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2020/01/02 Paris' Palais de la Decouverte
π 2020-01-02 01:01 in Paris, Sciencemuseums
Palais de la Découverte was the first science museum I went to when I was a kid, it had impressive exhibits then some 30 years ago, and they just added even newer ones, keeping the old favourites. Unfortunately the museum is scheduled to be moved to a lesser and smaller location in 2020, losing irreplaceable history and impressive exhibits.
I've been to many science museums around the world, and this is one of the top ones in the world, and honestly the best one in the world in amount of cool big scale experiments they had in a single building.

When we found that out, we spent 1.5 days going through all the presentations they had during the Xmas holidays, and we saw most but not all of the static exhibits:

it is located at the back of the grand palais, an iconic building in Paris
it is located at the back of the grand palais, an iconic building in Paris



The different presentations were definitely a highlight:

exhibits on magnetism, showing magnets lose their properties when they are too warm
exhibits on magnetism, showing magnets lose their properties when they are too warm

more interesting: stream of liquid gas is susceptible to magnetism
more interesting: stream of liquid gas is susceptible to magnetism

supraconductive material, when cooled sufficiently will stay in a magnetic equilibrium
supraconductive material, when cooled sufficiently will stay in a magnetic equilibrium

The museum's high power experiments (static electricity and electro magnets) have been there forever and are always a favourite:


nice generator, 330kV
nice generator, 330kV





go big, or go home
go big, or go home

induced electric currents from magnetism allow for levitation, and it's hot
induced electric currents from magnetism allow for levitation, and it's hot


There were lots of other exhibit of course:





it's all about density, yes this is real water and a real bowling ball
it's all about density, yes this is real water and a real bowling ball



Multiple sections on animals

the ants exhibit was cool
the ants exhibit was cool






the queen
the queen

termites too
termites too


the octopus demo was cool too
the octopus demo was cool too

it gets to open a jar with a crab inside
it gets to open a jar with a crab inside

and eat the yummy crab
and eat the yummy crab

The 2nd day, we came at opening time to see some static exhibits before the presentations started:


We then went to see the excellent supraconductivity:



and then came the time for the full scale maglev demo
and then came the time for the full scale maglev demo

a bit of time to cool down the supraconductive magnets
a bit of time to cool down the supraconductive magnets


and then it was Jennifer's turn:

There plenty of other presentations:

turning gas into solid
turning gas into solid

oxygen in the air liquefies first, and causes flammable liquid
oxygen in the air liquefies first, and causes flammable liquid

safety goggles are for other people :)
safety goggles are for other people :)

they had bucket fulls of liquid gas to play with
they had bucket fulls of liquid gas to play with



After 1.5 days, we didn't quite get the time to see it all, but we made a good dent. The staff and demonstrator were awesome. I'm really sad that this museum will close forever in less tha na year.

See more images for Paris' Palais de la Decouverte

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