosi.org

Return Service Requested

HOURSOpen Wednesday–Saturday, 10am–5pmSunday, Noon–6pm

Open Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 21Open President’s Day – February 18Closed Easter Sunday

Open 7 days a week for Spring Break: March 25–April 7

COSI NEWS | Volume 14, Issue One, January 2013COSI News, the official newsletter of COSI is published three times annually as a benefit of membership.

Non ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDColumbus, OHPermit No. 687

Institutional Sponsors

Challenges for puzzlers of all ages!

and

MINDBENDER

AMAzINGMANSION

MAzES

Does buttered toast always fall butter side down? Can superheroes really change in a phone booth? How long can someone really hang off a ledge?

This summer at COSI, we get down to busting these myths and more with MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition. Just like the Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated series, this Exhibition shows you how to uncover the truth behind everything from blowing down a brick house to staying dry in the rain. Try a dozen hands-on experiments that will get your mind racing, watch live MythBusting demonstrations, and check out real props and gadgets direct from the set of MythBusters. Don’t miss the explosive ending!

Keep checking Facebook for sneak previews on what this exciting Exhibition will hold and make sure your membership is up-to-date! Members get special pricing. Opening June 8 at COSI!

get ready for

©2013 & TM Discovery Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition is organized by EDG, GMC+A, Discovery and MSI, Chicago. MythBusters Developed and Produced by Beyond Entertainment Limited.

Saturday, January 26, 9am–NoonBe the first to join the Mindbender Society during private member-only hours. Bring your family and test your brain power in this interactive

exhibit. Space is limited. RSVP at cosi.org/membership or by calling 614.228.2674.

Amazing Mazes includes challenging and interactive maze experiences for all ages including a Music Maze, Puzzle Maze, Color Maze and Maze of Illusions! In Glimpse of Infinity, you’ll discover how eight mirrors at 45 degree angles create the illusion of infinity. In Fun House Mirrors you can stretch your face and bend your body into impossible shapes. In Prism Wall you can create your own rainbow. Introduce a prism to a room filled with white light, and reveal the colors hidden within. You can also run a marathon with your fingers in the Continuous Quad Maze or become a “webmaster,” climbing over and under without getting tangled, through an intricate web of ropes!

Mindbender Mansion and Amazing Mazes opens January 26 and runs through April 28. This exhibit is free with COSI membership or admission. For more information, visit cosi.org.

COSI invites you to enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion and Amazing Mazes. This utterly addictive experience combines two incredible exhibits full of brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brainpower and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Mindbender Mansion features 40 individual brainteasers and five large-scale group activities that will challenge adults and children alike. Grab a clue card and visit each mindboggling room in the mansion—the parlor, library, map room, disco room and rec room—to gather hidden clues and secret passwords that will get you into the Mindbender Society.

Think outside the box and collaborate with fellow guests on individual and group challenges: manipulate a tilt table, form patterns in rolling chairs, keep up with a conveyer belt, maneuver a flying machine and try your feet at hopscotch spelling. If you qualify for the Mindbender Society, you can take home a personalized certificate and see your portrait go up on the Wall of Fame!

ENTER THE

2 | COSI News

january 26 ~ april 28, 2013

BRAINTRIPA YEAR OF CEREBRAL

CHALLENGES &

MINDS-ON EXHIBITS

COSI’s

12 MONTH

Can you figure out these riddles?

1. I always run, but never walk. I have a bed, but I don’t sleep. I have a mouth but I don’t eat.

2. I follow you all day long, but when the night or rain comes, I’m all gone.

3. You hear my sound, you feel me when I move, but see me you never will.

4. I am very heavy, but backwards, I’m not.

5. A cowboy rides into town on Friday. He stays two days, then leaves on Saturday. How can this be?

Courtesy superteacherworkshops.com

Rhyming PairsTry your hand at these rhyming words that match a silly definition.Example: A black bird that does not fly fast—Slow Crow

If you joined the Mindbender Society,

take your critical-thinking skills

Can you find rhyming pairs for these clues?

