cold science experiments

Frozen Family Fun: Try These Cold-Weather Science Experiments

Record-cold temperatures sweeping across parts of the Midwest, East Coast and Southeast likely have many shuttered indoors with the heat cranked up. Lengthy stints inside can be a recipe for cabin fever.

For those looking to keep their kiddos occupied and have chill family time, there's a way to use the extreme cold for some entertainment (and sneak in a little science education, too). Here, LiveScience has rounded up a few fun experiments that can be done with just a little time outdoors (make sure to bundle up!), from making frozen soap bubbles to creating your own colorful snow. (There are also some experiments to make sure the little ones  don't  try.) 

Frozen bubbles

Kids love bubbles. And while summer is typically the time to crack open a bottle of bubbles, there's a way to make them work in the winter. If it's cold enough outside ( Steve Spangler Science  recommends temperatures below freezing, though he says the colder it is the better), you can make the bubbles freeze. The trick is to blow them up in the air so that they have time to freeze before hitting the ground or another surface. The bubbles will form crystalline patterns and some might break, looking a bit like the shell of a cracked egg. Don't have any bubble solution handy? The post also has a simple homemade recipe. [ See More Science Experiments for Kids ]

Maple syrup candy

Do just like Half Pint did in the "Little House on the Prairie" books and make your own maple syrup candy. Just heat butter and syrup together, according to this recipe , and after it cools, you can pour it onto fresh snow and it will harden into something like maple taffy. Yum!

Magic balloons

Okay, so maybe they're not magic, but they will seem that way to the kids, and this one is quite easy. Just inflate a balloon and and tie the end, then stick it outside and watch it deflate. Bring it back inside to warm up and watch it re-inflate. (This is a nice lesson in how the volume of a gas, in this case, air, changes with temperature, shrinking in the cold, as its density increases, and expanding in the heat, as its density decreases.)

Make your own snow

This one is for those of you experiencing really cold temperatures. Meteorologist Eric Holthaus demonstrates it nicely in a video posted to Youtube : If it's cold enough outside, you can take some boiling water throw it up in the air (make sure it will blow away from you), and it will freeze into snow. When Holthaus did his experiment in Viroqua, Wisconsin, it was minus 21 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 29 degrees Celsius) with a wind chill of minus 51 degrees F (minus 46 degrees C).

Don't run outside with a bowl of super-hot water just yet. Yes, the water will surely freeze into snow (temperatures are in the single digits and below in many spots), but before it does so some of the scalding water could burn your kid's skin.

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In a YouTube video posted Jan. 6, 2014, a Chicago man threw a pot of boiling water off his balcony, with some of the hot water landing on his girlfriend and him. In that same year, news reports suggest that some 50 people burned themselves with the icy experiment. 

How does water turn into snow  in the first place? Colder air holds less water vapor than warmer air, while the boiling water is giving off lots of water vapor (that's the steam you see rising from the pot). When the hot water is thrown into the cold air, the air gets more water vapor than it can hold, Mark Seeley, a climatologist at the University of Minnesota, explained previously to Live Science, so the water vapor clings to tiny particles in the air, crystallizing into snow. Seeley said the air must be quite cold to attempt this one, somewhere in the region of minus 30 degrees F (minus 34 degrees C) or lower.

On Dec. 28, 2017, atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire, where temperatures dropped to minus 31 degrees F (minus 35 degrees C), weather observer Adam Gill, of Mount Washington Observatory, carried out the snow-making trick, with the boiling water immediately freezing into crystals and rushing away in hurricane-force winds, according to a video of the experiment on Facebook .  

Do NOT try this at home

One "experiment" to make sure the kids don't attempt is triple-dog daring anyone into sticking their tongue to that frozen flagpole. Maddie Gilmartin, 12, of East Kingston, N.H., gave this one a try and, sure enough, her tongue was frozen to the pole, as the New York Daily News notes . Her parents tried to blow warm air on her tongue and douse it with warm water to get it unstuck, but to no avail. Eventually the paramedics were able to free her; and her tongue is expected to recover, though it could take up to six months for the swelling to go down.

Why does this happen? The tongue is warm, and when it touches the frigid pole , the pole saps that warmth and cools the tongue, causing the body to send more heat to the cooled area. But the high thermal conductivity of the metal pole means it sucks up that warmth faster than the body can resupply it to the tongue. The upshot: The moisture on the tongue freezes in the pores of the tongue and the metal and, voila, you're stuck.

Editor's Note: This article was first published in 2014 and updated in 2017.

Original article on LiveScience .

Andrea Thompson is an associate editor at Scientific American, where she covers sustainability, energy and the environment. Prior to that, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered Earth science and the environment. She holds a graduate degree in science health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a bachelor of science and and masters of science in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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11 Cold Science Experiments To Amaze the Children

In our collection of science experiments about the sense of touch , we had one hot water and cold water experiment. Today we add more hot and cold experiments for kids to better understand temperature. While the weather getting colder, it is a perfect time to do some cold science experiments with kids. Since everything is relative, talking about cold means you are also talking about hot.

11 Cold Science Experiments that Are Magical for Kids

Cold Science Experiments for Kids to Do in the Kitchen

What is the temperature’s impact on molecules movement ? Try this simple science activity with kids. The visual effect is so cool.

Another way to observe cold temperature’s impact is to watch a balloon deflate . Blow up a balloon inside in room temperature, then leave it outside in the cold and watch it deflate. Bring it back inside to warm up and watch it re-inflate. The cold temperature makes the air volume shrink and density increase.

How can you change ice to water without raising the temperature ? This magic trick will show you.

Why do you think polar bears can swim in the freezing cold water ? Don’t they feel cold? This fun science activity will show kids why.

How do gloves keep our hands warm ? Do they generate heat? This simple science experiment helps kids understand that our hands stay warm because of the gloves, but gloves don’t generate heat.

Cold Science Experiments Can Only Be Done Outdoor in Winter

When it is really cold outside, you can create some snow with boiling water . Did you notice the temperature in the vidoe? It was -21°F with a wind chill of -51°F. When you do this, make sure the wind is blowing away from you. Although it is cold, if the wind is blowing towards you, the hot water may hurt you before turning to snow. This article explains why this is happening.

Another fun thing to do when it is extremely cold is frozen bubble . Here are some tips on how to do it .

If it is snowing and cold, you may enjoy some homemade snow candy . Do make sure the snow is clean.

Another option is to make instant slurpee . I am sure kids will love to have some no matter how cold it is.

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11 Cold Weather Science Experiments To Try This Winter

I can’t believe we’re getting yet another massive blizzard, but alas, here we are. This time, though, I’m prepared — and not just with a stocked kitchen and extra blankets. I’m also armed against winter boredom with a whole slew of cold weather science experiments sure to keep the most irritated of snow sufferers entertained until spring finally arrives.

If you grew up somewhere prone to snow , you may have done one or more of these neat little experiments at some point in your childhood. Maybe you did them at school or during science class; maybe you had a creative or scientifically minded caregiver who showed you how to do them; or maybe your situation was something different — but the point is that, in addition to being cool, these kinds of activities can also scratch your nostalgia itch while you’re at it. And given that nostalgia is good for us and can help battle the gloomy sort of mood that can set in during the colder months — well, that’s even more of a reason to give them a shot, isn’t it?

The best part is, most of these projects don’t require much to pull off; odds are you’ve got the equipment to do at least a few of them already hanging around your home. So what are you waiting for? Bundle up, head outside, and let’s get cracking! (Safely, of course. Seriously, make sure you exercise basic precautions while performing these experiments. Safety first!)

1. Blow Some Soap Bubbles And Watch Them Freeze

Frozen bubbles might be the oldest one in the book, but it’s still a blast every. Single. Time. Or maybe that’s just me. Anyway, all you need to do is head outside with one of those little plastic wands and some bubble solution (heat it up first for some extra oomph), and blow away! If you don’t have any bubble solution on hand, it’s easy to make your own bubble solution by mixing together two cups of water, half a cup of dish soap, and two teaspoons of sugar.

2. Debunk The "Fake Snow" Claims

A lot of rumors have been circulating lately about whether the snow is "real" or if it's "fake" and "poisoned" (yikes!). Why? Because you take a lighter to it, it seems to burn rather than melt, turning black and giving off a weird smell — hence the belief that it's made of plastic or something. Here’s what’s actually going on: The snow is, in fact, melting, but because it’s loose and fluffy, the water wicks away as it melts . This turns dry snow first into wet snow, then into slush. The snow blackens due to soot from the lighter, not because the snow is burning; the lighter is also the source of the weird smell. But hey, why not give it a shot yourself? Just be careful, what with the whole "fire indoors" thing and all.

3. Kill A Balloon — Then Bring It Back To Life

Disclaimer: This one is my favorite. First, inflate a balloon while you’re nice and toasty warm inside. Then take it outside. Oh noes! What’s happening to your poor balloon? Why is it deflating? Has it breathed its last breath?! Not so much — promise. Bring it back indoors...and watch it magically come back to life! Here’s how it works: The air inside the balloon shrinks and expands as it decreases and increases in density (it's a gas, after all). When it’s inside and warm, the gas is at a lower density; bringing it outside into the cold increases the density, making it look like your balloon is dying. Bringing it back into the warmth reverses the effect.

4. Make An Instant Slurpee

Take a two-liter bottle of your favorite soda and leave it out in the snow for about four hours. Then retrieve it and twist off the cap. Opening the bottle unleashes a chain reaction that leads to the formation of ice crystals, turning the soda into an instant Slurpee . Yum!

5. Turn A Banana Into A Hammer

No hammer? No problem! Hang a banana outside for a few hours; after it's been out there long enough, it'll freeze solid — solid enough for you to be able to hammer actual nails with it. You can also do freeze the banana in liquid nitrogen, but I don’t know many people who regularly keep liquid nitrogen around their homes. Except maybe for this guy , and well… we all know how that turned out. (Safety note: Don't try to freeze a banana with liquid nitrogen.)

6. Make An Ice Thrower

Who needs a flame thrower when you’ve got an ice thrower instead? Fill a Super Soaker with boiling water, then shoot it out into the cold. When very hot water meets very cold air , the water vaporizes, turning it into ice crystals — essentially, homemade snow. Generally this experiment only works when it’s below zero, so if you live in, say, Minnesota, you're good to go. You can also do it by tossing a pot of boiling water into the air, but be careful — this method could result in some major ouchies . (Again, safety note: Be careful!)

7. Freeze-Fry An Egg

I wouldn’t recommend actually eating it, but leaving a frying pan outside for about fifteen minutes before cracking an egg into it results in something resembling breakfast. Gross? A little. Cool? Definitely.

8. Go Watermelon Bowling

First, the pins: Fill a bunch of empty soda bottles with water and a few drops of food coloring before letting them freeze outside. Then make your bowling ball: Use a sharpie to mark a mini seedless watermelon with where your finger holes need to go. Carve out the finger holes with a knife, take the watermelon outside , and set it near your pins. Once everything has frozen solid, set the pins up in your driveway, grab a few friends, and see who can bowl the most strikes.

9. Make Some Maple Syrup Taffy

Bring some maple syrup to a boil, but don’t stir it while you’re heating it up. Once it’s reached 234 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the pot of molten maple goodness outside and pour it onto a clean expanse of snow. Then stick a popsicle stick into one end and roll it along the snow, rolling the hardening maple syrup as you go. Delish!

10. Make A Magic Shell Globe

Smuckers Magic Shell , $9, Amazon

Smuckers Magic Shell ice cream topping is primarily coconut oil, which melts at 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Make a snowball, coat it with Magic Shell , then poke a hole in it and let the water drain out as the water melts. Water melts above 32 F, so as long as the temperature is below 65 F, you should be left with a hollow replica of the shape, but made entirely of chocolate. Next step? Eat it.

11. Go Sledding On A Frozen Towel

When I was in college, we used to take the trays from the dining hall and go sledding on them when it snowed. I wish I’d known about this frozen towel trick then, though, because the trays definitely didn’t work as well as we thought they should have. To make your own sled , soak a towel you don’t care much about in water and let it freeze flat overnight. The next day, it should be rock solid. Take it to your favorite hill and recapture your childhood. Ah, nostalgia!

