Monday May 20 2013
Other Science Resources

Process of Science

Select a topic and then scroll down to see the resources that have information about that topic.

Videos
The Slow Race A challenge that combines science, engineering, and creative thinking.
Obedient Coin Can you get the coin out from under the glass without touching it? Of course you can!
Strange Flame, part 2 The answer to part 1.
Scientific Thought and Creative Thinking, Part 1 A challenge in creative, scientific thinking.
Scientific Thought and Creative Thinking, Part 2 Part two of Creative Thinking
Scientific Thought and Creative Thinking, Part 3 Part three of the Creative Thinking series
Law of Superposition Reading the Rocks: Which is oldest?
Law of Crosscutting Reading the Rocks: Which is oldest?
Looking at the Present Reading the Rocks: Past and Present
Nephoscope Build a simple device for detecting cloud movement.
The Knuckle Trick The answer to the Knuckle Trick challenge
Water on a String A very useful, classic science experiment
Building a Rain Gauge For such a simple device, rain gauges can tell us incredible things.
Building a Rain Gauge, part 2 Take the next step in exploring rain.
A Model of the Water Cycle Make a scientific model of the water cycle.
Science Friction A simple friction challenge that might surprise you.
Calling a Woodpecker A simple technique for attracting woodpeckers.
Bendable Bones - Updated A classic investigation into the chemistry of bones.
Reading a Skeleton A bit of forensic osteology can help you read the bones.
Science and the Haunted Pumpkin Use simple chemistry to enhance a ghost story for Halloween
Igneous Sugar Make rock candy to explore the difference between magma and lava.
Sunglass Science: Birefringence This time we will explore things that are usually invisible, revealing new things about the world around us.
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light Grab your shades for a different way of seeing the world around you.
Bird Bones Dissect a bird to compare its skeleton with ours.
Water in a Glass, Part 3 The answer to Part 2, and a fun "science trick."
Water in a Glass, Part 2 The answer to part 1, and a new challenge.
Water in a Glass, part 1 What really keeps the water inside this inverted glass?
Lighting a Bulb With a Balloon Can you really light a lightbulb with a balloon? Of course you can!
Science of Credit Cards How is the information stored on a credit card, and why does putting a plastic bag over an old card make it scan better?
Laser Projection Microscope Turn a $5 laser pointer into a projection microscope!
Smoke Rings A simple way to produce beautiful smoke rings.
Producers Learn about the lifeforms that make up the base of the foodchain.
The Compass and Magnetic Fields Use the compass you constructed in Video 149 to explore magnetic fields, from electric wires to your kitchen cabinets.
Make a Compass Construct a compass with household materials.
A Walk in the Park You don't have to go on safari to see some amazing wild life.
Floating Cups Help figure out the science behind this simple trick.
The Leyden Jar Learn to construct a 25,000 volt Leyden Jar from materials found around the house. This dramatic, yet safe, demonstration is a
The Science of Flutes Learn about the science of sound as we see how a flute works.
Observation Careful observation plays a large role in science. How skilled are you at observation?
Mirage What is a mirage, and why do they happen?
Global Science Use a globe of the Earth to learn about seasons, day and night, and the scale of the solar system.
Mass and Weight Why are mass and weight so confusing?
Strange Flame, part 1 Can you figure out why the flame moves backwards?
Radioactive What does it mean when we say that something is radioactive?
The Cloud Chamber A cool way to see evidence of subatomic particles.
The Fire Diamond What does it take for something to burn?
Illusions Learn some of the science behind optical illusions.
Mobius Space Can an empty space have only one side?
Magic Coin Use science to make a coin seem to magically rise from a matchbox.
A Color You Can't See Use your cell phone to see a color you can't see
Balloon on a Stick Learn the science behind this classic demonstration.
Dry Ice Learn some fun tricks with dry ice as we explore the science of sublimation.
A Watched Pot Who would think that there could be so much science in a pot of boiling water?
A Boat Full of Holes Learn about surface tension with a boat made out of holes.
