Pow!Science!

New This Week at Pow!Science!

2011-09-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

LOTS of New Toys in this week at Pow!Science! I won't list them all, but here are some of the highlights:

Tedco Wooden Marble Runs: Made in the USA! We love these marble run sets because they don't lock you into a "system"; they're as easy to use as regular wooden blocks, but with features sophisticated enough to create some very cool runs.

Young Scientists Club/Magic School Bus Chemistry Lab: To look at it, you wouldn't suspect that it's the coolest Chemistry Set your younger scientists could ever want (because it looks like a school bus), but this kit comes PACKED with everything you need (minus a short list of stuff from home) to perform over 50 Experiments!

3D Star Theater from Uncle Milton: This manifestation of Uncle Milton's classic Star Theater incorporates quality 3D renderings of the Constellations in our Night Sky, plus some stunning images of planets & nebulae to project on your wall or ceiling.

LOTS more new toys are coming in all the time! Visit either Pow!Science! Location, Wakefield or Providence!

Holy New Toy Arrivals, Pow!Science!

2011-09-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

TONS of New Toys in this week including:

•Go Go's Crazy Bones Series THREE (Crazy Bones & Carry Cases)

•Lego Apple Tree House, Space Center, Space Shuttle and LOTS more!

•FASTRACK & Spot It--two of Gamesmith's Blue Orange Games very best offerings

•Sea Monkeys Galore!

•Balloon Powered Boats, Rocket Balloons and other 3rd Law Faves!

Stop in at either Pow!Science! Location or Order Toll Free at 1-888-708-2019. ALWAYS Free Shipping within RI!

Who is Ready for KinderScience?

2011-06-30T08:27:00.001-07:00

KinderScience is offered each Friday (exceptions apply; see Events Calendar for details) at 10am at Pow!Science! The program is offered for pre-K children ages 2.5 to 5, but parents, as the undisputed best judges regarding what their child is capable of, should be the final decision-makers when considering your child's readiness for KinderScience.

Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding whether or not to participate in KinderScience:

•Children should be able to sit, listen and (potentially) talk for periods of up to ten minutes. Most sessions of KinderScience start seated on the rug, with a bit of a demonstration, a story, or other primarily verbal form of readying participants for the activities to come.

•Basic skills such as gripping a spoon, picking up and pouring cups of water or other harmless chemicals (when directed/helped to do so), coloring etc. should be in place as they may be required to complete a given day's activities. That said, we wholeheartedly encourage parental assistance to perform some of these tasks. Which leads us to our final recommendation:

• If your child is on the lower end of the age recommendation for KinderScience, it's important to keep in mind that this is certainly not a "drop and go" or even "drop and watch" type of program. Children may be able to complete the experiments and activities without adult help, but this is not the expectation; rather it is the exception. Come to KinderScience planning to work with your child and have fun with Science!

There is always an instructor present of course, but the true spirit and intention of KinderScience is to facilitate parents and children working together as your little one takes their first steps into the exciting world of science.

Perplexus EPIC is in Stock at Pow!Science!

2011-06-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

125 barriers within new Perplexus Epic give you a spectacularly solid challenge. 8.5 inch diameter puzzle maze filled with twists & turns, intricate ins & outs, mind-straining mental stimulus. Guide the metal ball through the 3D maze puzzle. It's a mentally stimulating experience you won''t forget.

Save $2.50 off of the Retail Price when you complete your purchase online!
CLICK TO LEARN MORE OR TO BUY!

Local Customers can select "Pick Up at the Store" during checkout and we'll have your order waiting for you at the Pow!Science! location of your choice!

Pumponator: The Portable Water Balloon Filling Station!

2011-06-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

It's BACK: The PUMPONATOR~Portable Water & Air Balloon Pumping Station
Invented by 8 year old Lexi Glenn, the Pumponator makes filling water balloons easy & fun.

Pump up the Pressure, put one of the 500 included balloons on the nozzle and press the release valve.The spigot is small, so no more ripping the balloon trying to fit in onto your sink or hose!

Includes the 2qt Pumponator, 500 Balloons and strings to tie them off.

Available at both Pow!Science! Locations--complete your order online and save $2.00 (limited time offer)!!

Local customers can purchase online and select "Pick up at the Store" during checkout. We'll have your order ready and waiting at the location of your choice!

To learn more or to purchase one,

Science Mad Libs by Pow!Science & our FB Fans!!

2011-06-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Law we're Lampooning:
Newton's 3rd Law of Motion:

The Elementary Version of the Actual Law:
"For every Action, there is an Equal but Opposite Reaction."

A Better Way to State this Law:
"Forces always occur in pairs. If an object exerts a force on another object,
then the second object exerts a force equal in magnitude but opposite in direction on the first object."

What it Means:
Your butt pushes down on the chair with the same force as the chair pushes up on your butt.

How We Massacred it with our Science Mad Lib!
"For every Platypus, there is a Magnificent but Pungent Shmorgasbord!"

Thanks for playing!

Let It Rip: Beyblade Metal Fusion is In Stock at Pow!Science!

2011-06-04T05:32:00.000-07:00

I think of them as particularly well built, balanced and stylish gyroscopes.

Beyblades METAL FUSION battle tops are now in stock at Pow!Science! Combined with a Bey Stadium, this is a perfect birthday gift choice for kids around 7+.

LET IT RIP!

It Gets Worse Paula: STAR WARS Galactic Heroes are now in Stock at Pow!Science!

2011-06-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

NOW in STOCK: STAR WARS GALACTIC HEROES Two Figure Action Packs!

Calling all Jedi and Sith Lords, Clone Troopers and Mandalorians...even you Galactic Princesses and Battle Droids out there-- The Star Wars Galactic Heroes figures have arrived in a galaxy near you! Grab your lightsaber, fire up your X-wing engines and join in the excitement! It's time to blast off and get into the hyperdrive fun of Star Wars with the greatest Galactic Heroes!

Get ready for out-of-this-world fun with these collectible, chunky figures in battle-ready poses! Two-packs of figures includes such pairings as:

Emperor Palpatine & Darth Vader
Anakin Skywalker & ARF Trooper
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Darth Maul
Anakin & STAP
Anakin & Ahsoka
Clone Trooper & Super Battle Droid
Republic Commandos Fixer & Boss
Count Dooku & Commando Droid
Padme' Amidala & Security Clone Trooper
Cad Bane & Aurra Sing
Mandalorian Warrior & Pre Vizsla
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Commander Fil

Available NOW at both Pow!Science! Locations!

Awesome New Legos in at Pow!Science: Freeco Speeder & Technic Helicopter

2011-05-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the Fedex Truck, two new Lego Sets at Pow!Science!

