Monster slime, vampire masks, and lots of smoky dry ice - what's not to love?

COSI's Spooky Science exhibit is back for its second year. The hands-on science museum seeks to thrill, and teach, youngsters with this two-weekend event, which runs Saturday, Sunday and Oct. 26 and 27. COSI encourages its visitors to wear Halloween costumes to this event.

Children can make masks - always a popular activity, says Amy Hasty, special events and promotions coordinator. Visitors will learn how to stuff a scarecrow, and make monster slime, candy-corn magnets, and egg-cup spiders.

In “skeleton thumbprints,” children will learn about different types of fingerprints, Ms. Hasty said. Children who bring in leaves from their yards can discover what kinds of leaves they are, and do artistic rubbings with the leaves. And Frankenstein will be on hand to do experiments with chemicals and dry ice.

Spooky Science is covered by COSI's admission fee. Admission is $8 for folks 13-64; $6.50 for children 3-12, and adults 65 and older. COSI members and children 2 and younger get in free. COSI's hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

First Published October 18, 2002, 4:00 a.m.