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SCIENCE WARS
But where are the lightsabers?
BY AARON SOLOMON

If avian flu, anti-terrorism agencies, or DNA mapping can’t get kids into science, there’s always the holy trilogy (and prequel tragedy) that is Star Wars. Suck the kids in with Jedis and then talk to them about science: that’s the diabolical plan of the new Museum of Science exhibit Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.

Before I get into why I was able to find answers about Uncle Owen’s moisture vaporators but unable to learn whether I’d be able to buy a blaster into the future, I’ll tell you why you should actually visit the museum.

You get the chance to ride shotgun in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, or rather, a life-sized replica of the ship that’s "got it where it counts." (Even Disney and its kid-friendly — i.e., lame — Star Tours ride doesn’t have this). Clearly one of the exhibit’s highlights, the nearly five-minute-long ride to the edge of the universe (as narrator Anthony "3PO" Daniels keeps reminding you) comes complete with a hyperspace jump (a little smoother than I would have thought) and broadcast signals of the earliest American programs beamed into space, and ends with actual footage of light leftover from the Big Bang.

The accompanying planetarium show, Far, Far Away: The Worlds of Star Wars, seems promising, but would have been better utilized as, say, a DVD extra than a sit-in-this-uncomfortable-chair-and-pretend-you’re-back-in-high-school type of show. This is most apparent in the footage of a young George Lucas, as well as the hilarious stock footage used to illustrate human diversity. Once again, Anthony Daniels asks about the possibilities of planets like Hoth, Tatooine, and Mustafar(!) existing in other galaxies. The conclusion is a convenient "yes," based mostly on the fact that earth itself was once like all of those planets. There are some fascinating images of Jupiter and its moons, and John Williams’s rousing score is used to good effect. If nothing else, I learned that moisture farms are important because people on desert planets need to drink water to survive. (I know — Duh.)

There are more than 100 props, maquettes, and costumes from the movie included in the exhibit, the highlights being Luke’s actual landspeeder (spoiler: it’s got wheels), a 36" model of the Imperial Destroyer (spoiler: it’s actually smaller than that of the Tantive IV, the ship it was pursuing in the famous opening sequence of Episode IV) and Master Yoda in his original, puppet self. Plus, TIE-Fighters, Chewbacca (who really is as big as he looks), and Luke’s hand.

Notably absent, however, was any mention of laser blasters or lightsabers, the latter of which weren’t even displayed. And how can a trip through the planets of Star Wars be complete without a visit to (or even mention of) Cloud City? What were Tibanna gas mines anyway? Like the too-tall Jawa that greeted me in the museum lobby, or the guy who looked a little short to be a Storm Trooper, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is a slightly imperfect view of the galaxy. But man, can that Falcon roar.


Issue Date: Octoner 28 - November 3, 2005
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