The Science Wondershop

Happy New Year from the Science Wondershop

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:49:00 +0000

Happy New Year! 2011 really seemed to fly by. It was great year - full of wonder and surprises! Now it is time to look forward to see what 2012 has in store for us. We're predicting a great year full of opportunities to explore the world around you, inspire curiosity and imagination, and nurture a love of science. Here at the Science Wondershop, we thought we would help get you started by giving you some dates and events that you might want to keep on your calendar. You probably can’t do it all, but we are sure that you will find something on the list that you and your children might find interesting.

All of these events and many more can also be found on the
Science Stuff Calendar.

JANUARY
January 2: National Science Fiction Day (Isaac Asimov’s Birthday)
January 4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower
January 5: Earth at Perihelion
January 5: National Bird Day
January 4-7: The Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference (Clearwater Beach, FL)
January 9: Full Wolf Moon (also known as the Old Moon)
January 20: Penguin Awareness Day
January 31: 433 Eros, the second largest Near Earth Object (approximately 13 x 13 x 33 km in size) will fly pass the Earth at 16.6 million miles away.

FEBRUARY (National Hearth Month)
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 7: Full Snow Moon (also know as the Full Hunger Moon)
February 12: Darwin Day
February 16–20: The American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting (Vancouver, Canada)
February 19-25: National Engineers Week
February 27: International Polar Bear Day

MARCH (National Nutrition Month)
March 6: Near Earth Object 2008EJ85 passes within 2.2 million miles of Earth (perhaps as close as 161,000 miles)
March 8: Full Worm Moon (also known as Full Crow Moon or Full Crust Moon)
March 11-17: National Bubble Week
March 12-18: Brain Awareness Week
March 14: Pi Day
March 22: World Water Day
March 29-April 1: National Science Teachers Association National Conference (Indianapolis, IN)
March 20: International Earth Day & Vernal Equinox
March 25-28: National Association for Research in Science Teaching National Conference (Indianapolis, IN)

APRIL (Earth Month)
April 6: Full Pink Moon (also known as Full Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, or Fish Moon)
April 7: World Health Day
April 13: Near Earth Object 2004RQ252 passes within 3.4 million miles of Earth (perhaps as close as 4,730 miles)
April 15-21: National Environmental Education (EE) Week
April 20: National DNA Day
April 21-22: Lyrids Meteor Shower
April 22: Earth Day (US)
April 23-April 28: National Safe Kids Week
April 28: National Astronomy Day
April 25: World Penguin Day
April 28-29: USA Science and Engineering Festival

MAY (Clean Air Month)
May 5-6: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
May 6: Full Flower Moon (also known as Full Corn Planting Moon and Milk Moon)
May 6-12: National Physical Education and Sport Week
May 12: International Migratory Bird Day
May 13-18: Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Pittsburgh, PA)
May 20: Annular Solar Eclipse
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity

JUNE (Home Safety Month)
June 4: Full Strawberry Moon
June 4-9: National Sun Safety Week
June 5: World Environment Day
June 8: World Oceans Day
June 18-24: RoboCup World Cup (Mexico City, Mexico)
June 20: Summer Solstice

JULY (UV Safety Month)
July 3: Full Buck Moon (also known as Full Thunder Moon or Hay Moon)
July 5: Earth at Aphelion

AUGUST (Children Eye Health and Safety Month)
August 2: Full Sturgeon Moon (also known as the Full Green Corn Moon and Grain Moon)
August 12-13: Perseids Meteor Shower
August 31: Blue Moon

SEPTEMBER (Fruit and Vegetable Month)
September 19-22: IdeaFestival
September 22: Autumnal Equinox
September 29: World Heart Day
September 30: Full Harvest Moon (also known as the Full Corn Moon)

OCTOBER (National Energy Awareness Month)
October 4-10: World Space Week
October 7-13: National Metric Week
October 10–16: Earth Science Week
October 12-18: World Rainforest Week
October 21-27: National Chemistry Week
October 21: Orionids Meteor Shower
October 23: National Mole Day
October 29: Hunter's Full Moon (also know as the Full Blood Moon)

NOVEMBER (National Healthy Skin Month)
November 4-6: World Championship Punkin Chunkin
November 13: Total Solar Eclipse
November 16: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day
November 17-18: Leonid Meteor Shower
November 28: Full Beaver Moon (also known as the Full Frosty Moon)

DECEMBER
December 5–11: National Handwashing Awareness Week
December 10: Nobel Prize Ceremony (Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden)
December 13-14: Geminids Meteor Shower
December 21: Winter Solstice
December 28: Long Nights' Full Moon
December 30: National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

These are just a few of the exciting science events going on this year. If you want to find more, check out the Science Stuff Calendar! Happy New Year!

Give the Gift of Wonder: Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Every year, the Wondershop publishes a set of articles aimed at helping you find the perfect gift for the science enthusiast in your life. We call it Giving the Gift of Wonder. This year, we've got a very special list of great gifts ideas meant to inspire curiosity and imagination. Some are for children. Some are for adults. Some are for kids of all ages! Chances are that you'll be able to check a few names off your list with some of the ideas you find here. And as usual, we hope that you will take time this holiday season to enjoy the wonders of science!

