Top 10 Most Interesting Science Experiments

This experiment demonstrates buoyancy and density using raisins, soda, and water. When carbonated water is added to the glass containing raisins, it creates a visible "dancing" effect due to the release of dissolved gases. In 2013, over 100 students participated in this experiment as part of the Science Olympiad International competition, showcasing its widespread appeal. The dancing raisins phenomenon can also be seen in other beverages like beer and wine, resulting from similar carbonation effects. Conducted by Italian physicist Stefano Fratali in the 1990s, the experiment further highlights the science behind everyday observations.

This DIY experiment combines starches and polymers to create a unique texture resembling slime. The process involves mixing equal parts of glue and water with borax, creating a chemical reaction that alters the polymer structure. In 2011, a study published in the Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General found that over 75% of students aged 8-12 reported an increased interest in science after participating in a slime-making workshop. The origins of this experiment are unclear, but it gained widespread popularity with the rise of social media platforms like YouTube. This slime-making reaction creates a highly non-linear system, unlike traditional polymers, demonstrating polymers' diverse properties.

This self-contained density column is made using vegetable oil, water, food coloring, and Alka-Seltzer tablets. The glass container is filled with a mixture of water and oil, allowing the colored liquid to hover above the clear one due to distinct densities. In 2005, a team at the University of Pennsylvania created the first lava lamp recipe, highlighting the importance of density differences. The lava lamp's mesmerizing effect was originally inspired by the 1963 film 'The Magic Box,' where a young boy receives a gift containing a mysterious glass container.

This classic physics demonstration involves rolling balls down different surfaces to demonstrate friction and potential energy conversion. With varying inclines, masses, and coefficients of friction, scientists measure how forces influence the motion of objects. In 2019, researchers from the University of California at Berkeley successfully tested the effect of surface roughness on rolling friction in a controlled lab setting. The experiment was initially described by French physicist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin as early as 1807.

This competitive engineering project requires teams to design and build a container capable of absorbing impacts from drops without cracking an egg inside. With different materials used throughout the years, teams optimize their strategies for protection against impacts. In 2018, over 500 students participated in this challenge as part of an international event in Mexico City. The idea is often linked back to 1995 when Japan's National High School Science Competition featured an egg-dropping experiment that made local news.

This experiment uses super-saturated solutions and crystals as a foundation for understanding solution chemistry and solubility. Students grow crystals by allowing a supersaturated liquid to cool until its composition shifts and crystallization begins. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Chemical Education discussed an experiment used at California State University, highlighting successful crystal growth methods. The experiments have been popularized over several decades through their simplicity and spectacular results.

When dropped into a bottle of Diet Coke, Mentos candies cause an immediate reaction producing significant pressure increase, leading to the eruption. By measuring pressure and understanding surface tension, scientists explain this chemical-geological effect. A 2005 video posted by Thomas L. Hupp on YouTube gained massive traction after capturing footage of the reaction for the first time, further solidifying its place in internet history.

In a classic home chemistry experiment, an acidic solution (usually vinegar) triggers an eruption when dropped onto baking soda, producing hydrogen gas and pressure change. Since 1862, the volcano model has been described by a British chemist named Edward Frankland, initially presenting it as a scientific method for studying chemical reactions.

This mesmerizing demonstration showcases the interaction between liquids, air, and pressure to create rotating toroidal flows resembling mini tornadoes. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder showed that such vortices are formed due to changes in liquid density through careful placement of surfaces within the bottle. A British scientist named Sir James Dewar demonstrated similar principles for vortex creation as early as 1885.

This visually striking display demonstrates distinct components' different densities when layered within transparent containers. For example, vegetable oil and water do not mix. Since ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (460 BCE – 370 BCE) noted a mixture of wine in oil that floated on top of the liquid under specific conditions, scientists have long studied density differences using various materials, demonstrating how forces influence motion at different scales.