ZAP! Surgery Beyond the Cutting Edge

Prep for surgery! Visitors of all ages can investigate technology that helps doctors diagnose and treat people more easily (and less painfully) in this interactive exhibit at the Alden B. Dow Museum in Midland. Combining hands-on demonstrations and role-playing activities with personal stories from patients and health professionals, the exhibit delves into the science behind ultrasound, endoscopy, laser surgery, cryosurgery and the Gamma Knife.

May 31- Aug. 31, 2008, Alden B. Dow Museum, 1801 W. St. Andrews, Midland, Mich. (inside the Midland Center for the Arts), 989-631-5930. Museum open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Exhibit free with regular admission.

For more information, go to www.mcfta.org/A_ABDow or
www.zapsurgery.org.

Bats: Myths and Mysteries

Explode some common bat misconceptions while learning about the fascinating ways these flying mammals experience the world around them at an exhibit developed by the Organization for Bat Conservation at the Cranbrook Institute of Science. Visitors can enter a live bat area for a close-up view of these much-maligned creatures of the night.

June 6, 2008 – Jan. 7, 2009, Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248-645-3200. Museum is open Saturday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Exhibit free with regular admission.

For more information go to www.batconservation.org or
http://science.cranbrook.edu/.

Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure

Featuring more than 14,000 artifacts from a Civil War-era shipwreck, the Detroit Science Center’s newest exhibition cuts through the Hollywood hype and explores the real history and science behind piracy, buried treasure and deep-sea exploration. The exhibit’s highlights include a real robot submarine and a “hurricane tube” where guests can experience winds of 75 mph.

Through Sept. 1, 2008, The New Detroit Science Center, 5020 John R St., Detroit, 313-577-8400. Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Exhibit free with regular admission.

For more information, go to www.detroitsciencecenter.org.