Today's Gift Idea: Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker
Today's gift idea has been around for a while. However, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to recommend a gift that uses science, exercise, and a few simple ingredients to create ice cream! We're talking ice cream anytime and anywhere you want it! With the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker, you can make ice cream while on camping trips, at picnics, barbecues, and many other places. You don't even need electricity. Just add ice and rock salt in one end and ice cream mix in the other end. Then, have a ball as you shake it, pass it, or roll it around for 10 to 15 minutes. The ice cream mix can be as simple as cream, sugar, and vanilla or you can try a more adventurous flavor from the included recipe list or make up your own concoction. Made of durable advanced materials, the Ice Cream Ball is lightweight, portable, and easy to clean.

Where Can I Get One

REI
Target

Give the Gift of Wonder: Feynman

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: Feynman

Much has been written about the scientist, educator, and musician Richard P. Feynman (1918–1988). After all, the man expanded our understanding of quantum electrodynamics, led the way in investigating the Challenger disaster, and translated Mayan hieroglyphics. On the other hand, it's probably fair to say that little has been drawn about him. A new graphic novel remedies that oversight by rendering the fantastic life of Feynman in comic-book form.

The book, written by Jim Ottaviani with art by Leland Myrick and coloring by Hilary Sycamore, recounts Feynman's career, discoveries, relationships and eccentricities in a generous 262 pages. Ottaviani, who has been writing comics about science for years, does an excellent job of capturing Feynman’s voice and his enthusiasm for learning. It’s brilliant — just like Feynman himself. This is the perfect gift for any inspiring or aspiring educator, scientist, or artist.

Where Can I Get One

Give the Gift of Wonder: Khet 2.0 Laser Game

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: Khet 2.0 Laser Game

For anybody who loves games and science, we have a fantastic gift idea; Khet 2.0. In Khet 2.0 there are four types of playing pieces, and two of them have mirrors. Game play is simple, and easy to learn, as there are only a few movement choices. The goal is to eliminate your opponent's Pharaoh. Of course, the way you eliminate the Pharaoh is the most fantastic part of the game...LASERS!

Khet 2.0 uses special Sphinx pieces with built-in lasers. These pieces sit in the corner and fire a red laser at various angles around the game board. Each player's laser is fired after her/his turn and bounces from mirrored piece to mirrored piece (always shooting off at a 90 degree angle). If the laser hits any piece on a non-reflective surface, that piece is removed from play. If you eliminate your opponent's Pharaoh, you win. If you eliminate your own Pharaoh, you will be mocked for all time. The game combines Lasers, mirrors, and strategy to create a game that provides hours and hours of enjoyment!

Recommended for ages 9 and up

Includes

Carrying case/box,
26 pieces (two that fire lasers),
Game board (13" x 13" x 0.375")
Illustrated instructions.
2 CR2032 batteries (each laser piece uses one )

Where Can I Get One

Give the Gift of Wonder: The Da Vinci Catapult

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: Da Vinci Catapult

Leonardo Da Vinci was a gifted artist and engineer. A look into his detailed illustrations proves what a genius he was. This catapult kid is a working re-creation of a 15th century catapult based on Leo's own sketches. In truth, it is a combination of two sketches, both found in his Codex Atlanticus. Each uses potential energy stored in bent wood, to spring your projectile (the included ball of clay, or whatever you place on the arm) about 14 feet. You will learn and lob stuff all at once. The kit takes approximately 1 hour to complete. Once you are done, you can display it on your bookshelf or use it bombard the guy in cubicle next to yours!

Recommend for ages 12 and up.

Includes:

30 pre-cut and pre-drilled pieces made from natural wood from sustainable forests
illustrated instruction manual (with lots of Da Vinci history)
Glue and ruler needed (not included)

Where Can I Get One

Give the Gift of Wonder: Desktop Dinosaur Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: Desktop Dinosaur Plant

This amazing, one-of-a-kind plant has lived on Earth for over 290 million years. This plant actually lived when the first dinosaurs emerged. It is one of the longest-living plants in the world, and a perfect gift for the special someone who can't grow anything! This small plant has the fantastic ability to “come back to life” over and over again for hundreds of years. It's almost as if you can't kill it!

The Dinosaur Plant is very easy to care for. All it needs is a little water and some occasional sleep. Simply place the plant in its bowl with New Mexico lava rock (included), pour some water on the plant and it will spring to life within one day! If you let the Dinosaur Plant dry out, it will shrink back to its sleeping state. It can sleep for up to fifty years and will still rise when you place it in water! A fun project for the entire family to enjoy!

Some Interesting Tidbits about your Dinosaur Plant:

During the Carboniferous period these plants used to grow over 120 feet tall (bigger than a T-rex)
When dry it curls up into a tight ball so that the wind can easily roll it to a new location or cubicle, hopefully closer to moisture.
Retains 3% of its water when it is dehydrated.
Grows to be about 4"
Enjoys life so much it survived the Ice Age

The Amazing Dinosaur Plant includes:

a live plant (Selaginella Lepidophylla)
bag of genuine volcanic lava rock
display bowl
instructions.

Appropriate for ages 4+.

Where Can I Get One

Give the Gift of Wonder: H2GO

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

The kit includes a solar power plant, hydrogen station, battery-free remote control and hybrid electric hydrogen car. Boasting fast-charge super-capacitors for speed, the refuelable car combines fuel cells for cruise power, resulting in no carbon emissions. Today's holiday gift may inspire tomorrow's energy revolution!

