This week's experiment comes from a question that was sent to me by Hashi, one of the members of the Experiment of the Week list. She noticed that smells were stronger while taking a shower and asked why. To investigate, you will need:

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Today was a wonderful day! We went to the Everglades and saw lots of wildlife. Part of the fun of traveling is getting to play tourist, and National Parks are some of our favorite tourist stops.

It was dark by the time we left the Everglades and on the way out, we were watching very carefully in hopes of spotting a Florida panther. We did not see one, but it did give me the idea for which experiment to do this week. Have you ever seen the glow of an animal's eyes reflecting the headlights on a car or the flashlight you are holding? If not, you can try it. You will need:

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For this week's experiment, we are going to watch our fingers wiggle. Doesn't that sound like fun? OK, I admit that I am easily amused, but there is more to this experiment than just moving your finger. We are going to investigate part of how a television works at the same time.

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This experiment is one that I have noticed while doing my electricity shows. I use a balloon in the show to demonstrate positive and negative static charges. While holding this balloon, I noticed that I could feel a variety of sounds.

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The experiment this week comes from spending too much time in hotel rooms as I travel. As I was packing for the trip home, I found it very useful for adjusting the television when I was not directly in front of it.

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If you have ever played with a tuning fork, you know that they are interesting and fun, but they can also be expensive. For this week's experiment, we will use a regular fork from your kitchen to produce a beautiful tone. For this experiment, you will need:

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This project has science fair potential.

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Any time you hear a sound, it is because something is vibrating. Place your fingers against your throat and hum. You will feel your throat vibrate. We usually hear sounds from vibrations that travel through the air, but solids can be much better at carrying vibrations.

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Have you ever noticed that warm food tastes different from cold food? If you have ever tasted cold pizza or melted ice cream, you know what I mean. This experiment will show you how temperature can effect taste.

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Have you ever seen a random dot stereogram? You see them on posters, cards, calendars, etc? It can be a random pattern of dots or a repeated pattern of just about anything, and if you stare at it in just the right way you suddenly see a 3 dimensional image sticking out of the page. Have you ever wondered how they are made? Lets take a look.

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Does your TV really only have three colors?

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Why do you seem to hear the ocean inside a sea shell?

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How quick are you?

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How long can you smell something before the scent vanishes?

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Trick your brain into seeing color in a black and white photograph.

This week's experiment comes from washing the dishes. If you look back, you will find that a fair number of my experiments have come from washing dishes, which is probably the result of the state my mind is in when my belly is stuffed with yummy food. To experiment with this, you will need:

- a sink, garden hose, stream, or other source of flowing water.

Start by turning on the water, and placing your hand into it. Unless you turned on the hot water tap, or your garden hose has been sitting in the sun, the water will probably feel cool. Now cup your hands together and let the water flow into them. Keep your hands there for a few seconds, and then move them slightly, so that the water flows over your hand instead of into your cupped palms. Do you notice a difference in the temperature?

Move your hands back and forth, from letting the water flow into your cupped hands to letting it flow across your hand instead. Why does it feel so much cooler flowing across your hand?

I noticed something very similar on a recent trip to Ginny Springs in Florida. Floating gently on giant inner tube, the water did not feel that cold, once I got over the initial shock. While I was moving at the same speed as the water, I was comfortable. When I grabbed a branch and stopped myself, the water felt much colder. Why?

You are probably thinking that the water in your hand feels warmer because your hand has warmed it. You are correct! If you put a thermometer into the water in your hand, it will probably read at the same temperature as the water flowing over your hand, but that is because you are measuring the temperature of the water in the center of the pool formed by your hands. Over by your skin, things are very different. There, heat energy is moving from your warmer skin to the cooler water. Your skin is cooled, the water is warmed, and the temperature difference between the two is decreased.

That difference in temperature plays a large role in what you feel. When we say that we "get used to" the temperature of a hot bath or a cold spring, quite a bit of the process involves decreasing the temperature difference between skin and the surrounding water. The less difference there is, the less heat or cold we tend to fell. Of course, that only works up to the point were the temperature threatens to cause damage. No matter how little the difference, boiling water is still going to feel hot.

As long as the water is not moving, that thin layer of warmer water stays next to your skin. On the other hand, if the water is flowing past you, there is a constant supply of fresh, cool water, so there is a much greater temperature difference. That is why the running water feels colder, and why the flowing spring felt colder when I was anchored.

That idea also plays a role in wet suits used for surfing, diving, and kayaking. The suit does not keep the water out. That is why it is called a wetsuit. If you can't keep the water away from your skin, the next best thing is to protect that layer of warmed water next to your skin. The wetsuit keeps it from being swept away as you swim, dramatically reducing the amount of heat that you lose. If your wetsuit fits loosely, your movements will cause that layer of warmed water to squeeze out, letting fresh, cold water flow back in. I can tell you from my experience kayaking, that is a very bad thing.

Have a wonder-filled week.