Activity Demonstrations
UV Beads Activity
Can you block invisible UV (ultraviolet) light? In this fun and colorful activity, we’ll use special UV beads—small beads that change color when exposed to UV light—to test which household materials are effective at shielding UV rays. Follow along as we explore how everyday objects like glass, sunscreen, plastic, foil, and fabric either block or let UV light through. This experiment works great outdoors in sunlight or indoors with a blacklight, making it perfect for classrooms or at-home learning!
Magnetic Fields Activity
What is magnetism, and how can we see invisible magnetic field lines? In this hands-on activity, we explore magnetism using everyday objects and bar magnets—then learn how to trace out magnetic field lines using simple materials! Perfect for educators, families, and young scientists, this video walks you through the activity step by step so you can follow along at home or in the classroom.
Mount Nose Activity
Learn how to teach the Mount Nose Activity, a hands-on lesson that helps students understand how the rotation of the Earth causes day and night.
Moon Balls Activity
Bring the phases of the Moon to life in your classroom with the Moon Balls Activity! 🏫🌎🌙 This hands-on demonstration helps students understand how the Moon orbits the Earth and why we see different moon phases.
Meet Our Scientists
Dr. Lisa Upton
is currently a Lead Scientist at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Her research interests include understanding the solar dynamo, solar cycle variability, and the impact on the Sun-Earth environment. In particular, she is interested in observing solar flows and active regions, as well as modeling magnetic flux transport on the Sun.
Webinars
The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory
This is a recording of the Live Webinar held for Space Weather Explorers Week on November 21st, 2024 featuring Dr. Lara Waldrop, professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Principle Investigator of NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory. During the webinar Dr. Waldrop explained the science of the new mission and answered questions from attendees about the mission, space weather, and careers in science.
Tricks and Tips for Observing an Eclipse
This is a recording of our live webinar from April 2, 2024, featured as part of Space Weather Explorers Week. Dr. Patricia Reiff from Rice University shares her enthusiasm, knowledge and tips for observing solar eclipses in general—and specifically for the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Project Sunway
The Sun touches everything—including fashion! This was a fun live webinar on Feb. 2, 2024 featuring two of our solar scientists as part of Space Weather Explorers Week!
Some of our other videos
Eclipse (playlist)
In 2017, for the last total solar eclipse visible in the US, we made nine short videos of scientists who study the Sun-Earth connection. Most of the videos are under five minutes. The scientists talk about subjects such as the magnificence of an Eclipse, what we’re learning about the sun through new satellite missions coming closer to the Sun than ever before, and the life of a working scientist.
Space Weather
In a 30-minute youth-oriented webinar with visuals, Dr. Yari Collado-Vega from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center discusses her work to understand Space Weather: Sun Earth Connection. This video was recorded live on Oct. 25, 2018