Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
--The Witches, Macbeth
Join us for our first-ever New Swan Science Faire, a collaboration with AirUCI and UCI's Office of Research. Explore the living chemistry of air, clouds, fire, and smoke in a fun-filled evening of scientific discovery, crafts, and impromptu performances. Free and open to all!
Please register so that we can better plan for your visit.
Join UCI scientists — from undergraduate students to leading researchers — as they bring their cutting-edge work to life through hands-on activities, live experiments, and stunning demonstrations. Whether you're curious about the air you breathe, the clouds overhead, or the hidden chemistry of fire and smoke, there's something here to fascinate everyone. Hint: They’re all linked! Come explore, ask questions, and get inspired!
Explore the stations:
- Every time You Brake, You Pollute. Did you know that hitting the brakes on your car releases tiny invisible particles into the air? Watch a one-of-a-kind portable device recreate car braking in real time — and see the particles it generates get counted live with a high-tech sensor. It'll change the way you think about traffic!
- What’s in the Air – and In Your Breath? Our scientists use state-of-the-art instruments to measure the invisible gases and particles floating around us right now. Want to know what chemicals you're exhaling? Breathe into our analyzer and find out what your last meal left behind — you might be surprised! We'll also show a live display of real-time local air quality data.
Also at this table: Ghost Bubbles & Flash Cotton — eerie, fog-filled bubbles you can pop, and a magician-style instant flash you can be part of!
- Radioactivity is Everywhere – Here’s the Proof. Radioactivity sounds scary, but it's a natural part of our world! Hold a Geiger-Mueller counter near everyday objects and hear it click as it detects radiation in real time. It's safe, it's fascinating, and it'll completely change your idea of what "radioactive" really means.
- This is What Pollution Does to Your Lungs: See a real human lung up close and learn what years of air pollution or cigarette smoking actually does to it. Watch smoke from a smoldering peat fire fill a clear dome while a filter inside gets visibly dirtier before your eyes — a powerful reminder of what our lungs face every single day.
- Air Pollution Through the Ages: Air pollution isn't new — Shakespeare's London was choking on coal smoke, and the 1930s Dust Bowl turned the skies of America brown. Explore this eye-opening visual journey through centuries of air pollution, and discover how today's challenges compare to the crises of the past.
- Inside the World of Wildfire: Try on a full firefighter's suit and find out what first responders face on the front lines of a wildfire. Our scientists will demonstrate exactly what kind of smoke is released when wood burns — and explain why wildfire smoke is one of today's biggest emerging threats to public health.
- Air Collected from Around the World: Our scientists have traveled the globe — from remote jungles to busy cities — collecting air samples in special canisters. Come see these real samples and hear the stories behind them: How do you capture air in the Amazon? What does the atmosphere smell like over the Pacific Ocean? Find out here!
Also at this table: Watch flowers get frozen solid in seconds using liquid nitrogen — and see them shatter like glass!
- Clouds, Nature’s Chemistry Lab: Clouds aren't just pretty — they're powerful chemical reactors! Watch a real mist chamber collect gases from the air into water, see live computer models tracking how pollution drifts across continents, and take in a breathtaking 24-hour time-lapse from a 325-meter tower deep in the Amazon rainforest — where clouds and jungle meet in real time.
For information, contact Julia Lupton, jrlupton@uci.edu.