Science Buddies Blog (Page 68)

Rosetta Pulls Alongside Jupiter Family Comet: Student Space Science Projects

September 5, 2014 9:30 AM

Now within twenty miles of its target comet, the Rosetta spacecraft may help provide information about the formation of the solar system and planet Earth. Students and classes can join scientists in the next year of Rosetta watching and, along the way, explore comets and space science through hands-on science projects. Above: A rendering (not to scale) of the Rosetta Satellite arriving at Comet 67P. Photo: Spacecraft: ESA/ATG medialab; Comet image: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM. When it comes to… Read more

Homemade Compass: Weekly Science Activity

September 4, 2014 9:30 AM

In this week's spotlight: a physics-focused family science activity that can help everyone in the family get a better sense of where you are—or in what direction you are heading. In this activity, students make a small, working compass using part of a cork, a needle, and a magnet. Once the compass is created, students can put it to the test. Does the direction the homemade compass points match up to what another navigational device or app says? Families can experiment with other… Read more

Tie-Dye Using Permanent Markers: Weekly Science Activity

August 28, 2014 8:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a chemistry-focused family science and craft activity that lets students explore the concept of solubility while using permanent markers to decorate a T-shirt (or piece of fabric). Permanent markers are designed to be lasting, so what happens when you add water? What happens when you add alcohol? Does the marker ink react the same to both water and alcohol? Put these questions to the test in a fun hands-on science experiment. At the end of the project, students… Read more

New Bristlebot Science Kit for Student Robotics!

August 22, 2014 9:40 AM

Above: The Brushbot is one of the three robots kids can build using the Bristlebot Kit from the Science Buddies Store. A brand new Bristlebot Kit launched today in the Science Buddies Store. With this new kit, students can experiment with three styles of introductory robots and learn more about robotics engineering. The kit has been specially designed to make building the robots easier for students to do independently—and fun! The new Bristlebot Kit contains components for use with… Read more

Seeing Tonic Water Glow: Weekly Science Activity

August 14, 2014 8:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a chemistry-focused family science activity that puts light energy, ultraviolet light, and visible light on display. With ordinary tonic water and a black light, families can learn more about ultraviolet light. What happens to the glow when you add a bit of bleach to the tonic water? Put it to the test to find out! Explore Glow-in-the-Dark Water! (Science Buddies activity) Shining Science: Explore Glow-in-the-Dark Water! (science activity at Scientific… Read more

Taste Test: Do You have the Papillae of a Supertaster?

August 13, 2014 7:00 AM

Are you a picky eater? Maybe there is a scientific reason for your reluctance to eat certain foods even if you know they are good for you. If you are going to a casual family gathering this summer or have friends over, you might be able to have some tongue-dyeing taste-testing fun in the name of science! Above: With an easy and colorful science experiment, you can see if you are a super taster. Be sure to have a magnifying glass on hand! Chartreuse pants and a flashy orange shirt? Your… Read more

Now Playing: The Perseid Meteor Showers

August 7, 2014 10:00 AM

Stay up late, or get up really, really early to catch nature's annual fireworks display. Students and families can extend Perseids fun with a hands-on science exploration of parallax. How far away are the things we see in the sky? By Kim Mullin Each August, a much-anticipated nighttime show plays live in our skies: the Perseid meteor showers. This annual event offers you the year's best opportunity to see meteors streaking across the sky, so long as you are willing to be awake well… Read more

Pizza Box Solar Oven: Weekly Science Activity

July 31, 2014 7:59 AM

In this week's spotlight: an energy-focused family science activity that doubles as an alternative energy experiment and a recycling project. Using a pizza box (or other shipping box), foil, a few other readily available materials, and the power of the sun, you can make a functional solar-powered oven. Cooking will take longer than in a kitchen appliance, but with some planning, you can cook a meal or prepare a campsite batch of s'mores with your own homemade solar oven! How does a solar… Read more

Holey Porous Rock Science!

July 30, 2014 9:30 AM

Examining rocks can be a springboard for a fun family science exploration. With different kinds of dried beans, plastic cups, and water, kids can model rocks and observe the way different sized particles in rocks affect how much water a rock can hold. By Kim Mullin What do rocks and sponges have in common? Rocks may be hard, and sponges may be soft, but both have pockets of empty space. Surprised? It may be easier to see the pockets in sponges since most sponges are covered with… Read more

Crash Testing Calculators: Product Engineering and the Road to Improved Durability

July 25, 2014 8:00 AM

Finding ways to improve a product often means breaking it first and then brainstorming ways to make the product better so that it will last longer. Students can experiment with the engineering design process—and the ways in which engineers design and test new solutions—by trying to improve the durability of a simple handheld device. Making a calculator ironclad might make it harder to break, but would a customer like the new-and-improved version? Above: A device may show… Read more

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