Last year, I asked the Science Buddies staff what science, engineering, or technology tools were on their wish lists. The compilation of responses turned out to be an interesting roundup of most-wanted gadgets, a list that reflects the wide-range of personal interests that make up the small group of us at Science Buddies.

Despite the size of our site and the depth of our resources, there are only a handful of us. We are a small and busy team. We keep our "plates" full (agar and non-agar ones), and we work hard to keep up with the demands of the ten million students, parents, and teachers who use our resources each year.

As we prepare to celebrate Science Buddies' tenth birthday, I give you this little glimpse of the real people who make it all happen. This year, I again asked, "What's on your wish list." And, again, the range of answers surprised me! I hope you'll enjoy our shared wish list.

• Ken, Founder and President, wants the Orion SkyLine Deluxe Green Laser Pointer. (We think he already has this, so it must be to add to his collection!)

  Why? "The beam of a green laser can be seen in the dark sky (red cannot), making it outstanding for pointing out astronomical objects to friends and family. Plus, it's really cool!" (But, be careful! To enjoy a laser pointer safely, check our Laser Safety Guide.)

• Courtney, Vice President, wants a Roomba.

  Why? "It's easier than getting the kids to vacuum, and it looks like we could jury-rig it to do something funny, too!" She also wants a Day 6 Plotwatcher Time Lapse Video CameraWhy? "I've always loved seeing plant growth sped up on nature shows on TV."

• Marisa, Director of Development, wants the iPhone Lens Dial from Photojojo.

  Why? "It's a compact photo-enhancing tool that sits on top of the iPhone's existing camera optic. It has a wheel attachment that spins, which allows you to take high-quality fisheye, wide angle, or telephoto pictures. It also has dual tripod mounts—one for portrait and one for landscape."

• Sandra, Lead Staff Scientist, wants a Summer Shower 5.

  Why? "This year friends and family did a good job convincing me, the quintessential city-girl, that camping is fun. But I still need my daily shower! (Of course, I could just make my own!)"

• Hugo, Chief Software Architect, wants LEGO® Mindstorms® NXT.

  Why? "Do I really need to say why? Programmable robots you can build yourself. I wish I were a kid again!" Hugo also wants a Kindle Fire. Why? "It's an affordable Android tablet. Read books, watch movies, play games, surf the web... what else do you need in the palm of your hand? I'd be walking around the house like a Star Trek guy with his tablet in hand!"

• Claire, Product Design Engineer, wants a SodaStream Pure Black Sparkling Water & Soda Maker.
  Why? " I love flavored and carbonated water, but it can be so expensive! This machine allows you to add carbonation to regular tap water or juices. I would use it all the time!"

• Debbie, Web Editor, wants a Rubik's Cube.

  Why? "I am determined to master the Rubik's cube! I was inspired by the "You CAN do the Rubik's cube" team at the recent Discovery Days Science Festival in San Francisco." You can download the guide and check out several Science Buddies Rubik's cube-based Project Ideas!

• Michelle, Staff Scientist, wants a gift card to her local hardware store.
  
  Why? "The hardware store is a place where I can pick up anything and everything I need to build all kinds of experimental set-ups. Pumps, paint, hammers, lumber, rocks, cardboard, utility knives..... Visiting the hardware store is almost like a treasure hunt!"

• Amy, Online Community Manager, wants a Squeezebox Touch.
  

  Why? "I love my original Squeezebox for playing Pandora music so much that I'd like one in another room. (The Music Genome Project is a pretty cool thing, too!)

• Sherry, Grants Manager, wants Bushnell Deluxe Binocular Harness.

  Why? "To avoid bird-watching neck strain from holding heavy binoculars. I will reach for this harness when responding to rare bird alerts and waiting for birds to emerge."

• Teisha, Staff Scientist, wants the Wingscapes WSCA04 Timelapse Outdoor PlantCam.

  Why? "Plants move in amazing ways, but because they move on such a different time scale than we do, it's often hard for us to notice. By taking a time-lapse video of a plant's movements over several hours, days, or even weeks, it's a lot easier for us to see how plants grow and respond to their environment. I'd use a time-lapse 'PlantCam' to watch the plants in my backyard, organic garden grow tasty vegetables!"





• Yvette, Support Staff, wants the Solio Classic Universal Hybrid Charger
  

  Why? "I'm constantly on the go, and this would be the perfect gift to help me charge my phone, MP3 players, and other electronic devices while being eco-friendly!"
  

(Editorial Note: Links to Amazon.com for some of the above products are provided for additional information. Science Buddies does not sell these items directly.)

