Everyday Science

Cycles 7: Sound

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 -0600

In this segment, we've got fun demos dealing with sound. Here's an option for something dynamic!

Cycles 6: Electricity

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 -0600

What's something else that we use every single day that depends upon cycles? Electricity!

Wave It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:00:00 -0600

I'm just going to let you all know that this one is pretty flippin' sweet. I thought I should give you fair warning. You can thank me later, or just show this to everyone you know. What to watch for: well, we're making waves, of course. The dancing water bowl in slow-motion is probably worth a podcast all of its own, but we also have a Ruben's tube (aka standing wave flame tube). Oh yes... we went there, just for you.

Water Vapor II [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:00:00 -0600

More -- that's right, MORE -- water vapor fun!

Cycles 5: Nature and Engines

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:00 -0600

The cycles we think of most easily are cycles in nature -- day and night, a year, rain, etc. But some cycles are a bit more subtle. An example that most of us use every day can be found in engines. Every engine relies on some kind of cycle. In the studio, we create a very simple demonstration of the concept.

Cycles 4: Different Types

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Some fun ways for digging into the variety of cycles out there!

Bubble It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Bubbles and science? In the same podcast? Oh, you know we did! We've got bubbles, star- and square-shaped bubble blowers, helium, liquid nitrogen, and (of course) we just had to set some bubbles on fire. (Safely.)

Water Vapor [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Don't just tell your students about how liquid water can end up as vapor... make a game out of it!

Cycles 3: Frequency

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Another important concept for getting into cycles is frequency -- it's the number of cycles per second. We've got our furry hamster pal to help us demonstrate a fun and easy way to measure cycles!

Cycles 2: What is a Cycle?

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0600

We begin our exploration of cycles by creating a simple (and big!) pendulum in the studio. Cycles are familiar to us already -- we see them in patterns that repeat.

Float It! Sink It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Oh yeah, this is a good one! We’ve all kinds of fun ways to explore buoyancy. What makes something buoyant, anyway? What factors are involved? Here are some great ways to start thinking about those questions. Bubbles, a fish tank and molding clay are some of the easier-to-aquire items. But who has a liter of mercury just lying around? (Answer: Little Shop of Physics’ Kenn Lonnquist.) So Kenn joins us, Nisse and Doug, to explore buoyancy, and he graciously loans us his liquid metal. What doesn’t float in a quart of quicksilver?!

Aquarium Cloud [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0600

More ways to look at phases of water with Cherie and Kenn!

Cycles 1: Preview and Opening

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Here's a preview of the next episode of Everyday Science: Cycles!

Scale 12: Tipping in Nature and Show Closing

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Tipping points occur in nature, too, and we've got some cool footage to prove it. Then, it's our custom to close the show with a snack. This time: cookies! Scale is important to baking, as we will see with cookies of various sizes baked for the same amount of time.

Energize It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0600

What do you need if you want to make something happen? Energy! And we've got all kinds of ways to demonstrate this concept in a very literal and easy-to-see way. (Not to mention fun!) Students can see us putting energy into something and causing some kind of effect -- of course, you can connect it to getting energy back out, too! And some of these things you can easily do at home or school!! This episode is also appropriate for a chemistry-focused class as we look briefly at how chemicals give off different colors of light when burning.

Laser in a Bottle [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0600

What's cooler than lasers? Why, lasers combined with a Little Shop demo, that's what!! (And Cherie and Kenn, too!) We've got our Cloud in a Bottle -- which you can build with instructions from last month's podcast of the same name -- and Cherie and Kenn have added a modified laser to it. With the help of a hair dryer, we can see convection cells. Nice!

Scale 11: Avalanches

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0600

A dynamic example of scale and tipping point in nature is the avalanche! We've got a mini-avalanche machine to demonstrate what happens. Notice the pattern: the particles build, and build, and then they reach a tipping point and they fall.

Scale 10: Tipping Point

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0600

When you change scale, you affect stability. We’ve seen this demonstrated with the clay animals — now here’s another fun way to see this concept in action!

Bounce It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0600

What's the physics behind bouncing? Why do some things bounce better than others? What does all of this have to do with energy? If you're having any of these conversations, we've got a video full of bouncing for you and your students. Get their curiosity sparked with this week's episode of Science It Up!

Cloud in a Bottle [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0600

A great activity for any class that talks about clouds, light, weather, or phases of water is our "Cloud in a Bottle." Kenn and Cherie show you how we do it and talk about what your students can learn from it.

Scale 9: Changing the Scale

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

When you change the scale of something, you can change its behavior! Here is a great way to demonstrate this concept using a board and a simple tool: a plane.

Scale 8: Robert Hooke

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Robert Hooke amazed his contemporary scientific community with what he found while using a microscope. He looked at the world on a different scale, and you could say that he even looked at a different world! Modern-day scientist David Randall of CMMAP (Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes) explains how he thinks of scale when doing his work on weather and climate.

Transfer It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

With Science It Up!, we're always trying to pack as much science fun into just a couple of minutes as we feasibly can! This month it's no exception -- we're looking at the transfer of energy. We've got billiards, launching tennis balls, and a Newton's cradle. What?! You've seen all that? Well we've got a few things we dug out of the vault in the Physics department that we *know* you haven't seen!