Star Wars Freeco Speeder
Lego 8085, 177 Pieces

It’s a high-speed battle on the ice for Anakin Skywalker!

On a hunt for a Separatist base during the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker™ zooms over the frozen surface of Orto Plutonia in the cockpit of his rugged Freeco Speeder™. But what will the Jedi do when he encounters a chieftain of the fierce and mysterious Talz aliens? Includes Talz chieftain and Anakin Skywalker in special snow gear.
Includes Freeco Speeder, Talz chieftain and Anakin Skywalker Minifigs!

Technics Rescue Helicopter
Lego 8068, 408 Pieces

Carry out daring aerial rescue missions with this highly realistic rescue helicopter. Turn the gear wheels to spin the main and tail rotors simultaneously, open the doors and lower the winch to make the rescue. Then operate the retractable landing gear when landing. Rebuilds into a medical helicopter. Second Build transforms the helicopter into a Bubble-Cockpit Chopper!!

Use control knobs to spin main and tail rotors simultaneously!
Retractable landing gear!
Functioning winch!
Opening side doors!

Both are available now at Pow!Science! Wakefield and Providence!

Automatic Finger Washer: A Pow!Science! Experiment!

2011-05-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

Automatic Finger Washer

Objective: To observe the effects of gravity on two objects of different mass.

Materials:

5 Washers
1 Paperlclip (we’ve found that large paperclips work best)
String (about a 2.5 feet long)

Procedure:

1.Stack the washers, thread the string through the hole, and tie them to one end of the

string. Pow!Science! recommends at least a double knot. Maybe triple.

2.Tie the paperclip to the other end of the string.

Parents and kids will most likely have to work together to complete the experiment from this point. Not-so-tall folks may experience better results if they stand on a chair.

3. Standing up and giving yourself some space, point an index finger straight out, parallel to the floor, or even slightly up. Hang the washers over this finger so that they only hang down a few inches from your hand. Hold the paperclip with the other hand so that the rest of the string is also parallel to the floor.

4.Release the paperclip!

What’s Going On?

Gravity pulls the washers down, and the string pulls the paperclip sideways—but gravity also pulls the paperclip down—so its sideways motion is combined with its downward motion!

Think and Talk About This:

Would objects with different weights (on either end of the string make a difference in this experiment? Try it at home and find out!

Family Science Night is a fun, free even held each month at both Pow!Science! Locations. Check the Events Calendar to see when the next FSN is and call to register!

The Awesome Cylon Centurion I Built with Citiblocs

2011-05-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

Slow Day at the Shop today, so I built a Cylon Centurion out of Citiblocs.

Citiblocs are precision cut New Zealand Pine blocks of wood, all absolutely identical. They are cut in precise ratios, which allow for advanced building techniques that are easy to implement.

I colored the ends of three blocks with a red sharpie for the Cylon's eye effect.
We've been carrying Citiblocs for about 2 years. They are identical to Kapla Blocks, but cost less. I love them, and I play with them whenever I get a chance. Like on slow days at the shop : )

The ZYCLONE is Back in Stock at Pow!Science

2011-05-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Incredible Flying Ring Shooter is back: The ZYCLONE

If you've attended the Pow!Science! Assembly "Science Asks Why" then you've seen it flying over the heads of excited audiences; and now it's back in stock at both Pow!Science! Locations.

Local Shoppers, did you know you can save time & money by completing your purchase online & selecting " Pick Up At the Store" during checkout? I mean, nobody every does, but you can!!
Shop Now at the Pow!Science! Store!

Hex Bug Nano & Glow in The Dark Nano Now in Stock

2011-05-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hexbug Nano Micro-robotic Creatures are in stock at Pow!Science!

Mother Nature meets micro-robotics with Hexbug Nanos, Glow in the Dark Nanos, and Hexbug Ants, now all in stock at Pow!Science!

Designed to look and behave like real bugs, Hexbug Nanos & Ants are actually a very cool little robots that use vibration to propel themselves along and explore their environment. They run and skitter in all directions, flipping over and then popping back onto their feet.

There s no telling what Hexbugs will do next! Real fun with an opportunity to learn about the science of robotics. Let your Nano run free or build a special Nano habitat (sold separately) with a whole family of Nanos. Visit the Hexbug website to register and track your Nano, play games with other collectors, download photos and learn more about robotic science.

Nanos measure approx. 1+" long, with batteries included. Ants are approximately 3 inches long.

Batteries are even included!

Warning: Choking hazard small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Pow!Science! has two locations in Rhode Island: the Wakefield Mall in Wakefield and Wayland Square on the East Side of Providence. Click for directions!

New Arrivals at Pow!Science!

2011-05-15T11:16:00.001-07:00

Here are 5 New, exciting Toys & Games that arrived this week at Pow!Science in our Wakefield & Providence RI locations: Local Customers can save time & money by completing your purchase online--we'll have your selections waiting for you at the location of your choice!

Citiblo cs are back in stock! Incredibly versatile precision cut pine blocks. There is no wrong way to build with Citiblocs. Includes building ideas, but no step-by-step instructions; just grab a handful and start building! 50, 100, 200 and 300 piece sets.

Go Go's Crazy Bones, Series Two Evolution: the craze continues! 80 characters to collect & trade, 7 games to play (visit the Crazy Bones Website for rules!)

K atamino: Beautifully made, all wooden brain teaser game that also includes rules for a 2 and 3 player game. With an amazing number of challenge levels, Katamino will enthrall puzzle fans from young to not at all young.

The Young Scientists Club Magic School Bus Chemistry Set-Wow!! Dozens of Chemistry experiments for young scientists (ages 5+); the School Bus shaped storage case comes loaded with equipment & accessories. Fasten your seatbelts--time to Experiment!

Blast Pad Junior: A backyard staple, this rough & tough rocket launcher is great for blasting the included "foamy" rockets 30 feet into the air!

Cool Paper Cutting Experiment from Pow!Science!

2011-05-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

Paper Chain-A Physical Change

Purpose: To observe a physical change

Materials:
•Lined notebook paper (not loose leaf-it can’t have holes in it)
•Scissors

Procedure:
1) Fold the paper in half lengthwise, perpendicular to the lines as shown in
picture 1 below.
2) Look at picture 2 and find the points labeled A and B on your paper. Cut
across the folds at points A and B as shown. Be sure to stop cutting
about a quarter of an inch away from the open edge!
3) Alternating between the open edge and the folded edge, cut along every
other printed line on the paper. Make sure to stop cutting a quarter inch
from the edge each time.
4) Make your final cut as in picture 3, cutting along the folded edge, but
leaving the folds uncut at points A and B as shown.
5) Carefully stretch the paper open.

