Ask HN: Career in science when you're old?

I'm financially secure and would love to volunteer in science (physics). How would you even approach that?

Some background: I have a master’s in math and 30 years of full-stack software engineering. I have a (very) basic understanding of relativity, quantum field theory, gravity, electricity etc.

I’ve also founded a moderately successful software company, so I can basically work for free. Intern, lab assistant, unpaid engineer - anything! I'm good at explaining complex things in simple ways to students, but I'm also fine just making coffee for some professor for the rest of my life if it means being around scientific research.

So... Do universities have volunteer positions like that? Do I just send CVs to local universities? Or is there a better way to get involved? (I’m in Europe, if that matters)

The problem is that I'm actually 48 which is super old by today's standards.

Thanks.