The Current: The Franklin Institute Blog

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Philadelphia skyline

The Philly Solar System

We all know that Earth is one of eight planets in the Solar System orbiting a star that we call the Sun, which is one of the more than 100 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. That’s in effect our cosmic neighborhood, but It can be a little hard to grasp the scale of even just the Solar System and the vastness of space, but what if we instead shrunk our community down to a scale recognizable to most Philadelphians, what would the Solar System look like?

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solstice and equinox earth chart

What Is a Solstice and What Is an Equinox (and Why Should I Care)?

Astronomically, our planet’s seasons change on four particular days each year, two solstices, one in June and one in December, and two equinoxes (one in March and one in September). The particular dates are targeted by scientists at the boundary between our seasons because of a series of factors based upon the relationship between the Earth and the Sun, the tilt in the Earth’s axis and how those factors play out for all of us living here on the third rock from the Sun.

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Einstein wall

7 Secret Spots at The Franklin Institute for Epic Instagrams

One of the latest trends in social media is the Instagram Wall, curiously colored or textured backgrounds are finding a new audience in the popular photo sharing app and we at The Franklin Institute thought it might be helpful to catalog some of the top photo spots within our museum that you can use to wow your friends with your incredible photographic prowess.

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meat and cheese cartoon

A Surprising Solution to Lowering Our Greenhouse Gas Emissions

This April marks the 48th Earth Month, offering us an opportunity to reflect on our collective impact on the one and only planet we call home. Many simple life changes can make a big difference – switching our household electricity provider to renewable or carbon-neutral energy sources, replacing inefficient household electronics, using cold water to wash our clothes, signing up for a composting service, and recycling, just to name a few. 

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hands completing a maze puzzle

Game Masters Citizen Science

Game Masters has brought guests of all ages into the museum to play video games, from Pac-Man to Donkey Kong and Fruit Ninja to Rock Band. There are many types of video games on the market today, but I noticed one thing all of them had in common: they all had a soundtrack! Whether I am racing in Sega Rally Championship or controlling a relaxing petal through the winds of Flower, the music always helps to immerse me into the environment of the game.

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thermometer in snow

Franklin Laureates Make Huge Strides in Climate Science

After holding steady for three years, anthropogenic (human caused or influenced) carbon emissions were once again on the rise in 2017. The brief pause had many climate scientists hopeful that manmade carbon emissions had perhaps hit their maximum, and that a downward trend would soon follow. However, last year's uptick quickly reversed the tenor of the conversation from hopeful to concerned.

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children gathered around table in brain exhibit

Tiny Worms Launch a Global Leader in Brain Science

In 2018, the U.S. Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative celebrates its fifth anniversary. The goal of this unique nationwide alliance of research organizations has been to push our understanding of the brain farther and faster than ever before, by inventing new technologies, deciphering the details of brain function and behavior, and developing new treatments for brain disorders.