Avatar Is Huge

James Cameron's Avatar continues to set records and amaze audiences with its high-tech visuals. As one blogger →put it, "Should You See Avatar? About 75 Percent Of People Who Tweet About It Think You Should." And those who've seen it on the biggest screen in town can attest to its awesomeness on the six-story screen. This Tweet pretty much sums it up: "Obligatory "OMG Avatar" post. Saw it yesterday at Pacific Science Center IMAX, forgot that anyone was with me. Please go join the hype." Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience is now showing. Many shows are selling out so we strongly advise you purchase →tickets online well in advance.

Two Great Exhibits Closing

It's the end of the year and the end of two terrific exhibits at pacific Science Center. Animation and Chris Jordan: Running The Numbers both close this Sunday, Jan. 3. Animation explores the technology, math and science behind the cartoons and animated films we all love, while Chris Jordan: Running The Numbers brings you a new perspective on mass consumption through the use of this Seattle artist's stunning images. Entry to both is included with the price of general admission - FREE for Pacific Science Center members.

Bugs! 3D Returns

One of the most popular films ever shown at Pacific Science Center returns. Bugs! 3D bring us face-to-face with this amazing universe, where raindrops fall like hand grenades, a leaf weighs more than a car, and a blade of grass soars high into the clouds. Bugs! 3D invites us to explore a truly hidden world. Using cutting-edge macroscopic technology and a lively soundtrack, you will meet a cast of insect characters who will fascinate the entire family. Runs 40 min. Opens January 4.

Science Café Goes To Mars

Our next Queen Anne Science Café is all about The Red Planet. Come meet Joshua Bandfield, Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the UW. His topic: Mars - A Tour of Familiar and Alien Landscapes on the Red Planet. Join us at T.S. McHugh's Tuesday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. And don't forget our new Eastside Science Café at Wilde Rover in downtown Kirkland. Coming up January 11 at 7 p.m., how does evolution lead to new species? Katie Peichel with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will tell us about her studies of sticklebacks, tiny fish that can answer some big questions about genetics and variation between species. →Learn More

The Best New Year's Eve Sitter Ever!

Parents, are you looking for a safe, fun place to take your kids while you enjoy a night out for New Year's? Our kids-only New Year's Eve Sleepover is spectacular! Our talented and dedicated staff will dazzle and entertain your children with fiery science demonstrations, illuminating experiments and an amazing race through hidden passageways and mysterious obstacles. The New Year’s Eve event wouldn’t be complete without a spectacular light show! Kids will be safe and secure inside our gates as they watch the Space Needle fireworks show with the best view in town! It’s great fun for kids, and a great deal for parents who want to go out on the town for New Years. →Learn More/Register

Around The Americas Reaches Rio

The crew of Ocean Watch has reached another important milestone on their voyage around both North and South America. They have reached Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Follow this amazing journey at →AroundTheAmericas.org.

Slough News: Wonders Of Wastewater Treatment

The mission of the →Lake Washington Watershed Internship Program is to assist teens in becoming informed stewards of their local community. As part of the internship, the teens take field trips to various institutions that are part of the system - wastewater treatment plants, landfills, Cedar River Watershed and many more. The field trip this past week was to South King County regional wastewater treatment system that serves more than 1.5 million people. →Read on to learn what these young environmentalists discovered and some tips on what we can all do to help.

'Tis The Season For Special Planetarium Shows

The Star of Bethlehem is an important Christmastime image for the Christian faith. This holiday season you can voyage through the night sky with one of our expert planetarians and learn what events were taking place overhead in the Judean sky that may have been interpreted by the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew as the Star of Bethlehem. This interactive show brings science, history, and religion together in one unforgettable evening! This show is recommended for ages 7 and up and is offered once a day December 21 - January 3. Check our →site for showtimes or call (206)443-3625 to book a private showing for your group.

Help Captain Mike Get To Mars

Pacific Science Center is thrilled to partner with Bing^™, the decision engine from Microsoft, on an online contest. →Log on before January 4 to help Captain Mike make the right decisions as he gets ready for his trip to Mars. Winners can attend the opening ceremonies of our next exhibit →Facing Mars as VIP guests, or have our →Science On Wheels Astronomy van visit their school. See you on Mars!

