Materials: Directions: Make a poster educating people about tsunamis and how they are formed. Make your poster colorful and appealing! Some of my favorite posters might be featured on this website! Have an adult help you to send me pictures of your poster by emailing me at Use the Spectacular Science episode to help you!
Author Archives: Akshay
What Causes Tsunamis?
Tsunami (pronounced tsoo-nah-mee) is a combination of the Japanese words tsu, meaning harbor, and nami, meaning wave. Tsunamis are powerful waves that are caused by underwater volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and even rare meteors. Tsunamis form when the underwater eruptions or earthquakes release a large amount of energy. Just like a rock makes ripples in a …
Episode 153: Could You Outrun a Tsunami?
Could you outrun a giant tsunami wave? Could the fastest person outrun it? In this episode, I am taking you into the science of tsunamis, exploring how tsunamis form, and unveiling whether or not a human or even a cheetah could outrun these giant tsunami waves! Here is an article! It is called “What Causes …
Diagram the Water Cycle!
Materials: Directions: Time to make a diagram of the water cycle. Use art supplies, paper, and your creative mind to make a diagram! Use the Spectacular Science video below for more information!
Why Do We Need Water?
Water is a substance that is found everywhere on Earth! It can be a solid, liquid, or gas. It is necessary for life on Earth. It’s chemical compound is H2O. That means two Hydrogen (H2) atoms and one Oxygen (O₂) atom. This bond is called a Water Molecule. Because of water pollution, the freshwater in the world …
Episode 152: Your Water Is Billions of Years Old!?
How old is the water you drink? Believe it or not, the water in the oceans, rivers, and inside the human body are billions of years old! It’s even older than dinosaurs! How? In this episode, I will take you behind the science of water, the water cycle, and how water is so old! Here …
Continue reading “Episode 152: Your Water Is Billions of Years Old!?”
Be a Botanist Activity!
Materials: Directions: Time to be a botanist, or a scientists who studies plants. Use your observing eyes to notice features about plants. Are they lacking an important resource? Are the doing well? Sketch pictures of the plants and write down observations. Share your observations with your friends and family! Good job! You’re a botanist. Use …
Episode 151: Do Plants Get Stressed?
Do plants get stressed like humans? Although plants might not have a hundred homework assignments, they still might get stressed by other things around them! In this episode, I will answer the burning question: do plants get stressed and do some more digging on how this happens! Plus, Akshay has a special guest on the …
Why There Are Seasons Worksheet!
Materials: Spectacular Science Why There Are Seasons Worksheet (Click here!) Directions: Print the worksheet out (only page 1) and fill in the blanks. Check your answers with the answer key on the next page. Use the video about why days get shorter in the winter (located below) to help fill in the answers easier.
Episode 150: Why Do Days Get Shorter in the Winter?
You might notice that as the winter season approaches, it seems like the days get shorter and its night time for longer. Why does that happen? In this episode, I take you into the science of why days get shorter and longer as seasons change. Here is an article! It is called “How Does Earth’s …
Continue reading “Episode 150: Why Do Days Get Shorter in the Winter?”
Mummify an Apple!
Materials: Safety note: This activity uses sharp cutting tools. Need adult supervision. DO NOT EAT anything in this activity. Directions: Have an adult help make holes in the apple. Make sure they are deep enough so that the moisture can escape. You can even carve your apple to have a face! Then, mix 1/2 cup …
How Plant Fossils Are Formed
Plant fossils are imprints of plants that lived millions of years ago. Specific conditions have to be met for the plants to turn into fossils. One is that they have to die near a lake bed, tar, or clay. These specific materials will help preserve the plant during the fossilization process. Once the plants die …
Episode 149: Halloween Special! – “Mummified” Plants!? All About Plant Fossils
Mummified plants? Sounds crazy and spooky, right? In this Halloween special episode, I take you behind the science of plant mummys, also known as plant fossils. We will learn how plant fossils are formed, how they are preserved, and what scientists do with them now. Here is an article! It is called “How Plant Fossils …
Continue reading “Episode 149: Halloween Special! – “Mummified” Plants!? All About Plant Fossils”
Episode 148: What if Black Holes Didn’t Exist? With Dr. Christopher Carroll
Black holes! They’re mysterious objects in space. When things go in them, they never come back. In this episode, with the help of Dr. Christopher Carroll, I am answering a burning questions about black holes: what if they didn’t even exist? Dr. Carroll studies black holes at Washington State University and knows a lot about …
Continue reading “Episode 148: What if Black Holes Didn’t Exist? With Dr. Christopher Carroll”
Episode 147: All About Gorillas! With Ms. Rhiannon Schultz
Gorillas! They’re amazing animals! This episode features amazing questions sent in by a few of my listeners! We will all learn more about gorillas with the help of Ms. Rhiannon Schultz. Ms. Schultz is a gorilla researcher at the University of Georgia and knows a lot about the kings of jungles. Learn more about Ms. …
Continue reading “Episode 147: All About Gorillas! With Ms. Rhiannon Schultz”
Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse! 2023
The “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse was earlier today! Check out yesterday’s post for more information. I watched the eclipse from where I live (with solar viewing glasses, of course). I couldn’t see the entire eclipse since I wasn’t in the path of it. It was truly a spectacular event! My question about solar …
Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse Tomorrow!
A solar eclipse will be visible over parts of North and South America tomorrow, Saturday October 14th! This will be a partial solar eclipse in many areas of the U.S. Learn more by visiting NASA’s eclipse website: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/ If you want to watch an eclipse, make sure to use appropriate eye protection (linked to NASA …
Episode 146: Where Does Maple Syrup Come From?
From trees to your pancakes! Where does maple syrup come from and why is it so sweet? In this episode, Akshay takes you into the delicious science of maple syrup, where it comes from, and why it is so deliciously sweet! Here is an article! It is called “What are the Layers of a Tree’s …
Continue reading “Episode 146: Where Does Maple Syrup Come From?”
Find a Maple Tree Activity!
Materials: Directions: Time to hunt for maple trees! Be like a scientists a use clues to find maple trees. Scientists in the field use reference pictures. See some of the reference pictures below. Look for the pattern of the leaves to identify a maple. This is a fun scavenger hunt-like activity! Have fun!
Episode 145: Why Do Birds Fly in a V Shape?
Look up! It’s a flock of birds! Chances are that you’ve seen a flock of birds flying in a letter V shape. Why do they do that? In this episode, I take you into the skies to find out the science behind this amazing question. Here is an article! It is called “Why Do Birds …
Continue reading “Episode 145: Why Do Birds Fly in a V Shape?”
Episode 144: What Makes Diamonds So Strong?
You’ve probably heard that diamonds are the strongest material naturally found on Earth. What makes diamonds so strong? In this episode, I will take you into the science of diamonds, how they form, and how all that plays a role in why diamonds are considered the strongest natural material in the world! Here is an …
Continue reading “Episode 144: What Makes Diamonds So Strong?”
Episode 143: How We’re All Made of Stardust!
We’re all made of stardust! It seems mind-blowing or even unreal, but everything on Earth is made out of materials that were originally in stars. In this episode, I will uncover how we’re actually made of stars and some amazing facts about our early universe. Here is an article! It is called “What is a …
Continue reading “Episode 143: How We’re All Made of Stardust!”
Diamonds Vs. Graphite!
Graphite and diamonds are both made out of Carbon. Carbon is a very abundant element. But, why is diamond stronger than graphite if they are made out of the same material? It is all because of the arrangement of the atoms into molecules. Atoms are the microscopic building blocks of the universe. They make up …
Episode 142: What if Coral Reefs Disappeared? With Dr. Emma Camp
What if all coral reefs on Earth suddenly disappeared? How would the Earth react? What problems would that create? In this episode, I talk to Dr. Emma Camp, a marine biologist at University of Technology Sydney, about this mind-boggling question and to tell us more about the harsh future of coral reefs. Dr. Camp is …
Continue reading “Episode 142: What if Coral Reefs Disappeared? With Dr. Emma Camp”
Episode 141: What are Shooting Stars?
You’ve probably heard the saying “wish on a shooting star”. What exactly are shooting stars? Hint! They might not be actual stars. In this episode, I will talk more about shooting stars and what they really are. Here is an article! It is called “What Causes Meteor Showers”. (https://spectacularsci.com/2022/06/what-causes-meteor-showers/) Here is an activity! It is …
Episode 140: Why is There a Hurricane Season?
Why is there a specific hurricane season, especially in North America? Why don’t hurricanes come at all times of the year? I will explore the science and wonders of hurricanes, such as Hurricane Idalia and answer some of these mind-boggling questions in this episode.. Here is an article! It is called “How Do Hurricanes Form?” …
Continue reading “Episode 140: Why is There a Hurricane Season?”
Episode 139: Biomes – Part 3 – Aquatic Biomes!
Welcome to part 3 out of 3 in this series about biomes on Earth! In the previous episode, I covered the science behind land biomes. In this episode, you will learn more about the different aquatic biomes on Earth and what makes them unique! Here is an article! It is called “What Is A Biome”. …
Continue reading “Episode 139: Biomes – Part 3 – Aquatic Biomes!”
Episode 138: Biomes – Part 2 – Land Biomes!
Welcome to part 2 out of 3 in this series about biomes on Earth! In the previous episode, I covered the science behind what a biome is. In this episode, you will learn more about the different land biomes on Earth and what makes them unique! In part 3, Akshay will dive into the science …
Continue reading “Episode 138: Biomes – Part 2 – Land Biomes!”
Video Podcasts on YouTube!
In the premiere of my new season, I showed viewers on YouTube a new format of my podcast! It is video podcasts! These video podcasts have clips of me, engaging animations, graphics, and more to help you understand topics better! Video podcasts are exclusive to YouTube, but you can still stream audio podcast episodes on Apple …
Episode 137: Biomes – Part 1 – What Are Biomes?
Welcome to this 3 part series about biomes! Biomes are different areas of Earth that have different temperatures and are home to unique types of life! In this series, Akshay will be covering the science behind biomes and the different types of biomes on Earth! In part 1, Akshay will be introducing you to biomes …
Continue reading “Episode 137: Biomes – Part 1 – What Are Biomes?”
Episode 136: Physical and Chemical Changes!
Physical and chemical changes are all around you! But, what are these changes, and what are some real-world examples of them? What’s the difference between physical and chemical changes? In this episode, Akshay talks about the science behind physical and chemical changes and why it is so important for our world. Here is an article! …
Continue reading “Episode 136: Physical and Chemical Changes!”
New Spectacular Science Fun Fact Generator!
Introducing… the all new Spectacular Science Fun Fact Generator! I have collected many science facts over the years and have put them on this fact generator website so you can experience the feelings of awe and wonder we get while looking at these mind-blowing facts! Visit facts.spectacularsci.com to check it out and generate awe-inspiring science …
Continue reading “New Spectacular Science Fun Fact Generator!”
Episode 135: Your Body’s Clock! Circadian Rhythm with Dr. Erin Gibson
Do you know what controls your sleep cycle, hunger, and even changes in body temperature? Circadian rhythm does! Circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock and controls when certain things happen in your body. How does circadian rhythm work and why is it important? In this episode, Akshay wonders about circadian rhythm after waking up …
Continue reading “Episode 135: Your Body’s Clock! Circadian Rhythm with Dr. Erin Gibson”
Episode 134: What Is LiDAR and How Does It Work? – With Mr. Jack Wood
LiDAR is a type of technology that uses light to scan areas and to build a computer model of real-world places. LiDAR is now being used for many things, such as self-driving cars and even on smartphones. What really is LiDAR and how does it work? What does the future of LiDAR look like? In …
Continue reading “Episode 134: What Is LiDAR and How Does It Work? – With Mr. Jack Wood”
Episode 133: Where Does The Salt In The Ocean Come From?
When you go to the beach and jump into the water, all you get is a mouthful of salt water! It tastes like the same salt you have on the kitchen table. Why is the ocean salty? Where does that salt come from? In this episode, Akshay gets curious about why the ocean is salty …
Continue reading “Episode 133: Where Does The Salt In The Ocean Come From?”
Episode 132: All About Artificial Selection! With Dr. Ian Dworkin
Have you ever wondered how there are so many breeds of dogs in the world. Or, have you wondered why there are so many varieties of fruits and vegetables. It’s all thanks to artificial selection and selective breeding! Akshay visits the animal shelter in search of a new pet, and sees all of these hundreds …
Continue reading “Episode 132: All About Artificial Selection! With Dr. Ian Dworkin”
Episode 131: What’s The Deal With Microplastics? Why They Are Harmful To Earth
What’s the big deal with microplastics? What is microplastic and why is it harmful to the environment, especially animals? In this episode, Akshay tries to relax on the beach, but can’t because of all the plastic on the beach! He gets curious about microplastics and learns more about them. In this episode, we will learn …
Continue reading “Episode 131: What’s The Deal With Microplastics? Why They Are Harmful To Earth”
Episode 130: Food Chains and Food Webs!