Feathers For such simple things, feathers have an amazing amount of science built in.
Bird on a Wire How can birds sit on powerlines without being shocked?
Egg States When is a change of state not really a change of state?
Koffka Ring Illusion An easy illusion to trick your brain.
Making Craters Make your own craters, and compare them with photos of the real thing.
Changing the Speed of Light Can you really change the speed of light? Of course you can!
Continuous Change Just as we change as we age, the Earth changes too, wearing away in some places and building back up in others.
Recycle With Americans producing 600,000 tons of garbage a day, it is important to look at what we throw away.
Spoon on Your Nose Use science to stick a spoon to your nose.
The Pool, the Boat, and the Anchor, part 2 The answer to video 111
The Pool, the Boat, and the Anchor Do you really understand why things float and sink?
Two Coins Instant science: An illusion to make two coins look like three.
Osmosis Explore a chemical process that keeps your cells going.
Just a Suggestion Can you resist scratching your nose?
Simple Circuit Construct a simple circuit and use it to test conductors and insulators.
Introduction to Light Emitting Diodes Using LEDs as a way to get started learning about electricity.
The Versorium Construct a simple device for detecting static charges.
Solar Power A look at one of the world's largest solar power plants to learn about reflection and refraction.
White Foam If bubbles are clear, then why are soap suds white?
Wax and Wood, part 2 The answer to the challenge. Did you get it right?
Wax and Wood, part 1 We start by putting wood and wax into water, and watching them separate. The challenge is to get them to change places.
The Stroop Effect How well does your brain work with two bits of information at the same time
Wonderful Water Because it is so common, we forget how chemically bizarre water is.
Iron Cereal What do they put into breakfast cereal to give you your daily requirement of iron?
Kneesy, Earsy, Nosey How good are you at moving across the midline?
Cola Color Why do cola drinks contain caramel color?
The Bullroarer Make this simple, science toy to learn about sound, while making sounds to annoy,..I mean amuse
 your family.
Taking a Marshmallow Apart Take a marshmallow apart to see what it is made of.
Stable Image Learn how your brain stabilizes images.
Scaring Pepper Learn about surface tension on water while playing a fun trick on your friends.
Why Wet Things Won't Burn What is it about water that keeps things from burning?
The Hottest Part of the Flame? What is the hottest part of a flame? It may not be where you think it is.
Science Fair Panic, part 4 What if things go WRONG?!?!.
Science Fair Panic, part 3 This time we talk about controlling variables.
Science Fair Panic, part 2 This time we talk about research and forming a hypothesis.
Hydrothermal Quartz How can hot water form such beautiful quartz crystals? It takes a lot of pressure!
Chromatography Can you tell which pen was used to write a message? Of course you can, if you know the science of chromatography.
White Balance Have you ever taken a photo that turned out very yellow or with a blue tint? Now you will know why.
Testing for Tannic Acid A fun but smelly test to find tannins in your food.
More Science of Balance Make this fun, science toy, and learn more about how things balance.
Mystery of the Glassy Tube How quickly can you figure it out?
Mystery of the Golden Needles Another Cabinet of Curiosities mystery.
Rocks An introduction to rocks and the rock cycle.
Identifying Minerals Using simple tests such as luster, hardness, and cleavage/fracture, you can identify most common minerals.
What is a Mineral? Forget "animal, vegetable, or mineral?" The scientific definiton of a mineral is much more specific.
75% Water 75% of the Earth’s surface is water., but that only scratches the surface, as Robert dives into this deep subject.
Floating Bubbles Float bubble on a layer of invisible gas.
Bernoulli Effect A simple challenge that does not work the way you would expect.
Cabbage Indicator Make an easy indicator solution for identifying acids and bases.
Changing Colors, Part 2 A continuation of video 120. This time we will mix two clear liquids to form a white liquid. Then we mix that with the black l
Changing Colors, Part 1 Can you mix two clear liquids to produce a black liquid? Of course you can!
Fireworks Colors How do they get all the different colors in fireworks?
