Kids and Science

Milo and Sarah Liz Henry (CC licensed)

In today's links: Rube Goldberg and Charles Darwin live on, and more.

• If your children (or you) ever complain about how stupid science is, or need a real-life explanation of how physics works, you can just show them this video. What better way to understand vector forces, etc., than with a nutty Rube Goldberg machine whose objective is smashing a Cadbury egg?
• Another valuable, less-noted use of science? Breaking down the pluses and minuses of going on a cookie diet.
• Another good reason for kids to like science -- it provides immortality. Two centuries after his birth, scientists, an investor, a video game creator and television producer discuss why Darwin still matters.
• And then, someday, maybe they'll be inventing things like this: Tiny "microcantilevers" that can more easily detect viruses in fluids -- by mechanical means -- which could lead to better blood tests in the future.
• Of course some parents get kids involved in science by experimenting on them.