What’s going on?
You’ve simply changed the shape of the paper in a clever way. It’s still paper,
though, isn’t it?

Think and talk about this!
Physical changes don’t produce a new substance. Chemical changes do. How
could you chemically change the paper?

1.

2.

There's always something going on at Pow!Science! Check the Events Calendar at www.powscience.com/events!

Last Minute Easter Basket Goodies at Pow!Science

2011-04-23T04:53:00.000-07:00

Our top 5 Easter Basket Goodies for last-minute Baskets!

5. Silly Putty in the Original Egg Packaging-It's Egg Shaped, and still the coolest. Kids must be taught the dying tradition of transferring the funny papers onto Silly Putty!

4. Iwako Japanese Erasers-an oddball collection of 3D puzzles that also happen to be serviceable erasers! An incredible variety of sculpts.

3. Wild Republics Authentic Birdsong Plush Birds-soft, beautiful authentic plush birds that will sing when gently squeezed.

2. Go Go's Crazy Bones-85 Collectible Characters, 7 Games to play with them! Crazy Bones come three per packet & are fun to collect, play & trade.

1. Lego Mini-Figs, Series 4-16 Different Collectible Lego Mini Figures are phenomenally popular!

I Hear a Hangar~Try this Fun Experiment from Pow!Science!

2011-04-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

I Hear a Hangar

Objective: To observe (with your ears) the difference in sound transmission in air
and in a solid object (like your head).

Materials:
Metal Hangar
Two pieces of string (about 18 inches or so—longer is better than shorter)

Procedure:
1. Tie the strings to each “corner” of the hanger, as shown.
2. Carefully wind each of the strings tied to the hangar around each of your
index fingers. The hangar should be hanging from your fingers so that you
can swing the hanger into a chair or table (If you’re standing with elbows
bent at 90 degrees, the hangar should be hanging at waist or knee level).
3. Gently swing the hangar into a chair or table, and listen to the sound it
makes.
4. Next, put your index fingers in your ears, and repeat step 3. Does it sound
different?

What’s Going On?
Sound is a form of mechanical energy, and travels in waves. Waves of sound,
however, must travel through something in order to be heard (sound cannot travel through a vacuum). Sound travels
much better through a solid (like your head) then it does through a gas (like the
air).
Think and Talk About This:
Do you think changing what the hangar is made of will change the result? Try it
with a plastic or wooden hangar.

Family Science Nights are fun, free and are held every month at both Pow!Science! Locations. Bookmark the Events Calendar to find out what's going on!

Vote for Pow!Science! and help us win a 'Love a Local Business' Grant, which will fund school programs in RI!

©Pow!Science! 2010

An Egg-Cellent Eggs-periment from Pow!Science!

2011-04-07T03:43:00.000-07:00

An Egg-cellent Eggs-periment

Objective: To make an egg float in water and explore the concept of density

Materials: Beaker or other container (a cup works just fine) Water Salt Egg Spoon

Procedure:
1) Fill the beaker with 250 ml of water (fill your cup about 3/4).

2) PREDICT: What will happen when you carefully drop the egg into the water? Will it sink or float?

3) Carefully drop the egg into the water. What happens? Was your prediction correct?

4) Remove the egg. Add 2 spoons of salt to the beaker.

5) GENTLY stir with the regular spoon to help dissolve the salt. Gently replace the egg.

Does the egg float? If yes, congratulations! If no, repeat steps 4 & 5 until the egg floats.

What’s Going On? As the salt dissolves in the water, the water’s density increases. At first, the egg is more dense than the water, so the egg sinks. Adding salt makes the water more and more dense. When the water finally becomes more dense than the egg, the egg floats!

Think and Talk About This!
•What other substances could you dissolve in water to increase its density and float the egg? Get mom or dad’s permission and try it out!
•Do brown eggs have a different density than white eggs? Design and perform an experiment to find out!

There's always something going on at Pow!Science!
Check out the Events Calendar at www.powscience.com/events

Crazy Bones, Bilibo and LOTS of New Arrivals for April 1st 2011

2011-04-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

LOTS of new Toys on the Shelves this week:

•Crazy Bones: 85 Series 1 Characters to Collect, with 7 ways to play.

•Kid-O Bilibo: Rock, spin, scoop, wear, pretend and pretty much anything else with the Swiss Designed Bilibo

•Star Wars Light Sabers: Basic, Electronic & the General Grievous Customizable Saber!

•Perplexus-The "Analog Video Game" is back! Highly Addictive Game-play!

•Hoberman Spheres: The amazing, expanding sphere designed by Inventor Chuck Hoberman

Plus:

LOTS of Spring Time Gardening & BUG kits, Lego NXT 2.0 is BACK in stock and lots more--stop in soon to check out what's new!

New Arrivals this week at Pow!Science!

2011-03-24T05:51:00.001-07:00

New arrivals at our Wakefield & Providence locations the week of 3/21!

GAMES! We've got more than ever, including classics such as:

Risk
Sorry!
Sorry Sliders
Scrabble
Monopoly
Oujia
Candyland
Chutes & Ladders

+ "esoterics" like SET, Spot It & Dr. Seuss!

Spotlight this week has to go to Ji Ga Zo--the 300 Piece Puzzle from Hasbro which, along with the included software, shows you how to make a photographic puzzle of yourself (or anyone else) with the pieces that are already in the box. It works over and over, with any picture you choose. Amazing, and a little bit creepy!

Stop in to check out these and hundreds of other hand-picked toys & games at either Pow!Science! Location:

Wakefield: (401) 788-1024
Providence: (401) 432-7040

Pow!Towers Program Makes the Front Page in East Greenwich!

2011-03-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

The East Greenwich Pendulum put Pow!Science's "Pow!Towers" Program on the front page of their March 3rd Issue. THANK YOU to the East Greenwich Recreation Office for putting together this wonderful program!

If you'd like information about engaging your students, scouts or other School age group of kids with Hands-ON programs like Pow!Towers, click here to read about Pow!Science's wide array of outreach Science Enrichment Programs!

"Pow Towers" uses the simple but sophisticated Straws & Connectors Construction Toy to challenge students' imaginations, and engage them in team-building, design and implementation of ideas!

Click HERE to learn about our Straws & Connectors Photo Contest, running March-April 2011!

Advanced Dot to Dot (110 dots!) Free Download from Pow!Science!

