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A chalk-line illustration of an art detective points her magnifying glass at a microscope; hands reach towards the microscope while a crew of bugs and a fingerprint ghost look on

MetKids Microscope

The science behind the art (and the art behind the science!) at The Met.

About

MetKids Microscope is a show about the science behind the art (and the art behind the science!) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Learn true stories about real discoveries from scientists at the Museum, and do some experiments on your own!

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View previous seasons

Episodes

A cartoon drawing of a sphinx on a column in ancient Greece, beside an inset photograph of a terracotta sphinx head with cartoon crystals coming out of its ear. Bottom text reads hashtag MetKids and an icon indicating a microscope.
Video
Ancient Ear Hair: How Do Crystals Form?
Art at The Met is made of many materials, including natural materials like minerals. Environmental conditions can affect these minerals, and even make an ancient statue grow ear hair! Learn about the science of crystals and salts, and how we use our knowledge to protect the art.
August 26, 2021
A cartoon drawing of a blue falcon soaring above pyramids, palm trees, and sand, beside an inset photograph of a metal container shaped like a falcon from Ancient Egypt. Bottom text reads hashtag MetKids and an icon indicating a microscope.
Video
Art Under X-Ray: What’s Inside the Art?
Art is full of mysteries that can’t be revealed by a quick glance. How do we see what’s hiding inside objects and learn how they were made and repaired? We use an x-ray machine, just like you’d find at the doctor’s office!
August 26, 2021
A cartoon drawing of a man in a hat picking small white insects from cacti in a field in the desert beside an inset photo of a Peruvian Chimu textile of red creatures depicting people and beasts. Bottom text reads hashtag MetKids and an icon indicating a microscope.
Video
Painting With Bugs: Where Does Color Come From?
Sometimes the colors in paints and dyes come from the natural world, like plants, minerals, and… bugs? Meet the cochineal—the tiny, cactus-loving insect that brings a bright, vibrant red color to art, clothing, and even food—and learn all about the science of pigments.
August 26, 2021
A cartoon drawing of a girl reading a book cross-legged on a small wooden boat beneath a large crashing wave, beside an inset Japanese woodblock print of a massive blue wave crashing over the ocean. Bottom text reads hashtag MetKids and an icon indicating a microscope.
Video
Making Waves: What Happens When We Zoom in on Art?
Waves: they’re not just in the ocean. We need waves of light to look at art at The Met. But what if we want to take a closer look? Then, we use an electron microscope, a cool tool that uses energy waves to zoom in on art like never before.
August 26, 2021
A cartoon image of The Met's facade with a cartoon sun shining light rays down on the building, beside an inset still-life painting of blue irises in a vase on a green table. Bottom text reads hashtag MetKids and an icon indicating a microscope.
Video
Art in the Dark: How Does Light Change Art?
We need light to see art, but the safest place for it is in the dark. Umm… what? Learn how light energy can damage materials, and what we do at The Met to keep art safe for years to come.
August 26, 2021
A collage made from legos and small toys of dinosaurs in a valley beneath a volcano, beside an inset photograph of clear plastic sandals with fake grass sprouting from the insole. Bottom text reads hashtag MetKids and an icon indicating a microscope.
Video
Dinosaur Fashion: Where Can We Find Plastics and Polymers at The Museum?
It’s dinosaur couture! Polymers are everywhere: in your body, in your clothes, and in art all over The Met. Learn about how we use the science of plastics and polymers to preserve art and try to protect the future from waste and pollution.
August 26, 2021

About Season 1

Discover the science behind how light changes art, where color comes from, and more—and experiment on your own!

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