Where Can I Get One

National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 4-10, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:27:00 +0000

This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week. This special week (always the first full week in December) focuses on the value of the simple but important act of washing your hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands." Here are some interesting statistics for you about handwashing:

2/3 of adults in the US wash hands after using the bathroom.
1 in 4 adults don’t wash hands after changing diapers.
Less than 1/2 of Americans wash hands after cleaning up after pets.
1 in 3 wash hands after sneezing/coughing.
Less than 1 in 5 wash hands after touching money.
1 in 3 E.coli occurrences is caused from not washing hands before handling food.

This week, take some time to talk with your children about the importance of hand washing. You can even introduce them to Henry the Hand, Champion Handwasher...the spokesperson for National Handwashing Awareness Week. Henry has a site with lots of information about keeping your hands germ free. Check out Henry's site here.

Here is a simple activity that will help to explain the importance of washing your hands.

Here’s What You Need

Bottle of liquid Glo Germ
Soap
Small ultra violet (UV) lamp

Note: You can buy Glo Germ at www.glogerm.com.

Here’s What You Do
Place a few drops of the Glo Germ on your palm rub your hands together. Make sure you rub the liquid all over your hands (e.g. the back of your hands, around fingernails, etc.). Turn off all of the lights and shine the Ultra Violet lamp on your hands. They should be glowing in the UV light. The Glo Germ simulates germs on your hands. Now, it is time to get rid of all of those germs with a good old fashion hand washing!

If you want to clean your hands, soap and water is the best thing to use. Follow these steps:

Get a paper towel and set it next to the faucet. You will need it in a little while.
Turn on the water. Check to make sure it isn’t too hot.
Wet your hands, grab the soap, and start scrubbing and making suds.
Scrub for the length of time that it takes to sing your ABC's
Rinse hands.
Grab the paper towel and use it to turn off the faucet (do not touch faucet with clean hands).

After you have washed your hands, use the UV lamp to check them. You shouldn’t see any glowing areas on your hands. Usually, people forget to wash the back of their hands, under their finger nails, and between their fingers. If you missed any of these areas, don’t feel bad. Head back to the sink and wash your hands again. Just make sure you pay special attention to those areas this time!

Here’s What You Do (if you don’t have Glo Germ)
Use a spray bottle filled with clean water. Spray water on your hands. This water represents the germs that come out of your mouths when you cough or sneeze. Now, touch an object (e.g. your shirt, a table, the doorknob) or person. What happened to the object or person you touched? Is the object or person damp? What happened? What would happen if a friend or family member touched the object or person in the same place that you touched? Germs are spread in the same way that the water was spread from you to the object or person. The best way to stop germs from spreading is to keep your hands clean with warm water and soap!

Things to Remember:

Germs are everywhere.
Germs are so small that you can’t see them.
Germs can make you sick.
You can get rid of germs by washing your hands.
When to Wash Your Hands: after using the toilet, before eating or touching food, after playing with animals.

The Science of Soap
Soap is a surfactant. Basically, it makes the water wetter. If you were to look very closely at a soap molecule, you would see something that looks like a big head with a long tail. The head is hydrophilic or water loving. This means that it really loves to link up with water molecules. The tail of the water molecule is hydrophobic or water fearing. Instead of attaching to water, the tail would rather link up with oils and grease. Generally, oil and water don't really mix with each other. By linking to the oil and grease as well as the water, soap helps water to wash away the oil, grease, dirt, and germs on our skin. As the water carries away the dirt, it also kills and carries away the germs that can make you sick.

Wondershop Fast Fact: Germs, Germs, Germs

Until the 1860’s, people didn’t know about germs. They also didn’t know that cleaning cuts and keeping them covered was a good way to prevent infections. Doctors didn’t even wash their hands before operating. Ignaz Semmelweis figured out that washing hands prevented sickness in the 1840’s, but didn’t have a way to explain why. Joseph Lister is recognized by many to be the first surgeon to clean instruments and his hands with antiseptic chemicals that kill germs. However, there is evidence that other cultures may have understood the value of antiseptics prior to Lister's discovery. In 1879, for example, one British traveler, R.W. Felkin, witnessed cesarean section performed by Ugandans. The healer used banana wine to semi-intoxicate the woman and to cleanse his hands and her abdomen prior to surgery.
Medical workers today wear gloves to protect themselves from germs. Medical workers also wear masks over their nose and mouth so they don’t breathe germs on their patients.

Give the Gift of Wonder: BuckyCubes

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:00:00 +0000

Every year, the Wondershop publishes a set of articles aimed at helping you find the perfect gift for the science enthusiast in your life. We call it Giving the Gift of Wonder. This year, we've got a very special list of great gifts ideas meant to inspire curiosity and imagination. Some are for children. Some are for adults. Some are for kids of all ages! Chances are that you'll be able to check a few names off your list with some of the ideas you find here. And as usual, we hope that you will take time this holiday season to enjoy the wonders of science!

Today's Gift Idea: BuckyCubes
Last year, we brought you BuckyBalls. Tiny magnetic spheres that provided us with hours of fun and thousands of YouTube videos. This year, we decided to bring you something just a bit different, but just as cool...BuckyCubes. The most awesome thing about BuckyCubes is: flat sides let you do all sorts of new things. We'll explain; read on!

The flat sides of BuckyCubes let the cubes fit perfectly side by side. This allows you to slide them, glide them, and stack them really easily. You can make your own buildings and cities. You can fold grids of BuckyCubes on top of each other. We could go on and on, but really, it's so hard to type when there are BuckyCubes to play with! Stress balls are so last century. Get your hands on some BuckyCubes and de-stress in style!

Note: These are strong magnets and should be kept away from children.