This article was originally published on Feb. 13, 2014

20 Must-Try Winter Science Experiments for Kids

It’s almost WINTER! Dropping temperatures, holidays, and changes in the weather mean there are lots of opportunities to explore some new and exciting science experiments. If you are a regular here, you know just how much  we love science . For us, winter is an awesome time to do some of the  science experiments for kids  we have been putting on our to do list all year. If you are looking for  inexpensive, easy projects  that are great for winter, you have come to the right place!

Nothing says winter more than cold and icy experiments. I am in love with this collection of science experiments and can’t wait to share them with you! I think you are going to love them, share them and pin them so you don’t lose them. I know I did!

Okay, let’s get started.

Winter Science Experiments that Explain the Why Behind the Dinners

Winter if full of holiday parties, dinners and guests. Why not take that excitement and meal prep as a time to dig into a little science? I love these dinner science experiments that are perfect for any age child.

Making Butter | Mama Smiles Blog  The Science Behind the Cranberries | Stir the Wonder The Biology Of Bread | Left Brain Craft Brain

Winter Science Experiments That Teach Freezing and Changes in States of Matter

Since the beginning of the week, my boys have been noticing and observing the forming icicles out the window each morning. There is something so incredibly magical and fascinating with the changing of matter into a solid form (like ice) for children. These science experiments are the perfect way to observe and even create ice for young children to explore.

Make Ice Grow | Teach Preschool Snow Storm in a Jar | Growing a Jeweled Rose Frozen Bubbles | Housing a Forest Snow and Water Experiments | Inspiration Laboratories

 Winter Science Experiments That Teach Melting and Change Over Time

If you are going to grow ice, freeze bubbles, and experiment with snow… you might as well melt it too! Learning about change over time can be fun and easy with these simple yet stunning winter science experiments with ice.

Lego Ice Excavations | Lemon Lime Adventures Icy Hands Melting Experiment | Happy Hooligans Simple Ice Melt | Inner Child Fun Beautiful Melting Ice Science with Watercolors | Artful Parent

You might also like these awesome  winter science activities for preschoolers … Ice Stacking STEM Challenge for Preschoolers .

Winter Science Experiments that Explore Chemistry

These science experiments have to be my favorites! I absolutely love the crystal formations and watching the reaction of two items in the other experiments. I can’t wait to try some of these with the boys.

Snow Volcano | Science Sparks Hot Chocolate Science | Fantastic Fun and Learning Christmas Tree Crystals | We Made That Candy Cane Experiment | Confidence Meets Parenting Crystal Suncatcher Science | Babble Dabble Do Dancing Candy Canes | Inspiration Laboratories

Winter Science Experiments that Explore Natural and Life Science

Pines, Spruce, and evergreens are a sign of the season. What better way to dig into science than to head outside and find nature to explore. I love the simplicity behind these experiments and the scientific principles behind the explorations.

Pinecone Science | Lemon Lime Adventures Christmas Tree Explorations | Inspiration Laboratories Blubber Experiment | Frugal Fun 4 Boys Evergreen Science | Lemon Lime Adventures

More Winter Ideas for Fun and Learning

More science experiments for kids, are you ready for more science fun, time for saturday science blog hop, visit these great bloggers for more fun saturday science experiments too.

Popsicle Stick Catapults STEM Activity from Little Bins For Little Hands

Why Does Salt Melt Ice? from The Science Kiddo

Leaf Number Hunt & Match from Stir the Wonder

Looking for more Winter Science Experiments and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) projects for inspiration?

Check out my new book STEAM Kids Christmas and get a FREE STEAM Kids Coloring book  if you buy during launch week!

Get more information on STEAM Kids Christmas by clicking here . Or go order your copy now! eBook PDF or Paperback  

You can also get a bundle with our best selling STEAM Kids book, STEAM Christmas and STEAM Kids Coloring book for one low price: Click here to get your bundle today !

Not quite ready to jump in, don’t worry… you can hop over and grab a FREE Preview which includes 2 sample activities, 6 sample challenge cards, and the table of contents of the book! 

Don’t Forget to Check Out The Other Must Try Science Experiments

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28 thoughts on “20 Must-Try Winter Science Experiments for Kids”

Great round-up of experiments! I can’t wait to try the candy cane one in December!

Thank you so much. We have actually already done some peppermint experimenting. We just couldn’t wait!

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Thanks for featuring our snow volcano 🙂

Of course! It is awesome!

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Learn about Hot and Cold Temperature: Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Teach kids about temperature as they perform easy science experiments with hot and cold water and the our free printable.Thank you for visiting. This post…

Teach kids about temperature as they perform easy science experiments with hot and cold water and the our free printable.

Thank you for visiting. This post may contain affiliate links to recommended products at no extra cost to you. Read our Disclosures and Terms of Use . Don't miss out again, become a  Reader here <--it's FREE. 

We did 6 different science activities to learn about temperature and the difference between hot and cold. We have a free printable activity to go along with all the hands-on activities so your little scientists can have fun understanding temperature while learning more about the world around them. Each of the activities are super simple to set up, mainly because most of the supplies come straight from your kitchen faucet.

I loved watching my kids try out these science experiments. They were so eager to check everything out and best of all their understanding of temperature grew. I think that my favorite activity was watching the food coloring disperse in hot and cold water–such a simple activity and yet so pretty to watch! If you enjoy watching your kids do science as much as I do, check out this free homeschool science curriculum . 

More Science Experiments:

• Grow a Rainbow Science Experiment
• Snowflake Symmetry Activity
• How to Make Crystal Balls

Learn about Hot and Cold Temperature Science Experiments

BECAUSE ALL ACTIVITIES ARE BETTER WITH A BOOK!

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• Voss Water bottle (or plastic bottle)
• Red and blue food coloring
• Thermometer (We used a candy thermometer)
• Water balloons
• Ice Cube tray
• Glass measuring cups

DIRECTIONS:

Frozen Water

Fill containers half full with water. Mark the water line with a marker or I used a rubber band because we use our water bottles a lot. Put them in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Have children look at the new water lever (ice level). The frozen line should be above the water line because when water freezes it expands because the hydrogen bonds in the water that form are more spread out then when it is in liquid state.

Red and Blue Food Coloring Race

Fill one tall container with ice cold water and another tall container with hot water (not boiling). Have child drop a few drops of red food coloring in the hot bottle and blue food coloring in the cold water and watch (this experiment is very fast so don’t look away). Technically you could use whatever color food coloring you have but since red and blue help to reinforce the difference in temperatures we used those colors. The blue food coloring should move slower through the water compared to the red food coloring because the water molecules in the hot water have more energy and move faster then the water molecules in the cold water.

Blue Ice Melt

Fill a pitcher with water and add drops of blue food coloring. Fill an ice tray with the blue water and put it in the freezer until the ice is solid. Fill a container with room temperature water and place the blue ice inside. The ice should float and the blue water that melts from the ice cube should sink. This is because cold water (and air) is more dense compared to regular temperature water and will sink in warmer water. They may have heard before that hot air rises and cold air sinks, now they can visualize it.

Hot & Cold Balloons

Fill small balloons with some air. We used water balloons. Make them relatively the same size. Place one in cold water and one in hot water. We used a pink balloon for the hot water and the blue balloon for the cold water. The hot water balloon should get larger as the air expands as it gets warm and the cold water balloon should shrink as the air inside condenses.

Thermometer Reading

After the balloon test we used our thermometer to measure the water temperatures and then we wrote the temperature on our Hot and Cold Molucule Craft (See below).

Hot and Cold Molecule Craft (Available to download for free below)

Have children glue molecules in the hot and cold cups showing their understanding of hot and cold. The hot molecules should be spread out and moving around while the cold molecules should be condensed and slow moving.

DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE HERE:

Print the directions here:.

Hot and Cold Temperature Science Experiments

• Thermometer

Instructions

• Frozen Water Fill containers half full with water. Mark the water line with a marker or I used a rubber band because we use our water bottles a lot. Put them in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Have children look at the new water lever (ice level). The frozen line should be above the water line because when water freezes it expands because the hydrogen bonds in the water that form are more spread out then when it is in liquid state. Red and Blue Food Coloring Race Fill one tall container with ice cold water and another tall container with hot water (not boiling). Have child drop a few drops of red food coloring in the hot bottle and blue food coloring in the cold water and watch (this experiment is very fast so don't look away). Technically you could use whatever color food coloring you have but since red and blue help to reinforce the difference in temperatures we used those colors. The blue food coloring should move slower through the water compared to the red food coloring because the water molecules in the hot water have more energy and move faster then the water molecules in the cold water. Blue Ice Melt Fill a pitcher with water and add drops of blue food coloring. Fill an ice tray with the blue water and put it in the freezer until the ice is solid. Fill a container with room temperature water and place the blue ice inside. The ice should float and the blue water that melts from the ice cube should sink. This is because cold water (and air) is more dense compared to regular temperature water and will sink in warmer water. They may have heard before that hot air rises and cold air sinks, now they can visualize it. Hot & Cold Balloons Fill small balloons with some air. We used water balloons. Make them relatively the same size. Place one in cold water and one in hot water. We used a pink balloon for the hot water and the blue balloon for the cold water. The hot water balloon should get larger as the air expands as it gets warm and the cold water balloon should shrink as the air inside condenses. Thermometer Reading After the balloon test we used our thermometer to measure the water temperatures and then we wrote the temperature on our Hot and Cold Molucule Craft Hot and Cold Molecule Craft Have children glue molecules in the hot and cold cups showing their understanding of hot and cold. The hot molecules should be spread out and moving around while the cold molecules should be condensed and slow moving. We used marshmallows. Available here: https://alittlepinchofperfect.com/learn-hot-cold-temperature-science-experiments-kids/

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22 Winter Science Experiments For Kids

Maybe you have snow and freezing temperatures, or maybe you don’t! Whether you are shoveling snow or lounging by a palm tree, there’s still winter! When the weather turns chilly or not so chilly, try these easy to set up winter science experiments and winter STEM activities for preschoolers, kindergarten and elementary kids. Avoid cabin fever this season with great, budget-friendly science experiments and STEM projects !

Explore Winter Theme Science & STEM

The changing seasons are perfect for incorporating different types of STEM activities into your learning at home or in the classroom. Kids love themes, and a winter theme makes science so much more engaging! Think snow science experiments, snowflake STEM activities, snowmen, ice, frost and more!

These hands-on winter science experiments and STEM activities invite kids to explore, test, think, observe, and discover! Experimenting leads to discoveries, and discoveries spark curiosity!

Kids constantly learn about the world’s workings, and winter science experiments are an easy choice. These winter activities for preschool to elementary grades are simple to set up and use only a few materials.

Our list below includes physics and chemistry experiments that even young children can easily explore with hands-on, playful activities!

Encourage your kids to make predictions, discuss observations, and re-test their ideas if they don’t get the desired results the first time. Science always includes an element of mystery that kids naturally love to figure out!

Watch the Video!

Free printable winter stem activities guide.

Winter Observations

Grab this instant free download to get started on your own Winter Observations !

Activities To Celebrate Winter Solstice

If you are planning ahead of time, make sure to include fun winter solstice activities ! The winter and summer solstices are two very important times during the year.

Ideas: Winter Nature Activities

Take care of your feathered friends as you explore winter science and learn about the birds in your backyard. Make these kid friendly birdseed ornaments that kids of all ages can help with too! Set up a bird watching area complete with binoculars and books on local birds!

Fun Winter Science Experiments & Winter STEM Challenges

Very few of these winter science activities below actually include real snow. This list is perfect for no matter where you live, including areas that never see snow or areas that do get snow, but it’s unpredictable! Many of these winter science experiments and winter STEM activities can be done regardless of the weather conditions where you live!

Click on all the links in blue below to check out some (brrrr) cool science. You will find winter theme science experiments including slime, fizzy reactions, ice melting, real snow, oobleck, crystal growing, and more .

1. Snow Candy

Learn how to make maple syrup snow candy. Discover the interesting science behind how this simple maple snow candy is made and how snow helps that process along.

2. Snow Ice Cream

This super easy, 3-ingredient snow ice cream recipe is perfect this season for a yummy treat. It’s a bit different to our ice cream in a bag science experiment but still lots of fun!

