There is some serious science behind Silly Putty! This classic toy gets its unique properties from materials you can find around your house or at the grocery store. Click to learn how you can make your own Silly Putty at home and try some fun experiments to investigate its properties!
How can this ring change color depending on its wearer’s mood? The short answer is polymers—long molecular chains that make up everyday objects like garbage bags and toothbrushes, along with some of your favorite toys! Click to learn how mood rings rely on the shapeshifting behavior of polymers to predict your mood. (Maybe.)
When we examine the world around us, we observe its structure, or where things are, as well as its dynamics, or how things move and interact. Likewise, when we investigate a new material, we want to understand its structure and dynamics—where the atoms and molecules are, and what they are doing. To do this, we need measurement techniques that can tell us what is happening at a very small scale. Read on to find out how neutrons come to our rescue!