Science Buddies Blog (Page 69)

July 1, 2014 12:00 PM

The science-savvy twins return in book two of the Nick and Tesla series. As their summer of intrigue and engineering continues, they find themselves in the middle of a small-town mystery and a bunch of robots. Along the way, they make their own—and you can, too! Fun with Robotics Engineering Like many beginning robotics engineers, Nick and Tesla build their own robots using toothbrush heads. Follow along as they design their bots, try out the DIY build from the book, and continue… Read more

Fun with Fireworks Science: When Chemicals Burn

June 30, 2014 7:00 AM

Fireworks displays are fun to watch and a tradition accompanying many community celebrations. With a simple family science activity, the mystery behind the dazzling night-time sky show can be explored. This is colorful hands-on summer science—minus the "boom" of fireworks explosions! What makes all the great colors you see during a fireworks display? Experiment with a fun backyard family science activity to see firsthand how different chemicals produce different colors when… Read more

Powering a Raft with Surface Tension: Weekly Science Activity

June 26, 2014 8:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a physics family science experiment that investigates the dynamics of surface tension. Surface tension may keep your soda from spilling over the cup when you fill it a bit too full, but can surface tension also be used to propel something? In this science activity, students build a small, lightweight raft and experiment to see how surface tension—and some dish soap—can help move it across the surface of water. Build a Bathtub Toy Raft Powered by… Read more

Eye on Science: Student Essay Winner Helps Engage Students with Science

June 25, 2014 5:00 AM

Lauren Killingsworth, a recent high school graduate, already has an impressive resume of stem cell research that may contribute to future treatments for blindness. Out of the lab, she is making a difference in the lives of both students in her community and people with visual impairments. For this Stanford-bound scientist, science is the key to the unknown, and doing hands-on science, she believes, is the key to engaging more students with STEM. Lauren Killingsworth, recipient of the Ron… Read more

Password Games: Understanding and Testing Online Passwords

June 24, 2014 5:08 AM

Computer bugs and vulnerabilities like the Heartbleed bug provide frightening reminders of how important it is to set strong passwords online. Students can learn more about password practices and experiment with testing passwords by using and improving a password-guessing program written in Python. How many possible passwords could be created from the lock above? How long would it take to crack a password on this lock? When you move to online passwords, you may have many more possible options… Read more

3D Modeling Layer by Layer: A Glue It Together Introduction to 3D Printing

June 16, 2014 8:00 AM

3D printing has opened a cool new frontier of custom manufacturing that brings freedom to individuals interested in design, invention, or just in need of a rare or unusual part. With a hands-on modeling and design project using Autodesk 123D Make, students can design and assemble a layered 3D model for a better understanding of how 3D printing and additive manufacturing works. 3D printing is all the buzz. From replacement parts for household objects or toys that are broken to one-of-a-kind… Read more

Families and Fingerprints: Weekly Science Activity

June 12, 2014 10:00 AM

Experiment to find out if fingerprint patterns are inherited or not! In this week's spotlight: a genetics and genomics family science experiment for Father's Day. Fingerprints are unique, but do family members share fingerprint characteristics? Are there patterns of inheritance that come into play when it comes to fingerprints? Put the question to the test with a visual examination of fingerprints among siblings and between different family… Read more

World Cup Soccer Scores One for Science

June 10, 2014 8:00 AM

From physics to statistics, science plays a big role in soccer. As the World Cup unfolds this summer, watch the games, cheer on your favorite teams, and see science in action! By Kim Mullin Image: Flickr, Peter DuttonSports fans all over the world are gearing up for FIFA World Cup soccer, which begins on June 13 in Brazil. Over the course of a month, soccer devotees will celebrate victories and groan over defeats as teams from 32 nations play 64 matches in 12 different stadiums,… Read more

Expanding and Contracting Gases: Weekly Science Activity

June 5, 2014 10:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a chemistry family science experiment that guides students and families in an exploration of how gases behave, especially when they are cooled or heated. Many gases are invisible, but they are everywhere around us. By trapping gas in a balloon, you can investigate how the kinetic energy of a gas changes in response to temperature and how the change in the motion of the gas molecules makes the balloon shrink or expand. With some hands-on measurements, a bit of air… Read more

Bringing Science Magic to the Classroom

June 4, 2014 10:00 AM

A magic milk rainbow may be all about what's happening at the surface level between milk and soap, but when kids create the magic, the learning excitement is palpable. For Lily Arendt, hands-on science activities are a great way to help kids uncover the magic of science. We couldn't agree more! Above: Lily Arendt and a class of students explore surface tension with the Make a Milk Rainbow science activity. For Lily Arendt, a biology student at DePaul University in Chicago and a… Read more

Science Buddies Blog (1,175 results)

Explore Our Science Videos