The Durham Museum just opened the newest kid-friendly exhibit in Omaha, “Zoom Into Nano,” and I took my two kids, ages 6 and 7, to see it. Could something like nano be explained to children, I wondered. Could it be explained to me?

Yes.

Sorta.

Let me explain.

By the way, if you haven’t been to this museum before, here’s my guide for visiting the Durham Museum with kids. I was not compensated to write this post; I was, however, provided complimentary passes for myself and to use for the giveaway.

What to expect at Zoom Into Nano

If you’re wondering what nanotechnology is, you’re not alone. It’s technology that deals with “dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.” (dictionary definition)

A model carbon nanotube inside “Zoom Into Nano,” now in Omaha through Jan. 7, 2018.

Or more simply, it’s technology dealing with things on the smallest of small scales. Nano stuff.

This exhibit demonstrates nano in surprisingly simple ways.

Like magnification. There are a few stations that simply help kids (and adults) see everyday things like a butterfly wing or a speck of dust in super, crazy magnification. My kids returned to these “zooming” stations throughout our visit.

Everything in the exhibit is hands-on, which is a kid’s dream. Even my youngest enjoyed practicing with an atom transporter.

I’m sure moving atoms is a lot more difficult than moving these “atoms.”

The three us worked together to dissolve salt crystals (virtually) by generating heat through arm movement.

Is this really a kid-friendly exhibit?

This definitely has the look and feel of an exhibit that’s intended to be enjoyed by families.

Kids can design a model nano town, making sure things are balanced or their surface will tip in one direction.

Really young kids, like toddlers, probably won’t get a whole lot out of the exhibit, though. Maybe, they’ll enjoy some of the molecule building stations or the nano town balance table.

Older kids? Yes, this exhibit is going to be great for them, especially preteens and teens learning about this stuff already.

Magnets are always a hit in an exhibit, and this table was particularly effective at explaining how the smaller the material, the easier it was to move.

My two kids are early grader schoolers and were able to engage with all of the exhibit pieces. One could read and the other could not, so the reader definitely had a fuller experiences.

The room not to miss

There’s a small room at the back of the exhibit that is easy to skip, but probably does the best job at explaining what nanotechonology matters to us. Because, even after playing with all the different exhibit pieces, I was kinda wondering still what nanotechonology was and why it’s so significant (my son would tell me just to read the signs better, but he’s a know-it-all).

Anyway, in this little room, there are a few displays that break it down to layman’s terms, the breakthroughs that nanotechnology has already (waterproof clothes, for instance), and why some people are optimistic and some people are cautious about what the future holds.

If you go

“Zoom Into Nano”

Where: The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St.

When: Now through Jan. 7, 2018

Cost: Included with museum admission, which is $11, adults; $8, seniors; $7, children (ages 3-12); and FREE for children younger than 3 and members

Giveaway

Want to go for FREE?

I’ve partnered The Durham Museum to give away one family pass to one lucky reader. This pass will get up to four people into the museum! To enter, just use the Rafflecopter form. Must be at least 18 to enter. The giveaway ends Sunday, Oct. 22, at 11:59 p.m. One winner will be randomly drawn within 48 hours and will have 48 hours to claim the prize before another name is drawn. Good luck!

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