As I wrote my blog essay in celebration of Earth Day, I found myself in unexpectedly bug-laden territory, without a compost bin, wind turbine, or reusable food container in sight. But Earth Day is about all of those things. It's about taking a moment to recognize what's around us, to take stock of where we are, and to consider ways in which we can make changes, big and small, that can make an impact on the environment. It's about conservation and awareness. Do you turn off the water while you brush your teeth?

I asked members of the Science Buddies team to pick their favorite Project Idea for Earth Day from the Science Buddies Project Ideas Directory. Here's what they chose:

Courtney: Decomposing Energy: Extracting Heat Energy from a Compost Pile
Investigate whether the heat from a compost bin or pile can be used to efficiently and effectively heat water.

Tina: Uh-oh! What Do We Do With Our E-waste?
Examine how people deal with e-waste, and which electronic devices, if any, are most likely to be recycled.

Marisa: The Big Dig

Test how biodegradable different materials are, from paper products to different kinds of bags and other everyday items.

Hugo: Killing 'Vampires': Saving Money and Power by Turning Off Computer Peripherals
Investigate, and ultimately reduce, the amount of power that computer peripherals (like printers, monitors, and speakers) use.

Peggy: Swimming in Acid: Understanding Ocean Acidification
Many scientists are concerned that the increased absorption of carbon dioxide is causing them to become more acidic. What impact does that have on the marine life? In this ocean science fair project, you will demonstrate ocean acidification and investigate the effect on the shells of marine life.

Luisa: Going Green as You Clean: Are 'Green' Detergents Less Toxic Than Conventional Detergents?
Determine if green detergents are safer for the environment than conventional detergents.

Kaarin: Feeding Earthworms: Do Different Diets Affect Them and the Soil They Enrich?
Discover how the diet of earthworms affects their growth, reproduction, and the quality of the soil they process.

Justin: Ocean Currents: Modeling the 'Global Conveyor Belt' in Your Kitchen
Make a model of ocean currents and measure how the heat input affects velocity of the currents.

Claire: Get Down and Dirty: How Does Soil Change with Depth?
Observe and measure core samples of soil to see how soil properties changes with depth.

Debbie: Growing a Soil Menagerie
Make a mini biosphere (Winogradsky Column) to test the response of soil microorganisms to environmental changes in a closed system.

Michelle: Go Green by Growing Green: How to Extract Energy from Grass
Grow three different types of grasses and then determine which grass produces the most biomass and therefore, will produce the most energy.

Sandra: "Earth Day is about stopping to take the time to appreciate the outdoors and making sure that we humans are living in a way that allows future generations to do the same. Does that mean we're going to abandon our cars and turn off our electricity? Realistically speaking, I can't imagine doing that! Finding ways to solve environmental problems while maintaining our lifestyles seems more realistic. Here are two Project Ideas that I think allow us to start evaluating and tackling some of those environmental problems:"
• Do Your Storm Drains Keep the Ocean Trash Free?
  Test models of local grated storm drain inlets to determine if they are designed in a manner that keeps plastic litter from entering your community's stormwater drainage system. If not, design a new model!


• Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future
  Follow in the footsteps of MIT researchers as you examine water's usefulness as a renewable energy source by observing how efficient a cobalt-based catalyst can be at helping to form molecular oxygen.

(Thank you to our partners and sponsors whose support helps up continue to produce environmentally-aware science and engineering projects and materials for K-12 students, teachers, and families.)

Earlier this week, we posted a list of cool science-y things you might add to your own wish list... things that would be fun to explore and might win holiday brownie points with Mom and Dad for sheer educational value. Hopefully you made sincere, compelling, and scientifically sound arguments. But now it's time to take a look at grown-up gadgets and science toys. Do you need to buy something for Mom, Dad, Uncle Joe, or Grandma? Maybe you've been thinking about what to give? Maybe you're hoping for perfect holiday brownies, in addition to the brownie points? There are tools that can help with that!

We asked the Science Buddies staff—the group of people who bring you all of our great science project ideas and resources—what was on their wish lists. Not surprisingly, they had some "scientific" answers! There are some unexpected but cool gift ideas on their lists... items, tools, and gadgets that you might be able to use in your own projects!

So, in the spirit of giving, we pass along this roundup of staff wishes. You might just spot the perfect gift for someone on your list... and we'll help by offering a few ways you might be able to "borrow" it for your own exploration!

(Parents, if you are reading along, we think you'll find some great suggestions here for things you might really use—and that would give you exciting new ways to bring more science into your house and into your dinner table conversations.)

