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The Top Science Discoveries and Innovations of the 80s

Can you imagine our world without Microsoft Windows, DNA fingerprinting, and Apple computers? Kind of hard, right? Well, all of those technologies and innovation was started in the 1980s. When we hear and think of the 80s, some of us may immediately think of Madonna, U2, or even former president Ronald Raegan. However, the 80s was also the time where several innovations and inventions were born such as the artificial human heart and the Apple MacIntosh. That’s why in this article, we are going to list down the top science discoveries of the 80s.

Artificial Human Heart, 1982

The world’s first artificial heart called the Jarvik 7 was invented by Dr. Robert Jarvik in 1982. And on December of that same year, Dr. William DeVries successfully implanted the artificial heart into a Seattle dentist named Barney Clark at the University of Utah. After that, several surgeries using the Jarvik 7 were performed until it became widely used as a temporary heart.

CD Player, 1982

Before the iPod and the wireless Bluetooth speakers, there was the CD player. Sony released the first commercial compact disc player in 1982 called the CDP-101. Back in that time, you need to have at least 674 dollars to afford a CD player and another 15 dollars for a piece of CD. That’s why back then, having a CD player means you are rich. But as CD players slowly became more mainstream, its prices dropped and players became a staple in the majority of American households.

Camcorder, 1983

The following year after the release of the CD player, Sony introduced the Betamax and the Betacam system. At first, they only released it for news organizations but they later decided that they should release it for the consumer market as well where it quickly gained in popularity. The version they released for the consumer market is called the Betamovie and since the gadget became popular in the market, other companies such as Panasonic and JVC decided to create their own camcorders as well.

DNA Fingerprinting, 1984

While studying hereditary family diseases at the University of Leicester in England in 1984, Dr. Alec Jeffreys discovered the repetitive patterns of DNA in humans. He also discovered that the variations of a person’s DNA can also be used to identify an individual. He called his new discovery as “genetic fingerprinting”. It was successfully tested on the murders that happened near the university and since then, DNA fingerprinting was used to absolve a suspect and convict a guilty one.

Apple MacIntosh, 1984

The father of the Macbook and the iMac was released in 1984 and since then, Apple was seen as the innovator of the technology industry. The MacIntosh was the world’s first commercially successful personal computers. The MacIntosh was sold for 2,500 dollars while its predecessor, Lisa, was sold for a whopping 10,000 dollars. Since the release of the MacIntosh, Apple continued to develop other products with prices that are more affordable.

Microsoft Windows, 1985

The Microsoft Windows we see today might look way different than it did when it was released decades ago, but it was in the ‘80s when it really got its start. Microsoft launched their first ever OS called Microsoft 1 and it was an iconic moment in the technology industry because while other systems typically used keyboards, this operating system relied heavily on the use of the mouse to point and input information.

Disposable Camera, 1987

Although these cameras might be rare today, they surely made their mark in the development of photography back in the ‘80s. Kodak released the first disposable camera called “The Fling” in 1984 and it cost 6.95 dollars each and it is good for taking 24 photos. But after Kodak released it, other companies began to make their own versions of it as well and the sales of disposable cameras skyrocketed from 3 million to 21.5 million between 1988 and 1992.

Prozac, 1987

In 1987, after several tests that were done by the FDA, the antidepressant Prozac was released in the market. Since then, doctors began to prescribe this new medication to people who were suffering from depression. And in that following year, pharmacies were filling more than 65,000 Prozac prescriptions every month. However, despite its market success, Prozac faced several lawsuits with some people claiming that taking the medicine makes them feel suicidal. But despite all of the lawsuits and controversies, Prozac is till prescribed until today.

Nintendo Gameboy, 1989

Nintendo released this personal gaming device named Gameboy in 1989. This personal gaming console allows the users to play different games by switching cartridges. Originally, the Gameboy was released only in Japan but when it proved to be a success, Nintendo decided to release it in other parts of the world as well along with games like Tetris and Super Mario Land.

Music Television or MTV first went on the air in August of 1981. The first ever music video they played was  “Video Killed the Radio Star” from the band named The Buggles, pretty ironic if you ask us. During MTV’s early years, they were focused on airing music videos that helped boost the popularity of some of today’s music icons such as Duran Duran, Queen, Madonna, and Prince. Since then, MTV has been one of the most influential media channels for entertainment, music, and pop culture.

These are the top science discoveries of the ’80s. Thanks to them, they helped pave the way for the technologies that are making our lives easier today.

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The 5 Retro Science Kits That Inspired a Generation of Tinkerers

From erector sets to chemistry kits, science toys have fueled many people's first love of science.

For millions of children growing up in the 20th century, a science kit was one of the big gifts hoped for at Christmas, right up there with a Lionel train set or a Red Ryder BB Gun. Kids with a flair for engineering hoped to unwrap an Erector set and begin constructing the next modern marvel. Those of a more experimental nature wished for a chemistry set and dreamed of discovering new elements or a cure for some disease, generating pungent odors and startling explosions as they went.

Manu Prakash was himself a kid who liked to blow up stuff. As a child in Rampur, India, Prakash didn’t have a chemistry set, so he harvested chemicals after the fireworks show during Diwali, the Hindu light festival.

“My brother and I would go out in the early morning, the day after, and collect all of the unexploded fireworks,” he recalls. “We removed all the chemicals and made a giant pile. We actually lit that thing. We didn’t put it in containment; our goal wasn’t to make a large bang. We were curious what happens when there is no coverage. It pretty much produced a mushroom cloud. It was very beautiful.”

Although he burned his hand and still carries a small scar, the Stanford bioengineer says such open-ended play was important in setting his career path. And as the first-prize winner of the Science, Play and Research Kit (SPARK) competition for reimagining scientific toys for the 21st century, he hopes his brainchild device, called the  Punchcard Using Microfluidics , will provide the same inspiration and opportunities for future crops of scientists.

Inspiration struck Prakash when his wife brought home a small hand-cranked music box, which pulled a ribbon with holes in it through two sets of pins. When pins encountered each other through the holes, one pin plucked another and produced a musical tone. He predicted he could program such a system to instead pump fluids, control valves and generate liquid droplets.

Working with a graduate student, Prakash paired a silicone chip (containing tiny channels that guide the droplets) with a small hand-cranked device and some punch-card paper to dictate when valves release the different fluids. Voila! A $50,000 prize winner was born.

Prakash’s invention allows young chemists to mix fluids and observe reactions. Users can mix chemicals in tiny amounts, and any reactions are confined by the chip, which (alas!) safely reduces the scope of powerful odors and explosions.

Prakash hopes to see manufacturing and distribution of his miniature chemistry set, with the SPARK prize money earmarked for a start toward that end. “We want children to have that ‘aha!’ moment . . . a lifelong passion from figuring it out for yourself,” he says.

Prakash’s vision is one shared by many. “I loved science as a kid because we were able to go out and just sort of see what was going to happen,” says Rosie Cook, a curator at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia. “So much of it now is, ‘Mix this and tell me what happened,’ even at the Ph.D. and postdoc level. There’s very little of the ‘I’m going to mix A and B together and see what happens!’ ”

Cook, who oversees the foundation’s planned 2015 exhibition of vintage science kits, says that letting students discover things on their own energizes them and often allows them to internalize it as something wonderful. “How many Nobel laureates got their start just from experimenting?” she asks. “That was the wonder of those old chemistry sets. They really allowed for free play and experimentation.”

That career-shaping moment of awe and wonder came about for many via their first scientific toy. Here are a few of our favorites (and maybe yours, too).

Here, indeed, was joy for those with dreams of alchemy fed by sci-fi movies and television: assorted noxious chemicals, glass containers and the ability to put fire to both.

Many manufacturers, including market leaders A.C. Gilbert and Porter, made versions of the classic chemistry set. Most had the same basic ingredients: 12 to 15 powdery elements in labeled containers, various test tubes and beakers, tubing and bottle stoppers, an alcohol burner of some sort, perhaps some pH paper or a small scale, and an instruction manual detailing simple experiments.

Increasing regulation amid safety concerns brought an end to the heyday of the chemistry set. Gilbert went out of business in 1967, while Porter, makers of ChemCraft, labored on with decreasing sales until 1984. Most of today’s successors manufacture safer — if perhaps less exciting — kits with booklets that discourage free-form experimentation while using nontoxic substances.

Erector Set

On a train trip to New York in 1911, a construction project to convert the railroad from steam power to electricity caught the eye of Alfred Carlton Gilbert, a Yale-graduated physician and inventor. Impressed by the steel electrical towers being erected, A.C. Gilbert invented his Erector set shortly thereafter, and first marketed it in 1913.

With pulleys, gears, metal strips and beams (both straight and curved, depending upon the model), screws to fit them all together and even a DC motor in bigger sets, Erector soon became the gift that mechanically inclined boys wanted for Christmas. Many parents were happy to indulge those wishes during a time when engineers generally earned more than doctors.