3. Snow Volcano

If you have snow, you will want to get outside for this winter science experiment! Cool winter STEM that the kids will LOVE to get their hands on. If you don’t have snow, don’t worry! You can also make this one in the sandbox or at the beach.

4. Snowflake Salt Painting

Have you ever tried salt painting for a quick winter STEAM (science +art) activity? We think snowflake salt painting is tons of fun.

5. Melting Snow Science

This snow science activity with a melting snowman theme is perfect for exploring in and out of the classroom.

6. Frosty’s Magic Milk

A classic science experiment with a wintery theme the kids will love! Frosty’s magic milk is sure to be a favorite.

7. Snow Slime Recipes

We have the BEST slime recipes around. You can make our melting snowman slime, snowflake confetti slime, fluffy snow slime, snow floam, and more!

8. Ice Fishing

Kids will love this fishing for ice cubes science project that can be done no matter the temperature outside.

9. Snow Storm In A Jar

Set up an invitation to make a winter snow storm in a jar science experiment. Kids will love creating their own snowstorm with common household supplies, and they can even learn a bit about simple science in the process too.

10. How To Make Frost On A Can

This is another easy-to-set-up winter science experiment that pulls from what you have around the house. We love science that can be set up in minutes and is hands-on for the kids.

11. Blubber Science Experiment

How can polar bears and other Arctic animals stay warm with those freezing temperatures, icy water, and relentless wind? This super simple polar bear blubber science experiment will help kids feel and see what keeps those big animals warm!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Whale Blubber Experiment

12. Design a Snowball Launcher

Need to stay warm and cozy inside but enough with the screens? Get the kids designing, engineering, testing, and exploring physics with easy to make snowball launcher winter STEM activity! Hands-on winter STEM with a little bit of gross motor fun!

13. Make Fake Snow (not really science but lots of fun!)

Too much snow or not enough snow? It doesn’t matter when you know how to make fake snow! Treat the kids to an indoor snowman building session or fun winter sensory play with this super easy to make snow recipe!

14. Melting Snowmen

The best part of this snowy winter science experiment is that you don’t need real snow to enjoy it! That means everyone can try it. Plus you have everything you need in the kitchen to get started.

15. Snowflake Oobleck   or Evergreen Oobleck

Oobleck is an ooey gooey slime substance that’s also a terrific classic science project. Learn about non-Newtonian fluids while digging your hands into a neat tactile sensory experience too.

16. Crystal Snowflakes

You can enjoy your crystal snowflake ornaments all winter long with our simple borax crystal growing recipe!

17. Salt Crystal Snowflakes

With a little patience, this super simple kitchen science is easy to pull off! Grow salt crystal snowflakes for an easy winter science experiment for kids of all ages.

18. Snowflake Science with YouTube

If you don’t have the opportunity to observe your own snowflakes, you can totally learn all about them through these short videos perfect for kids! Snowflakes are truly one of nature’s wonders, and they are fleeting.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Snowflake Activities For Preschoolers

19. DIY Thermometer

Make your own homemade thermometer and compare the temperature indoors with the cold outdoors. Learn how a simple thermometer works.

20. Coffee Filter Snowflakes

Coffee filters are a MUST have addition to any science or STEAM kit! Simple science is combined with unique process art to make these colorful snowflakes.

21. Frozen Bubble Experiment

Who doesn’t love blowing bubbles? You can blow bubbles year-round indoors or outdoors too. Freezing bubbles is definitely on our list of winter science experiments to try.

22. Ice Melting Experiment

What makes Ice melt anyway? Set up this fun STEM challenge and science experiment! You’ll find several ideas to try and an awesome printable pack to go along with them. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity to practice using the scientific method .

23. Fizzing Snowflakes

This simple experiment with baking soda, vinegar, and cookie cutters is a classic! This chemistry activity is a hit all year round!

24. Frosty the Snowman Winter Bubbles

Learn about the science of bubbles with this simple winter bubble activity. Fun winter science for preschoolers and kindergarten!

Bonus Winter Crafts for Kids

• Build a marshmallow igloo .
• Make a DIY snow globe.
• Make a cute snowy pinecone owl .
• Create your own polar bear puppets .
• Paint with homemade shivery snow paint .
• Create this easy polar bear paper plate craft .
• Try tape resist snowflake art .

Printable Winter STEM Pack

Even if you don’t live in a snowy winter climate, there are many ways to explore the season!

WHAT’S INSIDE?  You’ll find 250+ Pages of Winter theme projects for science, STEM, and art!

• 25+ Winter science activities  and STEM projects for kids that are easy to set up and fit into the time you have available even if it’s limited!  NEW:  Observation sheets for activities.
• Printable winter theme STEM activities  that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond and adaptable to many skill levels.
• Find  simple background science explanations  to share with kids while they explore hands-on and playful experiments, projects, and activities! Fun with physics, chemistry, design, engineering, and more!
• Easy to gather supplies  makes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Perfect for trying with groups of kids.
• Engaging winter STEM activities  packed with winter theme activities, journal pages, and design process steps! Includes structure-building cards, STEM challenge cards, and screen-free coding activities.
• Fun snowflake theme STEM,  including snowflake cutting templates, snowflake tinker cards, and snowflake science activities, including a snowflake formation cycle!
• Even more, winter printable sheets  include hibernating animals sort, snow weather cycle, five senses for winter journal pages, thaumatrope patterns, and fun extras with a winter theme!

14 Comments

I love this roundup! So many fun things to do with ice and snow this winter 🙂 Thank you for including our Fishing for Ice experiment!

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• Science Activities For Kids

15 Frosty Winter Science Experiments For Preschoolers

• FirstHeading

Why I Love Winter Science Experiments For Preschoolers

How i chose these winter science experiments for preschoolers, 15 of my favorite winter science experiments for preschoolers, 1. weigh snow activity, 2. candy cane slime, 3. learning resources primary science deluxe lab set, 4. frozen bubbles, 5. learn how penguins stay dry, 6. magnetic ice painting, 7. unglinga 70 lab experiments science kits, 8. condensation & frost, 9. snow volcano, 10. grow your own polar bear, 11. national geographic earth science kit, 12. ice insulation activity, 13. measure melted snow to water, 14. frozen oobleck, 15. winter nature study, submit a comment cancel reply.

Even in sunny Florida, those occasional chilly days roll in, stirring a desire for cozy, wintry activities. Observing my son, I’ve always been determined to nurture his budding curiosity, especially when the mercury drops.

I strongly believe that science is the backbone of his learning journey, but it must sparkle with fun!

Determined to turn cold days into exhilarating learning adventures, I’ve curated a list of winter-themed experiments as part of my list with top science experiments for preschoolers .

Far from the usual yawn-worthy lessons, these activities are crafted to captivate, educate, and entertain our little snow seekers.

Parents supporting their winter science journey lay the foundations of inquiry, resilience, and problem-solving.

These early experiments blanketed in winter’s embrace, fuel curiosity and fortify essential life skills, guiding our children to view challenges as exciting puzzles. Let’s embrace the frosty fun!

As the chilly breeze stirred, I embarked on a quest to find the coziest winter experiments.

Diving into top activity sites, I had a vision: activities that kept tiny hands and minds busy for over 20 minutes, were brimming with laughter, and encouraged little snow boots to shuffle with excitement.

My son became my co-adventurer, testing each frosty experiment. Those that ignited his joy and curiosity melted our hearts and made this handpicked list.

Bundle up and dive into our winter wonderland of learning!

Embrace the chilly season with our top 15 winter science experiments, perfectly crafted for inquisitive preschoolers. Let’s turn frosty moments into delightful learning adventures together!

Even in the chill of winter, science shines bright! With the Weigh Snow Activity, transform snowy days into delightful learning moments.

If your little one likes to adventure in the snow, they will love this easy preschool science experiment because your young learner can jump right in and have lots of fun.

Let your preschooler discover the intriguing difference between fluffy snow and its melted counterpart. It’s a tactile and visual exploration that bridges the wonder of nature with the joy of discovery.

• Main Materials : Snow, bowls, scales.
• Duration : About 15-20 minutes.
• Ideal Age : Preschoolers (3-5 years old).
• Science Discipline : Physics and Earth Science.
• Science Skills Focus : This hands-on activity fosters skills in observation, comparison, and understanding the properties of matter in different states.

Just as winter heralds the joy of peppermint delights, our Candy Cane Slime brings a twist of wintry magic for little hands.

This fluffy, peppermint-scented concoction is not just fun to play with but also a sensory journey, blending the joys of the holiday season with the wonders of science.

Perfect for indoor days, this fun science experiment for preschoolers is sure to become a frosty favorite in your household!

• Main Materials : White glue, shaving cream, peppermint extract, red food coloring, contact lens solution.
• Science Discipline : Chemistry.
• Science Skills Focus : This slime activity enhances sensory exploration, observation of chemical reactions, and understanding the properties of mixtures in a playful setting.

Ignite a passion for science with the Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set. This comprehensive kit is a gateway to hands-on learning, engaging children in endless exploration and discovery.

Featuring real lab equipment and durable materials, it’s the perfect blend of education and entertainment.

• Main Materials : Lab equipment, activity cards, and experiment accessories.
• Duration : Flexible play and learning opportunities.
• Ideal Age : Preschoolers and early elementary (3-8 years old).
• Science Discipline : General science exploration, biology, chemistry, physics.
• Science Skills Focus : This lab set fosters observation, experimentation, critical thinking, and problem-solving in a playful, engaging manner.

When winter’s chill arrives, a bit of magic takes center stage. Engage your little scientists with the Frozen Bubbles activity – a whimsical fusion of science and art.

As the frigid air kisses the soap bubbles, they transform into delicate ice globes, offering a visual treat that sparks endless curiosity. Your little ones will love this water science experiment for preschoolers because they will see different states of water and learn about how ice works!

• Main Materials : Bubble solution, bubble wand, cold outdoor temperatures.
• Science Discipline : Physics and Chemistry (Phase changes and properties of matter).
• Science Skills Focus : This experiment cultivates observation skills and introduces kids to the concept of freezing point and the changes in matter due to temperature shifts.

Immerse your little explorers in the fascinating world of penguins with this hands-on experiment.

By simulating penguin feathers’ water-repellent magic, kids unravel the marvel of how these creatures stay dry even in icy waters.

• Main Materials : Water, oil, feathers, plastic container.
• Science Discipline : Biology and Animal Adaptations.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity cultivates observation skills, promoting an understanding of animal adaptations and the concept of water repellency in a playful manner.

Winter brings a world of possibilities for young scientists. Dive into the frosty world of magnetic ice painting, where colors dance on frozen canvases guided by hidden forces.

This engaging experiment blends art, science, and sensory play to create a captivating learning experience that will warm the hearts of curious minds.

• Main Materials : Ice cubes, liquid watercolors or food coloring, small magnets, and paper.
• Duration : About 30-40 minutes.
• Science Discipline : Physics and Chemistry.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity cultivates observation, cause-and-effect understanding, and exploration of magnetic forces playfully and creatively.

Enter the realm of science magic with the UNGLINGA 70 Lab Experiments Science Kit. Bursting with 70 captivating experiments, this kit bridges learning and play, nurturing young scientists’ curiosity while keeping them engaged for hours on end.

From colorful chemical reactions to mind-boggling physics, this kit transforms homes into laboratories of learning and exploration.

• Main Materials : A comprehensive kit includes various lab tools, chemicals, and experiment components.
• Duration : Flexible, ranging from 15 minutes to over an hour per experiment.
• Ideal Age : Children aged 6 and above.
• Science Discipline : Chemistry, Physics, and General Science.
• Science Skills Focus : This kit hones observation, critical thinking, and experimentation skills, allowing children to grasp complex scientific concepts through hands-on exploration.

Imagine the awe in your little one’s eyes as they witness the enchanting transformation of condensation into frost.

This mesmerizing winter science activity takes the marvel of changing states of matter and turns it into a hands-on experience that will leave your preschooler captivated.

• Main Materials : Clear plastic cup, ice cubes, salt, water, spoon.
• Science Discipline : Physical Science and States of Matter.
• Science Skills Focus : Enhances observation skills, understanding of how temperature changes affect matter, and introduces the concept of condensation and frost formation with this simple science experiment for preschoolers .