Food chains and food webs! They are important to show the transfer of food from one animal to another. Even humans are part of a giant food web. But, how exactly does a food chain work? What are the parts of a food chain and what role do animals and plants play in it? In …
Happy Earth Day! 2023
Check out this short video about Earth Day on the Spectacular Science YouTube Channel here! youtu.be/ti9OygNsEKI Gaylord Nelson. He wanted to make a day where people could recognize and care for the environment! The first Earth Day began in 1970 and it grew even more! People plant trees and even have parades to honor the …
Episode 129: For Crying Out Loud! Why Onions Make Us Cry
You’re in the kitchen chopping onions, then suddenly, you start crying! No, it’s not because you are hurt but is because of the onion. Why do onions make us cry? In this episode, Akshay is making his signature Soup of Imagination in his kitchen. He starts chopping onions for his soup and starts crying! In …
Continue reading “Episode 129: For Crying Out Loud! Why Onions Make Us Cry”
Episode 128: Shark Talk! All About Sharks With Ms. Melissa Cristina Márquez
Sharks! They’re one of the most mysterious, misunderstood, and amazing creatures on Earth! Have you ever wondered about sharks and what it is like when diving with them? Akshay wants to learn more about sharks, so he talks to Ms. Melissa Cristina Márquez, a shark researcher and explorer. Akshay builds a new imaginary submarine and …
Continue reading “Episode 128: Shark Talk! All About Sharks With Ms. Melissa Cristina Márquez”
Episode 127: Where’d You Go? All About Chameleons!
Now you see me, now you don’t! Chameleons are able to camouflage into their surroundings. But, how do they do this and is how they change dependent upon their surroundings? In this episode, Akshay goes out exploring in the woods and finds chameleons everywhere, even though he can’t see some of them! Learn about chameleons …
Continue reading “Episode 127: Where’d You Go? All About Chameleons!”
Episode 126: Survival of the Fittest! Evolution with Dr. William Ratcliff
Have you ever wondered how humans originated from apes or why birds look different based on their environments? Evolution and natural selection are the answers to those questions! What is evolution and natural selection? How does it work? Akshay wonders about this on his trip to the zoo, so he talks to Dr. William Ratcliff, …
Continue reading “Episode 126: Survival of the Fittest! Evolution with Dr. William Ratcliff”
Episode 125: Glow Up! How Do Creatures Make Light?
Many creatures such as fireflies, mushrooms, fish, worms, and microscopic sea animals make light. They have this amazing superpower that lights up their surroundings. How do they make light? Akshay wonders the same thing while watching fireflies in his backyard! In this episode, we are going to take a deep dive into the science of …
Continue reading “Episode 125: Glow Up! How Do Creatures Make Light?”
The Atlanta Science Festival!
If you live around the Atlanta area, you will love the Atlanta Science festival! It is full of fun science activities for all ages. The festival is from March 10th – 25th!
Episode 124: The Largest Animal On Earth! Amazing Blue Whales
What is the largest animal on Earth? It is the blue whale! The blue whale is as long as three school buses and weighs over 200 tons! This giant animal is also the loudest animal on Earth. Let’s go discover more fun facts about the blue whale! Join Akshay as he dives deep down into …
Continue reading “Episode 124: The Largest Animal On Earth! Amazing Blue Whales”
Episode 123: Pollinators vs. Climate Change! With Dr. Samuel Myers
Pollinators are all around us! They help us humans get food and crops and also help the ecosystem stay in balance. But, we have a problem! Climate change! Climate change is impacting pollinators and the ecosystem as well. Akshay is curious about this and meets Dr. Samuel Myers at a bee farm! Dr. Myers is …
Continue reading “Episode 123: Pollinators vs. Climate Change! With Dr. Samuel Myers”
What Causes The Smell Of Mown Grass?
You probably know the smell of freshly-mown grass. It is a very strong smell and, for some people, is relaxing. This smell comes from the cut grass and is made up of lots of chemicals that plants make. But, that soothing and very strong smell is actually a plant distress call!! Plants don’t have a …
Episode 122: The Toughest Animal On Earth! Microscopic Tardigrades
What is the toughest animal on Earth? You may think that it is the cheetah or the blue whale, but your have to think small! Very small, even microscopic. The tardigrade is a microorganism that can survive in extreme environments, even space! How can they do this? In this episode, Akshay takes you on a …
Continue reading “Episode 122: The Toughest Animal On Earth! Microscopic Tardigrades”
Episode 121: All About Mysterious Black Holes!
Black holes are one of the most mysterious things in the universe. We know that they exist, but we don’t know what is inside of them. But, even what are black holes and how are they formed? In this episode, Akshay goes stargazing with his brand new telescope and wonders about black holes. Akshay takes …
Continue reading “Episode 121: All About Mysterious Black Holes!”
How Are Black Holes Formed?
A black hole is a place in space that is extremely dense and has a strong gravitational pull. This is because a lot of matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This usually happens when a star is dying. When a star dies, sometimes it turns into a supernova. For a black hole to form, the dead star …
Episode 120: Flying Fish?? All About These Amazing Fish!
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a flying fish! A fish that flies may seem like an animal out of a story, but they are actually a group of fish! Flying fish are amazing creatures. How are they able to fly or glide over the water and why do they do this? In …
Continue reading “Episode 120: Flying Fish?? All About These Amazing Fish!”
Episode 119: All About Teeth! With Dr. Ami Desai
Teeth! Your amazing pearly whites! We use them everyday to eat and to smile. But what are teeth made of and why is brushing and flossing them important? Akshay goes to the dentist for his check up and talks to Dr. Ami Desai, a dentist at Family Dentistry and Orthodontics. In this episode, you will …
Continue reading “Episode 119: All About Teeth! With Dr. Ami Desai”
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2023!
Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to 2023! Let’s see what science adventures we will go on this year on Spectacular Science!
Episode 118: Concrete! How It’s Made and Why It’s Important
Concrete is all around you! The sidewalks, roads, houses, and even skyscrapers! It plays a huge role in your everyday life. But, how is concrete made and how is it used? In this episode, Akshay takes you into a deep dive into the science of concrete! Sign up for the free Spectacular Science Membership where …
Continue reading “Episode 118: Concrete! How It’s Made and Why It’s Important”
How Does Snow Happen?
The white, powdery precipitation called snow is a winter’s delight! It falls from the sky as snowflakes. One condition is the temperature. It has to be below freezing or below 32°F or 0°C. This freezing temperature makes the water in the atmosphere freeze and turn into snowflakes! The other condition is atmospheric lift. This is …
Episode 117: Hummingbirds! Small Birds With Flight Superpowers
Hummingbirds are small birds, but they are the masters of flight. These tiny birds have adapted special ways for them to fly fast and in different directions quickly. In this episode, Akshay explores the science of hummingbirds and how they have specially adapted wings that help them fly fast and even backwards! Sign up for …
Continue reading “Episode 117: Hummingbirds! Small Birds With Flight Superpowers”
Episode 116: Speakers! How They Work
If you listen to this podcast or music, you probably use a speaker! Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, from being in giant movie theaters to fitting inside of your phone. But, how do speakers work to produce sound from electrical signals? In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind simple speakers and explains …
The Three Types of Tears!
Tears are water that come from our eyes. But, there are actually different types of tears: basal, emotional, and reflex. Basal tears keep your eyes from drying out. They supply nutrients and water to the outer parts of the eye. When there is dust, hair, or other debris in your eyes, basal tears flush them …
Episode 115: The Moon! Earth’s Best Friend
Look up in the night sky on a clear night. What catches your eye first? The Moon! The Moon is Earth’s best friend. We will all recognize it when we see it. But, what is the Moon, what is it made out of and why are missions such as NASA’s Artemis Mission being sent to …
Continue reading “Episode 115: The Moon! Earth’s Best Friend”
Episode 114: Auroras! The Greatest Light Show on Earth
Auroras! They are known as the “greatest light show on Earth”. These natural colored light shows happen near the North and South pole. But, how do these spectacular events happen and what is the science behind that? In this episode, Akshay takes you on a deep dive into the science of auroras. Sign up for …
Continue reading “Episode 114: Auroras! The Greatest Light Show on Earth”
What Are Meteor Showers and How Do They Happen?
Meteors are small bits of rock that enter Earth’s atmosphere and sometimes land on the ground. Meteors are also known as “shooting stars”. Meteor showers are caused by comets. Comets are giant balls of rocks and ice that orbit a star. They are made up of 3 main parts: the nucleus, the coma, and the …
Continue reading “What Are Meteor Showers and How Do They Happen?”
Episode 113: Making Oxygen on Mars! All About MOXIE with Mr. Shravan Hariharan
There is no Oxygen on Mars. The thin Martian atmosphere is only made out of Carbon dioxide. How will we send humans and rockets to space without the Oxygen that they need? MOXIE, a machine aboard NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover helps with that! This amazing technology turns Carbon dioxide into Oxygen and is working …
Continue reading “Episode 113: Making Oxygen on Mars! All About MOXIE with Mr. Shravan Hariharan”
Episode 112: Coral! The Basis For Marine Life
When you first see coral, you might think that it is just a pile of rocks. But, that’s not true! Coral is made out of hundreds of living things! What is coral, how is it formed, and why is it important? In this episode, Akshay takes you on a deep dive into the ocean to …
Continue reading “Episode 112: Coral! The Basis For Marine Life”
Rate The Lunar Eclipse That Is Coming Up! November 8th, 2022
Get ready, because tonight, a total lunar eclipse is visible over the United States! Check out our post about lunar eclipses to refresh yourself. While you’re watching the lunar eclipse, use our worksheet, Rate a Lunar Eclipse, to use the Danjon Scale to rate what color the Moon is an how bright it is! Spectacular …
Continue reading “Rate The Lunar Eclipse That Is Coming Up! November 8th, 2022”
What Is Gravity?
Gravity is the force by which a planet or other body draws objects toward its center. The force of gravity keeps all of the planets in orbit around the Sun and also keeps us from floating into outer space. All objects have their own gravity. Anything that has mass also has gravity. Objects with more mass …
Episode 111: How Does The Earth Support Life?
Earth! It’s full of active life and animals. But, what makes it so that Earth supports life? Why can’t Mercury or other planets support life? In this episode, Akshay takes a deep dive into the science of life and what makes Earth a good place for life. You will also learn about what scientists are …
Continue reading “Episode 111: How Does The Earth Support Life?”
Episode 110: Where’d You Get Those Genes? All About DNA
Why are your eyes blue? Why do you have black hair? Why do you look similar to your parents? It’s all thanks to genes and DNA! DNA is the instruction manual that makes you, you! In this episode, Akshay takes you on a deep dive into the science of DNA, genes, the types of genes, …
Continue reading “Episode 110: Where’d You Get Those Genes? All About DNA”
What Is Cellular Respiration?
Cellular respiration is the set of chemical reactions that break down glucose from our food into ATP or andosine triphosphate. The ATP is energy for the body. Cellular respiration requires Oxygen and glucose to start the cycle. Cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria or “powerhouse” of the cells. They take in the Oxygen and …
Episode 109: The Carbon Cycle! From The Earth To Living Things
Carbon is the building block of all living things, even you! But, have you ever wondered about how the carbon got to you and how the carbon is spread out around Earth? It’s all thanks to the Carbon cycle, a giant cycle which the Carbon on Earth goes through to get recycled and reused by …
Continue reading “Episode 109: The Carbon Cycle! From The Earth To Living Things”
How Do We Breathe?
We breathe using our respiratory system and our lungs. Our lungs help humans breathe in Oxygen and breathe out Carbon dioxide. The lungs use tiny parts, called alveoli to help with this process. Alveoli, pronounced as alei-ve-oli, are tiny sacs inside of your lungs. They kind of look like grapes inside of your lungs! These …
Episode 108: The Digestive System!
Have you ever wondered how our bodies digest the food that we eat? Well, in the episode of Spectacular Science, Akshay takes a deep dive into the science of our digestive systems. We will learn about what the digestive system is, how it works, and the organs that are involved in the digestive system. Listen …
Episode 107: How Do We Make Energy Out Of What We Eat?
Have you ever wondered how our body makes energy out of what we eat? This plays a huge role in our lives! Without energy, we would not be able to live!! In this episode, Akshay explores the science of cellular respiration, the process in which our body turns what we eat into useful energy that …
Continue reading “Episode 107: How Do We Make Energy Out Of What We Eat?”
Happy International Podcast Day!
Happy International Podcast Day! On September 30th, 2022, we recognize podcasts and podcasters of their work and spreading their stories with the world. I am so happy that my podcast has gotten so far and I really want to thank you, my listeners! My mission when starting this podcast was to spread the spectacular things …
How Do Hurricanes Form Over The Ocean?
