Halloween has long been associated with stories of horror and literature. Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Murnau’s Nosferatu have been the inspiration to many Halloween events, while vampires, deserted castles and werewolves are perfect ingredients for a Halloween recipe.
Our team at Esplora is busy conjuring up a spooky and science atmoshpere. However, one wonders what does science have to do with Halloween?
For this event, taking place on October 31 from 6 to 10pm – one of a series of thematic events happening this year at Esplora – visitors can attend a Potions Class, in which a wizard will be carrying out experiments and thrilling visitors with liquid nitrogen and dry-ice demos, as well as with explosions and sparks that will make hydrogen pop.
Those wishing to encounter a cyborg will be able to do so during the live Electr-O-City science show. The cyborg will be experimenting with the wonders of electricity, such as the tesla coil – named after its inventor Nicola Tesla – the first system that could wirelessly transmit electricity, and the Van der Graaf generator making hair stand.
Young and young-at-heart visitors may drop into an abandoned operating theatre, in which a ghost surgeon will experiment with body parts and body systems.
Visitors may even witness a dissection of a heart and other essential organs while having a look through cells with microscopes and also find out how these specialised organs help us function.
What would Halloween be without zombies? One of four mini-shows offered at the Esplora Activity Centre will be Zombieland – where a zombie apocalypse survivor will be holding forbidden mini-information sessions for whoever is interested in zombie science. Each show has been planned to last around 15 minutes to ensure each visitor gets to experience all the four shows.
Tradition has it that people wore costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. Those gutsy visitors who will be wearing a costume will benefit from a special effects make-up session offered by our talented staff members. Visitors will be able to explore how special effects make-up is created, such as wounds, stitched flesh, burns and bullet holes.
Apart from the science shows and workshops, there will be Science on the Spot cornersthat will feature static charge ghosts, foaming pumpkins and slime making. Each activity area will also feature the Trick or Treat tradition.
The Esplora Café will be offering food and sweets related to Halloween.
Although it is not obligatory to wear a costume, it would be appropriate if visitors would join the fun and wear one. The Esplora team members will be in costume too. Children can also get creative and source up a costume. Those interested in dressing up as Marie Curie would need to wear the universal long, black dress and use glow sticks as radiation. Another alternative would be to wear a sheet and there you are, you’ve turned into a ghost.
The Esplora Planetarium will be closed on the day. For more information visit esplora.org.mt or call 2540 1999.
Giselle Calleja is the Malta Council for Science and Technology’s PRO.