Connecticut Science Center opening Friday

— -- What's being touted as the East Coast's largest new attraction opens today on the banks of the Connecticut River in downtown Hartford. The $164 million Connecticut Science Center boasts 150 interactive exhibits in 10 galleries, plus a 206-seat 3-D theater.

Visitors can strap themselves into a flight chair for a virtual flyover of Mars, tune into the sound of their own internal organs, and explore alternative energy sources. Plus, gallery scientists present live demonstrations.

About 95% of the steel used in the distinctive Cesar Pelli-designed building comes from recycled cars, and the LEED-certified "green" structure lives up to that designation with a rooftop garden planted in native grasses. Admission: $16 adults; $13 children. 860-724-3623; CTScienceCenter.org.