Hurricanes are a group of storm clouds that create a very dangerous storm. If you see a hurricane from space, you will see a giant swirling cloud. Hurricanes can bring heavy rain, wind, and sometimes minor tornadoes. Hurricanes are formed when storm clouds form over warm water. As the storm clouds move, the warm water …
Episode 106: The Science of 5G Technologies with Mr. Lyle Paczkowski
A new era of communication has been released in the past few years and is gaining heat now! It is called 5G or the fifth generation of technologies! This new type of communication tech is opening possibilities of having faster phone and internet speeds as well as having more smart gadgets, such as self-driving cars …
Continue reading “Episode 106: The Science of 5G Technologies with Mr. Lyle Paczkowski”
First Day of Fall In The Northern Hemisphere!
Fall is here in the Northern Hemisphere! In this post, you will learn about why leaves fall from trees during the fall! Trees are living things, just like us. They are called organisms. You’ve seen that some trees lose all of their leaves in the fall and go dormant or in a resting stage in …
Continue reading “First Day of Fall In The Northern Hemisphere!”
Episode 105: The Science of Machine Learning With Mr. Dale Lane
There are many smart machines around us such as smart speakers, self-driving cars, and even smart thermostats! But, how do these machines learn how to perform their tasks and how are they able to respond to different situations? This is all thanks to machine learning! In this episode, Akshay gets curious about machine learning while …
Continue reading “Episode 105: The Science of Machine Learning With Mr. Dale Lane”
How Do Electrical Wires Work?
This is because the material inside of the wires is a conductor. Conductors are materials that electrons can travel through easily. Conductors are usually made out of metals. Conductors are used in the electrical wiring itself! Humans are also conductors of electricity (that is very dangerous) That is why humans should wear insulators to protect themselves from …
Episode 104: How Do Cells Grow and Divide?
Humans, animals, plants, and even bacteria all grow! But, how do they grow? It is all because of the cells inside of them dividing and making more of themselves! How do these cells grow and what process do they go through to create new cells? In this episode, Akshay takes you in a deep dive …
Continue reading “Episode 104: How Do Cells Grow and Divide?”
What Are The Smaller Parts Of An Atom?
Atoms are the microscopic building blocks of the universe. They make up almost ANY material including solids, liquids, and gases! A human has more than 1 billion atoms! Atoms have specific parts. There is the nucleus, which is the center of the atom. Then, there are even smaller parts. They are protons, neutrons, and electrons! …
Episode 103: What Causes Allergies?
Some people, including Akshay, are allergic to certain things. These can be pollen, milk, nuts, and even dust! Allergies can cause the body to react to these things and make them sick. But, what causes people to be allergic to some things and what goes in in their bodies when they have an allergic reaction? …
Why Is REM Sleep Important?
REM Sleep or Rapid Eye Movement Sleep is a very important stage for human health. REM Sleep is the stage when your brain is active, dreams occur, and your eyes move back and forth rapidly under your eyelids. During this stage, your brain is very active! The brain organizes information it learned the past day in a …
Episode 102: The Science of Sleep! With Dr. Leah Irish
When you fall asleep, it just feels like you lay down and then get up in the morning 10 hours later! But, there is actually so much that goes on inside of your body when you sleep!! Akshay wonders about sleep and why we need it, so he talks to Dr. Leah Irish from North …
Continue reading “Episode 102: The Science of Sleep! With Dr. Leah Irish”
What Are Chemical Bonds?
Chemical bonds are when two or more atoms bond or stick together to form molecules that make up all the things around us! If there were no bonds, everything would just be atoms that float around! There would be no visible things. There are two types of bonds: covalent and ionic bonds. Both of these …
Episode 101: Diving at Super-Speed! Peregrine Falcons
Welcome to season 5 of Spectacular Science! Peregrine falcons are very special birds. These birds dive for their prey at up to 250 miles per hour! But, how do these amazing birds dive from the air so fast? What’s the science behind the super fast flying skills? In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind …
Continue reading “Episode 101: Diving at Super-Speed! Peregrine Falcons”
What Is The Nitrogen Cycle!
Nitrogen is an element that very common on Earth. In fact, nitrogen makes up most of the air that we breathe in. This nitrogen actually cycles through different forms and stages over time. This cycle is kind of similar to the carbon cycle. The nitrogen cycle starts as nitrogen gas in the atmosphere. This gas …
What Are The Characteristics Of Living Things?
Living things are also called organisms! Humans, plants, and even bacteria are great examples of living things. But, what determines that a thing is living? There are a few characteristics that make things living. One is that they are made out of cells. Living things are ALL made out of cells. Cells are tiny building …
Continue reading “What Are The Characteristics Of Living Things?”
What Are Ocean Currents?
Ocean currents are rivers of water that move around the world. There are deep ocean currents and surface currents. Deep ocean currents are caused by differences the water’s density. Density is how close molecules are packed together in an object. The density of water is impacted by salinity (how much salt there is) and temperature. …
What Is The Carbon Cycle?
Carbon is a very common element on Earth! It is found in living things and is also found in the ocean, the air, and in the ground. Carbon is able to change forms on Earth form animals to the air. Animals and plants have carbon in them. When animals breathe out, they release Carbon dioxide …
Why Are Electric Stoves Better Than Gas Stoves?
Electric stoves are now used in place of gas stoves because they can heat things more evenly. Electric stoves used electricity to heat up and cook food. When you turn the stove on, the electricity flows through metal coils that are either exposed or under the cooking surface (if you have a glass ceramic surface). …
Continue reading “Why Are Electric Stoves Better Than Gas Stoves?”
What Is The Difference Between Pressure and Electric Rice Cookers?
The main parts of a basic electric rice cooker are the outer pot, inner pot, the heating element, lid, and button controls. The outer pot contains the heating element. The inner pot, where the uncooked rice goes, fits inside of the outer pot. The heating element heats up metal coils in the outer pot to …
Continue reading “What Is The Difference Between Pressure and Electric Rice Cookers?”
What Causes Snow?
The white, powdery precipitation called snow is a winter’s delight! It falls from the sky as snowflakes. One condition is the temperature. It has to be below freezing or below 32°F or 0°C. This freezing temperature makes the water in the atmosphere freeze and turn into snowflakes! The other condition is atmospheric lift. This is …
How Does REM Sleep Affect Your Body?
REM Sleep or Rapid Eye Movement Sleep is a very important stage for human health. REM Sleep is the stage when your brain is active, dreams occur, and your eyes move back and forth rapidly under your eyelids. During this stage, your brain is very active! The brain organizes information it learned the past day in a …
How Does Earth Support Life?
There are a few reasons why Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to support life. One is that Earth is located in the “Goldilocks Zone” from the Sun. The “Goldilocks Zone” is a specific distance from the Sun where it is not too hot or not too cold. It is just right! Earth is …
What Is The Difference Between Airplanes and Helicopters?
Airplanes are machines that can fly with engine or propeller power. They are able to use aerodynamics (how air and objects move) to fly. Airplanes make it so that we can travel around the world in just a few hours! Airplanes can coke in all shapes and sizes like the tiny airplanes that you see …
Continue reading “What Is The Difference Between Airplanes and Helicopters?”
What Causes The Continents On Earth To Move?
They move thanks to convection currents. Convection currents all start with density. Density is how much “stuff” (atoms and molecules) that are packed into one thing. If something has a high density, all of the atoms and molecules are close together and will sink. If something has a low density, the atoms and molecules are …
Continue reading “What Causes The Continents On Earth To Move?”
All About The Arctic!
When you talk about the North Pole, it can mean the North Magnetic Pole or the North Geographic Pole. In this post, we are going to focus on the North Geographic Pole. That is the point on Earth where all the lines of longitude meet to form a single point. The North Pole is located …
How Do Scientists Find Exoplanets?
Planets are large objects that orbit or circle around a star, like the Sun! Planets can be made up of rocks and gases. Our Solar System is made out of 8 planets that are made up of either gas or rocks. Rocky planets are called terrestrial planets and gaseous planets are called gas giants. Planets …
Grass Alarm Smell! The Strong Smell of Mown Grass
You probably know the smell of freshly-mown grass. It is a very strong smell and, for some people, is relaxing. This smell comes from the cut grass and is made up of lots of chemicals that plants make. But, that soothing and very strong smell is actually a plant distress call!! Plants don’t have a …
Continue reading “Grass Alarm Smell! The Strong Smell of Mown Grass”
What Is The Galaxy That We Live In?
We live in the Milky Way galaxy!! Galaxies are large collections of stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and other space material like gases and dust held together by gravity. The Milky Way is the name of the galaxy that we live in. There are millions of more stars, planets, and other space debris in the Milky …
What Are The Differences Between Amphibians and Reptiles?
Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrate (has a backbone) animals. Reptiles are ectothermic, meaning that they rely on the Sun’s energy to heat them up and match the temperature in the air around them. When it is cold outside, reptiles become more inactive in order to maintain a body temperature and are very active when it warms up! Most …
Continue reading “What Are The Differences Between Amphibians and Reptiles?”
The Providence Canyon in Georgia!
Providence Canyon State Park in Georgia is home to Providence Canyon, also known as “The Little Grand Canyon”. This canyon formed because of clearcutting of trees and farming. The land’s history began millions of years ago when sediments were deposited under ancient seas and coastal beaches. These delicate ribbons of sand were protected by trees and …
What Is Mechanical Weathering?
Weathering is the breaking down of rock by many natural agents like water, wind, and gravity. Mechanical Weathering is when rocks are broken down without a chemical change. They are changing their physical properties. Mechanical weathering can split rocks in half and turn them into dust! Some examples of Mechanical Weathering are ice wedging (when water …
Why Does Copper Turn Green?
Copper naturally turns green over time as it reacts with Oxygen in the air. This chemical reaction is known as oxidation. The Oxygen and some water in the atmosphere react with the surface of the copper. That causes the copper and Oxygen atoms to bond to create copper oxide. That is the green or blue …
How Does Recycling Work?
Recycling is the process of making used or old things into new things. Recycling usually happens with some plastics, glass, and paper. They melt/shred the materials and make new objects out of them. Recycling reuses the material and shapes it into new objects that can be used again! Recycling is very good for the Earth …
What Is Green Energy?
Green Energy means a way to make power without polluting the atmosphere. Most power plants today use coal and gasoline to generate electricity. When they burn coal and gasoline, it creates Carbon Dioxide (CO2) which is a Greenhouse Gas. This means that it traps the Sun’s energy in the atmosphere and makes the planet hotter. This causes …
What Causes Objects To Slow Down On Earth?
It is all because of friction. Friction is a force that happens when two or more objects are rubbed together. This can break the object, generate heat, or make sounds. Friction is a force that blocks the movement. That is why remote control cars can’t drive well on carpet. When there is too much friction, …
Continue reading “What Causes Objects To Slow Down On Earth?”
The 100th Episode of Spectacular Science! – Music and the Brain
This is the 100th episode of Spectacular Science! This is a very big milestone for this podcast. In this episode, Akshay is celebrating the 100th episode of Spectacular Science with a musical spectacular! In this episode, Akshay talks to Dr. Alan Harvey from the University of Western Australia about how the brain processes music. Akshay …
Continue reading “The 100th Episode of Spectacular Science! – Music and the Brain”
Why Do Some Fruits Have Peels Or Shells?
Fruits are pieces of plants that have sugar inside of them. They don’t always have to be sweet to be a fruit! Fruits have either of these two things: seeds or come from flowering plants. The entire purpose of fruits is to help the plant reproduce. The seeds help the plants make more plants. If …
What Causes Day And Night?
It may seem simple, but the day and night cycle on Earth has lots of moving parts that work together. Let’s start out with the Earth. The Earth spins on its axis, which is an imaginary line that goes down the center of the Earth. As the Earth spins, different parts of the Earth face …
How Do Fireworks Explode And Create Dazzling Colors In The Sky?
Aerial fireworks are the fireworks that you see launched into the sky! They are usually fired using rockets and mortars. These fireworks create a dazzling light show above us! They all start with a paper tube. That tube is filled with small bits of metal, like iron or steel, colorants (made using gases/elements such as …
Continue reading “How Do Fireworks Explode And Create Dazzling Colors In The Sky?”
What Causes A Low Pressure System?
Air molecules around us push down on us all the time. The air from the atmosphere takes up space, so it has mass (weight). The more atmosphere above you, the more the air pressure. There is actually 14.7 pounds per square inch of your body pushing down on you right now!! That means that your …
What Causes A High Pressure System?
Air molecules around us push down on us all the time. That is air pressure. In weather, there are two types of pressure systems: high and low pressure systems. In this post, we are focusing on high pressure systems. High pressure systems mean that a lot of air is pushing down on a certain area. …
Why Is Hair Important?
Hair is a strand of string protein that grows out of hair follicles or tiny sacs in your skin. Hair is made up of keratin, the same material your fingernails are made out of. Hair grows through a process of cells dividing and getting pushed out of the follicle. This causes a strand of cells …
What Are Cells?
Cells are the makeup of every living thing! There are two types of cells: plant and animal cells. We are going to talk about Cells in general. Cells make energy by getting Carbon in the form of sugar. Depending on the organism, it make it’s own food or eat food to survive. Cells also make …
How Do Sponges Absorb Water?
