Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do At Home - But Probably Shouldn't |  | Author: Theodore Gray
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
List Price: $24.95
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Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 2545
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 9.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 1579127916
Dewey Decimal Number: 507.8
EAN: 9781579127916
ASIN: 1579127916
Publication Date: March 25, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In the spirit of Discovery Channel's MythBusters and Smash Lab, Popular Science columnist Theo Gray demonstrates fundamental scientific principles through wacky, daredevil experiments that will have readers exclaiming, "Holy !!*$#!!" 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.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
 Beautiful book, great pics, interesting ideas, but totally impractical November 23, 2009
Colin Povey (Clearwater, FL, USA)
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 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. This is amazingly simple: 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 totally useless in this case, because the thermite reaction cannot-repeat cannot-be stopped once it has started. And the reaction 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 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.
A fun and educational book November 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)
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 expected October 26, 2009
Jarlaxle (Marietta, Ga)
2 out of 2 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).
Should be titled "Experiments You Probably _Can't_ do at Home" October 7, 2009
Scott Steves (Austin, TX USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a beautiful, fun, inspiring, and thoroughly entertaining book, but it's also filled with experiments requiring either heavy machining equipment or substances that you need a license to buy. You could only do these experiments at home if you also have a machine shop in that home. Mr Gray probably has all the equipment in his basement, but most folks don't.
For those looking for cool stuff to do with kids, the "sneaky uses for everyday things" books are a better source, if less entertaining in their own right.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
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