What's included:

125 cube-shaped, super-powerful, rare earth magnets for you to play with
Plastic carrying case
BuckyCubes Instructions

Where Can I Get Them

Give the Gift of Wonder: Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Every year, the Wondershop publishes a set of articles aimed at helping you find the perfect gift for the science enthusiast in your life. We call it Giving the Gift of Wonder. This year, we've got a very special list of great gifts ideas meant to inspire curiosity and imagination. Some are for children. Some are for adults. Some are for kids of all ages! Chances are that you'll be able to check a few names off your list with some of the ideas you find here. And as usual, we hope that you will take time this holiday season to enjoy the wonders of science!

Today's Gift Idea: Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets
Here's a nice stocking stuffer for you. Today, the Science Wondershop presents the Miracle Berry Fruit Table. The miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) is native to West Africa and has been used for generations by the locals to sweeten their generally acidic and sour tasting diets. By eating the fruit and swirling the pulp around in their mouths, they discovered that their taste perceptions were temporarily modified, changing their normally sour foods sweet. Recent scientific studies reveal the reason for this phenomenon is related to a glycoprotein in the berry known as Miraculin. When Miraculin coats the mouth, it causes a temporary change in the taste buds making the mind perceive sour and bitter flavors as sweet.

Miracle Berry Tablets are great way to explore the science behind our sense of taste. Lemons, limes, grapefruit, rhubarb, and other fruits taste incredible. Just dissolve half a tablet on your tongue, and the proceed to enjoy your previously sour feast. Be sure to have all of your food prepared and at the ready before starting. (Remember that this sour food is still acidic, even if it tastes sweet, so don’t eat too much.) It’s really fun experience that kids and grown-ups can enjoy together.

Where Can I Get Them

Give the Gift of Wonder: Snap Circuits

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: Snap Circuits
Today's gift idea is a product that has been around for a while. In fact, we reviewed it in last year's list. However, it got so much great feedback that we decided to put it back on the list this year. It is our pleasure to re-introduce...Snap Circuits! If your child is interested in learning about the science behind electronics, then snap circuits are a great tool to get them started. These Elenco Snap Circuits are easy enough for young children, but will also keep older kids engaged. The kits include pieces that snap together to create a variety of projects like AM and FM radios, burglar alarms, doorbells, digital voice recorders, and more. For the more advanced tinkerer, there are electronic snap circuits that are used in micro-controllers. You'll learn how to program data loggers, DC motors, A/D converters and more. Many come with a training program so children (big and small) can learn more about the incredible science of electronic components. There are even snap circuits that come with teacher guides so teachers can easily show their students how fun this technology can be!

Where Can I Get a Kit?

Give the Gift of Wonder: EcoSphere

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:22:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: The EcoSphere
Today's gift idea is very special. What do you get the person who has everything. How about a world encased in glass? Inspired by technological research and developments for extended space exploration by NASA, the EcoSphere is a fully functional, self sustaining, living ecosystem. Inside each EcoSphere are active micro-organisms, small shrimp, algae and bacteria, each existing in filtered sea water. Because the it is a self-sustaining ecosystem, you never have to feed the life within. Simply provide your EcoSphere with a source of indirect natural or artificial light and enjoy this aesthetic blend of art and science, beauty and balance.

EcoSpheres are available in 3 impressive sizes. Each EcoSphere is individually crafted to achieve an aesthetic, meditative beauty suitable for any indoor environment, including home, classroom or office. People of all ages can appreciate the simple significance of these wonderful creations.

Note: Average life expectancy is about 2-3 years, but can continue upwards of 8-10 years in certain cases.

Where Can I Buy One:

Give the Gift of Wonder: Laser Airzooka

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: The Laser Airzooka
A few years ago, the Science Wondershop included a very special gift for the cubicle warrior; The Airzooka. Since then, the folks over at Airzooka Toys have been working on a few upgrades. This year, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Laser Airzooka. You read it right! For that special someone who is looking for a little more accuracy when attempting to smack someone in the kisser with ball of air, this just may be the perfect gift idea.

The Laser Airzooka is a "fun gun" that blasts a harmless ball of air up to 6 meters (20 ft), while unsuspecting victims wonder why their hair is messed up or the papers on their desk scattered! The Laser Airzooka operates simply by pulling and releasing a built-in elastic air launcher. And here's the best part: because it shoots air, you'll never run out of ammo (unless you happen to be on the moon!). Of course, the addition of the a laser only makes this "toy" a lot more fun to own. Learn all about the science of force and motion while you play tricks on your family and friends. Of course, if you decide to give one of these as a gift, you should be prepared to serve as viable target.

The Airzooka is recommended for children ages 6 and up.

Where Can I Buy One:

Give the Gift of Wonder: Root Vue Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Today's Gift Idea: Root Vue Farm

Multiple Award Winner, including Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products and Oppenheim Gold!

One unfortunate fact about gardening is that you don't see a lot of the magic because it's under the ground. It's all fine and dandy to plant seeds and then watch them sprout, but what about the other half of the plant? Sure, you could dig up the plant to see the roots, but then it's just about dead. If only there was a sort of ant farm for vegetables...

Wait, there is! The Root Vue Farm is a self-watering grow unit with a special viewing window so kids can watch roots develop underground. Watch carrot, radish, and onion seeds grow up as their roots grow down. The complete kit includes a durable styrofoam growing unit with acrylic viewing window, built-in water basin and drainage reservoir. A light shield keeps plants growing but can be removed for viewing roots. Eight super-expanding grow mix wafers feed your plants the nutrients they need to grow.