Sponges are used by humans every day, from washing the dishes to cleaning up a mess! Some sponges are natural, but others are artificially made. In this post, we will be focusing on the artificial or synthetic sponges. Sponges are able to absorb water because they retain or keep in water very well. This is …
What Causes Friction?
Friction is a force that happens when two or more objects are rubbed together. This can break the object, generate heat, or make sounds. Friction is a force that blocks the movement. That is why remote control cars can’t drive well on carpet. When there is too much friction, the force builds up and gets …
What’s So Special About Titan?
Titan is the second-largest moon in the Solar System. Titan orbits around Saturn every 16 Earth days. Titan has entire oceans and seas of liquid Methane, a gas that is so cold that it turns into a liquid! Titan also has a lot of empty rivers that were carved out by a liquid millions of …
What Causes Meteor Showers?
Meteors are small bits of rock that enter Earth’s atmosphere and sometimes land on the ground. Meteors are also known as “shooting stars”. Meteor showers are caused by comets. Comets are giant balls of rocks and ice that orbit a star. They are made up of 3 main parts: the nucleus, the coma, and the …
Why Are Coral Reefs Important?
Coral is often mistaken for a rock because of its hard surface! Many think it is a plant because it is rooted in the ground. Coral is a group of animals!! Different from rocks, coral is alive. Unlike plants, corals do not make their own food. A coral is actually made up of thousands of tiny …
What Makes The Sky Appear Blue?
The Visible light spectrum is the different colors in the white light that we see. The different colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. You can see these colors by bending light with a prism or with water. The sky is blue because the molecules (building blocks of the universe) in the …
Episode 99: Owls! Superstars of the Night
Owls are amazing creatures and have some superpowers. But, what are those superpowers? In this episode, Akshay is taking a dive into the science of owls when he meets an owl! From turning their heads almost all the way around to hearing things from far away, owls are definitely the superstars of the night! Subscribe …
Continue reading “Episode 99: Owls! Superstars of the Night”
What’s So Special About Europa?
Europa is one of Jupiter’s moons. It takes 85 hours to orbit Jupiter. Europa is mostly made of rocks and ice. The part that really got scientists interested is water! This water bursts out of the surface of the moon like jets of water. These eruptions release water. Scientists think that Europa may have liquid …
What Do Plants Use Sunlight For?
Plants need sunlight because plants use the Sun to make food. Chlorophyll helps plants collect the sunlight. Chlorophyll is made up of even smaller parts called Chloroplasts. Chloroplasts have a green color to them. Leaves have Chloroplast because they help the plant or tree collect sunlight and turn it into sugar. That process is called …
What Are The Effects of Deforestation?
Deforestation is when people cut down large areas of forests. These trees are cut down in a way called clearcutting. Clearcutting is when all of the trees in the area are completely gone. This can be done for new buildings, roads, logging, or farmland. Clearcutting and deforestation in general can be very bad for the …
Are There Different Types of Tears?
Yes! There are different types of tears. Tears are water that come from our eyes. But, there are actually different types of tears: basal, emotional, and reflex. Basal tears keep your eyes from drying out. They supply nutrients and water to the outer parts of the eye. When there is dust, hair, or other debris …
What Is Coral Bleaching?
Some of the coral in the ocean is actually losing its color! This is called coral bleaching and this happens when the oceans get too hot for the coral. Coral actually have algae living on them and those algae turn sunlight into food for the coral and also give the coral its color. But, when …
What Makes Some Plastics Clear?
Plastic is a type of polymer. Polymers are certain materials that have atoms that are bonded together in a link pattern. Atoms are the tiny building blocks of all elements. When atoms bond together, like in polymers, they form molecules! Poly means many and mer or mers means units. Polymers means many units! A great example of a human-made polymer is …
Episode 98: A Need For Speed! How Cheetahs Run So Fast
When you think of speedy animals, what is the first animal that comes to mind? The cheetah! Cheetahs are known for running very fast. But, how do cheetahs run so fast? They have developed many adaptations that help them run so fast! In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind how cheetahs run so fast! …
Continue reading “Episode 98: A Need For Speed! How Cheetahs Run So Fast”
What Is A Supermoon?
A supermoon is an astronomical event when the Moon is in the closest point to Earth in its orbit. From Earth, the Moon looks bigger and brighter during a supermoon. The Moon will be 30% brighter and 14% bigger! The Moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle. It is actually a stretched-out oval or ellipse. …
What Are Placebos?
Placebos are used in clinical trials. Placebos are fake medicines or vaccines that help researchers compare people who took the medicine with people who just got a fake medication. Placebos do nothing inside of a person’s body. Placebos for vaccines and tablets can be made out of salt, water, and sugar. These people, who took …
What Is The Global Conveyor Belt?
The Global Conveyor Belt is a series of ocean currents that move water around the world! Currents are rivers of moving water that are caused by differences in density. Density is how close molecules are packed together in an object. The density of water is impacted by salinity (how much salt there is) and temperature. …
Does Hand Sanitizer Get Rid Of All Germs?
Hand sanitizer is a quick and easy way to disinfect your hands. It kills bacteria and viruses that might make you sick, right on your hands! But, hand sanitizer doesn’t get rid of all bacteria and viruses, so if there is a sink around, you should wash your hands instead of just going to hand …
Continue reading “Does Hand Sanitizer Get Rid Of All Germs?”
Why Do Hummingbirds Hover?
If you have not seen a hummingbird before, it is a tiny bird and it hovers in place like a helicopter! That is the hummingbird’s specialty! Hummingbirds can hover for two reasons. One is the bones that are in a hummingbird wing. Most birds have arm bones in their wings, but hummingbirds have hand bones …
A Few Million Years Ago, Antarctica Was a Rainforest! How?
Antarctica, a few million years ago, was a rainforest! Now, we see Antarctica as a giant deserts with just ice. How did this transformation happen? It all happened because of the continents moving. They move thanks to convection currents. Convection currents all start with density. Density is how much “stuff” (atoms and molecules) that are …
Continue reading “A Few Million Years Ago, Antarctica Was a Rainforest! How?”
Episode 97: What Makes a Bubble Pop?
Bubbles! Why do they pop? And why do they have shadows even though they are transparent? In this episode, Akshay gets curious about the science of bubbles when he was blowing bubbles! Join Akshay on an adventure from the small soap molecules to giant-sized bubbles in this episode. Please follow/subscribe wherever you’re listening right now! …
What Makes It Easy For Cheetahs To Run So Fast?
A cheetah is a mammal that mostly lives in the African Savanna. It is covered in spots and has black markings under its eyes. Cheetahs are in the genus or family Acinonyx. They are unlike big cats like tigers or lions because they do not have retractable claws that they can pull in. Their claws are …
Continue reading “What Makes It Easy For Cheetahs To Run So Fast?”
How Is Sand Turned Into Glass?
Glass is a transparent material used in plates, cups, windows, and even art! Glass is made from natural raw materials such as sand and limestone. Those materials are melted down into molten material. That is done using a kiln which is super hot!! The molten glass is now cooling fast, so they reheat the glass …
How Do Rockets Work?
A rocket is basically a vehicle that uses Newton’s Third Law to send things into space. Rockets are filled with fuel and when that fuel is lighted on fire, it produces lots of smoke and hot gas. That is actually what sends a rocket into space. According to Newton’s Third Law, “For every action, there …
Spectacular Science is on YouTube!
Spectacular Science is now on YouTube! You can get experiment videos, episodes, and much more by subscribing to the Spectacular Science YouTube channel! Click here to Subscribe! By subscribing, you really encourage me to keep making more episodes! Thank you so much!
Why Is Glue Sticky?
Glue is any liquids that can be applied to a surface and harden over time. Glue can be used for crafts, construction, or even surgery! Different types of glue are used for different purposes. Organic glue is made out of organic compounds, but we are going to focus on synthetic glue. Synthetic glue, which is …
How Did The Planets Form?
Planets are large objects that orbit or circle around a star, like the Sun! Planets can be made up of rocks and gases. Our Solar System is made out of 8 planets that are made up of either gas or rocks. Rocky planets are called terrestrial planets and gaseous planets are called gas giants. Planets …
Episode 96: Asteroids! Giant Pieces of Rock Floating In Space
Have you ever heard of asteroids? Asteroids are giant pieces of rock floating in space. But, did you know that there are different types of asteroids? In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind asteroids and the asteroid belt! Spectacular Science is on YouTube! Please subscribe to the Spectacular Science YouTube channel by using this …
Continue reading “Episode 96: Asteroids! Giant Pieces of Rock Floating In Space”
How Are Rainbows Created?
Rainbows are optical illusions that happen when light bends in water droplets and splits into different colors. Those colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. White light is made out of all these colors. When it rains, lots of water droplets are in the sky. The Sun shines through these water droplets. …
What Are Electrical Circuits?
A circuit is a path that current electricity or electrons can flow through. Current electricity is a type of human-made electricity. A simple circuit is made out of four parts: the power source, wires, the load, and a switch. A simple circuit works by electrons, which are negatively charged, exit from the negative terminal of …
How Do Fuses Help With Short Circuits?
A circuit is a path that current electricity or electrons can flow through. Current electricity is a type of human-made electricity. A simple circuit is made out of four parts: the power source, wires, the load, and a switch! A simple circuit works by electrons, which are negatively charged, exit from the negative terminal of …
How Do Electric Cars Work?
Electric cars work differently from regular gasoline-powered cars. Regular cars work using an Internal Combustion Engine that creates a small, controlled explosion inside of the engine. That moves a piston which is connected to a wheel. That wheel then moves while the piston is moving! That gasoline that you put into your car powers the …
What Are Trees?
Trees are large plants that have a long life cycle. That’s why they are so big. The parts of trees are roots, the trunk, branches, and leaves. The leaves take in Carbon dioxide and sunlight. The roots suck up water and nutrients. That is then turned into sugar and oxygen that the tree can feed …
How Does Echolocation Work?
Echolocation is when animals locate objects using sound. Bats, dolphins, and other animals use echolocation. First, the animal makes a sound, which is usually high pitched. This helps the sound travel farther and also give it more energy. Then, the sound reflects or bounces off of a surface or another animal. Then, the sound reflects back to …
Episode 95: Heat Transfer! How Heat Moves Through Things
We all see and experience heat every day, from the Sun shining down on us, to touching a hot mug, to even cooking food!! But, heat is actually being transferred or moved through many things every day. What is heat transfer and what are the types of heat transfer? In this episode, Akshay uncovers the …
Continue reading “Episode 95: Heat Transfer! How Heat Moves Through Things”
What Is Evaporation?
Water, or H20, is a liquid that is found all over the Earth! Water can be in different states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. Water vapor, or steam, is in the gas state of matter. When water is a liquid, the molecules in the water are flowing freely, but still have a definite size. …
How Plastic Is Made!!
Plastic is a type of polymer. Polymers are certain materials that have atoms that are bonded together in a link pattern. Atoms are the tiny building blocks of all elements. When atoms bond together, like in polymers, they form molecules! Poly means many and mer or mers means units. Polymers means many units! A great example of a human-made polymer is …
What Is Saharan Dust?
Sahara Dust is debris such as sand, smoke, soot, and dirt that comes from the Sahara Desert in Africa. The Sahara Desert takes up 3.552 million square miles!! The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) is an intensely dry, warm, and heavy dust layer that originates from this giant Sahara Desert! It travels over the ocean to reach North America, …
Why Do Flowers Wilt After They Have Been Taken Off The Plant?
Flowers are an assortment of petals and pollen that a plant produces to reproduce. The pollen of a flower contains the genetic information to make seeds and new plants. Besides being pretty, flowers actually make fruits possible! A fruit is what is left after a flower dies and sugar is put into the dead flower bulb. Thank …
Continue reading “Why Do Flowers Wilt After They Have Been Taken Off The Plant?”
What Is A Leaf Made Out Of?
Inside of a leaf, there are passageways that water and nutrients can travel through, but the most important and dominant part of the leaves are the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is made up of even smaller parts called chloroplasts. Chloroplasts have a green color to them. Leaves have chloroplast because they help the plant or tree collect …
Why Does Mown Grass Have a Smell?
You probably know the smell of freshly-mown grass. It is a very strong smell and, for some people, is relaxing. This smell comes from the cut grass and is made up of lots of chemicals that plants make. But, that soothing and very strong smell is actually a plant distress call!! Plants don’t have a …
Episode 94: The Secret Senses of Plants!
Can plants feel pain? No, they don’t feel pain. But, they have some amazing secret senses! Akshay wonders about these plant senses and explores the science behind the secret superpowers of plants! Plants are able to defend each other and themselves, recognize bugs that attack them, and even figure out which direction to grow!! Please …
May 15-16 – Amazing Lunar Eclipse!
Yesterday was a total lunar eclipse over the United States! I was very excited for this eclipse to happen! Just a refresher, a lunar eclipse is when Earth’s shadow is cast on the Moon. This causes the Moon to appear red because of the light being scattered on Earth. This is called the “Blood Moon”. Before the …
Rate The Lunar Eclipse That Is Coming Up!
