Mysteries & Mayhem this half term at Winchester Science Centre

Outdoor adventures and curious science during Mysteries & Mayhem this May half term at Winchester Science Centre

Free Science Spy School live show and Forensics Hide and Seek activity trail, part of Mysteries & Mayhem

• Where: Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, Telegraph Way, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HZ
• When: Saturday 11^th May to Monday 3^rd June
• Times: 9.30am to 5pm (last entry 2pm)
• Admission: All visits must be booked in advance via the website, save 25% by booking seven or more days in advance

Calling all science spies and curious kids. Find out where your curiosity will take you this May and June with the return of Mysteries & Mayhem at Winchester Science Centre. Between Saturday 11^th May and Monday 3^rd June, including every day during May half term, there’ll be all the usual Science Centre fun, plus even more to excite children aged five to twelve and their families. Visitors are invited to join the Science Spy School live show and help use light to uncover the secrets contained in the mystery safe. There will be a chance for little, and big scientists, to put their forensic skills to the test in an indoor and outdoor Hide and Seek activity trail. Plus, there’ll be space adventures in the Planetarium, huge ‘don’t try this at home’ demos in Science Live and two floors of hands-on exhibits not to be missed.

There’s a mystery to uncover in the Science Theatre! The Science Centre Inspirers are looking for new recruits to join the Science Spy School and help shed some light on what’s hidden inside the mystery safe. In this brand-new live science show the science Inspirers will be delving into the science of light. Through enlightening experiments and dazzling demos, find out what hidden clues will be illuminated. What will ultraviolet light reveal about the mystery? And will the mind, and light, bending epic lasers steal the show and reveal more about refraction? Families can find out in this free 20-minute live show.*

There are more mysteries, and a fair bit of mayhem, happening in the rest of the Science Centre as well. Forensic scientists in training can help catch a crook in the Forensic Hide and Seek activity. Families will be able to head off on a hunt inside and outside the Science Centre, using forensic science skills to seek out the hidden evidence and catch the thief. By following the clues and trying out the different forensic activities mini-scientists will be able to narrow down the suspects until there is only one remaining. Will fingerprints give away the thief or will forensic ecology, where nature is used to solve the clues, uncover the criminal?

Over in the Planetarium, space explorers can blast off on an out-of-this-world adventure in the live presenter-led show, Mission Space. Families will learn more about the awesome scale of our solar system as they soar among the planets. There’ll be a chance to discover more about the man-made objects that orbit Earth and find out about some of our other planetary and interstellar space missions. And in subtitled film show, We Are Astronomers, fun and colourful characters will guide families on a journey from the big bang to the future of astronomy.**

And don’t forget all the other hands-on fun on offer! Families can discover more about sound, hearing and vibration on the upper floor. Climb inside a giant guitar. Explore the acoustic rocket. And even learn some British Sign Language. On the lower floor visitors can blast off on a journey through Explorer:Space. Discover more about what it’s like to live and work in space in the interactive space zone. Plus there’ll be plenty of time to meet the minibeasts of the South Downs National Park in Bio:Space and be wowed by the huge ‘don’t try this at home’ demos in Science Live.

For more information and to book tickets visit WinchesterScienceCentre.org.

* Science Spy School runs on every public day between 10:30am and 3:30pm. The 3:30pm show is a not-so-noisy show, perfect for those who are sensitive to loud noises. On Wednesday 29^th May and Sunday 23^rd June, a British Sign Language interpreter will be signing in the 11:30am and 2:30pm shows.

**Please note, the Planetarium is an additional £4 cost. On Wednesday 29^th May and Sunday 23^rd June, a British Sign Language interpreter will be signing in the 10:15am and 4pm shows.