Invisible Energies

What’s Involved:

Let’s turn down the lights, and turn on the glow!

Invisible Energies is a one-hour live experience exploring the science of electricity, glowing gases, and chemical reactions!

We’ll create static electricity, produce high-voltage sparks, and use ultraviolet light to reveal colours and materials normally hidden from view.

With glowing plasma, fluorescent materials, phosphorescent paints, and other large-scale demonstrations, Invisible Energies lets you grapple with the science hiding in the world around us.

And you know what, it’s pretty cool, too.

What to Expect:

This experience combines presenter-led demonstrations and audience participation, letting you get your hands on the science. 

Some larger-scale demonstrations are done just by a trained Smiley Science professional, and others allow us to bring volunteers or the wider group into the action.

In Invisible Energies you’ll get to:

• See high-voltage sparks of lightning and play with plasma tendrils

• Explore the world of fluorescence, phosphorescence and chemiluminescence

• Use ultraviolet light and lasers to ‘paint with light’

• Reveal the rainbows hidden inside white light

• And witness the hidden power unleashed in chemical reactions!

The demonstrations and audience participation are adjusted to suit the age group, venue, and type of event.

Invisible Energies works best in a darkened room.

Who is it for?

Invisible Energies is suitable for adults, children aged eight and above, and any mixture of ages together! We adapt our science content to our audience. For the best experience, a darkened room is preferred.

Please note: Invisible Energies includes use of some high-voltage electrical equipment and ultraviolet lights and lasers. Some equipment may potentially interfere with pacemakers or other implanted electronic medical devices. Please contact us before booking if this may affect anyone attending.

Questions? Get in touch.

Practical Details:

• Duration: Approximately 1 hour.

• Performance space: A clear area of approximately 3 × 3 metres, and the ability to reduce the room lighting.

• Set-up access: Approximately 30 minutes set-up time beforehand and access to power.

• Pack-down access: Approximately 20 minutes pack-down time afterwards — but we’re always happy to stick around to kōrero and nerd out on any of the science.

• To make the experience as exciting as possible, the set-up and pack-down access must be uninterrupted, with the performance area kept clear of guests during those periods.