Scientists seem to be infatuated with objects that float and sink. Even non-scientists find great joy in dropping stuff in water to see if it floats or sinks. Fans of David Letterman are quick to point out one of Dave's favorite segments called "Will It Float?" Here's the latest float or sink challenge: Why do lemons float in water but limes sink? Think you know the answer? Not so quick...

Raleigh Burt, an 8th grader from Sargent Junior High in Monte Vista, Colorado asked this question: Would you voluntarily run at a full sprint headfirst into a brick wall? Now, think of sitting on a bicycle without a helmet, and then tip over with a little over a second to intervene before your bare head hits the ground. Which sounds worse? This question and his amazing research lead Raleigh Burt to win the 2005 Junior Division Best Individual Science Project for the State of Colorado. Despite the fact that bicycle helmets are considered the single best means of protecting cyclists from the leading causes of head injuries and death, many people still choose not to wear a helmet. That is the choice many riders make to become one of the 67,000 cyclists who will suffer a head injury this year.

Ice skaters are not only talented on the ice, but they also have a great understanding of physics as the jump, twist and spin. If you've ever seen seen an ice skater start to spin slowly on the tip of their skate and then speed up into an incredible blur of a spin, the secret is pure science. The best part is that you don't have to be on the ice to test out the science behind the spin. Find an office chair that spins easily and a few weights and you're ready to make yourself dizzy sick. But it's all in the name of science.

Don't confuse green science with Irish green science. We never miss an opportunity to teach a little science... even on St. Patrick's Day. From Leprechaun traps, to green water, to Leprechaun eggs, we know how to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the Spangler Science offices... and trust that none of us will ever forget the day the toilet and faucet water turned green. Sometimes your creativity spikes and you find gold (pun intended) when you wrap your mind around a specific theme. So, here are some of our favorite tips and tricks for infusing a little science and a lot of fun into St. Patrick's Day.

When you picture a tornado, most of us imagine a whirling column of air poking down from the clouds. But this tornado-like effect is not limited to just the air. A fire tornado or fire whirl is just like a tornado but it's made of fire. As the heated air from the fire rises, strong air currents (often whipping through the trees) cause the air molecules to spin (often referred to as angular or rotational momentum) which shapes the flame into the shape of a tornado.