Science Notes Posts

Steel wool sparklers are ideal for creating light paintings. (Steve Halama) — Ignite steel wool to make a stunning spinning sparkler or to create incredible photographs and light paintings. All you need are a few common materials for this simple project. Make a Steel Wool Sparkler You probably have all the materials you need on hand, but if you don’t, they are […]

Spinning Steel Wool Sparkler

This entry was posted on February 18, 2019 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on February 26, 2019)

You can use the sugar in marshmallows as a fuel to make sparklers. (Carlos Dominguez) — Sparklers are simple handheld fireworks that produce sparks but don’t explode. They consist of a fuel, an oxidizer, metal powder for the sparks, and a binder to hold the ingredients together and hold it onto the stick. You can use a marshmallow as the fuel and binder to make marshmallow […]

Marshmallow Sparklers – Easy Fireworks Project

This entry was posted on February 16, 2019 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on March 1, 2019)

Termites (Scott Bauer, USDA ARS) — Termites are social insects that eat wood and other plant matter. Completely by accident, people discovered termites follow ink trails made by the black or blue ink from Bic and Papermate ballpoint pens. While they will follow a path made by other pens (85% of black ballpoints and 80% of […]

Why Do Termites Follow Ink Trails?

This entry was posted on February 16, 2019 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on March 7, 2019)

Cell Biology Word Search — This cell biology word search is a great way to introduce cell biology glossary terms while enjoying a great word search puzzle.

Cell Biology Word Search

This entry was posted on February 14, 2019 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on February 14, 2019)

Life Science Word Search — Life science is another word for biology, the study of life and living things. This life science word search contains 30 life science glossary terms.

Life Science Word Search

This entry was posted on February 12, 2019 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on February 12, 2019)

Periodic Table of the Elements — This periodic table is a periodic table with charges PDF optimized to fit on a single page while containing oxidation states and electron configurations.

Periodic Table with Charges PDF for Printing

This entry was posted on February 7, 2019 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on February 17, 2019)