science

Discover the Science of Senses, Sleep, and Dreams with Rex the Dinosaur!

Nadya Sharfina · November 29, 2024 · Leave a Comment

“Join Rex the Dinosaur on an epic journey through the worlds of STEAM at the festival, where fun and learning come together to ignite curiosity and inspire young minds!”

The STEAM Festival is back and more exciting than ever! This year, kids can join Rex the Dinosaur on an epic journey, exploring the fascinating worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

From 29 November to 15 December 2024, the festival will run daily, with sessions from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Families are invited to explore a world of discovery, designed to ignite curiosity and inspire young minds. With a perfect balance of fun and learning, the festival offers engaging, hands-on experiences that are sure to captivate everyone.

About STEAM Festival 2024: The Secret Life of Rex

At the STEAM Festival 2024, your child will have the chance to meet Rex, a little dinosaur with big dreams, and journey into his secret world. Rex may be small, but his curiosity is limitless, and he’s eager to share some truly fascinating discoveries with young explorers like your child. This year’s festival offers a unique opportunity for children to dive into the wonders of science in a fun and engaging way.

Throughout the event, children will uncover the science behind our five senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—and gain a deeper understanding of how we interact with the world around us. They’ll also explore the mysterious realm of sleep and dreams, learning about how our brains work while we rest and why dreams are such an intriguing part of our lives. It’s a chance for kids to discover how these processes influence the way we think, feel, and experience the world each day.

One of the key themes of the festival is the importance of developing healthy sleep habits. Through interactive, hands-on activities, children will learn how proper sleep influences everything from mood to memory and concentration. This part of the experience will encourage kids to reflect on their sleep routines and understand why rest is essential for both their physical and mental well-being.

The STEAM Festival 2024 is packed with fun and educational activities designed to engage and inspire. The immersive, interactive formats make learning feel like an adventure, allowing children to explore scientific concepts in a playful and meaningful way. Beyond just fun, the festival provides a platform where kids can develop their creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills. By participating, they’ll gain a deeper sense of curiosity about the world and leave with a greater appreciation for the science that shapes their everyday lives.

Explore, Learn, and Play

Inside the festival, children can explore various hands-on zones, each crafted to engage their imagination and bring science to life in exciting and interactive ways.

One of the highlights is Rex’s Perceptual Playground, a space where optical illusions come to life. Kids will enjoy mind-boggling visuals and have the opportunity to create their own illusion crafts, experimenting with perception in this fun, hands-on zone. They can also watch animations spring to life

Another must-visit is Rex’s Dreamscape, where children can step into a surreal infinity mirror portal, chat with Rex about dreams, and take part in a fun pillow-throwing game. For those who enjoy a challenge, there’s also a giant puzzle to solve, encouraging teamwork and critical thinking in a playful environment.

The Whimsical Walkway offers a playful, photo-worthy hallway filled with optical illusions. It’s a space where children can marvel at visual tricks and snap pictures with their family, all while learning about how our brains interpret the world around us.

In Nighty Night Neurons!, kids can unleash their creativity by designing their own nighttime projections. Featuring artworks created by children from the community, this experience allows young ones to scan their creations and watch them come to life in a magical seascape of dreams projection. It’s a unique way to showcase the power of imagination and the beauty of shared creativity.

At the KidsSTOP™ Gallery, children can dive into a wide variety of hands-on activities, timed programs, and themed experiences.

Finally, in The Rex Factory, children can purchase unique festival souvenirs, including the chance to buy and customize their very own adorable Rex Plushie. Additionally, with any STEAM Festival ticket purchase, you’ll receive a 5% discount on merchandise preorders made online—though be sure to act fast, as stocks are limited!

How to Meet Rex the Dinosaur

This incredible experience is specially designed for children aged 18 months to 8 years old. If you have older children who are 9 years or above, they can still join the fun by purchasing an adult ticket to the STEAM Festival. Tickets are priced from S$37.50.

Mark your calendars: the festival will run from 29 November to 15 December 2024, with daily sessions from 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm. Hosted at KidsSTOP™, Science Centre Singapore (located at 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081).

Don’t miss out on this adventure! Book your tickets and find more information here. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure with Rex the Dinosaur at the STEAM Festival 2024!

For more of the best places to visit with family in Singapore, check out March Holidays: 5 Epic Activities in Singapore!, Big Fun: Five Awesome Activities for Kids in SG, and Best Restaurants with Play Areas in Singapore.

Space Travel: Reaching for the Cosmos

Rebecca Samuel · April 12, 2023 · Leave a Comment

"And now, space can take on the function of becoming the next tourist destination. "

Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos recently went into space on their own private spaceships, amid fanfare and fuss, glitz and glamour. Why is it such a big deal? One reason is that up to now space travel has been possible only on government craft. Private companies embarking on these voyages – with ticketed passengers to boot – has always been a thing of the future in most people’s minds. The future has clearly arrived.