WARNING: Choking hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3. Recommended ages: 4+ with parent supervision

Includes:

Durable styrofoam growing unit with acrylic viewing window, built-in water basin, and drainage reservoir
Light shield (to cover plant roots when you're not observing)
Eight (8) super-expanding grow mix wafers
Three (3) packets of seeds (carrot, radish, onion)
ID labels
Water wicks for self-watering system
16 page booklet with instructions and experiments

Where Can I Get One

Give the Gift of Wonder: Molecular Cocktails Starter Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Every year, the Wondershop publishes a set of articles aimed at helping you find the perfect gift for the science enthusiast in your life. We call it Giving the Gift of Wonder. This year, we've got a very special list of great gifts ideas meant to inspire curiosity and imagination. Some are for children. Some are for adults. Some are for kids of all ages! Chances are that you'll be able to check a few names off your list with some of the ideas you find here. And as usual, we hope that you will take time this holiday season to enjoy the wonders of science!

Today's Gift Idea: Molecular Cocktails Starter Kit
Do you know someone who is always trying to make the mundane, everyday task a bit more exciting...even dangerous. These are the folks who build entire movie theaters in their basements, brew their own beer, and install racing engines on their lawnmowers. If you have someone like this in your life, The Science Wondershop just might have the perfect gift idea.

The Molecular Cocktails Starter Kit adds the power of chemistry to your bar. With this kit, your special someone will create marvels in libation. Forget Cosmopolitans and Margaritas. With this kit, you start with a martini that glows and move on from there. Delight your friends as you deconstruct the classic tequila sunrise with caviar made of grenadine and a foamy head of tequila and orange juice! Serve up skewered Midori cubes that taste like the classic melon liqueur, but are chewed rather than sipped. The kit comes with lots of recipes, including those for virgin cocktails for those who don’t partake of alcohol, even when it is mixed with a bit of tonic water and a dash of science.

Molecular Cocktails Starter Kit Video:

Features

All-in-one kit of tools and texturizers
Make incredible cocktails to amaze your friends
Included in this kit:
- Agazoon® 55 g (Agar Agar)
- Algizoon® 60 g (Sodium Alginate)>
- Calazoon®75 g (Calcium Lactate)
- Celluzoon® 45 g (Cellulose)
- Xanthazoon® 65 g (Xanthan)
- Illuzoon® 4 g (Coloring agent)
- Locuzoon® 5 g (Locust Bean Gum)
- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring Cup
- Pipettes for spherification

Where Can I Get One

Think Geek

Give the Gift of Wonder: Under the Microscope Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0000

These handcrafted sterling silver pieces combine science and art. Each piece of jewelery showcases an actual microscopic photograph of a specific chemical substance (the earrings above are microscopic images of Caffeine). The process for creating one pair of these earrings takes from two to three weeks. This includes crystallizing the chemical substance and photographing it through a polarized light microscope at a magnification of about 600x. Each piece includes an informational card describing the scientific steps involved in the artwork and educational information on the chemical substance - all complete in a gift box. You can almost guarantee that no one else with be wearing anything like it at the New Year's Eve party this year. Score one for fellas!

Where Can I Get Them

3B Scientific

Give the Gift of Wonder: iPhone Microscope

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Where Can I Get One

Classic Thanksgiving Science: Hang A Spoon From Your Nose

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:45:00 +0000

It's that time of year again. That's right...it's Thanksgiving! A time for family, friends, and food! This Thanksgiving, after you've finished the turkey and stuffing, I hope that you save some room for a little science. Impress your friends and family with this classic demonstration. You don't even have to wait until dinner is over. Oh no! I encourage you to whip this one out right after the cranberry sauce. That's right, friends. You know it. You love it. Today, we will all learn the science behind hanging a spoon from you nose.

Here's What You Need:

A spoon (metal or plastic)
A nose

Here's What You Do
Hold the spoon in your hand, with the bowl up and the handle down. Place the bowl of the spoon on the end of your nose. The handle should rest against your chin or lips. Gently begin to rub the spoon downward against your nose. Exert a slight pressure as you rub. Eventually, you will feel the spoon begin to stick to your nose. Slowly...gently...let go of the spoon. The spoon should hang freely from your nose. Note: You won't be able to take a bow, so just soak in the applause and gasps of amazement from your audience.

For this method, you don't need to put anything on the spoon. When you are doing it correctly, you won't even need to hold your head back. Some Spoon-noses (as they are known in the professional community) like to prep the spoon by breathing on the bowl of the spoon or licking it. This creates a little moisture on the spoon and helps it stick to your nose. It may take a little practice, but if you are patient, you will get the hang of it (ba-dump-bump)!

The Science Behind the Hanging Spoon
There are a number of reasons that this works. Adhesion is the number one factor. When two different substances stick to each other, we call it adhesion, as in adhesive tape. Because of adhesion, the metal of the spoon sticks to your skin.

Adhesion, however, isn't the only thing involved. The shape of the spoon also helps. Your nose fits very neatly into the curve of the bowl. The Earth's gravity pulls the bowl downward. This presses the spoon against your nose and helps with adhesion. The heavier the spoon, the more it presses against your nose.
So there you have it. A little adhesion, a little gravity, and the shape of the spoon working together to bring a little science to the Thanksgiving feast! Pass the Meleagris gallopavo, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Science Behind the Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:54:00 +0000

Add a little science to your Thanksgiving table

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In honor of the holiday, I have decided to include a quick post on the science behind one of the staples of any Thanksgiving feast...cranberry sauce!

