The Franklin Institute Presents Don’t Try This at Home Day Featuring Large-Scale Extreme Science Demonstrations

The Franklin Institute Presents Don’t Try This at Home Day Featuring Large-Scale Extreme Science Demonstrations

The Franklin Institute will host Don’t Try This at Home Day on Saturday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, part of the museum’s Extreme Science Live programming, features large-scale science demonstrations conducted by expert performers and is included with general admission.

According to the museum, the event is designed as live STEM entertainment rather than a traditional classroom experience, with demonstrations intended to showcase dramatic and high-energy science in real time.

Scheduled demonstrations include a 500-ball blast powered by ultra-cold liquid nitrogen, a multi-balloon explosion fueled by hydrogen, and outdoor activities in Science Park featuring giant cloud formations and bubble play. The event will also include a multi-stage Gravity Drop segment featuring watermelons and water balloons, along with the Periodic Chef experience, a series of short, fast-paced shows inspired by cooking programs that combine everyday ingredients with scientific demonstrations.

Franklin Institute members can also attend a members-only planetarium show, “Don’t Try This in Space,” at 1 p.m. in the Fels Planetarium.

The event will include an interactive game of Operation played while wearing electrical safety gear, hosted by electricians from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The Philadelphia Water Department will also be on-site to discuss the effects of litter and debris on environmental systems and the work involved when service workers are called to address related issues.

Don’t Try This at Home Day is free with general admission to The Franklin Institute.