Turn snow days into a thrilling eruption of learning with the Snow Volcano experiment.

Craft your icy volcano, add baking soda, and watch as the vinegar eruption transforms your winter wonderland into an interactive science show.

• Main Materials : Baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, snow (or crushed ice), container.
• Science Discipline : Chemistry and Reactions.
• Science Skills Focus : This experiment introduces kids to chemical reactions and basic principles of acids and bases while honing their observation and prediction abilities.

Imagine watching a polar bear grow right before your eyes! This enchanting winter science experiment blends excitement with education.

Through simple kitchen ingredients, your little one can witness the magic of absorption and expansion, igniting their curiosity about the wonders of the natural world. You can modify the gummy bears with other types of candy, making this a great fall science experiment for preschoolers !

• Main Materials : Absorbent polymer (such as superabsorbent polymer), water, plastic cup, polar bear figurine.
• Duration : About 2-3 hours (including waiting time).
• Science Discipline : Chemistry and Absorption.
• Science Skills Focus : This experiment cultivates observation skills, introduces absorption as a scientific concept, and encourages kids to explore materials and their properties.

Dive into an educational adventure with this kit that sparks curiosity about our planet’s mysteries. Unearth the magic of geology and paleontology through hands-on activities.

• Materials Included : The kit includes a variety of real fossils, gemstones, a digging tool, and a comprehensive learning guide.
• Duration : Each activity ranges from 20 to 45 minutes, keeping young minds engaged and excited.
• Ideal Age : Designed for children aged 6 and above, promoting interactive learning and family bonding.
• Science Discipline : Geology and Paleontology come to life, fostering a deeper understanding of Earth’s history and processes.
• Science Skills : Enhances observation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while uncovering the wonders hidden beneath the surface.

Dive into a chilly yet captivating scientific adventure with the Ice Insulation Activity. This hands-on experiment is perfect for curious young minds itching to unravel the mysteries of melting ice.

Get ready for a frigidly fun learning experience that will keep kids engaged and entertained while they uncover the secrets of insulation and heat transfer. Follow this activity guide for an icy escapade that combines play and education seamlessly.

• Materials Needed : Ice cubes, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, cotton balls, construction paper
• Duration : Approximately 30 minutes
• Ideal Age : Perfect for children aged 6 and above
• Science Discipline : Focuses on Elementary Physics and Thermal Energy
• Science Skills Focus : Kids will observe, predict, and analyze as they explore how different materials affect the melting rate of ice. They’ll grasp concepts of insulation, heat transfer, and basic physics principles in a captivating and memorable way.

Embark on a hands-on journey to discover how much water hides within the snow and watch as it transforms before your very eyes. With just a few simple materials, your little scientists will explore the magic of melting snow, while honing essential science skills. It’s an educational escapade that combines fun, fascination, and learning in one chilly experiment.

• Materials Needed : Fresh snow, measuring cup, heat source (stove or microwave), timer, notebook, and pen
• Ideal Age : Perfect for curious minds aged 5 and up
• Science Discipline : Earth Science and Chemistry
• Science Skills Focus : Observing changes, measuring accurately, understanding states of matter, and conducting controlled experiments.

Dive into the world of non-Newtonian fluids and discover the captivating blend of science and play. Just like the Stay at Home Educator, we believe that learning should be an exciting journey, and what better way to learn about science than by getting your hands (and maybe even your toes) into some squishy, icy fun?

• Materials Needed : Cornstarch, water, food coloring (optional), large mixing bowl, freezer
• Duration : Approximately 30 minutes (excluding freezing time)
• Ideal Age : Perfect for curious kids aged 3 and above
• Science Discipline : Physics – Non-Newtonian fluids and material properties
• Science Skills Focus : Hands-on exploration, sensory engagement, making predictions, observing changes, and discussing fluid dynamics in a playful setting.

Uncover the hidden beauty of the season while fostering a deep connection with nature right from your doorstep.

These preschool nature science experiment printables encourage children to observe, sketch, and document the marvels of winter, from frosty leaves to animal tracks in the snow.

As you embark on this educational journey together, you’ll create cherished memories and nurture a lifelong love for the natural world.

• Materials Needed : Nature Notebook Printables (download from the link), pencils, crayons, or markers, magnifying glass, warm clothing and boots for outdoor exploration
• Activity Time : Approximately 1-2 hours, adaptable based on exploration time and creativity.
• Ideal Age : Perfect for curious minds aged 4 to 10, but can be tailored for various age groups.
• Science Discipline : Life Sciences – Ecology and Environmental Science
• Science Skills Focus : Develop observation skills, learn about winter ecology, identify animal adaptations, explore plant life cycles, and understand seasonal changes in nature.

As the snow blankets the world outside, these simple winter science experiments for preschoolers bring a flurry of excitement and learning indoors.

From frosty investigations to chilly chemical reactions, these hands-on activities provide a delightful way to explore the wonders of the season while nurturing your little one’s natural curiosity.

Get ready for giggles, “wow” moments, and a warm sense of accomplishment as you create cherished memories together with even more great STEM science projects for kids!

So, bundle up, gather your materials, and let the scientific exploration begin!

Hi there, I’m Ayasha

I’m a mom of an energetic son and the creator of Wonder Noggin. I write about educational parenting tips, simple parenting ideas, and many activities to help parents nurture young minds.

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The Two-Way

Don't just shiver, here are 3 cold-weather experiments to try.

Eyder Peralta

In case you haven't heard, it's (really, really ) cold outside for most of us living in the lower 48.

Chicago, which is already known for its biting cold, hit 16 below zero this morning, setting a new record low for a Jan. 6. ( The coldest day in recorded history for the city is 27 below zero set on Jan. 20, 1985.)

Now, you could just sit inside and drink some hot chocolate. Or you could bundle up and venture outside in the name of science and fun. (You should read these frost bite tips , first.) With that in mind, we scoured the Internet for three cool experiments that take advantage of the historic cold weather.

1. What Happens To Boiling Water In Minus-21 Fahrenheit Cold?

Meteorologist Eric Holthaus lit up the Internet today with this experiment. He walked out of his Viroqua, Wis., home and threw a cup of boiling water into -21°F air. Here's what happened:

Yep. It turned into ice crystals before it hit the ground. What's counterintuitive is if you threw a cup of ice-cold water, it would fall to the ground still a liquid. Why?

Live Science asked Mark Seeley, a climatologist at the University of Minnesota, to explain the phenomenon. He said:

"When it's cold outside, there's hardly any water vapor present in the air, whereas boiling water emits vapor very readily that's why it's steaming. When you throw the water up in the air, it breaks into much smaller droplets, so there's even more surface for water vapor to come off of. "Now, cold air is very dense, and this makes its capacity to hold water vapor molecules very low. There's just fundamentally less space for the vapor molecules. So when you throw the boiling water up, suddenly the minus 22 air has more water vapor than it has room for. So the vapor precipitates out by clinging to microscopic particles in the air, such as sodium or calcium, and forming crystals. This is just what goes into the formation of snowflakes."

Now, it has to be very cold for this work, so only some of you may be able to perform this trick.

2. Blow Bubbles And Watch Them Freeze:

This one is just visually cool and you can probably get away with doing it in the kind of cold most of the country will get today. Here's a YouTube video posted last March of a number of freezing bubbles:

Weather.com, by the way, recommends heating up the bubble solution for the same reason we touched upon above.

3. Make Some Slurpee By Super Cooling Some Soda:

Nziegler, from Minnesota, uploaded this experiment to YouTube:

He said that he left that soda — or "pop" as he says — out in 7 degree weather for about four hours. What's happening here? The soda has been cooled below its freezing temperature and there are no "imperfections" to kick off the formation of ice crystals. Opening the bottle unleashes a chain reaction, which leads to an "instant slurpee."

The Physics Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign explains how super-cooled water works :

"Water normally freezes when it is cooled below 0 degrees Celsius, forming ice crystals. Ice crystals form more easily when they grow on existing ice crystals — the water molecules like to pack themselves in place on a crystal that's already gotten started. It doesn't take much to start the crystallization process going — a little piece of dust or other impurity in the water, or even a scratch on the bottle are sometimes all it takes to get ice crystals growing. The process of starting off a crystal is called 'nucleation.' "In the absence of impurities in the water and imperfections in the bottle, the water can get 'stuck' in its liquid state as it cools off, even below its freezing point. We say this supercooled state is 'metastable.' The water will stay liquid until something comes along to nucleate crystal growth. A speck of dust, or a flake of frost from the screw-cap falling into the bottle are enough to get the freezing going, and the crystals will build on each other and spread through the water in the bottle."

And here's another video that provides a few more techniques:

• winter weather

Science Fun

Cold Front Weather Science Experiment

In this fun and easy weather science experiment for kids, we’re going to explore and investigate a cold front. 

• Plastic cup
• Blue food coloring

Instructions:

• Fill the plastic cup about halfway with water.
• Add a drop of blue food coloring.
• Put the plastic cup in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
• Fill a glass about halfway with room temperature water.
• After an hour, pour the chilled water into the glass of room temperature water.

EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS!

How it Works:

The cold water should push to the bottom of the glass. A cold front will behave in a similar fashion and push warm air up and out of its way as it moves and squeezes under the warm air. A cold front is where a cold air mass replaces a warm air mass. Cold fronts typically move northwest to southeast and often bring gusty winds, heavy rain, temperature drops, and even thunder and lighting. Cold fronts are represented by a blue line with triangles pointing toward the direction warm air is being replaced on colored weather maps. 

Make This A Science Project:

Observe the local weather forecast and determine when a cold front is heading your way. Go outside and observe the weather. 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.

Freezing Weather Experiments

Introduction: Freezing Weather Experiments

What do you do when it is bitter cold outside? Freezing Weather Experiments of course!

This is fun for all ages. However, it can aid students with science fair ideas and homeschooling experiments, while fostering curiosity and creativity.

This particular day was -28°F (-33.3°C).

This instructable will show how to:

• Freeze Bubbles
• Crunch Frozen Bubbles (Surprisingly Fun)
• Transform Boiling Water into Snow
• Make Crystal Clear Ice
• Demestrate the Incredible Self Deflating and Inflating Balloon
• Discover Sun Dogs

For more videos like these and other DIY Projects click here.

Step 1: Freezing Bubbles

Trial and Error :

We tried regular bubble solution with mixed results. When we tried blowing bubbles outside, the bubble wand either froze to quickly, or the warm breath filled bubbles rose in the cold air to quickly to see them freeze. As you see in the video, what worked better was using a small cup that was half full with a water and dish soap solution. Then using a bubble wand to make and attach the bubbles to the top of the cup. To attach the bubble, the rim of the cup must be soapy. Using this method, you can position and observe the bubble easily.

Step 2: Transform Boiling Water Into Snow

There are just a few steps to this experiment. It works best when the outside temperature is well below freezing.

This is potentially dangerous and people have gotten hurt while attempting this experiment. Children need to have an adult do this for them.

First : You need to boil a small amount of water. I used a pot in the video, but a water filled mug in the microwave works well.

Second : Carefully, without burning yourself, carry your very hot water outside to a safe place.

Third : Here is the dangerous part. Toss the water up and away from you and other people. DO NOT toss the water above your head, because boiling water could fall back on you.

Fourth : Enjoy the white snowy cloud as it drifts away.

How does this Work

When you boil water, you're adding energy to water in its liquid state. That energy moves the molecules farther away from each other until the water vaporizes into a gaseous state.

By throwing boiling water into the air, the hot water separates and forms hot droplets.

Because they're so hot, those tiny water droplets start to vaporize quickly. But since cold air can't hold as much water vapor as warmer air, the water condenses. Extremely cold temperatures quickly freeze the water droplets, which fall as ice crystals.

Step 3: Make Crystal Clear Ice

Items Needed:

• Small cooler with lid open or taken off
• A freezer large enough to put your cooler in, or freezing temperature outside

Impress you friends with "classy" ice in their drinks! :-)

To make DIY Crystal Clear Ice at home, all you need is a small cooler, water, and a freezer to fit the cooler in (or freezing outdoor temps). The trick is to let the water freeze from the top-down. This will help release any air in the water/ice. So, just leave the cooler lid open/off and let it freeze.