• Courtney (a.k.a. "Science Mom") wants a digital kitchen scale

  "As I get older and more interested in higher quality, more expensive kitchen gadgets—and as I become a better cook and baker (which my family enjoys!)— I find that I really want to have a more accurate scale since weighing ingredients is the most accurate way to determine quantity."

  The good for me, too, angle: A digital scale can be used in many science projects that require accurate weighing, but that doesn't mean it's just for food (or just for the kitchen). A shiny new digital scale would come in handy in the Build a Raft Powered by Surface Tension project (Difficulty: 5-6). Or, if you do want to experiment in the kitchen, check out this materials science abbreviated project idea, The Fluffiest Muffins: Flour Type and Muffin Density* (Difficulty: 5).

• Tina wants a heart rate monitor

  "I am training for next year's dipsea race, a 7.5 mile point-to-point off-trail race from Mill Valley to Stinson beach. A heart rate monitor will help keep me on track."

  The good for me, too, angle: Tracking heart rate is a great way to monitor how hard your heart is working. You could test-drive a new heart rate monitor instead of measuring pulse rate in the Fear Factor: Using Pulse Rate to Measure Emotion human behavior project (Difficulty: 5-8). Even younger students can use a tool like this as they explore A Day in the Life of Your Heart (Difficulty: 2-3).

• Ken (founder, President, and astro-photographer) wants Canon Image Stabilized Binoculars

  "It's hard to hold binoculars steady enough to see clearly, but technology has come to the rescue. Image stabilized binoculars compensate for your every wiggle, holding the image rock steady, so it's easy to see the details on the moon, nebula, or birds!"

  The good for me, too, angle: After you satisfy your Spy Kids-inspired curiosity, these high-power binocs can help you observe things you can't easily get close to—or animals whose behavior might change if you get too close. Take a closer look at bird anatomy and patterns of adaptation in the Can You Predict a Bird's Lifestyle Based on Its Feet? zoology project (Difficulty: 3).

• Sandra wants a Molecular Gastronomy Artistre Spherification Starter Kit

  "In my family we're hooked on the TV show 'Top Chef,' which is where I first heard about molecular gastronomy. Talk about a tasty fusion of chemistry and food! So, I'm hoping that there's a molecular gastronomy starter kit sitting under our Christmas tree this year. If so, I'll be experimenting and tasting my way into the New Year figuring out how to make fruit 'caviar' and Nutella powder."

  The good for me, too, angle: Besides getting to eat the yummy concoctions you create, you can investigate what makes the recipes work—and even invent a few of your own. You can get started experimenting with ingredient swapping projects like: Chemistry of Baking Ingredients 1: How Much Baking Powder Do Quick Breads Need? and Egg Substitutes (Difficulty: 2-5). And if Sandra gets her wish, she's promised to share new molecular gastronomy project ideas in the New year!

• Rebecca wants eye droppers

  "My toddler knows his colors, so we want to start introducing the concept of mixing colors to make new colors. With eye droppers of water and food coloring, he can see the effect of mixing these colors on paper towels, rather than just mixing his ketchup and mustard at the dinner table."

  The good for me, too, angle: Eye droppers are a staple in many lab projects. You can put them to innovative use making your own markers (Difficulty: 3). Or, you'll find them handy as you study plant biology in the Plants on the Move! Experiments with Phototropism project (Difficulty: 6).

• Kristian wants a Thermochron iButton -40°C thru +85°C data logger

  "We sometimes go on overnight backcountry skiing trips and are learning to build snow shelters (quinzhees). It would be cool to compare the temps inside the quinzhee compared to a tent or other structure."

  The good for me, too, angle: Lots of projects require frequent temperature readings. Wouldn't it be great to gather all that data even when you aren't there to read the thermometer? With the high-tech iButton (you can hook it up to your computer later to upload the data), you're all set to to explore an environmental engineering project like Rooftop Gardens: Are They a Cool Idea? (Difficulty: 4).

• Michelle wants a new stop watch "Many of the projects I work on require timing reactions, measuring ball pitches, calculating velocities, and so on." (She also put a new "tape measure" on her list. She's a scientist through and through!)

  
  The good for me, too, angle: A good stop watch is a must-have for many physics or aerodynamics projects! Grab a stop watch as you hit the pavement for the Popping an Ollie: How Skateboarders + Physics = A Really Cool Trick sports science project (Difficulty: 4). Or, take an investigative approach to an edgy sport in Paintball Ballistics (Difficulty: 7).

• Kaarin wants a weather station

  "It would be great to be able to see the outside temperature and humidity from inside the house."

  The good for me, too, angle: With an in-home weather station on hand, you can track all kinds of weather patterns, or explore the fog in the Foggy Forecasting: What Weather Factors Create Radiation Fog? project (Difficulty: 6).