1. 50% giggle

2. Lengthy tune

3. Joke-telling rabbit

4. Chubby kitty

5. Friend who fell in wet dirt

6. Hair piece for a swine

7. Fast choice

8. Beautiful downtown

9. Closet for a sweeping tool

10. Buzzing insect that is not wet

Rhyming Pairs Answers: 1. Half Laugh — 2. Long Song — 3. Funny Bunny — 4. Fat Cat — 5. Muddy Buddy — 6. Pig Wig — 7. Quick Pick — 8. Pretty City — 9. Broom Room — 10. Dry Fly

Riddles Answers: 1. River — 2. Shadow — 3. Wind — 4. Ton — 5. His horse’s name was Friday.

cosi.org | 3

EXPLORERS WANTED![Must be a Knowledge–Seeker & Adventurous]

Brave enough to experience the Valley of the Unknown? You’ll crack codes,

chase clues and conquer mazes. Head to COSI for the ultimate quest for knowledge.

• Fun for families of all ages and generations. Grandparents, parents and children will learn from each other as they work together to solve the various brainteasers and group challenges.

• A perfect exhibit for school groups as it provides teachers with an opportunity to engage their students in inventive, out-of-the-classroom problem solving that requires mathematics, builds on prior knowledge, inspires teamwork and demands creativity. Mindbender Mansion is especially popular with middle and high school- aged groups.

• Just the right thing for breaking the ice at evening events and corporate parties as adults enjoy being a kid again and getting to know each other by playing and collaborating in the team-building activities inherent in the exhibit.

• So fun for members! You’ll get so caught up in solving the brain teasers and group challenges; you’ll want to come back again and again!

Mindbender Mansion is...

Mindbender Mansion is produced and toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon. ©2013.

Supported by:See enclosed coupon for Adventure

and put them to the test in

Recently, honey bees have been in the headlines. What makes bees as buzzworthy as Brangelina? Well, it has something to do with their starring role in our food supply: bees pollinate more than 100 types of crops in the U.S., from almonds to zucchini. They are also vital to the reproduction of clover and alfalfa, which feed grazing animals like cows and goats. To sum it up, bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat—yet U.S. honey bee colonies are declining at an alarming annual rate of 30% or more.

At Whole Foods Market®, we’re passionate about a healthy planet filled with safe, reliable and delicious food. That’s why we’re raising awareness and building partnerships to help support endangered honey bee populations.

And, here are a few simple things you can do to help “bee the solution.”Bee OrgaNIC. Scientists and beekeepers theorize that pesticides are a factor in honey bee decline. Buying organic is one of the easiest ways to support a bee-friendly planet.

Bee a gardeNer. Plant pollinator-friendly fruits and flowers to provide food for honey bees. Visit the Whole Foods Floral Department

or Garden Center for high-quality seeds and plants suited to your local climate.

Bee Savvy at hOme. Most lawn, garden and home pest problems can be solved without toxic and persistent chemical pesticides.

Bee a Beekeeper. Whether you live in the country or the city, you

can show your commitment by hosting a hive in your backyard or even on a rooftop. Backyard (and rooftop) beekeeping is a growing movement, so you’re sure to find swarms of folks who can help you find your way.

Bees are little guys who make a huge difference to the health of our planet. You can make a difference to the health of the bees with little changes in your everyday life.

This article is a compilation of blog excerpts written by Paige Schilt. The original blog post can be found at wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/whole-story/simple-ways-bee-solution

When school is out, COSI cranks up the fun with even more exciting adventures to keep kids active and brains buzzing with new discoveries, great questions and big ideas. Spring Break is a great time to visit mINdBeNder maNSION & amazINg mazeS, here for a limited time. This awesome experience is filled with brain-busting challenges for the whole family…especially adults! It’s also the

perfect time to see nature come to life on COSI’s Extreme Screen with Flight oF the ButterFlies,

opening March 13. This spectacular 3D

film follows Dr. Fred Urquhart’s nearly 40-year quest to discover the monarch butterflies’ secret hideaway and prove the most incredible migration on Earth. One more Spring event you won’t want to miss is BaCkyard SCIeNCe day sponsored by Scotts MiracleGro on Saturday, April 27. Look through microscopes, examine fossils, learn how plants transform the landscape and discover the science in your own backyard.