Get ready, because tonight, a total lunar eclipse is visible over the United States! Check out our post yesterday about lunar eclipses to refresh yourself. While you’re watching the lunar eclipse, use our worksheet, Rate a Lunar Eclipse, to use the Danjon Scale to rate what color the Moon is an how bright it is! …
Continue reading “Rate The Lunar Eclipse That Is Coming Up!”
What Is A Lunar Eclipse?
This happens during Lunar Eclipses. A Lunar Eclipse is when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow. The Sun is shining on the Earth and the Moon is behind the Earth. The Moon can appear to change color sometimes when it is a total Lunar Eclipse. The Moon only appears to change color on Earth. …
How Do 3D Movie Glasses Work?
If you have watched a 3D movie, you will have to wear special 3D viewing glasses. But, how do they work? In order for movies to appear in 3D, you must wear polarized, or 3D, glasses. Polarized means that the glasses filter the light based on how they are traveling. Light typically moves in a …
How Does Earth’s Tilt Cause Seasons?
Seasons are different climate patterns that happen throughout different times in a year! Places on Earth experience seasons at different times. Some seasons are noticeable and others are not. We have seasons because the Earth is slightly tilted on its axis. An axis is an imaginary rod going from the top to the bottom where …
How Do Ballpoint Pens Work?
Pens work differently from pencils. Read more about pencils here! In this post, we are going to focus on the most common type of pen: the ballpoint pen. All pens use ink, but the cool thing here is how it draws the ink to the tip. In ballpoint pens, there is a small cartridge with pen …
Episode 93: Solar and Lunar Eclipses!
Solar and lunar eclipses are amazing space events to see. They both involve the Moon, Sun, and the Earth. But, how are they created and how are solar and lunar eclipses different from one another? That is what Akshay is exploring in today’s episode of Spectacular Science! Please follow/subscribe to Spectacular Science! Learn how to …
Why Do Dogs Pant When They Are Hot?
Dogs are very playful animals! But, when they play a lot and get hot, you may notice that they start panting. Panting is when dogs inhale and exhale fast! Dogs also stick their tongues out while doing this! This is because dogs do not have an effective system of sweat glands like people do. They …
How Do We Hear Sounds?
Sound waves are what sound travels in! They are little vibrations of air that travel through a medium or a material that it is travelling through. Sound waves are why you can hear a jackhammer or my podcast!! Sound waves work like this: First, an object or person has to make a sound. A sound is made …
How Do We See Things And Know What Color They Are?
Let’s start with light. Light can be broken up into a few colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet! When we see white light coming from the Sun or a lightbulb, that white light is all of the rainbow colors together. When the white light hits an object it reflections, or bounces of …
Continue reading “How Do We See Things And Know What Color They Are?”
What Causes The Sky To Appear Blue?
The Visible Light Spectrum is the different colors in the white light that we see. The different colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. You can see these colors by bending light with a prism or with water. The sky is blue because the molecules (building blocks of the universe) in the …
The Phases of the Moon!
Our Moon is a natural satellite. This is a natural object that orbits or circles around a planet or star. The Moon is believed to have been an irregular piece of our planet that got knocked off by a comet. The Moon has different phases that we see here from Earth! There are different phases …
What Is Coral?
Coral is often mistaken for a rock because of its hard surface! Many think it is a plant because it is rooted in the ground. Coral is a group of animals!! Different from rocks, coral is alive. Unlike plants, corals do not make their own food. A coral is actually made up of thousands of tiny …
Episode 92: The Human Brain! With Dr. Laura Carruth
The brain! It fits inside of our head, and plays a huge role in how our bodies function and stay alive! The brain controls many things like thoughts, hunger, and so much more! But, what exactly is the brain and how does it work? Akshay gets really curious about this too! That is why Akshay …
Continue reading “Episode 92: The Human Brain! With Dr. Laura Carruth”
What is Hair And Why Is It Important?
Hair is a strand of string protein that grows out of hair follicles or tiny sacs in your skin. Hair is made up of keratin, the same material your fingernails are made out of. Hair grows through a process of cells dividing and getting pushed out of the follicle. This causes a strand of cells …
Why Is Water Important For Survival?
Yesterday, I wrote about why Earth is the only planet (at least for now) in our Solar System that hosts life. One of the reasons was water! In this post, I am going to tell you why water is important for survival! Water is a substance that is found everywhere on Earth! It can be a …
Why Is Earth The Only Planet In Our Solar System That Supports Life?
There are a few reasons why Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to support life. One is that Earth is located in the “Goldilocks Zone” from the Sun. The “Goldilocks Zone” is a specific distance from the Sun where it is not too hot or not too cold. It is just right! …
Continue reading “Why Is Earth The Only Planet In Our Solar System That Supports Life?”
What Are The 3 Types of Asteroids?
Asteroids are large pieces of rock floating in space. Most of the asteroids found in our Solar System are in the Asteroid Belt. The 3 main types of asteroids are C, S, and M type asteroids. The asteroids are put into these categories based on their composition or what they are made out of. Let’s start off …
What Are White Dwarf Stars?
A white dwarf is what stars become after they have used up their fuel. Near the end of its burning stage, this type of star releases most of its outer material, creating a planetary nebula. A nebula is leftover material from an old star. This is the place where new stars form! Only the hot …
Why Will Your Weight Change If You Are On Another Planet?
Go to projects.spectacularsci.com/calculate-your-weight-on-planets to try out my new weight calculator on planets! This will tell you how much you will weigh if you are on another planet in the Solar System! If you try out the calculator, you might notice that your Earth weight differs from planet to planet! But, why does that happen? It …
Continue reading “Why Will Your Weight Change If You Are On Another Planet?”
Episode 91: Gravity!
Right now, as you are reading this, are you floating out into space? No! It is because of the gravity that is keeping you glued to the Earth’s surface! But, what exactly is gravity and what does it do? In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind gravity! Gravity plays a huge role on how …
Why Is Rubber So Flexible?
Rubber is a natural product, produced by plants, and is used in many of the things we use every day! Rubber is a type of polymer. Polymers are certain materials that have atoms that are bonded together in a link pattern. Atoms are the tiny building blocks of all elements. When atoms bond together, like …
What Are Exoplanets?
Planets are large objects that orbit or circle around a star, like the Sun! Planets can be made up of rocks and gases. Our Solar System is made out of 8 planets that are made up of either gas or rocks. Rocky planets are called terrestrial planets and gaseous planets are called gas giants. Planets …
What Is The Difference Between Viruses and Bacteria?
A virus is infectious object that depends on living organisms’ cells to multiply. They are bad for living organisms and take over cells. Viruses infect a body and travel to a cell and inject it’s DNA code into the cell which will make the virus multiply and will destroy the cell. This is how viruses make us …
Continue reading “What Is The Difference Between Viruses and Bacteria?”
Earth Day 2022!! How To Go Green
Every April 22nd, we celebrate a day we call Earth Day. Earth Day is a day that we do good things for the environment. This holiday was created by Senator Gaylord Nelson. He wanted to make a day where people could recognize and care for the environment! The first Earth Day began in 1970 and …
How Do Black Holes Consume Stars and Matter?
A black hole is a place in space that is extremely dense and has a strong gravitational pull. This is because a lot of matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This usually happens when a star is dying. Black holes can suck in entire stars and planets! Black holes can be from the size of a single atom to …
Continue reading “How Do Black Holes Consume Stars and Matter?”
What Is The Kuiper Belt?
The Kuiper Belt is a donut-shaped region of icy bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. Pluto is one of these objects found in the Kuiper Belt! There may be millions of these icy objects called Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) or trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). The Kuiper Belt is similar to the Asteroid Belt because it is pieces …
Episode 90: Beyond the Planets! The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud
We all know our Solar System and it is our home. But, have you ever thought about the objects beyond Neptune? That is what we are learning about today! Akshay gets curious about the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud which are outside of the planetary region! We will learn what these objects beyond the …
Continue reading “Episode 90: Beyond the Planets! The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud”
What Caused The Formation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent tectonic plate boundary that is on the ocean floor. A divergent boundary is when two tectonic plates move apart from each other. In this case, the plates are the South American Plate and the African Plate. As those plates pull apart, magma from below the Earth’s crust rises up and cools …
Continue reading “What Caused The Formation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?”
How Do Pens Write?
Pens work differently from pencils. Read more about pencils here! In this post, we are going to focus on the most common type of pen: the ballpoint pen. All pens use ink, but the cool thing here is how it draws the ink to the tip. In ballpoint pens, there is a small cartridge with …
Why Does Pollen Give Some People Allergies?
Pollen is a sticky substance that is found inside of most flowering plants. Pollen is in the middle of the flower of the plant. Pollen is attached to long structures called stamens and smaller structures called pistils. This pollen helps make new plants grow through a process called pollination. That is when pollen is transferred …
Continue reading “Why Does Pollen Give Some People Allergies?”
How Does Density Change?
Density is the amount of “stuff” (molecules and atoms) that are packed into one space. Objects’ density can be found by dividing the mass (weight) of an object by the volume (space it takes up) of an object. Density is measured in grams per milliliter (g/mL). If something has to float on water, than the density …
What Is Light?
Light is a type of energy that is made up of tiny particles called photons. These photons can zip around the universe at very high speeds! The speed of light is the ultimate universe speed limit, up to 180,000 miles per second! The regular light you see is actually made up of different colors of …
Why Are Bees Important For Flowers?
Bees are important in a lot of ways, but the most important is pollination. Pollen is a sticky substance that is found inside of most flowering plants. Pollen is in the middle of the flower of the plant. Pollen is attached to long structures called stamens and smaller structures called pistils. This pollen helps make …
Episode 89: How Do We Taste Things?
When we eat food, we all know what it tastes like. It might be sweet, savory, sour, salty, or even bitter! But, have you ever wondered what goes on in your mouth and your brain when you taste things? Akshay wonders the same thing when we is playing around with foods and different tastes in …
What Causes A Chemical Reaction?
Chemical reactions are when two or more materials combine to make a new material! The two materials usually react with each other, producing that new material. This happens when molecular and atomic bonds are broken apart or connected. A great example is when you mix baking soda and vinegar to make Carbon dioxide gas! There …
What Makes Graphite Weaker Than Diamond Even Though They Are Made Of The Same Element?
Graphite and diamonds are both made out of Carbon. Carbon is a very abundant element. But, why is diamond stronger than graphite if they are made out of the same material? It is all because of the arrangement of the atoms into molecules. Atoms are the microscopic building blocks of the universe. They make up …
How Are Pencils Able To Write?
Pencil tips are made out of graphite. Graphite molecules are flat groups of carbon atoms that are stacked in layers. If you were to zoom in on the graphite, the graphite would be organized in flat sheets. Those flat sheets make the graphite weaker and makes the graphite break into tiny bits. When you write on a piece of …
What Are Dwarf Planets?
Dwarf planets are similar to the planets we know, but they are still different. Dwarf planets have enough mass to clump themselves in to an almost-round shape, just like planets. Dwarf planets also orbit around the Sun, just like other planets. But, their orbital path is not cleared of asteroids and space dust, so they …
What Is Run-Off Of Water?
Run-off is when precipitation (snow, rain sleet, or hail) hits the ground and drains into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This run-off is what causes accumulations or build-ups of water. Run-off is also a cause of erosion, which can break down and carry rocks to different places. Millions of years ago, planet Earth did not really have rivers …
What Is Density?
Density is the amount of “stuff” (molecules and atoms) that are packed into one space. Objects’ density can be found by dividing the mass (weight) of an object by the volume (space it takes up) of an object. Density is measured in grams per milliliter (g/mL). If something has to float on water, than the density …
Episode 88: Mountains! What They Are and How They Form
Time to climb a mountain! But, before we do that, we have to think about how mountains form! Akshay wonders about mountains a lot and sets out to discover how mountains form and many more things about these giant mounds of rock. Akshay also answers an amazing question he came up with: why is it …
Continue reading “Episode 88: Mountains! What They Are and How They Form”
What Are Vascular Plants?
Vascular plants are plants that have a series of tubes running through their stem/trunk to their leaves. These tubes or veins are what a plant uses to transport nutrients through it. A plant with roots is also considered a vascular plant because it roots are tubes that carry water and nutrients. HINT: Vascular Plants usually …
What Is A Stethoscope?
A stethoscope is a instrument used by doctors and other medical specialists. It is used to measure people’s heartbeat and their breathing. It is placed on the area where the heart is or on the back. A modern stethoscope is made up of a Y-shaped flexible plastic tube. An earpiece is attached to each end of the Y and a sound-detecting device at the other end. The sound-detecting device …
What Is A Neutron Star?
Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses in on itself. The core of the star collapses, crushing together ever proton and electron into neutrons. These newly-created neutrons can stop the collapse leaving behind a neutron star! This collapse leaves behind the most dense object known – an object …
What Are Atoms?
