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65 Amazing Chemistry Experiments for Kids

Chemistry is so much fun, and we have tons of cool chemistry experiments to share with you. Like our awesome physics experiments , we decided we needed to put together a list of fun chemistry projects kids can do at home or in the classroom. Check out these examples of easy chemical reactions below!

65 Chemistry Experiments You Want To Try

We have divided our chemistry experiments below into chemical reactions, acids and bases, chromatography, solutions, polymers, and crystals. Some chemistry experiments also explore concepts in physics .

Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction is a process where two or more substances react together to form a new chemical substance. This might look like a gas formed, cooking or baking, milk souring, etc.

Sometimes a physical change occurs, like our popcorn experiment or melting crayons, rather than a chemical change . However, these experiments below are all great examples of chemical change, where a new substance is formed.

CHECK OUT: Examples Of Physical Change and Chemical Change Examples

Can chemical reactions happen safely at home or in the classroom? Absolutely! This is one of the most fun parts of chemistry for kids, and you will find lots of ideas below for safe chemical reactions you can do with your junior scientists.

Acids And Bases

Acids and bases are important for many chemical processes in everyday life. An acid has hydrogen ions and can donate protons. Acids taste sour and have a pH from 0 to 7. Vinegar and citric acid are examples of acids.

Bases are molecules that can accept hydrogen ions. They have a pH higher than seven and can taste bitter. Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda and ammonia are examples of bases. Learn more about the pH scale.

Vinegar and baking soda experiments are classic acid-base reactions. You’ll also find experiments that use an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice. We have so many fun variations that your kids will love to try! Check out these acid-base chemistry experiments below.

Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique that involves the separation of a mixture into its parts so you can see each one individually.

A solution is a mixture of 2 or more solutes dissolved in a solvent up to its solubility limit. It most often refers to liquids, but solutions, gases, and solids are also possible. A solution will have its components evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Chemistry experiments involving solutions are great for kids. Gather liquids you commonly find in your kitchen, oil, water, detergent, etc., and explore what dissolves.

A polymer is a huge molecule made of many smaller molecules layered together in repeating patterns called monomers. Putty, slime, and cornstarch are all examples of polymers. Learn more about the science of slime polymers .

Making slime is great for at-home chemistry! It’s also a classic middle school science demonstration for the classroom. Here are a few of our favorite slime recipes to get you started.

non-Newtonian Fluids

Learn how to make oobleck ! Explore polymers with a simple cornstarch and water mixture.

A crystal is a solid material with a highly ordered internal structure of atoms, molecules, or ions held together by chemical bonds. Grow crystals and observe them by mixing a super-saturated solution and leaving it for several days to let the crystals form.

Simple to grow and taste-safe, a sugar crystals experiment is more accessible for younger kids, but you can also try growing borax crystals for older kids.

Check out our fun theme variations of growing crystals too!

Chemistry For Preschoolers

Let’s keep it basic for our younger or junior scientists! Chemistry is all about how different materials are put together and what they are made up of, like atoms and molecules.

What can you do with your youngest scientists? While working 1-1 or in a very small group is ideal, you can explore chemistry in a few fun ways that don’t require a lengthy setup or a lot of directions to follow. Do NOT overcomplicate the ideas!

Take, for example, our very first baking soda science experiment (age 3). So simple to set up, but so lovely to watch the amazement on my son’s face.

Check out these fun ways for preschoolers to explore science…

• Make liquid mixtures! Mix water and oil in a jar, let it rest, and observe what happens.
• Make solid mixtures! Mix two solid items and observe the changes!
• Mix a solid and a liquid! Add ice to a drink and observe the changes!
• Make a reaction! Set up a tray with baking soda in small cups and colored vinegar in small cups with pipettes. Mix and observe!
• Make oobleck ! Mix cornstarch and water for a weird and messy science activity.
• Explore characteristics of things! Use new science words to describe how different materials feel. Explore squishy, hard, rough, smooth, wet, etc…

Much of preschool science is about you sharing new experiences with them that are relatable and simple. A sk questions, share new words, and offer verbal prompts to get them to communicate with you about what they see!

Chemistry Science Fair Projects

Science projects are excellent tools for older kids to demonstrate their knowledge of science. They can also be used in various environments, including classrooms, homeschools, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn one of these fun chemistry experiments into a science project? Then you will want to check out these helpful resources.

• Easy Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas

More Helpful Science Resources

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids
• Scientific Method for Kids
• Citizen Science Guide
• Join us in the Club

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

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10 Awesome Chemistry Experiments for High School Students

The subject of chemistry is one subject that sends shivers down the spines of students, and sometimes even parents(maybe when they remember their own high school days). Yet chemistry is everywhere, right from the food we eat to the pharmaceuticals we use and the cosmetics we are so fond of.

Therefore, performing certain fun-filled experiments with our high schoolers is a sure-shot way to get the fear of chemistry out of their minds. Where fear stops, curiosity is aroused. Hence, let the learning begin.

Fun-filled chemistry experiments for high school students

1. mystical cloud.

To create the mystical cloud, perform the following steps:

• In an opaque bottle, mix 30% hydrogen peroxide. 
• Lower a tea bag containing potassium iodide into the bottle. 
• The exothermic reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide will rapidly release oxygen gas, forming a large, mystical-looking cloud in the bottle.

Explanation:

This experiment demonstrates the chemical reaction that produces the cloud, as well as the concept of gas formation. The opaque bottle creates a dramatic visual effect, making the cloud appear “mystical.” 

This mystical cloud experiment is sure to catch the eye, as well as the young minds of our high schoolers and get them started on the chemistry journey!

2. Dancing spaghetti experiment

Here is how to do the dancing spaghetti chemistry experiment:

• Pour 1 cup of water into a tall clear glass and add 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Stir until the baking soda is fully dissolved.
• Break uncooked spaghetti noodles into 1-inch pieces and place about 6 pieces into the glass. The spaghetti will sink to the bottom.
• Add 5 teaspoons of vinegar to the glass. Observe as the spaghetti pieces start to rise up and “dance” around due to the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles.
• As the spaghetti dance slows down, add a bit more vinegar to keep the reaction going and the spaghetti dancing.

The spaghetti dances because the carbon dioxide bubbles attach to the rough surface of the noodles, decreasing their density so they float up. When the bubbles pop at the surface, the spaghetti sinks again until more bubbles form. This demonstrates the principles of buoyancy and chemical reactions.

This dancing spaghetti experiment will help the student understand the magic of chemistry in lifting the spirits of scientific inquiry.

3. Bouncy balls to explore polymer properties

Steps to make the bouncy balls:

• Mix 3 level spoonfuls of Elmer’s glue (which contains the polymer polyvinyl acetate), with 5 mL of water and 1 level spoonful of borax powder(which forms cross-links between the polymer chains). Allow to interact for 10-15 seconds before stirring.
• Once the mixture becomes difficult to stir, remove it from the container and knead it with your hands. The ball will start to be sticky and messy but will solidify as you knead it.
• Record observations about the ball’s appearance, stretchiness, and bounciness.
• Try varying the amounts of glue, water, and borax, or adding cornstarch to see how it affects the final bouncy ball properties.

