St. Mary's STEM Campers Make Dippin' Dots

On June 22nd, Cool Science brought Dippin’ Dots science to the Middle School STEM Camp at Saint Mary’s High School!  It was an amazing day for the kids, which also featured the Civil Air Patrol, Lockheed Martin, and the Mobile Earth and Space Observatory (MESO), among other groups which set up a dozen different stations for the kids to perform a variety of science experiments ranging from rockets to robotics.  Of course Cool Science's table was a huge hit since it came with the opportunity to enjoy a sweet, frozen treat!
 
Before they could dive into the Dippin’ Dots, the kids first learned about physical changes of state like boiling, freezing, evaporation and condensation, all demonstrated using liquid nitrogen.  Liquid nitrogen is so cold (-320 °F) that it boils away constantly in a Styrofoam bowl.  After the demonstrations, the campers used plastic pipettes to drip flavored cream into the boiling nitrogen, where they froze instantly into Dippin' Dots.
 
Many of the kids agreed that Cool Science’s station was the best at the event, one girl even remarking, “If only my house was a science lab. I’d make Dippin’ Dots all day!”  

-posted by Joshua