The Rochester Museum and Science Center's newest permanent exhibition opened last week as part of the International Year of Light celebrations in Rochester. "Illumination: The World of Light and Optics" features 15 hands-on, interactive components, allowing visitors of all ages to experiment with the science of light and to explore its nature.

The exhibition explores engaging light-based technologies that impact our daily lives, including a laser communicator that creates sounds; spectra tubes, which help us understand the makeup of stars in the universe by reading the colors that elements emit; and a how the flow of liquid seems to change speed under a strobe light.

In addition, a new Inventor Center challenge, "Make it Fly, Make it Shine," has opened, in which museum goers are challenged to build and test a device that can fly in a storm and shimmer through the darkness.

Admission to the new exhibit is included in regular museum prices: $13 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students with ID, $11 for ages 3 to 18, and free for RMSC members and children under 3. RMSC (657 East Avenue) is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 271-4320 or visit rmsc.org for hours and more information.

A full list of International Year of Light events is available at roctheyol.com.

For more events, check out our calendar.