Atoms are the microscopic building blocks of the universe. They make up almost ANY material including solids, liquids, and gases! A human has more than 1 billion atoms! Atoms have specific parts. There is the nucleus, which is the center of the atom. Then, there are even smaller parts. They are protons, neutrons, and electrons! …
How Do We Taste Things?
Taste is one of our 5 senses. It is how we think food tastes in our mouth. There are a few types of tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory (umami). We taste these using taste buds that contain different cells that taste each of these tastes that I mentioned earlier. Taste buds have these …
How Are Clouds Helpful?
Clouds are large collections of water droplets that can be frozen, but only sometimes. They form due to condensation, when water evaporates into a gas and cools down above the Earth. Then, the water drops attach to pieces of dust or dirt that are above the Earth. As more droplets attach to one piece of …
Episode 87: Chilling Out With Snow!
Snow! It marks that winter has arrived! Snow coats the ground like a white blanket and kids (including me) love to play in it! When you look at snow, it all looks the same, but they are not. In fact, there are lots of different shapes of snowflakes! In this episode, Akshay wonders about snow …
What Are Constellations?
A constellation is a group of stars that have been associated with a shape. This helps humans recognize stars and groups of stars easier. Stars are giant burning balls of gas that can be over 800,000°F. Stars are the centers of Solar Systems and can be very bright! Stars provide the planets with light, heat, …
What Are Some Ways Rocks Can Weather?
Weathering is when rocks get broken down into pieces. Weathering can happen in many different ways, from salt to clay to ice! We are going to focus on the 5 main ways: water, ice, salt crystallization, clay formation, and plant roots. To learn more about weathering, check out our episode about weathering! Weathering with water happens …
What Is A Supernova?
A supernova is a powerful explosion of a star when it dies. Stars are giant balls of gas in space. The stars are very hot! They can be up to 800,000 degrees Fahrenheit! Our own Sun is also a star. It supplies us with light and heat. Stars take millions of years to form. The …
What Is A Comet?
Comets are giant balls of rocks and ice that orbit a star. They are made up of 3 main parts: the nucleus, the coma, and the tail. The nucleus of a comet is made up of ice, gas, dust, and rocks. It is found right at the head of a comet. The nucleus of a …
What Are Owls?
Owls are nocturnal birds that live on every continent, except Antarctica. They are flying birds that eat small rodents and other small birds. Owls are carnivores, meaning that they ONLY eat meat. Owls are almost like superheroes! They have many amazing powers. They have very big eyes that help them see in the dark. This is because …
How Did The Planets In The Solar System Form?
Planets are large objects that orbit or circle around a star, like the Sun! Planets can be made up of rocks and gases. Our Solar System is made out of 8 planets that are made up of either gas or rocks. Rocky planets are called terrestrial planets and gaseous planets are called gas giants. Planets …
Continue reading “How Did The Planets In The Solar System Form?”
Episode 86: How Did The Universe Form? – With Dr. Paul M. Sutter
Have you ever looked up in the night sky and wondered how everything got there? I’m talking about the origins of our universe! The one thing that formed this universe!! Akshay wonders about that when he goes stargazing, so he visits Dr. Paul M. Sutter, an astrophysicist and author of Your Place in the Universe …
Continue reading “Episode 86: How Did The Universe Form? – With Dr. Paul M. Sutter”
What Is The Planet Mars?
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is a terrestrial planet which means it is made out of rocks and metals. It is named after the Roman God of War. The days and seasons on Mars are similar to the days and seasons on Earth. A year on Mars is 687 Earth days …
How Did Saturn’s Rings Form?
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is a gas giant which means it is mostly made out of thick gases. Some of those gases are Hydrogen and Methane. It has about 62 moons and more waiting for confirmation. Saturn is the second most largest planet in the Solar System. It is the …
What Is The Nervous System?
The nervous system is the collection of all the nerves in your body and its function is to receive and send information on what’s going with the body. The nervous system includes your brain and spinal cord. Your brain and spinal cord are the centers where the information is being sent and received. Without the …
What Are The 3 Types of Heat Transfer?
Heat transfer is the spread of heat between objects. There are three types: conduction, radiation, and convection. Conduction is heat that is transferred through direct contact. Conductors are materials that allow heat to pass through them. An example of conduction is touching a hot pot on a stove (NEVER do that!). Then, there is radiation. …
How Do SPG Nerves Cause Brain Freezes?
A brain freeze is an informal term for Sphenopalatine Ganglion Neuralgia. It is when the blood vessels in your brain expand to cause a headache! This is all caused SPG nerves. These nerves are at the back of your mouth and are very sensitive to cold foods like ice cream. SPG nerves or the sphenopalatine …
How Do The Continents Move?
They move thanks to convection currents. Convection currents all start with density. Density is how much “stuff” (atoms and molecules) that are packed into one thing. If something has a high density, all of the atoms and molecules are close together and will sink. If something has a low density, the atoms and molecules are …
Episode 85: 142-Year-Old Seed Experiment! – With Dr. David Lowry
Have you wondered how long seeds last underground before they can’t sprout anymore? Akshay wonders the same thing! So, Akshay talks to Dr. David Lowry from Michigan State University about the amazing Beal Seed Experiment. Join Akshay and Dr. Lowry on an adventure to discover what the Beal Seed Experiment is and go on a …
Continue reading “Episode 85: 142-Year-Old Seed Experiment! – With Dr. David Lowry”
How Do Cumulonimbus Clouds Form?
Cumulonimbus clouds are storm clouds. Clouds are large collections of water droplets that can be frozen, but only sometimes. They form due to condensation, when water evaporates into a gas and cools down above the Earth. Then, the water drops attach to pieces of dust or dirt that are above the Earth. As more droplets …
What Are Cumulus Clouds?
Cumulus clouds are fluffy, white clouds that float high in the sky. They usually mean that the day is going to be sunny and there will be good weather. These clouds are the types of clouds you see in happy movies or T.V. shows! Cumulus clouds are condensed water that is still not ready to …
What Are Low Pressure Systems?
Air molecules around us push down on us all the time. The air from the atmosphere takes up space, so it has mass (weight). The more atmosphere above you, the more the air pressure. There is actually 14.7 pounds per square inch of your body pushing down on you right now!! That means that your …
How Do Tornadoes Form?
Tornadoes are a rotating column of air that spins very fast. They are made up of a giant cloud that stretches from above to the ground. Tornadoes can have violent winds and lots of rain. Tornadoes can do lots of damage, so it is important to take shelter during a tornado. Tornadoes are usually formed …
What Are Flowers and What Is Their Purpose?
Flowers are an assortment of petals and pollen that a plant produces to reproduce. The pollen of a flower contains the genetic information to make seeds and new plants. Besides being pretty, flowers actually make fruits possible! A fruit is what is left after a flower dies and sugar is put into the dead flower bulb. Thank …
Continue reading “What Are Flowers and What Is Their Purpose?”
Why Is There So Much Pollen In The Air During Spring?
There is so much pollen in the air because lots of flowers bloom in the Spring. Pollen is a sticky substance that is found inside of most flowering plants. Pollen is in the middle of the flower of the plant. Pollen is attached to long structures called stamens and smaller structures called pistils. This pollen …
Continue reading “Why Is There So Much Pollen In The Air During Spring?”
Episode 84: Weather!
Look out the window. Is it sunny, cloudy, or rainy? Well, that is all weather! In this episode, Akshay gets caught in a storm and wonders what weather is and how weather works! In this episode, we are taking a deep dive into the science of weather and the patterns in the atmosphere. Please follow/subscribe …
The Planet Jupiter!
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. It comes after the Asteroid Belt. It is a gas giant which means it is mostly made out of gases like Hydrogen and Methane. Jupiter is the BIGGEST planet in the Solar System! Get ready for some big numbers! If you were to wrap a belt around …
What Is The Greenhouse Effect and What Causes It?
The Greenhouse Effect is what climate change is caused by. This effect is when gases like Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4) are released into the atmosphere. These gases, also known as greenhouse gases trap the heat that the Sun beams out inside of Earth’s atmosphere. This happens because these gases are able to absorb …
Continue reading “What Is The Greenhouse Effect and What Causes It?”
What Are High Pressure Systems?
Air molecules around us push down on us all the time. That is air pressure. In weather, there are two types of pressure systems: high and low pressure systems. In this post, we are focusing on high pressure systems. High pressure systems mean that a lot of air is pushing down on a certain area. …
How Does Sand Form?
Sand is just rock that has been eroded. Erosion is when wind, water, or other natural agent wears away at rock and takes it to a new place. This take millions of years to happen. As the wind or water etches away at the rock, the pieces of soil or rock that come off get …
Why Do Leaves That Fall On The Ground Dry Up?
During the Fall, leaves from trees fall to the ground and the trees become dormant. Over time, those leaves on the ground start to shrink and turn brown. Then, they dry up. Why? It is all because the leaf is not receiving or making water or nutrients. When a leaf is attached to a tree …
Continue reading “Why Do Leaves That Fall On The Ground Dry Up?”
How Do Plants Know When To Grow?
Plants know when to grow because of the change in temperature. As spring approaches, there will be an increase in temperature because the Earth is tilted towards the Sun. The temperature change is very noticeable for animals and plants too! When the seed or dormant plant senses that the temperature is increasing, it starts sprouting …
Episode 83: Ocean Waves and Tides!
The oceans are full of roaring waves and moving tides!! You may have surfed of waves and watched the tide go in and out. But, have you ever wondered about the science behind these ocean movements? Akshay wonders that as well on his trip to the beach. Grab your swim gear because we are taking …
What Is Biofuel?
Biofuel is a form of renewable fuel that is made from recently lifeless or now living biological material (living things). Humans can convert plants and animal waste into energy that we can use. Biofuel is considered a renewable resource because we can always grow more plants and trees! Crops, like corn and sugar cane, can …
How Does Photosynthesis Work?
Photosynthesis is the process of taking sunlight and Carbon dioxide and making it into Oxygen gas and sugar! The word “photo” means light. Photosynthesis is used by green plants, algae, and bacteria. That helps the bacteria, plants, or algae make food for themselves. Photosynthesis also made our Oxygen atmosphere! These organisms use a part of their …
What Are Viruses?
A virus is infectious object that depends on living organisms’ cells to multiply. They are bad for living organisms and take over cells. Viruses infect a body and travel to a cell and inject it’s DNA code into the cell which will make the virus multiply and will destroy the cell. This is how viruses make us …
What Is The Differences Between Solids and Liquids?
A solid has the atoms packed tightly together, without any gaps. Solids have a definite size and shape. The solid state of matter is very common in the universe. The atoms make the solid positively charged (more protons) or negatively charged (more electrons). Electrons and protons are even smaller parts of atoms. When solids heat …
Continue reading “What Is The Differences Between Solids and Liquids?”
What Causes Sea-Level Rise?
Sea-level rise is when the ice caps of the Earth make the ocean waters rise. The ice caps of the Earth are the North and South poles. Because of Climate Change, when the Earth gets hotter, the ice melts and flows into the ocean. When ice melts, it becomes water. When that extra water makes …
What Is The Visible Light Spectrum?
The Visible Light Spectrum is all of the colors in white light! White light from the Sun and the lights in your house has all of the colors of the Rainbow! The Visible Light Spectrum contains the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The Visible Light Spectrum is not a thing you …
Episode 82: The Science of Slime!
Slime is something that you can make at home or buy at the story! It is gooey and has some strange properties. Have you ever wondered about what slime really is and how it gets these weird properties? Akshay wonders the same thing after making his own slime!! Get ready because we are diving straight …
What Is Liquid Nitrogen and What Is It Used For?
Nitrogen (N) is a gas that makes up 64% of the air that we breathe! Liquid Nitrogen is the Nitrogen gas that has been supercooled. That means that the gas got cold and turned into a liquid. When that happens, we get a boiling liquid that is – 196 °C (- 320 °F)! That is …
Continue reading “What Is Liquid Nitrogen and What Is It Used For?”
Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?
When we cut onions, they make us produce tears. The onion has developed this defense to defend it from predators that might try to eat it! Each tiny cell of an onion has a sealed blob within it containing a chemical the onion makes. This chemical is called an enzyme. Enzymes are very useful, natural …
What Is Dry Ice Made Out Of?
Dry ice is not just regular ice, it is special! Dry ice is the solid or frozen form of Carbon Dioxide. This means that the gas called Carbon Dioxide was frozen in sub-zero temperatures. It is almost 5 times colder than water ice! Dry ice can result in serious frostbite, so wear hand protection while handling …
How Do Markers Work?
Markers can be permanent, easily rubbed off, and even have lots of scents! Markers bring color to our world. But, all of the action is actually happening inside of the marker. Inside that plastic tube is an absorbent material. This holds the ink that gives each marker its color. The ink itself is made of a …
What Are The 3 Types of Tears?
Tears are water that come from our eyes. But, there are actually different types of tears: basal, emotional, and reflex. Basal tears keep your eyes from drying out. They supply nutrients and water to the outer parts of the eye. When there is dust, hair, or other debris in your eyes, basal tears flush them …
How Does Hair Grow?
