NEWSLETTER
With themes ranging from walking for brain health, infinity day, NYC wildlife, and more
May–October 2026
Astoria, New York, May 18, 2026 — The wildlife of New York City, walking and brain health, the nature of infinity, and alien encounters are some of the subjects explored in the second season of Open Worlds: Science, science-focused programs presented as part of Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI)’s free Open Worlds initiative. Running through October, Open Worlds: Science features scientist-led talks, screenings, and hands-on activities that all relate to science and the moving image to help illuminate and excite visitors of all ages about the ways science affects daily life.
Open Worlds: Science is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division.
The next program in Open Worlds: Science takes place Saturday, May 30: MoMI will present New York Loves to Walk, featuring a screening, a science talk, and a neighborhood walk. Research shows that walking sparks creativity and can improve your mood, and New Yorkers know it’s the best way to see the city. Psychologist Catherine Hartley, Ph.D. (NYU) joins this program to discuss her research into the effects that novel experiences—like walking a new route—have on increasing brain activity and enhancing happiness. The talk is preceded by a screening of The World Before Your Feet, which follows Matt Green on his quest to walk every block of New York City. Visitors are also invited to join a neighborhood walk to Socrates Sculpture Park! All events are free with RSVP.
Other scheduled programs are:
June 20: Signal from the Soil: A Day of Mycelium, Sound & Story
July 18: First Contact: Alien Encounters in Science and Fiction
August 8: ∞ Infinity Day
September 19: Wild City
October 16–18: Alt.Ctrl Arcade
Open Worlds: Science programs are organized by Rose Vincelli Gustine, MoMI’s Associate Director of Public Programs, with the support of Sonia Shechet Epstein, MoMI’s Curator of Science and Technology, and co-programmers Tom McNamara ("First Contact") and Darius Jamal Nelson ("Signal to Soil").
"Through our Open Worlds: Science programs, we're able to create opportunities for audiences to have fun, get creative, and think differently about how science and STEM concepts are threaded through our everyday experiences and through the Museum's subject of the moving image."
Descriptions are included below and additional details are available Museum’s website at movingimage.org/open-worlds-science-2026 where the public can make reservations (often recommended).
Open Worlds: Science 2026 kicked off on April 17 with a screening and presentation by Panteha Abareshi, an artist featured in the Museum’s current exhibition Overexposed: Art, Technology, and the Body, followed by a conversation with Abareshi, exhibition catalog co-editor Elisabeth Sherman, and radiologist Lily Offit, moderated by MoMI curator Sonia Epstein.
The Open Worlds initiative invites the public to use MoMI’s ground-floor space and courtyard for free during regular hours. This accessible, 15,500-square-foot, climate-controlled, WiFi-enabled area serves as a community resource for visitors of all ages looking to convene, find creative inspiration, learn about and experience new media technologies, or participate in many diverse programming selections. As part of Open Worlds, the Museum presents free events and programs that range from talks and demonstrations by industry professionals and artists, screenings, hands-on workshops, performances, and other activities. Lead support for Open Worlds 2026 is provided by the William Fox Jr. Foundation. Learn more about Open Worlds at movingimage.org/open-worlds-2026.
SCHEDULE FOR 2026 “OPEN WORLDS: SCIENCE” PROGRAMS
All programs are free to attend and take place at Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave, Astoria, NY. Reservations are not required but encouraged. Learn more at movingimage.org/open-worlds-science.
New York Loves to Walk
Saturday, May 30, 12:00–5:30 p.m.
Research shows that walking sparks creativity and can improve your mood, and New Yorkers know it can be the best way to see the city. Catherine Hartley, Ph.D. (NYU) will discuss her research into the effects that novel experiences, like walking a new route, has on increasing brain activity, and to enhanced happiness. Accompanying the talk: a 12:00 p.m. screening of The World Before Your Feet, which follows Matt Green on his quest to walk every block of New York City. Green and the film’s director Jeremy Workman will lead a neighborhood walk, passing landmarks of Astoria and discussing the topics of the day. The destination is Socrates Sculpture Park, plus a walk back to MoMI, about 90 minutes. RSVP recommended.