This experiment allows students to explore how changing the polymer composition and cross-linking affects the physical properties of the resulting material. It’s a great hands-on way to learn about the versatile nature of polymers.

The bouncy balls are an exciting and fun-filled experiment to understand everyday applications of chemistry.

4. Colourful flames experiment

Here are some ways to create colorful flames by adding different chemicals :

• Sprinkle salts like sodium chloride (table salt), copper(II) chloride, strontium chloride, or barium nitrate into an alcohol flame to produce yellow, green, red, or blue colors. The heat excites the atoms in the salts, causing them to emit characteristic colored light as the electrons return to their ground state.
• Soak wood chips or sawdust in solutions of metal salts like copper sulfate (blue-green), strontium chloride (red), lithium chloride (pink), or boric acid (green). Allow to dry, then toss the treated chips onto a campfire to produce colored flames.
• Embed metal salts into paraffin wax to make “colored fire wax cakes”. Melt wax in a double boiler, mix in the desired salts, pour into cupcake liners, and let harden. Toss the wax cakes onto a fire for long-lasting colored flames.

Explanation :

The colors produced depend on the specific metal ions present. Sodium gives yellow, copper gives blue-green, strontium gives red, and barium gives green flames. The colors are produced because the metal ions in the salts emit light at specific wavelengths when heated in the flame. This is the same principle used to create colored fireworks

Creating colorful flames by adding different chemicals to a flame is a beautiful rainbow experiment to spark an igniting and everlasting flame of interest for chemistry.

5. Extracting anthocyanin pigment from red cabbage to create a natural pH indicator

To extract anthocyanin pigment from red cabbage and create a natural pH indicator, follow these steps:

• Chop red cabbage leaves into fine pieces to allow the water to extract the anthocyanins.
• Add the chopped cabbage to a pot and cover with distilled water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Filter the solution through a coffee filter or strainer to remove the cabbage pieces, leaving just the anthocyanin-infused water
• (Optional) Boil off 20-50% of the solution to concentrate the anthocyanins for more vibrant colors.5
• Use the anthocyanin solution to test the pH of various household substances:
• Acids like lemon juice, vinegar, and grapefruit juice will turn the solution red.
• Neutral substances like water will keep the solution blue or purple
• Bases like baking soda and ammonia will turn the solution green or yellow.

The anthocyanin pigments change color due to a chemical reaction that occurs at different pH levels. This natural pH indicator provides a fun way to explore acids, bases, and neutrals.

This red cabbage experiment thus is an exciting experiment to familiarise the students with the entire spectrum of pH with its acids, bases, and neutrals!

6. Elephant toothpaste experiment

The key steps to form the elephant toothpaste foam are:

• Mix 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a squirt of dish soap in a plastic bottle.
• Add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
• In a separate cup, mix 1 tablespoon of yeast with 3 tablespoons of warm water. Stir for 30 seconds.
• Quickly pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and watch the foamy reaction erupt.

The reaction occurs because the catalyst (yeast or potassium iodide) speeds up the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. The dish soap traps the oxygen bubbles, creating a dramatic foaming effect. The reaction continues as long as there is hydrogen peroxide and a catalyst remaining.

Thus, this exothermic reaction creates the elephant toothpaste, as well as exponentially engages the curiosity of the students performing the experiment.

7. Chromatography with coffee filters

Chromatography with coffee filters is a simple science experiment that demonstrates the separation of colors in ink or dye. To do this experiment:

• Draw a circle with a washable marker on a coffee filter, leaving the center blank. Fold the filter into a triangle. 
• Suspend the folded filter in a cup of water, making sure only the tip touches the water. The water will travel up the filter, separating the colors in the marker. 
• After 15-30 minutes, the colors will separate and become visible on the filter. Common results show blue, green, and red/pink colors emerging from the original black marker. 

This experiment works because of capillary action and chromatography – the water carries the water-soluble dye molecules at different rates through the filter material. However, it is important to remember that Permanent markers do not work as well since their dyes are not water-soluble. 

The separation of colors provides a spectacular result that will surely capture the imagination of young minds!

8. Lava lamp experiment

Steps to create the spectacular lava lamp:

• Fill a clear plastic bottle about 1/4 full with water. Pour vegetable oil into the bottle until it is almost full, then wait a couple of minutes for the oil and water to separate.
• Add a few drops of food coloring, which will sink through the oil, and mix with the water
• Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into pieces and drop them into the bottle. The tablet will sink to the bottom, start dissolving, and release carbon dioxide gas bubbles.
• The bubbles will attach to the colored water blobs, making them float to the top. When the bubbles pop, the colored water will sink back down.

The lava lamp works because oil is less dense than water, so it floats on top. The food coloring has the same density as water, so it sinks through the oil. The gas bubbles from the Alka-Seltzer are lighter than water, so they float up, bringing the colored water with them

Fun tip: To keep the lava lamp going, just drop in another piece of Alka-Seltzer tablet when the bubbling slows down. Your evergreen lava lamp may just spark a permanent love for all chemicals and chemistry!

9. Magic milk experiment

The magic milk experiment demonstrates how soap interacts with the fats and proteins in milk:

• The magic milk experiment involves pouring milk into a shallow dish and then adding food coloring. 
• It is followed by touching a cotton swab dipped in dish soap to the surface of the milk. This causes the food coloring to swirl and dance around, creating a colorful “fireworks” effect.

The reason this happens is that the soap molecules have a hydrophilic (water-loving) end and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) end. When the soap touches the milk, the hydrophobic ends attach to the fat molecules, causing them to move around rapidly. The food coloring gets swept up in this motion, resulting in a colorful display. 

Another way to get even more creative with the experiment is to try it with different types of milk to see how the fat content affects the results. The more fat in the milk, the more dramatic the color display will be, and faster your student will be fascinated with chemistry!

10. Ammonia fountain experiment

The ammonia fountain experiment demonstrates the high solubility of ammonia gas in water due to hydrogen bonding. Here’s how it works:

• A flask is filled with dry ammonia gas by heating a mixture of calcium hydroxide and ammonium chloride.
• Water is injected into the flask through a syringe, causing the ammonia gas to rapidly dissolve. This creates a partial vacuum inside the flask.
• The external atmospheric pressure forces water up a tube and out through a jet, creating a fountain effect. The ammonia solution is alkaline, so adding a pH indicator like phenolphthalein turns it pink.
• As more ammonia dissolves, the pressure inside the flask drops further, causing the fountain to continue for several minutes.

This experiment illustrates the concepts of solubility, gas laws, and acid-base chemistry at an introductory level. It can also be done with other highly soluble gases like hydrogen chloride.

The ammonia fountain experiment will surely skyrocket your high schooler’s interest in chemistry experiments and the various explanations of the world it opens to them.

