Design Inspiration: Paddy Bloomer

Paddy Bloomer is an artist inventor explorer and plumber based in Belfast. 

He has done projects in sewers and derelict factory chimneys, alleyways, and lamp posts. 

He has a knack for making interesting installations that either explode or are slightly dangerous (as you can see in the videos above and below.)

It's really cool stuff worth checking out on his website or YouTube channel.


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Dangerous Things to Let Kids Do

As a followup to our previous post about the lack of play in kindergarten, please enjoy this video of a TED talk presented by Gever Tulley, the co-founder of the wonderfully named "Tinkering School" a weeklong camp where lucky kids get to play with their very own power tools.



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Maybe we need a little more "tinkering" during the school day!

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Museum Resource: The Periodic Table of Videos

Here's a great resource for both museum exhibits and education programs --- The Periodic Table of Videos!

The University of Nottingham in the UK has created a YouTube channel of videos for each of the elements in the Periodic Table. They don't have all the elements on video yet, but they're getting there!

It's clear from watching the presenters on the videos, that everyone involved had great fun putting them together.

Check out the videos for yourself at the PToV website, or via YouTube.

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Exhibit Maker's Toolbox: United Nuclear

As a follow-up to my "Dangerous Science" post, several folks asked about United Nuclear.

Once you get past their ominous sounding name, the folks at U.N. can provide just about anything a budding mad scientist could desire: GIANT neodymium magnets, check. Radioactive materials, check. The types of chemicals that create wonderful explosions, check!

Naturally, all of these materials are to be handled judiciously, but aside from the inherent "cool" factor, United Nuclear is worth supporting on general principles since the Office of Homeland Security (among others) have tried to shut them down for making "dangerous" materials available to people.

The End of Dangerous Science?

This clip from WIRED Science laments the decline of "dangerous" science toys and experiences for kids. They visit the Chemical Heritage Foundation (with its own historical collection of chemistry sets!) to show how wimpy science toys have become. Case in point: a "Chemistry Set" with NO chemicals!

Perhaps toymakers fear of liability lawsuits has helped contribute to the 60% decrease in chemistry graduates since the 1960s.

Of course, science museum exhibits are often just as guilty of the "wimpiness" factor. Safety first (or second, or third) of course, but are there ways to let visitors get involved in experiences that are a little messy and/or risky? That is, more like real science?

Do you have any good (or bad) examples of messy/risky/dangerous science exhibits to share? Let us know in the Comments section!