Science Experiment

There are tiny forms of life that exist everywhere – in the ground, in water, on plants and animals, and even inside our bodies! These organisms are too small to see with the naked eye so you need a microscope to see them. As such, they are called “microorganisms.” In fact, entire ecosystems rely on microorganisms to process and cycle certain nutrients and keep plants and animals healthy.

Have you ever slipped on ice? Or maybe you have tripped while running and skinned your knees. What is it that makes ice so slippery and the ground so rough? It’s called friction, and it is an important force that is always present for moving objects.

If you’ve done lots of science experiments at home, you have probably done at least one with vinegar and baking soda, such as building a volcano, blowing up a balloon, or making a rocket take off. Did you know this acid and base reaction can also put out a fire?

Liquids can be interesting to play with because they can take nearly any shape you put them in, and they have special properties not seen in different states of matter, like gaseous or solid. One of these special properties is surface tension, which is a force found in the surface layer of a liquid that holds the molecules together.

Did you know that the Earth is 70% water? It’s true, that’s why it is called the “Blue Planet.” Most of this water (97%) is saltwater, which people cannot drink or even use in their everyday life.

There are many tools and devices used to measure changes in the environment to help meteorologists (the weather people) make predictions about the weather. Thermometers, rain gauges, and advanced technologies like radar are all important, but there is also a tool called a barometer that measures the pressure in the atmosphere.

Sand can be found all over the world, but is most often found on beaches and in the desert. Technically it is a type of soil, but it has some special characteristics that can make it especially fun to experiment with.

Do you enjoy drawing beautiful works of art? Drawing is such a fun activity, but wouldn’t it be just a bit more fun if your artwork could come to life? The video above shows one way to do just that and it has a great scientific explanation behind how it works.

I bet you’ve heard before that the roots of a plant are responsible for absorbing water, but how exactly does that happen? It all has to do with chemistry and a process called osmosis, which means the movement of water.

Balloons are almost always fun, and they also make a great tool to learn a bit about science! In the video above, they do a simple activity to turn a balloon inside-out inside a glass container simply using hot water. Ready to try it for yourself?

Eating cereal for breakfast is a quick and easy way to get your first meal of the day, but is it healthy? Well some cereals are more healthy than others, but most cereals are fortified with iron, an important nutrient for transferring oxygen throughout your body.

Did you know that many of the delicious treats you enjoy every day are the result of chemistry? In fact, almost all things made in the kitchen involve chemical reactions, like baking bread or cookies, sautéing vegetables, and even making coffee or tea. The video above shows another tasty treat that can be made with simple kitchen chemistry.

Chemical reactions are happening all the time and everywhere! They happen inside your body, when you cook food, and when a car is driven. Chemical reactions can even be helpful for identifying substances in the environment, like using limewater to test for carbon dioxide, which is what the video above shows.