A new acoustic show at the Science Center Differdange transports visitors into the world of sounds. In the one-hour show, they can interactively explore how sounds trigger acoustic waves, how sounds can be measured and how the human ear works… The shows at the Science Center Differdange seem like a new edition of the once so popular ZDF television show, the “Knoff-Hoff-Show”.

Extraordinary scientific phenomena are presented here in a less dusty and more entertaining and didactic way. In the new sound show “Sound & Silence”, viewers also discover the secrets of sound waves interactively through experiments. To enter the room of the new acoustic show in the Science Center Differdange, you need to pass through two doors. Absorbent panels on the ceiling and the walls are reminiscent of a sound studio where recordings are made: a room within a room.

And off we go! An animator leads through the experiments and starts right away: How can we create sounds with our bodies? Waves are created with a tube, the audience mimes clapping a “la-ola-wave”. Without further ado, the audience produces strident sounds itself, both high and low tones, the frequency of which is measured in hertz. The participants sing in different registers… It is an opportunity to shout loudly into a microphone!

The vibrations are made visible with an oversized tuning fork. The tuning fork is dipped into the water, then a mobile phone Is dipped in too: you choose a song! In our case, it was a rather annoying song by Michael Jackson… So, it becomes clear: you need air to produce sounds. And it becomes clear in return: there is no sound in a vacuum, because it always needs a carrier medium.

Using an oversized replica of an auricle, the animator explains that the hearing threshold, the sensation of a certain volume and the limit to the sensation of pain in humans lie in the range of 16 – 20.000 hertz. It also becomes clear to the audience: hearing ability, especially in the range of high notes, decreases with age, but also due to straining of the hearing over the years caused by loud music and noise.

With periodic signals, the observed frequency increases or decreases. This applies to pitches as well as modulation frequencies, such as the change of tones of a siren on a fire engine. Tones seem to have a  certain speed.

A helium-filled balloon makes the audience speak in distorted voices when the visitors breathe in the air. They croak almost like characters from a cartoon.

And one more thing: at the end, the secret is revealed of how and why you can make music with wine glasses! The animator creates sounds by stroking glasses and making them vibrate… The acoustic show “Sound & Silence” at the Science Center Differdange takes young and old sensually into the world of sound.

Information for visitors

  • Opening hours: The Luxembourg Science Center is open daily on weekdays from 9am to 12pm and from 1.30pm to 5pm. On weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) it is open from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm for visitors and school classes.
  • Website: www.science-center.lu ; Phone: +352 28 83 99 1
  • Entry: adults: 12,- euros; children from 6 years on/seniors/people with disabilities: 7,- euros; children under 6 years for free.
  • All interactive stations are accompanied by texts in 5 languages. The science shows and workshops are presented in 4 languages.
  • How much time should you plan for a visit of the show? The visit of the show(s) takes about one hour.
  • Registration for the shows via internet (up to 25 participants).
  • The shows are offered in four languages, German, French, English and Luxembourgish and they are suitable for children aged 6 and over.
  • During the school holidays and at weekends it is recommended to make a reservation.
  • Attention: Due to the limited contingent and the Covid-19 pandemic, it is recommended to book tickets online in advance, otherwise access to the exploration room and the science shows cannot be guaranteed.
  • Address: 1, rue John Ernest Dolibois, L-4573 Differdange, Luxembourg; (In front of the gate 1, the main entrance to the Arcelor-Mittal steelworks).
  • The Science Center is easily accessible by train (CFL). By train (regional express via Esch/Alzette in the direction of Rodange) to the stop “Differdange, Gare”, then cross the road in the direction of Auchan and pass Auchan “Opkorn” on the right, walk straight ahead for 500 metres.
    By car from Luxembourg City via the     Collectrice (motorway to Rodange); exit: Differdange, past the steelworks to the train station. Parking is 500 metres away (Niederkorn).