2011-02-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

Got a Dot-to-Dot fan? ARE a Dot-to-Dot fan? Here's a super-cool 110 dot picture in .pdf format. Download, reproduce, have fun! Make sure to read the instructions first, because this is Dot-to-Dot with a bit of a twist. Have fun! Click HERE to Download.

Birthday Parties at Pow!Science! ROCK! 8 Themes including Chemistry, Volcanoes, LEGOs and more!

Forced Perspective Taken to Extremes at Pow!Science!

2011-02-26T05:38:00.000-08:00

Here's the classic Dragon Illusion captured on video on the front counter at Pow!Science! Providence and looking as creepy as ever.

Download the 244K .pdf for yourself at Grand Illusion!

Closing in on 500 Fans

2011-02-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Way back in November, we started a contest to reach 500 Fans (now of course, "likes") on our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/powscience). Now we're actually getting close (about 480 as of this writing), so it's time to reboot the contest!

When we hit 500 Fans, we'll be giving away 3 prizes:
3rd Place~Pow!Science T-Shirt!
2nd Place~ Pow!Science Gift Card
1st Place~A Super Cool LEGO Set!

If you're already a fan, you're entered, but the winning doesn't start until we hit 500, so "share" us, suggest us, and help us get to the 500 Fan Mark! Let the winning begin!

The Ultimate Valentine's Heart from Pow!Science! to you.

2011-02-14T08:44:00.001-08:00

Pow!Science! says...if you're going to give your Valentine a heart, it may as well be authentic!

The EduSci Human Heart Mode l is perfect for that very special nerd in your life.

Happy Valentine's Day.

2011-01-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

Family Science Nights are held every month at Pow!Science in both our Wakefield and Providence Locations. Check our Online Events Calendar to learn more and to find out about everything coming up at Pow!Science!

Cackling, Crowing Cup!

Objective: To amplify sound waves using very simple equipment.

Materials:
Paper Cup
Push Pin
String
Paper clip
Water
Paper Towel

Procedure:
1. Use the push pin to poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. Make the hole
big enough to thread the string through the hole.
2. Thread the string through the cup. Tie the paperclip to the end of the string
on the outside of the cup, so that when you pull the string through, the
paper clip will be on the bottom of the cup.
3. Fold your paper towel so that it’s a rectangle about 2 inches by 1 inch
(very approximate is fine).
4. Wet the paper towel with water and squeeze most of the moisture out.

Now for the tricky part:
5. Hold the cup upside down in one hand, with the string dangling down
towards the floor. Hold the damp paper towel in the other hand.
6. Firmly grasp the string with the damp paper towel. Jerk the paper towel
down the string, so that the paper towel slips along the string. If no sound
is produced, dampen the paper towel a bit more and try again. With
practice, you’ll get that string howling!

What’s Going On?
What we’re doing here is amplifying sound—producing the sound the string
would make anyway, but making it louder. All sound comes from vibration. Here,
the string is vibrating, and that gets the air inside the cup vibrating. The shape of
the cup helps to amplify the sound. HONK!

Think and Talk About This:
Different materials can do a better job of amplifying sound waves. What do you
think would happen if you tried this experiment at home with a tin can instead of
a paper cup? Try it with Mom/Dad’s help!

www.powscience.com

DIY Inchworm Robot!

2011-01-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Recycling? How about upcycling a nifty little DIY Inchworm 'Bot from a comb, ruler and a couple of other readily available items?

Kudos to the folks at unpluggd & Rob from Windswept Kites!

Steampunk Science Posters & Postcards

2011-01-12T06:14:00.001-08:00

These are awesome! Original Works by Megan Lee Katauskas at etsy.

Fun Home Experiment: Split a Penny in Twain!

2010-11-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

Use your head when doing this experiment. An ounce of prevention and all that.

File off the edge of a 1982 or later penny. You'll see the silvery zinc underneath. Drop the filed penny into a small glass with hydrochloric acid in it (get some Muriatic acid from the paint store--it's something like 37% HCl). BE CAREFUL with this stuff, it's very caustic.

You'll see the penny bubbling away as the zinc and HCl react. The copper won't react with the HCl, however. Let the penny bubble until it stops (mine took about 90 minutes). Run the water in your sink at full blast and SLOWLY decant the acid out of the glass and into the sink. Use a metal strainer if you can't pour slowly enough to prevent your penny-copper-foils from pouring out. DON'T add water to your acid in the glass. That's bad.

Rinse the penny foils thoroughly and check them out! COOL! The picture seems mundane until you consider that it is of both sides of the same penny.

Two Easy Physics Experiments to Try at Home from Pow!Science!

2010-09-23T10:55:00.001-07:00

Each month, Pow!Science! offers fun, free Family Science Nights, where parents and kids sit down together to perform 3 engaging, hands ON experiments.

Find out when the next FSN is happening on our Events Calendar. If you can't make it to a Family Science Night, try the two simple Physics Experiments below!

Two Cool Experiments to See Just How Things Work

Experiment ONE: Lift Heavy with Light

Get these Materials Ready:

• Marble*

• Ball of Clay, larger & heavier than the marble

• Empty Spool or an empty toilet/paper towel roll (you’ll need a longer string
if you use a paper towel roll)

• String, about 12 inches long (longer can be hazardous)

• Tape

* If you don't have a marble handy, the experiment can also be performed with two balls of clay; one smaller, one larger.

Do These Steps:

1) Tape one end of the string to the marble (use plenty of tape to make sure it’s
secure).

2) Thread the string through the spool, and then attach (using tape if necessary)
the other end of the string to the ball of clay.

READ THIS, then TRY IT:

Even though the clay ball is heavier than the marble, you can use the
marble to support the ball by holding the spool and spinning the marble around
like a lasso. Practice lifting the clay ball by “marble spin power”. Can you make
the clay ball stay at a constant height? Try it!

Experiment TWO: Up Against the Wall!

Get these Materials Ready:

A Paper Towel, handkerchief or any small object

A Partner

Do These Steps:

1) Stand with your heels right up against a wall.

2) Have your partner place the paper towel about 30 centimeters in front of your
toes.

3) Try and bend down WITHOUT BENDING YOUR KNEES and pick up the
paper towel. PARTNER: Be ready to help keep experimenter from falling!

What Happens?

4) Now stand about 60 centimeters away from the wall, and repeat the
experiment with the paper towel.

What happens this time?

Lego Behind the Scenes Factory Video! Must see of Lego Maniacs!

2010-08-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

Lego is still the most popular toy ever. Even though their patent recently ran out, resulting in a spate of competition, the quality control and sheer "cool factor" of Lego still makes it the 800 Pound Gorilla of the Building Toy World: Check out this must-see behind the scenes video!

