British Science Week, run by the British Science Association, is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths, featuring entertaining and engaging events and activities across the UK for people of all ages. This year it runs from the 6th- 15th March.
We love Science Week at PhunkyFoods, as it provides the perfect time to investigate, experiment, and get hands-on with learning.
This year, the theme is: 'Are You Curious About…..?'
We think this is the ideal time to question the science involved in food! It is also a great time to consider and discuss healthy eating. Here are some questions to get started.
How do you make butter?
Making butter is a simple process that only requires a clean jam jar, some double cream, a lot of shaking and time!
Half-fill the jar with cream, replace the lid and shake, shake, shake. Over time (approximately 20 minutes), you will begin to notice a change as the fat particles start to stick together and form butter.
How can I make slime using ingredients from my kitchen?
Everyone enjoys experimenting with the fun, stretchy texture of slime, and this version can be made with ingredients from the kitchen.
You will need: ¼ cup of chia seeds; water; approx. 3 cups cornflour; food colouring; a mixing bowl; and a tray. Place the chia seeds in a bowl, add ¾ cup of water and a few drops of food colouring. Allow a few hours for the seeds to absorb the water and become sticky. Pour some cornflour on a tray and add the chia seeds, and mix together. Experiment with the consistency of the slime, but gradually add more cornflour as required.
How can I stop my apple turning brown?
Have you noticed how sliced apples turn brown after a short time? This is because apples react with the oxygen in the air and produce a pigment called melanin, which turns the fruit brown. This process is called oxidation. The following experiment shows what happens when apple slices are covered with different types of liquids- do any of them slow down the process of oxidation?
Take 5 clear plastic food bags and label each one with one of the following: water, milk, vinegar, lemon juice, and nothing. Slice an apple and place two slices into each bag. Add a small amount of the corresponding liquid to each labelled bag, leaving the “nothing” bag dry. Shake the bags to ensure the apple is fully coated with the fluid and then tip away the excess liquid. Observe what happens to the apple slices every 10 minutes.
The expected result is that lemon juice will slow down the oxidation process, keeping the apple from turning brown. This is because lemon juice is acidic.
How does water travel through a plant?
Celery is a great vegetable that can be eaten as a crudité, chopped into a salad or blended into a soup. Did you know that it can also be used to show how water travels through a plant?
Plants contain cells, and water moves through these cells by a process called osmosis. When the cells are full of water, it also stiffens the stalks, stems, and leaves- this is known as turgor pressure. Without water, the cells lose their shape because the pressure is no longer present. If you see a wilted or droopy-looking plant, this is what’s happening. Give it some water and observe the results.
To see osmosis in action, try this simple experiment. Take a tall, clear glass and fill it with water. Add 4-5 drops of red food colour and mix. Take a large stalk of celery and trim the bottom before placing it in the glass and leaving it for a few hours/overnight. Make observations at regular intervals.
The expected result is that the leaves gain a red tint. You can also see small dots of red colour at the trimmed end of the celery, and you can cut open the stalk to see a colouring effect.