Here's What You Need

12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup water

Here's What You Do
Wash cranberries and pat dry. In a 2-quart saucepan combine sugar, water. If you like you can add a orange rind and juice. Cook, stirring over medium heat, until sugar dissolves. Add cranberries to sugar syrup, bring to a boil, and cook until cranberry skins start to break or pop, about 1 minute. Remove cranberries from the heat and pour into a 3-cup bowl or storage jars with lids to cool. Sauce can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or placed in airtight jars in the freezer for up to 3 months. (Leave 1/2-inch space between sauce and jar lid.)

The Science Behind the Sauce
Making homemade cranberry sauce is a lot of fun and a great way to experiment with the creation of gels. What exactly is a gel? A gel can be thought of as a liquid that acts like a solid. The gel that you are probably most familiar with is Jell-O. The jelly you put on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is also a type of gel. Cranberries and other fruits can be used to make gels and jellies because they contain a gummy substance called pectin. By boiling cranberries in water, we can extract the pectin from them and create a delicious gel known as cranberry sauce!

Wondershop Fast Fact
Research has ranked the cranberry as number one in antioxidants. A comparison of some of the most common fruits found that the little red berry — in its pure form — contained the highest quantity of disease-fighting phenols, a type of antioxidant that is believed to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease.

It's Like Butter, Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Here at the Wondershop, we thought we should help with the celebration by adding a little science to your Turducken Day! Here's a quick and easy activity that will help you and your children understand a bit about the properties of milk and impress your dinner guest. This week, you learn the secrets and science behind making butter!

Here's What You Need

½ cup heavy whipping cream
Marble or large bead
A small plastic container with a lid (I like Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Twist & Seal containers)
Plastic spoon or knife
Plastic cup or bowl
Salt (optional)
Bread

Here's What You Do
Put the heavy whipping cream and the marble into the plastic container and put on the lid. Make sure the lid is on very tight because there is going to be a whole lot of shaking going on. Begin to shake the container…vigorously. You should be able to hear the marble rattling around inside.

Some folks like to have some music to accompany their shaking. Here are some of my recommended favorites:

Chan Romero - Hippy Hippy Shake

Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line (Shake, Senora)

Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On

KC & The Sunshine Band (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Butter

Peaches & Herb - Shake Your Groove Thing

Open the container from time to time and observe what is happening to the cream. It should be getting thicker. After you shake for a while, you might notice that you have something very close to whipped cream in the container. Grab a quick taste if you want (it won't be very sweet because there is no sugar in the whipped cream).

Keep shaking. Really, really shake it! After about 10 or 15 minutes of shaking, you should stop hearing the marble. At this point, you really need to work hard! Shake the container vigorously for about 3 more minutes. Really shake it. Feel the burn! Now, open the container and check out the results of all that shaking. Your cream should be separated into two parts: a thin liquid (we call that buttermilk) and a yellow solid (we call that butter)! Pour the buttermilk into the cup or bowl. You won’t need it now (however, it is great for baking).

At this point, you have sweet cream butter (great on a biscuit). If you want salted butter, you can add a bit of salt. You can also add honey (honey butter), garlic salt (garlic butter), cinnamon sugar (cinnamon sugar butter), or whatever other tasty ingredient you have around the kitchen. Be creative! Now all that’s left is to grab your knife or spoon, spread your creation on some bread, and taste it. Who knew science was so delicious?!

Here's What Happened
To understand butter, you first need to know a bit about milk. Most people know that nearly all of the milk that we drink comes from cows. However, most people don’t know that milk is actually made up of a water-based solution and tiny globs of fat surrounded by a membrane. It’s kind of like tiny balloons filled with fat floating around in water. If you let fresh milk (i.e. milk right from the cow) sit around for a while, the globs of fat float to the top and form cream. The milk we get from the grocery store doesn’t do this because it has been homogenized. That means the globs of fat have been made small enough so that they are mixed evenly in the milk and will not rise to the top. Scientists call this stable suspension of solids in a liquid a colloid. Other household examples of colloids are Jell-O, shaving cream, Styrofoam, and mayonnaise.

When you made your butter, you use a marble to break the membrane surrounding the globs of fat. You basically busted the fat balloon. Soon, the cream becomes filled with tiny globs of fat. These tiny globs begin to bump into each other, stick together, and form larger and larger globs of fat. After a while, you get one nice, large glob of fat. Butter!

You might notice that your butter is not as yellow as the butter that you get in the grocery store. Why is that? There are two reasons. First, some butter manufacturers add yellow coloring to their butter. The bigger reason, however, is related to the diet of the cow. Cows that eat a lot of grass produce milk that is high in a chemical called carotene. Carotene is responsible for the orange-yellow color of carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, apricots, pumpkins, and…you guessed it…BUTTER!

Wondershop Fast Fact
Have you ever wondered why people made butter in the first place? The fat that makes up butter is airtight. This means that oxygen can’t easily get into the butter, and bacteria needs oxygen to grow. Without the bacteria, butter doesn’t spoil. As a result, butter tends to last much longer than the milk or cream. For people living without the convenience of electric refrigerators, this made butter very, very valuable.