Introducing Energy [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Energy is one of the most important topics for any physical science class to cover -- and we've got you covered with several activities, methods, and formative assessments for introducing students to energy! Concepts covered include: conservation of energy, types of energy, and efficiency.

Scale 7: Heat Packs

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The science of weather can be challenging because large changes can occur with a simple change on the molecular level. Case in point? These heat packs... they are in a liquid state, but have been supercooled. That is, they want to be solid, but don't know how to get there. However, if one tiny little crystal can be formed, all of the other molecules can use that point as a way to become solid. By snapping the metal tab inside of them, we can create a reaction and help the liquid become a solid. (As a fun side note, these are therefore heat packs because the phase change releases the stored energy in the liquid.)

Scale 6: Salt Crystals

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! In case that turkey and gravy wasn't salty enough, we've got you covered. Here's the scale of salt -- what do you notice when the size changes?

Fawkes It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Fire requires heat, oxygen and fuel -- here are a few ways to show this. As we did the preparation and filming for this video on and around 5 Nov, and as we're looking at the science of fire, we decided to give it a Guy Fawkes theme! As for the final demo in the video, you can see the fuel, and there must be oxygen in the chamber, but where does the heat come from?

Carbon Dioxide [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Thanks to our armed forces on Veteran's Day! Little Shop's Cherie Bornhorst teams up with CSU Atmospheric Sciences professor Scott Denning to talk about -- and demonstrate -- great ways to teach students about carbon dioxide, atmospheric gases, and thermal radiation!

Scale 5: Cloud in a Bottle

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Tiny things too small for us to see can cause huge things that we have to view from far away! What are we talking about? Clouds, of course! A single dust particle can start the process that forms gigantic, puffy clouds in the sky. In this clip, we show the process on our own scale. You can't see the smoke particles, but you can definitely see the cloud!

Scale 4: Color Changing Liquid

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Can something happen on a very small scale that changes things on a much larger scale? (Well, since we asked the question, you probably think the answer is YES.) We won’t give the answer away here, but for a clue, we will say that this particular clip has to do with carbon dioxide, colors, liquid and acidity.

Launch It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:00:00 -0600

How can you show projectile motion in action? We've got all kinds of things flying through the air and a high-speed camera, too. After the credits, there is a special surprise just for you!

Buoyancy [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Here are some great activities for demonstrating buoyancy! Balloons, soda cans, dry ice, and bubbles help show students the principles of floating.

Scale 3: Falling Fruit and Buoyancy

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:00:00 -0600

So, size matters... except when it doesn't!! A great way to demonstrate this contradiction (or either concept, separately) is to make fruit explode. We like to do this by dropping it from a considerable height. We also can show this with buoyancy -- does it matter how much mass you have of the same material?

Scale 2: Clay Creatures

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Here's another fun, interesting and hands-on way to explore how scale affects our world! If you double the size of something, you are effectively increasing its mass to eight times greater! We show how this works with molding clay. It's a great activity to do with your students or anyone interested in science!

Warm It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:00:00 -0600

We've got a great video about carbon dioxide and how it acts as a greenhouse gas to absorb and emit thermal radiation! Or, to put it in other words, we've got a video with hair dryers, big long equations, car exhaust, Captain Carbon himself, and a flight to the CSU power plant!

Sunsets [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 -0600

How can a mist reveal a laser? Why can't we breathe on the moon? Why is the sky dark even during the moon's daytime? And why does our sky here on earth change colors? It all has to do with atmosphere and scattering. In this episode, we have four experiments you can do with your students to explore scattering.

Scale 1: Intro and Surface Tension

Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:00:00 -0600

How does the size of something change how it behaves? Size matters, after all! We start with some simple experiments about scale. Is it possible to turn a cup of water upside down without it spilling out? What if you hold it perfectly still, no moving? The answer has to do with surface tension.

Weather 10: Mars and Closing

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 15:00:00 -0600

What's the weather like on Mars? How is it like and unlike Earth? And what will the closing snack be this time?

Equal and Oppuz It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Newton's 3rd law -- to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction -- can sometimes be puzzling. For instance... when you jump, what is pushing you up? When you push anything, does it push back? And how can you prove this? Well, we've got some great footage to try to show exactly what's going on!

Thermal Radiation [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:00:00 -0600

It's important to understand different means of energy transfer. So, we have some fun activities for getting into thermal radiation with your students! They address Standard 1 Physical Science and Standard 3 Earth Systems Science. Be sure to tell us what you think or if you have other fun activities that you'd like to share!

Weather 9: Lightning

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Lightning is one of the most exciting weather phenomena on our planet. But what makes it happen? We can demonstrate where the charge comes from with some tubes and particles of different sizes: in this case, sand and beads.

Weather 8: Upward Winds

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Did you know that sometimes rain "falls" up?! It's true! Depending upon the size of the droplet, wind blows water droplets up. This has an impact on what kind of precipitation we get when the water eventually comes down to us on the ground. You can demonstrate this with some easily available materials... or by going to a skydiving simulator!!

Chill It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:00 -0600

What's this? It looks like a 10 litre dewar of liquid nitrogen... Wow, that's about minus 200 Celsius! Hey, let's do some phase change experiments and see what happens to things that get REALLY cold!

Be the Circuit [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Kinesthetic activities are a great way to get more students involved. We like to find ways to make students part of the model, rather than just showing them one. Here, we have a few ways to get students into thinking about electricity and circuits!