For most of the 20th century, the Gilbert name towered in the annals of educational toymakers, and the man himself wielded no small influence on the national stage. During World War I, rationing and military demand for metals and other materials almost stopped production of Erector and other toys, and the government came near to canceling Christmas gifting altogether. Gilbert made an impassioned plea to Congress, finally convincing legislators that toys like Erector were an investment in the future of children, at least equal in gain to those made via investment in war. His successful plea led to the popular press dubbing him “the man who saved Christmas.”

Erector sets — still available today from toymaker Meccano — have inspired many inventors and scientists. In 1948, William Sewell, a Yale Medical School student, used Erector pieces to create the first artificial heart pump. More grimly, Jack Kevorkian used an Erector set to design his first assisted-suicide machine. Physicist and former U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu gave the toy perhaps its most notable shoutout in 1997 when he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. In his official biographical notes, Chu wrote fondly of his childhood Erector set and spending “many happy hours constructing devices of unknown purpose.”

Gilbert Lab Technician Set for Girls

To modern eyes and sensibilities, the Gilbert Lab Technician Set for Girls looks like a horribly sexist toy. Drenched in pink and laden with the implication that girls might become a lab assistant but not a real scientist, this microscope set probably wouldn’t bring cheers from feminists were it on today’s market. Historically, though, there was more to it than first meets the eye.

“All of a sudden, there is a set for girls, even though it’s not a full set, and now you don’t have to steal your brother’s anymore!” Cook says.

The included manual, although girly with its pink cover, had the same content as the manual included in Gilbert’s microscope kits marketed to boys. Despite how it looks, this 1958 set represented a major step forward for girls interested in scientific exploration.

Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab

If it were on store shelves today, a pink science kit might offend us, but the U-238 Atomic Energy Lab would likely be greeted with shouts of outright alarm (and possibly calls to the Department of Homeland Security).

With four different uranium samples included — all labeled with fallout shelter-style “radioactive” stickers — the first sight of this 1951 kit still brings pop-eyed expressions. As Cook points out, however, it’s not really fair to think of the makers as irresponsible despoilers of children.

“When you see uranium ore, you say, ‘Oh my God! Radioactive!’ ” she says. “But uranium ore is actually one of the most plentiful elements you’re going to find on Earth. It’s not until the ore is processed and refined, and the pure element extracted, that it becomes extremely dangerous. So it’s one of those things where you look at the set now and say, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so dangerous!’ because we’re conditioned to think uranium equals danger. But in reality, it probably wasn’t.” The set included a Geiger counter for young entrepreneurs to use to find fresh uranium. (If you didn’t feel like uranium hunting, a handy refill order form came with the set.)

Also included was a spinthariscope, a device for observing nuclear decay. It consisted of a tube with a zinc sulfide-coated screen on one end, radium salt suspended above the screen and a lens on the other end. Through the lens, you could view flashes of light resulting from the collision of alpha particles against the screen during ore decay.

The set didn’t last long, likely because of the $50 price tag — a fair week’s pay in 1951. It might have been a decent investment, though: A recent eBay auction of a kit in good condition was set at $4,550 — a 9,000 percent profit.

Edmund Berkeley designed the brilliantly named Geniac and Brainiac, early versions of computer toys. They used combinational logic, with output depending entirely on manual input (although the included booklets gave instructions for fashioning more complex machines).

However, first-generation computer wizards most fondly recall the Digi-Comp, a build-it-yourself digital mechanical computer. Beginning in 1963, ESR (Education Science Research) manufactured and sold it for $4.99, a bargain for the educational value it imparted.

Users assembled styrene plates of red and white, wire rods, rubber bands and plastic tubes to create a sturdy contraption. They connected three simple mechanical “flip-flops,” versions of the electronic circuits computers use to store RAM in a way that allowed cylindrical pegs to be either pushed or blocked from moving. When a tyro Steve Jobs or Bill Gates moved a lever back and forth, different configurations of those cylinders caused the Digi-Comp to compute Boolean logic operations. A 3-bit readout displayed the state of the flip-flops. Before manufacturing ceased some 40 years ago, Digi-Comp loyalists could demonstrate binary logic, perform simple mathematical operations and play logic games.

For kids of the 1960s, whose entire knowledge of computers may have been derived from seeing room-size machines in futuristic movies, the Digi-Comp represented amazing possibilities. The principles it employed — such as AND/OR gates allowing multiple inputs but only one output — are still fundamental in digital circuitry applications.

Digi-Comp lovers abound online, with fan sites and message boards devoted to digital archives of photos, original instruction manuals and specs, as well as fond reminiscences of childhood and tales from fans concerning their subsequent careers in computing and related fields.

And for those who wish to recapture a treasured piece of their youth, Minds-On Toys (mindsontoys.com) offers a relatively inexpensive retro version for sale.

Current Contenders

We asked science kit curator Rosie Cook for a recommendation of chemistry sets now available. She favors those made by German company Thames & Kosmos, whose kits come packed with assorted chemicals and real glass implements, much like the older sets manufactured by Gilbert or ChemCraft. “They’re not cheap by any means,” she says, “but they are really, really magnificent sets.”

[This article originally appeared in print as "Science Kits: Try This at Home."]

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1980s: Science and technology books

From left to right: 'Silicon chips and you', 1979 [Library shelfmark: HP1.80.2165] 'Cosmos', 1983 [Library shelfmark: SP1.83.388], A brief history of time: from the big bang to black holes', 1988 [Library shelfmark: SP1.203.0461].

The 1980s were a time for scientific advancements in varied fields from space exploration to computer technology.

Silicon chips first appeared in the 1960s. Years of technological developments meant that by the 1980s they could be used to create greater computing power, leading to the shrinking of devices. Home computing began in earnest as computers moved away from the realm of specialists, and towards the mass market home and offices.

Books on popular science

The appetite to embrace new technology and science was constant throughout the decade. Books which communicated scientific ideas became bestsellers.

'Cosmos', about the origins and evolution of the universe and space was written by American astromoner and scientist Carl Sagan. It was first published in 1980 and was broadcast as a television series the same year.

Towards the end of the decade, Stephen Hawking's 'A brief history of time: from the big bang to black holes' was published. It tackled concepts like quantum mechanics, relativity and cosmological phenomena in a style intended for readers with no prior knowledge of science or scientific theories.

To read more about 1980s popular science, see also:

• Science and technology essays

Further 1980s essays and videos are available in our 1980s retrospective 'Back to the future: 1979-1989' website .

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Greatest Inventions in the 80s: Decade’s Game-Changing Tech Breakthroughs

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on April 6, 2024

Categories History , Technology

The 1980s was a dynamic decade, marked by a surge of creativity and technological innovation that changed how you live, work, and play.

Amidst neon colors and synth-pop, this decade birthed inventions that sparked digital revolutions and reshaped cultural landscapes.

It was a time when the personal computer began to find its place in homes worldwide, and music became portable with devices like the Sony Walkman.

Looking back, some of the iconic tech breakthroughs from the 80s may seem simple by today’s standards, but your current gadgets may not even exist without them.

The gaming industry took off with the introduction of consoles that brought video games into the living room, setting the stage for a massive entertainment sector.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Windows debuted, painting the future of operating systems and software applications still pivotal to your computing experiences.

Your awareness of these inventions offers a fascinating glimpse into a decade of immense growth and how it continues to influence technological advancement today.

The 80s was not just about big hair and disco ; it was when the seeds for the digital age were planted, casting long shadows over the technology you now consider an everyday necessity.

Innovations in Entertainment Technology

In the 1980s, your personal life and home entertainment were transformed by technological breakthroughs , from the music you listened to, to the way you played games and watched your favorite shows.

The Rise of Personal Computing

Personal computing took a significant leap in the 1980s. Apple revolutionized the market with the introduction of the Macintosh , which popularized the graphical user interface. Meanwhile, IBM introduced the IBM 5150 , quickly becoming a standard in personal computing. Microsoft’s MS-DOS became synonymous with PC operating systems, creating a foundation for the upcoming Windows era.

The Gaming Revolution

The 80s saw the gaming industry reborn with the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) . Followed by the handheld Game Boy , gaming devices were in more homes than ever. These consoles introduced characters and franchises that remain foundational to gaming culture today.

Video and Music Breakthroughs

Music and video technology made entertainment more personal and portable in the 80s. The iconic Sony Walkman allowed you to bring your tunes wherever you went.

At home, VHS and Betamax battled it out, with VHS ultimately setting the standard for home video. Meanwhile, the CD player began to take over from vinyl, offering more precise sound in a compact disc format.

Advancements in Visual Media

Visual media technology saw a rapid advancement with the introduction of disposable cameras by Kodak , making photography more accessible. The camcorder also became a household item, allowing families to record and cherish their memories with ease. And with the rise of cable television and MTV , music videos emerged as an influential medium in entertainment.

Health and Science Breakthroughs

In the 1980s, you would have witnessed a remarkable era in health and science, where cutting-edge innovations radically altered medicine and biotechnology. From the birth of genetic profiling to breakthroughs in medical devices, this decade set the stage for modern scientific advancements.

