Potentially Catastrophic Science Review

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The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science: 
50 Experiments for Daring Young Scientists
by Sean Connolly

 

In conjunction with Surviving a Teachers Salary’s History Month, I was offered the opportunity to read “The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science” by Sean Connolly. Looking at the book it immediately catches your interest. There is a simple draw to things that are catastrophic in nature, and seeing its reaction. The sides of the pages of this book as you see below are striped black and white, giving this book even more unique appeal before even opening it to read!

 

 

This book is unlike any other science experiments book that I have found before. It begins with the explanation of history and science through experiments starting all the way back in the Stone Age, moving through Aristotle, Galileo, Ben Franklin, Darwin, Marie Curie, the Wright Brothers, Watson & Crick to current times.
Each new experiment includes several pages of historical information, then continues on to the science experiment. I love the progression of the experiments through the historical time periods. You begin with most simplistic of experiments (The Stone Age Chopper) and move all the way through the book to the Marshmallow Hadron Collider experiment based on the particle accelerator “The Large Hadron Collider”.

Through out the book you find pictures of old-fashioned science experiments, relative images, original photography, and portraits of past famous scientists. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it! What a great reference guide to various experiments through history! I love that some of the experiments are so simple that my preschooler can enjoy them, and some of the experiments are more difficult that high schoolers and adults would enjoy them. It really is an enjoyable experience for “kids” of all ages and a fabulous way to get “hands-on” with both history and science at the same time!

This book has also won the AAAS/Subaru SB & F Prize for Excellence in Science Books!

Timed as a lead-in to science fair season kids of all ages will have a blast learning how to steer a plane by changing the folds in a paper airplane wing: Wilburs Flying Machine.  And will get some firsthand evidence of how the heart works with Barnards Heartbeat.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I did receive a free book to read. All opinions are mine. 

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59 Comments

  1. Oh what a fun video… would love to win this book.. sounds like fun… the video had cool stuff lik the coke can trick or the baloon trick .. remember the baloon trick from back in the day.. cool video… Thanks for sharing

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  6. Almost Crazy Coupon Lady says:

    I think it looks like fun. I'd be tempted to keep it for myself. But I might browse through it and then send it as a gift to one of my daredevil brothers 🙂 almostcrazycouponladyatgmaildotcom

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  11. Jess and the boys says:

    I have two boys who would LOVE this book! 🙂

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  12. Jess and the boys says:

    The balloon experiment is great! My boys would think that was funny!

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  16. interesting book. i've done the balloon one, but forgot the principles behind it.

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  17. stepper997 says:

    The balloon trick! I forgot how simple yet fun that was. This would be a great addition to the other science experiment books my kids have. They love learning about the science and creating the "tricks".

  18. Balloon , remember doing that one. My lil guy would get a kick outta doing these.

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  19. Sudden condensation would get the students' attention! This is a winner, would love this book, as a beginner(teacher)….

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  20. Joyful Noise says:

    That was an awesome video – all of that in that short time….There was Electromagnetism Deceleration and Chain reaction just to name a few…thanks for the chance to win!

    dan_jody at live.com

  21. Joyful Noise says:

    I would love to win this book for my Science Nut son….he would love it and it would be fun to add to our homeschool curriculum…thanks again!

    dan_jody at live.com

  22. Joyful Noise says:

    I am a follower via GFC – thanks

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  23. rockymountain_brown says:

    The condensation in the boiling water was neat!

  24. I loved the hanging wheel! It was amazing how it stayed straight after the girl cut the string.
    debbi
    hockman1 at sbcglobal dot net

  25. I not only want to win this, I NEED to win this, LOL! I homeschool my 3 kids, and science is one subject that we all struggle to "enjoy". This book looks so wonderful, because the experiments look simple yet very educational…and FUN. I think my children would really learn from this!
    debbi
    hockman1 at sbcglobal dot net

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  29. The hanging wheel experiment was pretty neat.

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  30. I'd like to win this because I judge a regional science fair every February and the book would make a great door prize!

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  31. The dominoes /chain reaction trick looked fun.

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  34. Cinder Ella says:

    I liked the the chain reaction with Dominoes. I can see the kids at school getting into it and having lots of classes involved for a huge event. I'm sure there are lots of fun experiments that grab kids attention in the book

  35. I liked angular momentum!

  36. My kids love science and would enjoy this book!

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  39. Nancy Sue says:

    I'd like to help our little one learn to appreciate the world around him and to love science. Seems like a great book to do just exactly that!!

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  44. Sudden condensation with the pop can! Cool!
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  45. This would be great for my daughter to learn about experiments!
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  50. I saw balloons bouncing away from each other because of static.

  51. I'd like to win it because it looks like it would be a lot of fun for my kids.

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  53. Great video…I loved the angular momentum of the bike tire. Contact info on my blog, thanks!

  54. I'd love to win this because it looks like a great way for the family to have fun learning about science, thanks!

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