Weather 7: Rainbows and Tornados

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:00:00 -0600

With some commonly available items, it's easy to make rainbows and tornados! While we show you how to do it, we'll talk about the science behind these amazing phenomena.

Weather 6: Sunset Colors

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:00:00 -0600

What are the colors that make up white light? And how can we tell?

Charge It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:00:00 -0600

What can you do with electrical charge? To find out, we've got socks, balloons, cheap plastic tape, foil pans, tinsel, some Van de Graaff generators... and most importantly, our own bodies!

Infrared Activities [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 -0600

There's more than one way to measure temperature! Infrared thermometers measure radiation -- here are some fun and active ways to use them with your students!

Weather 5: Rainbow Colors

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:00:00 -0600

We've got more light scattering, and we have some ways to make and talk about rainbows!

Weather 4: Jefferson and Clouds

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Fun fact: Thomas Jefferson's contributions to American history extend beyond what we traditionally credit him with doing. Did you know that he kept detailed weather observations for half of a century? These records are the best among early data in North America. Now, here's a question that Jefferson may have asked when looking up at the sky: "Why are clouds white?" We've got a demonstration that you can use at home or in the classroom to show what's happening up above — in a word, the answer is "scattering."

Change It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 -0600

What's a phase change? What's it look like? What's happening? How can freezing something give us heat? These questions and more are explored in a series of exciting demos in this week's episode of Science It Up!

Rain Drops [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 27 May 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Why do rain drops fall the way that they do? Sometimes they land gently on the ground... and sometimes they splat! This has to do with the size of the raindrop, gravity, and air resistance, as we demonstrate in this video. We also show you how you can turn it into a classroom experiment!

Weather 3: Measuring Wind

Fri, 20 May 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Wind is a major factor in weather. How can you construct a device to measure wind speed using easily found objects?

Weather 2: Humidity

Fri, 13 May 2011 15:00:00 -0600

What does humidity have to do with the weather, or more specifically, with the temperature? We've got a thermal camera, a humidifier and some thermometers to see if we can find out!

Twist It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 06 May 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The Coriolis effect is something we hear a lot about. But what's a good way to show how it's working? We've got a few demos to show you just that in this latest episode of Science It Up!, called "twist it!"

Clouds [Tips for Teachers]

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Why are clouds white? This podcast explores physical science as well as earth systems science.

Weather 1: Intro and Temperature

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Where does weather come from? That's quite a question, so let's get started with tackling it. We'll begin by thinking about temperature. We've got some thermometers in the studio: one at the ceiling, and one by the floor. Will they have different readings? What do you think?

Weather Preview

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The next episode of Everyday Science is almost here! We're talking about weather -- where does it come from? Why does it happen? What is it? Here's a preview of what's coming your way!

Bend It! Bag It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Did you wake up hoping to find a dynamic, engaging and fun podcast about science? Either way you're in luck, because it's time for another episode of Science It Up! In "bend it! bag it!" we look at ways to play with air. What are two ways that we can use air to move and lift things? Well, we can bend air, and we can bag air. Take a look!

A Brand New Series!

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:00:00 -0600

At the Little Shop of Physics, we're always coming up with new things! And this week is no different -- we're rolling out a brand new podcast series! This one is called "Tips for Teachers," and it's designed for any teacher who works with Earth Systems Science and Physical Science. It's also a support for the Everyday Science show and for our summer Weather and Climate class for teachers. Episodes may cover concept development, possible standards met, and materials needed. The premiere episode, "Carbon Dioxide Pumpkin," is based on an activity for helping students visualize the amount of CO2 produced by a gasoline-fueled car.

Climate #11: Trends and Closing

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Remember the chaos pendulum from last time? Though we might not be able to predict where the pendulum goes, we can see a trend emerging when we look at the plot. This is a good way to think about weather and climate. While we can't always predict the weather, we are able to see some trends. Scientists can see trends over the years by taking core samples and looking at tree rings. Well, we've got a way to take a core sample as we finish our show.

Spin It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Who's ready for some fun with angular momentum?! It's a Friday, and that means it's time for another podcast -- this week, it's a new episode of Science It Up! We show you several different ways to have a blast with the power of spin.

Climate #10: Chaos

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Chaos is when something becomes more and more unpredictable over time. This is true for weather, which we can predict maybe a few days in advance but not much longer than that. This means that weather isn't random, it's chaotic.

Climate #9: Positive and Negative Feedback

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Here's another way to think about feedback: we've taken plastic drinking cups and connected them in two different ways, and we have a ramp. The one cup shape corrects itself -- negative feedback. But the other one goes out of control -- positive feedback!

Move It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Here we are with another fun episode of Science It Up! How can you use air pressure to move things? Well, we've got some great examples to try at home and to watch!

Climate #8: Feedback

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:00:00 -0600

How does feedback play into climate? Well, first, let's talk about what feedback is. We can demonstrate it by using a hanging globe and some projectiles!

Climate #7: Moving Air

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:00:00 -0600

So, what happens to the warm air and cold air when the earth spins? We can demonstrate this with a "cold" source (ice), a heat source (heat lamp), a turntable, a round pan of water and some food coloring. The water simulates air, so we see what happens when the hot and cold "airflows" meet each other. This is a great way to make a hurricane!

