Science: It's just not fair

Miami Herald ^ | DAVE BARRY

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[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I wonder what the teachers would say if a student showed and talked about making explosives out of common items.

[Popocatapetl]

I remember reading about how two high school chemistry students accidentally made this funny non-toxic, flavorless plastic-like gunk that didn't dissolve in water, but did dissolve in saliva.

They showed it to their chemistry teacher, who in turn told them to call their parents and tell them that they would be late in coming home that day. Then he call two faculty members from the local universities' chemistry department.

The three adults then spent several hours explaining to the two high school chemistry students the intricacies of patent law...

...Some months later, the boys leased their patent to a food company for two years, for $600,000, so that the company could do further research on the gunk.

[JoeSixPack1]

The baking soda, alka-seltzer, dry ice, lava flow projects were always the ones to watch. They usually worked once and if you didn't elbow up to the display table to see it, you missed it till next year! :-)

[Carry_Okie]

''hypot,'' meaning ''word,'' and ''hesis,'' meaning ''that I am looking up in the dictionary right now''

Actually, the word "hesis" means to adhere, which is why all science fair projects require the use of white glue.

[George W. Bush]

Ah, science projects. My favorites were making toxic gases and obscure explosive compounds from WW I or earlier. Unfortunately, my chemistry teacher was not easily fooled after the first few lab evacuations.

[JoeSixPack1]

...making toxic gases and obscure explosive compounds ...

LOL!! Oh Yeah! :-)

[staytrue]

It was called ''Phases of the Moon,'' and it consisted of a small rubber ball that I had darkened half of by scribbling on it with a pen. You were supposed to rotate the ball,

This is actually really good. The sun illuminates half the moon all the time and as the moon rotates around the earth, you see the phases of the moon.

For a 10 minute science project, this is brilliant.

[RightWhale]

The most annoying exhibit I ever judged non-responsive was a floppy disk. There was no sign, no printout, no indication of anything, but there was the floppy disk in its numbered exhibit space. The student dropped by once to explain that we had to run it on a computer (we were supposed to have a computer with various peripheral accessories and cards) and that we would see that the program was pure genius.

When the exhibit got no award, not even a white ribbon, the only person more annoyed than the student was the student's mom.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Here is an old one, If you run a DC current through a flame then modulate it with music or other sounds, the flame will act as a speaker.

[HangnJudge]

You want a science project
Now these are the real thing

http://www.siemens-foundation.org/competition/2006/Nationals.htm#scott
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/competition/2006/Nationals.htm#Dmitry

http://www.siemens-foundation.org/

These high school kids were doing PhD level work

[karatemom]

Even more annoying are the exhibits that have far too much "Parental guidance". (I guess you can tell that I am still bitter because my father was not an engineer. :-)

[rightandproud]

My favorite science fair display:

What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Dihydrogen Monoxide:

The dangers, uses and potential threats posed by this chemical, Dihydrogen Monoxide, are widespread, and some feel, terrifying. Here is just a small taste of what Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is:

• Some call Dihydrogen Monoxide the "Invisible Killer"
• Others think dihydrogen monoxide should be Banned
• Dihydrogen Monoxide is linked to gun violence
• Dihydrogen monoxide was found at every recent school shooting
• Athletes use DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE, or DHMO, to enhance performance
• Dihydrogen Monoxide has been found in our rivers, lakes, oceans and streams
• Dihydrogen Monoxide is a major component of acid rain
• Thousands die each year after inhaling dihydrogen monoxide
• Dihydrogen Monoxide can be deadly
• Find out the truth about Dihydrogen Monoxide

Take a guess at what DHMO is....

[karatemom]

water...water everywhere

[Andonius_99]

Contrary to popular belief, DHMO was a major contributing factor to the flooding in New Orleans...

[Andonius_99]

make that DHMO contamination...

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H2O

[Squawk 8888]

My favourite science fair project was in the sixth grade. I made moonshine :-D