Chemistry is often referred to as the “central science” because it connects various fields, including physics, biology, and environmental sciences. Thus, it is absolutely imperative that students not view it as a textbook roadblock on the way to graduation. Rather, it should be seen as an exciting hiking trip that will become more adventurous while passing each milestone. 

The same holds true for physics. And we can prove to you that physics can be fun too with these physics experiments for high school students!

An Engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor, and animal rights activist. I have more than 5 years of teaching experience and have worked closely with students with learning disorders. I have worked with special educators, counselors, and experts in dealing with common issues that students face during their academic journey.

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Expertly communicate the excitement of chemistry with these time-tested classroom practicals.

These resources have been compiled from the book Classic chemistry experiments : a collection of 100 chemistry experiments developed with the support of teachers throughout the UK.

If you'd like to buy a copy of the book, visit our online bookshop . If you're a Royal Society of Chemistry member, don't forget to use your 35% discount.

A Cartesian diver

An old favourite experiment, the Cartesian diver is easy for students to complete. Explore important ideas that build a foundation of knowledge. 

Chemistry and electricity

Create coloured writing from acids, alkali, and salt solution, all activated through electrolysis.

Disappearing ink

Explore the reaction between acids and bases as students create disappearing ink, in this favourite classroom practical.

Electricity from chemicals

Use various metals, in pairs, and n electrolyte to form a cell. Then observe the formation of ions around the reactive metal, and compare the speed with which they form around the less reactive metal. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

Experiments with particles

Explore physical states, and how material interact with three practicals. Students use common classroom items to explore, and then note their findings. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

Identifying the products of combustion

In association with Nuffield Foundation

Illustrate the presence of water and carbon dioxide in the products of hydrocarbon combustion in this demonstration. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Particles in motion?

Explore the movement of gas particles in this practical but reacting calcium carbonate with hydrochloric acid. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

Producing a foam

Explore foams and their properties in this experiment, so students learn how foam is produced and produce their own. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Properties of the transition metals and their compounds

Student discover the diversity of transition metals in this practical that puts their knowledge of these common elements to the test. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Rubber band experiment

A rubber band, a hairdryer, and a curious mind will see students discover the principles of heat based reactions. Includes kit list and safety instruction.

Testing salts for anions and cations

A full range of chemicals will guide students into discovering how to identify the composition of unknown substances. Includes kit list and safry instructions. 

The effect of concentration and temperature on reaction rate

Reaction rate can be altered by many things, in this practical students explore how temperature and concentration effect reaction in an closer look at kinetics. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

The effect of temperature on reaction rate

Discover more about collision theory in this practical, where a sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid mixture produce an interesting reaction. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

The effect of temperature on solubility

Hot or cold, which water is better for soluble substances? Explore your finding from this practical into the effect of temperature on solubility. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

The electrolysis of solutions

Electricity is passed through various solutions and the products are identified. Includes kit list and safety instructions

The preparation and properties of oxygen

Produce a potassium manganate(VII) reaction using a test tube, Bunsen burner, and scientific inquisition to detect the presence of oxygen. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

The reactivity of the group 2 metals

Compare group 1 and group 2 metals with this practical that shows their reactivity rates, where students can take control of their own observations and come to their own conclusions

The volume of 1 mole of hydrogen gas

Understand the volume of one mole of hydrogen gas through a magnesium and acid reaction, taking note of the temperature and pressure. Includes kit list and safety instructions. 

Compare the viscosity of thick and thin liquids in this experiment, which gets young learners exploring how viscosity alters the speed of an air bubble through the substances. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

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72 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand

Because science doesn’t have to be complicated.

If there is one thing that is guaranteed to get your students excited, it’s a good science experiment! While some experiments require expensive lab equipment or dangerous chemicals, there are plenty of cool projects you can do with regular household items. We’ve rounded up a big collection of easy science experiments that anybody can try, and kids are going to love them!

Easy Chemistry Science Experiments

Easy physics science experiments, easy biology and environmental science experiments, easy engineering experiments and stem challenges.

1. Taste the Rainbow

Teach your students about diffusion while creating a beautiful and tasty rainbow! Tip: Have extra Skittles on hand so your class can eat a few!

Learn more: Skittles Diffusion

2. Crystallize sweet treats

Crystal science experiments teach kids about supersaturated solutions. This one is easy to do at home, and the results are absolutely delicious!

Learn more: Candy Crystals

3. Make a volcano erupt

This classic experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid), which produces carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate.

Learn more: Best Volcano Experiments

4. Make elephant toothpaste

This fun project uses yeast and a hydrogen peroxide solution to create overflowing “elephant toothpaste.” Tip: Add an extra fun layer by having kids create toothpaste wrappers for plastic bottles.

5. Blow the biggest bubbles you can

Add a few simple ingredients to dish soap solution to create the largest bubbles you’ve ever seen! Kids learn about surface tension as they engineer these bubble-blowing wands.

Learn more: Giant Soap Bubbles

6. Demonstrate the “magic” leakproof bag

All you need is a zip-top plastic bag, sharp pencils, and water to blow your kids’ minds. Once they’re suitably impressed, teach them how the “trick” works by explaining the chemistry of polymers.

Learn more: Leakproof Bag

7. Use apple slices to learn about oxidation

Have students make predictions about what will happen to apple slices when immersed in different liquids, then put those predictions to the test. Have them record their observations.

Learn more: Apple Oxidation

8. Float a marker man

Their eyes will pop out of their heads when you “levitate” a stick figure right off the table! This experiment works due to the insolubility of dry-erase marker ink in water, combined with the lighter density of the ink.

Learn more: Floating Marker Man

9. Discover density with hot and cold water

There are a lot of easy science experiments you can do with density. This one is extremely simple, involving only hot and cold water and food coloring, but the visuals make it appealing and fun.

Learn more: Layered Water

10. Layer more liquids

This density demo is a little more complicated, but the effects are spectacular. Slowly layer liquids like honey, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol in a glass. Kids will be amazed when the liquids float one on top of the other like magic (except it is really science).

Learn more: Layered Liquids

11. Grow a carbon sugar snake

Easy science experiments can still have impressive results! This eye-popping chemical reaction demonstration only requires simple supplies like sugar, baking soda, and sand.

Learn more: Carbon Sugar Snake

12. Mix up some slime

Tell kids you’re going to make slime at home, and watch their eyes light up! There are a variety of ways to make slime, so try a few different recipes to find the one you like best.

13. Make homemade bouncy balls

These homemade bouncy balls are easy to make since all you need is glue, food coloring, borax powder, cornstarch, and warm water. You’ll want to store them inside a container like a plastic egg because they will flatten out over time.

Learn more: Make Your Own Bouncy Balls

14. Create eggshell chalk

Eggshells contain calcium, the same material that makes chalk. Grind them up and mix them with flour, water, and food coloring to make your very own sidewalk chalk.

Learn more: Eggshell Chalk

15. Make naked eggs

This is so cool! Use vinegar to dissolve the calcium carbonate in an eggshell to discover the membrane underneath that holds the egg together. Then, use the “naked” egg for another easy science experiment that demonstrates osmosis .

