http://www.ncmls.org/visit/events    

Brain Week | March 13 – March 17 | 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Put on your thinking caps, because we’re exploring a mental masterpiece: the human brain. Scientists from the UNC Bowles Center are here to help us discover what makes up the human mind. Which part of your brain fires up to figure out riddles and puzzles? Which part lets you take a stroll down memory lane? Compare rat brains to people brains, and feel a real human brain with your own fingertips!

March Science Madness | Every Saturday in March
Come celebrate our second annual "Tournament of Science!" Teams in this year's bracket are climate change, marine mammals, nanotechnology and the science behind some of your favorite sports.

Museum AfterHours: NanoNights, MacroPints | Thursday, April 26 | 6–9 pm
Strange things happen when you shrink down to a billionth of your size.  At NanoNights, get ready to explore the world at the nanoscale and find out, does a margarita taste the same when it’s frozen with liquid nitrogen? What is it like to stick to a wall like a gecko? When will I be able to ride an elevator to the moon? We’ll make graphene, the world’s thinnest material, learn how local chefs use molecular gastronomy in their cooking and build a giant helium filled carbon nanotube. Catapult plush microbes at your enemies and take a stroll around the Magic Wings Butterfly House. Hungry? Grab a bite from your favorite food trucks and wash it down with a MACRO pint.

Robot Rumble | Saturday, April 14 | 10 am – 5 pm
Are you ready to Robot Rumble? Join the leagues of professionals and enthusiasts in the dynamic science of robotics. Hands-on demos, workshops, Bot Hockey and more!

Magic Wings Festival | Saturday, May 5 | 10 am – 5 pm
Take flight with us as we learn more about and celebrate the residents of Magic Wings Butterfly House. Enjoy a day of hands-on activities, meet entomology and horticulture experts and encounter invertebrates. Try insect-racing, bug eating, crafts and more!

Museum AfterHours: Summer Solstice | Wednesday, June 20 | 6–9 pm
Grab your sandals and your picnic blanket, we're ringing in the Solstice! Explore some of our most popular outdoor exhibits and hang out with friends ‘till the sun sets. Take a ride on Ellerbe Creek Express, stroll through the late cretaceous and make a costume for our Dinosaur Photo Booth! Find your way down the boardwalk and spot wildlife in the wetlands just before sunset. Have a picnic in Catch the Wind with a cold beer and some dinner from your favorite food truck. Bring a shirt to tie dye but leave your kids at home, this is a 21+ event!

Bubble Blitz | Saturday, June 23, 2012 | 10 am – 4 pm
Enter the world of gigantic bubbles and tiny bubbles. Blow bubbles, burst bubbles and learn how marine animals use bubbles. Grab a bubble wand or make your own. This is truly a bubble-blowing event!

Dinosaurs Rock | Saturday, July 14, 2012 | 10 am – 5 pm
Do you dig dinosaurs? If so, get ready for a roaring good time. Chat with paleontologists and hear first-hand their dino detective stories. Learn about new discoveries and scientific techniques that are used to study these fascinating creatures. Grab a shovel and a sieve and get digging with experts from the North Carolina Fossil Club in our dig site to find and keep marine fossils that are 23-million to five-million years old. If you think rocks rock, then you'll enjoy many of the geology activities we have in store.

Engineers Day: How Things Work | Saturday, August 11 | 10 am – 4 pm
Join Museum Staff and Volunteers and professional engineers and engineering students from all over the Triangle for a day of hands-on engineering activities as we celebrate our version of E-Week (Engineer's Week)!

Black Light Insect Hunt | Friday, August 17 | 8:30–11 pm
Enjoy the sounds and sights of a summer night in the Museum's wetland. Specially-installed black lights attract insects to the screens set up on the board walk. See and learn with our specialists what flies at night, from small to large beetles, moths and other critters.

Museum AfterHours: Science of Beer | Thursday, September 13 | 6–9 pm
Taste hoppy, malty samples from over ten local breweries. Coozies so well crafted your beer never looked so good. Explore the chemistry of fermentation and the physics of beer pong. This year’s Science of Beer will have you raising your glass. Cheers, "TO SCIENCE!"

Heroes, Villains and Special Effects | September 22 | 10 am – 5 pm
Explore the science behind entertainment and meet experts in the fields of special effects, make up artistry, film production, sound editing and effects, video game design and simulation, comic book art and staged combat.

Museum AfterHours: Heroes and Villains After Dark | Friday, September 21 |6–9 pm
Here’s your chance to learn the secrets behind the film and entertainment industry. Learn about special effects, attend panel discussions, visit the comic book swap and create your own costumes. Grab a bite at one of the food trucks. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase.