DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, contains all of the information needed to make every protein in a living thing and is sometimes called the “blueprint of life.” This morning, on Kare11 Sunrise news, the kids and I showed viewers how easy it is to extract DNA from strawberries. In higher organisms like plants and animals, DNA […]

We turned our kitchen into a Halloween science lab this morning for the Fox9 news. The kids had a blast!  Here’s one of the segments on how to make “Magic Potion”:

Contact lens solution containing boric acid makes a good Borax substitute for making slime, when combined with baking soda and glue. (Note: Most liquid laundry detergents in recipes for “Borax-free” slime contain Borax.) What’s the science behind the fun? To make slime, you need a chemical called a crosslinker to make all of the glue molecules stick […]

Soap bubbles are made up of two layers of soap with a thin layer of water sandwiched between them. It’s fun to watch the beautiful crystal patterns that form in the water layer when bubbles freeze on a very cold day. Adding sugar and corn syrup to the soap stabilizes bubbles so that they won’t […]

Use hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and dry yeast to make a Jack-O-Lantern ooze beautiful green bubbles! (*Don’t forget the safety goggles. Adult supervision required) Click here to watch the chemical reaction in action! Ingredients: -large bottle of 6, 10 or 12% hydrogen peroxide, or 20, 30 or 40 volume hydrogen peroxide clear developer (found at […]

Turn your kitchen table into the coolest mad science lab in the neighborhood. Click on the project name for a link to instructions and to read about the “Science Behind the Fun.” Most of these projects can be found in my book “Kitchen Science Lab for Kids,” the perfect gift for any young scientist! 1. […]

Write secret messages using baking soda and water and make the big reveal using a bright yellow spice called turmeric! (safety note: small children should be supervised around rubbing alcohol. It is poisonous.) You’ll need: 1 Tbsp. baking soda 1 tsp. turmeric rubbing alcohol cotton swabs paper Instructions: For invisible ink, mix 1 Tbsp. baking […]

Chia seeds are superfoods with a powerful combination of fiber and nutrients, but what makes them really special is their ability to absorb up to twelve times their own weight in water and produce a clear gel that makes an excellent thickener. With coconut milk, natural sweetner and chia seeds, kids can make a fun, […]

It’s fun to create colorful, swirling marbled designs on eggs, and there’s science behind the fun! Here’s a brief description of each. Click on the blue titles for more instructions and science explanations. Olive Oil Marbling: You’ll need hard boiled eggs, olive oil, vinegar, and food coloring. We used green, yellow and brown food coloring […]

I’m really excited about my newest book, Ecology for Kids. It’s full of activities perfect for Earth Day, or any day when kids want to get their hands into some fun biology projects that teach them about Earth’s ecosystems. ( Ecology for Kids is available everywhere books are sold.) Click here to watch a TV […]