Dismembered Mad Scientist Body Parts, Pt. 1
It’s October, so of course I had to get out my Spangler Science Growing Body Parts and start my annual October growth-fest of the macabre! Is that an alligator in there with the dismembered body parts? Well, naturally. If you were an alligator, wouldn’t you go where the body parts were? It’s like an alligator buffet of good things to eat! (The alligator doesn’t come with the body parts; the one I use is the Mommy Gator from our Growing Alligator Family. They’re hydrogel polymers, just like the body parts.)
These body parts are made of polymers, specifically hydrogels, which are superabsorbent and, in fact, are being used to help save the enviroment. (Steve explains this clearly on the Spangler Science website!)
I want you to understand exactly how much these mad scientist body parts will grow over the course of the next few weeks, so here they all are in their tiny dry been-without-water-since-last-Halloween state.
The alligator is a little bigger, but that’s only because in real life, the alligator would be a little bigger. Duh. (Her tail is curly because she spent the past year with a nose on top of her.)
Now we dust off the jar. After all, it’s been in the laundry room since LAST October. I’ve put the dismembered body parts by the jar so you can see the comparison/contrast. I also like to measure things; it helps me put them in proper perspective.
As you can see, I’ve now put the body parts (and their hungry predator) inside the jar, and you can see again how tiny the parts are, and how they ALMOST cover the bottom of the jar.

See how tiny the body parts are? The Spangler Science logo will help you track their growth the first few days.
And now, the final step: I’ve filled the jar most of the way up with tap water and screwed on the lid. Notice how the polymer pieces are all floating on the water’s surface? Notice how small each piece is, right now? Hold those thoughts. . . .
In a few days, I’ll post more pictures, showing the progress of the tragically dismembered body parts and the hungry alligator stalking them, just waiting for them to grow into a more substantial meal.
It’s kind of like the witch who put Hansel in a pen and tried to fatten him up so she could have him for supper. SHE was outsmarted by Gretel, so her plan did not work.
This one will, though. Stay tuned for updates!
I’ve put the dismembered body parts by the jar so you can see the comparison/contrast. I also like to measure things; it helps me put them in proper perspective.