Novelty Science Gifts
- Initially intended as a scientific tool, a kaleidoscope can also be given as a novelty science gift.Kristall image by Volker Schwere from Fotolia.com
Scientists come in all ages, and you can find a novelty science gift that will suit any age group. Grown-ups can wear a science-themed tie or can set a science-themed knick-knack on their desk. Children often enjoy more hands-on gifts and can benefit from being given a novelty science kit. - Novelty lights come in all different shapes and sizes. They take advantage of pulsating lights and fiber optics to create an ever-changing look. Some have switches so that you can go from multicolor flashing lights to a solid color. Or, give the gift of a science project by presenting sunprint paper. To use, simply set an object on a piece of this paper and then lay the paper out in the sun. This also works on a sunny windowsill, so can be given in the wintertime as well as the summer. Once the object is removed and the paper is rinsed in water, the shadow image of the object shows up.
- Create a gift basket full of astronaut space food, the freeze-dried packages of food that astronauts eat. These can be purchased at science museums and army and navy stores. You can add a space poster or small book about the moon to the basket as well. Other novelty science food gifts include make-your-own kits. There are soda-making kits of different flavors and the formula to make fizzy drinks. You can also purchase kits to make your gum, rootbeer or ice cream with a novelty penquin-shaped ice cream maker called Pingloo.
- Sea-Monkeys are still around and are just as interesting for young scientists. These glow-in-the-dark pets can be watched throughout the night. Sea-Monkeys are actually a species of brine shrimp, which are extremely small and hard to see when they first arrive. Sea-Monkeys eventually grow to around 1/2-inch or slightly more within a month. This is a gift that keeps on giving--Sea-Monkeys will reproduce, so there will be more creatures to watch.
