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When the phone rings, we never know quite what to expect. The phone rang and on the other end was a senior producer at the Ellen Show (you know… Ellen DeGeneres). It seems that this producer had been watching a few of our science videos and wanted to know if Ellen would have fun making huge clouds with liquid nitrogen, shooting potatoes, whipping up a batch of slime or learning how to make toilet paper fly. My response was “yes” to all of the above. But maybe it’s best if you help us decide which science experiments would be most fun to do with Ellen. Of course, the goal of the segment is to show parents how to make learning fun… and what could be more fun than 50 gallons of Insta-Snow erupting on the set?
Now this doesn’t mean that I’m automatically on the show… they’re just interested. So, what cool science demos should I pitch to the producers at the Ellen Show?
Popularity: 5% [?]
April 20th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Steve! You should do that smoke ring launcher with the trash cans that I saw you do in California last week. That was AMAZING! I can’t wait to see you do it again and would be so happy to see it on the Ellen show!
April 21st, 2006 at 10:13 am
I can’t believe you are going to be on the Ellen Show that is amazing! I think that you should do something that Ellen would like, it would be very cool if you say that we did this experiment at Willow Creek Elementray. So I hope you have fun! Say hi to Ellen for me. Have fun!!!!
from a student in Mrs. Heaton’s reading class it statrs with an H (my name)
April 23rd, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Hey Steve, I am a high school student. I live in Michigan and found your website and I love it! I am in AP chemistry and our class visited our elementary school and did dry ice demo’s. That was a hit! I think that you should do some dry ice demos with Elen. I can’t wait to see you on Ellen’s show, I watch it every day. GOOD LUCK!!!
April 25th, 2006 at 1:29 am
Hi Steve! I’m sure Ellen would love exploding hydrogen-oxygen bubbles in her hand, or being vacuum-packed, or handling gooey polymers. Seeing as all the experiments you do are exciting, anything you choose should be a smash hit!
April 27th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Steve- I definaely think the potato launcher, blowing up the bag with one breath and the smoke ring launcher. Any time you can capture the attention of the media to draw attention to the need for more enphasis on science, take advantage! Let us know when it will happen.
April 27th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Thanks for the ideas. The producer really likes the liquid nitrogen demos - maybe liquid nitrogen ice cream. –Steve
April 28th, 2006 at 11:31 am
I think that you might want to include science for all age ranges. I know that the preshoolers I teach LOVE to see the pop shoot out of the 2 liter bottle when we put in the ments. Heck, all the adults enjoy watching it time and time again too! This is something that would be sure to get people at home off the couch because it’s not complicated at all.
May 3rd, 2006 at 10:51 am
Steve,
As a class, we think that the liquid nitrogen ice cream, or the shattering carnation would be great. We also think the exploding bubbles would be fun (maybe she could have Don Ho on too and he could be singing, “Tiny Bubbes”). Some pink snow would be cool too!
May 11th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
I won a science fair with your yellow Solar Powered Exporer from Seibun. My group had 4 solar explorers and we had fun racing them and doing loads of cool experiments. Maybe this would be cool on TV too, especially since people are always talking about the high price of gas. We even got to paint and decorate the tops of the Space Explorer.
This would be awesome on TV, also a short race!!
Have fun on Ellen’s show.
May 11th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
I’m 13 yaers old and I really think that you should do the Bouncing Bubble. I did it for school and everyone totally loved it! Ellen will too!
May 31st, 2006 at 5:08 pm
I am probably too late for the Ellen show but I will make one comment any way! I love your web site and I think the most important aspect of what you are doing is that you are making science fun and accessible! Which is where my comment comes from! Whatever you do, offer a number of experiments the audience can do (like the Fizz, Bubble, Erupt; Square Bubbles is great too!) without making a shopping list and spending a lot of money!
June 12th, 2006 at 9:40 am
I think Ellen would love to have the polymer in the bottom of the styrofoam cup inverted on her head.
And you must blow up soda with Mentos!!
Please let us know when you’re on!
Amy
July 19th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
I have an experiment for you, though I’m not sure you could risk it on Channel 9 News unless you videotape outside at night. I read about it on another chemistry website. It’s Fiery Bubbles.
They took a soapy solution, like the one you used for your Square Bubbles experiment and “injected”? (I’m not sure exactly how they accomplished this) the solution with methane gas. They created bubbles from the mixture and then using a lonnngggggggg stick with a lit candle tied to one end, they lit the bubbles, creating beautiful fireballs.
Now it seems to me that methane gas must be than air, as it seems to hang close to the ground and spread out (causing one heck of a stench). So, I’m thinking that they must have used some sort of apparatus to first create the bubble and then suspend it in the air so it could be lit. It seems to me that it would have been easier and maybe safer to use a combustible gas that’s lighter than air, so that the bubbles would naturally rise up. Then, once at a safe height, could then be lit. Now, remembering the old days of dirigibles (such as the Hindenburg), I should think that hydrogen would be a good choice (after all, it is the lightest known element). The only question would be just how much more explosive would a soap bubble of hydrogen be versus a soap bubble of methane (and could the soapy solition be injected with hydrogen they same way they chemistry class at Oklahoma State University injected the methane into the soapy solution).
Certainly, this would make a great 4th of July experiment to show on Channel 9 News.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Steve,
Can you lift off your Solar Hot Air balloon?
Thanks,
Steve
September 21st, 2007 at 3:28 pm
What did you mix with the liquid detergent and the hydrogen peroxide to release oxygen faster?