What do physics and magic have in common? Rising seventh-grader Joshua has taught himself some new tricks since last summer at EXPLO, but is still on the quest to understand the science behind the magic of the universe. 

Six months ago I was at my grandparents’ house, and I saw my grandfather do a trick with cards. I wanted to learn how to do that. So I started looking up how to do card tricks, and I got really into it. I found that I had an aptitude for it. I became more serious; I got a book about it and began practicing a lot. Here I am now, practicing tricks on my advisors.

I’ve made up a few tricks and adapted new ones to make present-day versions of them. Most old magic tricks involve a handkerchief — because all gentlemen used to carry a handkerchief with them. I do not carry one, nor does anyone I know, so those tricks need to be adapted to modern-day culture. I'm into street magic with minimal use of props. Just me, some cards, and my brains. A trade secret? Never trust a magician. Ever.

I’ve always been interested in how the world works. I may want to be an astrophysicist someday. Both card tricks and physics distort perceptions of reality. I study things like magic and physics because I really want to know why things work the way they do. The classes at EXPLO do a good job of explaining step-by-step how stuff works, and they adapt and reinforce what you already know. And I get to practice my card tricks on my friends and advisors here.