Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Science Friday® and SciFri® are registered service marks of Science Friday, Inc. Site design by Pentagram; engineering by Mediapolis.
Observe the radioactive particles all around you by building a cloud chamber using a clear container, dry ice, and a little rubbing alcohol.
Learn about the Moon with this lunar observation kit from International Observe The Moon Night
Want to write like a computer? Here's your chance to get started.
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Navigate the perils of licker variation by designing your own lollipop-licking experiment.
In this activity, you’ll monitor the position of a houseplant to find out whether or not it changes position in response to a change in sunlight.
Can you engineer a jet propulsion system that mimics the speed of a squid?
Learn about the insect origins of silk by dissecting a cocoon and “degumming” it to reveal the protein that scientists use for constructing new materials.
Why does the length and direction of our shadow change throughout the day? It all comes back to rotation and position of our planet relative to the sun.
Use hot and cold water to see how fluids at different temperatures move around in convection currents in this DIY Sun Science Activity from Lawrence Hall of Science.
Use photosensitive paper to make a map of the path of sunlight on the earth in this activity from the Lawrence Hall of Science.
Use binoculars or a telescope to identify and track sunspots. You’ll need a bright sunny day for this DIY Sun Science Activity from Lawrence Hall of Science.
On a bright, sunny day, use tonic water to detect ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun in this DIY Sun Science Activity from Lawrence Hall of Science.
What does the Sun do? Tell us, using the hashtag#ExplainTheSun
Experts with a vested solar interest weigh in on the sun's various starring roles.
In this activity from IRIS, students explore a mechanical model of a fault to learn how energy is stored elastically in rocks and released suddenly as an earthquake.
Learn from experienced educators how to teach evolution in communities where evolution is controversial and browse classroom evolution resources.
In this excerpt from the book Science for Parents, learn how to visualize convection using stuff you’ve probably already got in your kitchen.
For this science club, we want you to explain something to us, something BIG…
Have scientists always agreed on the impacts of climate change? Act like an investigative reporter by sifting through expert interviews and reports on extreme weather and climate change.
How does egg dye work, and why do eggs turn out brighter with a little vinegar? Investigate how different acids affect the brightness of egg dyes in this kitchen experiment.
Students at Frederick Douglass Academy in New York City use flight simulators as part of an aeronautics class, with some kids eventually logging flight time in real planes.
In this activity, students will perform an experiment that replicates the dilemma that birds face in acquiring food from a confined area. Students will be given a variety of objects to use as “tools,” and will explore various ways of extracting the food ...
In this activity from the American Association of Chemistry Teachers, students simulate an oil spill and test different materials’ abilities to “clean” the oil spill.
Test which building materials will be resistant to mold after a flood or hurricane.
Create small turtle navigators and use them to detect magnetic fields in this activity and companion game.
Use a measuring cup to figure out the density of snow.
Students hear how 21st century tech has changed exploration, then decide for themselves: "What one piece of technology would you take on your own expedition?"
Make your family hikes so much more fun with these hiking tips.
Build and test a water filter inspired by marine filter feeding organisms.
Our best home experiments and maker projects from 2014.
A home holiday experiment that explores combustion using festive fuels such as fir, pine, spruce, and cedar.
Use a simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations to model force in a tugging competition and a pushed skateboard.
Gather evidence from interviews with scientists about comets, then create a wordy illustration of comet characteristics.
Simulate a sneeze with paint, then graphically determine where most of it lands.
Brookhaven National Laboratory provides a glimpse into the culture of the U.S. Department of Energy's summer undergraduate laboratory internship program.
Experience the Science Club's #ObserveEverything project.
A class keeps tabs on fruit decomposition, someone spies mystery in a lake, and a hiker sits down with an ant.
A celestial event, citizen science, and a variety of natural wonders drew observations in week 2 of Science Friday's Science Club.
We observe: you're amazing! Staff picks from the first week of Science Club's #ObserveEverything
Go out and observe something interesting! Submit your in-depth observations with the hashtag #ObserveEverything.
Can you match each jumping spider dance to its vibratory song?
In this game from Population Education, students must use cooperative decision making strategies to manage a renewable resource.
Use two play dough recipes to create "squishy circuits" and explore electricity.
Three delicious math games you can play on your waffles to build math fact fluency and geometry skills, from the folks at Bedtime Math.
Three approaches for using images as gateways to instruction in grades 4-16
In this experiment, you will test a few common household ingredients to see which is the most effective emulsifier for making salad dressing—and you can eat your results!
Map the spread of tick and mosquito-borne illnesses in the United States using real data.
In this lesson from the Chemical Educational Foundation, apply the concepts of pressure and Newton's laws of motion to build balloon rockets.
Add some pizzazz to your favorite clothing and accessories using some wire, tape, a battery, and an LED.
Learn to speak the language of fireflies and invent your own secret flash code.