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Agricultural Technology, Big Data, Diabetes, Healthy Living, Safety Science
Do you filter your tap water before drinking? Many commercials claim these filters make your drinking water cleaner and safer. But what, exactly, are these filters doing and is the water really cleaner afterwards? The cleaning power comes from their filling material, called activated carbon. It exists in all kind of forms: powder, granules, foams, and blocks. Do you think it matters what type of activated carbon is inside the filter? In this activity you will investigate whether larger or…
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Chem_p108
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Avoid dispersing the powdered activated carbon into the air and try not to breathe in the particles.
Would you like to add an unusual twist to a yummy food like ice cream? In this kitchen science project, you will make mind-bending hot ice cream. You will experiment with, and of course munch on this gastronomic treat. It is easy, it is delicious, and it is fun! Go ahead and try it out!
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FoodSci_p079
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
This project requires special materials. See the Materials and Equipment list for details. Estimated project time includes time for shipping specialty materials.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Adult supervision while using the microwave recommended.
When you delete a file, by accident or on purpose, is the information really gone? Can you get it back? If you accidentally deleted your five-page report for school, you are hoping it is not gone. On the other hand, if you do not want someone to get their hands on the goofy and unflattering pictures you and your best friend took while staying up late the other night, you probably hope it is gone for good! It might be nice to know for sure either way. Try this project to find out.
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CompSci_p061
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
You should already be comfortable using a computer.
Material Availability
Requires a computer with a hard-disk drive and an adult helper who is comfortable using the computer.
Did you know that you can use magnets to build a train that floats above its tracks? In this project, you will also use magnets to make the train stop, preventing it from crashing into the end of the track. Will adding more magnets help the train stop sooner?
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Phys_p105
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Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
Attention to detail and patience are needed for this project. After building, you will need to make adjustments to get it working perfectly. The train floats above the tracks well once everything is lined up carefully.
Material Availability
This project requires the , available from our partner
.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Keep magnets away from small children and pets who might swallow them.
Vibrobots are fun little robots built from common household supplies, that are powered by vibrating motors. In this engineering project, you will design and built your own vibrobot. Would you rather have a robot that skitters quickly across a table or one that spins wildly in circles? How about a sumo-wrestling bot that can push others out of its way? The choice is up to you!
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Robotics_p030
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Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A kit is available for your convenience from our partner
.
This project is inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces, 2,000 year old structures carved into mountainsides in the Philippines. See if you can recreate the water flow of this ancient marvel, often called the Eighth Wonder of the World, using just household materials! The is over but you can still try out the project and compare your design to the high scores, or use the idea for a science fair or classroom activity.
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CE_p025
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Adult supervision recommended for cutting materials that can create sharp edges, like plastic cups.
Did you know that the most likely time to be struck and killed by a car in the United States is at dusk, dawn, or at night? In 2014, 3 out of every 4 pedestrian fatalities happened in these types of poor light conditions. Is there something you could do to decrease the chances you, your friends, and your family members are safer when walking or biking at night? Do you think the types of clothes that you wear could make a difference in how visible you are to drivers? Explore the science of…
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Phys_p104
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Adult supervision is required when performing the test after dark.
Have you ever wondered how your cell phone or laptop keeps running once you unplug it? Sure, it is the battery that makes your portable electronics work, but how exactly does a battery do that, and from where does the electricity come? Generally, in a battery chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. In fact, many different types of batteries exist that are all based on a different set of chemical reactions. In this science project, you will explore a special battery variant called…
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Chem_p107
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Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of basic chemistry and familiarity with the concept of electrochemistry would be helpful.
Material Availability
This science project requires specialty electronics items. Specialty items are available in a kit from our partner
.
Cost
Average ($40 - $80)
Safety
Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin and eyes. When working with this chemical, make sure to wear eye and skin protection in case of any splashes or spills. In case of chemical contact, rinse skin or eyes immediately with plenty of water.
Virtual reality (VR) headsets are becoming increasingly popular with consumers for things like viewing 3D pictures and videos, or for playing video games. However, dedicated gaming headsets like the Oculus Rift® and PlayStation® VR can cost hundreds of dollars. Some headsets, like Google Cardboard™, which is literally made out of folded corrugated cardboard (Figure 1), are much cheaper because they can use any smartphone as the screen.
Figure 1. A Google Cardboard headset…
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Are you convinced that virtual reality (VR) will soon become mainstream and improve our lives in unpredicted ways? Or maybe you believe it is a big hype doomed to fade and disappear. In this science project, you will use one aspect of VR—the headset—and investigate if it could convey reality better than traditional pictures or 360° images. You will go out and measure how people perceive pictures and images you took. Will people embrace the VR headset and what it can do or prefer…
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HumBeh_p060
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
To do this project, you should be familiar with using 360° images or be willing to learn how.
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Material Availability
This project requires a virtual reality headset. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