It’s simple math: COSI is fun that makes you smarter, and that’s always the right answer. And our Members are the real

geniuses—Members can come for one event, for the day or spend the whole week with us. We’re open 7 days a week for Spring Break March 25 through April 7. For more information and a schedule of events, visit cosi.org.

Step 1: WHERE TO PLANTChoose your planting site. Butterfly gardens can be any size. Choose a sunny area that doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic. Determine if you are going to plant from seeds or start with potted plants. If planting seeds, it takes 4–6 weeks for seeds to germinate and be ready for transplanting.

Step 2: WHAT TO PLANTChoose the plants that you will use. Butterflies like milkweed in the egg and larvae stage. In the adult stage, favorite flowers are mainly from the sunflower and daisy family of plants but any yellow, pink, orange, or purple nectar-producing flower will do.

Step 3: STARTING WITH MILkWEED SEEDS4–6 weeks before you plant your garden, buy seeds (making sure to get the correct native milkweed seeds). If you’re getting potted plants, wait 4–6 weeks and skip to step 4. Plant seeds by punching a small hole in the bottom of a yogurt, foam egg carton or other container. Fill with soil, bury seeds and place containers on trays to catch extra water. Keep seedlings in a sunny window. After 4–6 weeks, seedlings will be ready to transplant.

Step 4: GET PLANTINGPrepare the soil—turn it over and add some fertilizer. Plant seedlings outdoors, making sure danger of frost is past. Apply mulch to prevent soil erosion, maintain soil moisture and slow weed growth. Maintain garden by watering, weeding and replacing mulch.

Step 5: ENjOY watching the Monarchs thrive in your garden!

Ohio’s high school students can hammer a nail, but can they do it the Rube Goldberg way? Find out as the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest comes to COSI. We’re gathering the thirty most talented teams of high-school tinkerers in Ohio!

What exactly is a Rube Goldberg Machine? A Rube Goldberg machine is a complex contraption designed to accomplish a simple task. Rube Goldberg machines emulate their namesake by using everyday items in a whimsical way to create a series of chain reactions that accomplish a simple task set forth for the annual competition. This year, that challenge is to hammer a nail.

Sounds easy, right? It’s not, plus there’s a lot at stake: the winner of COSI’s contest advances to the Rube Goldberg National Machine Contest in Wisconsin!

Organize a high school team, or just come to COSI on March 2 starting at 11am and root for your favorite design. The entry deadline for teams is February 16. For team entry information, contact Kurt Huffman, COSI Director of School and Community Partnerships, by email at khuffman@mail.cosi.org, or call 614.629.3147.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Before your brain takes off for vacation, try this word problem: What do you get when you add fun + learning – school × hundreds of hands-on adventures? The answer is Spring Break at COSI…the perfect way to spend an unforgettable day.

cosi.org | 5

Spring BreakThe solution to fun!

4 | COSI News

BuzzShare the about Honey BeesBy Paige Schilt at Whole Foods Market

In Flying Monsters 3D, Sir David Attenborough, the world’s leading naturalist, sets out to uncover the truth about the enigmatic pterosaurs, whose wingspans of up to 40 feet were equal to that of a modern day jet plane. (Running Time: 40 minutes)

Member Screening Day – January 26 See Flying Monsters 3D anytime on January 26 for just $3. Visit cosi.org for showtimes.

ANNUAl PRESENTINg MEDIA SPONSOR

N E W E x T R E M E S C R E E N M O V I E

How to plant your own Butterfly GardenMonarch butterflies are some of the most beautiful creatures on Earth. By planting a butterfly garden with all of the right kinds of plants and flowers where Monarchs love to lay eggs and feed, you’ll be able to enjoy watching them throughout the growing season.