Drop It! Pop It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Science It Up! is back! The newest episode is all about comparing density of common gases using household items (and some not so common items, too). Enjoy!

Climate #6: Rotation of the Earth

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:00:00 -0600

As we saw in the last segment, the earth's poles are cold and the equator is warm. So, if heat moves from warm spots to cold spots, why doesn't the earth's heat just move from the equator out to the poles? Basically, because the earth isn't exactly sitting still -- it's rotating at a high speed! (Think about how big the earth is, and the whole thing has to spin around once in 24 hours!!) This complicates matters, to say the least. Let's demonstrate what happens with a spinner, some paper and food coloring. Make a prediction: what will happen to the colors? How dramatic of an effect do you think you will see?

Climate #5: Radiant Energy

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The sun radiates energy toward the earth, and the earth radiates much of that energy back. But some of it is blocked by carbon dioxide (CO2). The Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius theorized changing amounts of CO2 could therefore change the earth’s surface temperature. Now, the equator is warm and the poles are cold, and we can demonstrate why this is by using a heat-sensitive ball and a hot light bulb. This is a major piece of the climate puzzle which we’ll connect in the coming segments.

Condense It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The next episode of Science It Up! is here for your enjoyment! Condense It! is all about clouds. How do you make a cloud? Water vapor, cooling (and particles) all can create a cloud. We show you a few ways that this can be done. The biggest way is with liquid nitrogen and boiling water, and it's pretty sweet! Enjoy!!

Climate #4: Water Vapor

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The physical principles of heat energy exchange determine climate. That is, if we understand how heat is transferred, we can start to understand climate. Water vapor plays a significant part in this energy exchange, and the following experiment demonstrates one way in which plants are important to climate.

Climate #3: Blocking Thermal Radiation

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:00:00 -0600

How does the atmosphere affect thermal radiation? Well, for one thing, it can block it, trapping heat below. But when we have a cold, cloudless night sky, what happens to the thermal radiation? The two atmospheric elements which block heat -- water droplets (clouds) and carbon dioxide -- are not blocking the radiation as much. So, the cold night sky allows the thermal radiation to pass, cooling the surface of the planet.

Crush It! [Science It Up!]

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:00:00 -0600

It’s another episode of Science It Up! Atmospheric pressure is very strong! But how can we see just how strong it is? Let’s crush all kinds of things, just with air pressure! Marshmallows, soda cans, paint thinner cans, and to cap it all off, we’ll even crush a 55-gallon oil drum. Don’t miss it!

Climate #2: Thermal Radiation

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 -0600

How can you show how thermal radiation affects climate? We have liquid crystal, a hot light bulb, some things that will or won't block thermal radiation, and a surface to simulate the earth. With an infrared camera, we can really see what's going on!

Climate #1: Intro and Solar Heat

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Climate is here! We kick off the show by working with some basic ideas about climate. One thing we should talk about is solar heat. We can use light bulbs, a sheet of liquid crystal, and a thermal radiation camera to get started!!

Science it Up! Premiere Episode

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:00:00 -0600

It's a new kind of podcast from your friends at the Little Shop of Physics! Fast-paced and full of fun, Science it Up! is all about the action in the physics experiments. So we'll show you how to do a very simple experiment with very simple materials... and then we'll super-size it! After all, when something here at Little Shop looks pretty cool, we always say, "Sweet... now how can we make it BIGGER??" In our premier episode, "Snuff It!," we answer the question: "How can you show that carbon dioxide is more dense than air?" To do it, we snuff out the flames of candles invisibly -- with the help of some "dry ice." You can't see our carbon dioxide gas, but you can prove that it's there when you watch the flames go out. (Soon, this podcast may be on a separate rollout from the Everyday Science podcasts... but for now, you can get them all right here!)

Climate Preview

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Coming soon: the new Climate episode! But if you just can't wait, we've got a sneak peek at what you'll see. The Climate episode focuses on the forces that affect our climate, which is the patterns of weather that we have. Stay tuned! It's coming your way!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 14: Money Matters and Closing

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:00:00 -0600

In addition to being a plus for the environment, saving energy saves money. We use an electricity meter to see which devices in our homes are using the most energy. Prediction time: which are the culprits? You might be surprised!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 13: Energy and Aluminum Cans

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:00:00 -0600

As we've seen, energy is hidden in things. There's energy in batteries and fuel, but there's also energy in everyday items, such as aluminum cans -- so when you throw a can away, you're throwing away energy. The energy hidden in an aluminum can could run a television for as long as an hour!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 12: Hidden Energy

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Now it's time for Rachel's question. You might remember that she asked about converting lightning into energy for transportation. Well, first, let's think about energy. It exists in all kinds of things -- hidden, sometimes. We don't always think about things as having energy (or as requiring energy for packaging or shipping), but there's energy everywhere. It just so happens that lightning (aside from being powerful itself) also returns nitrogen into the soil, which in turn goes into our food. So we already use the power of lightning, without having to lift a finger!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 11: Batteries and Energy

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Jamie asks how batteries store energy -- let's find out by making a simple working model of one. We'll need a copper-coated penny, a zinc-coated nail, some wire and a battery-powered clock. (Next: Rachel's question.)

