Exploring Light and Life

This week try this before Winter Break!

Near Infrared - Things to try Simple science activities you can try at home or school which relate to the research of the NSF Science and Technology Centers.

Learn about light absorbtion with gummy bears!

Fates of Light - Things to try Simple science activities you can try at home or school which relate to the research of the NSF Science and Technology Centers.

TRY THIS!
When light interacts with tissues some colors stay behind and some come through and/or reflect. We can use the information about which colors come through and/or reflect and by how much to figure out something about the living tissue. The most common example of this is the pulse oxymeter that passes red light and near-infrared light (like the light coming from a remote control) to figure out your pulse and how oxygenated your blood is.

Light and Tissue Interaction - Things to try Simple science activities you can try at home or school which relate to the research of the NSF Science and Technology Centers.

Have you ever tried shining a laser in extra virgin olive oil? I know, it's an unusual question. Well, we have, and the attached picture is what you get! You might wonder, how can green light turn red then back to green? The magic is fluorescence - high energy green light in and low energy red light out. But what's the magic ingredient you ask? Chlorophyll! It was found in those green olives that were pressed to make the delicious olive oil - yum!