Science center: DC Super Heroes show off powers, potential

[Disney4me]

There are plenty of fires to put out – and lessons to learn – with “DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers,” a recently installed interactive exhibit at Orlando Science Center.

Holy skill sets, Batman! The hands-on displays are designed to educate about teamwork, deduction, health care, coordination, agility and cognitive thinking, among others. The exhibit starts with the news that the Bat-Signal has been stolen, and there are clues to its whereabouts – and associated villainous activities – across Gotham City businesses and institutions.

As the saying goes, not all heroes wear capes. But loaner capes are provided at the exhibit.

Here are five takeaways from the “Superpowers” exhibits:

Roping mechanism

They had me at virtual golden lasso. One of the first activities seen in the exhibit has participants doing their best Wonder Woman recovering stolen museum items (on-screen) by using some body moments, including an overhead double loop that ropes in artifacts.

In that same area, folks can maneuver through simulated laser beams in the museum in pursuit of Cheetah.

Match game

Break out your superpowers of observation. The exhibit include stations that encourage use of deduction. At the Hall of Justice Control Center, visitors match up hazardous scenarios across the U.S. with the most appropriately empowered hero. There’s also a scene where two people must open a bank vault and rescue employees trapped in there by the Riddler. There are clues as to which keys to use simultaneously. (Our clue: Look beyond the spaces immediately surrounding the keys.)

Two heads

Teamwork is essential to the bank challenge, and it pops up in multiple displays. In a jewelry store, one person must complete the assembly of a necklace without looking and by going only by the description of a partner.

On the run

The exhibit looks to encourage the exercising of body and mind. At Star Labs, folks can race in place and get congratulations from a digital version of upbeat Flash. (There’s a hand version as well, but note that it requires a full palm, not a fastest finger strategy.)

A Green Lantern-themed area uses light sequences to sharpen wits, and in the end, an exhibit-wide scavenger hunt of sorts leads to a word jumble activity that, if successful, saves the Bat-Signal.

Be a hero

Lastly, the exhibit preaches that you need not possess actual superpowers to be a hero. (We’re looking at you, Grayson.) Suggestions such as “become a volunteer” and “be a friend” appear on signs.

Or maybe a super friend.

“DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers,” produced  by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, remains at Orlando Science Center through Sept. 7.

The exhibit also is featured within Saturday’s adults-only Science Night Live event. The after-hours session includes a presentation by environmental scientist and film producer Amy Giannotti as well as a “Sci-Fi Science” talk by Derek Demeter, planetarium director at Seminole State College.

Cosplay is encouraged. For tickets or more information, go to OSC.org.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

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