The science of bubbles engages visitors at Santa Barbara County Fair Wild Science exhibit | Local News

Rodriguez, 26, said that her daughter, who is 3 years-old, enjoys hands-on activities, making the STEM-related exhibits especially appealing to her.

“She is very creative and likes being very hands-on, so I think it is awesome there is somewhere shaded where she can have that and get some energy out inside,” said Rodriguez.

The Wild Science exhibit is located at the Park Plaza Building and features more than 30 different stations, some with multiple elements. The exhibit is hosted at the Santa Maria Fairpark by IG Presents, said Nancy Bommer, one of the educators at the exhibit. Every day is bustling with young people and adults engaging with various STEM activities, she said.

“We’ve got at least 75% to 80% of the stations actively engaged, and at the busier times, everything is engaged, but everybody’s just very nice and considerate in taking turns and playing together. Some of the kids just make new friends while they’re doing this,” said Bommer.

The two bubble stations were clearly favored by people of all ages.

Often, when individuals are making bubbles they notice how beautiful they are, but they don’t always realize the significance of those colors, said Bommer.

“When you’re first taking your bubble out of the solution, if the film is fairly thick, you’re going to see a lot of blues and purples, but as the bubble wall is becoming thinner, you’re going to be going to greens, yellows and then clear,” said Bommer. “That means you’re getting closer to popping because it’s getting thinner and thinner. So those shifts are letting our eyes see the different colors in the spectrum. It’s almost like creating a prism in the air.”

The bubbles are formed by immersing a wand into a unique solution that produces a delicate layer of soap and water. Observers witnessed individuals placing their friends inside the bubbles or attempting to make the largest bubble imaginable.

Bommer said adults have even suggested an adults-only bubble station because they enjoy the activity so much.

“We’ve had all kinds of reactions from, ‘Wow, this is just a fun place to sit down and play,’ especially with the little ones who develop engineering skills by playing with simple building blocks, to people being astounded as they work their way through the cognitive challenges of the puzzle,” said Bommer.

It’s more than just making bubbles; it’s about exploring the science behind them and fostering a love for discovery that extends far beyond the fairgrounds, said Bommer.

It’s a playful yet educational experience where children and adults learn about surface tension, chemistry, and the physics of bubbles.

“Bubbles have a full science behind them of how they’re created, and when they get too foamy. I tell the kids why I’m removing the foam, so that they can still create those bubbles because that bubble isn’t going to get out from under the foam. We’re breaking the surface tension, trying to get through,” she said.