Energy and the Environment, Segment 10: Efficiency and Cars

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:00:00 -0600

So, why is a hybrid car more efficient than a traditional gasoline car? Efficiency is all about making the same things happen while using less energy — and a hybrid car does exactly that, by using less gasoline. A traditional car needs a lot of gasoline to accelerate, and it continues to burn large amounts of fuel even when it has reached a constant speed — but it doesn’t need to burn all of that extra fuel! This is where the hybrid comes in. A hybrid car stores the otherwise wasted energy into a battery, and uses the battery to help with acceleration. The result is that less fuel is used in order to do the same work.

Energy and the Environment, Segment 9: More Energy and Cars

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:00:00 -0600

How can we make cars more efficient? Well, sometimes the easiest way to answer a question is to flip the question upside down: so, how can we make them less efficient? The answer that Shannon and Kenny come across has to do with friction. An increase in friction means a decrease in efficiency... so, a decrease in friction means an increase in efficiency. (Remember the hovercraft?) Kenny also wants to know about the interaction between the car engine and the car battery. To answer that question, let's see how using headlights affects the car's use of energy.

Energy and the Environment, Segment 8: Energy and Cars

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Friction is one factor of energy-consumption in cars. Since our cars aren’t hovercrafts, they have friction with the ground as they roll. To keep them moving, and overcome the friction, we have to give them extra energy (i.e., push the gas pedal).

Energy and the Environment, Segment 7: Energy Saving Buildings and Tips For Home

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Thinking about efficiency during building construction saves energy for years to come! Bacon Elementary School in Ft. Collins, CO is a good example -- a visit to Bacon shows how intelligent construction can help save energy. But you don't have to build a new structure to save energy! We have some tips for everyday home life as well.

Energy and the Environment, Segment 6: Thermal Energy Loss

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Last time we talked about heat loss and made a model for it. Now we have an infrared camera and can actually see it happening! Wearing more layers is like closing up the holes in a house -- it helps keep the heat in. And if you put water on something, how can it change that object's heat?

Energy and the Environment, Segment 5: Heating Your Home

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Here's a practical analogy to the home heating process that you can adapt for your classroom or kitchen. A container serves as the home, a pitcher as the furnace, water as the heat, and a hole as the holes through which heat leaves our homes. Houses have all kinds of little holes here and there -- it's one of the big ways that heat leaves your house. So, how can you keep the heat inside? Naturally: stop the holes!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 4: Historical Scientist -- Thomas Edison

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Erin wants to know why we still use incandescent light bulbs, now that we have a more efficient alternative. Great question! And the answer is that they haven't always been inefficient. Thomas Edison invented the first practical incandescent bulb. One of the problems that he had to solve was finding the right kind of material to use for the filament. When he finally came up with using carbonized sewing thread, he made the incandescent bulb one of the most efficient light sources of his time.

Energy and the Environment, Segment 3: LEDs vs Incandescents

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Continuing from our last segment, we demonstrate how things look in normally visible light versus how they look in the infrared. It's a great way to start thinking about energy efficiency!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 2: Two Ways to Make Light

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Let's start with our questions from Evan and Erin: how do we make an energy efficient bulb like an LED? The answer is that there are two ways to make light: by heating an object, or by exciting atoms with electricity. Basic light bulbs (i.e. incandescents) use heat, which is not very efficient since we really only want the light. LEDs are more efficient because they use electricity to excite atoms -- they don't waste energy on heat!

Energy and the Environment, Segment 1: Show Intro

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0600

What is energy? How is it used? How can we think of it in terms of resources? In the Energy and the Environment episode, we're going to tackle these and other questions inspired by students at Bacon Elementary School in Ft. Collins, CO.

Time Segment 15: Show Close

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0600

As we close the show, it's time for the customary snack. For a snack about time, let's talk about mixed nuts! Usually, once something gets mixed up it's hard to "unmix" it. But this is exactly what happens with a can of mixed nuts: by the time you open it, it's been unmixed! The big nuts are on top and the little nuts are on the bottom. It's not hard to modify this one and try it in your home or classroom!

Time Segment 14: Arrow of Time in Nature

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:00:00 -0600

There's an "arrow of time" in nature. You already can see it. There is an order of how things move, and we don't see these things moving backwards. (Snowmen melting, for instance.) We have some fun time lapse footage to show this arrow of time!

Time Segment 13: Memory Metal

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Time for another look at the direction of time -- this time, we're looking at memory metal, which seems to go backwards in time! Of course, it doesn't really: it simply is able to return to its original shape when heated. It's one more way to think about entropy, about how things get mixed up as time passes. (Nikki and Ryan had to see it to believe it!)

Time Segment 12: Order and Disorder

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0600

As time goes forward things usually get more mixed up. We're going to be a bit sneaky here and make something unmixed while time goes forward. (It's sneaky because in reality, the dye is not truly being mixed in.)

Time Segment 11: Forwards or Backwards?

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Time only moves in one direction, right? So, can you tell what direction things are going in these video clips? It's not easy!!

Time Segment 10: 3D Pulfrich Effect

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0600

The Pulfrich effect is a really cool optical illusion! It can be easily demonstrated with a pair of sunglasses with one lens missing. When a pendulum swings back and forth, it swings in a straight line. But your eyes can be fooled into thinking it's moving in a circle! This effect expands beyond the pendulum, as we show. Want some 3D glasses so you can try this at home? Click the "3D Glasses!" link on the right side of our blog page, or visit "http://www.cmmap.org/everydayscience/" and let us know where to mail your glasses! (After it's mailed out, we don't save your contact information. We promise!)

