Popular Science Children's Review - Explosive Experiments

Home Authors Books Subjects Events Software Features Links Newsletter Gifts Blog Write Review What's New

Review - Explosive Experiments - Nick Arnold

A particularly fun entry in the Horrible Science range as it's a pack containing both one of the books and a set of book-sized cards, each describing an experiment to try out in your own home.

The book is a good entry in the series, describing the importance of experiment. I was a bit disappointed that the quick historical section up front contains unnecessary acres on what Arnold claims is the world's first experiment in Egyptian times, but then doesn't mention either Roger Bacon, the amazing 13th century friar who wrote on the importance of experiment, nor his unrelated namesake Francis Bacon, who clearly defined the experimental method. But these are minor moans. There's fun stuff on medical experiments, followed by the various sciences, combining a nice mix of relating odd and fascinating real experiments and giving the readers their own experiments to do. Tony de Saulles illustrations, in the usual mix of picture and comic strip, work well to support the flow.

Then there are the cards. Each describes an experiment, the possible outcomes and a touch of painless learning. Having the experiments on cards is an excellent idea, as books (especially tight-bound paperbacks) don't work well as an experimental guide. There's everything from growing your own fungus (I think the safety warning could have been a little stronger) to turning a bucket of water upside down without spilling it (ulp).

Perhaps the only other slight moan is that there doesn't seem to be any real link between the book and the cards - it would have been nice if they could have been more integrated.

Only in paperback.

Reviewed by Brian Clegg

* Our age range recommendation is an estimated guide, but individual readers outside the range could still enjoy the book!

DISCLAIMERS

This site has no connection with Popular Science magazine or other sites and publications with a similar name.

Much of the content of this site is written by popular science writers or friends of popular science writers. Inevitably many of the reviews in such a small community are written by or about someone we know. We always aim to be impartial in our reviews, but there is a connection which we need make clear, as there is no intention to deceive. The content of any review or article is solely the opinion of the author and should not be read or understood on any other basis. The site exists to promote popular science writing and popular science authors and for this reason should be considered promotional material, just as the editorial reviews in an online bookshop or the blurb on the back of a book should be considered promotional.

The website should not be eaten or used where it can come into contact with water.

Disagree with our review? Want to comment on a feature? Contact us at info@ popularscience.co.uk - have your say!

Part of the site