Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Video: Take A Virtual Trip To Mars On A School Bus This Weekend

This weekend, you can go on a virtual bus trip across the surface of Mars. The Mars Experience Bus puts guests on your average school bus. However, once inside, guests will see the terrain of the Red Planet instead of city streets. The bus is part of aerospace company Lockheed Martin's Generation Beyond, which aims to encourage students to explore STEM fields as they believe it is likely that the first humans to explore Mars will be today's children. On October 8 and 9, the bus is coming to Discovery Cube LA, where visitors will be able to experience it for themselves. The attraction will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.
In the video below, you can see what it looks like to ride the bus, and it looks pretty cool. Images of Mars appear on the windows and shift with the movement of the bus. Various effects, like wind and bumps, make it feel like you are actually cruising on the surface of an alien world. As you progress on your journey, a narrator tells you the temperature on the planet and other details.
Discovery Cube LA is also in the midst of their Spooky Science weekends. This weekend, you can check out Animal Science, where the lives of rats, bugs and other creepy crawlies will be revealed.
Discovery Cube L.A. is located at 11800 Foothill Blvd. in Sylmar.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.