Late night adults opening at the Science Museum

This month, Lates focuses on medicine as we delve in to dementia and neuroscience with UCL and Alzheimer's Research UK. Meet scientists from the Brain Bank who research the brain post-mortem, try an arcade–style video game to destroy a protein that can lead to Alzheimer’s and hear about the effects of boxing on the brain.

You’ll also get to make your own neuron, test your brain and see real brain cells. Plus all the regular highlights of live music, the Punk Science comedy show and the best silent disco in town. Wednesday 27 April 18.45-22.00.

Lost for Words

Dementia doesn’t just affect memory. Some types of dementia affect language and can, for example, make it very difficult for people to speak and produce words. Here, we’ll use a computer simulator to let you experience this first-hand.

How Terry Pratchett Changed the Way we Think

Often it takes a well-known personality to make us think differently about an issue or disease. In this myth-busting talk we'll explore common misconceptions about dementia and reveal the science (or lack of!) behind the headlines and old wives' tales. Grab your voting cards and test your ability to separate fact from fiction.

Level Up Human
Evolution has gotten lazy and needs a prod. Would life be better with tentacles? Combining gene splicing and transhumanism, medical advancement and ambition, Level Up Human takes a light hearted look at what it means to be human, and what the alternatives might be. Join Simon Watt, Ellie Taylor, Julia Shaw and Paul Duncan McGarrity for the live recording of an exciting new podcast series.

EyeWink

Forget swiping and go totally hands-free - discover how two students developed a way of controlling a smartphone through winking.

Who Will get Dementia?

Can we predict who will get dementia before symptoms start – and would you want to know?

Experience 3D Virtual Reality!

New for 2016, URENCO’s VR headsets will give you an insight into the inner workings of a centrifuge; how we enrich uranium for the provision of nuclear energy. Using 360 degree, state-of-the-art technology, the headsets will transport you into a virtual environment. There will be a competition and prizes to be won so well worth a visit!

Back Up Your Memories

Ever use your phone to set reminders? With increasing dependence upon technology, are our phones just an extension of our minds? Join Dr Sam Gilbert to learn about how our memories interact with technology.

Where do I look, and why?
Can our eye movements tell us about what’s happening in our brains? Researchers from the Dementia Research Centre at University College London want to discover how we could use eye-tracking to learn about the way we think. Drop in for this 5-10 minute experiment and find out more!

Seeing in Sound

Close your eyes and listen to see what's in front of you. Find out from Dr Giles Hamilton-Fletcher how new brain and technology research is allowing blind individuals to see in sound.

Should Boxing be Banned?

Repetitive concussion in rugby and boxing are associated with increased risk of dementia. Come and hear about research in this area and how this might affect sport in schools and competition.

The 19.30 session will be BSL interpreted

Keep Up with the Hello Girls: Test your Reactions
Can you keep up with the Hello Girls, who worked at amazing speeds to manually connect phone calls until the 1970s? See how quickly you can respond, with BT’s ultimate reaction testing game. Will you see your name on the leader board?

Art and Dementia

Dementia can affect language, vision, behaviour and memory. Come and see painting by participants with different forms of dementia and understand how perception can be altered.

Mystery Vegetable
MRI Scans are a powerful tool allowing the brain to be imaged during life. Come and play our quiz and guess the vegetable from their MRI scan, plus see MRI scans from people with different forms of dementia.

How to Grow a Brain in a Dish
Come and see stem cells and neurons under the microscope and understand how they are helping the fight against dementia, and play “Start as a Stem Cell”, our addictive floor game… Can you make it onto our leader board?

Take Time to Talk – How Psychology can Help

Find out what techniques are leading the way in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Check your own wellbeing with NHS staff and learn more about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Hidden Gems

Peel away the layers of the Science Museum’s collections and you’ll find a weird and wonderful world of spectacular objects. Come and marvel at a selection of items not normally on public display, brought straight from our stores.

BSL interpreted between 20.30 and 21.00.

The Science Museum Comedy Club

Punk Science, our resident comedy team invite you to meet some of their most hilarious and clever friends at their hybrid Comedy Club. Punk Science have found the funniest and most interesting people to entertain, enthral and educate you. There will be demonstrations of remarkable scientific concepts, intriguing theories and rarely seen fascinating objects from the Science Museum's collection. All this with top award winning comedians putting the fun into fundamental physics.

Tickets are limited and cost £9 per person – available from any ticket desk.