Learn more: Naked Egg Experiment

16. Turn milk into plastic

This sounds a lot more complicated than it is, but don’t be afraid to give it a try. Use simple kitchen supplies to create plastic polymers from plain old milk. Sculpt them into cool shapes when you’re done!

17. Test pH using cabbage

Teach kids about acids and bases without needing pH test strips! Simply boil some red cabbage and use the resulting water to test various substances—acids turn red and bases turn green.

Learn more: Cabbage pH

18. Clean some old coins

Use common household items to make old oxidized coins clean and shiny again in this simple chemistry experiment. Ask kids to predict (hypothesize) which will work best, then expand the learning by doing some research to explain the results.

Learn more: Cleaning Coins

19. Pull an egg into a bottle

This classic easy science experiment never fails to delight. Use the power of air pressure to suck a hard-boiled egg into a jar, no hands required.

Learn more: Egg in a Bottle

20. Blow up a balloon (without blowing)

Chances are good you probably did easy science experiments like this when you were in school. The baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment demonstrates the reactions between acids and bases when you fill a bottle with vinegar and a balloon with baking soda.

21 Assemble a DIY lava lamp

This 1970s trend is back—as an easy science experiment! This activity combines acid-base reactions with density for a totally groovy result.

22. Explore how sugary drinks affect teeth

The calcium content of eggshells makes them a great stand-in for teeth. Use eggs to explore how soda and juice can stain teeth and wear down the enamel. Expand your learning by trying different toothpaste-and-toothbrush combinations to see how effective they are.

Learn more: Sugar and Teeth Experiment

23. Mummify a hot dog

If your kids are fascinated by the Egyptians, they’ll love learning to mummify a hot dog! No need for canopic jars , just grab some baking soda and get started.

24. Extinguish flames with carbon dioxide

This is a fiery twist on acid-base experiments. Light a candle and talk about what fire needs in order to survive. Then, create an acid-base reaction and “pour” the carbon dioxide to extinguish the flame. The CO2 gas acts like a liquid, suffocating the fire.

25. Send secret messages with invisible ink

Turn your kids into secret agents! Write messages with a paintbrush dipped in lemon juice, then hold the paper over a heat source and watch the invisible become visible as oxidation goes to work.

Learn more: Invisible Ink

26. Create dancing popcorn

This is a fun version of the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment, perfect for the younger crowd. The bubbly mixture causes popcorn to dance around in the water.

27. Shoot a soda geyser sky-high

You’ve always wondered if this really works, so it’s time to find out for yourself! Kids will marvel at the chemical reaction that sends diet soda shooting high in the air when Mentos are added.

Learn more: Soda Explosion

28. Send a teabag flying

Hot air rises, and this experiment can prove it! You’ll want to supervise kids with fire, of course. For more safety, try this one outside.

Learn more: Flying Tea Bags

29. Create magic milk

This fun and easy science experiment demonstrates principles related to surface tension, molecular interactions, and fluid dynamics.

Learn more: Magic Milk Experiment

30. Watch the water rise

Learn about Charles’s Law with this simple experiment. As the candle burns, using up oxygen and heating the air in the glass, the water rises as if by magic.

Learn more: Rising Water

31. Learn about capillary action

Kids will be amazed as they watch the colored water move from glass to glass, and you’ll love the easy and inexpensive setup. Gather some water, paper towels, and food coloring to teach the scientific magic of capillary action.

Learn more: Capillary Action

32. Give a balloon a beard

Equally educational and fun, this experiment will teach kids about static electricity using everyday materials. Kids will undoubtedly get a kick out of creating beards on their balloon person!

Learn more: Static Electricity

33. Find your way with a DIY compass

Here’s an old classic that never fails to impress. Magnetize a needle, float it on the water’s surface, and it will always point north.

Learn more: DIY Compass

34. Crush a can using air pressure

Sure, it’s easy to crush a soda can with your bare hands, but what if you could do it without touching it at all? That’s the power of air pressure!

35. Tell time using the sun

While people use clocks or even phones to tell time today, there was a time when a sundial was the best means to do that. Kids will certainly get a kick out of creating their own sundials using everyday materials like cardboard and pencils.

Learn more: Make Your Own Sundial

36. Launch a balloon rocket

Grab balloons, string, straws, and tape, and launch rockets to learn about the laws of motion.

37. Make sparks with steel wool

All you need is steel wool and a 9-volt battery to perform this science demo that’s bound to make their eyes light up! Kids learn about chain reactions, chemical changes, and more.

Learn more: Steel Wool Electricity

38. Levitate a Ping-Pong ball

Kids will get a kick out of this experiment, which is really all about Bernoulli’s principle. You only need plastic bottles, bendy straws, and Ping-Pong balls to make the science magic happen.

39. Whip up a tornado in a bottle

There are plenty of versions of this classic experiment out there, but we love this one because it sparkles! Kids learn about a vortex and what it takes to create one.

Learn more: Tornado in a Bottle

40. Monitor air pressure with a DIY barometer

This simple but effective DIY science project teaches kids about air pressure and meteorology. They’ll have fun tracking and predicting the weather with their very own barometer.

Learn more: DIY Barometer

41. Peer through an ice magnifying glass

Students will certainly get a thrill out of seeing how an everyday object like a piece of ice can be used as a magnifying glass. Be sure to use purified or distilled water since tap water will have impurities in it that will cause distortion.

Learn more: Ice Magnifying Glass

42. String up some sticky ice

Can you lift an ice cube using just a piece of string? This quick experiment teaches you how. Use a little salt to melt the ice and then refreeze the ice with the string attached.

Learn more: Sticky Ice

43. “Flip” a drawing with water

Light refraction causes some really cool effects, and there are multiple easy science experiments you can do with it. This one uses refraction to “flip” a drawing; you can also try the famous “disappearing penny” trick .

Learn more: Light Refraction With Water

44. Color some flowers

We love how simple this project is to re-create since all you’ll need are some white carnations, food coloring, glasses, and water. The end result is just so beautiful!

45. Use glitter to fight germs

Everyone knows that glitter is just like germs—it gets everywhere and is so hard to get rid of! Use that to your advantage and show kids how soap fights glitter and germs.

Learn more: Glitter Germs

46. Re-create the water cycle in a bag

You can do so many easy science experiments with a simple zip-top bag. Fill one partway with water and set it on a sunny windowsill to see how the water evaporates up and eventually “rains” down.

Learn more: Water Cycle

47. Learn about plant transpiration

Your backyard is a terrific place for easy science experiments. Grab a plastic bag and rubber band to learn how plants get rid of excess water they don’t need, a process known as transpiration.

Learn more: Plant Transpiration

48. Clean up an oil spill

Before conducting this experiment, teach your students about engineers who solve environmental problems like oil spills. Then, have your students use provided materials to clean the oil spill from their oceans.

Learn more: Oil Spill

49. Construct a pair of model lungs

Kids get a better understanding of the respiratory system when they build model lungs using a plastic water bottle and some balloons. You can modify the experiment to demonstrate the effects of smoking too.

