Sparking Curiosity

5 Easy Science Experiments to Try at Home This Spring Break

TELUS Spark — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:34:47 GMT

Spring Break = more time, more energy… and a lot of “what should we do next?”

Good news: you don’t need a lab to turn your home into a place full of curiosity. With just a few everyday items, you can explore science in ways that feel more like play than learning.

1. Make Your Own Rainbow 🌈

What you’ll need:

A glass of water, a flashlight (or sunlight), and a white wall or piece of paper

What to do:

Shine light through the glass of water onto a wall. Adjust the angle until you see a rainbow appear.

What’s happening?

Light might look white, but it’s actually made up of many colours. When light passes through water, it bends (this is called refraction) and splits into a spectrum—aka, a rainbow.

Try this:

Move the glass closer or farther away. How does the rainbow change?

2. Bend Water with Static Electricity ⚡

What you’ll need:

A balloon, dry hair, and a thin stream of running water

What to do:

Rub the balloon on your hair, then slowly bring it close to a thin stream of water from a tap.

Watch what happens.

What’s happening?

Rubbing the balloon builds up static electricity. The charged balloon attracts the water molecules, causing the stream to bend.

Yes—you just controlled water with electricity.

Try this:

Does it work better with dry hair or damp hair?

3. Watch Water Disappear 💧

What you’ll need:

Two small containers, water, and a sunny window

What to do:

Fill both containers with the same amount of water. Place one in a sunny spot and one in the shade.

Check back later.

What’s happening?

Water doesn’t just vanish—it evaporates. Heat from the sun gives water molecules enough energy to turn into invisible water vapor and rise into the air.

Try this:

Which one disappears faster? Why do you think that is?

4. Create a Fizzy Reaction 🧪

What you’ll need:

Baking soda, vinegar, and a cup

What to do:

Add baking soda to a cup, then pour in vinegar.

Get ready for bubbles.

What’s happening?

This is a chemical reaction. When baking soda and vinegar mix, they create carbon dioxide gas—the same gas that makes soda fizzy.

That fizz? That’s gas escaping.

Try this:

Add a few drops of food colouring or a bit of dish soap. What changes?

5. Grow a Crystal (Yes, Really) ✨

What you’ll need:

Sugar, hot water, a jar, and a string

What to do:

Dissolve as much sugar as possible into hot water. Pour it into a jar, suspend a string inside, and wait a few days.

What’s happening?

As the water cools and evaporates, the sugar forms crystals along the string. You’re watching molecules organize into a solid structure.

Science you can see.

Try this:

Check your crystal every day. How does it grow?

Turn Curiosity Into a Day Out at Spark!

See science in action this Spring Break at TELUS Spark Science Centre!

What’s happening:

Chicken Watch — see eggs hatch in real time
Easter Egg Hunt — with a science twist
Mission Moon (Infinity Dome) — an immersive space journey
Rocketry — build and launch
Circuit Buddy Workshop — hands-on electricity
Picture, Pixel, Print — how images come to life
and more!

There’s something happening around every corner.

Science isn’t just something you read about. It’s something you do!

Keep the Questions Coming

Why do bubbles form? Why does water bend? Why do crystals grow?

If you’ve got a question you’ve always wondered about…

Drop it in the comments and we'll feature it in a future post!

Why Do Chinooks Trigger Headaches in Calgary?

TELUS Spark — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Ever wake up to blue skies, melting snow — and a pounding head?

In Calgary, Chinooks are practically a personality trait. These warm winds can send temperatures soaring in a matter of hours. For many people, that sudden shift feels energizing. For others, it can bring on headaches or even migraines.

So what’s going on?

Because, science!

What Is a Chinook, Exactly?

A Chinook is a warm, dry wind that flows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. As air moves over the mountains and descends into Calgary, it compresses and warms rapidly.

Where Do Chinook Winds Come From?

Chinooks arewhy temperatures can jump 10–20°C in just a few hours.

But it’s not just the temperature that changes.

Atmospheric pressure shifts quickly too.

And that’s where things get interesting.

How Air Pressure Affects Your Body

Even though we don’t feel air pressure directly, our bodies are constantly responding to it.

When atmospheric pressure drops quickly — as it often does before or during a Chinook — some people may experience:

Headaches
Facial pressure
Migraine symptoms
Sensitivity to light
Brain fog

Not everyone is affected. But for those prone to migraines, rapid pressure changes can act as a trigger.

Researchers are still studying exactly why this happens, but there are a few leading ideas.

Why Warm Chinook Weather Can Lead to Headaches For Some

The Sinus Pressure Theory

Your sinuses are small, air-filled spaces inside your skull. Normally, the pressure inside your sinuses balances with the air outside.

When atmospheric pressure drops quickly, that balance can shift. If your sinuses don’t equalize right away, it may irritate surrounding tissue and nerves.

Result? Head pressure or discomfort.

The Migraine Trigger Theory

For people who experience migraines, the explanation may go deeper.