Time Segment 9: Not on TV, Part 3

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Here are more clips that we saved just for the podcast! It's all slow motion and it's all really cool!

Time Segment 8: Reaction Time

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0600

How are vision and reaction time related? It's harder to react to something when you can't see it! Nikki & Ryan demonstrate reaction speed in two different tests: one in which their vision is normal, and one in which dark glasses make it harder to see. We're preparing for a later segment which has an activity you can try at home along with Nikki and Ryan!

Time Segment 7: Slow Motion Replay!

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Time to check out the slow motion replays that we prepared in the last segment! We've got bouncing waves and exploding balloons in slow-mo! What happens in the instant that a balloon bursts? We see it whole, then we see it popped... but it's too fast for us to see how it gets there. We'll play these videos 10 times slower than they actually happened. Get ready!!

Time Segment 6: Time Scales - Clip Filming

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Is it too fast to see? Some things happen too quickly for us to see what's going on. If we use a special camera, we can use video techniques to see what's happening. So, we're preparing the video footage to slowwww down time and get a different perspective. We have balloons popping and waves bouncing. In this segment, we see them at normal speed.

Time Segment 5: Not on TV, Part 2

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Here's more footage that we kept for the podcast! Can you tell what's moving forwards or backwards in time?

Time Segment 4: Galileo and Cycles of Nature

Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:00 -0600

The Italian scientist Galileo observed a swinging chandelier, and realized that there was a certain cycle to it: no matter the size of the swing, it took the same amount of time. He used this realization to build a clock with a pendulum. But this realization of how time has cycles in nature goes back before Galileo -- early sundials also made use of this idea. And we can also see it overnight, over the months, over the years and over millennia.

Time Segment 3: A Definition of Time

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Time -- how do you measure it? What happens when things speed up, or slow down? In this segment, we build something that we can use as a clock -- a pendulum.

Time Segment 2: Show Introduction

Fri, 14 May 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Have you ever wondered about time? What is it? How does it work? How does it affect other things? This episode of the EveryDay Science show is all about time. We make fast things look slow, and slow things look fast, so that you can see them from a different perspective. We also show things moving backwards in time (that is, we "rewind" the tape) and forwards in time -- can you tell the difference? It's a great show and we're excited to share it with you!

Time Segment 1: Not on TV Part 1

Fri, 7 May 2010 15:00:00 -0600

It's a good thing you're watching the podcast! Why? Because you get to see special footage that *isn't* on the TV show! We call it "Not on TV." Tell your friends! In this segment, we get to see slow-motion video of koosh balls and water balloons as they fall, make impact and stretch.

Pressure II Segment 12: Pressure Snacks

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:00:00 -0600

We close the episode with two treats that rely on pressure: popcorn and juice boxes. What do you use to drink from a juice box? A straw! And you use a straw by creating pressure differences: when you draw air into your mouth, you are creating lower pressure, which brings the liquid up the straw. And how do you make popcorn? You increase the pressure in the kernels by heating them. When they are heated, the water inside tries to expand, and it "pops" the corn by doing so.

Pressure II Segment 11: Toricelli

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:00:00 -0600

In the 1600s, Evangelista Toricelli developed a barometer -- a device used to measure air pressure. Toricelli put mercury inside a bent glass tube (shaped something like an "L" or a candy cane). The high end of the tube was capped; the low end was open. (Air pressure kept the mercury inside.) When the outside air pressure rose, air would push inside the low end, causing the mercury to rise. Toricelli noticed that a change in the air pressure predicted a change in the weather. This principle is still used in meteorology today.

Time Preview

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Don't worry, we're not done with the Pressure show yet! But you should know that the recently filmed Time show will be premiering soon! Here's a little something to get excited about while you wait: We speed things up, we slow things down (like an exploding water balloon). We use time-lapse filming to see the world in a different perspective! We show special films: can you tell if time is moving forwards or backwards? We ask: what is time? The Time show. It's ticking your way, in May.

Pressure II Segment 10: Pressure Power!

Fri, 9 Apr 2010 15:00:00 -0600

So now that we've seen how pressure works, how much BIGGER can we go? How about a big, empty oil drum? Recall that the air pressure outside the drum and inside are currently matched. But what will happen when the air (and thus the air pressure) INSIDE the drum is sucked out??

Pressure II Segment 9: Atmospheric Pressure

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Air pressure at greater elevations is low, and here on the ground it’s high. (So at sea level, air pressure is higher than it is at Mount Everest.) We can’t feel the high air pressure here because it matches the pressure inside our bodies. We can see pressure demonstrated when we remove air pressure from the inside of a sealed bag: the contents get squeezed by the higher air pressure on the outside. And when an enthusiastic student — with a trained professional on hand — is vaccuum-packed, he can feel the air pressure, too! (Never put a bag on or over someone’s head, and do not vacuum-pack a person. The vacuum-pack demonstration that we use is very specifically tailored for safety issues and so Ellis was completely safe.)