Bed Bugs-Not just for the New York Carriage Trade! $8.95 & Free Shipping!

2010-08-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Lately you've heard about bed bugs showing up in posh (and not so posh) locations countrywide, notably in Manhattan.

Well, even if your address isn't fancy, you can have a Bedbug all your own from Pow!Science...but ours are the cute cuddly kind and come with Free Shipping as a bonus!

Giant Microbes Bedbug: $8.95 shipped

Fun Free Experiment from Pow!Science

2010-08-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

If you couldn't make it to this month's Family Science Night at either Pow!Science! Location, here's a little taste of what went down last night in Providence. Gather some simple materials and perform two quick, easy & fun experiments at home!

Experiment ONE: BALL LIFTER

Get This Stuff Ready:
• Marble
• Rubber Ball (like a super ball, no more than 1 inch diameter)
• Empty Spool or an empty toilet/paper towel roll (you’ll need a longer string if you use a paper towel roll)
• String
• Tape

Do This:

1) Tape one end of the string to the marble (use plenty of tape to make sure it’s secure).
2) Thread the string through the spool, and then tape the other end of the string to the rubber ball.
3) Even though the ball is heavier than the marble, you can use the marble to support and even lift up the ball by holding the spool and spinning the marble around like a lasso.

Experiment TWO: Up Against the Wall!

Get This Ready:

A Paper Towel
A Partner

Do This:

1) Stand with your heels right up against a wall.
2) Have your partner place the paper towel about 30 centimeters in front of your toes.
3) Try and bend down WITHOUT BENDING YOUR KNEES and pick up the paper towel. PARTNER: Be ready to help keep experimenter from falling!

What Happened?

4) Now stand about 60 centimeters away from the wall, and repeat the experiment with the paper towel.
What happened this time?

Pow!Science! offers free, fun Family Science Nights every month at both our Wakefield and Providence Locations. Check our online Events Calendar to learn about this and other Pow!Science Workshops & Activities.

2010-08-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

Classic Slime!
Parents: Read it through before performing this experiment!

Purpose: To create a fun-to-play with polymer

Materials:

Bowl
2 400ml Beakers (or 2 glasses/cups/empty jars of equal size)
Spoon
White Glue
Borax
Water
Food Coloring
Zip-lock style plastic bag
Funnel (optional)

Procedure:

1) Fill one beaker about halfway with glue. Add water until the beaker is nearly full, and gently stir until the water and glue are thoroughly mixed.
2) Add 4 or 5 drops of food coloring to the glue/water mixture and stir until the color is evenly distributed.
3) Pour your colored glue mixture into the bowl.
3) Fill the other beaker halfway with water. Add 4 heaping spoonfuls of Borax and stir gently until the water looks gray. Some Borax will settle onto the bottom of the beaker. That’s fine. Pour the gray water into the colored glue, being careful not to let the Borax that is still powdered plop in. Stir the contents of the bowl and watch what happens!
4) After gently but thoroughly stirring the glue/borax mixture, pick up the bowl and using your fingers as a strainer, pour the liquid portion back into one of the beakers while leaving just the gooey blob in the bowl.
5) Pick up the gooey blob and squeeze & squish it (use the same motion as if you were making a snowball). In a few moments, the wetness will disappear, leaving you with a cool ball of colored slime! Stretch it! Roll it! Bounce it! It's awesome!
6) Store your slime in the plastic bag when not in use.

Try This!
Put a funnel into one of the beakers (or an empty jar, if you don’t have a beaker). Roll the slime into a nice, round ball and plop the ball into the funnel. Observe the funnel/slime setup every ten minutes or so. Does anything change?

What’s Going On?
Mixing with Borax causes the glue to polymerize, or convert into an amorphous (“shape changing") solid. Since this is a chemical change, the slime cannot be converted back into glue.

Caution: Do not leave slime on carpets, furniture or anything made of cloth, as it may stain such items. Only play with it on hard, smooth surfaces! Hot water will dissolve hardened slime.

©2010 Pow!Science!

Pow!Science Home Experiment: Electric Water (Adult Supervision Required)

2010-07-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

Electric Water

Purpose: To observe the effects of electricity on water

Materials:

Beaker, Jar or large glass
2 insulated wires(ideally one red & one black, but use what you've got) each equipped with an alligator clip at one end (or with an inch or two of uninsulated wire at each end)
Water
Salt
Spoon
6V battery

CAUTION: THIS EXPERIMENT IS TO BE CONDUCTED ONLY WITH ADULT SUPERVISION!

Procedure:

PART ONE:

1) Fill the beaker with water until water is about an inch from the top (amount is not critical).

2) Clip the end of the black wire to the NEGATIVE ( - ) pole of the 6V battery.

3) Place the other end of the black wire into the water, so that the exposed end is fully submerged (bending the wire over the lip of your beaker/container will help keep the wire in there).

4) Clip the end of the red wire to the POSITIVE (+) pole of the 6V battery.

5) Carefully place the other end of the red wire into the water so that the exposed end is fully submerged.

What, if anything happened when you placed the second wire into the water? Nothing, right?

CAUTION: AT NO TIME SHOULD THE TWO ENDS OF THE WIRES IN THE WATER BE ALLOWED TO TOUCH. If they do, you're setting up a 'no load' or 'short' circuit and the wires and battery will begin to heat up.

PART TWO:

1) Disconnect the wires from the battery and remove them from the water.

2) Repeat steps 2) through 5) from Part One, EXCEPT THIS TIME, first add 5 or 6 spoonfuls of salt to the water and stir until it is completely dissolved.

3) Allow this setup to run for several minutes.

Did anything different happen this time (if it didn't, add more salt--amount needed will vary based on the size of your container)?

What’s Going On?

Despite its bad reputation from movies and TV, fresh water does not really conduct electricity well, as you observed from Part One of our experiment. When Salt is added to water, it dissolves into ions of Sodium and Chlorine, which conduct electricity very well indeed! The gross stuff that started to form in the water (starting out yellow and turning green if you watched long enough) is Sodium Hydroxide (also known as Caustic Soda or Lye), a major ingredient in soap!

Think and Talk About This!

Sodium Hydroxide is made of Sodium, Oxygen and Hydrogen. The Sodium comes from the salt. Where does the Oxygen and Hydrogen come from? (HINT: Think about the chemical formula for water).

Optional Method for enhancing the results:

To make the reaction a bit more noticeable, try wrapping a small strip of aluminum foil around the end of the black wire that goes into the water.

M.A.P. -Why I don't like Minimum Advertised Pricing.

2010-06-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

M.A.P. -Why I don't like Minimum Advertised Pricing.