Learn more: Model Lungs

50. Experiment with limestone rocks

Kids  love to collect rocks, and there are plenty of easy science experiments you can do with them. In this one, pour vinegar over a rock to see if it bubbles. If it does, you’ve found limestone!

Learn more: Limestone Experiments

51. Turn a bottle into a rain gauge

All you need is a plastic bottle, a ruler, and a permanent marker to make your own rain gauge. Monitor your measurements and see how they stack up against meteorology reports in your area.

Learn more: DIY Rain Gauge

52. Build up towel mountains

This clever demonstration helps kids understand how some landforms are created. Use layers of towels to represent rock layers and boxes for continents. Then pu-u-u-sh and see what happens!

Learn more: Towel Mountains

53. Take a play dough core sample

Learn about the layers of the earth by building them out of Play-Doh, then take a core sample with a straw. ( Love Play-Doh? Get more learning ideas here. )

Learn more: Play Dough Core Sampling

54. Project the stars on your ceiling

Use the video lesson in the link below to learn why stars are only visible at night. Then create a DIY star projector to explore the concept hands-on.

Learn more: DIY Star Projector

55. Make it rain

Use shaving cream and food coloring to simulate clouds and rain. This is an easy science experiment little ones will beg to do over and over.

Learn more: Shaving Cream Rain

56. Blow up your fingerprint

This is such a cool (and easy!) way to look at fingerprint patterns. Inflate a balloon a bit, use some ink to put a fingerprint on it, then blow it up big to see your fingerprint in detail.

57. Snack on a DNA model

Twizzlers, gumdrops, and a few toothpicks are all you need to make this super-fun (and yummy!) DNA model.

Learn more: Edible DNA Model

58. Dissect a flower

Take a nature walk and find a flower or two. Then bring them home and take them apart to discover all the different parts of flowers.

59. Craft smartphone speakers

No Bluetooth speaker? No problem! Put together your own from paper cups and toilet paper tubes.

Learn more: Smartphone Speakers

60. Race a balloon-powered car

Kids will be amazed when they learn they can put together this awesome racer using cardboard and bottle-cap wheels. The balloon-powered “engine” is so much fun too.

Learn more: Balloon-Powered Car

61. Build a Ferris wheel

You’ve probably ridden on a Ferris wheel, but can you build one? Stock up on wood craft sticks and find out! Play around with different designs to see which one works best.

Learn more: Craft Stick Ferris Wheel

62. Design a phone stand

There are lots of ways to craft a DIY phone stand, which makes this a perfect creative-thinking STEM challenge.

63. Conduct an egg drop

Put all their engineering skills to the test with an egg drop! Challenge kids to build a container from stuff they find around the house that will protect an egg from a long fall (this is especially fun to do from upper-story windows).

Learn more: Egg Drop Challenge Ideas

64. Engineer a drinking-straw roller coaster

STEM challenges are always a hit with kids. We love this one, which only requires basic supplies like drinking straws.

Learn more: Straw Roller Coaster

65. Build a solar oven

Explore the power of the sun when you build your own solar ovens and use them to cook some yummy treats. This experiment takes a little more time and effort, but the results are always impressive. The link below has complete instructions.

Learn more: Solar Oven

66. Build a Da Vinci bridge

There are plenty of bridge-building experiments out there, but this one is unique. It’s inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s 500-year-old self-supporting wooden bridge. Learn how to build it at the link, and expand your learning by exploring more about Da Vinci himself.

Learn more: Da Vinci Bridge

67. Step through an index card

This is one easy science experiment that never fails to astonish. With carefully placed scissor cuts on an index card, you can make a loop large enough to fit a (small) human body through! Kids will be wowed as they learn about surface area.

68. Stand on a pile of paper cups

Combine physics and engineering and challenge kids to create a paper cup structure that can support their weight. This is a cool project for aspiring architects.

Learn more: Paper Cup Stack

69. Test out parachutes

Gather a variety of materials (try tissues, handkerchiefs, plastic bags, etc.) and see which ones make the best parachutes. You can also find out how they’re affected by windy days or find out which ones work in the rain.

Learn more: Parachute Drop

70. Recycle newspapers into an engineering challenge

It’s amazing how a stack of newspapers can spark such creative engineering. Challenge kids to build a tower, support a book, or even build a chair using only newspaper and tape!

Learn more: Newspaper STEM Challenge

71. Use rubber bands to sound out acoustics

Explore the ways that sound waves are affected by what’s around them using a simple rubber band “guitar.” (Kids absolutely love playing with these!)

Learn more: Rubber Band Guitar

72. Assemble a better umbrella

Challenge students to engineer the best possible umbrella from various household supplies. Encourage them to plan, draw blueprints, and test their creations using the scientific method.

Learn more: Umbrella STEM Challenge

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Science experiments you can do at home!  Explore an ever growing list of hundreds of fun and easy science experiments. Have fun trying these experiments at home or use them for science fair project ideas. Explore experiments by category, newest experiments, most popular experiments, easy at home experiments, or simply scroll down this page for tons of awesome experiment ideas!

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Easy Chemistry Experiments to Do at Home

These 12 projects use materials you probably already have

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Looking for fun, educational activities to do at home? This list of easy chemistry experiments and science activities will allow you to perform experiments with materials you likely already have in your kitchen cupboards .

You don't need esoteric chemicals and a lab to have a good time with chemistry. Your average fourth-grader can make slime , and it doesn't get any less fun when you're older, so this is a good at-home experiment for kids and adults alike.

Borax Snowflake

Anne Helmenstine

Making a sparkly borax snowflake is a crystal-growing project that's safe and easy enough for kids. You can make shapes other than snowflakes, and you can color the crystals. If you use these as Christmas decorations and store them, the borax is a natural insecticide and will help keep your long-term storage area pest-free. If they develop a white precipitant, lightly rinse them but don't dissolve too much crystal.

Mentos and Diet Soda Fountain

This is a backyard activity best accompanied  by a garden hose . The Mentos fountain  is more spectacular than a baking soda volcano . If you make the volcano and find the eruption to be disappointing, substitute these ingredients.

Penny Chemistry

You can clean pennies, coat them with verdigris, and plate them with copper. This project demonstrates several chemical processes , yet the materials are easy to find and the science is safe enough for kids.

Invisible Ink

Invisible inks either react with another chemical to become visible or else weaken the structure of the paper so the message appears if you hold it over a heat source. But we're not talking about fire here; the heat of a normal light bulb is all that's required to darken the lettering. This baking soda recipe is nice because if you don't want to use a light bulb to reveal the message, you can just swab the paper with grape juice instead.

Colored Fire

Fire is fun. Colored fire is even better. These additives are safe. They won't, in general, produce smoke that is any better or worse for you than normal wood smoke. Depending on what you add, the ashes will have a different elemental composition from a normal wood fire, but if you're burning trash or printed material, you have a similar result. This is suitable for a home fire or campfire, plus most chemicals are found around the house (even of non-chemists).