The first try only "half worked" but the second try was very clear! The only difference between my two attempts was the second one was left in my freezing garage instead of outdoors. Perhaps the wind and snow made the first try a bit cloudy.

After a day of freezing, take the cooler and carefully tip it over in your sink. It will likely only be about half frozen, so drain the water and the ice will fall out. Either, chip, break, or cut the ice to any size you like.

Step 4: The Incredible Self Deflating and Inflating Balloon

For this simple experiment, you only need a few items:

• One Balloon (latex or mylar) *A mylar balloon may be more obvious with the result.
• A cold environment (like outside in the winter, or your home freezer.)
• Kids around, so they can be make a hypothesis and be amazed.

Gather kids around to watch. Inside a warm room, blow up a balloon. Then place the balloon outside in the freezing weather or just in your freezer. Ask the kids what they think will happen to the balloon from being in the cold. Then after a short while, retrieve the balloon and show the result.

The balloon should have shrunk a little due to the air molecules in the balloon losing heat energy and moving closer together. But if warmed back up the air will spread out and expand the balloon again.

• It would be interesting to make a graph to chart the temperature and balloon circumference change.
• Using helium instead of air should give greater results and its buoyancy may change which would be neat to see.

Common Sense Note: If you put your balloon outside, make sure to tie it down. We tried to make a video to show this experiment with our only balloon, but it blew away.

Step 5: Sun Dogs, Sun Halo, and Sun Cross

If you are lucky, on very cold days you will see sundogs, a sun halo, and cross in the sky. This phenomenon usually only happens when the Sun is low in the sky, either in the morning or evening. Sun dogs are a concentrated patch of light about 22° to the left and right of the Sun. They are created when the sunlight refracts through icy clouds. The process is similar to a rainbow. The dogs can either look bright yellow like the sun or colorful, like pieces of a rainbow with red on the inside, toward the Sun, and blue on the outside. A similar phenomenon can happen at night with the moon. These are appropriately called Moon Dogs.

A Sun halo, a circle of light that creates a circle 22° wide around the Sun, is a related phenomenon. As with sundogs, ice crystals in the clouds refract sunlight to create the halo, sometimes also called an icebow.

Step 6: Contact Me

Thank you for viewing this project.

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We Tried 5 Cold-Weather Experiments . Instant Slushies, Frozen Bubbles and More.

With schools closed and temperatures well below zero, one family learned some hard lessons about the scientific process.

By Katie Thomas

For the latest developments, read our cold weather live briefing.

EVANSTON, Ill. — It was minus 15 degrees here on Wednesday afternoon, near the epicenter of the polar vortex, and school had been canceled for much of the week.

“How are we going to survive?” one mother asked on a text thread Tuesday night. My phone pinged at 9 a.m. Wednesday with a plaintive message from someone else: “We’ve already gone through my two craft projects, painted and watched an hour of TV.”

At times like these, modern parents turn to Google and YouTube and Pinterest, which beckon with seemingly simple and fun science experiments for frigid temperatures .

But as my 7-year-old son, Gus, and his friend Eren, 8, learned on Wednesday when we tested a handful of popular cold-weather experiments, science doesn’t always follow the neat path of a viral video.

1. Instant slushies

Several videos demonstrate how to super-chill soda. A similar experiment instantly freezes water.

We shook up two one-liter bottles of Sprite and placed them outside of our front door, where my phone told me it was minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. We also put a small bottle of spring water alongside them to test the instant-ice trick .

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20+ Temperature Experiments and Activities

In our A to Z Science series  for toddlers and preschoolers, T is for Temperature. We practiced using thermometers with investigations inside and outside. This post includes even more temperature experiments for kids!

Temperature and Heat Experiments

Explore temperature and heat transfer further with these experiments that we’ve tried.

More Temperature Experiments

Here are even more temperature and heat experiments from around the web that look great!

Explore the density of different temperatures of water in this water balloon investigation from Science Sparks.

How do polar animals stay warm? Rainy Day Mum investigates types of insulation in this fun activity.

Make a solar oven and explore conduction. Which type of materials/colors work the best? (from Science Sparks.)

Here’s a sun vs. shade temperature experiment from A Mom with a Lesson Plan.

Explore convection currents  with water. (from Learn Play Imagine)

Learn about the science of tea  and discover the impact different water temperatures have in this investigation from Planet Smarty Pants.

Make your own thermometer with these instructions from What Do We Do All Day?

Or make a practice thermometer with this printable from Kids Activities Blog.

Try this ice experiment from Reading Confetti. Which ice cube will melt first?

A Mom with a Lesson Plan experiments with how to boil an egg . Explore how heat affects an egg.

Gift of Curiosity uses thermic glasses to explore the sense of touch and learn about temperature.

Can a cricket be used as a thermometer? Conduct an experiment to find out. (from Scientific American)

Are mittens warm? Classroom Magic shares a lesson in heat and insulation. Pair this activity with Jan Brett’s The Mitten .

Do you have any temperature experiments? Leave a link in the comments. I’d love to check them out! 

Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get exclusive science explorations for young scientists in each issue.

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• School Leaders

Creative Ways to Use Graphic Novels in the Classroom! 🎥

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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Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!

Science Experiments

35 Easy Science Experiments You Can Do Today!

Looking for easy science experiments to do at home or in the classroom? You’re in luck because we’ve got over 35 easy science activities for kids that will help you make science fun for all ages. 

Most of these simple science experiments for kids are easy to prepare, quick to perform, and use household items or inexpensive materials you can find almost anywhere. To connect the fun to the “why it works” you’ll find an easy to teach explanation with every experiment!

Musical Jars Science Experiment 

This super easy experiment is simple as it is fun! Kids make their own musical instruments with clear jars and water then investigate sound waves, pitch, and more.

When the experiment is complete, use the colorful new “instrument” for a fun music lesson. Kids can play and take turns to “name that tune”!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Musical Jars Science Experiment

Viscosity of Liquids Science Experiment

Viscosity may be a confusing term for kids at first, but this super easy experiment can help them see viscosity in action!

With marbles, clear jars, and a few household materials, kids will make predictions, record data, and compare the results while they test high and low density liquids.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Viscosity Science Experiment

Floating Egg Science Experiment

Can a solid egg float? Kids can find the answer and understand why with this quick science experiment. 

Discover just how easy it can be to make a raw egg float while testing the laws of density. We’ve included additional ideas to try so kids can make predictions and test the concept further.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Floating Egg Science Experiment

Paper Towel Dry Under Water Experiment

Is it possible to keep a paper towel dry even when submerging it under water? The answer is a surprising “yes,” if you use science to help!

Start with the properties of your materials, make a prediction, then explore matter, density, volume, and more.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Paper Towel Dry Under Water Experiment

Mixing Oil & Water Science Experiment

This simple experiment for kids helps them better understand density and the changes that happen when adding an emulsifier to the mix. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->   Mixing Oil & Water Experiment

Will it Float or Sink Science Experiment

Will it sink or will it float? This fun experiment challenges what students think they know about household items!

Students record their hypothesis for each item then test it to compare what they think will happen against their observations.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Float or Sink Science Experiment

Water Temperature Science Experiment

What does thermal energy look like? In this easy science experiment, kids are able to see thermal energy as they explore the concept in action.

With clear jars and food coloring, students can quickly see how molecules move differently through hot and cold water.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Water Temperature Science Experiment

Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment

Kids will discover how matter reacts when heated and cooled as they watch with surprise as baking soda and vinegar blow the balloon up before their eyes.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Balloon Blow-up Science Experiment

Floating Ping Pong Ball Science Experiment

Kids will giggle with joy with this super easy experiment. With only a ping pong ball and a hair dryer, students will have a great time while exploring Bernoulli’s Principle in action. 

We’ve included additional ideas to further explore the concept with different objects and observe the change in results.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Floating Ping Pong Ball Science Experiment

Hair Stand on End Science Experiment

It’s especially fun for those who’ve never seen static electricity in action before!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Hair Stand on End Science Experiment

Oil Bubbles in Water Science Experiment

Kids explore density and experience some chemistry when creating oil bubbles in water with everyday household items.

This experiment is particularly fun when kids see that they’ve made what looks like a lava lamp!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Oil Bubbles in Water Science Experiment

Color Changing Water Science Experiment

Kids will be surprised as they watch a new color being “created” without mixing! Using only a clear bowl and glass, some food coloring, and water, this super easy science experiment is quick and easy with a huge wow factor. 

Try it with yellow and blue to follow along with our demonstration video then try different primary color combinations and explore the results.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Color Changing Water Science Experiment

Magnetic Paper Clip Chain Science Experiment

It may seem a bit like magic but it’s actually science! It’s not hard to capture your kids’ attention with this quick and easy science experiment as they watch paper clips “stick” together and form a chain!

Perfect for younger children, the experiment only takes a few minutes and is a fun way to explore the concept of magnetic transference.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Magnetic Paper Clip Chain Science Experiment

Is it Magnetic Science Experiment

With only a magnet and a few household items, kids will make and record their predictions, test and observe, then compare what they think is magnetic against the results.

Simple and quick, but some of the results may surprise your students!

Cloud in a Jar Experiment

This simple experiment only requires a few materials but really holds student attention as a cloud forms before their eyes!

Kids will learn new weather vocabulary as they explore how physical changes and reactions happen as clouds begin to take form. We’ve also included a helpful chart on the types of clouds.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment

Magic Milk Science Experiment

Create a dancing rainbow of colors with this easy science experiment for kids!

Using only a few ordinary kitchen items, your students can create a color explosion in ordinary milk when they add our special ingredient. (Hint: The special ingredient (soap!) includes hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules that make the magic happen!)

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Magic Milk Science Experiment

Walking Water Science Experiment

Water can’t really walk upwards against gravity, but this cool science experiment makes it seem like it can! 

Kids are able to see the capillary action process and learn how attraction and adhesive forces in action allow water to move out of one glass into another. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Walking Water Science Experiment

Light Refraction Science Experiment

The results of this easy science experiment are so amazing, it makes kids (and adults) think it must be magic!

Young scientists watch in surprise while they see an arrow change directions instantly. Investigating refraction couldn’t be more fun!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Light Refraction Science Experiment

Dancing Raisins Experiment

Learn about the reactions of buoyancy and density in this simple science activity for kids. 

They may not need dancing shoes, but give them a glass of soda pop and the raisins in this fun experiment love to dance!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

See Sound Experiment

Kids love this experiment because they are encouraged to drum loudly so they can “see” sound waves in action!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> See Sound Science Experiment

Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

Grab some giant brushes and get ready to make elephant toothpaste! Although you might not be able to get an elephant excited by this super easy experiment, kids love it!

The impressive and quick results created by the chemical reaction and the heat released in the process makes an abundant amount of fun and colorful foam!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Elephant Toothpaste Science Experiment

Upside Down Glass of Water Science Experiment

We all know what happens when we turn a glass of water upside down, but what if I told you you can do it without the water spilling out?

The experiment only requires a few common items and you’ll be amazed by the results of air pressure in action!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Upside Down Glass of Water Science Experiment

Pick up Ball with a Jar Science Experiment

It almost seems like magic but with the help of science, you can pick up a ball with an open jar!

Instead of magic, this easy science activity uses centripetal force and practice to do what seems like the impossible. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Pick up Ball with a Jar Experiment

Will It Melt Science Experiment

Can you guess which items will melt? This easy outside experiment challenges what students think they know about the effects of the sun.

Pepper Move Science Experiment

Can you make pepper move and zoom away with just a light touch of your finger? With science you can!

This experiment only takes a few quick minutes from beginning to end, but the reaction caused by surface tension makes kids want to do it over and over. 

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial ->  Pepper Move Science Experiment

Crush a Plastic Bottle Science Experiment

Go for it, crush that bottle, but don’t touch it! Although it usually can’t be seen or touched, air pressure is pushing against all surfaces at all times.

With this easy science activity kids can see air pressure at work when they watch a bottle crushes itself!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Crush a Plastic Bottle Science Experiment

Egg in Vinegar Science Experiment

This vinegar science experiment will have your eggs and kids bouncing (with excitement!) before you know it!

Kids can watch and explore the results of chemical reactions as the egg changes from something that seems solid into what feels like something bouncy!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Egg in Vinegar Science Experiment

Straw Through a Potato Science Experiment

Can you make a normal plastic straw go into a raw, solid potato? It seems like something impossible, but science can easily make it possible!