Biotechnology Advances

During the 1980s, biotechnology took a huge leap forward with the advent of DNA fingerprinting . The technique was developed by Alec Jeffreys in 1984 and became a pivotal tool for genetic profiling . It transformed how you assess genetic relationships and how forensic science solves crimes.

• DNA Profiling : A technique allowing scientists to identify individuals based on their unique DNA patterns.
• Genetic Fingerprinting : Another term for DNA profiling, emphasizing the uniqueness of the method.

Medical Inventions

This decade brought you Prozac , the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, which became available in 1987. Prozac made a significant impact on the treatment of depression and marked a turning point in psychopharmacology.

Medical device technology also experienced a breakthrough with the first implantation of the Jarvik 7 , an artificial human heart, in 1982. Pioneered by Dr. Robert Jarvik and implanted by Dr. William DeVries , the device was first used in patient Barney Clark, marking a new frontier in the world of medical prosthetics.

• Prozac : A game-changing antidepressant introduced in the 1980s.
• Artificial Heart : The Jarvik 7 was a significant invention that functioned as a total artificial heart.

These milestones from the 1980s continue to be the foundation upon which your current understandings of medicine and biotechnology are built.

Communications and Information Technology

In the 1980s , you witnessed the birth of several key technologies that transformed how you communicate and manage information. From the evolution of mobile phones to the emergence of user-friendly computing operating systems, this era laid the groundwork for the digital world you inhabit today.

Telecommunications Evolution

During the 1980s, mobile communication took a significant leap forward with the development of the first mobile phones. These early devices, often called ‘brick phones,’ were bulky but began the era of communication on the go.

Motorola introduced the DynaTAC 8000X, the world’s first handheld cell phone , which made real-time voice communication from almost anywhere a reality.

Computing User Interfaces

The graphical user interface (GUI) became a game-changer in the 1980s, making computers more accessible to the public.

Before GUIs, computers relied on text-based commands, which required users to memorize complex instructions.

With the introduction of the Apple Macintosh , more people could use computers without needing to learn a programming language.

This shift was complemented by the launch of Microsoft Windows , which further popularized the use of icons, windows, and menus you’re familiar with today.

The Digital Data Era

This period also marked the beginning of the digital data era, thanks to significant technological advancements . The CD-ROM was introduced, providing a new means to distribute and store data with much greater capacity compared to floppy disks. Concurrently, the seeds of the modern Internet were being sown. Although it wasn’t until the 1990s that the Internet became widely accessible to the public, the 1980s saw the foundational technology and infrastructure being built, which would later revolutionize communication and information sharing across the globe.

Consumer Electronics and Gadgets

During the 1980s, you witnessed a remarkable surge in technology that changed how you interact with the world. This era brought portability to the music and gaming experience and added convenience to home devices that are still celebrated in pop culture.

Portable Devices

The Sony Walkman revolutionized music listening habits by allowing you to take your tunes on the go. Its compact design and headphones with iconic orange foam earpieces made it a staple of 80s culture. You could now enjoy your favorite songs without disturbing others, creating a personal soundtrack for your life.

Nintendo also leapt into the world of portable gaming with the Game Boy . Its release marked a pivotal moment in gaming and pop culture, allowing you to enjoy games like “Tetris” and “Super Mario Land” wherever you went. This handheld device boasted long battery life and a sturdy build, perfect for on-the-move entertainment.

Home Convenience Gadgets

In your home, gadgets were all about making life easier and more fun. Remember The Clapper ? An innovative device that turned appliances on and off with a simple clap of your hands, embodying the convenience that defined the decade’s approach to home tech.

For timekeeping, watches weren’t just for telling time anymore. They incorporated calculators, stored phone numbers, and some even had games, reflecting the era’s drive to combine technology with everyday accessories. These advancements in tech gadgets made them not only functional but also a cool aspect of your daily wear.

The 1980s gadgets were not mere tools; they were an expression of the vibrant pop culture, accompanying you wherever you went and making technology an integral part of your everyday life.

Popular Culture and Lifestyle

As you explore the vibrant ’80s, you’ll find a decade where music and pop culture didn’t just influence fashion; they defined it. Let’s zoom in on the specifics that shaped the era’s unique style.

Fashion and Trends

In the ’80s, your wardrobe wouldn’t have been complete without a few pairs of leg warmers . Originally worn by dancers to keep their muscles warm, these colorful accessories made the leap into everyday fashion and became a staple in aerobic workout attire.

Music played a massive role in setting the trends, and MTV was at the forefront, blasting new music videos into homes and subsequently, influencing what you and your friends wanted to wear.

Madonna’s iconic look, with layered tutus, fishnet gloves, and bold jewelry, inspired many to embrace their individualistic side, while Michael Jackson’s red leather jacket became a must-have for fans of his revolutionary album Thriller.

Tech innovations also spilled into fashion when Sir Clive Sinclair introduced the Sinclair C5. This battery-powered vehicle wasn’t just a symbol of cutting-edge tech but also reflected the general enthusiasm for futuristic designs.

Clothing often featured bold colors and patterns , reflective of an era captivated by space-age aesthetics and technological optimism.

And when it came to everyday attire, you could see a mix of big hair , neon colors, and shoulder pads that typified the assertive spirit of the decade.

Remember, the bolder, the better—that was the motto when pulling on a pair of acid-wash jeans or a power suit that made you feel ready to conquer the boardroom or the dance floor.

Space Exploration

During the 1980s, you would have witnessed a significant era in space exploration, one defined by the prominence of the Space Shuttle program.

Born from the ambition to create a reusable spacecraft, the Space Shuttle conducted numerous missions pivotal to scientific and technological advancements in space exploration.

• 1981 : The decade began with the inaugural flight of Space Shuttle Columbia , marking the first time a reusable spacecraft orbited the Earth.
• Challenger : This period also saw tragedy with the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 1986, which served as a sobering reminder of the risks involved in space travel.

The missions launched throughout the 1980s often deployed satellites, conducted scientific experiments, and furthered international cooperation in space. For instance, Space Shuttle Discovery played a crucial role in deploying the Hubble Space Telescope.

Additionally, groundwork for the future International Space Station (ISS) was laid, with the Shuttle program providing vital lessons in long-duration spaceflight and international collaboration. The idea of a habitable space station, shared by various space agencies, began to transform into a tangible project.

Your imagination might envision the era as scattered with remarkable achievements and ambitious visions that characterized the 1980s, all while underlining the ability of human ingenuity to reach for the stars despite setbacks. This decade solidified the space shuttle as a symbol of space exploration.

The 1980s were a dynamic decade for technological advancements , introducing innovations that significantly shaped the way you engage with the world today. During this era, your daily life was revolutionized by the introduction of personal computers (PCs) , kicking off the digital age you are now familiar with. In 1985, the launch of Microsoft Windows opened doors to user-friendly interfaces that are continually evolving.

While computers were making their mark, entertainment also saw a leap with the launch of The Disney Channel in 1983, becoming a staple in family households for both live-action and animated content.

Photography was another field that transformed with the advent of the disposable camera by Fujifilm in 1986, making photography accessible and convenient for the masses.

Each of these creations was a stepping stone into the integrated and tech-oriented life you experience today. These inventions from the 1980s didn’t just stay within the confines of their decade but continued to spread their influence, illustrating the enduring impact of 1980s inventions . Your modern conveniences are built upon the foundation laid by these pivotal innovations.

The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Chemistry Set

Banning toys with dangerous acids was a good idea, but was the price a couple generations of scientists?

Sarah Zielinski

The chemistry set had clearly seen better days. Curator Ann Seeger pulls the mid-20th-century Gilbert kit out of a glass-fronted cabinet in the back of a cluttered storeroom at the National Museum of American History and opens the bright blue wooden box, revealing that several bottles of chemicals are missing and some vials have lost their labels. The previous owners hadn’t let a few missing pieces stop them, though; the kit was supplemented with a set of plastic measuring spoons that appear to have been stolen from a mother’s kitchen.

One of the museum’s librarians donated the kit; he and his brother had played with it as children. “They weren’t very good with chemistry,” Seeger says, which may explain the donor’s career choice.

The museum’s collection contains several brightly colored kits harkening from the toy’s brief heyday in the early- to mid-20th century, when the chemistry set was the must-have toy for the budding scientist. The story of how the chemistry set rose to such prominence and then fell follows the arc of 20th-century America, from its rise as a hub of new commerce to an era of scientific discovery, and reflects the changing values and fears of the American people.

Seeger shows me a small, brown wooden box, circa 1845, about ten-inches square, inset with a small relief of silvery metal, depicting what appears to be a scene from a ship, with men in pantaloons holding swords. A green label on the inside of the lid gives the original purpose of this now-empty box: “G. Leoni’s Portable Laboratory.”

