Magic, mobius strips, and moon mission modules

It's not often that one has the opportunity to visit the Earth's inner core, the Mesozoic Era, the interior of the human body, and the tomb of an ancient, long-dead decaying mummy -- at least outside of a bad B-movie. But Boston's Museum of Science makes such an elaborate trip as easy as hopping on the T.

Located in Cambridge, the museum lets visitors learn about all areas of the scientific world, from chemistry to paleontology, and offers opportunities for the ultimate science experience with concepts that might even pop up in a university geology or physics class.

Model ships line the back walls; the command module from the Apollo 11 moon mission sits in the corner; and, in a tribute to the sense of humor that the great lizards of the Jurassic must have possessed, the life-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex model keeping watch over the paleontology exhibit is decorated with a gigantic scarf, evidently to keep it from catching cold in the cold Boston nights. A giant mobius strip demonstrates the principles of mathematics, and huge, colorful display walls denote the history of math and chemistry.

While many installations are permanent, a few of the exhibits at the science museum rotate on a seasonal basis. Current displays include a feature on birds, a hands-on display addressing how scientists use models to answer theoretical questions, and different interactive illusions that are normally used in professional magic shows.

Visitors can also come face to face with a gigantic grasshopper, float in midair on a magic chair, or turn into a talking head to converse with their friends. A miniature archaeological excavation allows the adventurous to dig for ancient Etruscan slingstones (although real archaeologists have to slog through mud and hard-packed dirt, not crushed apricot pits), and a gigantic lighthouse demonstrates the principles of light refraction for all to see.

The main appeal of the museum is its hands-on nature. Though some exhibits are elementary or clearly aimed at a younger audience (the "Science in the Park" area lets children learn about the physics of swinging and experiment with pulling tablecloths off tables without disturbing the place settings resting on top), there is still plenty to interest older visitors as well. It's easy to pass an entire afternoon indulging in a childlike curiosity by poking at the models of the human body or testing out magical illusions for yourself without even noticing how much time has passed.

Small displays scattered throughout the museum also bring to light obscure bits of knowledge or trivia with illustrative, three-dimensional models. Random facts often have a strange appeal in and of themselves simply because they offer some little-known bit of knowledge that a viewer might never have heard before, and one can find them in droves here.

While the subjects might not always make the best conversation topics for the dinner table (one fairly graphic display shows different types of malformed hands that resulted from birth defects, with small placards that explain how each has been fixed in the past), the one-shot exhibits are both informative and eye-catching. These succinct exhibits keep the viewer's attention in the time it takes to walk between the museum's more elaborate displays.

Though it might not be the most complicated entertainment, the Museum of Science still presents a fun way to while away a miserable winter Friday afternoon. And the museum's colorful nature ensures a display certain to catch the eye and capture the interest of every visitor, whether it comes in the form of roaring dinosaurs, deep-sea excursions, or modern-day construction sites.

The Museum of Science is located near the Science Park T-stop on the Green Line. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Admission is $13.