Featured Stories
Why do we study space? The benefits of studying space are countless. Understanding the night sky has been integral to the success of all societies. The technology developed to study space benefits everybody. Perhaps most importantly, studying space fuels our limitless human capacity for curiosity, wonder, and adventure. Each Experience in this Story will teach you about the multitude of reasons we study space and the invaluable benefits we derive.
Why do we study space?
How do we study dinosaurs? Dragons or griffins? Cold-blooded or warm-blooded? Scales or feathers? Art, culture, and science shape what we know about dinosaurs. Our methods vary widely, from looking at fossils and writing awe-inspiring legends to analyzing their very chemical makeup. Each Experience in this Story will teach you about the amazing, ingenious ways people from many cultures, and across many STEAM disciplines, study dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.
How do we study dinosaurs?
Who studies the environment? Imagine a career studying the environment...did you think of an ecologist in hiking boots and khakis? Actually, studying the environment requires people from all kinds of STEAM fields, such as chemists, musicians, engineers, and historians. In this Story, you'll meet inspiring people who have turned their passion for the environment into fascinating careers. You'll learn how they use their unique skills to protect and improve the planet, and who knows, you might even find your own path to making a difference!
Who studies the environment?
What is an eclipse? You may have noticed there's a lot of excitement whenever an eclipse is about to happen... but why? What is an eclipse, and what makes them so special? Explore the Experiences in this collection to learn about different types of eclipses, historical and cultural interpretations of eclipses, and how eclipse events provide rare, incredibly valuable opportunities to learn more about outer space. ... But wait, there's more! We'll also show you how we can use eclipse events to learn more about life here on Earth, and the countless ways eclipses have excited and inspired us for thousands of years.
What is an eclipse?
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Featured Activities
2024 COSI Eclipse Events Looking for 2024 Eclipse events in Ohio? Check out COSI's list of activities here in Columbus and across the state.
2024 COSI Eclipse Events
3-2-1 Liftoff Celebrate space travel with a fun demonstration that will cause a tea bag to lift into the air With adult supervision.
3-2-1 Liftoff
3, 2, 1, Pop! Construct a rocket powered by the pressure generated from an effervescing antacid tablet reacting with water.
3, 2, 1, Pop!
Build a Balloon Rocket Design a balloon rocket! Watch it zoom across the room, then see if you can attach a payload to the rocket!
Build a Balloon Rocket
GLOBE Eclipse Project Use your smartphone to collect and report weather data during the eclipse!
GLOBE Eclipse Project
Impact Craters Have you ever seen a flash streaking across the sky - what we sometimes call a shooting star? That's actually a meteor - a piece of rock from outer space - zooming through Earth's atmosphere and burning up while it does so. If it makes it to the ground, what do you think will happen? In today's activity, explore impact craters that can form if one of those meteors makes it to the ground.
Impact Craters
Marker Chromatography Flowers What colors are hidden in markers? Learners will use chromatography to discover the different pigments hidden in markers. Then, use that chromatography to create beautiful flowers out of coffee filters. How does the beauty we find in the environment around us inspire us to make art? How does studying the properties of water in the environment around us help us create art?
Marker Chromatography Flowers
Measuring Precipitation Think about last week: did it rain or snow? Do you know how many inches of precipitation your backyard received? You could look up the data collected by NASA satellites, or you could build your own rain gauge to monitor precipitation.
Measuring Precipitation
Mini Biome Build a miniature biome using household items and observe how plants grow in different conditions.
Mini Biome
Mushroom Spore Print Mushrooms contain spores that help fungi reproduce. In this activity, visualize the mushroom spores by making a print. Watch the video to learn how we can study fungi by using techniques we use to study dinosaurs!
Mushroom Spore Print
Night Sky Watercolor Science and art go hand in hand! In this activity, perform some simple chemistry experiments to observe how various chemicals affect watercolor paintings. Then, use some or all of the techniques you learned to create a night sky or galaxy painting.
