Smart Science Tricks

by Martin Gardner, Bob Steimle (Illustrator)

New in Paper
More fun than magic, these hundreds of tricks, puzzles, illusions, and experiments all rely on the amazing powers of science and nature. Using only readily available supplies, you can explore the wonders of water, air, friction, light and mirrors, mathematics, sound, gravity, magnetism, and perception. Turn one half of a flower blue and the other red. Lift an ice cube out of a glass with nothing more than a piece of string. Make a paper bug that moves with the help of a lemon, and push pins into a balloon without bursting it. Every trick includes a scientific explanation of why and how it works.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2004

About the author

Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature (especially the writings of Lewis Carroll), philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion. He wrote the Mathematical Games column in Scientific American from 1956 to 1981, and published over 70 books.