Hands-on Science

The best science lets you try, find out and prove things yourself. The team have made a stack of video guides and brainteasers so that you can get hands-on with science in your own home.

• Super Cool

  Proof that science is really cool as Dr Yan demonstrates how to turn water into ice - with a single bang!

• Rubber Egg

  If shelling a raw egg isn't impressive enough, Liz then uses osmosis to turn it into a colourful bouncy ball.

• Magic of Science

  Could it be magic? Not quite, but Dallas has some pretty magical science tricks up his sleeve to wow your friends.

• Pykrete Challenge

  Can you out-engineer Jem? He's on a mission to find the world's strongest pykrete, but maybe you can beat him to it.

• Investigate the Unknown

  Dr Yan uses canister rockets (see Fizz Bang) to demonstrate how scientific method is used to investigate the unknown.

• Fizz Bang

  The original pocket rocket. Find out how to fire canister rockets metres into the air, then challenge your friends.

• Forensic Detective

  Can you solve a crime by studying the ink in a note? Dr Yan uses a little forensic science to help catch a thief.

• Spud Missile

  Forget frying and roasting, the best thing to do with spuds has to be firing! Make one potato go a long long way.

• Fizzy Extinguisher

  Can you fight fire with a fizzy drink? Dr Yan can with his home-made carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.

• Acid Cabbage

  Turn pink into blue with a single drop - here's some colourful science to find out what's acidic in your kitchen.

• Egg Sucker

  Ever wanted to get a whole egg into a glass bottle? Well you will now, with Dr Yan's egg-cellent demonstration.

• Straw Submarine

  It's not big but it is clever. With a few ingredients and Dr Yan's buoyancy lesson, you'll soon be a sub driver.

• Sugar Glow

  One lump or two, it doesn't matter, as Dr Yan makes sugar glow in the dark - a phenomenon called triboluminescence.

• Water Bottle Rockets

  A satisfying whoosh, a high speed lift-off and a good soaking if you're standing too close. What's not to like?

• Steel Wool

  Here's how to safely set steel wool (also called wire wool) alight using nothing more than a 9V battery.

• Sticky Rice

  Grains versus gravity. Lift a bottle of rice using only a knife and a little of Dr Yan's science know-how.

• Double Glazing

  Double glazed windows can save energy and lower heating costs, but does it make a big difference and how does it work?

• Squish Bottle

  What happens to something airtight when the air around it changes? Squish foamy stuff with a pressure bottle to find out.

• Swap Shop

  Vodka and cranberry juice is a classic mixed drink. Here's a pub trick where they don't mix – they swap places.

• Two Ball Bounce

  Dr Yan shows you how to get much more bounce from a normal tennis ball. Dead simple, and dead impressive!

• Lightspeed

  Light's fast, but just how fast? If you have a microwave oven you can work out the speed of light yourself.

• Plugholes

  Many people say that every plughole north of the Equator swirls the same way. Here's how to find out if they're right.

• Toaster Balloons

  Use an ordinary toaster to turn a bin bag into a hot air balloon - how high will yours go? Adult supervision required.

• Magnetic Copper

  Magnets aren't attracted to copper, but when they come together they seem to defy gravity. Weird science indeed!

Brainteasers

• String

  Imagine a piece of string wrapped around the Earth's equator - that's about 40,000km. How much MORE string would you need for it to sit 15cm above the ground, all the way around?

• Boat

  Imagine a boat floating in a lake, and a heavy object such as an anchor (but without a chain) is dropped off the side. What happens to the water level of the lake?

• Mirror

  Stand close to a vertical bathroom mirror and move back. What happens to your reflection?

• Spaghetti

  If you bend dry spaghetti until it snaps, how many pieces does it break into?

• Plane in the wind

  Is a plane's round trip quicker with or without the wind?

• How can 2=1?

  Dr Yan tests out a mathematical equation that seems to prove that 2=1.

• Money trick

  Can you fit a 50p coin through a 5p sized hole - without tearing the paper?

• How to cut a cake

  Can you cut a cake into eight slices with just three straight cuts?

• Find the lightest bean

  Can you find the lightest of 27 beans with just three weighings?

• Fold me to the Moon

  How many times would you need to fold a piece of paper in half before you had a wedge tall enough to reach the Moon?