Signal from the Soil: A Day of Mycelium, Sound & Story
Saturday, June 20
Plant sonification artist and musician Skooby Laposky translates the subtle electrical activity of mushrooms into immersive sound, revealing a hidden sonic ecology within living systems. This performance includes live sounds of mycelial networks and is followed by a conversation with the artist. Later, hands-on listening stations let you amplify plant sounds for yourself. Bronx urban farm Mi Oh My Farms also presents a mushroom grow-bag workshop for you to take home. RSVP recommended.
First Contact: Alien Encounters in Science and Fiction
Thursday, July 18
Outer space and alien blockbusters are back in a big way this year, from the high-stakes survival depicted in Project Hail Mary to Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated return to the genre in Disclosure Day. We often view science as the study of what is, and fiction as the dream of what could be. Join MoMI for a live program that collapses the distance between the two, exploring human-alien encounters in cinema and the potential realities in our very own universe, with a variety show of presentations including science writer Jaime Green on her book The Possibility of Life, filmmaker Cory Zapatka on decoding the 1977 Voyager spacecraft Golden Record, and a scientist (to be confirmed).
∞ Infinity Day
Saturday, August 8
A day-long celebration of infinity and mathematics! Mathematicians and physicists give illustrated talks exploring the intersection of infinity and aesthetics, as well as the concepts of the multiverse. These conversations are complimented by a short program of animated celebrations of math, and hands-on activities.
Wild City
Saturday, September 19
Even in the urban jungle, New Yorkers share the city with wild animals large and small. From the coyotes in Central Park, whales and dolphins off the Rockaways, and peregrine falcons nesting on high-rises, these neighbors remind us that nature is not so far away. Join MoMI for a day exploring the ecology of these wild residents with Gotham Coyote, Gotham Whale, and others.
Alt.Ctrl Arcade
October 16–18
MoMI presents a weekend of free-to-play indie games featuring alt.ctrl (alternative control), a game development movement that embraces in-person play and experimental interfaces—not your traditional joystick or console controllers. The games offer creative outlets for designers, purely for the “love of the game.” The weekend also includes expert talks from creative coder Andy Wallace and others about the robotics and mathematics underpinning game design, plus tournaments, community gatherings, and more. Presented in partnership with Arcade Commons, a non-profit collective of artists, designers, fabricators, and game developers based in New York City.
About the Simons Foundation
This program is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division. The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Since its founding in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation has been a champion of basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement. We believe in asking big questions and providing sustained support to researchers working to unravel the mysteries of the universe. The Simons Foundation’s Science, Society and Culture division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science—whether for the first time or a lifetime. Through our initiatives, we work to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, foster connections between people and science and support environments that provide a sense of belonging.
About Museum of the Moving Image
MoMI celebrates the history, art, technology, and future of the moving image in all of its forms. Located in Astoria, New York, the Museum presents exhibitions; screenings; discussion programs featuring actors, directors, and creative leaders; and education programs. It houses the nation’s most comprehensive collection of moving image artifacts and screens over 500 films annually. Its exhibitions—including the core exhibition Behind the Screen and The Jim Henson Exhibition—are noted for their integration of material objects, interactive experiences, and audiovisual presentations. For more information about MoMI, visit movingimage.org.
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PRESS IMAGES
Follow the Museum on Facebook (@MovingImageMuseum), Twitter (@movingimagenyc), and Instagram (@movingimagenyc).
Museum of the Moving Image is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and has received significant support from the following public agencies: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; New York City Council; New York City Economic Development Corporation; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services; the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York; and the Regional Economic Development Council. For more information, please visit movingimage.org.
Pictured: Matt Green in The World Before Your Feet (2018). Photo: Michael Berman.