Night Sky Watercolor
Pinhole Projector View the eclipse safely with this DIY pinhole projector!
Pinhole Projector
Planning a Mission to Outer Space An Operations Research Analyst at NASA helps to plan for future missions by estimating the costs of each mission. In this activity, you can be like an Operations Research Analyst by designing your own mission and guessing how much it may cost.
Planning a Mission to Outer Space
ROV Races Can you give an ROV a set of instructions to get it through an obstacle course?
ROV Races
The LightSound Project Can you "hear" an eclipse? With the LightSound project, you can!
The LightSound Project
What Planet Will You Explore? NASA has their eyes set on Mars for space exploration. Where do you think we will be headed after that? In this activity, imagine you have been hired by NASA to explore future planetary exploration prospects. Where do you think we should go next?
What Planet Will You Explore?
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Featured Videos
2024 Solar Eclipse Video by McGraw Hill Check out this short but information-packed video about the 2024 Solar Eclipse by McGraw Hill!
2024 Solar Eclipse Video by McGraw Hill
Color of Science: Dr. Kathy Sullivan Astronaut Watch December's Color of Science Digital Series speaker, Dr. Kathy Sullivan. The Color of Science is a comprehensive science interest and literacy initiative that invites the public to engage with the stories of remarkable individuals who have impacted our society through their scientific work and achievements. As part of The Color of Science initiative, COSI delivers signature inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility programming, inspiring learners of all ages to subscribe to the notion that science is for everyone. The Color of Science invites the public to engage with remarkable science, technology, engineering, and math STEM professionals, including women, persons of African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian Pacific, and Native American heritages, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities.
Color of Science: Dr. Kathy Sullivan Astronaut
Color of Science: Dr. Swati Mohan Engineer Watch August's Color of Science Digital Series speaker, NASA Engineer Dr. Swati Mohan! The Color of Science is a comprehensive science interest and literacy initiative that invites the public to engage with the stories of remarkable individuals who have impacted our society through their scientific work and achievements. As part of The Color of Science initiative, COSI delivers signature inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility programming, inspiring learners of all ages to subscribe to the notion that science is for everyone. The Color of Science invites the public to engage with remarkable science, technology, engineering, and math STEM professionals, including women, persons of African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian Pacific, and Native American heritages, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities.
Color of Science: Dr. Swati Mohan Engineer
Color of Science: Kellie Gerardi Defense Aerospace Watch March's Color of Science Digital Series speaker, Aerospace Defense Professional Kellie Gerardi. The Color of Science is a comprehensive science interest and literacy initiative that invites the public to engage with the stories of remarkable individuals who have impacted our society through their scientific work and achievements. As part of The Color of Science initiative, COSI delivers signature inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility programming, inspiring learners of all ages to subscribe to the notion that science is for everyone. The Color of Science invites the public to engage with remarkable science, technology, engineering, and math STEM professionals, including women, persons of African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian Pacific, and Native American heritages, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities.
Color of Science: Kellie Gerardi Defense Aerospace
Color of Science: Sunita Williams Astronaut Watch July's Color of Science Digital Series speaker, NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams! The Color of Science is a comprehensive science interest and literacy initiative that invites the public to engage with the stories of remarkable individuals who have impacted our society through their scientific work and achievements. As part of The Color of Science initiative, COSI delivers signature inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility programming, inspiring learners of all ages to subscribe to the notion that science is for everyone. The Color of Science invites the public to engage with remarkable science, technology, engineering, and math STEM professionals, including women, persons of African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian Pacific, and Native American heritages, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities.
Color of Science: Sunita Williams Astronaut
Dr. B in 3: Solar and Lunar Eclipses video
Dr. B in 3: Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Dr. B in 3: Why Space? Dr. B answers 3 questions about space exploration: Why go to space? Is it worth the cost? Does it really matter to us back here on Earth?
