If you’ve had fun reading about Steve Spangler’s science adventures in this blog, you should check out his extensive experiment library. SteveSpanglerScience.com offers hundreds of ever-changing, ever-growing free experiments!
From floating, growing Ivory Soap to finding the iron in a dollar bill, you are sure to find just the right experiment that uses materials you have right in your home. This library represents all of Steve’s most amazing, most requested experiments from his 9NEWS television segment as well as other appearances throughout his career.
When you picture a tornado, most of us imagine a whirling column of air poking down from the clouds. Air tornadoes are created when warm air on the ground rises, and cool air comes in from above at a perpendicular angle. The hot air mixing with the cold air creates the rotation of a tornado. But not all tornadoes come from the sky.
Fire tornadoes are created when heated air from a fire rises and mixes with strong air currents (often whipping through the trees). This causes the air molecules to spin and shape the flame into the shape of a tornado. Firefighters are cautious of fire tornadoes because they can whip through the tops of trees catching other trees on fire. Watch the video for a cool demonstration on how fire tornadoes work.
Have you ever wanted to be a magician? Or do you want to impress your friends? All you need is a few Pyrex beakers, water, Wesson vegetable oil and Pyrex stir rods. The Wesson oil has the same index of refraction as a special kind of glass that has gone through a tremendous amount of heat called Pyrex. When you place the stir stick in the oil, it looks like the stick disappears in the oil. The secret behind this cool science experiment is the index of refraction.
Have you signed up for your school’s science fair but haven’t picked a science fair project? Or are you thinking about joining your science fair but don’t know where to start?
Participating in the science fair is an amazing opportunity to learn about the scientific method, ask questions, explore, make new discoveries and gain an understanding of how science works.
The start to a great science fair project is asking questions. Performing an experiment is not a science fair project.
To find a science fair project, browse through the experiment library and start asking questions like “why does it work that way,” “what if I did it this way?”
For example, dropping Mentos into Diet Coke is not a science fair project. It’s a science demonstration. Asking questions like “what temperature of Diet Coke will make the tallest geyser,” or “what soda makes the shortest geyser?” are good science fair projects.
Bubbles are magical and captivating. Who doesn’t like playing with bubbles? The key is the perfect bubble solution. Combining water and dish soap is good, but not perfect. Some people think glycerin and water works well. It’s still not perfect. If you are a serious bubblologist or bubble connoisseur, this recipe is for you. With this recipe, a secret and some imagination you will make big bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles and bouncing bubbles.
Everyone knows that Halloween is my favorite holiday. That doesn’t stop me from finding experiments for every holiday year round. Why not mix a little science into your holiday calendar? I don’t have a secret formula for the science of relationships, but I have some fun ideas to do this February.
For Valentine’s this year, don’t go to the store and buy the boring paper Valentines. Add a little “oooh and ahhh” while spreading the love. Take test tubes –or my favorite, Baby Soda Bottles– fill them with candy and add an experiment that the recipient can perform after the candy is gone.
If you are looking for some activities to do during a Valentine’s party or for a project, get some Goldenrod indicator paper. When this special paper meets a basic substance, it turns bright red. Cut out hearts or favorite Valentine shapes and you will end up with the coolest Valentines around.
Everyone knows that Halloween is my favorite holiday. That doesn’t stop me from finding experiments for every holiday year round. Why not mix a little science into your holiday calendar? I don’t have a secret formula for the science of relationships, but I have some fun ideas to do this February.