The toy chemistry set has its roots in late 18th- and 19th-century portable chemistry kits sold in boxes like this to scientists and students for practical use. The kits contained glassware, chemicals, perhaps a scale or a mortar and pestle, and other necessary equipment for carrying out chemical tests in medicine, geology or other scientific fields or for classroom instruction.

Many kits were assembled in England, but the chemicals came from Germany. The approach of World War I quickly dried up that supply, as manufacturers diverted remaining resources to the war effort; chemistry set production declined.

Simultaneously, across the Atlantic in the United States, two brothers, John J. and Harold Mitchell Porter, started up a chemical company in Hagerstown, Maryland, and—inspired by the English chemistry kits and a new toy, the Erector Set, that was gaining popularity—were soon producing toy versions of the chemistry set with the intention of inspiring young boys in science. These Chemcraft kits, as they were called—filled with chemicals, labware, a balance, an alcohol lamp and helpful instructions—soon spread beyond the Washington, D.C. area and were sold in Woolworth’s and other stores around the country. Prices ranged from $1.50 to $10, depending on the complexity of the kit.

By 1920, Alfred Carlton Gilbert, the inventor who struck big with the Erector Set in 1913, caught on to the trend and expanded his toy business to include selling science. With two major makers competing for customers, the chemistry set was poised for takeoff. The Porter Chemical Company and A. C. Gilbert spent decades vying for customers with ads in kids’ and science magazines, marketing their kits as a path to a future career in chemistry.

“Coming out of the Depression, that was a message that would resonate with a lot of parents who wanted their children to not only have a job that would make them money but to have a career that was stable. And if they could make the world a better place along the way, then even better,” says Rosie Cook, registrar and assistant curator at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia. (CHF houses one of the nation’s best collections of chemistry sets, many of which will go on display in a 2014 exhibition.)

World War II brought a rush of scientific research and booming times for American companies such as Goodyear and DuPont. Following the success of the Manhattan Project, science became part of America’s identity as a world superpower in the years after the war, and government funding poured into research. The space race began and discoveries piled up—the invention of the transistor, the discovery of the structure of DNA, the creation of the polio vaccine—and the marketing of the chemistry set shifted, reflected in the advertising slogan for Chemcraft, “Porter Science Prepares Young America for World Leadership.”

Such slogans weren’t simply clever marketing; the chemistry set was indeed inspiring a generation of great scientists. “When I was 9 years old, my parents gave me a chemistry set. Within a week, I had decided to become a chemist and never wavered from that choice,” recalled Robert F. Curl, Jr. in his Nobel Prize autobiography. Curl Jr. was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for the discovery of buckyballs and was one of many Nobel Prize winners who credit the kits for inspiring their career.

Most of the chemicals and equipment in these chemistry kits were harmless, but some would make even the most lenient modern parent worry: Sodium cyanide can dissolve gold in water, but it is also a deadly poison. “Atomic” chemistry sets of the 1950s included radioactive uranium ore. Glassblowing kits, which taught a skill still important in today’s chemistry labs, came with a blowtorch.

The safety-conscious 1960s brought a quick end to the chemistry set’s popularity. The Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act of 1960 required labels for toxic and dangerous substances, and chemistry set makers removed the alcohol lamps and acids from their kits. The Toy Safety Act of 1969 removed lead paint from toys but also took its toll on the sets. The creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1972 and the passing of the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976 resulted in further limits on the contents of the kits. Newspapers that once broadcast the arrival of new kinds of chemistry sets soon warned of their dangers, recommending that they only be given to older children and kept locked up from their younger siblings. “The death of the chemistry set is almost an unintended consequence of the rise in consumer protection laws,” says Cook.

This era also saw a boost in environmental awareness and a distrust of chemistry and government-funded science. Rachel Carson published  Silent Spring , warning of the deleterious effects of pesticides. The anti-nuclear movement was on the rise. The American people were becoming aware of the devastating effects of Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used in Vietnam. And by the 1970s and 1980s, science had lost its magic, as had the chemistry set.

The last chemistry set that Seeger shows me dates to 1992—it’s a Smithsonian-branded kit developed under the guidance of her predecessor, John Eklund. “It’s completely different from the older sets,” Seeger notes, pointing out the safety goggles, the replacement of anything glass with plastic and warning labels that are larger than the names of the chemicals. The box boasts that it is “the safest chemistry set made.”

The 1980s brought a new set of societal problems—AIDS, Chernobyl, the ozone hole—but people now looked again to science for solutions. The chemistry set reemerged, though dramatically changed. There were fewer chemicals, or no chemicals, and safety was a priority.

Michelle Francl, a theoretical chemist at Bryn Mawr College, wonders whether that emphasis on safety may actually be making young scientists less safe. “I get students who I can’t get to wear eye protection in the lab or closed-toe shoes,” she says. “We let kids play soccer, play football, ride bikes, all of which are inherently more dangerous than most of the things they could do with a chemistry set.”

The worst that happened during Francl’s own young adventures in home chemistry was when her brother lost an eyebrow, and that wasn’t even related to a chemistry set experiment. “We had one very memorable explosion, which we managed to keep from my mother,” Francl recalls. The pair had scrounged the equipment to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water. Their instructions recommended testing for the presence of hydrogen with a glowing ember—luckily, they were working in a makeshift basement lab where there was nothing flammable. “It didn’t make a big mess. There was just a big poof,” she says.

In an era of helicopter parenting, risk aversion and litigation—not to mention the rise of meth labs across the country—it might seem that even the neutered chemistry set is doomed to another death.

But the 21st century has also seen a new host of problems for science to solve, including how to provide food, water and power to a global population that will pass ten billion by 2100. Government and business leaders are putting renewed emphasis on science education. And the chemistry set has seen a bit of a resurgence. Educational toy retailer Discover This reported strong sales of chemistry sets during last year’s Christmas season, anchored by a revamped line of traditional chemistry sets from Thames & Kosmos. Cook says that the sets are very similar to the Chemcraft and Gilbert sets of the early 20th century but may be even better for learning science. They are sold in four steps of kits of increasing difficulty that encourage learning the basics before moving on to harder tasks. Cook raved about the manuals: “Not only do they tell you what you’re learning and break it into types of experiments, [but also] they tell you the history behind the discovery,” as well as how to dispose of experiments, “which is really helpful today, because you can’t just dump things down the drain.”

But the reality is that a traditional chemistry set is probably no longer necessary for performing chemistry at home. Books and manuals are readily available and equipment and chemicals can be bought online or scrounged from around the house, like Francl did when she was young. And while safety should be a concern, parents should recognize that most home chemistry accidents happen not from kids mixing chemicals in the basement but from adults mixing cleaning supplies upstairs. “The things that kill people, if you look at the accidents in homes, are people mixing bleach with everything from ammonia to pesticides,” Francl says.

Home experimentation has inspired scientists and inventors for years, and it would be a shame if concerns about safety stopped budding chemists from getting a start. “I would encourage parents to let their kids be a little risky and let them try things where it might be complicated to work,” Francl says. And, “Be patient with the mess.”

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Sarah Zielinski is an award-winning science writer and editor. She is a contributing writer in science for Smithsonian.com and blogs at Wild Things, which appears on Science News.

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20 Awesome Science Experiments You Can Do Right Now At Home

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We can all agree that science is awesome. And you can bring that awesomeness into your very own home with these 20 safe DIY experiments you can do right now with ordinary household items.

1. Make Objects Seemingly Disappear Refraction is when light changes direction and speed as it passes from one object to another. Only visible objects reflect light. When two materials with similar reflective properties come into contact, light will pass through both materials at the same speed, rendering the other material invisible. Check out this video from BritLab  on how to turn glass invisible using vegetable oil and pyrex glass.

2. Freeze Water Instantly When purified water is cooled to just below freezing point, a quick nudge or an icecube placed in it is all it takes for the water to instantly freeze. You can finally have the power of Frozone from The Incredibles on a very small scale! Check out the video on this "cool" experiment. 

3. Create Oobleck And Make It Dance To The Music Named after a sticky substance in a children’s book by Dr Seuss , Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it can behave as both a solid and a liquid. And when placed on a sound source, the vibrations causes the mixture to gloopily dance. Check out these instructions from Housing A Forest  on how to make this groovy fluid funk out in every way.

4. Create Your Own Hybrid Rocket Engine With a combination of a solid fuel source and a liquid oxidizer, hybrid rocket engines can propel themselves. And on a small scale, you can create your own hybrid rocket engine, using pasta, mouthwash and yeast. Sadly, it won’t propel much, but who said rocket science ain’t easy? Check out this video from NightHawkInLight on how to make this mini engine.

5. Create "Magic Mud" Another non-Newtonian fluid here, this time from the humble potato. "Magic Mud" is actually starch found in potatoes. It’ll remain hard when handled but leave it alone and it turns into a liquid. Make your own “Magic Mud” with this video.

6. Command The Skies And Create A Cloud In A Bottle Not quite a storm in a teacup, but it is a cloud in a bottle. Clouds up in the sky are formed when water vapor cools and condenses into visible water droplets. Create your own cloud in a bottle using a few household items with these wikiHow instructions .