Camp-In Registration Under Way

For one season every year, Pacific Science Center offers hundreds of families, scouts and students an experience unlike any other! Join us this spring for an exclusive overnight including private access to our new exhibit, →Facing Mars (opens January 30), Tropical Butterfly House, an IMAX film, live Laser Light show, catered snack and more - for less than any night’s stay in Seattle! →Learn More

Genuine Movie Magic

It's been 15 years in the making, it utilizes an entirely new filmmaking technology, and it may usher in a new era in Hollywood history. It's famed movie-maker James Cameron's creation, Avatar that is getting rave reviews around the world. One film blogger →wrote, "Avatar is truly indistinguishable from magic," referencing a quote by the late, great Arthur C. Clark who said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." It appears Cameron's technology may be just that, magical. Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience opens midnight Friday morning. Tickets are →on sale now.

WANTED: Curious, Creative Students

These students are approaching winter vacation. Often seen acting antsy with decreasing daylight, and rumored to be consuming unusual amounts of gingerbread and candy. Suspects are believed charmed and adventurous and often dislike excessive holiday errands. Please report ALL sightings to the trained experts with →Winter Break Camps and the →New Year's Sleepover Party.

One Holiday Classic Leaving, Another Coming

This is the final weekend for Disney's A Christmas Carol: An IMAX 3D Experience. Be sure to see it on the biggest screen in town before it closes December 17. 

Santa Vs. The Snowman 3D
A holiday tradition is coming back again this year. From the Academy Award^™ nominated team that brought you Jimmy Neutron, comes the IMAX 3D holiday film, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D opening December 18 at Pacific Science Center's Boeing IMAX Theater. This film tells the story of a lonely Snowman who becomes jealous of the affections heaped on Santa during Christmas, leading him to wage a comic war on him. The hilarious battle features such holiday defense mechanisms as hot chocolate squirt guns, giant Igloo Robot Walkers and even a 50-foot tall toy soldier manned by Santa himself. A great film for the entire family.

Chris Jordan In The News

The man behind our current exhibit, →Chris Jordan: Running The Numbers is the subject of an interview on KCTS 9 this Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. This very talented Seattle artist is getting a lot of attention these days. His provocative images bring a new perspective to the subject of human consumption. Be sure to watch →KCTS 9 Connects with Enrique Cerna then come see his images yourself.

Slough News: Baby Birds & Bunnies

Brr! It is cold outside and that is the focus of our monthly family workshop at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue. Explore why baby animals love to call the Slough home and how they survive the wetlands in the winter. Does fur really keep an animal warm? What are they eating to keep their tummies full? Join us this Saturday, December 12, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Science Cafe Seeks Eastside Location

For the past two years Pacific Science Center has co-presented the Queen Anne Science Café at our lower Queen Anne location. Each café features a talk with real scientists in an informal setting, on topics focusing on current research, cutting edge technology, and scientific breakthroughs. Science Café is held once a month and is FREE to the public. We are excited to announce our successful Science Café event series will expand to the Eastside in January. Café organizers are currently seeking a bar or restaurant in Bellevue or Kirkland to host an additional Science Café location and we need your help. Please submit your ideas for the new Eastside location to feedback@pacsci.org. Space must be large enough to accommodate a minimum of 60 people and conducive to lively discussions and debates.

Around The Americas Reaches Brazil

The crew of Ocean Watch has reached another important milestone on their voyage around both North and South America. They're now in Brazil taking their message about the health of our oceans to those in the southern hemisphere. Follow this amazing journey at →AroundTheAmericas.org.

PacSci-Doku: Green Machines

Our latest bi-weekly science word puzzle is quite timely. As many of the world's leaders meet to discuss reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, our puzzle takes a look at important related technology. Can you solve the "Green Machines" edition of →PacSci-Doku?

Astronomical Gift Guide

Pacific Science Center Planetarium Specialist and prolific blogger, Alice Enevoldsen has compiled her annual gift guide for the scientifically inclined. Alice always has great ideas, so →check it out and give the gift of discovery this holiday season.