The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science by Sean Connolly

Einstein, Galileo, Newton .......... and now you! 


Parachute an egg from an upstairs window!


Distil DNA from a half-eaten banana!


Spark lightning in your mouth!


Here are 50 awesome experiments that demonstrate teh principles behind the greatest scientific breakthroughs in human history.


Astound friends with an experiment that seems to defy the laws of gravity, launch a bottle-rocket into the air, peer through a microscope made out of water, prove atomic theory with food colouring - and recreate the Large Hadron Collider using marshmallows!


Designed for kids aged nine upwards and using everyday household stuff, The book of potentially catastrophic science lets you boldly go where the bravest scientists in history have gone before ....


This is a fantastic book to give as a gift to older children (age 9+) who love science or who are constantly asking Why things are as they are? or How they work? There are 50 experiments to try which will try and prove theories etc using equipment, resources and ingredients found around the home.

The book covers the history of the world, from 2 million years BC (Stone Age Tools) right through to 2008 (The Large Hadron Collider). The book is split into chapters, highlighting major events in scientific history of the world. Each chapter includes an introduction of the event/invention and the science behind it. Important words are explained, interesting facts highlighted and the experiments include warnings via take care! boxes.

Each experiment includes an introduction and states what you are trying to prove/demonstrate, a comprehensive and complete ingredients and equipment list, take care warnings and a method broken down into manageable steps.

The book has many black and white photographs of important scientists and inventions, pencil drawings accompany the experiment and there are many other drawings and pictures littering the text.

Some of the experiments look really fun and it would be possible for 9+ year olds to carry them out on their own whereas others need adult supervision but there is a large number of possible experiments available. There are lots of interesting theories and inventions to test and will keep children interested on a rainy day.

I would recommend this as a great gift for older children with a love for science or those who have an inquisitive mind. I would also recommend it to teachers for ideas to add interest to a science lesson.

Thank you to Michael from The School Run Forum for sending me this book to review