Science Gifts Unwrapped: the Microscope

Here's a nice daydream for you. You've been given a microscope for the holidays, for your birthday, for St Swithin's Day... whatever the occasion, you've got a terrific gift on your hands. So now what do you do?

Science writer Natalie Angier put her view on the matter in this way in her excellent book, The Canon:

"Another fail-safe way to change the way you see the world is to invest in a microscope. Not one of those toy microscopes sold in most Science 'n' Discovery chain stores, which, as Tom Eisner, a professor of chemical engineering at Cornell, has observed, are unwrapped on Christmas morning and in the closet before Boxing Day... it wasn't until my daughter received a dissecting microscope as a gift, and we began using it to examine the decidus of everyday life, that I began yodelling my hallelujahs. A feather from a blue jay, a fiddlehead fern, a scraping from a branch that turned out to be the tightly honeycombed housing for a stinkbug's eggs. How much heft and depth, shadow and thistle, leap out at you when the small is given scope to strut..."

-- page 24

Almost any microscope will open up a world of wonder and amazement for you, if you give it a chance. Life on earth, after all, began with the very, very small. Much of what goes on in the world around us, and indeed passes unnoticed, is a result of processes taking place at the level so minute that human eyes require mechanical aid to see it. What is the largest and most successful class of living organism on the planet? If you said bacteria, then you're exactly right.

There are a few simple things to remember, before you even get started:

1. The microscope is only as good as its parts. By this, I mean that if you buy the inexpensive microscope with plastic optics and expect to be able to see wonderful things through it, you're probably in for a disappointment. It's not a universal law, as there are some good inexpensive 'scopes out there, but basically, you do get what you pay for. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.


2. Bells and whistles are good. You will find that the more flexibility that your microscope offers you, the more possible uses you will likely find for it. Interchangeable eyepieces and objectives, binocular / dissecting versus traditional design, multiple light sources with a rheostat, adjustable stages, compatibility with digital camera add-ons - these are just some of the things to consider. You'll want to get the most out of your microscope, so why not make it as flexible as possible?


3. Consider what you don't know. Then get a book. Two books, even. Books will give you some great ideas for basic sorts of experiments, and serve as a guide to the basic equipment that you'll need to go with your microscope.
   
   
   Here are some possible books to consider, from the shelves at the Beagle...
   
   

   
   
   • Star Levine's The Ultimate Guide to Your Microscope - colourful and well-illustrated, with lots of discussion of technique and the fundamentals of microscopy. Indispensible, especially for younger readers.
   
   
   • Richard Headstrom's Adventures with a Microscope - I'm a huge fan of Dover Books, and this is a wonderful reprint. Don't let the fact that it's almost 70 years old fool you - this is a great book, filled with lots of practical exercises and possessed of a quirky, idiosyncratic style. Headstrom also wrote Adventures with a Hand Lens, which I heartily recommend.
   
   
   • Georg Stehli's The Microscope and How to Use It - another Dover book; the discussion of microscope technology will interest anyone who likes to know about the history of science, but it is somewhat dated now. The rest of the book, however, is again full of practical, sensible suggestions for projects and explorations with a microscope.
   
   

   
   
   
   


4. Attend a class. Even audit a local university-level biology class, or look for a workshop (we've got one in the planning stages at the Beagle, watch this space for details). If you studied biology at university, or way back in high school, you'll want a refresher course.


5. Slides: making your own, buying prepared. Personally, I think it's good to do both. You can get a basic slide preparation kit from us, or put together your own, suited to your own interests and requirements.

It's your microscope: do what you want to do. The possibilities of the micro world open up just as readily as do those of the macro world with a pair of binoculars or a telescope: don't miss your chance to see all things miniature.

The Galileo Project

The International Year of Astronomy may be over but the celebrations of Galileo continue. This Sunday, January 31, at 4pm, The Friends of Chamber Music present Tafelmusik -- The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres at the Folly Theater, 300 W 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. This concert will include NASA/Hubble Space Telescope images, live narration, and even some music by Galileo's father, the famed lutenist and music theorist Vincenzo Galilei.

In addition to the music and images, there will be a lecture beginning at 2:30 on "The Life and Inventions of Galileo," featuring facsimile copies of first edition books by Galileo courtesy of Linda Hall Library.

For more information check out http://www.chambermusic.org/Default.aspx?tabid=137

For tickets go to http://www.chambermusic.org/Default.aspx?tabid=194&CategoryID=2&List=1&SortField=ProductNumber%2cProductName&Level=1&ProductID=49

What We're Reading

You could imagine that we're a bookish lot, and to a great extent that is true. One of us, of course, is fond of claiming that he has no time for anything but work or school, but personally I suspect that such a statement is really just a cover for various nefarious activities. Nevertheless, it remains true that we tend to read a lot, each in our own areas of interest and speciality.

