Halloween

Halloween science experiments may be scary or fun (or both)! — October is the perfect month for spooky Halloween science experiments and projects. Here’s a collection of projects to make gooey slime, glow in the dark items, and creepy pumpkins. Halloween Science Projects Ectoplasm Slime – Whether or not you believe spirits generate ectoplasm (ala Slimer in the movie Ghostbusters), slime […]

Halloween Science Projects

This entry was posted on October 14, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on June 4, 2020)

Mad Scientist Costume — A mad scientist costume is one of the easiest and least expensive costumes you can put together yourself. It’s the perfect costume for Halloween or science parties. Mad Scientist Costume Basics A mad scientist costume comes down to freaky hair, a crazed look in your eye, a lab coat, and […]

Mad Scientist Costume You Can Make Yourself

This entry was posted on September 28, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on October 27, 2018)

Goldenrod paper is a special paper containing dyes that react to pH change. A basic pH makes the paper appear to bleed. — Goldenrod paper is a special paper that drips blood! Really, it’s not blood, just a safe red liquid that resembles it. The paper contains a pH indicator that turns red in the presence of a base. You can use it to demonstrate pH indicators or for a spooky Halloween science […]

Bleeding Goldenrod Paper – Halloween Science Project

This entry was posted on September 11, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on September 20, 2017)

The red flames shooting out of this Halloween pumpkin come from a strontium salt. — What’s better than a regular Halloween jack o’ lantern? How about one that shoots out red fire? The red flames are easy to produce and last about an hour. They shoot up 2-3 feet into the air and range from orange to vivid red. Here’s how to do it: Red […]

Make a Halloween Pumpkin That Shoots Red Flames

This entry was posted on September 9, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine

The self-carving pumpkin demonstration involves carving a jack-o-lantern face using an explosive chemical reaction. — Self-Carving Halloween Jack-o-Lantern That Won’t Blow Up The self-carving Halloween pumpkin project uses chemistry to carve a jack-o-lantern face. The traditional version of the project is somewhat dangerous, so here’s how to perform a safe version of the project. Safe Self-Carving Pumpkin Materials If you can get it, this project […]

Safe Self-Carving Pumpkin Project

This entry was posted on September 9, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine

Splash glowing red fake blood on surfaces for a scary Halloween effect. — You can make glow in the dark blood for a Halloween costume or just because you want to decorate yourself with glowing blood. Here are several recipes for non-toxic glow in the dark blood. Glowing Alien or Radioactive-Looking Blood Mix equal parts white corn syrup and clear non-toxic school glue […]

How to Make Glow in the Dark Blood

This entry was posted on March 12, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on June 4, 2020)