An explosive invitation

Cancel your plans for Saturday afternoon. You’ve just been invited to a party that requires the attendance of “explosive experts.” The only hors d’oeuvres served will be crackers frozen with nitrogen. Bite down on one, and smoke will pour out of your mouth! For entertainment, people will set towels on fire; discharge ethanol cannons; freeze nitrogen dioxide; and teach you to mix up your own batch of sticky, gooey gak. It’s the kind of stuff you’ve always wanted to try at home but didn’t for fear of incinerating your rumpus room (or your rump, for that matter).

This is not an out-of-control frat party or another Burning Man art show; it’s the University of California, Davis, Chemistry Club’s “Extreme Science” demonstration! The club’s explosive experts, who have been carefully trained in the laws of chemistry to avoid blowing up the audience, will be on hand for all of the above experiments and many more. The show, which begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, lasts about two hours and is suitable for all ages. It’s free with paid admission to the Explorit Science Center, located at 3141 Fifth Street in Davis. Admission to Explorit is $3 and includes entrance to the hands-on forensic-science exhibit Get a Clue! Solving Mysteries with Science. Call (530) 756-0191 or visit www.explorit.org for more information.