Pressure II Segment 8: Buoyant Force

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0600

What makes a balloon float? Well, there are three important forces acting on that balloon: gravity, pressure, and buoyancy. At Rice Elementary School in Wellington, Colorado, Brian demonstrates how these forces work on a balloon.

Pressure II Segment 7: Pressure and Elevation

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0600

In the Channel 10 studio, GPS units are used for another cool pressure experiment. GPS units can display the current elevation. How? It's pressure! Since air pressure is different at different elevations (high elevation means low pressure, and vice versa), the GPS units measure air pressure to estimate elevation. Want proof? When the units are placed in airtight containers, and the pressure is changed, the elevation changes. The units are "tricked" into calculating elevations several hundred meters lower and several thousand meters higher!

Pressure II Segment 6: Pressure as a Force

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0600

LEAF BLOWER ELEVATOR -- How can the air inside a tire support a tractor, or a school bus, or a semi trailer?! It's because of pressure differences between the inside of the tire and the outside. Want proof? Grace stands on a board which is on top of an airbag. When the bag is empty, the pressure isn't strong enough to do anything interesting. But when Brian fills the bag using air from the leaf blower, the pressure inside the bag increases dramatically! BUCKET BALLOON -- When the bucket is low, the balloon doesn't fill up -- but when it's high, the balloon does. Why? There are three important pressure zones here: the low pressure inside the bucket, the high pressure inside the balloon, and the low pressure outside the balloon. (The low pressure outside the balloon is in fact the same as that of the bucket, because it's the same air.) So, when the bucket is raised, gravity pulls the water down, making the pressure inside the balloon higher than the pressure outside of it. This allows the balloon to expand and fill.

Pressure II Segment 5: What Does Pressure Do?

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Now that we have discussed what pressure is, let's find out what pressure does. First, Brian has a pair of translucent plates. He can remove all of the air from in between the plates. Now there is a very strong pressure difference! What will happen when Grace and Ellis try to pull them apart? Next, marshmallows. They're made with puffed air. What can we do to the air pressure to increase the size of the marshmallow?

Pressure II Segment 4: Atomic Scale

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0600

At Rice Elementary in Colorado, students demonstrate how pressure works at the atomic level. Wearing bumper suits, they represent microscopic bits of matter that push against each other and their boundaries. When the number increases, or boundaries shrink, the collisions increase, increasing pressure.

Pressure II Segment 3: Pressure Differences

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0600

What do you get when you mix balloons, liquid nitrogen, and eager young scientists (equipped with proper safety gear, of course)? It sounds like another exciting EveryDay Science experiment! As we saw in segment 2, heat and pressure are related. Brian, Ellis and Grace have set up a demonstration of just how dynamic pressure and temperature can be. Liquid nitrogen is at about -200 degrees Celcius, and boils at -196 C, so when it is introduced into room temperature air (about 20 C), it boils without fail. As the nitrogen becomes a gas, they use it to fill balloons. They then put the balloons back into the liquid nitrogen, which cools the nitrogen inside the balloons, reducing the inside pressure and shrinking the balloon. Removing it warms the inside and it expands once again.

Pressure II Segment 2: Where Does Pressure Come From?

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Grace and Ellis help Brian demonstrate the source of pressure. They start with a canister containing pellets -- it has a speaker at its base. When the power for the speaker is turned on, it bounces the pellets, which in turn push on the lid. This simulates what is happening at the microscopic level with pressure. They then demonstrate how pressure effects liquids. Using a pitcher and a bottle with a tube attached, they build a barometer. When they increase the molecules, the pressure inside increases. They can also increase the pressure with heat.

Pressure II Segment 1: Show Opener

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0600

The newest episode of EveryDay Science is showing up in podcasts now! Pressure II - it's a reimagining of the concept we explored in our first episode ever (titled, well... Pressure). Differences in pressure help you to drink from a straw, help your balloon to float, and help planes to soar in the sky. Let's start with some things to think about -- some questions to ponder while we get ready to watch each segment. Where does pressure come from? How can it be changed? How exactly do these pressure differences cause the effects we've listed? All of this and more will be explored in the newest EveryDay Science episode, Pressure II.

The Nature of Science Segment 12: Black Holes

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:59:00 -0600

Often the most interesting scientific questions are the ones which are hardest to test. The challenge is to, like Albert Einstein, be very creative in the ways that we try to answer them. One such question is this: what lies beyond the event horizon of a black hole? (Think of the event horizon as the boundary of a black hole.) It's an interesting question, because we can't go into a black hole, and nothing within a black hole can come out. How can we think creatively to answer it?

The Nature of Science Segment 11: Einstein

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0600

What if you need to do experiments that go beyond the use of a lab? Some of the best scientists in history used only their imaginations for some problems! Among them stands the most famous Western scientist of the 20th century: Albert Einstein.

The Nature of Science Segment 10: Clean Energy

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0600

What's the best way to harness clean energy for cars? Well, solar power is the ultimate form of clean energy: once the light is gone, no waste remains. Let's do some experiments with solar-powered vehicles.

The Nature of Science Segment 9: Solar Energy

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0600

It's time to explore with some more questions. Can you magnify solar energy? What's the best way to harness clean energy? Brian, Alex and Charles perform experiments with solar panels to tackle these questions.

The Nature of Science Segment 8: What Makes Science, Science?

