Hot Science Experiments How-Tos

HowTo: Grow Your Own Snowflakes

CalTech's Kenneth Libbrecht reveals the sublime beauty of snow crystals when photographed with a specially designed snowflake photomicroscope. The physicist is author of the Field Guide to Snowflakes and The Secret Life of a Snowflake, and recently posted an instructional guide for growing your own snow crystals.

How To: Hunt and find fallen meteorites from a meteor shower

The Geminid meteor shower 2010 is tonight, climaxing sometime between midnight and dawn Tuesday. Usually, the Geminid meteor showers in December are awesome spectacles, one of the most intense meteor showers of the year, but this year the moon will be out until after midnight, lessening visibility. But just because you can't see the meteor shower this year, doesn't mean a meteorite or two didn't sneak into Earth's atmosphere, hurdling to the ground, waiting for you to find it. So, get your me...

How To: Make Bullets? Make it Rain Molten Lead

In 1782, an English plumber named William Watts came up with a clever method for making shotgun ammo. Watts constructed a six story "shot tower", consisting of a series of perfectly lined up holes, drilled into all six floors of the structure. Watts then poured molten lead through a sieve from the top story, through the holes of each floor, finally landing on the bottom floor in a pool of water. The cushioned impact resulted in a perfectly formed bullet.

How To: Make hydrazine sulfate with the hypochlorite and the Ketazine process

Hydrazine sulfate has many uses, but most notably, it's been used under the trade name of Sehydrin, a treatment for anorexia, cachexia and some even think cancer. But for we DIY chemists, it's useful for something entirely different— as a substitute for the more dangerous pure liquid hydrazine in chemical reactions. NurdRage shows you how to make it via some hypochlorite and the Ketazine process.

How To: Make a candy DNA model

In this video we learn how to make a candy DNA model. First, purchase some black licorice and another color. Grab two each from the pack and then purchase some gummy bears. After this, pick out four different colors from the gummy bears bag. Take your scissors and put the licorice together. Cut one inch pieces so you end up with six of them. These will represent the sugars in the molecules. Once you do this, you will take the string and push it through the holes that are in the licorice. Laye...

How To: Do an animal blubber (fat) glove experiment

In this video, we learn how to do an animal blubber (fat) glove experiment. You will need: a big bowl with ice water in it, 4 plastic bags, thermometers, and some vegetable shortening. To start, you will take the shortening and scoop it into plastic bag and then stick one of your hands in it. After this, stick two bags over your opposite hand with the temperature into it. Then, you will stick each of your hands in the ice water and see which one lasts longer in the ice water. The fat should k...

How To: Make a rocket with your kid

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a rocket with your kid. First, go to a craft store and buy a starter set that has all the parts for the rocket inside of it. After this, you can take all the parts out of it and grab the directions out of it. Use the directions to help your child make the rocket and get together with groups if you want to make a day of it. After you make the rocket, you and your kid can set it off with the others or alone in an open space! Have fun and enjoy making these!

How To: Experiment with dry ice

In this tutorial, we learn how to experiment with dry ice. You can buy dry ice from any grocery store, so grab that and you will also need some soap. After this, grab the dry ice with some thick gloves and set aside. Then, put some hot water inside of a container with some soap. Put the dry ice last inside of the container. After you're finished, you can wait to see the reaction occur! It will start to smoke and make different noises which is fun to watch and see! When done, clean up your are...

How To: Test for boron with curcumin

Want to test whether the soil sample or a water sample contains boron, watch this video. As shown in the video, the first step is to create test specimens of various concentrations using a simple turmeric and ethanol solution as a base for comparison. The basis of this experiment is the fact that curumin present in turmeric reacts with boron to form a reddish compound and so the result of this reaction can easily be verified visually.

How To: Use chromatography to study plants

This video is a tutorial on how to use chromatography correctly to study plants. The tools needed to complete the task are a plant, jar or bottle, rubbing alcohol, paper coffee filter and a plastic spoon. The first step is to chop the plant up and place it into a jar followed by filling the jar with rubbing alcohol. The jar must then be placed into a pan of warm water for five full minutes. You must stir the plant matter in the alcohol until the plant causes the alcohol to change color. The l...

How To: Create a plankton science model

In this tutorial, we learn how to create a plankton science model. You will first need a clear bucket with water, modeling clay, toothpicks, sponge, beads, buttons, pipe cleaners, Styrofoam peanuts, and more. To make the plankton, you will first take the peanut and stick a toothpick into it. Then, add a paperclip on top of that to give it some weight. Drop it into the water and see if it floats or sinks. Add some more weight to it to see how much weight it takes to sink it to the bottom. Have...

