Science Buddies Blog

August 27, 2015 3:00 PM

Have you ever noticed that some liquids are more difficult than others to squeeze from a container? Honey is a great example. Depending on its temperature, it may be especially slow to flow from the bottle. (If you warm it up, it may flow more quickly!) While it may seem like the quality of the honey you are noticing is its "thickness" or "thinness," another way to talk about what you are seeing is to talk about its viscosity. In this week's chemistry-themed family science… Read more

Exploring Bridge Beams with Spaghetti

August 20, 2015 11:57 AM

How do engineers ensure that bridges and other structures can support weight properly so that they don't collapse? In this week's materials science-themed family science activity, families can use uncooked spaghetti noodles to explore the forces that come into play when weight is applied to a beam. What happens when the spaghetti bends in response to weight? If the noodles break, where do they break? Was the breakage the result of compression or tension? Does using more pieces of… Read more

A Positive Science Fair Project Experience

August 18, 2015 10:00 AM

Science fair projects let students learn, use, and demonstrate important science and reasoning steps, and the benefits of hands-on and active exploration compared to more passive modes of learning or rote memorization are well-documented. So why do so many parents scowl at the science fair project assignment? What makes the science project a stumbling block for many families rather than an anticipated and positive learning experience? Is it simply a matter of perspective? There are many steps… Read more

Wearable Electronics: Sewing an LED Patch

August 12, 2015 1:00 PM

Whether you draw a patch from scratch or pick one up readymade, adding LEDs to a patch really lights things up. With needle, conductive thread, LEDs, and a power source, students can transform accessories or clothes into wearable electronics. This summer, I pulled up the LED Dance Glove: Get the Party Started with Your Own Interactive Light Show project idea at Science Buddies and decided to give wearable circuits another try. My attempt a few years… Read more

Sewing Electronics: Wearables that Light Up

August 11, 2015 11:00 AM

You don't have to channel Katniss or Elsa to wear something that lights up! Adding LEDs to a favorite bag or jacket is easier than you might expect. With some basic e-textile knowhow, you can create your own wearable circuits, so grab a needle, conductive thread, a coin cell battery, and some LEDs to sew your own custom wearable electronics! Wearable electronics have hovered on the fringe of fashion and design for a while, a space where engineering and… Read more

Seed Dispersal Science: Carried by the Wind

August 7, 2015 10:00 AM

Explore the ways in which the shape and size of a seed influences how far it may travel when carried or blown by wind. What characteristics help seeds travel long distances by wind? Photo: Ragesoss, Wikimedia Commons If you hold a dandelion to your lips and blow, the seeds scatter through the air. This scattering, also called dispersal, helps distribute seeds which helps plants reproduce. Wind can carry seeds away from their plants, but how far a seed… Read more

Planting a Solution to Soil Erosion

August 4, 2015 8:00 AM

If you think soil erosion amounts to a bit of soil being blown or washed away here and there, think again! Soil erosion costs billions of dollars each year. Can the use of plants help reduce soil erosion? This second grade student designed a project to put the idea to the test. With inexpensive baking trays and seeds, K-12 students can make model hillsides and explore! Over time, erosion can destabilize a hillside. As a result, erosion may put a… Read more

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