Ready to look at bubbles in a whole new light? Bubbles are simple to play with, but they have some pretty complex science behind them. For Dr. Lauren Zarzar, a scientist at Penn State University’s Center for Nanoscale Science, bubbles are a great example of how the properties of materials can change depending on the environment around them—sometimes in surprising …

Continue reading "The Franklin Institute – Light and Bubbles"

A color-changing toy! Explore the connection between the science of light and human eyes as you create a Benham’s Disk optical illusion.

Propagation is any method or process that grows new plants from a variety of sources, including seeds, cuttings and other plant parts. Seeds are typically produced as a result of sexual reproduction. As a result, the genetic makeup of the resulting seed is a recombination of the contributing plants. Cuttings, though, are a method of vegetative reproduction. This means the new plants are a clone …

Continue reading "Guest Blog Courtesy of Dallas Arboretum – Plant Cuttings: Super Rooters"