• Marisa wants digital BBQ tongs and a Nano-UV Disinfection Scanner

  "Digital tongs take the guesswork out of whether or not the meat is 'done.' Nobody likes food poisoning! And the scanner uses Nano-UV light to destroy microorganisms in 10 seconds—without toxins or side effects."

  The good for me, too, angle: Set your Nano-UV light loose on germs in the Death Rays: What Duration of Ultraviolet Exposure Kills Bacteria? microbiology project (Difficulty: 7).

  (Marisa also asked for an Orbitor Electronic Listening Device. (You may or may not want your parents to have that!)

• Justin wants a digital anemometer

  "I love to do aeronautical projects, and this will help me accurately measure and record wind speed!"

  The good for me, too, angle: With your own anemometer, your next kite-flying adventure will soar. Give it a try in the How Low Can It Go? Design a Kite that Flies Best in Low Winds project (Difficulty: 5-8) Or take a power-conscious approach in the Build Your Own Windmill Generator & Measure its Electrical Current Output project (Difficulty: 6).

• Claire wants noise canceling headphones

  "I am traveling for the holidays and am hoping noise canceling technology might give me a peaceful flight!"

  The good for me, too, angle: You might find that noise canceling headphones can improve your focus when you're studying—or help you block out a younger sibling! But if you want a science spin, you could adapt the Frequency-Dependent Sound Absorption project to explore what frequency and volume are necessary to be heard through noise-canceling headphones (Difficulty: 7).

• Amy wants a set of DSLR extension tubes

  "I really want a full-frame (non-crop sensor) upgrade to my DSLR—or at least a good 100mm prime lens. But I'd settle for a set of extension tubes for some plug-and-play variety and an easy macro boost !

  The good for me, too, angle: Extension tubes are not the same as a new lens, but they have the effect of magnifying the image and thus giving you the ability to explore macro photography—even if you don't have a bag full of lenses. A comparison of the quality of photos shot with extension tubes versus true macro lenses—or a quantitative study of the amount of light required for use with extension tubes—would make a great independent study! To get started thinking about how to construct a project like this, look at the Camera Lens Testing project idea (Difficulty: 5-9).

The reality... "kitchen" gadgets were high on the lists! There were also requests for digital kitchen thermometers and digital (and loud) kitchen timers.

We hope you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list. If you can "also" use the gift in your next science project, it's all good!

(Editorial Note: Links to Amazon.com for some of the above products are provided for additional information. Science Buddies does not sell kits or supplies directly. Any/all purchases are between you and the vendor you select.)

Note: This month's "Scientist's Pick" is from Science Buddies' staff scientist, Michelle Maranowski. ~ Science Buddies' Editorial Staff

Photo of PicoBoard from the Playful Invention Company

Scientist: Michelle Maranowski
Science Buddies' Difficulty Level: 5

I have wanted to write a computer science project for Science Buddies for a while. But I didn't want to focus on a conventional project where you investigate clock speeds or learn to write applications with a particular computer language, although those projects can be a lot of fun, too. I wanted to do a project that highlighted the fun of computer science and programming—something where you didn't have to learn a complicated language before being able to do something really cool.

I was really excited when I found out about MIT's free Scratch programming environment. Scratch is easy to learn, and I started programming with it pretty much right after I went through the tutorial examples.

I should confess that I am the kind of person that loves to push buttons to see what happens. At the local science museum, I am always first in line at an interactive exhibition. I really enjoy seeing new information pop up on the exhibition's computer screen by pushing a button or moving a slider. Knowing that there was a sensor board that could be used with Scratch was a big attraction for me when I started thinking about projects. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a PicoBoard!

A PicoBoard is a collection of sensors that allow me to interact directly with my Scratch program. At a push of a button or a puff of air into the PicoBoard's microphone, I can make all kinds of things happen on the computer screen! What's not to love?

Using Scratch with a PicoBoard was fun, and when I started thinking about using real-word input to control my Scratch programs, all kinds of new ideas became possible, from simple things like changing colors of characters by using the slider sensor to making characters on the screen dance in response to music playing in my room.

I was looking for a fun computer science project, and I could tell that combining Scratch and the PicoBoard had potential. The idea of a spinning pinwheel came from the fact that I like to do things outside, and blowing on a pinwheel is a fun thing to do outside.

I am still not done playing with Scratch and the PicoBoard. I am currently working on a project where you can make an on-screen instrument. Stay tuned for more!

~ Michelle

For similar project ideas, explore this list of Scratch project ideas or browse the Computer Science interest area, sponsored by Symantec, in the Science Buddies Project Directory.

