What causes the judges at a science fair to sit down and take a second look at a science project? Is it how well it is displayed? Or how much data has been processed to gain results? Is it something that can be played with like an interactive game? Or is there some more elusive detail that makes science projects impressive? A science project is usually impressive if it has possibilities.

A plastic eating microbe was isolated by researchers after a high school student in Canada did a science project based on them. It got him the first prize and a whole lot of media exposure. Why, because the project had possibilities. Using this microbe in landfills with plastic could reduce the rate of decomposition of the garbage by 40%. That would have an impact worldwide.

Software that speeds up your computer was what a high school student came up with. Making computers go faster usually needs more memory, but instead the student here used a software to analyze how programs were running and spread out their needs over all the CPU to make everything function faster. The computer firm that paid him $50,000 for the software sure knew its possibilities. There are any number of such science projects with possibilities out there, all you need to do is find them.

There are constant innovations being made to health care as technology progresses, but this little science experiment is an interesting one. Patients at the Peterborough City Hospital are being given the option of watching their favorite films while they undergo surgery with local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia.

The project is being spearheaded by consultant anesthetist Dr Richard Griffiths who feels that this is a better way to  relax patients while undergoing surgery. The most popular choice of movies amongst older patients undergoing surgery this way include classics such as Sound of Music, West Side Story, Cabaret, and South Pacific.

Older female patients have been choosing either the BBC documentary Blue Planet, because of David Attenborough’s soothing narrative, or Dirty Dancing. In fact Dirty Dancing is amongst the most popular choices amongst most female patients.  A 75 year old lady who underwent a hip operation watching Sound of Music is totally sold on the idea.

She says that it was a good experience and a much better way to have an operation. She would never have expected to have such an option but now she is determined to ask if she can watch TV if she ever needs another surgical procedure. Trust human beings to make life interesting using such science projects.

The typical snowflake representation with six sides and cut work type patterns with strong branches is actually not so typical in real life. In fact only one in a thousand snowflakes is actually likely to have that shape. So then what’s the shape of a regular snowflake? That’s the question scientists are trying to answer at a ski resort in Utah.

The typical 2d representation of a snowflake is also very different when seen in 3d. The researchers have come up with a way to record snowflakes as they fall “in the wild” so to say. Their camera system has an exposure of one – forty thousandth of a second as it captures the falling crystals. This is far more than the normal camera’s exposure rate of one -two hundredth of a second.

The snowflakes do not always fall alone as they tumble to the ground. Sometimes they join water droplets in the air on their way down and change shape. If too much water gets absorbed they become small pellet like shapes called “graupel”. Even if they do not absorb water droplets they may end up sticking with other snowflakes on their way down.

This causes larger snowflakes with more complex designs to be formed on the way to the ground. So far the researchers have had trouble coming up with a basic shape that all snowflakes correspond to, but the research on this interesting science project continues.

In some industries such as the spacecraft builders, the materials needed to build need to have the ability to absorb great heat and then cool off quickly. There is constant scientific research being done to improve upon the materials that already are available to us and new innovations being done to invent materials that do not yet exist.

In this simple experiment we are going to consider a few easy to find around the house materials and see how long they take to heat up and which one cools down the fastest. Here’s how to conduct the experiment.  Ask an adult to help you and get two solids that can be easily measured out such as baking flour and castor sugar.

Now use identical plastic bowls to measure out the same quantity of both flour and sugar. Place them both in the microwave and heat for a minute. Bring them out and use a cooking thermometer to measure the temperature of both materials. Write them down in your record book. Again heat up the materials in the microwave for another minute and repeat the process.

Once they have absorbed all the heat that they can and are not raising the temperature, leave the bowls out to cool. Measure the temperature after every two minutes to see which one returns to the original temperature first. That’s the one that cools faster in this science experiment. You can repeat the experiment with other materials as well.

NASA scientists must breath a sigh of relief at this science project resuming operations. After some days of not operating the Mars rover is back to work. The side B computers have taken over the working of the rover due to the side A computers having suffered a flash memory glitch. They will bring back the rover to partial operations.

While NASA is unsure what exactly caused the malfunction they are guessing it was probably due to an excess of radiation. The Curiosity rover was in the middle of analyzing its first samples of Mars rock it had gathered in January when the computer problems started. The process was to have been completed in second week March but the IT glitch stuck on 28th February.

It is part of Curiosity’s mission to discover if Mars ever had water available and also if the red planet is able to support life. Now the side A computers are likely to be used to back up the research which will be conducted by the side B computers. Needless to say the scientists are working hard to ensure that no other surprises affect the science research project. Fingers Crossed!May the Curiosity have no more problems.

Before you begin your science fair project make sure you have all the information that you need. Harnessing your full potential brain power involves you listening to the complete question before you begin to solve it. To crack any puzzle yo need all the clues, by not listening to the full question you are giving yourself a major disadvantage.

Mike Byster says that the human brain is so incredibly powerful. Sometimes, it may be a little too powerful. There are so many times where the mind figures out the answer to a question without actually stopping to read the whole question. So many decisions are made automatically without actually getting all the facts.