More and more toy manufacturers are attempting to enforce "Minimum Advertised Pricing" policies for online sales. The general idea is to impose a minimum price, below which a product may not be sold. Selling for less can result in non-shipment of new product to the offending retailer. On the surface, this seems an honorable act. Usually we're told that it's to "level the playing field" between us and the big boxes such as Target or Walmart. Companies don't want to "cheapen the brand".

Thanks, but not only didn't I ask for the field to be leveled, I didn't realize that a level playing field was the point of owning a business in a capitalist society! I didn't get into business to even try and compete with big boxes. I'm not that stupid.

While we appreciate and understand the intent of fair pricing, what it essentially does is make small stores like Pow!Science! virtually invisible in web search results, despite our best SEO efforts. We can't buy the top spots (which no matter what you may have read elsewhere, are for sale) or afford to run up huge AdSense bills, so we end up on page 3, or 6....or deeper still. And when all the prices are the same, nobody will search past page 1 or 2 of their search results. Heck, they don't even do that when prices are all over the map (no pun intended). Price is the one edge we've got, and because we've got lower overhead and other avenues of income, we can usually afford to offer a pretty competitive one--M.A.P. takes that away.

Our superior customer service and product knowledge don't count for much when we can't even get seen. Our lower overhead loses its advantageous properties when we can't utilize it to give ourselves an edge on price just to get noticed online.

And of course, it's just not enforceable. Every time I get an email from a manufacturer telling me of new M.A.P. Policies, I do a product search, and invariably find sites that are selling for less.

We're not saying M.A.P. is wrong. Even Communism works on paper. We're just saying that without exception, it has resulted in decreased online sales for us in every line that imposes it, and there are always businesses out there that ignore it. Me, I'd rather have the opportunity to sell ten units at a lower profit than Zero units but with the integrity and warm fuzzy feeling of knowing I'm not "cheapening the brand". Can't eat warm fuzzies.

What do you think?

Da Vinci Machine - The Coolest Logic/Puzzle Game You've Never Heard Of

2010-06-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Da Vinci Machine
Detect. Deduce. Decode. And a 15% Discount (see below)!

What does this intriguing game have to do with Leonardo Da Vinci? Absolutely nothing. But don't hold that against it. This game has a sophisticated look and mode of play that gets kids excited, but is both educational and simple enough so as not to frustrate younger players. That said, adults will find it sufficiently challenging and far from "too easy".

So, How do you play it?

1. One player is the Encoder, the other player is the Decoder. The Encoder must think of a three or four letter word after drawing two cards to determine the ‘Word Type’ and ‘Spelling Condition’ of the secret word to be formed. When choosing a secret word to encode, the Encoder must choose a word that obeys both the 'Word Type' and 'Spelling Condition' put forth by the cards drawn.

Examples:
Word Type~"The Word must be a living thing."
Spelling Condition ~ "The Word must contain two vowels."
Thus, the Encoder could choose words such as "Bee", "Mole" or "Boar". All of these words meet the conditions put forth by the cards...but so do many, many others.

2. The Encoder uses the red chips to form a secret word of his or her choosing by placing the chips in the correct sequence into the Code Machine.The Encoder then covers the secret word by closing all of the windows. Optionally, the Encoder may announce the number of letters used in the word, so as not to totally vex the Decoder.

3. The Decoder cracks the secret word with as few windows opened as possible. In each round, the Decoder opens one small window at any position and attempts to name the secret word. In each game, the Decoder has a total of three chances to ask the Encoder a question for a yes-or-no answer as a hint. The questions can be used all at once or separately. When the secret word is correctly cracked, count and record the total number of windows opened. Open all windows to confirm the code is correct.

4. Players switch sides and repeat Steps 1 to 3. The player (decoder) that requires the fewest windows opened is the winner.
There's even an option for 3 Players:
One player is the Encoder and the other two players are the competing Decoders. The set-up procedure is the same as the 2-Player game. The two Decoders take turns to open a window and attempt to crack the secret word. Each Decoder has a total of three chances to ask the Encoder a question for a yes-or-no answer as a hint. The Decoder who successfully cracks the secret word first is the winner.

It's sort of like "Mastermind" meets "Wheel of Fortune"...and it'll hook you quickly. I recommend keeping a pencil handy, not to keep score, but to assist in opening the windows; they're a bit small, and adult fingers sometimes have a bit of trouble opening them.

The Da Vinci Machine is available at the Pow!Science! Online store, and blog readers can get an additional 15% Off using Coupon Code 'bloggerfan' during checkout, now through June 30th,2010. Click here to visit the Pow!Science! Store.

Do you own The Da Vinci Machine? Write a Review!

Pow! Science!'s Best Method Ever for the Diet Coke & Mentos Experiment

2010-06-08T14:24:00.001-07:00

Over the past few weeks as school years around Rhode Island are winding down, I've been busier than ever performing Pow!Science's Big Audience Assembly Program, "Science Asks Why", due in large part to the fantastic Science Inquiry Day programs put on by the East Bay Educational Collaborative.

Kids and teachers alike seem to really enjoy the show, but it's always the last demonstration that gets them the most excited, and although I certainly did not invent the famous "Diet Coke & Mentos" experiment, I most definitely have perfected it, resulting in round, brown stains on the ceilings of many Rhode Island Elementary School Auditoriums. After the program, I'm almost always asked how I get this particular demonstration to work so well.

I'll skip over the science behind why this experiment works at all, and tell you the simple secrets to getting a great geyser every time. Use these simple methods and you'll easily get 30 foot plumes of soda flying into the air (without any special restriction device screwed to the top of the bottle) to the delight of any kid (or adult) who happens to be watching.

1. Use Diet Pepsi instead of Diet Coke. Odd, I realize, to perform the famous "Diet Coke & Mentos" experiment without Diet Coke. Truth be told, they both work--but I've used both extensively, and I consistently find Diet Pepsi to work just a little bit better--so why not use it instead?

2. Heat the Soda (without opening the bottle, of course). Get a nice big pitcher--a one gallon size is great-- and put your unopened bottle of soda in. Then, fill the pitcher with the hottest water you can get to come out of your sink (DON'T heat water on the stove and use that, please! There's hot and then there's just too hot). Let that bottle sit in the hot water bath for a good twenty minutes and I guarantee maximum altitude.

3. Figure out a good, dependable delivery system to drop the Mentos into the bottle as quickly as possible. I use a Giant Test Tube (sometimes called a 'Baby Soda Bottle', but that's a whole different article). You might use one too, or you might use a rolled up piece of cardboard.