Hair is a strand of string protein that grows out of hair follicles or tiny sacs in your skin. Hair is made up of keratin, the same material your fingernails are made out of. Hair grows through a process of cells dividing and getting pushed out of the follicle. This causes a strand of cells …
Episode 81: Skin! Our Body’s Protection
Skin protects our bodies from the outside world. But, there is so much more inside of your skin! In this episode, Akshay explores the different layers of skin and how they play a role in protecting our bodies. This episode is all about the anatomy of skin! Please follow/subscribe to Spectacular Science! Learn how to …
How Does Popcorn Pop?
Popcorn is a delicious snack that is portable and customizable! But, how does popcorn actually pop? It is all because of pressure. Inside of a kernel of popcorn, there is a small amount of water. This is why popcorn needs to maintain a certain level of moisture. As the water in the kernel heats up, …
What Are The Layers of a Tree’s Bark?
Just like an onion, there are many layers to a tree’s bark. The 5 main layers are the outer bark, inner bark (phloem), cambium cell layer, sapwood, and heartwood. The outer bark is the tree’s first line of defense from rain, extreme temperatures, and insects. It is always renewed by the inner bark, which is …
What Is Glue Made Of?
Glue is any liquids that can be applied to a surface and harden over time. Glue can be used for crafts, construction, or even surgery! Different types of glue are used for different purposes. Organic glue is made out of organic compounds, but we are going to focus on synthetic glue. Synthetic glue, which is …
How Do Tectonic Plates On Earth Move?
They move thanks to convection currents. Convection currents all start with density. Density is how much “stuff” (atoms and molecules) that are packed into one thing. If something has a high density, all of the atoms and molecules are close together and will sink. If something has a low density, the atoms and molecules are …
How Do Tides Work?
Tides are when ocean water moves up and down the coast. There is high tide and low tide. High tide is when the water moves up the coast or advances. Low tide is when the water moves down the coast or recedes. Tides are caused by the Sun and the Moon, but mostly the Moon. …
What Is An Asteroid?
Asteroids are small and rocky objects that orbit around the Sun. They are smaller than planets, but are pretty big. There are lots of asteroids in our solar system. Most of them live in the main asteroid belt, a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids are left over from the formation of the …
Episode 80: Comets!
It’s time to look up in the night sky! In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind comets! Comets are giant “dirty snowballs” that orbit around stars. We will learn about what comets are, what the parts of comets are, and comet mysteries in this episode! Don’t forget to grab your telescope and stargazing gear!! …
What Is The Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent tectonic plate boundary that is on the ocean floor. A divergent boundary is when two tectonic plates move apart from each other. In this case, the plates are the South American Plate and the African Plate. As those plates pull apart, magma from below the Earth’s crust rises up …
How Does Hydroelectricity Work?
Hydroelectricity or hydropower is a way of harnessing water in order to make electricity! This is a renewable source of power. Renewable resources are resources that can be replaced and do not run out. Renewable means that we can constantly renew or make/get more of these resources. They can be replaced in a human lifetime …
How Do Pencils Work?
Pencil tips are made out of graphite. Graphite molecules are flat groups of carbon atoms that are stacked in layers. If you were to zoom in on the graphite, the graphite would be organized in flat sheets. Those flat sheets make the graphite weaker and makes the graphite break into tiny bits. When you write …
What Are Warm-Blooded Animals?
Warm-blooded animals always have a fixed body temperature and is always different from the outside temperature. Most warm-blooded animals are vertebrates. Vertebrates are animals with a backbone. The backbone is also known as the vertebrate! The backbone is a row of connected bones that run down the back. Vertebrates animals make up only 5% of …
What Are Cold-Blooded Animals?
Cold-blooded animals are animals that rely on the outdoor temperature to determine their own body temperature. Most cold-blooded animals are invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. That means that they are the opposite of vertebrate animals. Invertebrates make up 95% if the Earth’s animals! Some invertebrates have a hard covering on the outside of …
How Do Ocean Waves Form?
Waves are created by energy passing through water, causing it to move in a circular motion. However, water does not actually travel in waves. Waves transmit energy, not water, across the ocean and if not obstructed by anything. Ocean waves are most commonly caused by wind. Wind-driven waves, or surface waves, are created by the friction …
Episode 79: Atoms and Molecules!
If you were to zoom in on anything around you, you would see tiny building blocks called atoms and molecules! Atoms and molecules make up everything in this universe from wood, to people, to air! In this episode, Akshay explores the science behind these tiny building blocks of the universe. Please follow/subscribe to Spectacular Science! …
What Is Rubber?
Rubber is a natural product, produced by plants, and is used in many of the things we use every day! Rubber is a type of polymer. Polymers are certain materials that have atoms that are bonded together in a link pattern. Atoms are the tiny building blocks of all elements. When atoms bond together, like …
What Is Camouflage In Animals?
Instead of standing out in a crowd, some animals like to blend in with their surroundings. That is called camouflage! Camouflage is used by animals to hide from predators and to catch prey. There are different types of camouflage. The first is concealing color. This means that the animal is the same color as the …
What Are Black Holes?
A black hole is a place in space that is extremely dense and has a strong gravitational pull. This is because a lot of matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This usually happens when a star is dying. Black holes can suck in entire stars and planets! Black holes can be from the …
What Is Yeast?
Yeast is a eukaryote, a living thing, like us, and is a type of fungi. The cool thing about yeast is that it is a unicellular organism, or single-celled, but it has characteristics and can be compared to multicellular organisms like us humans. Yeast is definitely a living thing since it has the properties of …
What Is Deforestation?
Deforestation is when people cut down large areas of forests. These trees are cut down in a way called clearcutting. Clearcutting is when all of the trees in the area are completely gone. This can be done for new buildings, roads, logging, or farmland. Clearcutting and deforestation in general can be very bad for the …
What Causes Smog?
Smog is a type of air pollution that usually blankets cities. The word smog comes from the mixture of smoke and fog. Smog usually happens when pollutants like Carbon dioxide and Nitrous oxide go into the atmosphere. These gases are not visible, but can still impact humans and plants. What makes smog visible is due …
Episode 78: Gecko-Inspired Robot! – With Dane Brouwer
Akshay is curious about how geckos can walk on glass! Then, he discovers that some scientists have actually built a robot that is inspired by gecko feet! In this episode, Akshay talks to Mr. Dane Brouwer, from Stanford University, about farmHand, a gecko robot hand! Join Akshay and Mr. Brouwer as they talk about the …
Continue reading “Episode 78: Gecko-Inspired Robot! – With Dane Brouwer”
What Are Severe Thunderstorms?
Thunderstorms are storms with cumulonimbus or storm clouds. The clouds have water inside of them and the water pours down on the ground below. Thunderstorms can also have heavy winds. Lightning and thunder are the main things in thunderstorms. First, we have to start off with a storm cloud. Tiny pieces of ice, which are …
Why Do Objects Slow Down?
It is all because of friction. Friction is a force that happens when two or more objects are rubbed together. This can break the object, generate heat, or make sounds. Friction is a force that blocks the movement. That is why remote control cars can’t drive well on carpet. When there is too much friction, …
What Are The Ways Moons Can Form?
A moon is a natural satellite that orbits around a larger object like a planet. A natural satellite is different from a human made satellite because natural satellites are produced naturally. Moons usually have a stable orbit. This means that the rate of which the moon circles around the planet is just the right speed. …
What Is Land Pollution?
Land pollution is when humans spill or throw things that are not natural on the land. This can cause harm. Many people litter on land which can be toxic to plants and animals. Humans also dump toxic chemicals onto land. That means that other animals, plants, and even humans can get affected by it. Land …
What Is Water Pollution?
Water pollution is when humans dump trash and harmful or toxic chemicals into waterways like oceans, streams, rivers, and ponds. This trash and chemicals can cause problems for marine life. This trash can also come back to humans! When humans drink water, the water may be polluted! This is also a very big problem in …
What Is Air Pollution?
Air pollution is when humans put toxic chemicals or smoke into the air. This can make our air dirty. This can lead to breathing problems for humans and other animals. Plants can also be harmed because the air that they bring in is not clean. This is a very big problem in big cities and …
Episode 77: How Do Flamingos Stand On One Leg? – With Dr. Young-Hui Chang
Have you ever wondered how flamingos can stand or even sleep on one leg? Akshay wonders this same exact thing when he tries to balance on one leg! Akshay visits Dr. Young-Hui Chang, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology who studies movement in animals. Join Akshay and Dr. …
Continue reading “Episode 77: How Do Flamingos Stand On One Leg? – With Dr. Young-Hui Chang”
What Conditions Have To Be Met To Snow?
The white, powdery precipitation called snow is a winter’s delight! It falls from the sky as snowflakes. One condition is the temperature. It has to be below freezing or below 32°F or 0°C. This freezing temperature makes the water in the atmosphere freeze and turn into snowflakes! The other condition is atmospheric lift. This is …
What Are Reptiles?
Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrate (has a backbone) animals. Reptiles are ectothermic, meaning that they rely on the Sun’s energy to heat them up and match the temperature in the air around them. When it is cold outside, reptiles become more inactive in order to maintain a body temperature and are very active when it warms …
What Are Amphibians?
Amphibians are a group of animals that live part of their lives in water and part on land! They are cold-blooded, small invertebrates that need water or a moist environment to survive. Amphibians include frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians. They depend on the sun for warmth because they are ectothermic. Ectothermic means that they …
What Are Mirrors?
Mirrors are sheets of aluminum or silver that are coated in glass. Mirrors work using reflection. Reflection is a property of light. This is when light bounces off a surface. Did you know that every time you see something, light is reflecting off the thing you are looking at! Light can bounce off smooth surfaces …
What Is The Difference Between Air and Water Pressure?
Right now, as you are reading this, there are tons of air pushing down on you. That is air pressure. As you might know, the Earth is covered with a blanket of gases. That is called the atmosphere. The air from the atmosphere takes up space, so it has mass (weight). The more atmosphere above …
Continue reading “What Is The Difference Between Air and Water Pressure?”
What Are The 4 Forces of Flight?
The four forces of flight are lift, drag, thrust, and weight. They all work together to help an airplane fly. Lift is when the air temperature and pressure differs on different sides of the wing. That causes the plane to lift into the air and fly! The force pulling the plane backwards is called drag. …
Episode 76: Welcome to Season 4 – Light!
We are starting off Season 4 of Spectacular Science with a really bright episode! This episode is all about light! Light makes our world bright and helps animals and plants survive! In this episode, Akshay explores the science of the visible light around us. Please follow/subscribe to Spectacular Science! Learn how to follow this podcast …
What Is Evapotranspiration?
Evapotranspiration is the process of evaporation and transpiration combined. Evaporation is when water evaporates from the ground. This is when the sunlight heats the water and turns it into a gas called water vapor. As the sunlight heats up the water, the molecules get farther apart and start to turn into a gas or water …
What Are The Parts of An Atom?
Atoms are the microscopic building blocks of the universe. They make up almost ANY material including solids, liquids, and gases! A human has more than 1 billion atoms! Atoms have specific parts. There is the nucleus, which is the center of the atom. Then, there are even smaller parts. They are protons, neutrons, and electrons! …
What Is Adhesion of Water?
Adhesion is a property that water has. Adhesion means that water molecules like to “stick” to other water molecules and other things. That is actually why water forms in round drops! Adhesion also makes water more vulnerable to pollution because water sticks to many materials. Adhesion also helps plant suck up water from the ground. …
How Do We Smell?
The human sense of smell is really complex! It’s not just your nose: it is actually a combination of your brain and your nose cells working together. It all starts with air. The air has a lot of smell molecules floating in it. When the air enters your nose, the different molecules activate special smell …
How Is Glass Made?
Glass is a transparent material used in plates, cups, windows, and even art! Glass is made from natural raw materials such as sand and limestone. Those materials are melted down into molten material. That is done using a kiln which is super hot!! The molten glass is now cooling fast, so they reheat the glass …
What Are Natural Plastics?
Natural plastics are any natural material that has the polymer structure. That is a structure that has a chain of molecules. Natural plastics were used before human-made plastics were invented. Natural plastics are formed with the polymer structure. Examples of these natural plastics are rubber, skin, bones, and even DNA. Rubber from rubber trees were …
How Do Planets Orbit Around The Sun?
An orbit is a circular path around a bigger object. When a planet, like Earth orbits the Sun, it is going in circles. An orbit is caused by the gravitational pull of an object. A big object, like the Sun or other stars, have a stronger gravitational pull. Since there are smaller objects (planets) around …
What Causes Seasons?
Seasons are different climate patterns that happen throughout different times in a year! Places on Earth experience seasons at different times. Some seasons are noticeable and others are not. We have seasons because the Earth is slightly tilted on it’s axis. An axis is an imaginary rod going from the top to the bottom where …
Why Does The Sun Rise and Set?