Note: This month's "Scientist's Pick" is from Science Buddies' staff scientist, Sandra Slutz. ~ Science Buddies' Editorial Staff

Project: Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA
Scientist: Sandra Slutz
Science Buddies' Difficulty Level: 7-9

Sometimes, when I'm supposed to be sitting down and concentrating on a task, my mind wanders. You never know what will come of those momentary mental strolls. In this case, the result was a pretty cool Do-It-Yourself project to build one of the very basic tools used in a biotechnology lab: an electrophoresis chamber.

I was supposed to be working on a science project called Investigate Native Plant Evolution with Chloroplast Sequencing. The project shows students how to harvest plants indigenous to the area in which they live, extract DNA from the plants, and then sequence the DNA. Then (drum roll for the really awesome part) if the sequence is new, meaning if no one has ever recorded that information before, they can submit the data to GenBank — the public gene sequence data bank — for scientists worldwide to see and use!

The only downside to the project is that it requires access to some specific biotechnology equipment. As I started to write down the list of materials and equipment that the project calls for, I asked myself, "Hey, I wonder if you can build any of this stuff yourself?"

From there my mind went racing through a list of possibilities. What I finally settled on was an electrophoresis chamber, the fancy title for a box that you pass current through to separate DNA into different size pieces and get a look at those pieces. The electrophoresis chamber is one of the most common pieces of equipment in any biotech laboratory. Why? There are literally dozens of reasons, but here's an example:

Imagine you are working in a forensics lab trying to determine if the hair left at a crime scene belongs to any of the suspects. How would you do it? You would isolate DNA from the crime scene hair and some DNA from each suspect. Then you'd cut up each DNA sample using enzymes. When you cut the DNA this way, each person has his or her own unique pattern of pieces (similar to the way each person has a unique fingerprint—in fact the DNA pattern is referred to as a DNA fingerprint). To look at the DNA pattern, you would use an electrophoresis chamber. If one of the suspects' DNA pattern matched the crime scene hair's pattern, you'd be able to place that suspect at the scene of the crime.

As you can see, the electrophoresis chamber is an important tool for forensics research!

It turns out you can make a simple version of an electrophoresis chamber on your own kitchen counter using just a few household items like batteries, a plastic soap dish, some stainless steel wire, and baking soda.

Once you've built your electrophoresis chamber, you have lots of options for putting it to use. Don't feel up to processing DNA on your home-made electrophoresis chamber? No problem! You can use the same equipment to examine food dyes. Did you know that some of the primary colors (like red) in food dyes are actually blends of several colors? Can you guess which colors? Give it a try! You might just find yourself hooked on the power of kitchen biotech.

~ Sandra

For similar project ideas, explore the Biotechnology interest area, sponsored by Bio-Rad, in the Science Buddies Project Directory.

You may also enjoy these related blog entries:

• The Power of Forensics


• Familial Fingerprints
  

Last month, Staff Scientist Dave opened a Science Buddies meeting with a small can of breath spray, a gas grill igniter, a film-canister, a homemade wooden apparatus to "hold" the canister in place, and the question: "Is it okay if I set this off in here?"

In subsequent demonstrations, Dave showed other ways to expand upon the initial experiment, even taking advantage of tire gauges and balloons, all the while pointing out the chemistry (and equations) behind the experiment.

Project: Getting a Bang Out of Breath Spray: Studying the Chemistry and Physics of a Small Explosion
Scientist: David Whyte
Science Buddies' Difficulty Level: 8

I chose the topic for Getting a Bang Out of Breath Spray because it involves making a great toy, a "Binaca bomb" that can be used to explore the chemistry and physics of a small explosion. To make the device, a small amount of ethanol (from Binaca breath spray) is spritzed into a film canister. The top is quickly placed on the canister, and the ethanol is ignited with a spark.

If all goes well, there is a loud "pop," and the canister flies through the air!

I like this project's vivid demonstration of how energy can convert into various forms: chemical energy from the combustion of the ethanol is converted into thermal energy (the heat that makes the gases expand in the canister), which in turn is transferred to kinetic energy in the form of the flying canister.

I also like that the project offers plenty of opportunity to explore questions about what is actually taking place during the explosion. There is more than just a "bang" and a "projectile" happening here. Some of the questions that can be asked include:

• What is the pressure in the canister at the moment before it separates from the top?
• What is the volume change that occurs when the gas is ignited?
• What is the kinetic energy of the canister?

The project contains the science to determine the answers to all of these!

The project also has a nice mix of measurement and calculation. For example, the approximate temperature of the hot gas is calculated based on measurements of the pressure and volume.

Oh, and did I mention the project involves explosions?

~ Dave