It is almost Halloween, readers, and even though my family doesn’t celebrate this holiday, over the years we have accumulated a wide variety of spooky science activities that are suitable for all kinds of Halloween-related celebrations and events. Here is a brief run-down of some of my favorite: 1. Puking pumpkins. Carve out a pumpkin and set up an elephant toothpaste experiment inside the pumpkin (yeast, concentrated bleach, soap, and water, for a scientific explosion that w

In case you missed last weekend’s National Chemistry celebration at the Museum of Science, do not despair! The week ends with a similarly exciting celebration at the Boston Children’s Museum on Saturday (http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/calendar/national-chemistry-week-celebration-chemistry-out-world), with a show and hands-on activities that are geared to slightly younger audiences. On Sunday, in case you need even more science from this fantastic museum, they are doing

This is a wonderful weekend to be a chemist in Boston, because we are starting National Chemistry Week on Sunday with an enormous chemistry celebration at the Boston Science Museum. Check out this link: https://www.mos.org/public-events/national-chemistry-week-celebration and plan to be there to celebrate! But what is National Chemistry Week, you might ask? Well, it started as National Chemistry Day in 1987, and was expanded to a full week of chemistry celebrations a few year

What are you up to this weekend, scientists? If you haven’t checked out King Richard’s Faire, in Carver, MA, this would be a great time to try it! Check out the official website here: https://kingrichardsfaire.net/. Basically this is a Rennaisance fair, where you can travel back in time effectively and experience lots of Rennasaice-era entertainment, games, and performaers. Why is it a good idea? First of all, because it’s fun. Second, the research on eduation is pretty clear

If your kids are anything like mine, they eat a lot, and so I find myself in the kitchen a lot. Invariably, they follow me in there (“Mommy, what are you doing? Mommy, can I see? Mommy mommy mommy mommy…”), and so I thought, what about setting up some science things for them to do in the kitchen? Here are my 10 favorite ones. Note: many of them may be messy. We like mess in my house, but you may want to put down extra plastic tablecloths/tarps before you begin. 1. Volcanoes:

This is quite the weekend for STEM-focused activities in the greater Boston area. Brief run-down of the things to do below: 1. OK, if you are a parent or a scientist or both, you should check out the new STEAM making space, the Tech Kitchen, at the Boston Children’s Museum. Local inventors and entrepeneurs can share their information and inventions with visitors, and the space is open every Saturday. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this until now! The Party Elements is lo

Coming up on another vacation week next week, readers, and lots of options of things to do with your children. Did you know that The Party Elements is offering a one day program in Kitchen Chemistry through the Sharon, MA community center for children in grades K-3? It’s true. Going to be a great time making candy lollipops (which you can do by making a super-saturated solution of corn syrup and sugar and water and then letting the solution harden into deliciousness), mixing

What are you up to this weekend, readers? I’m writing from Israel, where it is not cold and not snowing, so if you want to hop over the Atlantic Ocean and visit our family, we’d love to have you. But for the rest of you, here are some options of things to check out: 1. Skiing and/or snowboarding and/or snowtubing. You could be running out of time to check this out for this season, people. Go today. In Rhode Island, kids as young as 3 years old can take ski lessons at Yawgoo V

Almost the weekend, again, readers? What are you up to this weekend? Looks like plenty of exciting events in the Boston area, including a singing competition at Faneuil Hall Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/events/139279143343502/, where 40 A Cappella groups will come to duel it out, and you can watch for free! Head of the Charles Regata is also this weekend – watch lots of rowing people row their way down the Charles River and cheer them on – also for free! Check out th