Search Results for SICK Science:

Use carbon dioxide and oxygen gases to extinguish and ignite fire.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=952

There’s a lot of chemistry behind the simple lighting or extinguishing of a flame. Would you believe us if we told you that you could extinguish a flame just by placing it partway into a graduated cylinder? What if we...

A heavy, metal ball bearing "magically" transforms into a Ping-Pong® ball in a jar of un-popped popcorn.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=2321

Science is not magic but magic definitely needs science. Say this to your friends, “Let’s make this metal ball bearing become a featherweight plastic sphere.” Everyone will think “Magic trick!” but you know it’s all just science. The fun is in seeing...

Bubbles, smoke, and fog all add-up to make a unique hands-on Halloween experience.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=2384

We know that dry ice is incredibly fun to use in experiments – it’s because of the awesome fog you get when you combine the ultra-cold ice with warm water! Now if you could only figure out a way to...

Relighting a candle using its smoke as a flame bridge looks like magic but it's real science.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=5551

You may think it’s impossible or that we have completely lost it, but we are going to show you a simple trick that will surprise anyone who sees it. You can relight a candle without touching the flame to the wick; only...

Lemon juice is great in lemonade, can be a garnish for foods, and doubles as an ink for your secret messages.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=5552

Ah, a tall, cool glass of lemonade on a hot day just makes everything better. Lemon juice can spark up a salad, add zing to some grilled fish, and keep your avocados and bananas from turning brown. Strangely, however, it...

Shaking a can of soda before you open it isn't too smart, unless you know the science going on inside.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=2175

In some circles, it’s considered bad manners to shake a can of soda just before giving it to a thirsty friend. The unexpected w-h-o-o-s-h of soda and foam is a sure way to spoil someone’s day. If a “friend” of yours thinks...

A wet and musical exploration into the science of sound

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=2654

People have told us that we do things to our own tune around Steve Spangler Science. At first we didn’t know what they meant, but then we decided that they had to be talking about our Water Whistle experiment. We’ve...

Broken toothpicks and water come together so they can spread out and make a star in a dish.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=5238

It’s always fun to use simple materials in simple ways and really surprise people with the results. OK, this one is part science and part magic but the results are all real. You start out with broken toothpicks and end...

Long polymer chains make incredible, stretching secret messages.

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=2884

We love polymers at Steve Spangler Science, but we aren’t the only ones. Did you know that plumbers use special polymers almost every day? It’s true! A key polymer that plumbers practically can’t live without is commonly known as Teflon....

Create a wheel that will show you color and color mixing in a new way

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/?p=2753

Here’s an amazing way to combine scientific principles of physics with the visual science of color mixing to create a gizmo that will have you twirling and spinning for hours. The activity isn’t just visually spectacular, it’s scientifically sound and...