SCIENTISTS, REPORTERS, AND SECRET READERS

Our Scientist of the Week, Mr. Boti, showed us how to make Elephant Toothpaste! What?! Turns out when you combine yeast, hydrogen peroxide, a little dish soap, and some food coloring you create a pretty cool chemical reaction.  The yeast works together with the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to release an extra molecule of oxygen. This creates water, a lot of extra oxygen, and some heat. What it looks like is a lot of foam being created very quickly, or maybe toothpaste big enough for an elephant.  If you look closely you can see steam rising, which is the heat being produced by an exothermic reaction.  Check out the video below to try this at home with an adult.  Thanks Boti!

6% Hydrogen Peroxide on the left. 20% Hydrogen Peroxide on the right.

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NASA is Contemplating Sending a Submarine into Space

Sloan shared a very interesting article about NASA's recent discovery.  There is a 400,000 sq. km ocean on Saturn's moon Titan, named the Kraken Mare!  This is the largest body of liquid discovered in space.  NASA is interested in finding out just what sort of things might be in there, so they are contemplating sending a submarine up into space on a rocket ship.. Picture that! Thanks Sloan!

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And for our secret reader, we had the pleasure of hearing from Ana's dad, Mr. Sasa.  He shared a book that was new to all of us: Love is all around St. Louis--(also very appropriate for Valentine's Day). We learned a little about the city of St. Louis and discovered new places to look for love here in Aspen too.  Thank you!  Oh, and we even got to taste a little St. Louis chocolate.