Fascinating Physics
August 2, 2026
Fascinating Physics | August 3
Scheduled Activities
Transitioning from RHIC to EIC
Celebrate the remarkable scientific legacy of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) as it concludes 25 years of groundbreaking research. Learn how RHIC helped scientists explore the fundamental building blocks of matter and paved the way for Brookhaven Lab's next flagship facility, the Electron-Ion Collider.
Recommended for ages 12 and older.
Presented by: Travis Shrey, Machine Operations Specialist
11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. (30 minutes)
STAR-struck!
Get ready for a virtual visit to the awe-inspiring STAR detector at RHIC. For more than two decades, scientists used STAR to investigate the astounding matter that came before stars in the early universe.
Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Presented by: Gene Van Buren, Nuclear Physicist
10:30 aa.m. nd 2:30 p.m. (30 minutes)
Powering Progress: The Early History of the Brookhaven Lab Site
Long before it became a world-renowned scientific research laboratory, the Brookhaven site played an important role in American history. Explore the site's fascinating past and learn how it evolved into a center for scientific discovery with national and global impact.
Recommended for ages eight and older.
Presented by: Allison McGovern, Cultural Resources Manager
11 a.m. (30 minutes)
ATLAS Virtual Visit
A live connection to the ATLAS Control room at CERN where you can see the detector environment, interact with someone on site, and ask questions in real time.
Recommended for ages 12 and older.
12:30 p.m. (1 hour)
All-Day Activities
Collider Center (TOUR)
Take a guided tour of the future home of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), Brookhaven Lab's next-generation particle collider that will help scientists unlock the mysteries of matter.
Tour tickets are required. Reserve your tour at the Reception Desk in Berkner Hall. Tickets are available throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis.
This tour starts from Berkner Hall Room B. Bus transportation is provided. Arrive by 2:15 p.m. for the last bus. The tour is appropriate for those ages 10 and older.
Tandem Van de Graaff (TOUR)
Go behind the scenes at Brookhaven's Tandem Van de Graaff Facility, where particle beams are produced for scientific research and to support the Laboratory's accelerator complex.
Tour tickets are required. Reserve your tour at the Reception Desk in Berkner Hall. Tickets are available throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis.
This tour starts from Berkner Hall Room B. Bus transportation is provided. Arrive by 2:15 p.m. for the last bus. The tour is appropriate for those ages 10 and older.
Physics Fun
Meet Brookhaven scientists, engineers, and technical staff and discover how they design, build, and operate some of the world's most advanced research tools.
Explore interactive demonstrations featuring electricity, magnetism, and engineering; particle accelerators and detector technology, including the sPHENIX experiment, and Brookhaven's collaboration on the ATLAS experiment at CERN.
This activity is recommended for those ages eight and older.
Key: Bus from Berkner Hall Walk from Berkner Hall
'Living in Space' Show
RHIC Tour
See What's Inside sPHENIX
June 28
Family Fun
Featuring
The Science Learning Center, Brookhaven Lab’s Firehouse, and the Environmental Protection Division
July 19
Dazzling Discoveries
Featuring
The National Synchrotron Light Source II, the Environmental Science & Technologies Department, and Instrumentation Division
August 2
Fascinating Physics
Featuring
The future Electron-Ion Collider, the Nuclear & Particle Physics Directorate, and the Tandem Van de Graaff Facility
Note: Photos and videos may be taken during these events and may be used by Brookhaven Lab for promotional purposes, including on social media and in other related materials. By attending, you consent to being photographed or filmed and authorize Brookhaven Lab to use these images without compensation or further approval.
- Free, no reservations needed
- Gates open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- All activities are first-come, first-served
- Located 1.5 miles north of LIE Exit 68
- Wheelchair accessible
- Specific activities subject to change.
- Guests 18 and older must bring REAL ID-compliant identification. Digital IDs and copies cannot be accepted.
