Star Wars Force Trainer
Finally had a chance to try out the Star Wars Force Trainer. Here’s the video:
This is one of the exciting Star Wars Science Kits we have available. Be sure to read the instructions when you open the box. The Force Trainer needs to be calibrated, which basically means calibrating the fan which lifts the ball. Once we got it setup, had to decide to try either the Freeplay mode or Jedi Training Mode. Tried the Freeplay mode first thinking that it can’t be too hard, but it was! Not sure if I got the ball to move at all. Then decided to try the training mode. This was nice because it give you a sense of accomplishment (the fan moves the ball for you!) So, not too successful on my first try. Will try it another day with the video camera off to see if it works better then!
The theory of the product is that it uses your brain’s beta waves to control a light ping-pong type ball. Overall, the promise of fun is there, but it probably takes more practice.
Mythbusters Experiments to Try at Home
We recently had the opportunity to interview the famous and fabulous Adam Savage of Mythbusters. Their show is designed to be unpredictable and teach about the power of not always knowing the answer. Kids can be so programmed to always want to be right that they miss out on the joy of experimenting and asking questions. These Mythbuster science kits are designed to help kids ask questions and not be afraid to be wrong. Checkout our complete Mythbusters article with the Adam Savage interview here and our review of the Mythbusters Science Kits.
Ants!
We get a lot of questions about ant farms, so would like to answer some of the most common questions:
Q: Can I order ants with the farm and have them arrive at the same time
A: No, unfortunately, you can’t as the ants are shipped completely separately and must be ordered with the coupon enclosed in the farm.
Q: Where do I get ants
A: If you purchased a kit from us, a coupon was enclosed. If you need to order more ants or don’t have a coupon you can order online at http://www9.mailordercentral.com/unclemilton/products.asp?dept=1001 It’s also a lot of fun for kids to collect ants from outside, just be sure that they are big enough so they don’t escape!
Q: Where do I get a queen ant
A: Federal regulations prohibit selling queen ants, so only worker ants are available
Q: What kind of ants are they
A: The ants from Uncle Milton (the ant farms) are harvester ants
Q: How long will the ants live
A: They should live between 1 and 3 months depending on care
Q: What do ants eat
A: be sure to give them enough water and once a week a tiny bit of bread, dead bugs or fruit
Hydrogen powered car launched!
The technology behind the Horizon fuel cell kits is now available for real road trips! Checkout the CNN coverage at
The top secret vehicle development unveiled last week in London is a two-seater zero emissions hydrogen-electric city car. Developed by Riversimple and backed by the founders of Porsche,the small city car integrates a 6kW fuel cell from Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. This city car is able to achieve 250 miles per gallon, which is 4 to 5 times better than today’s best available hybrid electric vehicles.
You can have this same technology in an educational kit in the H Racer 2.0 and the H2Go Fuel Cell Car
.
Thames and Kosmos Videos
Looking for some video on how to get started on the Thames and Kosmos science kits? Check out their videos at on YouTube. One of our favorite is how to create the Mars Robot from the Physics Workshop kit.
Thames & Kosmos Science Kits
Wind Power Energy Kit
The Wind Power Energy kit is a great introduction to alternative renewable energy and children will assemble a wind turbine and conduct experiments. Imagine the breakthroughs in wind power that are possible with all those bright children experimenting and thinking about how to make it better! Any purchase of this kit also supports a non-profit. The Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living is dedicated to transform Rhode Island into the nations first Sustainable State. Your purchase of the Wind Power Energy kit helps make this possible.
Star Wars Force Trainer
We are so excited about this new product. Should be available in the next couple months. It is really mind over matter! Move a ping-pong ball with your brain waves. This is the most incredible innovation we’ve seen for a while! It is not only fun, but also trains your brain and powers of concentration.
For a video of how this works, check out the demo and video from the Washington Post. They got a sample and tried it out. Preorder online at Star Wars Force Trainer
No shampoo science experiment idea
Just read about people who have stopped using shampoo claiming that their hair is healthier and they’re glad to be rid of putting harsh chemicals on their hair. See the MSNBC article here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386/ The Wikipedia page on SLS has information about why people might be hesitant to use shampoo everyday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_dodecyl_sulfate Would make a fascinating science experiment to track the results of no shampoo and compare the hair cleanliness, oil and overall appearance. If anyone is able to do the experiment, let me know and I’ll be happy to post the results!
Earth Day
How do you celebrate Earth Day? Is is just another day of the week? Here are some ideas of some Earth Day activities you can do with your children:
- Eat 1 meal made from 100% locally grown products — check out your farmer’s market or local grocery.
- Plant some seeds (check out our great plant kits)
- Turn off the TV, go outside and look for bugs, new plants, flowers
10 Reasons to Plant Trees
- Trees prevent and reduce soil erosion and water pollution
- Trees fight climate change
- Trees cool the streets and city
- Trees create economic opportunities
- Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife
- Trees can reduce utility bills by 15-50%
- Trees provide brilliant colors and engaging landscapes
- Trees produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air
- Trees purify water and help make waterways safe for drinking
- Trees make effective sound barriers and windbreaks
These ideas from our friends at Dunecraft. Check out out great plant kits from Dunecraft and start your own tree today!