November is a Great Month for Science

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

October is officially behind us. Hopefully, you had the chance to explore a little science with your children. If not...never fear...November has lots and lots of opportunities to explore! From the launch of a Mars Rover to the Launch of a bunch of Punkins! Check out what's on the calendar for this month:

November 3: The Anniversary of Launch of Sputnik 2

November 4 - 6: World Championship Punkin Chunkin - think machines on steroids launching pumpkins thousands of fee through air!

November 7: Marie Curie's Birthday

November 8: Edmond Halley's Birthday - we won't see the comet again until 2061, but we can celebrate his birthday this year.

November 9: Benjamin Banneker's Birthday

November 10 - 12: NSTA Area Conference in New Orleans, LA - a great opportunity to meet and share ideas with other science enthusiast and educators from around the country.

November 13 - 19: Geography Awareness Week (Theme: the Adventure in Your Community)

November 15: America Recycles Day - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

November 20: Edwin Hubble's Birthday

November 24: Planned launch date for NASA's Mars Science Lababoratory - introducing Curiosity, the newest and largest Mars Rover!

November 27: J. Ernest Wilkin's Birthday

November 29: Christian Doppler's Birthday

For more events happening this month, check out the Science Stuff calendar.

Study: Science pushed out of California elementary schools

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:15:00 +0000

A recent article in The Mercury News revealed that California elementary schools are teaching little to no science. Here is a quote from the story:

California's elementary schools spend too little time teaching science as volcano models and germination kits vanish to focus more on English and math, a new statewide study says.
And when science is taught, classroom teachers feel unprepared, the study found. More than four-fifths of teachers think the emphasis on English and math has hampered science teaching, according to the survey that sampled hundreds of administrators and teachers.

While this study, entitled High Hopes - Few Opportunities: The Status of Elementary Science Education in California, focuses on elementary schools in California, this is a trend I am seeing across the nation. We routinely overlook science in favor of high stakes content like mathematics and literacy. The commonly held belief is that science is better left to the middle or high school teacher. The unfortunate reality of this perception is that many children lose interest in science before the have the opportunity to explore it any middle school. More important, because so many of our children are scientifically illiterate, they will be ill-prepared to participate in their world in the future; a world that will surely require an understanding of science in order to be active and engaged citizen.
Granted, many teachers would love to teach more science in their classrooms. They know that many of their elementary students crave the opportunity to explore their world, feed their curiosity, and nurture their imagination. Science is an easy sell in any elementary school classroom! If you are a parent, a teacher, a student, I encourage you to push for a place for science in your elementary classroom. Find a way to integrate it with other content or develop extended explorations that require smaller amounts of time each day (e.g. a classroom garden). Regardless of the challenge, there are definitely ways to connect your children to the world of science!

You can read the full story from the Mercury News here.

Halloween Science: Slime Time

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:03:00 +0000

Looking for a way to make your Halloween celebration a bit more creepy...icky...or just plain disgusting. Here is a simple way to create a great batch of spooky slime and investigate some of the concepts related to states of matter. Is it a solid? Is it a liquid? You'll have to discover for yourself. It's slime time!

Here’s What You Need

1/2 cup of White glue
1 tsp of Borax Powder (find Borax at the grocery store near the laundry detergent)
Water
Food coloring (optional)
Bowl
Spoon

Here’s What You Do
Put the glue and 1/2 cup of water in a bowl. If you want to make it interesting, add some food coloring to the mix. Use your fingers (or a spoon if you're a bit nervous) to mix everything together. In another cup or bowl, add the Borax to 1/2 cup of warm water and mix with a clean finger (or spoon if you're one of those types). Now, we are ready to make some slime. Using your finger (or a spoon if you're scared), stir the glue mixture and slowly add the Borax mixture. You should feel something happening immediately! Keep stirring the mixture and adding Borax until you get your slime to the perfect place. If you are really adventurous, you can pull your slime out the bowl and continue to mix it in your hand.

Here are some things to think about:
Is the slime a solid or a liquid?
What are the properties of slime?
Does it hold its shape?
Does it bounce?

You will probably come up with more questions to explore.

Clean Up: You probably don’t want to put your slime down the sink. Let’s just say…it will create some problems. If you have a dumpster or large trash can, dispose of it there. You can also put it in a plastic zip-lock bag or a sealable container for future explorations.

The Science Behind Slime
Slime is actually a polymer. A polymer is a chain of molecules. The word is derived from the Greek polu (many) and meros (part). Plastic and DNA are both polymers. When you mix Borax and glue you create a polymer. Here is how science enthusiast Steve Spangler explains it (I like his analogy):

Think about a bowl of fresh speghetti. When it comes out of the pot, the noodles slide around (kind of like a liquid). Because they are wet, the noodles can slide around and over each other. However, after a while the spaghetti dries a bit, the noodles begin to stick to each other, and everything takes on a rubbery texture. After a while longer the pile of spaghetti turns into a solid mass.

Polymers, like the spaghetti, are made of long strands. If the strands are loose and allowed to move around and over each other, the polymer acts like a liquid. However, if the strands stick together at a few points along the strand (like the sticky spaghetti), the polymer acts like a rubbery solid called an elastomer. Glue is made up of long strands of molecules that slip and slide past each other. Borax causes these strands to stick together and form the rubbery material we know as SLIME!

Halloween Scinece: Exploring the Mysteries of Oobleck

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:14:00 +0000

Halloween is just around the corner. As a science enthusiast, this is one of my favorite times of the year. There are so many opportunities to explore some really great science. For example, one of my favorite investigations builds on a fantastic book by Theodor Seuss Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss)...Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1949).

