Opens July 4, 2007!

Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear is a 6,000 square foot traveling exhibition developed by the California Science Center that provides an experiential and holistic view of fear science, examining physiological, neurobiological, and sociological aspects of fear.

Engaging activities in Goose Bumps! allow visitors to experience fear in a safe and enjoyable environment, rate their response, understand the science behind the emotion, and reflect upon its personal meaning.

Exhibits highlights include:

Fear Challenge Course
Get your heart pumping and your palms sweaty as you face some common fears, such as Fear of Animals, Fear of Electric Shock, and Fear of Falling.

Fear Lab
Meet Mr. Goose Bumps, a larger-than-life figure that illustrates how the brain and body work together in response to danger. Interactive experiences help you delve deeper into the brain systems and pathways activated by fear, and graphic panels profile scientists doing cutting-edge emotion research.

Faces of Emotion
Explore the facial expressions of fear and other emotions and interact with an experimental software program that can analyze and identify your facial expressions.

Fear in the Wild
Play the “Freeze Game,” an immersive interactive video installation, and learn how animals survive in their natural environments.

Fear Theater
Catch a live demo focusing on the process of fear conditioning, and learn how scientists measure the fear response in the lab. Then view a brief documentary-style video addressing the role fear plays in entertainment, history and culture.

Coping with Fear
Explore the way fears change over a lifetime and learn how to help children deal with their fears.

This project was supported, in part, by the Informal Science Education program of the National Science Foundation under grant ESI-0515470.