Mon. Jan 13th, 2025

Dive into the senses as new details on world premiere exhibition Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are revealed 

Science Museum Group © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

With just one month to go until the opening of Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You at the Science and Industry Museum on 14 February, today new details have been released on what visitors can expect in this sense-sational adventure, with tickets available now.

Over 30 fun-filled interactives will be packed into this epic romp through the senses. Mini medics can explore their brilliant brains by banging on an eardrum, venturing into a massive eyeball and even taking a whiff of a “smell library” during a lively, interactive and playful adventure at the museum.

Operation Ouch!

The well-loved presenters of the hit BBC Children’s and Education show Operation Ouch!, Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx, will be your virtual guides as you become a tiny brain explorer – setting out to investigate Dr Chris’ senses before being sneezed out of his giant nose. Prepare for a deep dive into the functions of the brain, as you travel through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot and investigate some of the body’s funniest functions through exciting interactives. The doctors will pop up in videos and interactive features throughout the journey to help visitors understand more about the science of our sense-sational brains.

The job of each of the key senses – hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell – will be explored from inside Dr Chris’ brain. You can even start your own chain reaction with dominoes to simulate how our nerves send messages, before chilling out in the relaxing Mindboosters zone to recharge and reconnect. Visitors can test what they see, hear and feel in a series of illusions and find out if they can believe everything they sense. They can get creative with colourful light beams and compete with their friends and families to identify all kinds of sounds. From Dr Chris’ brain, they can cheekily test his reactions to stinky smells, raucous sounds and even a giant tickly feather.

The science of our senses will also be showcased through fascinating objects from the Science Museum Group’s collection, including a brain scanning ‘jedi’ helmet worn by children over 40 years ago, ear trumpets used to improve hearing before hearing aids came along, and even coins that were touched by Henry VIII and given to sick people, in the days when it was thought the touch of a king or queen could cure the sick.

Goodies in the Museum shop

Visitors can also bag some Operation Ouch! goodies in our museum shop, with an exclusive range of merchandise themed around the hit TV show available – including skeleton pyjamas, stationery, bouncing putty and even a Mr Grumbles soft toy.

Steven Leech, Curator of Exhibitions at the Science and Industry Museum, said: “From sight and sound to some lesser-known senses, our bodies are truly sense-sational! Our brains rely on our senses to help us understand and explore the world around us. In this exhibition you will take part in an epic experiment that is bursting with brilliant brain science.

Just like our previous Operation Ouch! exhibition, Brains, Bogies and You will offer a playful experience that builds confidence in young people who want to explore science. An interactive journey through each of the senses will give visitors the chance to explore what makes our brains work through play and experimentation.”

Dr Chris and Dr Xand said:

“Get ready to go on the adventure of a lifetime to find out all about our incredible senses and take a dive into the brain as we explore what makes our bodies so amazing.

From earwax and bogies to brains and snot, make a date to be enjoyably disgusted and fascinated by this brand-new exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum. It’s going to be absolutely gross!”

Dr Ronx said: “I can’t wait for everyone to have a good poke around inside Dr Chris’ brain with Dr Xand and I! It’s going to be epic, discovering how our senses work in the most fun and gross ways possible with hands-on experiments and all kinds of adventures. Science has never been this fun (or this sticky). See you there!”

This is the second time that the hit BBC show Operation Ouch! has been brought to life at the museum following the success of last year’s Food, Poo and You exhibition. The exhibition is being produced by the Science and Industry Museum and developed in collaboration with BBC Children’s and Education and Objective Media Group.

Find out more about the exhibition and book your tickets now at https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/operation-ouch-brains-bogies-and-you. Tickets are priced at £10, with children aged three and under going free. 

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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