Museum of Science and Industry

It's a whirlwind

From palm trees in a typhoon to pinwheels on a blustery day, watching air in motion can be hypnotic. In its most powerful forms, wind can also devastate in a matter of moments. In the centerpiece of Science Storms, you'll be blown away by the tornado, a 40-foot vortex of swirling air and vapor you can study and manipulate. Nearby, you can also create convection by heating the air inside large balloons and observe the effect with thermal cameras. Or team up with friends to ride along with storm chasers in a virtual race to intercept severe weather.