7. Create An Underwater Magical World First synthesized by Adolf van Baeyer in 1871, fluorescein is a non-toxic powder found in highlighter pens, and used by NASA to find shuttles that land in the sea. Create an underwater magical world with this video from NightHawkInLight .

9. Make Your Own Lava Lamp Inside a lava lamp are colored bubbles of wax suspended in a clear or colorless liquid, which changes density when warmed by a heating element at the base, allowing them to rise and fall hypnotically. Create your own lava lamp with these video instructions.

10. Create Magnetic Fluid A ferrofluid is a liquid that contains nanoscale particles of metal, which can become magnetized. And with oil, toner and a magnet , you can create your own ferrofluid and harness the power of magnetism! 

12. Make Waterproof Sand A hydrophobic substance is one that repels water. When sand is combined with a water-resistant chemical, it becomes hydrophobic. So when it comes into contact with water, the sand will remain dry and reusable. Make your own waterproof sand with this video .

13. Make Elephant's Toothpaste Elephant’s toothpaste is a steaming foamy substance created by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, which sort of resembles giant-sized toothpaste. Make your own elephant’s toothpaste with these instructions.

14. Make Crystal Bubbles When the temperature falls below 0 o C (32 o F), it’s possible to freeze bubbles into crystals. No instructions needed here, just some bubble mix and chilly weather.

15. Make Moving Liquid Art Mixing dish soap and milk together causes the surface tension of the milk to break down. Throw in different food colorings and create this trippy chemical reaction.

16. Create Colourful Carnations Flowers absorb water through their stems, and if that water has food coloring in it, the flowers will also absorb that color. Create some wonderfully colored flowers with these wikiHow instructions .

17. "Magically" Turn Water Into Wine Turn water into wine with this  video  by experimenter Dave Hax . Because water has a higher density than wine, they can switch places. Amaze your friends with this fun science trick.

18. Release The Energy In Candy (Without Eating It) Dropping a gummy bear into a test tube with potassium chlorate releases the chemical energy inside in an intense chemical reaction. That’s exactly what's happening when you eat candy, kids.

19. Make Water "Mysteriously" Disappear Sodium polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer, capable of absorbing up to 300 times its own weight in water. Found in disposable diapers, you can make water disappear in seconds with this video .

20. Create A Rainbow In A Jar Different liquids have different masses and different densities. For example, oil is less dense than water and will float on top of its surface. By combining liquids of different densities and adding food coloring, you can make an entire rainbow in a jar with this video .

There you have it – 20 experiments for you to explore the incredible world of science!

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70 Best High School Science Fair Projects in Every Subject

Fire up the Bunsen burners!

The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.

Note: Some of these projects were written as classroom labs but can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom activity into a true scientific method experiment!

To make it easier to find the right high school science fair project idea for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
• Biology and Life Sciences High School Science Fair Projects

Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects

Physics high school science fair projects, engineering high school stem fair projects, biology and life science high school science fair projects.

Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.

Extract DNA from an onion

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.

Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment

Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Try your own cross-pollination experiments with fast-growing plants like peas or beans.

Make plants move with light

By this age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So high school science fair projects on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.

Test the 5-second rule

We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).

Find out if color affects taste

Just how interlinked are all our senses? Does the sight of food affect how it tastes? Find out with a fun food science fair project like this one!

See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced

Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit , bacillus cereus and rhodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.

Learn more: Antibiotics Project at Home Science Tools

Witness the carbon cycle in action

Experiment with the effects of light on the carbon cycle. Make this science fair project even more interesting by adding some small aquatic animals like snails or fish into the mix.

Learn more: Carbon Cycle at Science Lessons That Rock

Look for cell mitosis in an onion

Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes. Adapt this lab into a high school science fair project by applying the process to other organisms too.

Test the effects of disinfectants

Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.

Learn more: Effectiveness of Antiseptics and Disinfectants at Amy Brown Science

Pit hydroponics against soil

Growing vegetables without soil (hydroponics) is a popular trend, allowing people to garden just about anywhere.

More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects for High School

Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:

• Explore ways to prevent soil erosion.
• What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
• Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
• What’s the best way to prevent mold growth on food for long-term storage?
• Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
• Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water, etc.).
• Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
• Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
• Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
• Devise a way to desalinate seawater and make it safe to drink.

Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry is such a popular topic for high school science fair projects!

Break apart covalent bonds

Break the covalent bond of H 2 O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?

Learn more: Covalent Bonds at Teaching Without Chairs

Measure the calories in various foods

Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.

Detect latent fingerprints

Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!

Learn more: Fingerprints Project at Hub Pages

Use Alka-Seltzer to explore reaction rate

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Easy

Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.

Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ

Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools .

Turn flames into a rainbow

You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.

Discover the size of a mole

The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.

Learn more: How Big Is a Mole? at Amy Brown Science

Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations

This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!

Learn more: Candy Chemistry at Dunigan Science on TpT

Make soap to understand saponification

Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.

Learn more: Saponification at Chemistry Solutions on TpT

Uncover the secrets of evaporation

Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.

Learn more: Evaporation at Science Projects

More Chemistry Science Fair Projects for High School

These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:

• Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
• Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
• Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
• What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
• Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
• How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
• Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
• Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
• What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
• How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?

When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.

Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber

You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool high school science fair projects, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.

Learn more: Vacuum Chamber at Instructables

Put together a mini Tesla coil

Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!

Boil water in a paper cup

Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.

Build a better light bulb

Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb. You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.

Measure the speed of light—with your microwave

Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment. By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven and, in turn, the speed of light.

Generate a Lichtenberg figure

See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.

Learn more: Lichtenberg Figure at Science Notes

Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!

Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation

Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.

Measure the effect of temperature on resistance

This is a popular and classic science fair experiment in physics. You’ll need a few specialized supplies, but they’re pretty easy to find.

Learn more: Temperature and Resistance at Science Project

Launch the best bottle rocket

A basic bottle rocket is pretty easy to build, but it opens the door to lots of different science fair projects. Design a powerful launcher, alter the rocket so it flies higher or farther, or use only recycled materials for your flyer.

More Physics Science Fair Projects for High School

Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.

• Determine the most efficient solar panel design and placement.
• What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
• Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
• What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
• Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
• Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
• What’s the best way to soundproof an area or reduce noise produced by an item?
• Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
• Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
• Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.

Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs, to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science fair projects start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!

Solve a current environmental issue

A science fair project can also be an entry into the Slingshot Challenge . Students produce a 1-minute video with a solution to a current environmental problem (think: uniting creative waste reducers on social media or rehabilitating forests affected by fire) for the chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding.

Construct a model maglev train

Maglev trains may just be the future of mass transportation. Build a model at home, and explore ways to implement the technology on a wider basis.

Learn more: Maglev Model Train at Supermagnete

Design a more efficient wind turbine

Wind energy is renewable, making it a good solution for the fossil fuel problem. For a smart science fair project, experiment to find the most efficient wind turbine design for a given situation.

Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine

Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.

Learn more: Da Vinci Flying Machine at Student Savvy

Design a heart-rate monitor

Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But do they work any better than one you can build yourself? Get the specialized items you need like the Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.

Race 3D printed cars

3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library. Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)

Learn more: 3D Printed Cars at Instructables

Grow veggies in a hydroponic garden

Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair STEM engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.

Learn more: Hydroponics at Instructables

Grab items with a mechanical claw

Delve into robotics with this engineering project. This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions. Once you’ve built the basic structure, tinker around with the design to improve its strength, accuracy, or other traits.

Learn more: Hydraulic Claw at KiwiCo

Construct a crystal radio

Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch. This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.

Learn more: Crystal Radio at Scitoys.com

Build a burglar alarm

The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.

Learn more: Intruder Alarm at Instructables

Walk across a plastic bottle bridge

Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!

Learn more: TrussFab Structures at Instructables

Looking for more science content? Check out the Best Science Websites for Middle and High School .

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81+ Easy Science Experiments for Kids

I love science! I love doing experiments with my kids at home and teaching science at school. Children are naturally curious about the world around them and are eager to explore. The amount of learning and excitement that happens with a great experiment makes me very happy. I have collected over 80 science experiments for kids to try out at home, or in the classroom.

My main goal with science experiments are to encourage a love of science and learning in the children who do them. Most of the ideas in this collection are simple hands-on experiments that explore scientific concepts in kid friendly ways.

The experiments may not always work out perfectly every time, but that is a huge part of science and experimenting.

Search through the list to find the perfect easy science experiments to do at home or in your classroom today. I hope that you have as much fun as we do with the experiments!

Most of the science experiments below use kid friendly materials and hands-on exploration. However, as with all science experiments, adult supervision is necessary at all times. Make sure to choose activities that are appropriate for the age and abilities for the children you are doing the experiment with.

Click the image to view the science experiment description.

Easy Science Experiments with Water

A few materials create these simple Fireworks in a Jar . Kids will love the ‘explosion’ as they learn about science.

