This adults-only night at Questacon wants you to talk about sex and relationships, Canberra

Posted on 17 July, 2023

Questacon’s adults-only nights are the stuff of local legend.

On a few nights across the year, Questacon throws open its doors to a strictly 18+ crowd to explore science just for the adults at their SciNights event series.

Now, Questacon has announced their next event—SciNight: Flirting with Science—a night for people to get down and just a little dirty with the flirty side of STEM. With a tagline of “Seduce your senses with science and be unapologetically curious” how could we not get excited?

Across the evening of Friday 28 July, guests will have a plethora of hilariously-named interactive activities to choose from—live science shows to (very) hands-on activities, talks and puzzles that show the 18+ side of science.

Aimed at friends looking for a raucous night out (in the name of learning, of course), couples and “potential couples” (wink, wink), you’ll be able to satiate (sorry) your hunger at The House of Temptation, with a menu of treats like Dirty Dogs (dagwood dogs), a Burgasm (a beef burger) and some Spicy Seduction (Korean-fried popcorn).

Cap off your night with a few saucily named cocktails courtesy of The Little Desires Bar—such as the (ahem) It’s a Vibe, Passionate Affair, Watermelon Sugar and my personal favourite, Are You Up? Or try a sweet treat from the Seductive Sweets stall, like chocolate-dipped strawberries or a box of assorted truffles. Naughty.

Because when it comes down to it—you and me baby ain’t nothing but mammals.

Here are some of the highlights to look forward to…

Sex on the Beach, Attenborough-style

What happens when you combine David Attenborough’s gravitas with Barry White’s sex appeal and a giant vat of slime? You get the Sex on the Beach Science Show!

It’s a science show—but not as you know it. Join science communicator Alice Ryder as she explores animal reproduction in the ocean in a light-hearted show that will take place at 6, 7 and 8 pm with limited seats for each (so don’t miss out!). Think of this show as Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus teaching sex ed! Expect fascinating content, adult-appropriate jokes, and puns that will keep you giggling more than 3 Sex On The Beach cocktails.

It’s cuffing season at the Handcuff Puzzle

It doesn’t take a doctorate to work out what this interactive (ahem) activity entails—but you may just need a doctorate to get yourself free after you and a partner are tied up in rope handcuffs..

Test your (relationship) limits

Have you ever struggled to find the perfect gift for your loved one(s)? SciNight has made this easy, by combining romance and creativity with a hands-on challenge to design and create a heartfelt present at Questacon’s Last Minute Gift Station – you might love the gift so much you end up keeping it for yourself!

If you’re feeling experimental, head to There’s chemistry between you and me, where two or more people can work together to perform a simple chemistry activity, making a little something you can take home to add some fizz to your night-time routine…

Want to *really* test your connection? Why not take a swing at Keep talking and nobody explodes, a ‘cooperative bomb diffusing game’ where one person with a VR headset is in a virtual room with a virtual bomb and the other person has the defusal instructions but can’t see the bomb. Which will explode first – your relationship or the bomb? 

Sexual healing learning

Naturally, a large slice of Flirting with Science is devoted to the amazing knowledge of Questacon’s staff. Discover how your organs work together to experience love at the Looking for love in all the wrong places presentation and learn about the sexy side of botanical reproduction at the Big Bee Energy puppet show.

Raucous rocks

Finally—and perhaps our favourite thing you’ll get to see on the night—is the Get Your Rocks Off exhibition of some very silly rocks, on loan from Geoscience Australia.

Learn about and have a giggle at (clears throat) cummingtonite, dickite and fuchsite (we kid you not). Yes, you can take selfies.

So, what are you waiting for?

As Marvin Gaye said so well, Canberra, let’s get it on. Scientifically, that is.