One thing that we are reading, however, is Michael Faraday's 1861 classic, The Chemical History of the Candle. Originally presented as a popular lecture, the Chemical History is a beautifully clear and cogent introduction not only to Victorian chemistry and physics, but to the fundamentals which we still must understand 150 years later. Clearly, cogently written and accompanied by a range of experiments, this book represents some of the best of 19th century popular science.

And further, these are experiments which cry out to be performed. Some of the demonstrations and illustrations are remarkably simple. Relying upon simple experimental tools, Faraday's demonstrations are just as impressive today as they would have been in the 1850s and 1860s.

At one point, we had considered attempted to re-stage Faraday's lecture, with a significant number of the demonstrations intact. It would take time and effort, but I think that it would be a great deal of fun and highly informative (aside from which, I'd love an excuse for a round of snap-dragon). Interested? Leave us a comment and let us know if you'd like to see and hear the words of Michael Faraday given new life.

The Elements and How to Keep Them

Most days, I could go either way when it comes to a certain popular web video site. I have subscribed to some people who post regularly, but I tend to lose interest after a while. In most cases. Not, however, in the case of the University of Nottingham's The Periodic Table of Videos (their main site is here). These videos are genuinely worth your time, even if you don't have the slightest interest in chemistry.

A case in point: their most recent posting, which really deserves a look:

Additionally, around the holidays, this was one of my personal favorites:

Personally, I think these videos are amusing, intelligent, and fascinating. But that's one person's opinion. What's your view? Post it in the comments.

Interested in starting your own collection of elements, but don't have the $2,000 mentioned in the video for even the basic set? You can at least dip your toe in the shallow end - check out those available from the Beagle, by following this link to the webstore:

• Native Elements

And if you have your own element questions, don't forget that there's at least one person at the Beagle with more than just a little chemistry knowledge...

High School Students' Science Alliance Update

I've asked David Dunalewicz, our roving high school correspondent / part-time lackey (don't worry, David, I'm a lackey too), to provide his impressions on "how it went", with regard to the High School Students' Science Alliance meeting which was held last Monday. He's provided this assessment:

"The recently formed High School Students' Science Alliance had their very first meeting on January 11th. We had a very nice turnout, and we got a lot decided about how the group will operate in the future. Those in attendance engaged in a discussion on one of the Beagle's favorite scientists-Charles Darwin-and enjoyed a one hour insight into his fascinating life, and how his observations and research completely changed science forever. We are happy to say that this meeting was a very successful start to the Science Alliance, and we look forward to expanding the group in the future."

This being an undertaking largely by-and-for the high school set, it's a Facebook-driven sort of thingy. So be sure to take a look at the HSSSA (surely there's an entertaining acronym there somewhere) group, or to check out the Beagle's own large-looming Facebook entry, and find out what's going on. You can also email us at the Beagle, or check the Beagle's website. After all, it's what all the really cool* kids are doing...

Congratulations to David and everyone involved, and here's to hopes for many more successful meetings to come!

* "cool" here defined as "those who almost definitely will not have a future career involving frozen slabs of ground beef". Not strictly an OED definition, but you get the point.

Science Club for January: Mr Electricity

This month at HMS Beagle, Science Club members will be in for a treat when they come to see Mr Lightning (also known as Steven Siegel) put on a demonstration of all things electric. Come and see a Tesla coil, a bicycle-powered light, spark generation, and much more!

Looking for a related gift idea? Here are some relevant sections on the Beagle's webstore, have a browse...

• Books - Physics


• Books - Physics - Kids


• Electricty & Electronics

Remember, HMS Beagle's Science Club presents new and compelling topics in science every month for school-aged students. To find out more, check out our Science Club Meetings page or email us for more information. Please remember that we do ask for reservations in order to ensure that we have sufficient space for participants: email us at the link above to reserve your spot!

The Hubble Space Telescope in Action

With a hat tip to the BBC's The Big Picture which featured this photo, here is another of those brilliant Hubble images for you to enjoy...

From the article:

"The image shows a rich tapestry of 7,500 galaxies stretching back through most of the universe's history. The closest galaxies seen in the foreground emitted their observed light about a billion years ago. The farthest galaxies, a few of the very faint red specks, are seen as they appeared more than 13 billion years ago, or roughly 650 million years after the Big Bang. This mosaic spans a slice of space that is equal to about a third of the diameter of the full Moon (10 arcminutes)."

Follow the link to Hubblesite.org for the full details and a chance to download larger, higher-quality versions of this image.

New Symphony of Science Video

I saw the following video posted over at Pharyngula, and thought that it would be worth bringing to the attention of the Beagle's blog followers. It features three great names in science, David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, and the still much-missed Carl Sagan, voices modulated and set to music. I don't know how you feel about these things, but I think they're quite moving and brilliant...

