Product Description In the spirit of Discovery Channel's MythBusters and Smash Lab, Popular Science columnist Theo Gray demonstrates fundamental scientific principles through wacky, daredevil experiments that will have readers exclaiming, "Holy !!*$#!!" Witness as he makes subatomic radioactive particles dance in a cloud chamber, mixes sodium and chlorine to create a smoke that will salt a super-sized bag of popcorn, adds 500 pounds of quicklime to water to create a homemade hot tub, builds a liquid battery out of copper sulfate, launches a rocket with a Snickers bar, and uses liquid nitrogen to make a gallon of ice cream in record time. These are just a few of the 52 extreme experiments brought to life by Theo Gray in Mad Science.
Culled from his column "Gray Matter," which has been a favorite of Popular Science readers for years, these experiments have been expanded to include even more of the fascinating science behind them, as well as hundreds of additional images. Every experiment is accompanied by stunning full-color photographs that provide a front-row seat to split-second chemical reactions and glorious subatomic activity. Gray's writing is fresh, hip, and makes the science exciting and easy to understand. Not only are the experiments visually arresting, each one explains a fascinating principle of elemental science in a unique and irresistibly compelling way.
Mad Science is the perfect book for anyone—of any age, who is fascinated by all things electrical, chemical, or explosive, and who loves a vicarious thrill.
This is my favorite book I own. (I have a lot of science/chemistry boooks)February 22, 2010 Rebecca B. Johnson First let me start by saying I love this book. I can't stress enough how WONDERFUL the pictures are. Amazing shots of liquid mercury flowing in a bowl, liquid sodium and popcorn flying allover the place (spectacular), liquid nitrogen ice cream i'm literly itching to try it i'm waiting on some chyro gloves, thermite, making titanium di-oxide thermite which yields fairly pure titanium, and MANY more amazing experiments. Let me say this, the review below is false and not true. The guy mentions a insanely expensive lethal experiment that requires large amounts of storagecapacitors that experiment takes up to pages WOO WOO that like 1/100th of the book. its practically a side not of a interesting story that if you had the matericals and experience could point you in the right direction. He also does not devote a large amount of time to the white phosphorous but that is fairly safe if you are trained. The cyanide the review mentioned is a relatively non toxic chemical called ammonium ferrocyanide the cyanide is held tight by the bonds in the chemical and is therefore a chemical that should be respected like all. You dont do the chlorine experiments unless you have chemistry knowledge and he says this and theres only two experiments involving elemental chlorine(the photographs are spectacular). Thermite is very safe if you know what your doing and the fire extinguisher wouldn't do any good against the thermite(duhhhh it supplys its own oxygen) but would make a huge differance if grass or wood caught on fire and that could be extinguished with water or whatever.
Now that we have made clear the other reviews mistakes lets move on to mine :). This book is GREAT. read the other reviews about the book itself im tired of typing. BUY BUY BUY
Beautiful book, great pics, interesting ideas, but largely impracticalNovember 23, 2009 Colin Povey(Clearwater, FL, USA) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you like learning about science, you may love this book. Adam Savage of Mythbusters calls it "... a magnificent book". If you want to do some simple science by yourself and you don't have a large bankroll, look elsewhere.
Most of the experiments presented are simply impractical for 'normal' people to perform. One experiment shows how to use magnetic force to physically shrink coins. Sounds neat? It is! Unfortunately, it requires 1700 pounds of flash capacitors, a bank of enormous discharge resistors, and a 1/2 thick blast containment enclosure. Not something most people are likely to have laying around. Other experiments require arc welding rigs, plasma cutters, deuterium (heavy water), and other esoterica. In other words, many of the experiments are simply too expensive/impractical for most people to tackle.
Other experiments include the use of such chemicals as white phosphorous and cyanide, chlorine gas, and many other reactive materials. While the experiments can be very dramatic, many of not most of them are extremely, and I mean extremely dangerous. For example, at least two experiments use the thermite reaction. Thermite is simple stuff: Mix rust and aluminum oxide together (in approximate proportions-it's not real picky), and ignite. Simple-you bet. Dangerous? And how! He cautions to have a fire extinguisher around, and while it is generally a good idea, it is almost totally useless in this case, because the thermite reaction cannot-repeat cannot-be stopped once it has started, because it generates it's own Oxygen. Thermite melts through steel quite easily. Railroads use the reaction to weld railroad rails together, and the military uses it to destroy enemy canons and tanks. The Mythbusters used a ton of thermite to literally cut a car in half.
So, if you like watching Mythbusters, this book is for you. If you want to DO some science, plan on finding another book, unless you have lots of space and money. And NEVER let a kid who has access to some money see this book.
A fun and educational bookNovember 11, 2009 J. Frederick(Denver, CO) I bought this for my wife, a school teacher at a small private school. While she can't currently do some of the experiments, they look fun and educational.
Wow.October 26, 2009 Al Bacone(SoCal, USA) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The projects described in this book often require a good bit more than what you can find at the neighborhood hardware store, but at the same time, contains all of the chaos and explosions that made me love science as a child (I bought a copy for my son so that he will have it handy as soon as he learns how to read). Definitely worth the shelf space-- it would probably be best if it were packaged with an ABC fire extinguisher, though.
Good information but not what I expectedOctober 26, 2009 Jarlaxle(Marietta, Ga) 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is informative and interesting. It is well written and the it is perfect addition for any hobby area. That said, I was disappointed. Not only should you probably not do the experiments listed in this book, you can't. Some of the experiments call for chemicals not even available to the public without special licenses or permits... The experiments that can be done still require some very expensive equipment (Milling machines, Blast shields, and other chemicals available from the Mad Science website).
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