DNA extraction from onion cells

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in almost living "things".
Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most of DNA is located in cell nucleus. We can say this DNA is like a stepladder and it can be as long as 1,80m but it can fold itself so tight it can be stored in a small space with micro dimensions.

Lets see how we can see this DNA without any microscopy help.

We need:

• 2 bowls, one of them must be transparent,
• a knife,
• a onion,
• dish detergent,
• salt,
• water,
• 2 spoons,
• alcohol.

How to:

1. Peel the onion;
2. Cut the onion, into small pieces, to the bowl;
3. Add some dish detergent, enough to cover it;
4. Add the salt (1/2 tablespoon);
5. Finally add the water (2 tablespoons);
6. Mix, careful, we don't want it to form bubbles;
7. Wait 20 min;
8. Mix again;
9. Separate the liquid layer from the rest, the DNA is on the liquid, reject the rest.
10. Add alcohol to the liquid, slowly, we want the alcohol to form a second layer above the liquid, try to make the alcohol run down the bowl wall.
11. Don't mix the layers;
12. Wait another 20 min.

What happens?
You can see small white strands; some of them may look like small clusters.

Why?
DNA precipitates when mixed with alcohol; this means it's not soluble in this reagent. This causes the DNA to clump together when there is a lot of it. And, usually, cells contain a lot of it!

NOTES:
Salt- Helps DNA to precipitate
Cold water- Helps to maintain DNA intact. If we use hot water cellular enzymes can destroy the DNA strand.

Et voilá!
Genetic in your kitchen!

Enjoy!

DIY - Wax lantern

Want to impress your restless? Try to make some lanterns to decorate the table on Valentines Day.

We got the idea here, and looks really simple, but it requires some work.

We need:

• paraffin, same we use here,
• balloons, medium size,
• old pot, you will never be able to use it again to cook,
• aluminum foil.

How to:

1. Melt the wax on the pot;
2. Fill the balloon with warm water;
3. Try to keep the wax at the same temperature all time;
4. Dip the balloon in the wax, slow and just to the water level;
5. Keep it there for 4 or 5 seconds;
6. Pull it out;
7. Wait 10 seconds;
8. Repeat the steps 4 to 7 for 3 or 4 times;
9. Let the balloon to cool on the aluminum foil, the bottom will cool with a straight surface;
10. Repeat all over again (4 to 9) 3 or 4 times until the lantern has the  desired thickness;
11. When the wax is completely cold, burst the balloon, do it in the bathroom!
12. Heat up the aluminum foil in the stove and place you lantern on it, upside down.

It's ready! Use a small candle inside of it

NOTE: Don't dive the balloon above the water level!
Clean your lantern with a humid cloth, without detergent







You can:

• Paint it,
• Decorate it with a stencil, or geometric templates,
• Use a small hot object to carve it,
• Dye the wax like we did here,
• ...

Et voilá!
It looks amazing!

Enjoy!

Coanda effect

Try this:

We need:

• a candle,
• a bottle,
• match box, or any other small rectangular box.

How to:

1. Light the candle;
2. Place the bottle between you and the candle, close as possible but without touching each other
3. Place yourself near the on the opposite side and blow to the bottle, like you wish to extinguish the candle, what happens?;
4. Light the candle again;
5. Replace the bottle for the box;
6. Now blow, try to blow with same intensity.

What happens?
When you e a bottle the candle extinguish at first blow. When you use the box, the candle resist, even if you blow harder.
Eventually it will extinguish if we blow very hard, that’s because a vortex will be formed and the air circulation will extinguish the candle at the end.

Why?
This is a simple Coanda effect demonstration.
Coanda effect was discovered in 1910 by the Romanian engineer Henri Coanda (1885-1972), Coanda began to study this phenomenon after having he crashed a prototype aircraft (Coandă-1910). (1)
To the capacity of a fluid, to follow on a curve surface, like it's glued to it, we call Coanda effect- of course this is a very simple way to explain this, in fact is far more complex.

Bottle surface is smooth and curved, and the air we blow travels like its glued to the glass surface, the air goes around the bottle circumference, this allow us to blow the candle with just a little breath. On the other hand, the match box is a rectangular and plain surface, in this case the air flows to the corner of the box, this corner is a 90º angle, and therefore the air can't travel glued to the surface, like in first example. In fact the air is expelled away from the candle; this will form a vortex, which will eventually extinguish the candle.
This effect helps to explain why the plains stay in the air. 

Et voilá!
Simple and fun!

Enjoy!
Sources:
in pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efeito_Coand%C4%83

Dalton Ghetti- Small is beautiful

"For Dalton, sculpting pencils is a hobby and a form of meditation, which requires a lot of patience. His pencil carvings are not for sale. He doesn’t do it for money. He sculpts pencils mostly for himself and his art comes from his heart. He wants to keep it that way."


Restless Minds all over the world, open your eyes and prepare yourself to see what "Small is beautiful" means.

I will leave you with some pictures:

Et voilá!
You can learn more about Dalton here. Amazing artists with available materials.

Enjoy!
Source:
in http://www.daltonmghetti.com

Instant facts- Just add water 45

Pineapples do not grow on trees.
in homecooking.about.com

Valentine's finger puppets

Let's talk about cute things we can make for the valentines day. This craft is easy enought for our younger restless, i found it here.

We need:

• thick cardboard,
• pink and red cardboard,
• hole paper punch,
• scissors,
• permanent markers, black, red and pink,
• grafitti pencil,
• eraser pen,
• craft glue,
• googly eyes.

How to:

1. Draw a heart shape on the thick cardboard, use it as a template to make more.
2. Punch a starter hole for each finger with the hole punch,
3. Use the scissors to enlarge the circle; a child's fingers should fit snugly through the holes.
4. Decorate the heart with a paint pen or marker, adding facial features;
5. Write your message on the back. 
6. Glue on googly eyes.

We leave 3 heart shapes templates you can use:

Et voilá!
Cute puppets

Enjoy!

DIY Carnival mask

Do your own mask, using old news paper and white glue.

We need:

• old newspaper,
• white glue
• a balloon,
• a needle, or any other sharpen object,
• scissors,
• bowl,
• sand paper,
• permanent marker,
• Acrylic paint,
• brushes.

How to:

1. Fill the balloon;
2. With the marker draw the mask on the balloon, just the outside lines;
3. Mix  the glue and the water in the bowl (half glue half water);
4. Tear the paper in small pieces;
5. Impregnate the paper in the glue, one at a time,
6. Apply the paper in the balloon, on top of the draw;
7. When the draw is 100% covered with the paper, repeat the step 6 and 7, do it 8 times;
8. Let it dry for 24h;
9. Burst the balloon with the needle, verify if the glue is really dry, wait a few more hour if needed;
   
   
   
   
10. Use the scissors and cut out the mask;
    
    
    
    
11. Use the sand paper to give the mask a nice finishing;
12. Paint it white;
13. Let it dry;
14. Repeat the process;
15. Let your restless to paint it with acrylic paint;
16. Let it dry;
17. Punch tow holes, and apply a elastic;
    
    
    
    

Et voilá!
Enjoy!