Pick your potatoes then let kids try their strength as they explore air pressure with this super easy experiment.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Straw Through a Potato Science Experiment

Rainbow in a Jar Science Experiment

With only a few household items, they’ll explore mass, volume, and density with every color layer!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Rainbow in a Jar Experiment

Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment

Kids can have fun while learning more about centripetal force with this fun experiment.

With a little muscle and science, kids watch with amazement as they create their own glitter cyclone in a bottle as the centripetal force vortex appears.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Tornado in a Bottle Science Experiment

Why Doesn’t the Water Leak Science Experiment

Can you poke holes in a plastic bag full of water without the water leaking out? With this super easy science activity you can!

Kids are stunned as they learn about polymers and how they can do what seems to be impossible.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Why Doesn’t the Water Leak Science Experiment

Use a Bottle to Blow-up a Balloon Experiment

Is it possible to blow up a balloon with only water and science? 

In this super easy experiment, kids learn more about how matter behaves as they watch a balloon inflate and deflate as a result of matter being heated and cooled.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Use a Bottle to Blow-up a Balloon Experiment

Orange Float Science Experiment

Kids explore buoyancy as they learn about and test density in this sink or float science activity.

While it only takes a few minutes, this super easy experiment invites kids to predict what they think will happen then discuss why the heavier orange floats!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Orange Float Science Experiment

Pick up Ice with String Science Experiment

With only a few household items, kids learn about freezing temperatures and the results they create in saltwater versus freshwater.

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Pick Up Ice with String Science Experiment

Color Changing Walking Water Experiment

Using the concepts explored in our popular Walking Water Science Experiment, kids will see color walk from one glass to another and change colors as it goes!

The quick experiment seems to defy gravity like magic, but don’t worry, kids can find out how science makes it work!

Detailed Instructions & Video Tutorial -> Color Changing Walking Water Experiment

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Hot Or Cold Ice

Hot or cold Ice?!? 

Sounds like a crazy name for an experiment. 

Of course, ice is always cold but in this experiment we’ll take a look at which freezes first hot or cold water?

What Do I Need?

• 2 identical cups (ideally plastic!)

How Do I Do It?

STEP1  - The setup for this experiment couldn’t be much simpler. All we need is two identical cups and some hot and cold water.

WARNING: For safety it’s best to use plastic cups as water gets a little bigger when it freezes which could cause a glass to shatter if you didn’t keep an eye on it.

STEP2  -  Pour some hot water into one of your glasses and exactly the same amount of cold water into the other.

STEP3  -  The idea in this experiment is to see which freezes first. The hot or the cold water. Which do you think? Make your prediction now!

STEP4  -  To make sure that this is as fair a test as possible place the hot and cold cups of water close to one another in the same part of the freezer and time which one freezes first.

STEP5  - What?!!? Not what you thought?

STEP6  - If you got a different result to the one that you were expecting then the best thing to do is to repeat the experiment but with the hot and cold water in opposite positions. Do you still get the same result?

What’s Going On?

It’s very likely that you found that your hot water froze before your cold water did.

This doesn’t seem like it makes too much sense and that’s exactly why I wanted to include this simple but baffling experiment.

Sometimes hot water freezes faster than cold water and this is known as the Mpemba effect. There are many different variables that can cause this. One theory is that more of the hotter water evaporates first meaning that there is less water to freeze so it freezes more quickly.

Another theory is that the convection currents within the hot water are the cause. The truth is that we’re not really sure, which is why I thought this was the perfect experiment to include.

More Fun Please! - Experiment Like A Real Scientist!

• Do you find that that it’s the hot or the cold water that freezes first each time?

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Super Cool Hot and Cold Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Sharing is caring!

Teaching the concepts of hot and cold is a fun way to get your preschooler involved in science. This is something they can feel on their own and most likely already understand the difference between by the age of 3, so the experiment isn’t beyond the grasp of their understanding. And who doesn’t love to play with water and ice! Let’s do hot and cold science experiments for preschoolers!

(As an   Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the links, you will not pay any extra, but I will earn a small commission that will help us finance our creative life. Thanks!)

What You Need for Hot and Cold Science Experiments for preschoolers:

• Hot water (not too hot)
• Optional: a small stone or rock

How to Do the Science Experiment for preschoolers:

Before this experiment, we read the story Fireflies in the Night as part of our Summertime Activity Plans. The story talks about how hot and cold affect the firefly’s light, so it provides the perfect opportunity to then talk about hot and cold.

First, add water to the bowls.

To one bowl add the warm water. To the other add cool water from the faucet.

Then give your little one a cup of ice. Let them touch the ice and talk about what it feels like. Then have them dip their fingers in the bowl of warm water to feel the difference between the two.

Next, let your preschooler pour a few ice cubes in the cool water. While they sit in the water, also put a few in the hot water. Ask them what happens to the ice cubes as they watch.

Why did the ice cubes melt? What does the water feel like now?

Now look back at the cool water bowl. What has happened to the ice? It shouldn’t have melted as much, but the water should be cooler to the touch as well.

Allow them to play with the water and ice cubes as much as they want, keeping the discussion going about what they feel and why they think it happened. Just have fun with it!

Extra credit science experiment:

If you want to keep the experiment going, give your toddler the warm rock now.

(To warm the rock, put it in a 200 F oven for just a few minutes. You want it warm to the touch, but not hot enough to burn.)

Now put an ice cube on top of the warm rock. What happens to the ice cube? How does the rock feel now? Put the rock in a bowl of ice. What happens to the rock?

Again, let your little one lead the experiment and have fun as they explore the concepts of hot and cold!

If you loved this one of our science experiments for preschoolers, check out our others!

Awesome Floating and Sinking Grapes Science Experiment for Preschoolers

Super Summertime Activity Plans for Preschoolers

Lemon Volcanoes: an Amazing Science Experiment for Preschoolers

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Advertisement

Hardening – the new way to stop your kids getting a cold?

Feedback delves into a new study about snotty-nose prevention in children, and is intrigued to discover that hardening, rubbing and water procedures are the cutting edge of cold science these days

By Marc Abrahams

26 June 2024

Hardened children

“It is well known that the best means of preventing colds is hardening,” writes Sidikova Maryam Amankeldievna in the Journal of Medicine, Practice and Nursing . To prevent parents from going overboard, she warns that only healthy children “can be hardened with water procedures”.

Hardening may be best, but it isn’t the one-and-only method of cold prevention. Amankeldievna, a researcher at Samarkand State Medical University, Uzbekistan, also advocates rubbing. “Rubbing,” she specifies, “should be done all year round.” Done properly, rubbing “is carried out in the following order: first the arms, then the legs, chest, stomach and back”.

Hardening need not be water-based. Amankeldievna also approves of air. “Air hardening is a milder factor,” she writes, “and is allowed for children of all health groups.”

Sunlight is another alternative. But sunlight hardening is problematic: “Sunbathing,” says Amankeldievna, “is possible only with the permission of a doctor.”

We all know that

If you are a rapid reader, it is easy to keep abreast of everything that is well known: just read the thousands of new research papers published every week. But not everyone is a rapid reader.

As a service for slower readers, Feedback aims to round up some of the things that – as testified in scientific literature (see above) – are officially well known. Each is documented in a statement that begins “It is well known that…”.

Here are some well-known examples.

The forgetful functor is well-known. Cary Malkiewich and Maru Sarazola write in a preprint study: “It is well-known that the stable model structure on symmetric spectra cannot be transferred from the one on sequential spectra through the forgetful functor.”

Some really complicated things are well known. Frank Nielsen, writing in the journal Entropy , mentions one: “It is well known that skewed Bhattacharyya distances between the probability densities of an exponential family amount to skewed Jensen divergences induced by the cumulant function between their corresponding natural parameters, and that in limit cases the sided Kullback-Leibler divergences amount to reverse-sided Bregman divergences.”

Heinz Kohut’s papers on narcissism are well known. Allison Merrick, writing in the journal Psychoanalysis, Self and Context , reminds us it is “well known that Heinz Kohut’s papers on narcissism brought forth a re-evaluation of a patient’s healthy self-regard”.

Ronald Fagin and Joseph Halpern, in a paper called A new approach to updating beliefs” , note that it is “well known that the conditional probability function is a probability function”.

And Luca Di Luzio, Admir Greljo and Marco Nardecchia, writing in Physical Review D , assure us that “ it is well known that massive vectors crave an ultraviolet (UV) completion”.

How many of these well-known things do most people know? The answer to that question is unknown. If you know of a way-too-little-known well-known thing that screams for its moment in the sun, please send it (with documentation) to: Well-known things, c/o Feedback.

The fascist disease

Reader Jennifer Skillen tells Feedback how thinking about thinking led to a mother-son collaboration during one of their shared reading sessions, which began years ago with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and now encompass New Scientist, along with other more adult material.

“The other day when I started reading the cancer section of ‘How to think about…’ [ New Scientist , 25 May, page 42], my son said, ‘Mum, how about reading it substituting the word fascist for cancer.’ Well, nothing is too much trouble for me when it comes to my son, so I did,” says Jennifer.

“Surprisingly, the article read very well with the substitution; it both continued to make sense, but was also very funny. It seems both cancer cells and fascist cells respond to changes in the environment, and can divide rapidly.”

Feedback agrees, and provides some snippets from the article so readers can make up their own minds: “Cancer cells compete for access to nutrients, and only the fittest survive… They’re evolving to become the best cancer cell they can become and that typically is bad news.”

Jennifer and her son have thus been wondering about other word pair substitutions that readers may have found for New Scientist articles, where the substitution “makes sense, increases knowledge and amuses”.

The question “What’s inside?” leads to many a surprise, sometimes involving an eel. Rohit Goel at Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences in India and his colleagues reveal one of those surprises.

Writing in the The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology , the researchers describe “ a rare example of an interesting postmortem artifact of the presence of moray eels within a corpse”.

The team says that to the best of its knowledge, “this is the first reported case of such a finding”.

Marc Abrahams created the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founded the magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Earlier, he worked on unusual ways to use computers. His website is  improbable.com .

Got a story for Feedback?

You can send stories to Feedback by email at [email protected] . Please include your home address. This week’s and past Feedbacks can be seen on our website .

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The 7 Best Insulated Water Bottles Our Editors Use and Love

These double- and triple-walled stainless steel bottles from brands including Yeti, Owala, and Hydro Flask are designed to keep liquids cold for an entire day—and then some.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Insulated water bottles are made of stainless-steel (a material that provides insulation as is) and have vacuum-sealed inner walls. No air in between walls means less heat transfer so water stays colder longer. The more walls, the better—double-walled options are ideal and triple-walled options insulate best.

Sure, insulated water bottles may not be as lightweight as the plastic kind, but they’re more durable over time. Since they’re a bit heavier, many come with a handle or carrying loop for easy transporting, and most have lids and caps that come apart and are dishwasher-safe .

We cover the best insulated water bottles our editors use and love and include info on what makes each worth buying based on features like overall performance, ease of cleaning, and how comfortable they are to carry around everyday.

The Best Insulated Water Bottles

• Best Overall: Yeti Rambler
• Best Budget: Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle
• Best Straw Bottle: Hydro Flask Wide Flex Straw Bottle
• Best Filtered Bottle: Larq Filtered Insulated Water Bottle
• Largest Volume: Stanley Classic Growler

Construction

Stainless-steel is relatively lightweight and durable, and generally lasts longer than plastic. It also has properties that bolster insulation. You’ll see “double- or triple-wall construction” and “vacuum sealed” touted a lot but it’s not marketing jargon—it’s the most effective method of insulation. Because there’s no air between layers of stainless steel, it slows the transfer of heat to keep liquid inside colder for longer. We recommend bottles that are all double-walled for efficient insulation.

Many of our picks have a powder-coated finish for added durability. It’s a layer of epoxy or polymer on the outside of the bottle that also gives you a bit of extra grip since it’s usually textured. Lids, caps, and handles are made of BPA-free plastics and food-grade rubber, and are typically dishwasher-safe.