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0600

We've seen science in action: we ask questions and we perform experiments to answer them. But there's more to it: it's a process with guidelines. Let's see what scientists at Colorado State University have to say about the process.

The Nature of Science Segment 7: Refrigerators

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0600

How does a refrigerator work? Brian and company are ready with another experiment to figure it out! They demonstrate how water can be used to remove heat, which is part and parcel of the refrigeration process.

The Nature of Science Segment 6: Fans

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0600

Why does a fan cool you down? What does evaporation have to do with it? With these ideas in mind, Brian, Chris and Dana demonstrate the scientific method by asking questions, setting hypotheses, and conducting experiments.

The Nature of Science Segment 5: What is Science?

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0600

What is science? We go to several scientists at Colorado State University to learn what they do and what they have to say about science.

The Nature of Science Segment 4: Hot and Cold Spots

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0600

Microwaves bounce back and forth as, well, waves. Depending on the size of the wave, some spots are hot and some are cold. This is why most microwave ovens have turntables -- the heat is more evenly spread out. How can Brian, Sierra and Mary show that this is what's happening inside the microwave? It's time for another experiment!

The Little Shop of Physics

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0600

The Little Shop of Physics travels with hands-on science experiments which we've shared with over 250,000 students. We don't just show students science -- we help them DO science! Our goal is to teach people that science is something anyone can do. Each year we see about 20,000 students—not including the 5,000+ folks who attend our yearly Open House at Colorado State University. We primarily work with students by visiting schools all over the region. But we also work with teachers through our teacher workshops and the community through our Everyday Science TV show.

The Nature of Science Segment 3: More Microwave Experiments

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0600

Sierra, Mary and Brian continue working with microwaves. This time they have constructed a working model of a microwave. They have connected a CD player to a microwave emitter and speakers to a microwave receiver. The microwave emitter carries the music to the receiver, where it is transmitted to the speakers. How can we prove this? Let's watch and find out!

The Nature of Science Segment 2: Microwaves

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0600

Science is something that you do. So rather than talk about science, we're going to take questions from young scientists and take action! How do microwaves work? Why does metal spark inside a microwave? With Mary and Sierra, Brian demonstrates what's going on inside that microwave oven.

The Nature of Science Segment 1: The Process

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0600

What is science? It's a process. It's something you do. We're going to use the process to answer some questions from students at Lesher Junior High School.

Tenth Anniversary Show: Pressure Preview

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:15:00 -0600

It's been ten years since Everyday Science first captivated imaginations and gave us fun ways to think about and explore science. Now it's time to revisit the Pressure show to look at pressure in a whole new way! The Tenth Anniversay Show: Pressure is coming your way soon.

Wind Segment 8: Good Eats

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0600

It's time to wrap up. If we could leave with one important idea, what would it be? How about, "What makes the wind blow? Pressure!" Finishing up with a tasty treat, Brian, Cierra and Samantha give a send-off to the Wind program.

Wind Segment 7: Historical Scientist: Francis Beaufort

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0600

Did you know that our system of wind speed measurement has roots in seafaring history? Understanding wind speed was critical for sailors. Historical scientist Francis Beaufort was a mariner who developed a scale for determining wind speed.

Wind Segment 6: Extreme Winds

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0600

In this segment we explore extreme winds. Brian, Samantha and Cierra use dry ice and a fan to make a homemade tornado, demonstrating angular momentum's role in the creation of extreme winds.

Wind Segment 5: Global Circulation

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:21:31 -0600

Taka Ito, a researcher and oceanographer at CSU, demonstrates global circulation of wind and how the spin of the earth affects the wind. Using a spinning water tank with warm and cold water, he replicates the impacts on wind effected by the cold North Pole and the Warm equator.

Wind Segment 4: Global Winds

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:20:31 -0600

Brian, Cierra and Samantha have been looking at winds on a small scale. Now, it's time to look at winds on a very large scale - that of the earth. Building off of their explorations into convection in segment 2, they ask some questions. Why doesn't the hot air from the equator move up and down to the earth's poles? What effect does the earth's spinning have on wind? They have some fun experiments in the Channel 10 studio to demonstrate and explore these effects.

Wind Segment 3: Speed, Direction and Height

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:19:31 -0600

In the Channel 10 studio, Brian, Samantha and Cierra experiment with the speed, direction and height of wind. Using their hand-made anemometers and wind indicators, they see what happens to wind speed and direction at different heights and around obstacles. Brian also looks at what happens to wind at different heights outdoors: surface level wind, the jet stream high in the sky, and everything in between!

Wind Segment 2: Convection Cells

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:18:31 -0600

Brian, Cierra and Samantha continue exploring wind in the Channel 10 studio. Now they are working on convection. What happens when air is heated or cooled? Where does it go? How does it move? See what happens when they explore using a converted fish tank and the Convection Cauldron!

Wind Segment 1: Pressure

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:52:31 -0600

Starting in the Channel 10 studio, Brian, along with Poudre students Samantha and Cierra, asks the most basic question about wind: what makes it blow? They begin by talking about how pressure plays a part.

Wind Preview

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:42:31 -0600

Why does the wind blow? That’s one of the seemingly basic questions that we cover on this episode of the Everyday Science show, a joint production of the Little Shop of Physics and Poudre School District Channel 10. Here’s a preview of “Wind”—a taste of what’s to come.