Seven-Layer Density Column

Make a  density column with many liquid layers . Heavier liquids sink to the bottom, while lighter (less dense) liquids float on top. This is an easy, fun, colorful science project that illustrates the concepts of density and miscibility.

Homemade Ice Cream in a Plastic Bag

Science experiments can taste good! Whether you're learning about  freezing point depression or not, the ice cream is a delicious result either way. This cooking chemistry project potentially uses no dishes, so cleanup can be very easy.

Hot Ice (Sodium Acetate)

Got vinegar and  baking soda ? If so, you can make " hot ice ," or sodium  acetate , and then cause it to instantly crystallize from a liquid into "ice." The reaction generates heat, so the ice is hot. It happens so quickly that you can form crystal towers as you pour the liquid into a dish.

Burning Money

The " burning money trick " is a  magic trick   using chemistry . You can set a bill on fire, yet it won't burn. Are you brave enough to try it? All you need is a real bill.

Coffee Filter Chromatography

Exploring separation chemistry with coffee filter chromatography is a snap. A coffee filter works well, though if you don't drink coffee you can substitute a paper towel. You can also devise a project comparing the separation you get using different brands of paper towels. Leaves from outdoors can provide pigments. Frozen spinach is another good choice.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Foam Fight

The foam fight is a natural extension of the baking soda volcano . This easy chemistry experiment is a lot of fun and a little messy, but quick enough to clean up as long as you don't add food coloring to the foam.

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Fentanyl’s deadly chemistry: How rogue labs make opioids

The illicit synthetic opioid industry is built on surprisingly simple chemistry. Here’s the science behind fentanyl, and how underworld “cooks” put it to work.

By DAISY CHUNG , LAURA GOTTESDIENER and DRAZEN JORGIC

Filed July 25, 2024, 9 a.m. GMT

Fentanyl Chemistry 101

Fentanyl is a synthetic drug. That means it’s not created from plants like marijuana or cocaine, but rather entirely from chemicals.

Fentanyl can be easy to make using compounds known as “precursors.” These are ready-made building blocks created from common industrial chemicals. Certain types of precursors are particularly prized by illicit fentanyl producers because they function as shortcuts to making the finished product. One senior U.S. administration official compared it to using “premixed brownie batter” versus trying to whip up a batch from scratch.

To make this harder for criminals to pull off, governments around the world strictly regulate a few of these key precursors. The U.S. government controls a couple of them as tightly as cocaine, methamphetamine and even finished fentanyl itself.

So, unscrupulous chemical sellers and illicit fentanyl producers have resorted to some creative chemistry to get around these strictures.

Understanding these chemistry tricks, it’s easy to see how illicit fentanyl producers have a big advantage. Every time a chemical is regulated, they can simply shift to an alternative to evade law enforcement.

It isn’t just the simple chemistry that assists illicit producers. Their supply chain is simple, too. Illicit fentanyl producers receive many of their chemicals the same way ordinary online shoppers receive all sorts of legal merchandise: by mail from China. A Reuters investigation published today reveals how easy it is to buy these chemicals .

Fentanyl is so potent, and each tablet contains such a tiny dose, that just a small amount of precursor chemicals can make a massive amount of illicit pills.

This means sellers can hide these chemicals in small boxes, often with false shipping labels.

Reuters purchased a dozen chemicals that independent chemists said could be used to make fentanyl. Many of these substances arrived in packages that listed the contents as cheap consumer goods: a doorknob, an adapter, hair accessories, typewriter parts.

With millions of packages flying around the world daily, authorities are hard-pressed to find the ones containing fentanyl chemicals.

Initial processing

Once illicit fentanyl makers get their hands on the necessary precursors, they can synthesize fentanyl in crude labs in less than a day.

A reporter traveled in February to Mexico’s Sinaloa state, home of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, to speak with a freelance fentanyl producer about his craft. He operated in a poor neighborhood on the edge of the state capital Culiacán, an area controlled by the cartel that’s dotted with stash houses. Lookouts clutching two-way radios stood by the side of the dirt road leading to the house.

He said whipping up the drug was as easy as “making chicken soup.”

This cook, who left school at age 12, got his start as an assistant to another producer. Fentanyl recipes are prized assets, he said. His mentor was stingy with information and forbade him from taking notes. But within six months the apprentice had memorized all the steps and went into business for himself. He said he sourced his chemicals from local brokers, who took orders on WhatsApp and delivered within hours. He’s since exited the trade due to threats from the cartel chieftains, who have barred freelance producers from manufacturing fentanyl in Sinaloa.

Virtually all the illicit fentanyl trafficked to the U.S. is produced in Mexico, according to U.S. authorities. Historically, the state of Sinaloa has been the epicenter of production, though crime syndicates in other regions of Mexico have entered the trade too. Traffickers in Sinaloa operate open-air labs in rural areas such as forests or remote ranches. They’ve also set up ventilated laboratories inside apartments and houses in cities such as Culiacán.

The most common way of making illicit fentanyl at the moment is known as the one-pot Gupta method . It’s named after an Indian scientist, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Gupta, who helped develop a streamlined process for synthesizing medical-grade fentanyl, an analgesic used in operating rooms worldwide. Makers of street fentanyl have put their own spins on the technique. However, the name has stuck. (Gupta couldn’t be reached for comment.)

Gupta’s original method requires just three steps . The whole process takes place at room temperature and there’s no specialized lab equipment required.

His technique could also be used for the synthesis of thousands of different types of fentanyl analogs.

The Sinaloa cook told Reuters how he made fentanyl. His description of the process indicates that he was able take a shortcut and start with Step 3, according to Dr. Holmes, the Doane University chemist.

That’s because one of the chemicals the cook sourced from local brokers was something he called “El 400.” Holmes, who reviewed the cook’s process at Reuters’ request, said “El 400” is likely the immediate precursor 4-ANPP.

While that substance is tightly regulated internationally, some illegal producers can still find ways to obtain it, and thereby skip the first two synthesis steps in the three-step version of the Gupta method.

On the ground with a cook

Below is a depiction of how the cook performed Step 3 to yield fentanyl. (Reuters is withholding the names of some of the chemicals he used, to avoid providing detailed instructions and other information that could aid in synthesizing the drug.)

Post-production

The resulting paste is dried, ground into a fine powder, then carefully weighed and packaged into 1 kg bags for transport to a post-production laboratory.

In 2023, U.S. authorities seized nearly 116 million fentanyl pills, according to a National Institutes of Health-backed research paper published in May.

But hundreds of millions more likely ended up on American streets.

In a 2023 indictment targeting the sons of the jailed Sinaloa cartel kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, U.S. officials estimated that $1,000 worth of fentanyl precursors can yield profits that are up to 800 times their original investment. With such economic incentives, said a U.S. federal investigator, few expect the flow of fentanyl to U.S. streets to stop any time soon.