The main drawback of all stainless-steel water bottles is taste-transfer, whether it’s a metallic-like taste from the bottle itself or one that’s left from previous contents. That said, we didn’t experience any taste transfer in the insulated water bottles we recommend. Another drawback you may encounter is the stainless-steel can dent and powder-coating can get nicked when banged around. Also, keep in mind that many insulated water bottles don’t fit into cars’ cup holders, but you can buy an accessory specifically designed to remedy that issue.

Insulated water bottles come in a range of sizes, from roughly 17 to 64 ounces. Anything smaller than that and you’re getting into travel mug territory; anything larger isn’t ideal for hauling everyday. Personally, I prefer an insulated water bottle that can hold at least 36 ounces, though my daily plastic one is 50 ounces. Gauge how much water you drink in a day and how often you’re willing to fill up a bottle. You can also have multiple water bottles of different capacities that you keep in the car, at home, or at the office, as most of us here at Popular Mechanics do.

Lids and Handles

This is where personal preference comes into play. The lid of insulated water bottles ranges from wide-mouth caps to spouts to lids with attached straws. There’s no one-size-fits all, so determine how you plan to use your water bottle. Small-mouth and spout openings are good for sipping on the move but are hard to fit ice in. A large opening isn’t easy to sip from but that’s not an issue if you plan to use it around the home or office.

If you can’t decide on type, a lot of our picks have alternate lids from their respective brands so you can customize as you see fit. Some options we recommend like the Hydro Flask Wide Flex bottle have lids you can take apart and thoroughly wash by hand. This is especially helpful if you use your insulated water bottle for coffee or other flavored beverages.

Design details like a two-part lid or carrying handle may seem like nice-to-have extras, but once you’re used to these water bottle features, they quickly become necessities. A carrying loop on the lid makes the bottle a lot easier to transport and can easily attach to a backpack or other gear. Lids that disassemble for deep cleaning is appreciated, especially if you plan to drink beverages like electrolyte mix for your workout.

Cleaning Tips

Cleaning an insulated water bottle—for the most part—is as easy as throwing it in your dishwasher, though they can benefit from a deeper cleaning from time to time, especially if the opening is small. Use a brush to scrub out the inside with some dish soap and let it soak overnight. Then empty it out and let it dry completely before putting it back in a cabinet. If your insulated water bottle has a straw, invest in a straw brush—there’s only so much running water through that small opening can do. Oxo sells this handy kit that has both bottle and straw brushes for under $10.

How We Selected

The insulated water bottles we recommend are our editors’ favorites and we mention the standout features that we’ve come to know and love, including the most important—keeping our drinks cold. We noted which ones were durable enough to withstand everyday use and took into account convenient features that people particularly enjoyed whether it was a handy carrying loop, ergonomic design detail, or just years of reliable use. Every option we cover is tested and approved, with the exception of the Stanley Growler. However, we talked with multiple customers who were impressed by its build quality and insulation.

Yeti Rambler Insulated Water Bottle

I’ve had this insulated water bottle for going on six years now and I’m convinced it’ll last me 60. I’ve dropped the Rambler multiple times out of my backpack and bumped it around on rock faces during hikes. It’s also leakproof and the spout is easy to drink from.

This bottle was my go-to when working in a warehouse that had no AC and would keep my water cold from the morning (this was in Houston, Texas, mind you) until I refilled it around noon. The screw-top lid is wide enough to easily fill with ice and I appreciated the wide top handle to carry the bottle around as it’s on the heavier side at 1.5-pounds.

The original lid is just a one-piece top that comes off completely, and I drink straight from the opening. This is hard to do when in motion and is my biggest complaint with this bottle. While the wide-mouth opening makes refilling the ice easy, it’s too wide to comfortably sip and spills liquids too easily if you’re not careful.

Luckily Yeti has updated the included lid with a two-piece chug cap, the same one that comes on the Yonder bottle (also great). It’s easy to drink from and the sip spout is removable if you want to add ice.

It’s not cheap, but the Rambler is reliable, durable, and keeps drinks cold for a very long time. It’s easy to clean and never has any weird metallic or taste transfer. Yeti also has an array of lids and accessories so I know I can update it however and whenever I want.

Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle

The FreeSip has a best-of-both-worlds drinking spout that lets you take small sips while on the go or bigger swigs when seated at your desk or around the house. The flip-top cap opens with one hand, and you don’t run the risk of losing it as you would with screw-on caps.

Cat Bowen , a Senior Editor at Best Products (a fellow Hearst magazine), uses the FreeSip because it has yet to leak or spill whether she’s on her way to work, going to the gym, or picking up her kids. She’s also impressed with the insulating capabilities and says it keeps her water and green tea cold all day. Even after multiple cycles in her commercial-grade dishwasher (she’s very into clean), her Owalla FreeSip is going strong.

That being said, she notes the bottle can feel slippery and isn’t the easiest to hold.

Hydro Flask Wide Flex Straw Cap Insulated Water Bottle

This bottle from Hyrdro Flask has a straw that’s easy to sip from and a lid that’s wide enough to pour in ice. It’s the go-to for Tom Price , an Associate Reviews Editor here at Popular Mechanics .

“I love it most because Hydro Flask consistently has top-tier insulation,” he says. “I’ll have cold water all day if I drop a few ice cubes in at the start.” He’s impressed with the effectiveness of the double-wall vacuum insulation and that both the lid and bottle are dishwasher-safe. For deeper cleaning, the lid and straw can be completely taken apart and separated to clear out any unwanted build-up.

While he likes the user-friendly straw and how easy it is to clean, the standout feature for him is the small carrying loop. “I love it,” he says. “I can hook the whole bottle around one finger using the small loop.”

Larq Filtered Insulated Water Bottle

This is the filtered water bottle I use most because of its sleek design and above-average filtering capability, especially when that cold water is coming from a public fountain. It not only removes minerals for taste, but also filters bacteria, heavy metals, and PFOA/PFOFs (also known as forever chemicals). On top of that, it does an excellent job of keeping water cold.

It’s constructed of the same stainless steel as most of the water bottles on our list and has a powder-coated finish that makes it comfortable to hold.

Another highlight is the Larq’s leakproof flip-up straw that’s easy to drink from—a huge plus as filtered water bottles are notorious for being hard to get water through the filter and straw. The filter itself is also quite small, which means less water displacement and more water in my bottle. The leak-proof cap has an attached carabiner, for easy carrying on my finger or hooking onto my backpack.

The brand has transparent testing methods and publishes its testing results on its website so you can check to see if it removes the specific contaminants you want to avoid.

The small-opening is difficult to put ice in, but it’s doable. I usually fill it up with the crushed ice from my apartment fridge with some water so by the time I’m refilling at a fountain a bit of ice has melted, the contents are still cold, and the water I’m refilling is still filtered and tastes good.

Stanley Easy-Pour Growler Insulated Water Bottle

Stanley’s tumbler may be the brand’s best-known vessel, but its classic growler has been a staple for years. More than just preserving beer’s carbonation and chill, it does the same great job at keeping water cold for long periods of time.

The large mouth lid flips open and closed with a plastic-and-metal latch. It also has a rubber gasket around the lid to ensure nothing leaks or spills when in-transit. The handle is built into the collar of the bottle, with the bottom end secured by a screw into the bottle’s body. This is more durable than an attached rubber loop that can stretch or break.

This growler offers high volume that’s easy to carry. Other bottle brands offer large-capacity insulated bottles, but they’re typically cumbersome and awkward to haul around. Stanley’s growler, on the other hand, gives you lots of capacity and reliable insulation in a more portable design.

S'well Stainless-Steel Insulated Water Bottle

The sleek S’well bottle is perfect for sipping on-the-go. It has a small spout top so it’s easy to drink from without flooding your face or having to chug from a wide opening. It’s the preferred bottle of Joana Mascioli , Deputy Editor at Best Products , who doesn’t find drinking “out of rubber straws refreshing whatsoever.” (I agree.)

“I’ve been loyal to my S’well water bottles for years and pretty much refuse to sip out of anything else,” she says. “I love that I’m able to change the top for different needs, like my sports cap when I’m riding my bike.”

The bottles come in 17- and 25-ounce sizes, and you can get two for different uses. Mascioli uses the larger size when at home or in the office and the smaller size when going to the gym or running errands. Thanks to the sleek design, it’s easy to slip into a tote or backpack.

“Regardless of what size or top I’m using,” she says, “my S’well bottles keep my water tasting fresh (never stale) and ice cold for days.” Her only complaint is that the bottom dents easily if you drop it.

Ninja Thirsti Insulated Water Bottle

The Thirsti is made for those who prefer their water fizzy but works just as well for any still water or drinks. The spout has a leakproof, twist-off cap that locks in carbonation, and the wide-mouth lid is removable so it’s easy to add ice.

Its insulation impressed Summer Cartwright , a Senior Editor at Best Products , who insists this bottle keeps her drinks “shock-your-system cold.”

“When I put ice in it with water, it keeps the H20 chilly for days on end.” she says. She also likes the cap and lid and says they work well. “It’s a little hard to get the whole top off—you twist it, but it’s insulated so much that it takes some extra effort,” though this isn’t a dealbreaker. “Having an insulated water bottle that works this well means I don’t really care about exerting more effort.”

The Thirsti has a silicon strap you can use to carry or attach to your backpack with a carabiner. It also has indents on both sides to make it easier to hold and drink from, similar to the Yeti Yonder —a personal favorite. A small indentation like this makes drinking from it a lot more satisfying.

Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.

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• Achieving Fusion Ignition

For the last six decades, LLNL researchers and their colleagues have been working to achieve one of the most challenging goals in all of science and a primary objective of NIF: fusion ignition. The goal was reached on Dec. 5, 2022, thanks to a wide-ranging international partnership and sustained efforts by every aspect of NIF and LLNL operations—the laser, targets, optics, diagnostics, modeling and simulations, and the people who make it all possible (see “Keys to Our Success” ).

Achieving ignition—producing more fusion energy than the amount of laser energy delivered to the NIF target—provides new opportunities for stockpile stewardship applications and enhances the prospects for an inertial fusion energy future.

In “indirect drive” inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments on NIF, up to 192 laser beams are fired into a centimeter-sized hollow cylinder called a hohlraum. This generates a “bath” of soft x rays that ablate, or blow off, the surface of a peppercorn-sized capsule suspended in the hohlraum.

The result is a rocket-like implosion that compresses and heats partially frozen hydrogen isotopes inside the capsule to conditions of pressure and temperature found only in the cores of stars and giant planets and in exploding nuclear weapons. The speed of the implosion—more than 400 kilometers per second—allows the fusion reactions to take place before the fuel can disassemble; the fuel is trapped by its own inertia (hence the term inertial confinement fusion).

What Is Fusion?

Fusion describes what happens when the nuclei of light atoms such as hydrogen overcome the repulsive electrostatic force that keeps them apart. When the nuclei get close enough, the force that binds protons and neutrons together, the strong force, takes over and pulls the nuclei even closer together so they “fuse” into a new, heavier helium nucleus with two neutrons and two protons.

The helium nucleus, also known as an alpha particle, has a slightly smaller mass than the sum of the masses of the two hydrogen nuclei, and the difference in mass is released as energy according to Albert Einstein’s famous formula E=mc 2 . The energy is released in the form of the alpha particles, high-energy neutrons, and other forms of energy such as electromagnetic radiation.

Nuclear fusion is different from nuclear fission, where the nuclei of heavy elements like uranium are split, forming two lighter elements—the process used in today’s nuclear power plants. In both nuclear reactions, the elements themselves change and become new elements—and in the process, a small amount of mass is converted to a large amount of energy.

What Is Ignition?

Fusion ignition occurs when the heating power from alpha particles produced by fusion reactions in the hot spot at the center of the target capsule overcomes the cooling effects of x-ray losses, electron conduction, and implosion expansion. When enough alpha particles are “stopped,” or absorbed, in the high-density fuel layer, a process known as alpha heating, a burn wave of fusion reactions propagates into the cold fuel surrounding the hot spot. When the energy deposition by the alpha particles contributes more than 50 percent of the heating of the fuel, a self-sustaining feedback loop known as a “burning plasma” results in an explosive amplification of energy output.

