Category Archives: Science

Help Bukavu the gorilla celebrate his first birthday today at the Little Rock Zoo!

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On June 20, 2018, Bukavu the gorilla was born at the Little Rock Zoo.  To celebrate his first birthday (a few days early), the Little Rock Zoo is throwing a Birthday Party for him today, June 8.

Zoo staff and docents have been preparing gifts for Bukavu as well as her family.  He was born last year to Sekani (mom) and Kivu (dad).   This is the third child for Sekani and the first for Kivu.

Bukavu is named for an African city located on the south-western edge of Lake Kivu (see how it relates to the dad’s name?)

Festivities get underway at 11:30 with Crafts & Fun at the top of the Great Apes Viewing Area.  Then at 1:30PM there will Cake & Refreshments also at the top of the Great Apes Viewing Area.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit http://www.aza.org.

The CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies is seeking photos, video of historic 2019 flooding for future historians

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Have you taken photographs or video footage of the Arkansas River flood?

The Central Arkansas Library System’s Butler Center for Arkansas Studies would love to have your help preserving and remembering this historic event.

CALS is collecting photos and video of the 2019 Arkansas River flood to document the impact on our region.

Submissions will be preserved as part of the archival collection at CALS.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this project!

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS here.

Due to support of Entergy Arkansas, Museum of Discovery’s Tesla coil shows are now free

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Little Rock’s Museum of Discovery announced today that its guests can now enjoy the science center’s Guinness World Record musical bi-polar Tesla coil shows for free thanks to financial support from Entergy Arkansas.
The museum’s Tesla coil – named after its inventor, Nikola Tesla, the developer of the alternating current system of electricity used today – emits up to 200,000 volts of electricity visible to the eye. By changing the frequency of the release of plasma, or lightning, the coil can also play music. In 2017, Entergy became the presenting sponsor of the Tesla coil theater and is continuing its support by providing museum guests free admission to Tesla shows.
“We at Entergy hope that the Tesla show will inspire Museum of Discovery guests to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math,” said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas. “It’s important to us to help inspire the scientists and inventors of tomorrow to power life here in Arkansas and beyond.”
The Museum of Discovery’s coil is one of two world record musical bi-polar Tesla coils; the other is housed at the Hands On! Regional Museum in Johnson City, TN.
“Our Tesla coil is one of the iconic exhibits at the Museum of Discovery, and we are so happy to now be able to offer our very engaging Tesla show to guests at no cost,” says Kelley Bass, museum CEO. “Entergy long has been a generous supporter and great partner for our museum, and it’s gratifying that Entergy’s commitment now will pay off directly for our museum guests.”
Free Tesla shows will be offered several times a day at Museum of Discovery. For more information, visit http://www.museumofdiscovery.org or call 501-396-7050.
About Museum of Discovery
Founded in 1927, Museum of Discovery is the state’s oldest museum. Its mission is to ignite and fuel a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math through dynamic, interactive experiences. To learn more, visit museumofdiscovery.org.

Combust a Move! at the Museum of Discovery’s May Science after Dark!

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Fire and explosions…oh, and dancing. It’s like Pyro Prom.

You must be at least 21 to enter.

PURCHASE TICKETS – This link will take you to a ticket purchasing calendar.  Select May 30 as the date and then choose Science After Dark admission.

Who says the Museum of Discovery is only for kids?!? Not the hundreds of 21-and-older science-and-fun lovers who attend Science After Dark each month. Because, science is fun … at any age!

Science After Dark provides visitors the opportunity to have fun and learn about science in a unique setting. Museum educators pick a science-related topic and build an entertaining, interactive evening around it. You never know what will sprout, pop, fizzle, or glow. We invite you to discover the science of having fun.

Museum partners are there to serve pizza, and a full bar from craft beer to wine to cocktails is available. And beyond the themed activities each month, Science After Dark admission ($5, free for members) includes access to all museum galleries and our 90-plus hands-on, interactive exhibits.

Get Messy at the Museum of Discovery’s Messtival

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The Museum of Discovery’s favorite messy day is back for the fourth year in a row! Spend Saturday, May 18 making messes that you don’t have to clean up!

It takes place from 10am until 3pm.

Here are some of the messy activities the Museum has planned:
    • Slopstacle Course
    • Bubbles/Foam
    • Human Carwash
    • Large-Scale Messy Demos
    • Pie Fight
    • Slime
    • Sand & Shaving Cream Play
    • Messy Twister Game
    • Mashed Potato Sculptures
    • Sloppy Slingshot
    • Graffiti Walls with Chalk
    • Finger Painting Mural
    • Bird Poop Droppings (not actual bird droppings)
    • Paint Pendulum
    • More!!
Messtival is included in regular museum admission or free for members.

Wear clothes that can get dirty and shoes for water play (water shoes, Crocs, sandals with straps, no flip flops.) Bring a change of clothes as well.

The Museum will have activities for all ages, including toddlers. Parents and guardians, we want you to get on the fun too – your kids will love it! Make some memories!

Two Little Rock Zoo Cheetahs celebrate turning Three!

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Image result for little rock zoo cheetahYou only turn three-years-old once, so don’t miss your chance to wish the Little Rock Zoo’s cheetahs, Oscar and Boomer, a happy third birthday!

Come to the Zoo this Sunday, May 12, 2019, at 2 p.m. to wish these two another great year!  This party, held at Cheetah Outpost, will be one like no other.  Guests are invited to enjoy cake and lemonade while supplies last. This special celebration will also include a live demonstration.

Cheetahs are an important part of the family of animals at the Little Rock Zoo. The Cheetah Outpost at the Little Rock Zoo is home to one female cheetah, Maggie, and two males, Oscar and Boomer.  The Cheetah Outpost exhibit features two yards for the cheetahs and two observatory decks for viewing the cheetahs in their habitat. The Little Rock Zoo invites the public to come see the cheetahs at any time.

The Little Rock Zoo is an active supporter of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).  The CCF actively works with local, national and international communities to raise awareness, communicate, educate and train the public on issues concerning cheetahs, their habitat, and how we can help.   Please join the Zoo’s efforts to secure a future for this endangered species by donating to our conservation fund.

The cost for this afternoon of fun is included in the regular Zoo admission prices and members are always free! Come out to celebrate, play, learn about our cheetahs, and enjoy birthday treats! Come love your Little Rock Zoo!