Fentanyl Express: Deadly Chemistry

By Daisy Chung, Laura Gottesdiener and Drazen Jorgic

Additional reporting by Kristina Cooke

Graphics by Daisy Chung

Edited by Feilding Cage and Marla Dickerson

Dr. Andrea Holmes, professor of chemistry at Doane University in Nebraska

Dr. Alex J. Krotulski, director of toxicology and chemistry at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education

The DEA’s Fentanyl Profiling Program

International Journal of Drug Policy

The International Narcotics Control Board

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NASA: Life Signs Could Survive Near Surfaces of Enceladus and Europa

Europa, a moon of Jupiter, and Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, have evidence of oceans beneath their ice crusts. A NASA experiment suggests that if these oceans support life, signatures of that life in the form of organic molecules (e.g. amino acids, nucleic acids, etc.) could survive just under the surface ice despite the harsh radiation on these worlds. If robotic landers are sent to these moons to look for life signs, they would not have to dig very deep to find amino acids that have survived being altered or destroyed by radiation.

“Based on our experiments, the ‘safe’ sampling depth for amino acids on Europa is almost 8 inches (around 20 centimeters) at high latitudes of the trailing hemisphere (hemisphere opposite to the direction of Europa’s motion around Jupiter) in the area where the surface hasn’t been disturbed much by meteorite impacts,” said Alexander Pavlov of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, lead author of a paper on the research published July 18 in Astrobiology. “Subsurface sampling is not required for the detection of amino acids on Enceladus – these molecules will survive radiolysis (breakdown by radiation) at any location on the Enceladus surface less than a tenth of an inch (under a few millimeters) from the surface.”

The frigid surfaces of these nearly airless moons are likely uninhabitable due to radiation from both high-speed particles trapped in their host planet’s magnetic fields and powerful events in deep space, such as exploding stars. However, both have oceans under their icy surfaces that are heated by tides from the gravitational pull of the host planet and neighboring moons. These subsurface oceans could harbor life if they have other necessities, such as an energy supply as well as elements and compounds used in biological molecules.

The research team used amino acids in radiolysis experiments as possible representatives of biomolecules on icy moons. Amino acids can be created by life or by non-biological chemistry. However, finding certain kinds of amino acids on Europa or Enceladus would be a potential sign of life because they are used by terrestrial life as a component to build proteins. Proteins are essential to life as they are used to make enzymes which speed up or regulate chemical reactions and to make structures. Amino acids and other compounds from subsurface oceans could be brought to the surface by geyser activity or the slow churning motion of the ice crust.

To evaluate the survival of amino acids on these worlds, the team mixed samples of amino acids with ice chilled to about minus 321 Fahrenheit (-196 Celsius) in sealed, airless vials and bombarded them with gamma-rays, a type of high-energy light, at various doses. Since the oceans might host microscopic life, they also tested the survival of amino acids in dead bacteria in ice. Finally, they tested samples of amino acids in ice mixed with silicate dust to consider the potential mixing of material from meteorites or the interior with surface ice.

The experiments provided pivotal data to determine the rates at which amino acids break down, called radiolysis constants. With these, the team used the age of the ice surface and the radiation environment at Europa and Enceladus to calculate the drilling depth and locations where 10 percent of the amino acids would survive radiolytic destruction.

Although experiments to test the survival of amino acids in ice have been done before, this is the first to use lower radiation doses that don’t completely break apart the amino acids, since just altering or degrading them is enough to make it impossible to determine if they are potential signs of life. This is also the first experiment using Europa/Enceladus conditions to evaluate the survival of these compounds in microorganisms and the first to test the survival of amino acids mixed with dust.

The team found that amino acids degraded faster when mixed with dust but slower when coming from microorganisms.

“Slow rates of amino acid destruction in biological samples under Europa and Enceladus-like surface conditions bolster the case for future life-detection measurements by Europa and Enceladus lander missions,” said Pavlov. “Our results indicate that the rates of potential organic biomolecules’ degradation in silica-rich regions on both Europa and Enceladus are higher than in pure ice and, thus, possible future missions to Europa and Enceladus should be cautious in sampling silica-rich locations on both icy moons.”

A potential explanation for why amino acids survived longer in bacteria involves the ways ionizing radiation changes molecules -- directly by breaking their chemical bonds or indirectly by creating reactive compounds nearby which then alter or break down the molecule of interest. It’s possible that bacterial cellular material protected amino acids from the reactive compounds produced by the radiation.

The research was supported by NASA under award number 80GSFC21M0002, NASA’s Planetary Science Division Internal Scientist Funding Program through the Fundamental Laboratory Research work package at Goddard, and NASA Astrobiology NfoLD award 80NSSC18K1140.

Related Terms

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• Goddard Space Flight Center
• The Search for Life
• The Solar System

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August’s Night Sky Notes: Seeing Double

Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you - you're seeing double stars through that telescope! Learn about which double stars to spot this summer with August's Night Sky Notes!

What’s Up: August 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA

Two planets meet for a super close conjunction, the Perseid meteor shower peaks, and look for the Lagoon Nebula – a stellar nursery in Sagittarius.

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Solar eclipse science experiments: NASA needs amateur scientists to gather info. How to help

Nasa could use your solar eclipse info you can help gather data for researchers during the great american eclipse on monday, april 8, 2024..

A solar eclipse is not just a spectacular cosmic sight and a massive temporary tourist attraction . It's also a great chance to advance human knowledge. And you can help.

Thousands of amateur "citizen scientists" will be out before, during and after the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 , taking pictures of clouds, measuring air temperatures and listening to wildlife while recording it all for use by researchers.

NASA's GLOBE , which stands for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, is a massive crowd-sourced program that studies how the eclipse affects our atmosphere. You can participate even during a partial eclipse with just the free app and a thermometer.

The GLOBE app (available for  iOS  and  Android ) allows you to track clouds, plants, soil, mosquitos, landscape changes and tree growth in your area all year round to help provide data and help scientists understand how our world is changing.

During the eclipse, the app will display the GLOBE Eclipse tool and prompt users to temperature readings and observations of land and sky conditions.

During the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse, NASA researchers (with amateur assistance) found that the biggest temperature swings during the eclipse were in areas with less cloud cover.

"It’s a finding that would have been difficult, perhaps impossible, without the assistance of numerous amateur observers along the eclipse path," said Marilé Colón Robles , a meteorologist based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and the GLOBE project scientist overseeing the cloud study portion of the project.

While there are weather stations along the path of the Great American Eclipse and satellites overhead, they're limited and can't provide the same level of detail as people on the ground, Ashlee Autore, a NASA Langley data scientist, said in a release.

“The power of citizen science is that people make the observations, and they can move," she said. The April eclipse will be passing over several different climate regions, making observations in all of them very important to the study of the flow of energy from the sun and an understanding of climate.

Crowdsourced citizen science eclipse projects for anyone

• Eclipse Soundscapes : This NASA-funded project studies how animals and insects are affected by solar eclipses. Submit your observations during the eclipse, or if you'll be in or near the eclipse path, use specialty equipment to collect and record soundscapes. People outside the path can still help analyze the data.
• HamSCI : If you have a Ham radio, you can help scientists better understand Earth’s ionosphere. Eclipse events will also be held at a number of universities.
• Radio JOVE : What sound does the sun make? Is it different during an eclipse? You can detect it on your own 16-24 MHz radio telescope and collect data for study and projects. They're hoping for observations before, during and after the eclipse .

