This video shows us a fun science project to do with our kids; it teaches us how to make flubber out of glue and cornstarch. In one container pour a small amount of liquid starch. You can find this in most laundry aisles in the store. Next in another container, pour in an equa ...more
Creating giant, reusable bubbles at home is easy, and it's a fun project for children. Just dump a whole bottle of non-toxic Elmer's Clear School Glue into a bowl, add fine glitter and watercolors (or food coloring), and slowly mix together Sta-Flo Liquid Starch to form a plia ...more
Make Slime! This one is easy. Just mix equal parts of glue and water and then add an equal part of liquid starch. Just like that you have gooey slime. The more you play with it the more fun it becomes. This acclivity causes the polymer chains in the glue to cross link with che ...more
Learn how to make your own slime with ingredients you can find around the house. It can even glow under a blacklight! Parts Needed: Liquid Starch (or Borax) Non-toxic glue Fluorescent Marker (or food coloring) Bowl Gloves Video: . Have fun with your slime.
NASA has invented the T-RAD Device, a.k.a. Goo Gun. Astronauts aboard the STS-120 will test the effectiveness of the pre-ceramic polymer in its ability to repair damaged shuttle tiles. To make connections to the mission, in this video tutorial, Dr. Diana teaches you how to mak ...more
One of the only things I remember from watching Nickelodeon as a kid is the epic green slime. Looking back, I don't know what was so great about it, but every kid my age thought that being drenched in slime would be the coolest thing on earth. Of course, the first thing I did ...more
To make silly putty start by putting four tablespoons of Elmer's Glue into a glass jar. Next you will add two tablespoons of liquid starch into the glass jar with the Elmer's Glue. Use a metal fork to stir up the glue and starch mixture. Stir it until it is thoroughly mixed up ...more
Mr. O shows his audience in this video how to make oobleck, a slime-like substance which has a variety of unique properties. For this project, you will need a mixing bowl, food coloring, corn starch, a measuring cup, and water. First, color the water with food coloring to a co ...more
Trying to stay away from carbs but love starches? Why not try some spaghetti squash instead of all that pasta? Spaghetti squash is easy to prepare and can be garnished just like you would with pasta or potatoes. In this tutorial, learn how to make a delicious stuffed spaghett ...more
On this episode of Scientific Tuesdays, Dylan shows you how to create a non-Newtonian fluid using corn starch and a little water. A non-Newtonian fluid is any fluid that does not follow the laws of physics. - Measure out 1/2 cup of 100% corn starch with a measuring cup and po ...more
Learn to breathe fire safely using corn starch instead of a flammable liquid. Using only a mouthful corn starch and an open flame, it's possible to breathe fire and impress your friends and family. This trick must not be attempted without professional supervision.
Make yourself some oobleck. Mix 1 1/2 cups of corn starch with a cup of water and some food coloring for effect. The result is liquid yet solid. Make oobleck. Click through to watch this video on instructables.com
Bubble bars can be pricey, especially if you're using Lush bubble bars. But you don't have to exhaust your pocket book on this luxury—you can simply make your own, right at home. Watch the how-to video on making your own homemade bubble bath bars, and consult the recipe below ...more
I first heard the term molecular gastronomy while watching an episode of Bravo's Top Chef a few seasons back. Intrigued by the concept, I sought to find out more about this modern, deconstructed type of cookery. If you happen to be around foodies and the topic of molecular gas ...more
Soup can be one of the most finicky dishes to make. While seemingly innocuous at first, the texture of this meal can change in an instant. For example, adding too many vegetables can result in soup that's too watery, such as tomatoes, which contain a lot of liquid. Luckily, i ...more
Spills happen in the kitchen, and while every good cook knows to clean as you go, not every cook has an endless supply of cleaning materials. Besides, one spill can exhaust your entire stockpile of sponges, paper towels, and rags in a matter of minutes. Particularly egregious ...more
The other day I was perusing my Instagram when I came upon a curious hashtag... #OnePotPasta. Intrigued, I investigated further and discovered a whole world that was previously unbeknownst to me. How was it possible, I asked myself, to cook pasta with all of the ingredients i ...more
Right now is that magical time of year when the general public decides to embrace their inner fattie and get baking in the kitchen. Hello, pies and cakes and cookies and everything carbs. Goodbye, diets—see you in the next year, when you cripple us with unbridled guilt and lon ...more
Gravy is a relatively simple dish, yet it's remarkably easy to mess up. We've all experienced the disappointment of excitedly pouring gravy onto our mashed potatoes, only to realize it's too runny, too lumpy, or too bland. And because gravy is so simple, even if you don't mess ...more
Pickles are insanely versatile: we eat them on their own as a snack, as a tasty zing on burgers, and some of us even like them in a sandwich with peanut butter. And if you're already an avid reader of our site, you'd know that we're even crazier about pickle juice and its myri ...more
Eggs are incredibly important to cooks, and not just because they're tasty and a complete protein (many erratic genius/artist types make a point of eating an egg or two for breakfast). Yes, they are great when perfectly poached, scrambled, hard-boiled, and even scram-boiled, b ...more
Does it seem like everybody you know is declaring that they're gluten-free? Some wonder if the number of people with celiac disease are on the rise or if it's the latest fad diet. And it even goes beyond food: now there are beauty products that tout themselves as being free of ...more
Why are people so afraid of risotto? Contrary to what a lot of home cooks seem to believe, it's really not a difficult dish to make yourself. Sure, there's a lot of stirring involved, but it's not nearly the culinary beast it's made out to be. The real deterrent to making home ...more
We had some friends over for a barbecue a few weeks back. Among other items, this outdoor soirée featured an epic potato salad (bacon, basil, crushed potato chips, pickles—the whole nine yards). And, like many potato salads, ours was made with a hearty amount of mayonnaise. B ...more
Want to make boring old colorless water brighten up on command? Well, you can control the color of water with this little magic trick. Actually, it's not really magic, but a classic science experiment known commonly as the iodine clock reaction, which uses the reactions betwee ...more
Pies and soufflés: these are two dishes that can try even the most experienced cook. Berry pies can be especially challenging, since the high water content of cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries often leads to a big, leaky mess once you cut into your beautifu ...more
Sometimes, you come across a recipe or a food hack and think, "That is the weirdest thing I have ever heard of; who would make that?" That was my initial reaction when I read Food52's piece about popcorn milkshakes. But after a bit more consideration, I decided that popcorn i ...more
Each flavor of sake, the national spirit of Japan, comes with its own fans, not unlike whiskey aficionados here in the States. While sake is often called "rice wine," it is more akin to a malted beverage like beer. Unfortunately, many people's first exposure to sake comes in ...more
Lemons and limes might be among the most useful fruits in the kitchen and even beyond. Their bright, tart flavor livens up just about any dish, while their mildly acidic nature makes them incredibly useful when you want to clean your house safely. We already knew lemons were g ...more