2013 WintermarCh2: Columbus Children’s theatre mini performance “Lilly’s purple plastic purse” (1–3pm)

2: rube goldberg machine Contest (Starting at 11am)

23: engineering Challenge Science day (11am–3:30pm) Meet engineers and learn how they approach challenges. Then work together to solve problems and get the job done in a series of highly interactive engineering challenges. Add COSI’s Soldering Family Workshop for a fee.

30: Nano day (10am–3pm) Meet researchers from OSU and

local nanotechnology companies to find out just how tiny a nanoparticle really is. View images under an electron microscope and try some of your own very small experiments. Add COSI’s earthworm dissection Family Workshop for a fee.

aprIL6: Columbus Children’s theatre mini performance “Willy Wonka” (1–3pm)

20: Week of the young Child Family day (11am–3:30pm) Get messy with classic COSI activities for young children. Plus, engage in math exploration, sorting, counting and measuring in fun and exciting ways!

30: egg hunt—COSI members Only (8:30am–10:30am) Participate in a scavenger hunt exclusively for COSI Members! Earn eggs by solving riddles and completing challenges. Watch your Member e-News for more details. Fee applies.

27: Backyard Science day (11am–3:30pm) Add COSI’s earthworm dissection Family Workshop for a fee.

may11: robot Science day (11am–3:30pm) Join robot clubs from all over Central Ohio as they show you how robots move, sense the world and do work. Add COSI’s robotics Family Workshop for a fee.

19: emS & Safety day (12pm–4pm) Get an up close look at a fire truck, see a Medflight helicopter land and take-off on COSI’s lawn and more. Emergency equipment subject to availability.

January always seems to be the time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. 2012 was an amazing year for COSI. We hosted several exhibitions starting with the profound rACe: Are We so Different? in January of 2012—Columbus’ bicentennial year. The exhibition provided both COSI and the community with a unique opportunity to discuss issues of diversity & inclusion and to further our role as a place for community conversations in Columbus. Over the spring and summer we hosted the insightful WAter, and in the fall we hosted the fun lego® Castle Adventure and the powerful gunther von hagens’ BoDY WorlDs & the Brain.

We also hosted the international conference of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) in the fall, giving COSI a chance to show off our city and museum to nearly 1,700 science center professionals from 37 countries. I wanted to thank all of you for your patience while we spruced the building up and got ready for the conference. Some of the comments and tweets we received about the conference included “Your building looks amazing!” “Your entire team has made us feel so welcome every time we’ve been in your building. Do you do this for everybody?” “Your staff is awesome! And COSI looks terrific.” “COSI is once again the model of what a science center can be.” Hosting so many of our

colleagues and hearing this wonderful feedback makes us very proud of our organization as you should also be.

We also hosted many events for a wide range of audiences here at COSI. We hosted TEDxColumbus for our second year and Mini-Maker Faire for the first time in Columbus. We welcomed another partner to the building—the Columbus Historical

Society. We hosted several Science Days and Fun days and of course brought back our popular Big Machines and Farm Days.

As we dive right in to 2013, we look forward to many new things. We’re starting off the year with Mindbender Mansion and Amazing Mazes. In June we’ll not only open MythBusters: the explosive exhibition but we’ll also open a new COSI exhibit called energy explorers. Look for more information on that exhibit in your Summer Newsletter. This fall we will emphasize early childhood education with the Wild Minds and Curious george exhibits. You can keep up-to-date on the projects we have going on here at COSI by visiting our blog at cosi.org/cosi-blog. Happy New Year to all of our members, let’s make it a great one!

JaNUary 12: get Fit Family day (11am–3:30pm)Participate in COSI’s high-energy program, the Incredible human machine, then try out fitness and sport activity stations and play on giant inflatables.

19: yWCa diaper drive (10am–Noon) Donate a package of disposable diapers for the YWCA Family Center and receive a free ticket to Disney on Ice Presents Treasure Trove February 20 or 21 at Nationwide Arena. Plus, receive $5 off COSI general admission OR a free Extreme Screen film (limit 4). Limit 2 Disney on Ice ticket

vouchers per donating family while supplies last.

