Recently, a sporty, spunky trio of kids had the opportunity to experience the all-new Discovery Place for the first time on special assignment as “Rookie Reporters” for FOX News Charlotte

Abby, Sam and Bobbie Ann found science and technology at their fingertips as they took on an exciting mission to find out just what is so cool about physics, innovation, biodiversity and much, much more.

Click the links below to watch our three reporters in action as they learn, play and meet a whole realm of Discovery Place inhabitants. And, don’t forget to check back with our blog, because our Rookie Reporters will be making return visits. We’ll make sure you’re in the know about all the cool stuff happening at Discovery Place.

Click on the links below:
Rookie... Keep reading.

Driving through the Discovery Place parking deck one morning, I noticed a van had just hit a moth. Interested in identifying what type of moth had just suffered this unfortunate fate, I quickly parked and headed toward the scene of the “hit and run” with the intention of collecting the critter and getting it to my office. But as I approached, an uninvited guest swooped down and stole the object of my wonder, carrying it just out of my reach. As the thief started to peck vigorously at his prey my insect friend bounced in small arcs over and over in a brave attempt to escape. The attacker was not giving up easily though, doggedly pursuing the moth as I, wide eyed with wonder, marveled at the ancient predator vs. prey drama unfolding right before my eyes.

Finally, as the... Keep reading.

Back in 2000, Dr. C. Everett Koop said: “Except for smoking, obesity is now the number one preventable cause of death in this country. Three hundred thousand people die of obesity every year.” Childhood obesity is certainly a national concern. To address this science and health based issue, Discovery Place ScienceReach offers a popular program entitled: “You Are What You Eat” The program helps learners to make healthy and wise dietary choices. But how do we show the importance of nutrition with living things so that people can experience and observe it? How could I experiment with this idea? So this got me thinking …

Do organisms other than humans have to make “wise nutritional choices”? Specifically, do insects get fat?

It is always a good... Keep reading.

As you look around and admire the incredible renewal of green life that occurs in the spring season, remember that spring also is a great time to renew your Membership to Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum! And, there has never been a better time to be a Member as we wrap-up the renovation of Discovery Place in June and premiere some highly-anticipated new exhibitions including Fantastic Frogs and World Alive and two additional Explore More labs.

As Members, we hope you have had a chance to attend the special Member previews of the new exhibitions – Cool Stuff, KidScience, Discovery 3D Theatre, Project Build, Science Buzz and Think It Up. We’ve been hard at work to create entertaining and educational experiences that engage you and your family in the wonder of... Keep reading.

What causes the electrical shock I receive when getting out of a car during the winter? --Vicello (age 36)

The shock you get when getting out of your car, particularly in the winter, is from static electricity. Static electricity often occurs whenever two dissimilar materials are rubbed together. When electrons, or the negative charge, are removed from one material and deposited on the other a static charge results. When you are in a car the seat is one material and your clothes are another when you move you create friction and build up a static charge. Once your body accumulates enough of a charge and then touches a good conductor, usually metal like the car door the charge quickly leaves you and you feel the shock.

The reason you feel this shock more in the winter than in the... Keep reading.