Hunting With an Umbrella What strange creatures would you hunt with an umbrella?
Curves Illusion Which of these curved pieces of paper is longer?
Sorting Salt and Pepper Can you mix salt and pepper and then sort them out again? Of course you can!
Blowing Out a Candle It is amazing how much science is involved in the simple act of blowing out a candle.
Written Experiments
A Watched Pot What can you learn by watching a pot of boiling water? A LOT!
Changing How We Look at Changing Rethinking chemical and physical changes.
Yellowing Paper
Pepper Hot
Seeing Alternating Current
Talking to Frogs
The Place You Can't See
The Screamer
Two Way Mirrors
Water Beads
Waves from Waves
Where Plants Grow
Packing Your Bags
Polar Dressing
The Knuckle Trick A fun science trick to make you think your arm is getting shorter.
A Homemade Barometer
Butter Science What is butter made of?
Smelling in Stereo
Science Photos
Feeding Bread to BirdsFeeding Bread to Birds. The Science Photo that turned into a blog post.
Science Photo of the Day #842Is it true that touching a baby bird will cause the parents to abandon it?
Science Photo of the Day #841Nancy found this spider today, and I thought at first that it might be a Hobo spider. What is special about Hobo spiders?
Science Photo of the Day #826You have probably heard this bird's call many times, but you may not have know it. Why?
Science Photo of the Day #820Do cows have horns?
Science Photo of the Day #819Is snow a rock, a mineral, both, or neither?
Science Photo of the Day #814Today it snowed pretty much continuously, even though it was 40°F outside. How can it snow if the temperature is above freezing
Science Photo of the Day #813In recent years, people started throwing bird seed at weddings instead of rice. Why?
Science Photo of the Day #812Our cat Ethylene spends quite a bit of her time sitting on fence posts, and we often jokingly call her a "pole cat." In some ar
Science Photo of the Day #811Today, a hoax video showed up on the internet which supposedly showed a Golden Eagle trying to carry away a baby. Besides the f
Science Photo of the Day #808We had a very nice snow today, our first since we moved to the canyon. Does it ever get too cold to snow?
Looking at Changes
Science Photo of the Day #805What creature did this skull come from?
Science Photo of the Day #797An important step in identifying many flowers is to count the number of petals. How many petals do you see here?
Science Photo of the Day #774What is this common wild flower, and have you ever eaten this species?
Science Photo of the Day #753What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Science Photo of the Day #752Does adding heat to something always make it hotter?
Science Photo of the Day #751What is wrong with this scale?
Science Photo of the Day #750Refraction causes the handle of the spoon to appear to be broken at the surface of the water. What causes refraction?
Science Photo of the Day #748I found this plant growing in a nearby pond. What is unusual about it?
Science Photo of the Day #744Looking back in history, it has not been that long since people relied on the Sun and fire as sources of light. Who invented th
Science Photo of the Day #742What is unusual about this reptile?
Science Photo of the Day #737These are electric cells (not batteries.) From left to right, the sizes are AAA, AA, C, and D. All four produce the same volta
Science Photo of the Day #731How do these numbers relate to this photo? 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21....
Science Photo of the Day #727For many years, educators taught about the Fire Triangle, showing that for something to burn, it needed fuel, heat, and oxygen.
Science Photo of the Day #725The Earth rotates once every 24 hours. As it turns, if you are standing on the Earth, the moon seems to rise and set every day.
Science Photo of the Day #723Do dogs see in color?
Science Photo of the Day #722The Portuguese man o' war floats due to its gas filled air sac. What gases are inside, and how do they get there?
Science Photo of the Day #721When you mix cornstarch and water, you get something that many science sites call Oobleck. Under pressure, it feels like a soli
Science Photo of the Day #720How often do you eat beach sand from St. Augustine, FL?
Science Photo of the Day #718Why is the bottom of a candle flame blue?
Science Photo of the DayOK, how good are your eyes? How many flowers can you find in this photo?
Science Photo of the Day #17What color are Water Moccasin eggs?