6 | COSI News

/ Spring Calendar

Thanks to the ASTC Travel Passport program, YOU can visit science centers around the world with your COSI Membership. As a COSI Member, you receive free reciprocal admission to more than 300 science centers worldwide. If you’re traveling for spring break or summer vacation, pack your COSI membership card and you’ll get to visit some great museums (and save money too!)

If you’re a Premium or Supporting Family member at COSI, you also receive reciprocal benefits to nearly 200 children’s museums through the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM). Please note that effective April 1, 2013, ACM reciprocal

benefits will change from free admission for up to four (4) family members to 50% off general admission for up to six (6) people.

View a complete list of participating ASTC and ACM museums at cosi.org/membership. If you are planning a visit in the near future, be sure to call ahead or visit the museum’s website to confirm operating hours and admission policies.

“Our COSI membership was such a benefit to on our family vacation last year. The whole family enjoyed visiting museums in new cities, and my husband and I especially enjoyed that that it made our trip so affordable!”—COSI Member, Hilliard, Ohio

FeBrUary2: mindbender Science day (11am–3:30pm)Test your brain power with puzzles, riddles, and logical brain twisters. Plus, explore COSI’s new limited-engagement exhibit, mindbender mansion & amazing mazes. Add COSI’s Soldering Family Workshop for a fee.

9: meet Iron manExclusive COSI Member Meet and greet: 10am–12:30pmgeneral Public Meet & greet: 1pm–4pm Free with COSI admission. Free timed tickets will be issued on a first-come, first served basis. Limited quantity available. Please consider arriving early to secure a ticket to meet Iron Man.

16: kidslinked.com Spring Fling expo (10am–4pm) Enjoy a fun-filled day full of bounce houses, carnival games, stage acts, party area, family bingo, sports zone and more!

cosi.org | 7

L E T T E R F R O M P R E S I D E N T D A V I D C H E S E B R O U G H

2013Welcome

Use Your COSI Membership Around the World

2012 Was A Great Year,

Energy Explorers rendering

™ & © Marvel & Subs.

Stay connected with COSI: Text “COSI” to 20731 for special offers on your phone.

Visit cosi.org to subscribe to COSI’s monthly enews.

C O S I M E M B E R S P E C I A L O F F E R

SAVE 10–15%

WHEN YOU BOOK 2 OR MORE SUMMER CAMPS

Save an extra 10% off the member price for summer camps when you book 2 camps for your family during the summer 2013

Camp COSI season. Or, save 15% when you book 3 or more camps. Reserve early; camps subject to availability. Camps must be reserved by April 30, 2013 and must be booked during same

transaction to be eligible for discount.

Visit cosi.org for summer camp details. Call 614.228.2674 for reservations.

10% off – Coupon code 360 OR 15% off – Coupon code 361

C O S I M E M B E R S P E C I A L O F F E R

SAVE $10WHEN YOU

RENEW YOUR COSI MEMBERSHIPbefore your expiration date

Renew before your expiration date and save $10.Renew at COSI, cosi.org, or by calling 614.228.2674.

Present or mention the Promotional Code to receive your discount.

Offer excludes Family Access and Supporting Family Memberships.Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Valid for membership renewals through April 30, 2013.

Promotional Code: NEWS$10

cosi.org

C O S I M E M B E R S P E C I A L O F F E R

SAVE 50%ON TICKETS TO

ADVENTURE: IN THE VALLEY OF THE UNKNOWN

January 26–march 10, 2013

Save an extra 50% off the member price for Adventure January 26–March 10, 2013. Offer is valid only for the

number of members included on your membership.

Redeem coupon at COSI Box Office.

Coupon code 362

cosi.org

C O S I M E M B E R S P E C I A L O F F E R

SAVE 50%ON SELECT SEATS FORDISNEY ON ICE: TREASURE TROVE TICKETSFebruary 21–24, 2013 at Nationwide arena

A portion of every ticket sold supports COSI

Receive $20 lower level seats for only $10 (save 50%) on performances February 21–24, 2013

at Nationwide Arena. To redeem, visit ticketmaster.com and use

Promotional code: COSIMember (Service fees may apply.)

Offer not valid for opening night, February 20, 2013.

cosi.org

cosi.org