Enjoy. For more, please check out Symphony of Science, especially if you haven't seen the early videos.

Science Gifts Unwrapped: the Rock Tumbler

I haven't done much with a rock tumbler since I was a child, when one of my father's brief enthusiams led him to play with one and to try and interest me in it as well. For whatever reason, I wasn't patient enough to be interested as a child, but, having worked around them and explained them to people for a year and a half, now, I found myself wanting to try one out for myself.

Strangely enough, therefore, one appeared under the tree for me this year, and once the haze of new gifts had worn off, I found myself eager to set the tumbler up and get it going. A little more than a week later, here's what I have to report.

The tumbler that I received, the Lortone Model #33B (Beagle Webstore | Lortone site), features two three pound capacity rubber drums, which are rotated on a direct-drive chassis. The practical result of this is that you can either double your tumbling capacity over the Model #3A, or you can have two batches at two differing stages of polish running at the same time. Not clear yet? Don't worry, it will be.

Set up is a breeze with a tumbler, but it pays to have thought out your tumbling process, just a bit. First thing out of the box, you'll want to have some oil for the bearings on your tumbler. Lortone recommends oiling the bearings (the four points where the spindles intersect with the tumbler housing) before you start, and then once for every thirty days of operation afterwards.

You'll also want to have a space which is sufficiently remote from the rest of your home that the noise won't be distracting. The rubber-barrel direct-drive tumbler is quiet, but it's still audible enough that it won't be something you'll want in your bedroom. Laundry rooms, basements, or garages are the typical sites. Make sure that you have a level surface, like a workbench or table, with easy access to electricity. You'll also want ready access to water. I don't have any taps in the basement, so until I can come up with a better idea that doesn't involve my having to attempt anything resembling plumbing, I've got a number of buckets - for clean water, and rinse water. And remember - although I'm going to say it again later - NEVER put the water / slurry / waste from your tumbled barrels down your home plumbing. EVER. Why? The slurry, when poured out, tends to solidify into something with roughly the consistency of concrete, particularly at bends in the piping. Find another place to pour it out: it's that simple.

While I'm on the subject of slurry, I've heard it claimed that it's possible to reclaim at least some of the grit for re-use after tumbling. I'll have to report back on this, but at the moment, I'm somewhat at a loss to see exactly how that might be done. Perhaps washing it and then pouring the debris off through filter paper? If you've done this, drop your suggestions in the comments, otherwise I'll re-post when I've tried it.

But back to the subject. Now that you've prepared a work area, and oiled your tumbler, it's time to fill the barrel(s) and get weaving. There are plenty of sites out there, as well as books, that cover this. I'd just add that you need to be absolutely certain that your barrel is sealed. If it isn't, and it starts leaking, things can get very messy very quickly, and your batch won't be properly tumbled.

Choose your rough with care, but feel free to experiment. There's no wrong way to tumble rocks and minerals, and the only way to learn what works in each situation is to make a few mistakes. I started with one of the Beagle's batches of high quality tumbling rough, which is turning out to be a great mix of amazonite, tiger's eye, carnelian, chrysoprase, unakite, rose quartz, amethyst, and others, but you can start wherever you like, with whatever you like. I added the rough to the tumbler, then added the coarse silicon carbide grit and water to the appropriate level. Think of grits like sandpapers - beginning coarse, and then increasingly fine. Then start the tumbler.

Rock tumbling takes time. But you knew that already, right? The first cycle, depending on the hardness of the materials, can take between five and ten days. You should really check every day or two, to make certain that you have no leaks, and that you do not have any build-up of pressure in the barrel. Dip out a stone or two just to see how things are going - even after a few days, you should start to see smoothing of the rougher edges. After seven days, I removed the rough in my first barrel, rinsed it, emptied out the slurry, rinsed and dried the barrel, then recharged the barrel and added the next finer round of silicon carbide grit. The rough was already significantly smoothed and shaped. Filled with water, the process continues, with a second new barrel, beginning again with the coarsest grit, this time with a batch of rough corundum, agate, and hessonite garnet.

That's the process so far. Repeat according to directions, and watch your rough turn into attractive, decorative, and interesting tumbled stones. It's easy, if time-consuming, but the results will delight both you and your friends. So try out your new tumbler, and see what treasures you can produce!

There are sites out there to help you, too, as well as books. Rock Tumbling Hobby, and Rock Tumblers for example, both provide some excellent tips and good information. One other thing that they will mention which I must also say again: NEVER put your slurry down your household pipes. Not in the kitchen, the bathroom, the lavatory or directly into the mains drain. Find a place outside instead, preferrably somewhere that you can observe the accumulation over time, to see why this is such an important point. I'll be watching mine with interest (after things thaw, that is).

Happy tumbling!