In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, MIT engineer Dava Newman is working to replace today's bulky, inflated space suits with a radical, sleek design that may one day allow astronauts to walk easily on Mars.

Nitrogen, one of the most abundant elements in the universe, is essential to life. This interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta provides an overview of the nitrogen cycle.

Chemistry lesson activities involving VSEPR and electron transitions.  This apply directly to quantum physics.

Start a chain reaction, or introduce non-radioactive isotopes to prevent one. Control energy production in a nuclear reactor! (Previously part of the Nuclear Physics simulation - now there are separate Alpha Decay and Nuclear Fission sims.)

Start a chain reaction, or introduce non-radioactive isotopes to prevent one. Control energy production in a nuclear reactor! (Previously part of the Nuclear Physics simulation - now there are separate Alpha Decay and Nuclear Fission sims.)

In this six lesson unit, students recognize and explore the relationships among pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. They estimate and count sets of mixed coins, create equivalent sets, write story problems that involve money, and use coins to make patterns. Within the unit there is a link to US Mint. http://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/

Students conduct an experiment to determine how varying the composition of a construction material affects its strength. They make several adobe bricks with differing percentages of sand, soil, fibrous material and water. They test the bricks for strength by dropping them onto a concrete surface from progressively greater heights. Students graph the experiment results and use what they learn to design their own special mix that maximizes the bricks' strength. During the course of the experiment, students learn about variables (independent, dependent, control) and the steps of the engineering design process.

This is a lab experiment where students make detailed observations of a candle use them to infer the products of combustion of a candle.

This activity is used to introduce or reinforce in students the importance of differentiating between observations and interpretations and quantitative and qualitative observations during classroom experimentation or demonstrations

Students will use science skills of observing, describing and measuring in the context of Making Ice Cream. Students will understand the concept that physical properties can change.

This lesson focuses on the importance of ocean exploration as a way to learn how to capture, control, and distribute renewable ocean energy resources. Students begin by identifying ways the ocean can generate energy and then research one ocean energy source using the Internet. Finally, students build a Micro-Hydro Electric Generator.

This math meets ecology lesson provides hands-on experiences with mixing oil and water, provides surface area information about the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and gives learners opportunities to estimate small oil spills of their own making. This lesson guide includes questions for learners, assessment options, extensions, and reflection questions.

This hands-on activity will provide students with an understanding of the issues that surround environmental clean-up. Students will create their own oil spill, try different methods for cleaning it up, and then discuss the merits of each method in terms of effectiveness (cleanliness) and cost. They will be asked to put themselves in the place of both an environmental engineer and an oil company owner who are responsible for the clean-up.

This introductory video addresses key points as well as pros and cons of oil as an energy source for transportation.

This is an art project where oil paints and water is used. Students will have already explored the densities of oil and water.

This interactive Flash game helps students practice counting, subitizing, and grouping by 10s, as they transport Okta the Octopus and his friends to a safe ocean. The goal is to select given numbers of Oktas as quickly as possible before the timer runs out. Then users count the total number of Oktas "saved" and identify that number on a number line. Students choose from three levels of difficulty, which vary according to time limit, range of target numbers, and whether visual target cues appear. These settings are customizable. Users who count incorrectly are given the option of visual help in recounting.

This activity is designed to help deepen our language and understanding of taking observations. We will also learn that water molecules are in constant motion.

Students will investigate what constitutes a solid and a liquid state of matter. Using the probe, students' misconceptions on states of matter will be exposed. The lab, which uses a cornstarch, water and food coloring mixture, will be explored. The students will determine how that exploration will take place and devise a procedure to determine the state of matter. Students will then, as a group, present their findings to the class. After all the groups have presented their findings, the groups with the same findings will combine and defend their findings to the other group(s) until the class, as a whole, has reached a consensus.

Explore an active area of research in optical physics: producing designer pulse shapes to achieve specific purposes, such as breaking apart a molecule. Carefully create the perfect shaped pulse to break apart a molecule by individually manipulating the colors of light that make up a pulse.