Seventy-five years ago this month, the March 1951 issue of Popular Science  showed how to put together a science fair project that was, for many years, quite popular.  You can make your own cloud chamber, which allows you to watch cosmic rays and the decay of atomic particles.  It’s rather easy to make.  You make a supersaturated layer of alcohol vapor, which is done with the use of dry ice.  The only other materials needed can be found around the house.

The alcohol can be ethyl, methyl, or isopropyl.  If Junior is taking it to school, it’s probably best to avoid ethyl alcohol.  In addition, that kind (in the form of “Everclear” most likely) is more expensive than isopropyl, which can be had at any drug store.

Dry Ice can be found at the better convenience stores in your area.  Of course, use caution when handling it.  Actually, you shouldn’t handle it at all.  Bring an insulated container to the store and have them place it in there.

You are probably on this page because you, or your child, have a science fair project that’s due tomorrow, and you haven’t even started! We feel your pain! Listed below are some of our earlier science fair projects that can be done in a very short amount of time, and with materials that you probably already have around the house.  (You won’t have time to make the Jacob’s Ladder shown above, but you still have a chance to take home the blue ribbon.)

If you have more time, you might want to browse through our entire category of science fair projects. But most of those ideas require too much time, and/or require things that you don’t have.

The projects shown on this page can be done immediately, and your teacher won’t know that you waited until the last minute!  Listed below are the projects, along with a list of materials.

Most of these projects are adaptable to various grade levels, so look them over and find what’s appropriate.  Follow your teacher’s instructions, as the project will also include a display board, writing a question that the experiment answers, and other requirements.  But with one of these projects, an acceptable experiment can be done in less than an hour with materials you already have.

• Lens Simulator made with sand
  Materials needed: Sand, cardboard
• Balancing Act
  Materials needed: Ruler, hammer
• Trajectory of a moving object
  Materials needed: Two marbles, hacksaw blade or similar springy object
• Viscosity
  Materials needed: Two cans, string, water, sand or something similar (salt, sugar, etc.)
• What melts faster: Clean snow or dirty snow?
  Materials needed: Lamp, snow, two glasses
• Earth’s magnetic field
  Materials needed: Cork, magnet, cup, water
• Measuring the moon’s diameter
  Materials needed: Cardboard, tape. (Can only be done on a night when the moon is visible.)
• Homemade boxes
  Materials needed: Paper
• Sound through a string
  Materials needed: Spoon, string
• Vinegar and baking soda
  Materials needed: Vinegar and baking soda; mothballs and/or candle
• Parabolic reflector
  Materials needed: Two umbrellas.
• Airfoils
  Materials needed: Candle, cardboard
• Best clothing to keep you cool
  Materials needed: Lamp, candle, black and white cardboard
• Center of mass
  Materials needed: Cardboard, nail, string
• Time zone converter
  Materials needed: Paper and access to printer
• Making a pressman’s cap
  Materials needed: Large sheet of paper

If Junior is looking for a fast science fair project for the deadline tomorrow, this one (and others) involving magnetism appeared 80 years ago this month in the March 1945 issue of Popular Science.

You’ll need a magnet, a compass, a needle, a clothespin (or some similar object to hold the needle) and some method of generating fire, such as a lighter.

Magnetize the needle by rubbing it on the magnet. After doing so, hold it near the compass, and the compass needle will point toward it. To demonstrate the molecular theory of magnetism, then heat the needle up to red hot. Hold it toward the compass again, and it will have no effect, or only a weak effect.

This is because the needle became magnetized because all of the molecules within became magnetized in the same direction. When the needle is heated, the atoms can move more freely, and are aligned in random directions.

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If Junior is looking for the perfect science fair project to secure the coveted blue ribbon, then the February 1940 issue of Popular Science is where to find it. Following the simple instructions there, you can replicate the processes of a modern oil refinery and cook up some gasoline in the lab.

And for an added bonus, you can make the latest in food material science, namely, hydrogenated vegetable oil, also affectionately known as trans fats.

The December 1969 issue of Popular Electronics carried the plans for a 0.5 milliwatt laser. The magazine noted that there was a lot of interest in making such a device, and there were finally parts on the market to make one that met two important criteria: It had to be inexpensive enough for experimenter hobbyists, and it had to be safe. They deemed the 0.5 milliwatt device to be safe, given some precautions, and the whole project could be built for under $50.

The illustration above appeared in the February 1970 issue, and it depicted how the magazine viewed a few of its readers. In summary, they wanted to burn holes in things, and they wrote in to the magazine asking for plans to do that. In response, the editors made clear that they had no plans to do such a thing. To cause destruction to something, the laser would require a few watts. But eye damage could easily take place at just a few milliwatts. The 0.5 milliwatt laser was safe, but more powerful units were not, so the magazine didn’t want to be involved. “Out of responsibility and concern for our readers, POPULAR ELECTRONICS cannot suggest or recommend a laser of any higher strength than the one described in the article.”

For the young mad scientists, it’s probably possible to find dangerous lasers on eBay, but we don’t plan to help, either.  On the other hand, you can get safe low-powered laser pointers on Amazon.

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