Dr. B in 3: Why Space?
Eclipse: The Musical! &quotEclipse: The Musical&quot is a captivating fusion of music, science, and storytelling from COSI and a talented group of artists.
Eclipse: The Musical!
QED with Dr B: Dr. Jill Tarter Astronomer Scientists arent just looking for living organisms on earth, theyre also looking for intelligent life. SETI s co-founder Jill Tarter, tells Dr. B how the search for extraterrestrial intelligence through technosignatures presents a new way to look at the universe.
QED with Dr B: Dr. Jill Tarter Astronomer
QED with Dr. B: Dr. Nathalie Cabrol Astrobiologist Dr. Nathalie Cabrol studies organisms living in the most extreme climates of our earth. These findings, she tells Dr. B, are an essential tool in the search for life on Mars. Chances are, alien life doesnt look like a small green human - but is much more likely to be microscopic.
QED with Dr. B: Dr. Nathalie Cabrol Astrobiologist
QED with Dr. B: Extraterrestrial Life When we look to the sky in search of extraterrestrial life, what exactly are we looking for? Find out how microorganisms, exoplanets and radio waves contribute to the search for life among the stars.
QED with Dr. B: Extraterrestrial Life
Science Now with Dr. Howdyshell: Mars Perseverance Rover The Mars rover Perseverance affectionately nicknamed quotPercyquot traveled over 300,000 miles from Earth to Mars! In this episode of Science Now with Dr. Marci Howdyshell, she dives into the details of Percy's mission.
Science Now with Dr. Howdyshell: Mars Perseverance Rover
Science Now: You Can Do Science Research at Home Have you heard of citizen science? It is an opportunity to participate in real, cutting-edge scientific research, often from the comfort of your own home. In this week's Science Now, COSI Director of Science Content Dr. Marci Howdyshell explains what citizen science is and provides a few examples of citizen science projects. To find projects to participate in, check out www.scistarter.og or www.zooniverse.org
Science Now: You Can Do Science Research at Home
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Featured Places To Visit
Armstrong Air & Space Museum As space exploration has evolved, so have the exhibits at the Armstrong Air Space Museum. But the focus has remained the same: to stand not only as a repository of Ohio's aeronautical history and a monument to Ohio's contribution to aviation and space exploration, but also as a tribute to Ohioan Neil Armstrong, whose quotone small step for a manquot was indeed a quotgiant leap for mankind.quot
Armstrong Air & Space Museum
COSI 2024 Solar Eclipse Experience Come join COSI in Columbus, OH on April 8th, 2024 for tons of free outdoor eclipse activities!
COSI 2024 Solar Eclipse Experience
COSI and Land Grant Eclipse Party! Join COSI and Land Grant at the Land Grant Brewery location for eclipse science and an eclipse-themed beer!
COSI and Land Grant Eclipse Party!
COSI Museum Exhibit: Space Ride in a space capsule, test your skills as an armchair astronaut, or maneuver a rover through a Martian landscape. Explore the effects of gravity on different planets. Learn about life in orbit inside a mockup of the International Space Station or watch live NASA TV.
COSI Museum Exhibit: Space
COSI Planetarium The COSI Planetariumthe largest in Ohiofeatures state-of-the-art digital technology that offers an unsurpassed glimpse of our incredible universe. The COSI Planetariums Digistar 7 projection system and 60-foot dome will transport you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, to undersea volcanoes and distant lands, and even into the human body. For all who wonder, who question, who dream, your window to the universe is now open at COSI.
COSI Planetarium
Fort Ancient Earthworks Nature Preserve Explore North Americas largest ancient hilltop enclosure earthwork. Fort Ancient Earthworks Nature Preserve is Ohios first state park. In April 1891, the state legislature authorized the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society now the Ohio History Connection to care for the site. In 1966, Fort Ancient became nationally recognized when it was named a National Historic Landmark. Learn more here: https://www.ohiohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/History.pdfPlease be mindful that Indigenous Earthworks sites are still considered sacred spaces by many people, so we ask all visitors to treat the earthworks with respect. Visitors are welcome to stroll reverently amongst the mounds. Please, do not walk on the mounds or earthen walls.
