The fossil fuels that we use to generate energy for our many uses have been depleting at a very fast rate. Already there are worries that it may not be possible for coal power plants to stay operational for more than a few decades more. The human race has increased its demand for energy and there is no way that the traditional fossil fuels will be able to meet it at the alarming rate that the demand is growing.

This is where the hunt for alternative means of energy generation come into play. To be able to generate energy from a renewable source and not cause pollution to the environment is what proponents of clean tech are pushing. These people talk about harnessing the abundant solar energy, wind power and hydro power that is available in nature and using it to generate green energy for human consumption.

The idea is not new, as scientists have been experimenting with the concept of solar cookers and windmills for ages. Now there is just a far greater sense of urgency to find quick efficient and reliable ways to get energy that is clean and green. The general population is waking up to the need and the financial investors are now more willing to forward funds for projects that involve clean tech.

There is even a fast track section as the US Patent office for those projects which involve developing new methods of clean tech. So you can get your clean tech patent in under two months rather than the regular patent registration process which would take you two years. Hopefully some of these science projects will yield positive results and solve our energy crisis.

The general assumption that most people make is that the bigger it is the better. However this branch of science begs to differ. With innumerable different science projects they have strived to prove that small may be the new big. With nano technology we talk about the science of the really really small. And I mean tinier than you can imagine small.

Most of the science projects that involve nano technology have particles so small that you can not see them with the naked eye. You have to view them with a very powerful microscope.  So how can something that is so small be of any use to a human being that seems like a giant before it?

There are many uses of nano technology. One of them is developing new materials with special properties. For instance think about space age materials. Particles that are light as a spider’s web and thinner than a normal thread but have the strength of steel. Does it sound like some science fiction novelist talking about an impossible material? It is not. This is a real invention of nano technology.

Nano technology also has many uses in medical science. There is under development a nano particle which will be shot in through the nose as a person inhales and travel straight to the lungs. From there it will be absorbed from the lymph nodes into the blood stream and head straight for the diseases part in the body. There are many more science projects in the pipeline.

Sound can be seen in the form of vibrations caused by the sound waves. Here you can use the sense of sight to experience the sense of sound. People who are deaf can feel music when they touch the music system speaker and feel the vibrations. This happens because the sound waves vibrate the particles in the air through which they travel.

Once again here is a science experiment with which you can experience the sound vibrations in action. For this experiment you will need a plastic bottle with its bottom cut out. Cover the cut opening with a plastic bag and hold it in place with a rubber band. This will give you a sort or bottle drum.

Now light a candle and make sure there is no fan on to make the flame move. point the open neck of the bottle drum at the candle and tap the drum end of the bottle with your fingers. You will see that the flame will begin to dance with the vibrations of the air particles which were trapped in the bottle and moved out thanks to the drumming.

If you drum hard enough the flame will be put out as the air will rush out in a fast movement much like how you would blow out the candle with your own breath. If you found this experiment fun to do you may want to try out some more. Check out the science fair project ideas here.

Can you see sound? Oh yes you can. At least you can see the vibrations which are produced by the sound waves. Here are a few simple activities or science projects which will allow you to see sound. You can do these activities around the house. Some young kids may need parental supervision so make sure they are around to help.

For the first sighting of magical vibrations caused by sound you will need a bowl, some clingfilm to cover the bowl, some grains of rice or sugar, a baking tray and a wooden spoon. Now cover the bowl with the clingfilm and sprinkle the rice or sugar on top of it. Now hold the baking tray above the bowl, close to it but not touching it.  Use the wooden spoon to strike the baking tray to make a loud sound. The sound will travel in waves and reach the clingfilm and make it vibrate and because of this the rice or sugar on it will jump. And so you can see the vibrations of sound in them.

In the second experiment we will use a bit of modeling clay and a drinking straw. You will also need a volunteer friend or parent to help you. Here’s what you do. Locate the pulse of your volunteer on the wrist and place the modeling clay in the exact same spot. Now fix the drinking straw in the clay and watch it vibrate each time the heat beats. Try out more science projects here.

Can you imagine playing with an egg as you would bounce a ball? Not possible you say as the shell would crack and the egg would splat! But guess what? You can make an egg bounce gently and you don’t have to worry about the shell cracking as you will actually dissolve the shell. Does that sound interesting? Then read on about this science experiment.

First we are going to boil the egg. So make sure that you have an adult help you with the hob and the boiling water. Once the water is boiling cook the egg for a further ten minutes to ensure that all the liquid is solidified. Then let it cool. Once it is cooled down place it in a glass bottle. Now pour vinegar into the bottle till the egg is completely covered.

Shut the lid of the bottle and leave the egg like that in the vinegar for a week. Over the week you will notice that the egg shell will bubble up and gradually dissolve. Now you can take out the shell less egg from the vinegar and play with it like you would with a soft bouncy ball. Did you have fun playing with your bouncy egg? Try out this science experiment based on eggs as well.