Some researchers believe pressure changes may:

Influence blood vessel expansion or contraction
Stimulate the trigeminal nerve (a major facial nerve involved in migraines)
Affect brain signaling patterns in sensitive individuals

Migraine brains tend to be more reactive to environmental changes — including weather.

In other words, a Chinook might not “cause” a migraine, but it may help trigger one in someone already prone to them.

Science is still working to fully understand this connection — which makes it a fascinating example of how research evolves.

Why Some People Feel It — And Others Don’t

Not everyone gets a Chinook headache.

Sensitivity varies based on:

Genetics
History of migraines
Sinus health
Stress levels
Sleep patterns

Two people can live in the same house during the same Chinook — and only one feels it.

That’s biology at work.

What Do People Commonly Try?

People who notice weather-related headaches often experiment with different strategies to manage symptoms.

Some report trying:

Staying hydrated
Resting in a dark, quiet space
Caffeine (which can affect blood vessels and is included in some headache medications)
Over-the-counter pain relievers

What works can vary widely from person to person. If headaches are frequent or severe, it’s always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional. This is not medical advice!

Chinooks: A Local Example of Everyday Science

This is what makes Chinook headaches such a great example of everyday science.

A warm wind over the mountains connects:

Geography
Atmospheric physics
Air pressure systems
Human biology
Neurology

All playing out in real time across Calgary.

Science isn’t just in labs or textbooks. It’s in the weather, in your body, and sometimes right between your eyes.

Still Curious?

Science starts with great questions.

Maybe you’re wondering why snow squeaks when it’s cold. Or why bubbles always seem to float upward. Or why some planets have rings.

Do you have a science question you’d like us to explore?

Leave it in the comments below!

Why Do Circles Appear All Over Nature? A Kid-Friendly Science Explanation

TELUS Spark — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:08:52 GMT

Look around for a moment. What shapes do you notice?

Maybe you see a coin, a clock, a plate, or a wheel. Step outside and you’ll spot even more: the sun, the moon, ripples in a puddle, the center of a flower, or the rings inside a tree.

Circles seem to appear everywhere in nature.

That’s not an accident.

There are real scientific reasons why round shapes show up again and again—from tiny soap bubbles to entire planets.

Why? Because, science!

Start Noticing the Circles Around You

Once you start looking for circles, you’ll see them almost everywhere.

Here are a few places you might spot them:

bubbles floating through the air
ripples spreading across water
the round center of flowers
tree trunks and tree rings
the sun and the moon
planets in space

Circles show up in nature because they are one of the most balanced and efficient shapes that can exist.

Why Nature Loves Circles

In nature, many forces act equally in all directions.

When that happens, the shape that forms is often a circle (or a sphere in 3D).

Think about a drop of water.

Water molecules pull toward each other. The most efficient shape they can form is a sphere. That’s why droplets and bubbles look round.

A circle spreads things evenly around a center point, which makes it a great shape when nature is trying to balance forces or energy.

Why Planets Are Round

Those same forces don’t just affect tiny droplets—they shape entire worlds.

Planets are round because of gravity.

Gravity pulls everything toward the center of an object. When a planet forms, gravity pulls matter equally from all directions.

Over time, this smooths the planet into a sphere.

That’s why Earth, Jupiter, and Mars all look round when we see them from space.

Smaller objects in space—like asteroids—often look lumpy instead. Their gravity isn’t strong enough to reshape them.

Watch Beautiful Circles of Our World

Circles in Plants and Living Things

Circles also appear in the way living things grow.

Many plants grow outward from a center point, which naturally creates circular patterns.

You can see this in:

tree rings
sunflower seed patterns
flower centers
mushrooms that grow in circular rings

When a tree grows, it adds a new layer each year. Over time those layers form rings that spread outward like ripples in water.

Scientists study these rings to learn about a tree’s age and even past climate conditions.

The Math Behind Circles: Meet Pi

Whenever circles appear, math is involved.

A special number called pi (π) describes the relationship between two parts of every circle:

the distance across a circle (diameter)
the distance around a circle (circumference)

No matter how big or small a circle is, that ratio is always about:

3.14

That number is called pi.

It shows up everywhere—from engineering and architecture to astronomy.

That’s why people around the world celebrate Pi Day on March 14 (3/14).

Try a Circle Hunt

Want to see just how common circles are?

Try going on a circle hunt!

Look around your home, school, or neighbourhood and count how many circles you can find.

You might spot them in:

wheels
plates
clocks
tree trunks
flowers
bubbles
the sun or moon

Once you start noticing them, circles are hard to miss.

Explore the Science of Our Planet at TELUS Spark Science Centre

Curious about how our planet formed and why the universe works the way it does?

At TELUS Spark Science Centre, hands-on experiences and immersive shows help explain the forces that shape the world around us.

In the Infinity Dome theatre, the film The Story of Earth takes visitors on a journey through billions of years of planetary history—showing how gravity, geology, and time shaped Earth into the world we know today.