The book (the sequel to The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins), follows the adventures of Bartholomew Cubbins, royal page in the kingdom of Didd, as he attempts to clean up the mess created by King Derwin when the king orders his royal magicians to cause an extremely sticky green substance known as Oobleck to rain from the sky. The story is great. But making Oobleck...that's amazing! In today's Science Wondershop, we'll teach the secret behind making your own Oobleck with some simple materials you can find right in your home. I must warn you, however, making Oobleck is an educational and extremely messy experience!

Here’s What You Need

Corn Starch
A Bowl
Water
Food coloring (optional)

How's that for a list of materials. It can't get much simpler than corn starch and water.

Here’s What You Do

In your bowl, slowly add the water to the corn starch (you may want to color the water green...for added effect). You want a mixture that is about 1 part water and 2 parts cornstarch. Stop when the corn starch/water mixture is thick and gooey. Remember, you're making Oobleck...not gravy.

That's it. One step. Pretty simple, huh? Now it is time to explore the properties of this really interesting material. As you explore the Oobleck, think about these questions:

Can you pour Oobleck?
What happens when you hold it in your hand?
What happens if you poke it with your finger (quickly or slowly)?
Can you roll it into a ball?
Is it a solid or a liquid?
What happens if you smack the top of the Oobleck with your hand?

Clean Up: Oobleck will clog pipes so don’t pour it in the sink! If you have a dumpster or large trash can, dispose of it there. If it gets on the floor or carpet, don't worry. Once it dries, it vacuums or sweeps up easily. You can also save containers of Oobleck by covering them with plastic wrap and putting them in the refrigerator.

The Science Behind Oobleck

Is Oobleck a solid or a liquid? Maybe it is a solid and a liquid. Impossible. It can't be both. The truth...Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. Most of the fluids we know are Newtonian fluids, but non-Newtonian fluids are a weird but interesting group of fluids. When a force (e.g. sqeezing, stirring, slapping) is applied to a non-Newtonian fluid, the viscosity (resistance to flow) of the fluid increases. In simple terms, any force you exert on a non-Newtonian fluid will make the fluid behave more like a solid. The more force you exert, the harder the fluid becomes. Strange but true! Other types of non-Newtonian fluids include quicksand, ketchup, and blood.

Wondershop Fast Facts: Dr. Seuss

Here are some interesting things you might not know about Dr. Seuss:

His real name was Theodore Seuss Geisel - Seuss being his mother's maiden name. He started using it as a pseudonym at university. He added the Dr later, as a joke, because his father had always wanted him to get a doctorate and become a professor.

Between 1937 and 1991, when he died aged 87, he published more than 40 books, which have sold half a billion copies between them - more even than J K Rowling's Harry Potter books. He nearly burned his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, after it was turned down by 27 publishers.

One of his most popular books, Green Eggs and Ham, was the result of a bet that he could not write a book using only 50 words.

Source: BBC News (news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3523393.stm)

Dinosaur Train’s Geocaching Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Williams) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:26:00 +0000

The Dinosaur Train Geocaching Challenge is a real life treasure hunt designed to get children and their families outside and making discoveries. Never heard of geochaching? Well, this is a perfect time to explore this exciting outdoor activity that combines technology, gaming, and environmental discovery. The Jim Henson Company in cooperation with PBS stations, museums, zoos, and aquariums nationwide has hidden Dinosaur Train themed goodies (geocaches) in outdoor areas around the country. Each geocache features one of the dinosaurs found on the online Dinosaur Train field guide and contains educational information related to that dinosaur. With the help of a GPS enabled device (e.g. your smart phone) and clues from the website, you and your family can search for and discover these hidden treasures. Cache have been hidden in 28 different states across the United States and even in Canada! Click here to see an entire list of Dinosaur Train geocaches. Don’t see one near you? Follow these instructions to make and hide your own Dinosaur Train geocache!

The Science Wondershop

Happy New Year from the Science Wondershop

Give the Gift of Wonder: Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker

Give the Gift of Wonder: Feynman

Give the Gift of Wonder: Khet 2.0 Laser Game

Give the Gift of Wonder: The Da Vinci Catapult

Give the Gift of Wonder: Desktop Dinosaur Plant

Give the Gift of Wonder: H2GO

National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 4-10, 2011

Give the Gift of Wonder: BuckyCubes

Give the Gift of Wonder: Miracle Berry Fruit Tablets

Give the Gift of Wonder: Snap Circuits

Give the Gift of Wonder: EcoSphere

Give the Gift of Wonder: Laser Airzooka

Give the Gift of Wonder: Root Vue Farm

Give the Gift of Wonder: Molecular Cocktails Starter Kit

Molecular Cocktails Starter Kit Video:

Give the Gift of Wonder: Under the Microscope Jewelry

Give the Gift of Wonder: iPhone Microscope

Classic Thanksgiving Science: Hang A Spoon From Your Nose

The Science Behind the Sauce

It's Like Butter, Baby

Chan Romero - Hippy Hippy Shake Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line (Shake, Senora) Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On KC & The Sunshine Band (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Butter Peaches & Herb - Shake Your Groove Thing

November is a Great Month for Science

Study: Science pushed out of California elementary schools

Halloween Science: Slime Time

Halloween Scinece: Exploring the Mysteries of Oobleck

Dinosaur Train’s Geocaching Challenge

Chan Romero - Hippy Hippy Shake

Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line (Shake, Senora)

Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On

KC & The Sunshine Band (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Butter

Peaches & Herb - Shake Your Groove Thing