Eclipse experiments: How to turn the 2024 solar eclipse into a fun science lesson

Citizen science eclipse projects if you'll be in the path for a total eclipse

• Citizen CATE 2024 : Teams of citizen scientists will be taking polarized images of the sun's corona during the totality of the eclipse to learn more about it.
• Eclipse Megamovie 2024 : Where do solar jets go once they form on the sun? You can use your DSLR camera, tripod and telephoto lens to take pictures and upload them to the project's server to help researchers find out.
• Sunsketcher : Want to help map the sun? Use the Sunsketcher app ( iOS | Android ) to take pictures during the totality and help researches determine "the true shape of the Sun."

BOGO Whoppers, Total Eclipse of the Hut : These are the best food deals for the 2024 solar eclipse

Help advance solar science all year round

• Solar Jet Hunter : Satellite data for the past 10 years has produced a lot of images of the sun, and NASA scientists use algorithms to sort through them and automatically detect features, But human eyes are better and NASA would like your help finding solar jets to help us understand more about the sun and other stars.
• The Sungrazer Project : You can become a "Comet Hunter" and help spot new comets in the data from ESA/NASA SOHO and NASA STEREO satellite data. A known but cool one to watch for: the "devil comet" is passing by and may be easier to see during the eclipse .

Up in the sky: How to get great eclipse photos with your phone without destroying it (or your eyes)

Don't forget to enjoy the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, in Florida and across the US

Scientific advancement is all well and good, but NASA wants you to remember: don't forget to enjoy "one of the most extraordinary astronomical events of your lifetime."

The Way Physicists Restart The Large Hadron Collider Every Year Is Next-Level

Every year, engineers and physicists take a few weeks every year to carefully reset the collider and all the experiments on it. It isn’t easy.

When you push “start” on your microwave or computer, the device flips right on — but major physics experiments like the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, don’t work that way. Instead, engineers and physicists need to take a few weeks every year to carefully reset the collider and all the experiments on it.

I’m a CERN physicist who worked with my colleagues in the past few months on the reset process of the largest of the experiments, ATLAS . To collect accurate data about particle collisions and study some of the universe’s most compelling mysteries, the collaboration needs to make sure the equipment is calibrated properly.

At CERN , the Large Hadron Collider , or LHC, smashes protons at the highest energy ever reached to create new particles, which physicists then catch and study with several experiments.

One side of the ATLAS detector. The technician on the left faces one of the wheels of the muon chambers – sensors to detect and measure muons.

The LHC explores the hidden world of subatomic particles , the fundamental building blocks of everything around us. Studying these particles helps scientists like me better understand how the universe works and evolves over time.

Hibernating and waking up the LHC

Each winter, the collider and its experiments hibernate. My and other teams at CERN push them to take this winter nap for a few reasons.

The machines we use here are complex. We need some time to replace pieces or install new components. And, given that all those machines use a lot of power , we avoid running them in winter, when electricity costs more, and when nearby Geneva needs to keep its residents warm.

But when spring comes, all the teams prepare the LHC and the experiments for a new season of data gathering.

While engineers and technicians work to reset the accelerator and prepare it to smash protons, my colleagues and I, the experimental physicists, prepare the experiments to promptly and correctly collect data from all the particles produced by the collider.

Testing with cosmic rays

The experiment teams start the first phase of waking up the LHC from hibernation while the accelerator is still asleep. We need to start testing the particle detectors even while the collider that creates the particles isn’t working.

In this first phase, we use what’s always available, provided by nature itself – cosmic rays . These are subatomic particles created when energetic particles from space hit atoms high in the atmosphere.

A cosmic ray travels through the particle detectors and their layers of sensors, leaving physicists with test data.

A cosmic ray enters the ATLAS detector in the LHC on the left. Each time it strikes a sensor, the ray loses some of its energy, which the detector converts into a signal and records. By drawing a line through all the sensors the cosmic particle met, physicists can reconstruct its arriving direction, its path through the experiment, and its energy. Cosmic rays help us train the sensors and verify that everything works as expected.

However, cosmic rays are random and sparse, so we can’t rely on them for all our tests. For subsequent tests, we use a denser and more predictable source – subatomic splashes.

Subatomic splashes to synchronize them all

The LHC has about 17 miles (27 kilometers) of pipes that protons fly through. The pipe has magnets around it that steer the protons it accelerates. Any particles that stray off track get stopped by a small piece of metal called a collimator. This collimator gets pushed down into the center of the accelerator pipe, where the protons smash into it and interact with its atoms.

This collision creates a huge quantity of particles, which then move in unison along the accelerator pipe as a big splash – or, as we call them, a “beam splash.” Around mid-March, the accelerator team creates these for the ATLAS experiment.

The big wave of particles hits the experiment all at once, and this wave allows us to verify whether all the detectors in the experiment react correctly and in sync. It also tests whether they can record and store data at the required speed.

Horizontal muons to calibrate them

Most of the particle detectors in the experiments are now ready to get new data. However, some types of detectors in the LHC require additional tests.

One is the ATLAS experiment’s Tile calorimeter , a detector that measures the energy of particles such as neutrons and protons . It’s made of rows of tile-shaped sensors, and test particles have to pass through these tiles horizontally to accurately calibrate the detector.

The massive sprays of particles created by beam splashes are not good for calibrating the Tile calorimeter. The particles aren’t coming at the right angle, and there are too many all at once.

To test the Tile calorimeter, we are only interested in one particular type of particles – muons . Muons are similar to electrons but heavier, and they interact differently with the surrounding world. They can pass through multiple rows of sensors without losing much energy or being stopped – which makes them useful to test particle detectors.

So, toward the end of March, we set up another test, using the collimators once again.

This time, however, the LHC engineers push the collimator only slightly into the protons’ path, so the particles just barely scrape the collimator. The protons’ gentle friction against the collimator’s metallic surface creates particles that move parallel to the accelerator pipe and hit the ATLAS experiment horizontally.

We use dedicated sensors to reveal muons created by the collision with the collimator and flag them. Then we track them as they move through the Tile calorimeter.

These horizontal muons pass through all the calorimeter’s tiles in a row so we can make sure it’s collecting data accurately.

Specially structured particle detectors call for special probes like horizontal muons for calibration. Muons produced in the LHC’s pipe traverse the ATLAS experiment horizontally. The muons, visualized as red lines, are measured by the muon detectors, the green wheels. Then they traverse the sensors, the yellow tiles, to calibrate them.

Ready for new physics

Once the LHC is all calibrated and ready to go, it accelerates protons at their maximum energy – and then pushes them to crash into each other.

After around 10 weeks of tests, a new season of data gathering begins, bringing dreams of new discoveries.

This article was originally published on The Conversation by Riccardo Maria Bianchi at the University of Pittsburgh. Read the original article here .