VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

How Desert Plants Survive

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Desert Plant Adaptations and Survival Desert plants have physical and behavioral mechanisms that help them to adapt the climate of the desert. What is a Desert? A desert is a place that most think of as being very hot and arid (dry).  Actually, all deserts are arid, but temperature-wise there are both hot and cold deserts. […]

Vision: Near Point

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Why People hold books at a distance when reading? The closest distance for distinct, clear vision is called the near point. The general accepted distance is 10 inches (25 cm), but it is less for very young children and people with myopia (farsighted). Discover for Yourself Find the closest point where your eyes can form a […]

Janice at the South Pole

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Questions for Janice About Her South Pole Adventure Why Did You Go? When Were You There? Did You Do Experiments? I was invited to go to the South Pole by CARA (Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica). CARA is part of the University of Chicago and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. I think […]

Conjoined Twins

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Identical twins form when a zygote (egg/sperm combination) splits into two separate parts. Conjoined Twins are identical twins formed when the zygote splits but does not fully separate. The conjoined twins will be connected at certain points of the body. The model is of Abigail and Brittany, twin girls that function very well with only […]

How Genes are Deactivated

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Every cell in your body has the same DNA. But the genes on the DNA in every body cell is not active. For example, the DNA in the cells in your toe have the same genes as do the cells in your fingers, eyes, hair, etc… The difference is that the DNA in toe cells, […]

Play and Find Out About Science

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Notes from Janice’s Desk Q. When should children start learning about science? A. Science is a process learned in daily life experience from an infant discovering his/her hands and fingers to a child conducting more involved investigations in the classroom, and even throughout adult life. Kids studying science long before they go to school. Parents […]

Bird Beaks

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I love this bird’s hairdo. It reminds me of a time when I told the beautician that I wanted something wild and crazy and then sat back and dozed. When I opened my eyes my hair was about 3 inches long all over my head. I got what I asked for. It was wild and […]