The NIF experiment on Dec. 5, 2022, far surpassed the ignition threshold by producing 3.15 megajoules (MJ) of fusion energy output from 2.05 MJ of laser energy delivered to the target. Several more shots achieved ignition during the following months:

• On July 30, 2023, the NIF laser again delivered 2.05 MJ of energy to the target, resulting in 3.88 MJ of fusion energy output, the highest yield achieved to date.
• On Oct. 8, 2023, NIF achieved fusion ignition for the third time with 1.9 MJ of laser energy resulting in 2.4 MJ of fusion energy yield.
• On Oct. 30, 2023, NIF set a new record for laser energy, firing 2.2 MJ of energy for the first time on an ignition target. This experiment resulted in 3.4 MJ of fusion energy yield, the second-highest neutron yield ever achieved on NIF.
• And an experiment on Feb 12, 2024, produced an estimated 5.2 MJ—more than doubling the input energy of 2.2 MJ. Additional experiments using higher laser energies and producing even higher energy yields are expected in the coming months, further demonstrating that NIF can repeatedly conduct fusion experiments at multi-megajoule levels of energy output.

Achieving ignition was an unprecedented, game-changing breakthrough that advances the science of ensuring the reliability of the nation’s nuclear stockpile (see “NIF and Stockpile Stewardship” ) as well as the potential use of fusion as a safe, clean, and virtually unlimited energy source.

Gaining New Understanding

While reaching ignition on NIF proved more challenging than first expected, researchers gained new understanding of the process with every experiment. For example, they learned important lessons about the initial limitations of their simulations and used that knowledge to continually improve both the models and implosion performance.

In particular, the advent of high-resolution 3D modeling and simulations contributed to a better understanding of the perturbation sources—including such “engineering features” as the thin membranes that suspend the target capsule inside the hohlraum and the fill tubes used to inject fuel into the capsule—that interfere with implosion performance. Other factors inhibiting energy yield are laser-plasma and hydrodynamic instabilities, asymmetries in the hohlraum x-ray flux that drives the implosion, and the mixing of capsule material with the fuel.

The addition of new and enhanced diagnostics , such as multiple line-of-sight neutron detectors, also led to improved target performance. The ability of new high-performance supercomputers and powerful “deep learning” techniques to process, analyze, and simulate the mountain of data produced by these diagnostics in 3D over a broad range of perturbation sources—capsule surface imperfections, engineering features, drive asymmetries— significantly improved the ability of simulations to match, and even predict , experimental results.

Setting Energy Records

Since the first NIF laser shots, scientists have set records for neutron yield and the amount of energy generated. Neutron yields have grown exponentially since NIF experiments began; more energy is being coupled to the target capsule; implosion velocities have increased; and the pressures in the center of the implosion are many times higher. The result has been a steady increase in energy yield that culminated with the NIF experiment that produced a yield of more than 3 MJ, more than twice the record yield of 1.35 MJ set in 2021 (see “Threshold of Ignition” ).

“Nature does not give up her secrets easily.” —NIF Senior Scientist John Lindl

NIF also made history in May, 2018, when it fired a record 2.15 MJ of ultraviolet energy to the Target Chamber—a 15 percent improvement over NIF’s design specification of 1.8 MJ and more than 10 percent higher than NIF’s previous 1.9 MJ energy record set in March, 2012.

Researchers are now poised to further improve NIF’s performance by coupling even more laser energy to the capsule while maintaining symmetry control and minimizing fuel contamination from target capsule material, or “mix.” We also are pursuing strategies like novel hohlraum designs ; larger and thicker capsules; magnetized targets ; and new methods for finishing, mounting, and filling capsules.

We owe our progress to the decades of remarkable work by previous generations of LLNL scientists and engineers who advanced the field of high energy density and ICF science to where it is today. A new generation of LLNL researchers, some of whom are pictured below, are carrying on this tradition of excellence.

Ignition Experiments

In achieving ignition, NIF researchers are fulfilling the vision of the early laser pioneers who conceived of using the x rays generated by a powerful, brief laser pulse to fuse hydrogen isotopes and liberate copious amounts of energy.

Following the completion of NIF construction in March 2009, scientists focused on installing, qualifying, and integrating the facility’s many systems and the required scientific platforms to support a wide variety of experiments. Precision experiments devoted to ignition began in May 2011 and have since produced unprecedented high-energy-density environments (see “Pursuing Ignition: A Decade of Progress” ).

Here are some examples of recent ignition experiments:

“High-Laser-Energy Shot Puts NIF Back on Track Toward Ignition”

“NIF Experiment Puts Researchers at Threshold of Fusion Ignition”

“ Nature : How Researchers Achieved Burning Plasma Regime at NIF”

“ Nature Physics Paper Describes Burning Plasma Target and Laser Designs”

“ICF Implosions Shown to Have Significant 3D Asymmetries”

“Angled Fill Tubes Aid Quest to Raise NIF’s Implosion Performance”

“Improving Understanding of NIF Implosion Instabilities”

“Frustraum Hohlraum Design Is Shaping Up”

“Improving 3-D Models Could Help Guide NIF’s Pursuit of Ignition”

“NIF Experiments Double Record Fusion Energy Yield”

“Tracking the Causes of Energy Loss in NIF Implosions”

“Testing Alternatives to Tents in NIF Implosions”

“‘Bigfoot’ Prowls the NIF Target Chamber”

“Laser-Driven Magnetic Fields Could Boost NIF Implosions”

“NIF Liquid-Hydrogen Target Gets Its First Test”

“‘Shock/Shear’ Experiments Shed Light on Turbulent Mix”

More Information

“Fusion Supports the Stockpile,” NIF & Photon Science News, July 28, 2021

“New Machine Learning Tactic Sharpens NIF Shot Predictions,” NIF & Photon Science News, July 8, 2021

“Laser fusion reactor approaches ‘burning plasma’ milestone,” Science, November 23, 2020

Inertial Confinement Fusion Program, Weapons and Complex Integration Directorate

“Icarus Camera Soars Close to NIF’s Sun—and Thrives!,” NIF & Photon Science News , August 12, 2020

“The Shape of Things to Come,” Science & Technology Review , July, 2020

“On the Threshold of a Critical Milestone,” Science & Technology Review , April, 2019

“Experimentally trained statistical models boost nuclear-fusion performance,” Nature , January 30, 2019

“Why Ignition? NIF Experiments and Stockpile Stewardship,” NIF & Photon Science News , June, 2018

“The long road to ignition,” Physics World , April 20, 2017

“Climbing the Mountain of Fusion Ignition: An Interview with Omar Hurricane,” NIF & Photon Science News , May, 2015

“A Significant Achievement on the Path to Ignition,” Science & Technology Review , June, 2014

“On the Path to Ignition,” Science & Technology Review , March, 2013

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Flying objects and shrunken heads: World UFO Day feted amid surge in sightings, government denials

Associated Press

FILE - A sign directs travelers to the start of the "1947 UFO Crash Site Tours" in Roswell, N.M., June 10, 1997. World UFO Day is being celebrated amid a surge in sightings and government studies on unidentified flying objects. Its date of July 2nd has its roots in the so-called Roswell incident on July 2, 1947. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File)

NORFOLK, Va. – For those of you who don't celebrate World UFO Day, consider this:

A former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer told Congress last summer about a government program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects.

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The Mexican Congress held an unprecedented session in September during which supposed mummies were presented as “nonhuman beings that are not part of our terrestrial evolution.”

And NASA now has a director of research for unidentified flying objects, or what it calls “unidentified anomalous phenomena.”

Never mind that the Pentagon denied the former intelligence officer's claims; that Mexican researchers said the mummies “made no sense;” and that a NASA study found no evidence of extraterrestrials.

There's still never been a better time to mark World UFO Day.

A look at the history of World UFO Day:

Aliens? Or just balloons and crash test dummies?

World UFO Day has its roots in the so-called Roswell Incident on July 2, 1947. On that date, something crashed at what was then the J.B. Foster ranch in New Mexico. There were reports that the U.S. military had recovered a “flying disc.” But officials later said the debris was merely the remnants of a high-altitude weather balloon.

The Air Force investigated the incident in 1994 amid charges that it was covering up the truth. It concluded that the supposed alien spacecraft was likely a secret Army Air Force balloon designed to monitor Soviet nuclear testing.

The material found near Roswell consisted of foil-wrapped fabric, wooden sticks, rubber pieces, and small I-beams with strange markings on them. A local newspaper headline described the find dramatically and unequivocally: Air Force Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch.

“The Air Force research did not locate or develop any information that the ‘Roswell Incident’ was a UFO event,” wrote Col. Richard Weaver, author of the report.

The Air Force released another report addressing UFO claims in 1997, stating that alleged alien bodies found near Roswell were just dummies used in parachute tests.

Some UFO researchers pushed back against that explanation, noting that such dummies weren't used until 10 years after the Roswell Incident. And they said it would be a stretch for people who claimed to see alien bodies to mix up their dates so badly.

The life-size dummies were used in high-altitude parachute drops from 1954 to 1959. The majority landed outside the confines of military bases in eastern New Mexico, near Roswell, according to the Air Force report.

The dummies had a skeleton of aluminum or steel, skin of latex or plastic, a cast aluminum skull, and an instrument cavity in the torso and head.

The Air Force said the existence of such dummies was not widely known outside of scientific circles and "easily could have been mistaken for something they were not.’’

UFOs are a national security concern

In 2022, Congress held its first hearing on UFOs in half a century as the Pentagon investigated hundreds of unexplained sightings in the sky.

The spotted objects appeared to be aircraft flying without any discernible means of propulsion. They have been reported near military bases and coastlines, raising the prospect that what witnesses actually spotted was secret Chinese or Russian technology.

A 2021 government report reviewed 144 sightings of aircraft or other devices that were apparently flying at mysterious speeds or trajectories. It found no extraterrestrial links but drew few other conclusions and called for better data collection.

Lawmakers from both parties have said the UFOs are a national security concern. But the sightings are usually fleeting. Some appear for no more than an instant on camera — and then sometimes end up distorted by the camera lens.

Ronald Moultrie, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, said during a 2022 hearing that the Pentagon was trying to destigmatize the issue and encourage pilots and other military personnel to report anything unusual they see.

Then things got a little strange last year.

During a congressional hearing in late July, retired Air Force Maj. David Grusch testified that the U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects .

Asked whether the U.S. government had information about extraterrestrial life, Grusch said the U.S. likely has been aware of “nonhuman” activity since the 1930s.

The Pentagon denied Grusch’s claims of a cover-up and denied the existence of any such program.

Shriveled bodies with shrunken heads

Unlike the hearings in the U.S., the testimony before lawmakers in the Mexican Congress included alleged evidence of aliens.

During an unprecedented session in September , Mexican journalist José Jaime Maussan presented two boxes containing shriveled bodies with shrunken, warped heads — supposed mummies found in Peru.

“It’s the queen of all evidence,” Maussan claimed. “That is, if the DNA is showing us that they are nonhuman beings and that there is nothing that looks like this in the world, we should take it as such.”

The apparently desiccated bodies date back to 2017 and were found deep underground in the sandy Peruvian coastal desert of Nazca. Most attribute the famous Nazca Lines to ancient Indigenous communities.

Julieta Fierro, researcher at the Institute of Astronomy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, was among those to express skepticism, saying that many details about the figures “made no sense.”

She noted that scientists would need more advanced technology than the X-rays they claimed to use to determine if the allegedly calcified bodies were “nonhuman”.

At another hearing in November , Maussan made the case again, citing a “nonhuman” that did not have lungs or ribs.

NASA chief: ‘Show me the evidence’

The Pentagon released a study in March that had examined the many UFO sightings over nearly the past century and found no evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial intelligence.

The report analyzed U.S. government investigations since 1945. It also found no evidence that the U.S. or private companies had reverse-engineered extraterrestrial technology.

The Pentagon's report arrived about six months after NASA released a report on UFOs , which also found no evidence of extraterrestrials.

But NASA Administrator Bill Nelson did acknowledge that another Earth-like planet could exist within the billions of galaxies in the universe.

“If you ask me, do I believe there’s life in a universe that is so vast that it’s hard for me to comprehend how big it is? My personal answer is yes,” Nelson said at a news conference.

When pressed by reporters on whether the U.S. or other governments are hiding aliens or otherworldly spaceships, Nelson said: “Show me the evidence.”

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