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"Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystals" is a hands on activity demonstrating that the way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale. Visitors investigate the properties of a heat sensitive liquid crystal and make...

Vector illustrations of ball-and-stick models of ice structure on a black or white background.

"Exploring Materials—Oobleck" is a hands on activity in which visitors investigate the properties of a cornstarch and water mixture and test its ability to protect from impacts. Visitors learn that similar nanomaterials can be used in new personal protective equipment.

Illustration of a proton

"Exploring Products - Liquid Crystal Displays" is a hands-on activity in which visitors investigate temperature-sensitive liquid crystal sheets and liquid crystal displays from a calculator. They learn that liquid crystals change color as a result of nanoscale shifts in the...

Illustration of a nucleus

"Snowflakes" is a public presentation that introduces nanoscale science through the subject of snowflakes. Visitors learn that the complex structure of snowflakes results from the nanoscale arrangement of water molecules in an ice crystal, and that snowflakes are examples of...

Nano Ice Cream is a public presentation demonstrating how liquid nitrogen cools a creamy mixture at such a rapid rate that it precipitates super fine grained (nano) ice cream.

This animated lesson explores ways a special kind of metal called shape memory alloys is advancing technology--everything from robots and the Mars Rover to braces! From ed.ted.com.

Students learn about a class of materials called shape memory alloys. They will explore how these materials work and what applications these materials are used in. They will discuss phase transformations.

Resources for middle and high school science teachers including hands-on activities and labs, an online course for teacher development and videos.These resources provide the opportunity to enrich classrooms with cutting edge developments in the field of nanotechnology.

This is an optical microscope image of a liquid crystal (Cromlyn in water). The colors are created by molecular variations or changes in the crystal's thickness. Liquid crystals have properties of both liquids and solids: Although they can flow like...

In the semiconductor industry scientists take advantage of diffusion to "dope" or introduce atoms into a silicon wafer to change its conductive properties. The lesson simulates the diffusion of a gas phase substance (ammonia) into a solid substrate (gelatin) and...

Liquids that respond to a magnet? This is not science fiction, but science fact. In this segment, Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, shows the wonderful world of ferrofluids, which are iron particles floating in a liquid. When a magnet is nearby, the...

This 3-part lesson introduces the nanoscale effect of various energy inputs on the crystal lattice of a smart material, Nitinol, and then invites students to become nanotechnology inventors. Students will first explore how energy exchanges lead to solid-state phase changes...

Liquid crystals are matter that has properties between those of a liquid and a solid. Liquid crystals may flow like a liquid but have crystals like a solid.colors of the objects are Color is the outcome of various light properties:...

Howtosmile is a collection of the best educational materials on the web, in addition to learning tools and services – all designed especially for those who teach school-aged kids in non-classroom settings. earch over 3,500 of the very best science...