Use water balloons to try out the sink float experiment in a whole new way!

Kitchen chemistry that will wow your kids! Can you clean pennies with ketchup? Find out! 

Try this “magic” experiment with items in your pantry!

It looks like magic, but it’s science. Starting with purple water, watch the color change before your eyes with science!

This is amazing to watch! Learn about air pressure and rising water.

This is one of my favorite ways to introduce science to children!  For this experiment, grab a bunch of sharp pencils and a baggie full of water and the science is guaranteed to amazing little ones.

Just pierce the pencils through the bags one at a time. The pencil seals the bag where it goes through so there’s no mess and no dripping water. That’s all there is to it!

Dancing Beads Experiment

Kids and adults will love watching this dancing beads experiment. A few simple materials will keep the beads moving as kids observe and learn about science and why the beads to what they do.

Make a homemade thermometer using simple materials.

#10 Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Why do leaves change color? This experiment explains it in a kid friendly way.

If you are learning about the human body, creating a “blood’ model is a great way for children to see all of the components of blood!

Create a hurricane that children will love making, playing with and learning about!

Older children can learn about heat conduction and how heat travels from one object to another with this cool science experiment.

You’ve probably witnessed refraction many times, show kids this simple experiment to explain this cool science.

Properties of Water

Learn about the properties of water with this simple science experiment for kids. Look at how molecules travel differently in hot water versus cold water. 

This fun and easy Penguin Science Experiment will show your kids how penguins stay dry in the cold temperatures and icy waters. 

Kids will learn a little bit about the make up of water and they will love the bubbles with this science experiment.

Kids will love watching the mystery colors appear and mix with this easy to do experiment.

This beach in a jar is a perfect, and beautiful way to teach kids about density.

#20 Cool Science Experiments to do at Home

If you have children interested in learning about weather, this collection of science experiments for kids will answer many of their questions. From the water cycle, rain clouds, and a tornado in a bottle they will love these hands-on experiments.

Can you make the raisins dance? A few simple household materials and your raisins will be dancing in no time!

The colors will disappear before your eyes! Little ones will think it is magic – but it’s science!

This is a great experiment to get rid of some extra candy around the house!

Growing Crystals from Borax is a really fun activity to try at home. Here we show you how to grow crystal stars to hang on your Christmas Tree.

Kids will feel like real scientists with this chemistry experiment as children create layers with different liquids.

Easy Science Experiment for Kids – With Ice

Learn a bit about the water cycle with this fun, hands-on melting snowman science experiment for kids.

How does a polar bear stay warm in the cold? Kids learn how animals have adapted to survive in winter with this hands-on experiment.

Grow your own ice spikes with this science experiment for kids.

This melting ice experiment is perfect for some weekend science to teach little ones about what can cause ice to melt faster.

#30 Easy Science Experiments to do at Home

Use materials you have on hand to create frozen treasures. A free printable scavenger hunt sheet is available to use with the science experiment.

Outdoor Science Experiments for Kids

Head outside for this exciting experiment! Learn about rocket science with this kid friendly activity that’s sure to create lots of laughs and learning. Grab some string and balloons to get started!

How do we hear sounds? Experiment with hearing and sound waves in fun and easy ways!

These superheroes show kids all about gravity in a fun, hands-on way.

Why do leaves change color? This experiment explains in a fun, kid friendly way.

Take learning outside with this exciting exploding watermelon experiment.

Have some great outdoor fun learning about bubbles with this collection of Bubble STEM activities!

Try out this tasty science experiment for kids and make smores with a solar oven.

Two ingredients create this explosion that kids will enjoy creating and watching!

Do you have some leftover chocolate in your house?  This experiment shows how fast the sun can melt something and also compares the difference between the shade and direct sunlight.

#40 Cool Science Experiments to do at Home

Don’t just plant seeds in the ground, give kids the opportunity to observe what happens as seeds sprout!

Take children to the garden to learn lots of different science lessons.

Easy Science Experiments to Try at Home

Who knew milk was so amazing? A few household items create this stunning effect!

You can use pumpkin seeds or other decomposable food for this experiment to teach kids how the environment plays a role in food breaking down.

Gather a few dozen eggs and challenge a child, or two, to see if they can stand on the eggs without making scrambled eggs! They’ll love learning the science behind these science experiments for kids.

Ever wondered how flowers and plants ‘drink’ water? Kids do! Clearly show them with this flower experiment.

This twist on the common sink float experiment, tests what effect salt can have when it comes to density.

Create a colorful rainbow with candy and warm water.

Kids test everyday pantry items with iodine with these really interesting science experiments for kids.

The Walking Water science experiment is a wonderful, colorful and fun way to teach kids about absorption and mixing primary colors.

Create a bouncing egg with these egg experiments. Also, teach about dental health using eggs in this creative, but easy science experiment.

Learn about vision and how we see with these awesome eye experiments.

Easy Science Experiments to Try in the Classroom

How do we hear? A few simple science experiments for kids show how sound travels and how we hear.

This is one of my favorite classroom experiments that I have ever done! Use mealworms to show children about life cycles in an exciting way they’ll never forget.

Kids will love this hands-on experiment to teach all about friction.

This is great sink or float experiment to test a collections of everyday objects.

Learn about the bacteria that is all around us, with this hands-on science experiment.

Want to learn how our lungs work? This model made from at home materials shows how!

Build a heart model that really pumps blood!

Teach children about cells with this fun cell study using eggs!

#60 Science Experiments at Home for Kids

If you’re learning about the human body, this experiment and model of the ear is a great learning experience.

If you are looking for quick and easy, but exciting science experiments for kids, try out this oil and water experiment.

There is so much to learn about rocks and the earth. These hands-on experiments will teach kids all about erosion and weathering.

Test the characteristics of different liquids and solids with these hands-on experiments. Perfect for the classroom or homeschooling.

Learn about air pressure with these science experiments for kids.

Simple Science Activities – Exploding Science

Mix a bit of art and science with this clay volcano that children create and can then use to make their own volcanic ‘explosion’.

Can you inflate a balloon without blowing into it? With science you can!

How beautiful is this lava lamp? Kids will love making, and then watching their lamp.

A fizzing rainbow! Kids will love this beautiful, simple science experiment.

Use a few simple household materials, to create this erupting lemon volcano chemistry experiment!

#70 Easy Science Experiments

Kids and adults will love to watch this foaming experiment!

With a few simple ingredients found in most households, these hand made disks are perfect for any season or holiday. Find the treasure inside while learning about chemical reactions.

STEM Challenge Science Experiment

We turn on our tap and get clean water, but it’s not quite that easy. Have children explore a little bit about how water is filtered and clean with this hands-on STEM challenge and science experiment.

Challenge children to create a structure to hold a mini pumpkin, or other object, and then try a sink or float experiment.

This is such a cool, and simple experiment to teach kids about the effects of earthquakes.

Try something new this summer by creating a water compass.

Easy Science Experiment – Sensory Activities

If you have never created oobleck, this magic color changing oobleck is a great hands-on science experiment for kids.

Get a bit messy with these beautiful hand made moon rocks and science experiment.

Explore the idea of cold blooded and warm blooded with this really interesting science experiment that will help children understand the difference.

Easy Science Experiments – Art + Science

Kids will love this rainbow colored experiment. It is easy to prepare and exciting to do.

#80 Cool Science Experiments to do at Home

This science experiment for kids mixes a bit of art and science and is perfect for young scientists and outdoor fun.

Kids will love creating their own volcano and then making it explode!

Bonus Ideas

Borax crystal flowers are the perfect science craft!

Create gorgeous crystal formations with this simple, hands-on experiment.

For more ideas of how to integrate science into your child’s learning program, check out these ideas for the best Free Homeschool Science curriculum.

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If you are looking for more activities and ideas to do in the classroom, or at home with kids, below are some of my favorite and most popular learning activities.

From a STEM escape room game and STEM building challenges that kids can create at home to experiments and challenges with water there are lots of things to keep kids busy and learning. Click image for activity description.

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80+ Free Science Activities to Entertain your Kiddos while you are Stuck at Home

March 14, 2020 7 min read astronomy biology chemistry earth science free printable physics science activities

Stuck at home for the next few weeks with nothing to do? Here are over 80 free science ideas, including 7 games you can play over and over, to get you through - no strings attached!

Over the past ten years, we have shared loads of free science activities, free printable science games, and free science-teaching tips. Many of these use simple household materials, so they are easy to whip up on a moment's notice to fill that "I'm bored" space you now find yourself dealing with.

Before we get to the list, if you are one of the many who find yourself suddenly "homeschooling", you may find this Homeschool Science FAQ playlist helpful...

Okay, on to the complete list of free science activities separated by subject.

80+ Free Science Activities to Entertain your Kiddos

Many of these activities will share a short mini-science lesson about the subject before you get started. All of them include an explanation of the science behind the activity.