To most people, space travel has always been an exploratory and scientific endeavour, one that involves billions of dollars, government regulation and administration. If you’re not working towards becoming an astronaut, rocket engineer or any space related vocation, space probably does not occupy your daily concerns much. The foray into space however has altered our daily lives, thanks to the research that went into it and the useful products it yielded. Freeze-dried foods that hikers or long distance campers take with them today were invented for NASA. When they were trying to figure out how to measure the temperature of stars, infrared thermometers were invented and are now in daily use. Even scratch-resistant coating on sunglasses today was first made for astronauts’ helmets.

And now, space can take on the function of becoming the next tourist destination.

For many millionaires in the world, space travel on one of Branson’s or Bezo’s spaceships are surprisingly affordable. For USD$250,000, one might get a ticket on a Virgin Galactic spaceship. Bezos’ Blue Origin might take us up for a cool USD$55 million dollars. We await Elon Musk’s SpaceX pricing with bated breath.

These aren’t the only companies who are trying to make gravity-free leaps and bounds however. Astra Space built an orbital rocket and is planning to fly satellites into orbit every single day. Satellite maker Planet Labs has announced its plans to do the same, Firefly Aerospace has a rocket in California awaiting clearance to launch. OneWeb is launching satellites meant to provide full coverage to the planet with high-speed Internet access. Rocket Lab of New Zealand is planning missions to the moon as well as to Venus.

Most fascinating of all to most of us regular folk, is the Space Hotel slated to open in a mere 6 years time. Yes you can read that again, you may not merely get to go to space, but also get to enjoy a spa or a pool with perhaps the most literally out-of-this-world views captured on your instagram stories. Also, gravity free basketball anyone?

It is exciting indeed to think about a time when travel to an exotic location includes one that is off planet. The next 10 years promise to hold exciting new developments in this sphere, and by the next 10, it will hopefully become safe and affordable for everyone on earth, and not just billionaires.

Toxic Marvels: Human Venom Production and Its Startling Implications

Nadya Sharfina · February 28, 2023 · Leave a Comment

"Recent research into kallikreins – an enzyme in humans that is also found in snakes, scorpions, spiders and other venomous creatures."

It may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but humans could one day be capable of producing venom. This fascinating scientific discovery has implications for both the medical and biological fields. Recent research into kallikreins – an enzyme in humans that is also found in snakes, scorpions, spiders and other venomous creatures – has opened up a new realm of possibilities when it comes to understanding how humans can produce their own unique type of venom. It is the beginning theory for potentially venomous humans.

From vampire bats with toxic saliva to platypuses with spurs on their hind legs, there are many examples of animals using venom for various purposes. But what about humans? Could we too be capable of wielding our own form of chemical weapon? The answer may surprise you! Read on to learn more about this incredible science behind humans being able to produce their venom.

Overview of Venom and Its Uses in Nature

In nature, venom serves a variety of important roles. From delivering powerful neurotoxins to immobilizing prey, venom has many uses and is incredibly effective when it comes to capturing or killing intended targets. Different species have evolved different versions of venom depending on their surroundings and what they need to do to survive. This adaptation of venom based on prey type and environment allows for increased hunting success and survival of the species.

For example, in the Sahara Desert floor where snakes hunt mostly mice, the venom acts mostly on the circulatory system as it is not difficult for a snake to track a dying mouse a short distance on flat ground. In nearby Rocky Mountains, where the snakes hunt mainly lizards, the venom is a potent neurotoxin because if the prey is not quickly immobilized, it can easily escape into a crack and be hidden away.

How Humans Might be Capable of Producing Their Own Venom

With the discovery of kallikreins in humans, scientists have found that humans are capable of producing their own unique type of venom. Kallikreins are proteins secreted by cells in many tissues and organs including skin, glands, and nerves.

The most commonly known form of human-produced venom is saliva which contains several kallikrein proteins that can have toxic effects. While humans do not have venomous fangs or claws like some animals, the toxic compounds present in our saliva are enough to cause pain or even death if ingested in large amounts.

Possible Uses for Human Venom

Scientists are not sure yet what other potential uses humans may be able to find for their venom, but they are hopeful that it could be used in the medical field. For example, researchers have theorized that venom-based drugs could potentially be used to target specific tissues or cells, such as cancer cells, and destroy them without harming other healthy tissues. It is also possible that humans may find new uses for their venom in areas such as pest control.

Ultimately, there is still much more research to be done before humans can take advantage of their venom production capabilities. However, this recent discovery certainly opens up an exciting new realm of possibilities when it comes to humans and their relationship with nature. Who knows what else we may uncover about our incredible bodies and the world around us?

Concluding Thoughts on Humans and Venom

Humans have a remarkable ability to understand and manipulate their genetic makeup, and this research into humans producing venom is certainly pushing the boundaries of science. Even though there are still many unknowns when it comes to humans producing venom, we can already see potential applications for medical treatments.

Humans may one day find themselves with an entirely new form of protection or even be able to use venom-based drugs to treat serious illnesses such as cancer. For now, all that is left to do is wait and see what will come from these groundbreaking discoveries about humans and venom.