4. When you "blast off", do it from a table top, such as a picnic table. Or put the bottle of soda on top of a wall. Whatever, anything to get it launching from just a bit higher than the ground. Launching from the ground isn't bad, but if you want spectacular results, give yourself a height advantage! 3 feet higher is, after all, 3 feet higher! The more kids have to bend their necks to see the top of the plume, the cooler they will think you are.

Got questions? I've got answers. Feel free to post Comments, Questions, or pictures of your own Soda-rific results. Have fun!

2010-05-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

If you can't make it to this month's Family Science Night, here's a fun & easy experiment to do at home--you'll love it, and we challenge you to wrap your brain around just how it works. Remember, Pow!Science! offers fun, FREE Family Science Nights every month at both locations. Check the Events Calendar for all the info!

LIKE a ROLLING SODA

Materials:

Two unopened cans of soda
Inclined surface

Procedure:

1. Locate the inclined surface (If you’re experimenting at home, stick a book under a board, or prop up two legs of a table or something).

2. Teamwork required! One person stands at the raised end of the inclined surface with the soda. This person is the Roller. The other person stands at lower end of the inclined surface. This person is the Catcher.

3. The Roller should carefully lay the cans on their sides on the starting line (at the raised end of the inclined surface). When you’re sure the Catcher is ready, release both cans at the same time, and watch them roll. They should roll to the Catcher at about the same speed.

4. Return both cans to the Roller. The Roller should now select JUST ONE of the cans, and shake it vigorously for about 10 seconds. Repeat step 3 (Roll the cans to the Catcher again).

What’s Going On?

Wow! The unshaken can wins every time! This is because shaking the can knocks loose any bubbles sticking to the inner surface of the can. This causes the mass of the soda inside the can to be more evenly distributed throughout the can, causing it to roll more slowly. The unshaken can’s soda is (just a little tiny bit) more concentrated around the can’s axis of rotation (it’s center), and therefore rolls a little bit faster.

Think and talk about this!

There is a famous demonstration using a stool with a spinning seat. If you have one, you can try it. Spin on the stool with your arms held straight out. While spinning, pull your arms in tightly to your chest. Your spinning-speed will increase quickly!! It’s the same idea. The closer your mass is to your center, the faster you spin.

Grape Juice Chemistry!

2010-05-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

GRAPE JUICE CHEMISTRY

Objective: To observe Grape Juice’s natural ability to detect acids and bases.

Materials:

Grape Juice (Juicy Juice works very well, even though it's not 100% Grape Juice)
Water
Baking Soda
Citric Acid Crystals (substitute vinegar if you don’t have citric acid crystals)
Spoon
3 Clear plastic cups or glasses (10-12 ounce capacity)
Paper Towels (optional, but handy in case of an overflow)

Procedure:

Pour about 1 inch of Grape Juice into an empty cup. Then add about an inch of water to the Grape Juice to lighten its color.
Pour about 1 inch of water into a different cup. Add a spoonful of Baking Soda to this water and stir until dissolved (or mostly dissolved).
Pour about 1 inch of water into your last cup. Add a spoonful of Citric Acid Crystals to this cup and stir until dissolved (or mostly dissolved). If you don’t have citric acid crystals, pour 1 inch of vinegar into the cup for this step.

KEEP TRACK OF WHICH CUP IS WHICH!

Pour the Baking Soda liquid into the Grape Juice and watch for a color change. Cool! Grape Juice detects chemicals that are “alkaline” or “bases” by turning darkish green-ish!
Next, pour the Citric Acid liquid into the darkish green-ish liquid. Whoa!!

Grape juice detects acids by turning a very light color! And as you may have noticed, baking soda and citric acid react in an exciting way also.

What’s Going On?

Grape juice, like many other natural chemicals, reacts when different types of chemicals are mixed with it. Cabbage juice is another example of a natural acid/base indicator.

Think and Talk About This:

Do you think toothpaste is an acid or a base? How could you find out? What other chemicals could you test with your Grape Juice indicator? With mom or dad’s permission & help, design and experiment and try it out!

2010-05-13T08:47:00.001-07:00

It's Rocket Season!

As a friend recently reminded me, spring is in the air, and for us nerds, that means it's time to start building & launching Estes Rockets. Chances are you haven't launched one in a long time, but can probably recall the thrill of pressing the button and hearing the hissing WHOOSH as the rocket thunders skyward.

If you haven't ever launched a rocket, then you are not much of a nerd (but we can help you). We've got two Estes Starter sets in stock, the Alpha III and the Taser.

The Estes Alpha III is an E2X Starter Set. More people have started with this timeless, easy to build rocket than any other in the history of the world! Features include a bright molded one piece fin unit , nose cone and engines for two fantastic parachute recovered flights. The Estes Alpha III Starter Set is the standard for beginning starter sets.

Includes:

Estes Alpha III Model Rocket kit
Estes Electron Beam Launch Controller
Estes Launch Pad
Model rocket engines
Parachute Wadding

What you'll need:

White Glue
Scissors
4 AA Batteries for the Launch Controller
MSRP: $34.99

The Estes Taser Launch Set has a 3-fin designed rocket that allows this sleek, high flier to soar up to 1,000 feet into the air! The Taser is another E2X skill level kit that is easy to assemble.

No painting is required with the pre-colored parts. After it's built, simply apply the great looking decals, and your ready to blast off. The Estes Taser rocket then glides back down on a colorful and pre-installed 12 inch parachute.

Includes:

Taser Rocket
Launch Pad
Electron Beam Launch Controller
Rocketeer's Guide to Model Rocketry

NOTE than unlike the Alpha III, the Taser does NOT include Rocket Motors. Those must be purchased separately.

MSRP: $29.99

The best thing about either of these sets is that the Launch Pad and Launch Controller will work for any other rocket you ever build and launch. Invest in one starter kit now and you'll have years of launching to look forward to.

Family Science Night: Juice Box Jetpack!

2010-04-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Each month, Pow!Science! offers free, fun Family Science Nights.

At our Wakefield location, they're on the Wednesday of the third week of the month and in Providence they're the last Wednesday of each month.
When you attend a Family Science Night, you and your child or children sit down together and perform 3 fun & easy yet engaging Experiments. All materials are provided by your Pow!Science! professional, who also sticks around throughout the evening to help you out if you get stuck.

If you'd like to know when exactly our Family Science Nights are happening, check out the Online Events Calendar. You can also check out the full list of upcoming activities, workshops & more while you're there.

Registration for Family Science Night is Free, but because we can only fit 10 kids in per session (and because the price is right), they tend to fill up fast. If you can't make it to FSN, we can bring a bit of FSN to you. Keep reading to check out the procedure for the "Juice Box Jetpack" Experiment that we'll be performing in Providence's April 28th FSN and at Wakefield's next FSN in May.