From bubbles to planets, science helps explain the patterns hiding in everyday life.

And sometimes the answer to a curious question is simple.

Why?

Because, science!

FAQ: Circles in Nature

Why do circles appear so often in nature?

Circles appear often because they spread forces evenly in all directions. When nature is trying to balance energy, circular shapes frequently form.

Why are bubbles round?

Bubbles are round because surface tension pulls the liquid evenly toward the center, creating a sphere.

Why are planets shaped like spheres?

Planets become round because gravity pulls matter toward the center from all directions, smoothing the planet into a sphere over time.

Where can you find circles in nature?

You can see circles in bubbles, ripples in water, tree rings, flowers, the sun, the moon, and planets in space.

Still Curious?

Science starts with great questions.

Maybe you’re wondering why snow squeaks when it’s cold. Or why bubbles always seem to float upward. Or why some planets have rings.

Do you have a science question you’d like us to explore?

Leave it in the comments below!

What Is Pi? An Easy Way to Explain It to Kids.

TELUS Spark — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:15:00 GMT

If you’ve ever heard someone mention the number 3.14, you’ve probably heard them talking about pi (pronounced “pie”).

Pi is one of the most famous numbers in math — and once you see how it works, you’ll start spotting it everywhere.

The good news? Explaining pi to kids doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it starts with something simple: circles.

What Is Pi?

Pi is a number that describes the relationship between two parts of a circle:

the distance around the circle (called the circumference)
the distance across the circle through the middle (called the diameter)

No matter how big or small the circle is, the ratio between these two measurements is always the same.

That number is pi.

If you divide the circumference of any circle by its diameter, you’ll always get about:

3.14

That’s why pi is often written as 3.14, though the number actually keeps going forever:

3.141592653589…

It never ends and never repeats — which makes it a pretty fascinating number.

A Simple Way to Explain Pi to Kids

One of the easiest ways to understand pi is to try measuring a circle.

You can do this at home with:

a bowl
a plate
a roll of tape
a pie tin (perfect for Pi Day!)

Here’s the idea:

Measure the distance across the circle (diameter).
Measure the distance around the circle (circumference).
Divide the circumference by the diameter.

You’ll find the answer is always close to 3.14.

It doesn’t matter if the circle is small or huge — the ratio stays the same.

That’s the magic of pi.

Why Does Pi Matter?

Pi shows up in far more places than you might expect.

It helps scientists and engineers understand anything involving circles, curves, or rotation.

Pi is used in:

architecture and engineering
astronomy and space science
computer graphics
physics
robotics
even understanding waves and sound

In other words, pi isn’t just a math concept — it’s a number that helps explain the world around us.

Spark Celebrates Pi Day!

Every year on March 14 (3/14), Spark celebrates Pi Day.

It’s a fun way to recognize the famous number — and it’s also the perfect excuse to explore circles, math, and yes… pie.

At TELUS Spark Science Centre, Pi Day turns into a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning.

Celebrate Pi Day at TELUS Spark Science Centre

This year, Pi Day activities take over the building with interactive experiments, playful challenges, and plenty of circular inspiration.

Musical Pi-ano

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Atrium

You may have tasted a pie — but have you ever heard one sing?

Spark’s food piano is back with a delicious twist. Electric impulses transform real pies into musical notes, turning your favourite desserts into a melody.

It’s science, music, and pie all in one experiment.

Super-Sized Circumference Circle

All Day | Atrium

Pi might be a mathematical constant, but it’s always good to double-check.

In this giant interactive activity, you can walk the measurements yourself. Follow the lines and test whether the ratio between the circle’s circumference and diameter really does equal 3.14.

Spoiler: it does.

Play-Dough Bakery

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Creative Kids Museum

There are so many delicious kinds of pie — and now kids can make their own.

In the Creative Kids Museum, young bakers can shape and design their own play-dough pies in the Creative Kid Kitchen.

It’s a sweet way to explore shapes, creativity, and a little math along the way.

Pi Day Scavenger Hunt

All Day | Throughout TELUS Spark Science Centre

Once you start looking, pi is everywhere.

From tiny circles to giant spheres, this scavenger hunt challenges curious explorers to spot circular shapes all around the science centre.

How many pieces of pi can you find hidden in everyday objects?

Pi Day Treats

From Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, you can also enjoy a few pie-inspired menu items:

Steak & Gravy Pie with Roasted Potatoes and Salad – $16
Pi Day themed sugar cookies

Because learning is always better with snacks!

Once You See Pi, You’ll Start Seeing It Everywhere

The coolest thing about pi is that it’s hidden all around us.

Every wheel, planet, bubble, and ripple in water follows the same mathematical relationship.

And once kids understand that circles follow a pattern, math suddenly becomes something they can see in the real world.

Not just numbers on a page.

Got a Science Question?

Curious about how something works? Leave your question in the comments below and our team might answer it in a future blog post.