Photos: Academy of Sciences rebirth

This interactive exhibit is designed to demonstrate to people how precarious the lives of polar bears are today. As global warming heats northern ice fields, breaking up the ice, the bears can find themselves stranded on floating ice, and even separated from family members. The idea of the exhibit is that the warming effect is breaking up the ice, and only increased shadow can cause the ice to re- form. By moving around and waving, visitors can cast shadow on the "ice," causing it to come back together and, hopefully, allowing the mother and baby polar bears to reunite.