{"id":56007,"date":"2026-09-20T06:38:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T04:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.infn.it\/ernest-project\/?page_id=56007"},"modified":"2026-09-27T20:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T18:59:19","slug":"escape-room-photon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.infn.it\/ernest-project\/escape-room-photon\/","title":{"rendered":"On board a photon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Escape room profile<\/p>\n

On board a photon<\/h1>\n

On board a photon is an interactive experience that allows players to relive the journey of photons \u2013 light particles \u2013 from the depths of the Sun, where they start their adventure, through the planets of the Solar System, all the way to the telescopes of astronomers who observe these celestial bodies from Earth and try to make sense of the cosmos we live in.<\/p>\n

\n See the mission<\/a>\n Plan your visit<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section><\/header>
\n
\n
\n

The Story<\/p>\n

The Narrative<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n

How long will it take for photons to emerge from the solar interior to the surface of the Sun? Which planet will they visit on their cosmic adventure through the Solar System? How long is the journey to get there, at the speed of light? And on which telescope will their tour end? Explore these questions, solving coding and robotics challenges, on board a photon. On board a photon has been created by the Play working group of INAF, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (by Claudia Mignone, Silvia Galleti, Laura Leonardi, Federico Di Giacomo, Maria Teresa Fulco and Maura Sandri). It premiered at the 2022 Genova Science Festival. <\/p>\n <\/article>\n <\/section>\n\n

\n
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Inside the Experience<\/p>\n

The core elements of the experience.<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n 01<\/span>\n

Your Role<\/h3>\n

Inside the Sun, deep at its core, nuclear reactions fuse hydrogen, the lightest element, to create helium. Incidentally, the process also produces energy: this is how the Sun shines, releasing photons \u2013 particles of light. You are a newly created photon at the center of the Sun and your mission is to explore the Solar System! Photons travel very fast \u2013 remember the speed of light? \u2013 but the solar interior is such a dense place that they constantly bump into other particles so it takes hundreds of thousands of years for them to get out of our star: it\u2019s a maze! The first challenge is to get out of the Sun \u2013 easier said than done. Then, by decoding clues through pixel art and robotics, you will discover your planetary destination and eventually end your journey… as a cosmic image! <\/p>\n <\/article>\n

\n 02<\/span>\n

Scientific Focus<\/h3>\n

You will explore the journey of a light particle from its generation in the core of the Sun and its complex trek across the solar interior, all the way across space to one of the Solar System\u2019s planets that reflect it towards Earth, where it eventually lands on a telescope that produces an image of that particular planet. Besides exploring outer space, you will also practice computational thinking by deciphering clues and solving challenges using unplugged coding and small robots. <\/p>\n <\/article>\n

\n 03<\/span>\n

Distinctive Features<\/h3>\n

Through clues in coding language and robotics challenges, this escape room lets players experience life as a particle of light! You can travel faster than anything in the universe, yet it will take you hundreds of thousands of years to get out of the Sun and start your cosmic journey. Then, within minutes or hours at most, you can cross the Solar System, carrying information about your travels that astronomers hunt with cutting-edge telescopes. <\/p>\n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n

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Gallery<\/p>\n

Inside the Room<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
On board a photon
Main scene<\/figcaption><\/figure>
On board a photon
Puzzle detail<\/figcaption><\/figure>
On board a photon
Participants in action<\/figcaption><\/figure>
On board a photon
Interactive station<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n
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Participants and Practical Info<\/p>\n

Participation and logistics.<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n
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Who It Is For<\/h3>\n
\n

Recommended age:<\/strong> Ages 10 and up<\/span><\/p>\n

Suitable for:<\/strong> School students, families, and general public audiences<\/span><\/p>\n

Group size:<\/strong> Up to 25 participants per session<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n

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Essential Details<\/h3>\n
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Duration:<\/strong> 60 minutes<\/span><\/p>\n

Language(s):<\/strong> Italian, English (soon) <\/span><\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n \n

\n
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Contact<\/p>\n

Get in Touch<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n INFN logo\n <\/div>\n
\n

Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica <\/h3>\n

Italy\u2019s leading institute for astrophysics research, contributing expertise in space science, astronomy, and public engagement.<\/p>\n

Email:<\/strong> claudia.mignone@inaf.it<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Visit institution website<\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n <\/section>\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Escape room profile On board a photon On board a photon is an interactive experience that allows players to relive the journey of photons \u2013 light particles \u2013 from the depths of the Sun, where they start their adventure, through the planets of the Solar System, all the way to the telescopes of astronomers who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-no-title","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-56007","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"mb":[],"yoast_head":"\nOn board a photon - ERNEST Project<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Escape room profile On board a photon On board a photon is an interactive experience that allows players to relive the journey of photons \u2013 light\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/web.infn.it\/ernest-project\/escape-room-photon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"On board a photon - 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