Technologys Child

Have you ever wondered why it gets dark at night? Listen to learn about how the Earth’s spinning changes day into night and why some days are longer than others.

Have you ever wondered why wheels are round and not triangles or squares? Try this activity to learn why wheels are the shape that they are.

When it’s your birthday, you add one Earth year to your age. Have you ever wondered how old you would be in Saturn years? What about Mars? Read on to learn about the planets of our solar system and how long it takes for them to complete one whole orbit.

Gears are simple machines that can make up an even bigger machine, like a robot or a clock! Listen to learn about how gears make work easier.

Have you ever ridden a roller coaster? They’re a lot of fun, but a lot of physics is involved in making those rides work. The momentum built up by energy and speed keep those trains on their tracks and riders in their seats, even when they’re upside-down!

Have you ever wondered how war machines were created? Or the origin of beauty salons? Or maybe even how rubber is used in tires, and rubber shoes? Learn more about these renowned inventors and how their inventions helped shape modern life into the way we know it now!

Have you ever gotten bored when the weather is too bad to go outside for recess? Bored students and bad weather inspired James Naismith to invent the game of basketball in the late 19th century. Using a soccer ball and peach baskets, Professor Naismith worked out the rules of the new sport at the local YMCA.

Many things look very different seen up close. To us, the sun is a giant ball of light in the sky, but to other solar systems, it might look like just another star! Those tiny lights you see in the night sky are what our sun might look like from another planet far out in space. The sun gives light and energy to our entire solar system, and is necessary for many other things. Can you name them all?

Why does a baseball travel much faster when hit with a bat than if pitched? Learn how force is applied in this fun experiment! Using a marker, a ruler, and a can, you can perform your own lever experiments. You'll understand the power of weight, such as how a balance beam operates, but on a smaller scale, while learning about the science behind balance.

A bicycle is a fun and efficient way to get from one place to another. But have you ever wondered what parts make up a bike? Some bikes have hand lever brakes while others do not. Riders with more experience usually set their seats a bit higher than those with less experience.

Kaboom! Find out how explosions are used to demolish large buildings. Demolition experts say it's the safest way. Learn why!

Did you know hot air balloons were dreamed up by a French boy in the 1700s? Joseph Montgolfier devoted his life to experiments that he hoped would allow him to fly. With the help of his little brother, his invention allowed humans to fly for the first time in history!

Have you ever wondered how the Hoover Dam was built? Follow along as the Colorado River itself tells you its story! A lot of work went into the construction of this giant dam, but it was worth it—we now have Lake Mead and a way of converting the river’s energy into electricity!

Have you ever visited the Grand Canyon? As one of the world’s seven wonders, millions of people have visited this landmark. Have you ever wondered how it was formed? Learn how the 3 "R"s- Rock, Rivers, & Erosion, have led to the formation of the Grand Canyon and the changes it undergoes in present day.

From water, to paint, to breakfast cereal, who could have guessed that all of these things have metal in them? There's metal all around! This story includes a fun experiment to pull iron out of cereal.

Have you ever wondered how a river forms, which animals live near rivers, or where those rivers lead? Rivers are a vital part of life and the ecosystem. Rivers help transport water to humans and animals as well. It can also be used to create energy. Water from rivers can end up in many different places downstream!

Follow along with this class as they explore a creek near their school in Pennsylvania! They want to learn about the water and its ecosystem, so they perform a survey to determine its quality and biota. What do you think they will find?

Will an orange float or sink in water? Are heavier objects able to float in water versus lighter objects? Learn about the density of materials and how water affects the objects! Make your own scientific discoveries and expand your knowledge by conducting your own experiments with water.

Aluminum was once more valuable than gold. A breakthrough in refining aluminum from rock transformed it from rare matter to sandwich wrapper. In this science story, you'll learn how two chemists, Charles Hall and Paul Héroult, solved the problem.

Where do all the metals on earth come from? They were all made by stars! In this science story, you'll discover how the fusion of atoms in dying stars in space creates enough heat and energy to make metals.