These activities do require a few supplies, some of which you might not have sitting around your houses, such as an owl pellet or Borax. We have listed the supplies after the link (except for the round-up posts) so that you can see right away if you do have what you will need at your house.

If you see an activity that you really want to do but you don't have all the supplies, check out the following article/podcast for tips:

• 3 Tips for doing experiments at home without the suggested supplies  

And finally, before we share the fun, we wanted to explain a few of the symbols:

• The activities marked with a (D) require that you download a packet of materials from us. These downloads are completely free, all you have to do is place them in your cart and checkout.
• The activities marked with an (F) have a free template in the post for you to use.

Alright, let's get on with the science fun!

Biology Activities 

• How to Make a Seasonal Tree Sculpture (a  small bit of air-dry clay, materials for the trunk and branches - brown pipe cleaners, cardboard, or brown paper bags, materials   for the leaves - felt, tissue paper, or buttons in orange, red, and yellow, glue)
• (D) Hermit Crab Mini-Science Lesson with Video
• Two Types of Pollination (paper flowers - printed or drawn, several  colors of powdered cake mix, such as yellow, chocolate, and strawberry, several paper bees- printed or drawn, craft sticks, cotton balls, glue)
• Nature Print Shirts (a large white T-shirt (100% cotton), cardboard, live flowers or leaves, masking tape, newspaper or towels, hammer)
• How to Raise a Native Butterfly  (butterfly habitat)
• How to Make a Seed Board  
• How to Make a Mushroom Spore Print (gloves, mushroom cap, paper, bowl, water, hairspray - optional)
• (D) How to Make Microscope Slides (microscope, blank slides, slide covers)
• How to Create Leaf Skeletons (Super Washing Soda, magnolia leaves, crockpot, water, tongs, colander, bleach, bowls)
• How to Dissect a Spring Bulb (flower bulb, knife, magnifying glass)
• How to Dissect a Flower (spring bloom, knife magnifying glass, Qtip)
• (F) The Science of Fingerprints (ink or pencil-lead shavings, magnifying glass, paper)
• (D) How to Make a Fall Leaf Book  
• The Edible Cell Calzone  (pre-made pizza dough, cheese (ricotta and mozzarella), various toppings for cell parts, things like sausage, pepperoni, olives, green peppers, and onions are great options)
• How to Grow Herbs from Cuttings (basil, thyme, or mint, cup, water)
• How do Snakes Smell
• (F) How to Dissect an Owl Pellet (gloves, tweezers, wooden stick (coffee stirrer or popsicle stick will work), newspaper or paper towel, owl pellet)
• How to Tell Giraffes Apart
• Steps to Dissect a Seed (bean seed, cup, water, knife)
• Photosynthesis 101

Earth Science and  Astronomy Activities

• (F)  How to Make a Moon Diary  
• (F) 3 Simple Constellation Activities (marshmallows, toothpicks, pencil, paper, flashlight, binoculars or telescope)
• Sedimentary Rock Cookies (butter, graham cracker crumbs, can sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, nuts)
• Learn about the solar system
• (F) 5 Simple Steps for Make a Rock Collection (egg carton, paint, rocks, white-out, permanent marker
• 3 Weather-in-a-jar Activities  (Mason jar with lid, ice, match, food coloring, shaving cream)
• How to View Rocks Under a Microscope (microscope or clip-on macro lens, rocks)
• (F) How to Make a Seasons Booklet
• How to Make a Compass (a milk jug with the cap, a straight pin, a knife, a magnet)
• How to Use a Treasure Hunt to Learn About Maps
• Learn about the three types of rocks
• (D) How to Make a Signs of Spring Journal
• Tips for Exploding that Homemade Volcano
• (F) How to Make a Habitat Diorama  (shoe-box, construction paper, air-dry clay, glue, markers)
• How to Make a Life Cycle of a Star Poster (a sheet of black construction paper, 2 cotton balls, markers, small yellow pom-pom, large red pom-pom, small white sequin)
• How to Make a Cloud Collages  (a sheet of blue construction paper, a handful of cotton balls, glue)
• How to Make an Indoor Rain Storm (a clear glass, shaving cream, blue food coloring, warm water)
• How to Make Edible Rocks (glass cup, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, spoon, plastic wrap)

Chemistry  Activities

• 3 Activities to Explore the Chemistry of Dry Ice (d ry ice, 2 plastic cups, water, dish soap, 2 plates, regular ice)
• Indoor Fireworks (clear glass, water, oil, food coloring)
• How to Dye Celery (celery or a carnation, glass, food coloring)
• How to use Kitchen Science to Send Secret Messages (paper, lemon juice, Q-tip or paintbrush, a heat source)
• How to Make Indoor Snow (shaving cream, cornstarch)
• Kitchen Acid Test ( a head of red cabbage, a  variety of liquids or powders from your kitchen to test, such as lemon juice, baking soda, soda, or detergent, several cups )
• How to Make Epsom Salt Snowflake Art (Epsom salts, warm water, cup, food coloring, paintbrush, paper)
• 3 Borax Science Activities (Borax, glue, cups, baggies, water, pipe cleaner, string, pencil, cornstarch, plastic spoon)
• Crazy Changing Colors (a head of red cabbage, knife, pot, water, strainer, clear glass or plastic container, ammonia, white vinegar)
• How to Use Chemistry to Polish Silver (aluminum foil, heat-resistant container, hot water, baking soda, salt)
• How to Make a Bioplastic (cornstarch, water, vegetable oil, baggie, food coloring - optional)
• Marker Chromatography Art (absorbent material (Coffee filter or white cotton material both work well), rubbing alcohol (at least 80% Isopropyl or above), eyedropper, a wide-mouthed jar or bowl, rubber band, permanent markers in a variety of colors, newspaper)
• Which one freezes first?  ( 3 cups, water, food coloring, salt, instant-read thermometer - optional)
• How to Extract DNA  (sliced fruit (a banana, strawberry, kiwi, or tomato will all work), dish soap, salt, ice-cold Isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher), zipper-style plastic bag, coffee filter, funnel, wooden coffee stirrer, test tube or clear glass)

Physics  Activities

• How to Make a Rocket at Home (soda bottle, rubber cement, thin foam sheets)
• The Physics of Music (Plus a Free SQUILT Lesson)
• How to Have a LEGO Balloon Car Race  (LEGOS, balloons)
• 3 Ideas for Building Simple Machines ( a thick, heavy book, round pencils, a block of wood, nail, screw, brick or concrete block, wooden board, stairs)
• Learn about Ocean Currents (clear bowl, 2 cups, eyedropper, warm and cold water, blue food coloring, salt)
• How to Make Magnetic Slime ( white glue, water, iron filings, some Borax, magnets )

Free Science Game Packets

• (D)   Rock Slides and Arrows - A Free Geology Game  ( dice)
• (D) Atlas Run - A Free Earth Science Game (dice)
• (D) Plant Quest - A Free Botany Game
• (D) Zoology Bingo - A Free Animals Game (Bingo counters or beads)
• (D) Planetary Bingo - A Free Astronomy Game   (Bingo counters or beads)
• (D) Pick up Bones - A Free Human Body Game (plastic bones, Qtips, or small sticks)
• (D) Atoms and Isotopes - A Free Chemistry Game (b lue-, brown-, and red-colored beads or mini-M&Ms )
• (D) Periodic Table Match-up - A Free Chemistry Game

Science Activity Round-ups

• (F)  InstaScience - A few years back, we shared a series of nature study posts, many of which have free printables with them.
• The Science of Exploration - Get three tips for encouraging exploration as a form of learning science.
• 3 Winter Science Activities - This includes activities for pine cones and cookies that you could do year-round. 
• 15 Valentine's Science Ideas - Use up any of that remaining Valentine's candy with these science activities.
• 3 Christmas Science Activities - These activities are Christmas-themed, but you can enjoy them year-round.
• 3 Arctic Science Activities - Use these three activities to learn about the arctic in summer (or any other time of the year)!
• 3 Candy Cane Experiments - If you have some candy canes lying around, these three activities will help you get rid of them.
• 5 Thanksgiving Science Activities -  These activities are Thanksgiving-themed, but you can enjoy them year-round.
• 5 Candy Science Experiments - These activities are a great way to use up that old candy you found when you cleaned up your pantry!
• 10 Snow Science Activities - In case you live up north and still have some of the white stuff around!
• 5 Fall Science Activities - These activities are fall-themed , but you can enjoy them year-round.
• 48 Summer Science Activities - Many of the ideas in the post are listed above, but there are a lot that are not!
• April Fool's Day Science Activities - These two activities seem like magic, but they use science!

Science Plus (Another Subject)

• (D)   How to Convert Units of Measurement   - This is a quick set of worksheets for practicing converting units of measurement, tying in science and math.
• The Science Fair Project   - If you want to tackle something a bit bigger, this series will walk you through how to do a science fair project at home. These projects tie in science, math, and language arts.
• 5 Simple Steps for Writing a Scientist Biography Report   - This project will tie in language arts and science.