Fort Ancient Earthworks Nature Preserve
Grange Insurance Audubon Center The Grange Insurance Audubon Center offers free admission to all with lots of ways to engage daily. You can learn about the environment in many ways at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. Visit their website to learn more about fun and educational programming and events, go on virtual tours, and learn about how you can participate in local conservation efforts!
Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Great Circle Earthworks The Great Circle is a large earthen enclosure that formed one part of the Newark Earthworks. The Newark site is the largest set of geometric earthworks built by the Hopewell culture 100 B.C. to 500 A.D. of pre-contact North American Indian people. The enclosure is 1,200 feet across and the circular wall varies in height from five to 14 feet. There is a ditch or moat at the base of the wall inside the enclosure that varies in depth from eight to 13 feet. Archaeological excavations conducted in 1992 revealed that the Great Circle is composed of different colored soils. The outer portion of the wall is made of dark brown earth, while the inner portion is made from bright, yellow-brown earth. These different colors may have had special symbolic meanings to the people who built the walls.Please be mindful that Indigenous Earthworks sites are still considered sacred spaces by many people, so we ask all visitors to treat the earthworks with respect. Visitors are welcome to stroll reverently amongst the mounds. Please, do not walk on the mounds or earthen walls.
Great Circle Earthworks
Great Lakes Science Center Exhibit: NASA Glenn Visitor Center Welcome to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, where youll find an awesome space experience with galleries, interactive exhibits, fascinating artifacts and amazing NASA media.
Great Lakes Science Center Exhibit: NASA Glenn Visitor Center
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Important: Please visit the destination owner's website to read about hours of operation and any visitation restrictions or requirements before planning your visit! Nearly 2000 years ago, American Indians built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, rituals, and rites of passage associated with an American Indian religious movement that swept over half the continent for almost 400 years. Come walk among the earthworks and experience the past.Please be mindful that Indigenous Earthworks sites are still considered sacred spaces by many people, so we ask all visitors to treat the earthworks with respect. Visitors are welcome to stroll reverently amongst the mounds. Please, do not walk on the mounds or earthen walls.
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
John Glenn Astronomy Park The John Glenn Astronomy Park is dedicated to sparking an interest in science, learning, and exploration by sharing with visitors the wonders of the sky, both day and night. An astronomy park in the Hocking Hills State park was inspired by our vanishing night sky. The Hocking Hills, in rural southeastern Ohio, is one of the few areas left in the state of Ohio where the night sky can be seen in its near pristine state. The observatory provides a venue for visitors to the Hocking Hills State park to experience the night sky through a large telescope and with their eyes.The observatory also draws on the countless generations of humans who marked the important changes of the seasons through the motion of the sun and who built great structures, like Stonehenge in England, the Chaco Canyon Kiva in New Mexico or many Hopewell and Fort Ancient Earthworks in Ohio, that commemorated these days. The plaza has been designed to allow the rays of the sun to fall upon a special central point on the first day of each of the four seasons.
John Glenn Astronomy Park
Seip Earthworks Please be mindful that Indigenous Earthworks sites are still considered sacred spaces by many people, so we ask all visitors to treat the earthworks with respect. Visitors are welcome to stroll reverently amongst the mounds. Please, do not walk on the mounds or earthen walls.
Seip Earthworks
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Connects Initiative Support Presented By:

  • Bath and Body Works Foundation
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Additional Support Provided By:

Breezeline


Ingram-White Castle Foundation | The Kettering Family Foundation


In Partnership With:

  • OH Humanities
  • ODE
  • OAC
  • OMA
  • McGraw Hill