Toys
Xtractaurs These dinosaur action figures have a virtual life of their own. Players use a “DNA-extraction gun” to capture a creature’s genetic blueprint and download it to a Mac or PC. Then they can mix and match the genetic components to create new hybrids—combining, say, the teeth of a T. rex with the spiked tail of a Stegosaurus. Dino-obsessed friends can even compete in a cyberworld that blends fantasy with a dash of loosely interpreted science. Away from the screen, the models of pterosaurs, ceratopsids, and other figures are colorful, movable, and fairly realistic. A starter kit (extraction gun, CD, and T. rex) costs $20; additional figures are $9 each. Lindsey Konkel
MUSEUMS
The Nature of DiamondsAdd sparkle to your world with a visit to this exhibition at Chicago’s Field Museum. In seven sections, the installation examines the many facets of diamonds, including their high-pressure formation deep underground, their ...