There is more than one kind of logic at play when you solve problems. When you practice divergent thinking based on different possibilities you are so much more likely to get things right. You have a powerful and some what troublesome tool in your brain, learn to use it to its full efficacy. This will happen when you see not just what you want to see, but also what is actually being shown. This is why observation and records play such an important part of any science fair project.

In the realm of home improvement, the marriage between science and practicality plays a significant role in ensuring the safety, health, and longevity of our living spaces. From structural enhancements to energy-efficient upgrades, every renovation decision is underpinned by scientific principles aimed at creating a better environment for homeowners. One critical aspect of this relationship is the removal of mold, a pervasive issue that can have far-reaching consequences if left unchecked.

Mold, a type of fungus, thrives in moist environments and can quickly colonize various surfaces within our homes, from walls and ceilings to carpets and furniture. While mold may seem like a mere nuisance, its presence poses serious health risks and can compromise the structural integrity of the building. The science behind mold growth is complex, with factors such as humidity levels, temperature, and airflow playing pivotal roles in its proliferation. Understanding these scientific principles is key to effectively combating mold infestations and preventing their recurrence.

One of the primary reasons why removing mold is essential lies in its impact on human health. Mold spores released into the air can trigger allergic reactions, exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma, and even cause severe respiratory infections in vulnerable individuals. Additionally, certain types of mold produce mycotoxins, toxic substances that can have detrimental effects on human health when inhaled or ingested. By removing mold from our homes, we create a safer and healthier living environment for ourselves and our families, free from the risks associated with mold exposure.

Moreover, the presence of mold can lead to structural damage to our homes, compromising their stability and reducing their lifespan. Mold thrives on organic materials such as wood and drywall, feeding on cellulose and breaking down these materials over time. As mold colonies spread and penetrate deeper into the building materials, they weaken the structural integrity of the home, leading to warped walls, sagging ceilings, and even structural collapse in severe cases. By addressing mold infestations promptly and implementing preventive measures, homeowners can safeguard their investment and ensure the long-term durability of their homes with help from Building services in Sacramento.

In conclusion, the relationship between science and home improvement is evident in the crucial task of removing mold from our living spaces. By applying scientific principles to understand mold growth and implementing effective remediation strategies, homeowners can create safer, healthier, and more durable homes for themselves and their families. As we continue to strive for better living environments, let us harness the power of science to tackle the challenges posed by mold and pave the way for a brighter, mold-free future.

Every time a virus hits your computer system you feel exposed and vulnerable, but its nothing like what the scientists guiding Mars rover Curiosity from Earth are feeling right now. It seems that the computers on board the Curiosity rover have had to be put into “Safe Mode” to counter a computer glitch that they encountered.

NASA has had to call a halt to the research work which Curiosity was involved in because of a memory malfunction in the on board computer on the rover last week. They discovered the fault when the computer did not hit the daily sleep mode as planned and programmed into it. Thankfully the computer has a back up on board and the scientists switched to the back up computer while they are trying to solve the problem on the active one.

The back up computer will be reconfigured and the rover will move from Safe Mode to Operational Mode when that is finished, hopefully within a week. The remaining research projects will then be carried out. The NASA engineers on Earth will also continue to work on the science project involving the computer glitch in the main computer on the Mars rover to solve the problem of the flash memory being corrupted.

Speed is of the essence in the morning when you have to leave the house for work. It makes sense to use the fastest means possible to make your cup of morning tea. There is more than one way to boil water and while some are more convenient, others may be faster. In this science project we use three methods of heating to see which is the fastest way to boil water to brew a cup of tea.

The three methods that we will boil water include in a pan on the hob, in a cup in the microwave and in an electric kettle. For the sake of the experiment you will need an adult around as boiling water on your own can be dangerous. You will also need a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water and a measuring cup to measure out the exact same amount of water to heat in all three methods.

Heat water individually in each method mentioned above. Set a time limit of five minutes after which measure the temperature of the water. Make notes of all methods and temperatures. Next time round allow the water to boil well and record the time it took. Using this science experiment you will be able to prove which is the best method to make a fast cup of tea.

“Jal Tarang” is a simple musical instrument which consists of seven glass bowls filled with varying degrees of water. Each sound corresponds with a musical scale allowing the musician to produce melodies. The scientific theory behind the tinkling music it produces is that the amount of water in the glass bowl affects the frequency of the resonance of the glass.

Here we are going to make our own “Jal Tarang” at home and check if the sounds produced by the seven glass bowls is indeed different. In case we practice hard enough we may just be able to play a simple tune with the home made, water based, musical instrument.

What you will need include seven glass bowls of the same kind. You can use any glass container but all seven must be the same size and shape. Water, a pencil or cocktail stirrer, and a measuring cup will also be needed.

Now measure out and add 20 ml water to the first bowl. Add 30 ml to the second, 40 ml to the third, and so on increasing the water content by 10 ml till all seven are done. Use the pencil or cocktail stirrer to gently strike the first glass container on the side. Proceed to heard the different sounds produced by each bowl in the scientific experiment.