To register for a Family Science Night, call your location of choice: Providence: (401) 432-7040 Wakefield: (401) 788-1024

As the title implies, you'll need an empty juice box, so this is a great experiment to perform after a snack!

Juice Box Jetpack!

Objective: To observe Newton’s 3^rd Law of Motion (Action/Reaction) in cool new way!

Materials:

Empty Juice Box
String
Water
Something Pointy
Something Sharp

Procedure:

Drink your juice.
Fold the flap on the top of the box up. You may have to pry up the corner flaps also. Using something sharp, cut open the top of the juice box and open it right up like a milk carton.
Using something pointy, poke holes in the top flaps of the juice box (see diagram).
Using something pointy, poke a hole in the lower right corner of the front AND in the lower right corner of the back of the juice box. In the diagram, you can see the hole in the lower right corner.
Pass the string through both top-holes and knot the string so that the box is hanging from the string—the top of the box should still be open.
Bring water and your juice box-on-a-string and stand over a sink, outside, or over a container--somewhere you don't care about getting wet.
THE TRICKY PART: TEAMWORK REQUIRED! One person holds the water in one hand and the hanging juice box (hold by the string) over the large container on the floor. The other person locates the two little holes in the bottom right corners of your juice box and covers them with their fingers.
The person holding the water pours the water into the top of the juice box.
The person covering the holes lets go!

What happens? Water should shoot out of the holes and cause the juice box to spin until the water runs out.

What’s Going On?

When you let go of the holes in the juice box, the water rushes out—that is a force. As the water leaves the carton, it pushes back on the carton with a second, equal force, just as the fuel burning out of a rocket propels it forward.

Think and Talk About This:

Look carefully at where the holes in the bottom of the box are located. Are they on the same side? Opposite sides? Would this experiment work differently if both holes were on the same side of the box?

The Pumponator. Summertime Fun is Back.

2010-04-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Pumponator. It's a portable, easy to use Inflation Station. Pump it up and it'll hold pressure while you fill lots of balloons before you need to pump again. The coolest aspect, however, is the fact that you can fill the chamber with water, pressurize that, and fill water-balloon after water-balloon without getting squirted by a hose and without splitting the neck of the balloon on a spigot that's just a little bit too big.

The thing comes with 500 Balloons and strings for tying them off, which you can do while it hangs there on the nozzle. No batteries, no electrically powered compressor. Kids want to pump it for you. It's just an all around win. It's almost as if someone sent it back from the future to find you...

The Pumponator:
MSRP: $19.99
Pow!Science! Website Special Price: $18.39 (you must buy online to get this price)
Pow!Science! Website Price + Shipping: $26.38
Click to Read More, to see it in action or to buy. Locals, select "Pick Up at the Store" as your shipping option. We'll hold your Pumponator aside for you.

CPSIA Survivor: Complex 39 Shuttle Launch Adventure Set: It's Back!

2010-04-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

Action Products, the Manufacturer of the Space Voyagers® line, got hit very hard by the changes in the CPSIA regulations on Toy Safety. It's not that we don't all see a need for safe toys--that's a no-brainer; but it doesn't seem quite fair that companies like Action got stuck with thousands of units of toys that were already imported legally under the (then)current safety standards and were quite literally made illegal overnight because previously imported toys were not protected when the new standards went into effect. Medium sized companies like Action were among the hardest hit.

Now owned by BSW Toys, Action Products and the Space Voyagers Adventure series are back! After being backordered forever, one of their most popular products, the Complex 39 Shuttle Launch Adventure Set is finally back in stock, and we've got it for you. Retailing at $29.99, we're lowering that to $25.25 because it's a bear to ship (big!).

See it here in all of its glory, read more about it or purchase one if you like!

Now that BSW seems to have regained its momentum, we're hoping that they'll bring back other enormously popular Action Products toys like the Crazy for Cupcakes line as well as the rest of the Space Voyagers (including re-sculpted, re-vamped Astro-Squad Action Figures).

Eric Bulmer
Pow!Science!
Program Director & Co-Owner
www.powscience.com
www.powsciencetoys.com

Pow! Professional Development

2010-03-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

Pow!Science! is proud to announce that we are now a registered Professional Development Provider in the State of Rhode Island.

Our initial PD offering, the USB Microscope Master Class, provides teachers with training in the operation and application of a plug-and-play USB 35x Microscope. Participants will be introduced to the microscope itself and shown how its use can be applied to Chemistry, Earth Science, Biology, Physics and Forensics.

We're offering this program in two packages:
Package 1 ($150.00) includes an hour of training for up to 12 teachers and includes one microscope for the school.
Package 2 ($200.00) includes an hour of training for up to 12 teachers and includes 2 microscopes for the school.

This is a registered and approved program for Professional Development Credit by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Contact Pow!Science! at (401) 788-1024 for more information, or visit www.powscience.com.

What is this?! At just 35x magnification, whiskers look like tree trunks!

Yoyo Club starting at Pow!Science! Providence: April 2nd 2010

2010-03-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Our recent Yoyo demonstration from Duncan pro Jeff Coons(above)was such an inspiration that one young yoyo player in attendance approached us about starting a yoyo club at Pow!Science! Providence.

Hmm...sponsoring Little League? Worthy, but not quite our style. Football Booster ad? Not really nerdy enough for us. But a Yoyo Club? That's totally Pow!Science!, and we quickly agreed.

Starting April 2nd at 3:30pm, the Pow!Science! Providence Yoyo Club will hold its first meeting. Regular meetings will be held the first Friday of every month from 3:30 to no-later-than 5. All meetings will be held in the Activity Room.

Graeme S. will be the coordinator--come and meet Graeme at the Club's first meeting! All skill levels are welcome; come ready to learn, to teach, to share your love of the sport. Hope to see you and your yoyo there!

Pow!Science! Providence
192 Wayland Ave
Providence RI 02906
(401) 432-7040

Wizard Sticks-Fog Generating Wands by Zero Toys

2010-03-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

Wizard Sticks--invented by brothers in Connecticut & used by kids, performers & professionals (the fog is great for detecting leaks). Add the included "Super Zero Fluid" and batteries (not included), squeeze and you're gushing fog like crazy.

We've got 6 left until our next shipment, so we're movin' 'em out at $15.99 each + shipping (regular retail is $18.99).

Local shoppers can buy online & select "Pick up at the Store" for free shipping; we'll process your order and have your items ready & waiting.

Click through to learn more or to buy one!