A spill on the dining table does not exactly sound like the ideal venue for a science lesson, but it can be. Just as the spill is easy to mop up if you have the right kind of wash cloth, the scientific principle of absorption can be explained with a quick practical. Here is a simple science project that you can use to determine what cloth wipes up water spills better than the others. Its simple to do.

Here’s what you will need. A glass of water, a table to create the spills on, and a few different wash cloths made out different fibers and materials. You will also need a stop watch to calculate how fast the cloth wiped up the spill. Note down the readings in a note book so that you can compare the results later.

The process is very easy. You create a spill on the table top with the water that you have. Then you use a wash cloth to absorb it. You note the time it takes for the cloth to soak up all the water. Then you repeat the process with all the different wash cloths that you have. Be sure to make the spills with the same amount of water. Use a peg measure to get the exact same quantity of water on the table each time. Have fun mopping up. Try out some more science projects here.

The full effect of wonder when a sponge moves over a wet surface and leaves it dry is best experienced for the first time as a child. So just what is it about the sponge that allows it to make the fluid disappear from sight? It is the property of absorption. The sponge has a million little holes into which the liquid seeps in and allows the surface to get dried up. And here is a fund science experiment for you to do using the same principle of absorption.

Take a hollow dish about 5 inches tall and a piece of sponge. In the dish add some water to cover about 4 inches height and put the piece of sponge gently into it on top of the water. Does it sink or does it float? It will float. Then after five minutes take a look at the same sponge is it floating or has it sunk? It will have sunk. Or at least it would be closer to the bottom of the dish than to the top.

Why did this happen? Because the piece of sponge is absorbing the water as it is kept afloat on the water. Then it gradually becomes heavier as the volume of water in the sponge increases and now it can no longer float on the water and begins to sink. This is why it will gradually sink to the bottom of the dish. Try out some more science experiments here.

Let us continue to explore the science project which involves preparing ourselves to live off grid. To live green we need to stop living the wasteful lifestyle we live on the grid. However living needs some basic chores to be completed. All chores need some energy to be completed.

Naturally some forms of energy will have to be used by us. Since non renewable energy sources are not an option consider what renewable energy sources you can use. There are a number of types of energy for off grid homes. Living green does not mean that you will be totally starved of all types of energy sources. After all you will still need to cook food and heat up your home in the winter.

I am sure you can think of using Solar Power and Wind Power. You can also burn Wood to create heat. Other more advanced but renewable energy sources that you can use include Propane, Water (micro-hydro), and Geothermal energy sources. These take a while to set up, and can be more costly initially as well.

However once you have your green home ready, you can live off grid successfully for many years. Of course this type of a drastic change in lifestyle is not possible for the majority of the population. This means that you need to do what you can at a smaller scale in your own homes.

Use solar powered heaters, or harness wind power to run a water pump. Your electric bills will come down and you will also have the pleasure of contributing to a greener environment. All the best with this go green science project.

We spoke of making  a science project out of getting ready to live off grid in the last blog post. Here we will try and answer a few crucial questions to see how we can make a success of it. When you go off grid are you going to do it in your current home? Most homes have built in conveniences and getting rid of them all will not be easy. It may be necessary for you to move to another home.

If you need to move, will you choose to build a new home or restore an old one? Think about what is more affordable here. What part of the country will you choose? The more temperate the easier for y0u to live without heating or cooling. You also need to consider if you will continue to work at a job?This will involve more problems to solve.

Such as how long will your commute be? Remember you will be walking or cycling to your place of work. No petrol cars or buses. How far can you afford to live from the place that you work? Usually ten minutes walking distance should be acceptable. Is the location you are looking at economically sound? There should be access to groceries, church, schools, and medical care. Think of as many questions you can answer in this science project.

If you want to really make a difference you could consider living off grid to be really green. Unfortunately there will be many things that you will need to give up to make that possible.Can you even imagine just what all you will have to do without if you were to live your life without electricity?

You will have to do without heating or cooling appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners.  There will be no television and no microwaves. Electrical tools are out and so are hair dryers. No washing machines to do the clothes and no dishwashers to do the dishes. There is no coffee maker to get your morning cup ready.

Are you realizing just what all you will have to give up if you were to live truly green and off grid? Think about it, how will you manage without clock radios, mobile phones, battery operated can openers, PDAs and a million such small conveniences?  It is such small gadgets that we don’t even think about which use a lot of power.

Don’t think that it is not possible to live without these things. These are not essentials that help us to stay alive, these are conveniences which make our lives easier. If generations of human beings could do without them for so long, so can we. Try working out the logistics of living off grid as a science project. See how you can do it.