Make Magazine's New Science Room for Hobbyists

From the website of Make magazine comes the Make: Science Room, a fun and useful resource. Here's what they say about it:

We hope you'll use it as your DIY science classroom, virtual laboratory, and a place to share your projects, hacks, and laboratory tips with other amateur scientists. Your Make: Science Room host is Robert Bruce Thompson, author of Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture. (Make: Books, 2008) and Illustrated Guide to Forensics Investigations: Uncover Evidence in Your Home, Lab, or Basement (not yet published). We'll be drawing material from these titles first, but will soon branch out into biology, astrononmy, Earth sciences, and other disciplines. We'll be adding lots of material on a regular basis, so check back often. For more info on the site, see Introducing the Make: Science Room.

They also have a new science lab section in Maker Shed, their online catalog, for basic equipment. Looks neat!

Stocking up for Fall

If you're starting to buy supplies for homeschooling in the fall, Home Science Tools is offering free shipping on orders over $100 using code PAUG89. I've also seen, but haven't verified, that you can get $1 shipping on orders over $50 using code PCAT89 through Aug. 31, 2009.

The Chemistry of Colored Bubbles

Zubbles are colored bubbles. And to see what went into their making, there's an interesting PopSci article from a few years back.

A Science Comedian Talks About Helium

Here's a little five-minute slideshow presentation by Science Comedian Brian Malow on how market forces affect the world's second most prevalent element:

Periodic Table Guy's New Book

If you aren't a regular GeekDad reader, be sure to check out my review of Theodore Gray's new book, Mad Science. Gray is the guy who built an actual periodic table, with legs and everything, including compartments in which he keeps samples of every element. His website is a treasure trove of information about different chemicals and things you can do with them!

Hey Homeschoolers! I Need Your Help...

A commenter over at GeekDad (where I am now one of two homeschooling mom contributors!) wanted to know if there were any geeky (science and tech oriented) homeschooling blogs. What are your favorites? Please comment!

UPDATE: The GeekDad post is here. Somehow I think I missed a few good ones, but I'll try to add them to the sidebars of my blogs soon.

A Chemist Bakes the Perfect Cookie

Food Scientist Shirley Corriher's tips for baking perfect cookies seem to be everywhere at the moment. On National Public Radio, her advice for crumbly cookies is to add a tablespoon of water to a cup of flour. That will make the proteins — glutenin and gliadin — hold together. In the New York Times she's one of several culinary experts weighing on why you must keep butter cool.

Butter is basically an emulsion of water in fat, with some dairy solids that help hold them together. But food scientists, chefs and dairy professionals stress butter’s unique and sensitive nature the way helicopter parents dote on a gifted child.

Although I have not heard of Corriher before, I am tempted to check out her new book Bakewise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking with Over 200 Magnificent Recipes. Amazon customers give it some rave reviews.

And I like the chemistry angle too.