We hope that these science activities, ideas, and tips will brighten your day and bring a bit of fun to the craziness of these days!

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We shared 5 completely free workshops from our conference vaults as part of Season 2 of the Tips for Homeschool Science Show. Click "Read More" to see each of these episodes along with our plans for season 3 of the show!

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Ahh, the lazy days of summer. Time to sleep in. Time to sit back and relax and sneak in a bit of science with these three tips. Click to "Read More" to see them.

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Science News

Physicists measured earth’s rotation using quantum entanglement.

The experiment is a step toward testing how quantum physics interfaces with gravity 

In a laboratory experiment, scientists sent entangled photons (red squiggles) into an interferometer (illustrated) that was sensitive enough to measure Earth’s rotation.

Marco Di Vita

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By Emily Conover

June 14, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Earth’s rotation has been measured many times over — but never like this. In a first, scientists used entangled quantum particles called photons to reveal the rate at which the globe spins. 

The feat is a step toward probing one of the biggest mysteries of physics: how the tiny world of quantum physics interfaces with gravity.

Scientists sent pairs of photons, particles of light, through a device called a quantum interferometer. Inside, the photons could traverse loops of optical fiber either clockwise or counterclockwise. The photons were entangled with one another, a type of quantum correlation that links the states of two particles. In this case, the entanglement meant the two photons took the same path. And rather than picking one direction or the other, the pair took on a strange state called a superposition, traversing a combination of the two paths.

Due to Earth rotating underneath, the two different paths corresponded to slightly different travel distances. That made the photons’ two superposed components slightly out of sync when they exited the labyrinth, causing quantum interference. Measuring that interference implied a rotation speed that  agreed with Earth’s known rotation rate , the team reports June 14 in  Science Advances.

Quantum physics  doesn’t dovetail easily with physicists’ theory of gravity , general relativity, and scientists are struggling to understand how to combine them ( SN: 1/12/22 ). “This experiment is a prototype for our next level of larger experiment,” says physicist Haocun Yu of the University of Vienna. With that experiment, “we want to explore the interface between quantum and gravity.”

More Stories from Science News on Quantum Physics

Scientists propose a hunt for never-before-seen ‘tauonium’ atoms 

Two real-world tests of quantum memories bring a quantum internet closer to reality

The neutrino’s quantum fuzziness is beginning to come into focus

A maverick physicist is building a case for scrapping quantum gravity

The development of quantum dots wins the 2023 Nobel prize in chemistry

Clara Sousa-Silva seeks molecular signatures of life in alien atmospheres

Quantum computers could break the internet. Here’s how to save it

One photon is all it takes to kick off photosynthesis

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Experiment Reveals Microplastics in Every Human Semen Sample Tested

Scientists are finding microplastics in virtually every nook and cranny they inspect in the human body. The alarming discoveries are now stacking up with such speed, there's barely any time to let the news sink in before another part of our anatomy joins the list of contaminated sites .

Shortly after researchers in the US confirmed that microplastics had infiltrated the tissue in human testicles, researchers in China have now detected the pollutants in sperm as well.

The team found microscopic fragments of plastic in every sample of seminal fluid supplied by 36 male participants from inland China.

P olystyrene (PS) particles were the most abundant type found, making up nearly a third of the plastic identified in the average sample. Researchers aren't sure, but they suspect that the polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC fragments had initially been ingested or inhaled. Once the pollutants entered the bloodstream, they could have crossed the blood-testis barrier into the seminal vesicles.

Researchers also noticed a spectrum of abnormal sperm cells swimming in the seminal fluid alongside the plastic fragments. Worryingly, many of the cells were short, bent, coiled, or had irregular tails, with some seeming to have trouble moving properly.

"While these observations are compelling, the establishment of a direct causal link between microplastic exposure and sperm aberrations is still forthcoming," the researchers note .

The health effects of microplastics in the human body are currently unknown , but their potential for reproductive toxicity has scientists concerned.

Today, sperm counts are falling at increasingly faster rates around the world , and while scientists still don't fully understand why that is, chemical pollution has been tied to the effect.

In roughly 40 percent of men , the production of sperm is impaired for unknown reasons. Some scientists suspect microplastics are an overlooked, contributing factor.

Past studies on mice , for instance, have shown that microplastics can damage the barrier that separates the testes from the blood, impairing sperm quality. In these studies, when mice were exposed to polystyrene fragments, it led to fewer sperm cells, higher rates of abnormal sperm, and signs of reduced sperm activity.

Whether that holds true for humans remains to be seen, but the results underline the urgent need for " increased scientific scrutiny and public awareness ".

While the sample size of the current study is small, the findings join two other studies from 2023, one in China and one in Italy , that also detected microplastics in human sperm.

In the study from Italy, researchers found that samples of semen with the best quality sperm were also those where no microplastics were detected.

Unlike these previous papers, however, the recent results came specifically from individuals who live far from plastic manufacturing facilities and the coastline . In the marine environment, microplastics are thought to accumulate in higher concentrations.

This far inland, however, human sperm still seems to soak up remnants of broken-down rubbish, indicating a ubiquitous spread of microplastics in the environment.

Given how inescapable these pollutants appear to be, researchers in China call , "for further research into the potential reproductive impacts of microplastic exposure."

The study was published in Science of the Total Environment .

NASA Announces New System to Aid Disaster Response

In early May, widespread flooding and landslides occurred in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, leaving thousands of people without food, water, or electricity. In the following days, NASA teams provided data and imagery to help on-the-ground responders understand the disaster’s impacts and deploy aid.

Building on this response and similar successes, on June 13, NASA announced a new system to support disaster response organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

“When disasters strike, NASA is here to help — at home and around the world,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “As challenges from extreme weather grow, so too does the value of NASA’s efforts to provide critical Earth observing data to disaster-response teams on the frontlines. We’ve done so for years. Now, through this system, we expand our capability to help power our U.S. government partners, international partners, and relief organizations across the globe as they take on disasters — and save lives.”

The team behind NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System gathers science, technology, data, and expertise from across the agency and provides it to emergency managers. The new system will be able to provide up-to-date information on fires, earthquakes, landslides, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme events.

“The risk from climate-related hazards is increasing, making more people vulnerable to extreme events,” said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division. “This is particularly true for the 10% of the global population living in low-lying coastal regions who are vulnerable to storm surges, waves and tsunamis, and rapid erosion. NASA’s disaster system is designed to deliver trusted, actionable Earth science in ways and means that can be used immediately, to enable effective response to disasters and ultimately help save lives.”

Agencies working with NASA include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Agency for International Development — as well as international organizations such as World Central Kitchen.

“With this deliberate and structured approach, we can be even more effective in putting Earth science into action,” said Josh Barnes, at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Barnes manages the Disaster Response Coordination System.

NASA Disasters Team Aiding Brazil

When the floods and landslides ravaged parts of Brazil in May, officials from the U.S. Southern Command — working with the U.S. Space Force and Air Force, and regional partners — reached out to NASA for Earth-observing data.

Before and After

Flooding in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Spring 2024

NASA’s response included maps of potential power outages from the Black Marble project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Disaster response coordinators at NASA Goddard also reviewed high-resolution optical data — from the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program — to map more than 4,000 landslides .

Response coordinators from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology, both in Southern California, produced flood extent maps using data from the NASA and U.S. Geological Survey Landsat mission and from ESA’s (the European Space Agency) Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite. Response coordinators at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston also provided photographs of the flooding taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Building on Previous Work

The Brazil event is just one of hundreds of responses NASA has supported over the past decade. The team aids decision-making for a wide range of natural hazards and disasters, from hurricanes and earthquakes to tsunamis and oil spills . 

“NASA’s Disasters Program advances science for disaster resilience and develops accessible resources to help communities around the world make informed decisions for disaster planning,” said Shanna McClain, manager of NASA’s Disasters Program. “The new Disaster Response Coordination System significantly expands our efforts to bring the power of Earth science when responding to disasters.”

For more information visit:

https://disasters.nasa.gov/response

By Jacob Reed NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, Md.

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NASA Announces Winners of 2024 Student Launch Competition

Over 1,000 students from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico launched high-powered, amateur rockets on April 13, just north of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of the agency’s annual Student Launch competition. Teams of middle school, high school, college, and university students were tasked to design, build, and launch a […]

NASA-Led Mission to Map Air Pollution Over Both U.S. Coasts

This summer between June 17 and July 2, NASA will fly aircraft over Baltimore, Philadelphia, parts of Virginia, and California to collect data on air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.   The campaign supports the NASA Student Airborne Research Program for undergraduate interns. The East Coast flights will take place from June 17-26. Researchers and […]

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility to Launch Student Experiments

More than 50 student and faculty teams are sending experiments into space as part of NASA’s RockOn and RockSat-C student flight programs. The annual student mission, “RockOn,” is scheduled to launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, on a Terrier-Improved Orion sounding rocket Thursday, June 20, with a launch window that opens at 5:30 a.m. EDT. An […]