Science festival builds on kids’ curiosity

“Kids are all natural-born scientists,’’ says MIT Museum director John Durant, who oversees the festival. “They’re curious, and curiosity is the fundamental driver of science.’’

This year’s festival, which runs April 24 through May 2, kicks off with a daylong Carnival in tents outside the Cambridge Public Library. There will be 89 booths with science demonstrations, including many activities of particular interest to children.

Start with the festival-opening laser show that, as festival director P.A. d’Arbeloff notes, commemorates the 50 years since the technology was invented. “I did not pick Pink Floyd for the show,’’ she says. “I picked some ‘Star Wars,’ some ‘She Blinded Me With Science’ by Thomas Dolby. I also picked [some] They Might Be Giants. ’’

The laser show starts at noon and will last about 25 minutes in the field house of the gym next to the Cambridge Public Library. Here are a few other highlights from the April 24 Carnival, which runs until 4 p.m.

WIRES, BUZZERS AND LIGHTS! — HANDS-ON CIRCUIT CONSTRUCTION

Kids will be provided with the basic components — light bulbs, wires, switches, and buzzers — to build little circuits. Don’t worry, nobody will be in for a shock. Everything is low-voltage, no more powerful than three batteries. One piece of advice for parents: Be prepared to have to drag your children away.

“Last year, I had kids there at 11:30 until a half hour after we closed,’’ says Paul Gomez, a trained electrical engineer who organizes the exhibit. “I was exhausted from a day of explaining and helping the kids do it. I have a 6-year-old son, and since he was like 4 he’s been doing this with me. it seems so simple to us — oh, a buzzer went off — but to kids, it’s so cool.’’

MIT’S BRAINIA!

Let’s get one thing out of the way. There will be no real brain on display, at least the kind they keep in a jar.

“That’s a very touchy issue, because human brains are very hard to come by and they’re considered to be biohazardous,’’ says Denise Heintze, academic administrator in MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. “And a lot of people are grossed out by them, anyway.’’

“Brainia!’’ will instead focus on the functions of the brain. You can start with a stress-relief activity, which involves filling a balloon with sand.

A graduate student from Heintze’s department will be there to talk about the laboratory, where scientists study fear and anxiety and how one can relieve stress on the neurological system.

Heintze concedes that stress relief might make more sense to adults, “but kids do like to play with balloons and fans.’’

Also at the exhibition, children will be able to make a neuron out of Play-Doh, and there will be memory games. “This is all meant to be hands-on,’’ said Heintze.

The exhibit repeats May 1 at MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, with additional activities, including a mock brain scanner that helps children learn how to stay still during an MRI.

LIQUID NITROGEN ICE CREAM MAKING!

Not everything has to be a science lesson. You choose the flavor, add cream and sugar, and mix with liquid nitrogen, which is so cold you quickly end up with ice cream.

“What’s not to like about this?’’ says Durant. “You can get good quality ice cream without all that churning and stirring. There’s basic physics, chemistry, and in the end, there’s ice cream.’’

Geoff Edgers can be reached at gedgers@globe.com.