The Sun rises and sets because of Earth’s rotation. The Earth and the planets orbit the Sun, but they also spin on their own axis,. The axis is the point from which the planet rotates on. Earth’s axis is tilted, which is what makes seasons! When the Earth spins, different sides of the planet experience …
Recycling! Start 2022 With Something Good for Earth
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2022! Recycling is the process of making used or old things into new things. Recycling usually happens with some plastics, glass, and paper. They melt/shred the materials and make new objects out of them. Recycling reuses the material and shapes it into new objects that can be used again! Recycling …
Continue reading “Recycling! Start 2022 With Something Good for Earth”
What Are Snowflakes?
The first snow of the season is really exciting! The snow piles up on the ground, making so many possibilities for fun, from building snowmen to having a snowball fight!! But, if you look closely at the snow under your feet, you will see that it is made up of even smaller parts called snowflakes. …
Membership Sneak Peek! – The Fact of the Day
In this blog post, you will be getting a sneak peek of what the Spectacular Science Membership members get every day! It is the Fact of the Day!! Start your day with a mind-blowing science fact that will make you say “WOW”! You can sign up for the free membership to get the Fact of …
Continue reading “Membership Sneak Peek! – The Fact of the Day”
What Is Mount Everest?
Located on the border of Tibet and Nepal, Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It reaches a height of 8,848 meters above sea level, which is equal to the height of 5.5 miles! Mount Everest was formed because of converging tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are giant slabs of rock that move. Tectonic plates make up the curst, the thinnest …
What Are Glaciers?
Glaciers are large moving rivers of ice. Glaciers form when snow is compressed into a large object that is made of ice. This only happens where the temperature doesn’t reach high enough for the snow and ice to melt completely. Glaciers take hundreds of years to form because the snow has to pile up over …
What Is The Milky Way?
The Milky Way is a galaxy. Galaxies are large collections of stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and other space material like gases and dust held together by gravity. The Milky Way is the name of the galaxy that we live in. There are millions of more stars, planets, and other space debris in the Milky Way! …
How Do Electric Stoves Work?
Electric stoves are now used in place of gas stoves because they can heat things more evenly. Electric stoves used electricity to heat up and cook food. When you turn the stove on, the electricity flows through metal coils that are either exposed or under the cooking surface (if you have a glass ceramic surface). …
All About the North Pole – The Arctic!
When you talk about the North Pole, it can mean the North Magnetic Pole or the North Geographic Pole. In this post, we are going to focus on the North Geographic Pole. That is the point on Earth where all the lines of longitude meet to form a single point. The North Pole is located …
How Does Hand Sanitizer Work?
Hand sanitizer is a quick and easy way to disinfect your hands. It kills bacteria and viruses that might make you sick, right on your hands! But, hand sanitizer doesn’t get rid of all bacteria and viruses, so if there is a sink around, you should wash your hands instead of just going to hand …
Why Is Plastic Used In So Many Things?
Plastic is a type of polymer, or a chain of atoms and molecules. That chain pattern gives plastic some amazing abilities! They are flexible because the chains of atoms can be twisted or turned in many different shapes, sometimes even when the object is a solid! It is moldable (or easy to twist into different …
The Moon Changes Colors! How?
This happens during Lunar Eclipses. A Lunar Eclipse is when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow. The Sun is shining on the Earth and the Moon is behind the Earth. The Moon can appear to change color sometimes when it is a total Lunar Eclipse. The Moon only APPEARS to change color on Earth. …
Episode 75: Season 3 Finale! – How Do Lightbulbs Work?
This is our Season 3 Finale and our last episode of 2021! In this episode, Akshay is exploring the science behind something that we use everyday but don’t really notice, lightbulbs! Lightbulbs light up our world! Akshay is exploring three types of lightbulbs today: incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, and LED lights. This episode is going …
Continue reading “Episode 75: Season 3 Finale! – How Do Lightbulbs Work?”
How Do Humans Harness The Earth’s Energy?
Deep inside of the Earth, there is a lot of energy stored. The Earth’s mantle is super hot, meaning that is has a lot of energy in it! But, how do humans harness that energy for electricity? They make geothermal electricity. Geothermal power is a renewable source of making electricity. It harnesses the heat from …
Continue reading “How Do Humans Harness The Earth’s Energy?”
What Are Sound Waves?
Sound Waves are what sound travels in! They are little vibrations of air that travel through a medium or a material that it is travelling through. Sound Waves are why you can hear a jackhammer or my podcast!! First, an object or person has to make a sound. A sound is made by an object …
How Do Incandescent Lights Work?
Incandescent lights were the first type of lightbulb to be created. They are different from LED Lights. Read our post about LED Lights to learn more! Incandescent lights work with using the heat and light that is produced when electricity flows through things. Inside of incandescent lights, there is a small part called a filament. …
Density!
Density is the amount of “stuff” (molecules and atoms) that are packed into one space. Objects’ density can be found by dividing the mass (weight) of an object by the volume (space it takes up) of an object. Density is measured in grams per milliliter (g/mL). If something has to float on water, than the density …
What Are Convection Currents?
Convection currents are the movement of hot and cold things. Convection currents all start with density. Density is how much “stuff” (atoms and molecules) that are packed into one thing. If something has a high density, all of the atoms and molecules are close together and will sink. If something has a low density, the …
What Is Oxygen?
Oxygen or O2 is a chemical found in the universe. Humans need Oxygen to survive. Oxygen is in our atmosphere and the air that we breathe!! Oxygen helps the animals on this planet survive. Oxygen is a building block of so many elements like Water, or even Carbon Monoxide. Oxygen can be useful for things like …
Episode 74: How Are Fossils Formed?
Ever wondered how those giant fossils of dinosaurs are formed? That is what Akshay is exploring today! Get ready because this episode takes you back in time and under the soil. The process in which fossils are formed is a really complex and interesting process!! Join us next episode for the Season 3 Finale!! We …
What Are Chemical Reactions?
Chemical reactions are when two or more materials combine to make a new material! The two materials usually react with each other, producing that new material. A great example is when you mix baking soda and vinegar to make Carbon dioxide gas! There are a few ways to tell if something is a chemical reactions. …
How Do Electromagnets Work?
Magnetism is an invisible force that attracts or repels certain objects. Magnets attract or repel things made out of iron, nickel, and cobalt. Objects are magnetic because the electrons, which spin around an atom’s nucleus, are spinning in the same direction (they are all lined up). The spinning electrons create an invisible magnetic field, which …
Why Is It Hotter During The Summer?
The Sun is the center of the Solar System. The Sun is a star, just like all of the tiny glowing dots you see in the sky at night. The Sun is the closest star to Earth and all of the planets in the Solar System. Here in the Northern hemisphere of the Earth, it’s …
Why Is The Arctic Shrinking?
The Arctic, or the North Pole is actually shrinking! It’s ice thickness has reduced by 80% since 1980 and is rapidly reducing in size. This is all because of the rise in global temperatures due to Climate Change. Climate Change is when greenhouse gases like Carbon dioxide and Methane go into Earth’s atmosphere and trap …
How Do Telescopes Work?
Telescopes are devices that let people see things that are far away. People at sea also use telescopes. Telescopes are most commonly used to look at space. The inventor of the telescopes was Galileo Galilei. He invented the telescope with eyeglass parts. Telescopes work using light. Light is everywhere! The telescope has two mirrors. They …
How Do Our Eyes Work?
We use our eyes every day to see the world around us! Our eyes are the parts of our body that help us see. When we see things, what we’re actually seeing is the light that is being reflected by that object. For example, when you are looking at a yellow pencil, the yellow light …
Episode 73: How Do We Make Memories?
Everyone has memories! They have memories of their childhood, vacations, and even someone’s name! But, how do we actually create, store, and recall those memories? That is what Akshay is exploring today! Akshay is looking at his baby photo album and wonders about how memories are created and how we remember or even forget them! …
How Can Some Animals See In The Dark?
Some animals, like lizards and snakes, can see in the dark! This is something that only a few animals can really do. These animals can see as well in the dark as they do during the day! They are able to do this because of the structure of their eyes. Eyes are made up of …
How Do LED Lights Work?
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode! LED lights work because the jumping of electrons creates photons, or light. Electrons, which make up electricity, jump from an electron full side to an electron lacking side across a junction or connector. When the power is applied to the junction, the electron lacking side wants to be filled up …
What Is REM Sleep?
REM Sleep or Rapid Eye Movement Sleep is a very important stage for human health. REM sleep is the stage when your brain is active, dreams occur, and your eyes move back and forth rapidly under your eyelids. During this stage, your brain is very active! The brain organizes information it learned the past day in a …
Blowing on Flames! Why They Go Out
Blowing out birthday candles on a cake is an old tradition. But why does the candle go out when you blow on it? That happens for 3 different reasons. One is that your breath pushes away all of the Oxygen gas. Your breath is mostly made out of Carbon dioxide. The Carbon dioxide pushes away …
How Do Rocks Form?
Rocks are collections of minerals and sediment. They can form in many different ways, but we are going to focus on three of the ways. The first is cooling magma. Magma from deep in Earth’s mantle flows up to the surface and solidifies as it cools down. That makes igneous rock. The next way rocks …
What Does Our Heart Do?
The heart is a part of your body that pumps blood around your body. This helps all of your other body parts like your brain function. The heart also regulates the Blood Pressure (BP). If the Blood Pressure is high, that means you are exercising a lot at the moment. If your Blood Pressure is …
Episode 72: How Continents Move!
If you look at the map of the world, you see seven continents. But, millions of years ago, you would actually see a giant supercontinent called Pangaea!! How do the continents move? Akshay is curious about that too! Join Akshay on an adventure to find our how continents move! We now have an exclusive membership …
What is Lead Contamination?
Lead (pronounced l-e-d) contamination is when Lead, a poisonous chemical gets into the water that we drink or take baths in. Water can dissolve materials very easily. This is bad because Lead in our pipes leaks into the water. Some pipes that bring water into our homes are made out of Lead. Normally, that is …
What Are The Layers of the Earth?
Believe it or not, the Earth has layers just like an onion! Let’s start at the top. The part we walk on is called the crust. It is a thin layer that harbors life. Next, is the mantle. This layer is underneath the crust. Lot’s of minerals form in this area including diamonds and emeralds. …
The Steps in Which Stars Are Formed!
Stars are giant balls of gas in space. The stars are very hot! They can be up to 800,000 degrees Fahrenheit! Our own Sun is also a star. It supplies us with light and heat. Stars take millions of years to form. We will explore the steps in which stars are formed! Scientists have observed …
What Are Galaxies?
Galaxies are large collections of stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and other space material like gases and dust. Stars are giant balls of gas in space. The stars are very hot! They can be up to 800,000 degrees Fahrenheit! Our own Sun is also a star. It supplies us with light and heat. Stars take millions …
How Can Sounds Be Loud or Soft?
Sound Waves are what sound travels in! They are little vibrations of air that travel through a medium or a material that it is travelling through. Sound Waves are why you can hear a jackhammer or my podcast!! Sound Waves work like this: First, an object or person has to make a sound. A sound is made …
Why Do Some People Have Pollen Allergies?
Pollen is a sticky substance that is found inside of most flowering plants. Pollen is in the middle of the flower of the plant. Pollen is attached to long structures called stamens and smaller structures called pistils. This pollen helps make new plants grow through a process called pollination. That is when pollen is transferred …
Continue reading “Why Do Some People Have Pollen Allergies?”
Episode 71: Soap! How It Works
We use soap a lot, especially during this pandemic. Washing our hands with soap and water helps keep us safe from pesky viruses and bacteria, but also gets rid of dirt. But, how does soap work in the first place? That is what Akshay is exploring today! Join Akshay on an adventure to discover how …
What Is A Circuit?
A circuit is a path that current electricity or electrons can flow through. Current electricity is a type of human-made electricity. A simple circuit is made out of four parts: the power source, wires, the load, and a switch A simple circuit works by electrons, which are negatively charged, exit from the negative terminal of …
What Are Magnetic Domains?
Magnetism is an invisible force that attracts or repels certain objects. Magnets attract or repel things made out of iron, nickel, and cobalt. Objects are magnetic because the electrons, which spin around an atom’s nucleus, are spinning in the same direction (they are all lined up). The spinning electrons create an invisible magnetic field, which …
How Do Earthquakes Happen?
Earthquakes are energy that is released in the tectonic plate boundaries. Tectonic plates are giant slabs of rock that move around! The crust (outermost layer of the Earth) is made up of these tectonic plates. These tectonic plates can get stuck. When they do this, lots of pressure builds up. Kind of like when you …
How Are Mountains Formed?
Mountains are tall slabs of rock that pop up on the crust. Mountains can be very tall or very small, depending on how they are formed. Mountains can form because of magma cooling or tectonic plate movement. We are going to tell you about both! Mountains can form in two main ways: magma cooling and …
How Do Mirrors Work?
Light is a type of energy that is made up of tiny particles called photons. These photons can zip around the universe at very high speeds! The speed of light is the ultimate universe speed limit, up to 180,000 miles per second! Light is one of the main sources of life on Earth! Light has …