halloween

"The Cassini team sends 'bats wishes' for a happy, healthy and fun Halloween." Oh, scientist humor.

Are you looking for that little extra "something" to kick your entry up a notch in the upcoming PopSci/Instructables Halloween contest? Then you might want to consider some professional help. No, not a therapist, rather a Cordless Pumpkin Carving Tool by Dremel.

Carving's its name, and pumpkins are its game.

There are many prizes to be won in this year's Halloween contest, but we know you're most interested in the big kahuna: The Tech Grand Prize includes a $250 Shopping spree at the Maker Shed Store, a $250 gift certificate to Plaid Craft Express, and a $100 gift certificate to Hack N Mod. So get your tech tools out and start impressing the PopSci.com judges (that's right kids, we're in on it)!

It's a mere 50-some days till All Hallows Eve. Huzzah! Time to dust off your bioluminescent thinking cap, strap on your fanciest pumpkin duds and get hacking. Just like last year, we expect to be floored by you ingenious folks. And, just like last year, grand rewards (lest fame and glory fail to entice) await entrants.

The Bubbling Cauldron

Want a real witches´ brew? Mix soap-bubble solution with dry ice, or use liquid nitrogen for bubbles that release fog when they pop. In the following video, PopSci´s contributing mad scientist, Theodore Gray, uses the help of a few young assistants to create cauldrons of toil and trouble.

Here´s how it´s done: