Hands-on Science

Here’s a stack of Bang video guides and brainteasers to get hands-on with science in your own home.

Super Cool
Proof that science is really cool as Dr Yan demonstrates how to turn water into ice - with a single bang!
Rubber Egg
If shelling a raw egg isn't impressive enough, Liz then uses osmosis to turn it into a colourful bouncy ball.
Magic of Science
Could it be magic? Not quite, but Dallas has some pretty magical science tricks up his sleeve to wow your friends.
Pykrete Challenge
Can you out-engineer Jem? He's on a mission to find the world's strongest pykrete, but maybe you can beat him to it.
Investigate the Unknown
Dr Yan uses canister rockets (see Fizz Bang) to demonstrate how scientific method is used to investigate the unknown.
Fizz Bang
The original pocket rocket. Find out how to fire canister rockets metres into the air, then challenge your friends.
Forensic Detective
Can you solve a crime by studying the ink in a note? Dr Yan uses a little forensic science to help catch a thief.
Spud Missile
Forget frying and roasting, the best thing to do with spuds has to be firing! Make one potato go a long long way.
Fizzy Extinguisher
Can you fight fire with a fizzy drink? Dr Yan can with his home-made carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.
Acid Cabbage
Turn pink into blue with a single drop - here's some colourful science to find out what's acidic in your kitchen.
Egg Sucker
Ever wanted to get a whole egg into a glass bottle? Well you will now, with Dr Yan's egg-cellent demonstration.
Straw Submarine
It's not big but it is clever. With a few ingredients and Dr Yan's buoyancy lesson, you'll soon be a sub driver.
Sugar Glow
One lump or two, it doesn't matter, as Dr Yan makes sugar glow in the dark - a phenomenon called triboluminescence.
Water Bottle Rockets
A satisfying whoosh, a high speed lift-off and a good soaking if you're standing too close. What's not to like?
Steel Wool
Here's how to safely set steel wool (also called wire wool) alight using nothing more than a 9V battery.
Sticky Rice
Grains versus gravity. Lift a bottle of rice using only a knife and a little of Dr Yan's science know-how.
Double Glazing
Double glazed windows can save energy and lower heating costs, but does it make a big difference and how does it work?
Squish Bottle
What happens to something airtight when the air around it changes? Squish foamy stuff with a pressure bottle to find out.
Swap Shop
Vodka and cranberry juice is a classic mixed drink. Here's a pub trick where they don't mix – they swap places.
Two Ball Bounce
Dr Yan shows you how to get much more bounce from a normal tennis ball. Dead simple, and dead impressive!
Lightspeed
Light's fast, but just how fast? If you have a microwave oven you can work out the speed of light yourself.
Plugholes
Many people say that every plughole north of the Equator swirls the same way. Here's how to find out if they're right.
Toaster Balloons
Use an ordinary toaster to turn a bin bag into a hot air balloon - how high will yours go? Adult supervision required.
Magnetic Copper
Magnets aren't attracted to copper, but when they come together they seem to defy gravity. Weird science indeed!

String
Imagine a piece of string wrapped around the Earth's equator - that's about 40,000km. How much MORE string would you need for it to sit 15cm above the ground, all the way around?
Boat
Imagine a boat floating in a lake, and a heavy object such as an anchor (but without a chain) is dropped off the side. What happens to the water level of the lake?
Mirror
Stand close to a vertical bathroom mirror and move back. What happens to your reflection?
Spaghetti
If you bend dry spaghetti until it snaps, how many pieces does it break into?
Plane in the wind
Is a plane's round trip quicker with or without the wind?
How can 2=1?
Dr Yan tests out a mathematical equation that seems to prove that 2=1.
Money trick
Can you fit a 50p coin through a 5p sized hole - without tearing the paper?
How to cut a cake
Can you cut a cake into eight slices with just three straight cuts?
Find the lightest bean
Can you find the lightest of 27 beans with just three weighings?
Fold me to the Moon
How many times would you need to fold a piece of paper in half before you had a wedge tall enough to reach the Moon?