Science Museum takes a smart look at Einstein
There it was -- the "A-ha!" moment, that flash of the cerebral light bulb. A kinetic sculpture showing how the rate at which time passes depends on the frame of reference (i.e. time is relative) presented the concept with such clarity that confusion was finally replaced with a satisfied, "OK, now I get it."
That's the kind of understanding and appreciation the creators of the touring exhibit "Einstein" are trying to encourage. Opening today at the Museum of Science and running through June 6, "Einstein" is the most comprehensive exhibition ever presented on the life and theories of Albert Einstein (1879-1955), one of the most influential scientists in history. A collaboration among the American Museum of Natural History, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the interactive exhibit tries to examine in layman's terms some of the groundbreaking achievements that have revolutionized scientific knowledge and reconfigured our understanding of space and time.
In addition, "Einstein" casts a human light on the man whose name is synonymous with genius, featuring many original documents that had never been seen by the public or taken outside Israel.
The bulk of the exhibit seeks to make accessible Einstein's discoveries and theories regarding light, time, energy, and gravity. In Einstein's universe, time travel was a real possibility, and a wall of digital clocks illustrates how time intervals vary according to how rapidly the clock and the observer are moving.
A light sculpture introduces visitors to Einstein's monumental discovery of light as a universal constant, regardless of the observer's frame of reference. Einstein's vision of gravity as the result of objects warping space-time is simulated by a video-projected "black hole" that distorts the images of visitors. Original handwritten pages from the 1912 manuscript of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity adorn one display case, and an interactive blackboard helps visitors trace the reasoning behind E=mc2.
The most famous mathematical formula ever written, E=mc2 expresses Einstein's discovery that mass can be converted to energy and energy to mass, paving the way for unleashing atomic energy.
On an interactive wall, visitors can see the mass of their bodies warping images on a screen (much the way a heavy object warps the flexible material of a trampoline), illuminating the foundation of Einstein's theory of relativity relating mass to the curvature of space-time. Videotaped interviews with some of today's leading physicists and a short video narrated by Alan Alda further examine some of Einstein's seminal discoveries.
Other sections trace Einstein's personal life, from his birth to middle-class Jewish parents in Germany in 1879, through his tumultuous love affairs and two marriages, to his final years in Princeton, N. J., where he was known to wear fuzzy slippers and to visit his neighbors' newborn kittens, all the while pursuing a Grand Unified Theory to explain all physical phenomena -- a theory that still eludes scientists today.
Personal items include a report card, teacups, his 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics, and a magnetic compass similar to the one he saw as a 4-year-old, sparking his lifelong interest in natural forces.
Einstein's passionate humanitarianism and political activism are traced in numerous letters, including a 1952 missive from the Israeli ambassador to the United States offering him the presidency of Israel. One charming display features some of the roughly 30 letters a day Einstein received from children, one asking if the scientist could tell him "what is beyond the sky"; another respectfully suggesting that he consider getting a haircut. In one of Einstein's most famous replies, he wrote to a young girl: "Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater."
Considering the subject matter, it's no surprise that this exhibit is not especially child-friendly, nor is it an easy breeze-through for adults. It's packed with text, and it can take awhile to get one's head around much of the information.
It also feels a little disjointed and doesn't flow particularly well from one display to the next. However, the $5 audio tour, which allows visitors to take each section at their own pace, is valuable. Carts throughout the exhibit are staffed by volunteer "interpreters," informal science educators who answer questions and give hands-on illustrations of some of the theories. The Learning Lab allows visitors to experiment with crucial principles such as gravity and the variability of time and space.
In addition, two live presentations aim to make basic physics concepts easier to understand. "Gravity Rules," by Jon Lipsky, combines a live actor with projections on the planetarium ceiling in a cute show that features a jester comically exploring the puzzle of gravity.
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Despite the challenges, "Einstein" offers a fresh perspective on a man who has become a scientific icon, and for the focused viewer willing to take the time (and brain cells) to absorb the material, the exhibit can be nothing short of revelatory. Don't worry if you walk out with your head spinning a little. Even some of the museum staff are grappling with this heady material.
"I'm still working on all this myself," confessed museum educator Liz Chinian. "But it's more about discovery than really fully grasping all these concepts. We try to facilitate curiosity."
Einstein would have liked that.
The Museum of Science celebrates Einstein's 125th birthday tomorrow with free E=mc2 cupcakes. Admission is $13; $11 for seniors; $10 for children. For more information, call 617-723-2500.
