The Australians among you may remember an excellent program that aired on the Nine Network in the 70s and 80s, called Curiosity Show. Fortunately, select segments from the show have found their way onto YouTube. Here’s one that shows how to completely mess with your mind via the creation of an “Ames Window” optical illusion, that you can build at home with a few simple materials.

Why don’t they make television like this anymore?

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This is another simple, safe and fun experiment. It helps to show that oil and water do not mix, in a very colourful fashion.

Why don’t oil and water mix? There are a couple of reasons. The first is that oil is less dense than water, so when the two liquids settle, the oil will rise to the top and separate from the water. Even when shaken together, though, oil and water separate. This is because water molecules are more attracted to other water molecules than they are to oil and they’ll naturally group together as a result.

Have fun and enjoy your new home-made lava lamp!

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Remember the cannister of mysterious slime that appears in the opening credits of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Wouldn’t it be cool if you could replicate the look and feel of that substance in your own home – using safe, non-toxic ingredients? It may not turn your pets into muscle-bound, crime-fighting mutants, but it could give your parents a scare. Cowabunga dude!

The post Make Your Own Ninja Turtle-Style Glowing Ooze appeared first on IQscience.

This is a particularly safe and simple experiment that can be carried out at home with no risk and minimal setup. It’s performed here by a lovely autistic chap by the name of “Doctor Mad Science” whose passion is quite contagious.

What causes the dye to move to the edges of the bowl, you ask? Just like water, milk holds tension well, which is why the dye dropped in the milk moves very little initially. The addition of soap to the centre of the bowl breaks the surface tension and sends the dye hurtling outwards, where tension is still pulling away.

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Sesame Street meets the science lab in this video, which contains five quick and fun science experiments that may be carried out using everyday household items – and a whole lot of glitter!

If these five experiments – and the banter from Grover and Ernie – don’t get you in the mood to roll up your sleeves and start experimenting, I’m not sure what will.

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