2006
January
Making a Perfect Match How do you create a mixture that can easily burst into flames, but only when you want? Just use one of the most unstable mixtures on Earth, plus Elmer’s glue
March
Save a Snowflake for Decades Create a lasting cast of nature’s perfect crystals with a drop of chilled superglue
April
Nickel Growing in TreesElectroplating makes bumpers shiny and rustproof. It also makes these beautiful bits of industrial waste
May
Stir Up Some NylonAs one of the first synthetic materials ever made, nylon changed fashion–and the world. Now you can make thread yourself by pulling it from a glass of chemicals
June
Rocket FoodWant to see a real sugar high? Launch a model rocket with Oreo cookies
July
Ice CapadesIce is supposed to float, but with a little heavy water, you can make cubes that sink
August
Dry Ice CreamSkip the fancy ice-cream maker–all you need is a pillowcase and a fire extinguisher
September
Playing With PoisonMercury used to be lots of fun—before we knew that it could kill you. Here’s how several pounds of it made the first electric motor spin
October
Making Salt the Hard WaySodium + chlorine = your favorite popcorn condiment (and lots of smoke and fire!)
2007
February
A Tall Glass of JuicePower your stuff like it’s 1899 by building your own liquid battery
June
Atoms and EvesBefore lava lamps and laser light, all you needed for romance was some radioactivity
July
Pretty PennyTurn your cheapest coins inside out using some hardware-store chemistry
August
Make Your Own EthanolBrewing your own fuel is easy—it’s also dangerous and potentially illegal
September
How to Make a Lamp Out of LimeCreate a superbright spotlight just like the stagehands of old: with a blowtorch and a hunk of quicklime
October
Transform Hand Warmers to Liquid Ice SculpturesThe mysterious material inside hand warmers “freezes” almost instantly
November
Burning Metal Send steel up in flames—as long as it’s in wool form
2008
January
Titanium or Plain Ol’ Steel?Cut through titanium-marketing hype—take a grinder to your stuff
February
Fire Without FlamePrecious metals in your car burn up the dirty exhaust, with no flame to be seen
March
Trap Lightning in a BlockTo create beautiful electrical-charge patterns like this, you could use a giant particle accelerator. But shag carpeting will also do just fine. Watch how Lichtenberg figures are made in our amazing video And for Theodore Gray’s one-of-a-kind periodic table poster, head to periodictable.com/posters