How To: Build a robot that scribbles on paper

This video explains how to build a robot with the basic ability to scribble on paper. The narrator gives website addresses for more examples on completed robots and various information on the subject. The Robot is built using a plastic cups and wooden sticks for legs and support. A motor is then attached to a wooden stick which is then attached to the top of the plastic cup. One nine volt battery is needed to power the motor. Once the battery has been attached to the motor you must attach the...

How To: Take an acid and base to make salt

In this tutorial we learn how to take an acid and base to make salt. To start, you will first need to take an acid of your choice, this can be something like vinegar. After this, you will combine the acid with a base and then wait for it to react. Once it starts to react, gases will release from them and you will end up with some salt! Be sure to put a cap on the container while the reaction is happening. This will allow the reactions to come together and the gases to react. Have fun and do t...

How To: Balance chemical equations using a simple method

In this video, we learn how to balance chemical equations using a simple method. Start out by writing your two chemicals next to each other. After this, you will need to write out how much of each atom each of the chemicals has. Now you will have a better idea of how you need to balance out each of the different equations. Make a chart of all the elements that are involved, then you can solve it. Use simple addition to add together the atoms of each and then write out the correct answer in th...

How To: Fireproof a balloon

In this tutorial, we learn how to fireproof a balloon. Usually, if you bring fire to a balloon it will pop, but there's a way to avoid this! First, get your balloon and place it around the nozzle of your sink. Then, fill it up with water until you have a decent amount of water. Now, blow some air into the balloon and tie at the end. From here, put your balloon to the test! Place a lighter underneath the balloon to see how it reacts. It should not pop like it did before. The water will absorb ...

How To: Shrink plastic with household materials

In this video, we learn how to shrink plastic with household materials. You will need: tin foil, plastic container, scissors, glove, and colored markers. To start, you will preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Then, cut a piece of the plastic out in a square shape. Next, draw whatever you want onto your piece of plastic. Make it as colorful as you would like to! When finished, put this in the oven using a glove. Make sure it's on the foil when you put it in. Then, leave it in for less than a minu...

How To: Build parachutes with household materials

In this video, we learn how to build parachutes with household materials. You will need: a long string, Mylar, mesh, plastic, scissors, tape, and a weight. To get started, you will first cut your plastic or mesh into a circle or octagon shape. Then, take your string and cut it into several pieces. Then, tape the strings onto your material all around. After this, tie your weight to the strings so it's fully secured. Now, go to somewhere high and throw down your item! The parachute will help ke...

How To: Build a catapult out of rubber bands & a wire hanger

In this tutorial, we learn how to build a catapult out of rubber bands & a wire hanger. To do this, you will first need: one wire hanger, plastic spoon, rubber bands, small marshmallows, and measuring tape. Now, hold your hand in the center of the hanger and pull up both sides around it. After this, fold back the front for balance and straighten it up so it's stable. Next, you will take one rubber band and put it around the sides. Then, take the spoon and put it in between the rubber band and...

How To: Star gaze with your kids

In this video, Daddy Troy teaches us how to star gaze with your kids. This can get your kids interested in space and teach them a thing or two, while still having a good time. First, Google offers a service called Google Earth, which will show your child the entire earth, moon, and mars. Kids can use these programs just like a video game. They can see real pictures as well as their own home or grandma's home. This is free and a lot of fun! Next, you can see satellites with your naked eye in t...

How To: Make polymer putty with household materials

In this tutorial, we learn how to make polymer putty with household materials. You will need: borax, white glue, water, 3 plastic cups and spoons, and food coloring to color your putty. Now, dissolve 4 tbsp of Borax in 2 liters of warm water. Then, prepare equal parts of glue and water together. To make this, you will need 2 parts of the glue solution to 1 part of the Borax solution. Once you mix these together, you can add in some food coloring to it. Pour this into different cups to make di...

How To: Make iron sulfide with sulfur and iron

In this home-science how-to from Household Hacker, we learn how to create an exothermic reaction by combining sulfur with iron, producing iron sulfide in the process. For all of the details, including step-by-step instructions, as well as to see what happens when these two elements meet, watch this video guide.

How To: Make bubbling acid with ammonia and dry ice

In the mood for a little mad science? In this home-science how-to from Steve Spangler, we learn how to prepare a bubbly, color-changing concoction using water, ammonia, a universal indicator (cabbage juice will do fine), dry ice, gloves and two plastic cups. Now, repeat the process, this time adding a teaspoon of ammonia when you add your universal pH indicator.