In a bioassay, a living organism serves as a detector for toxins-the same way canaries were used in coal mines to detect invisible toxic gases. In this project, water fleas (Daphnia magna), a freshwater crustacean, are used in a bioassay...

Water is a valuable resource many often take for granted. This exercise however gives you the opportunity to learn about and discover how greywater (water that has been used for washing or bathing) can be used for watering ornamental...

Soil and water conservation are important in the protection of the earth's natural resources. Read about the careers that study and encourage conservation. Find out about the educational requirements necessary to become a soil or water...

This project shows you how to build a simple model system to simulate underground water flow. Underground water flow is important for understanding replenishment of underground aquifers, migration of underground contaminant plumes, and...

In this cooking and food science fair project, measure how the water content of dried beans changes with time. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by...

Use this science fair project to learn how to test your soil to see if it is getting the right amount of water from the sprinklers. Project is set up beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a section on...

The career of hydrologist could become more and more important as the use of water increases. Find out about the education needed to become a hydrologist and read the Science Buddies profile about the many areas hydrologists use their...

Experiment with low-flow faucets and see how much water you can save in your home. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a section on terms,...

A quick summary of the water cycle that includes a diagram of the cycle, with links to in-depth explanations of each component of the cycle. Click "water-cycle home" to access water-cycle resources in a variety of languages.

Did you know that soils can be alkaline, neutral, or acidic? Most plants grow best in soil near neutral pH, but some plants prefer slightly acidic and others slightly alkaline soil. What is the pH of the soil in your garden? What happens...

PBS and the Online NewsHour have created this multimedia website about water recycling. You can see how this process is different than other waste water treatments by reading interviews, watching a slideshow or investigating a map of...

The Center for Science in the Public Interest offers a discussion of contaminants that can be found in tap water and chemicals added to water in the public water systems. The topics discussed are arsenic, parasites, lead, turbidity, and...

Watch out. It's Eddy Vortex, Superhero. He swirls, he tumbles, he churns up air and water. OK, maybe eddies and vortices aren't exactly superheroes, but they are powerful regions of air and water flow that you have to watch out for in...

When it comes to making ice cream, in order to make the mixture cold enough to freeze, you surround the container with ice and rock salt. This experiment helps you learn how the addition of salt (or other substances) affects the freezing...

Harmful algal blooms occur when algae, which form the base of the ocean food web, grow in massive numbers and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. In this project you will learn how to...

Here is an interesting project that could be approached from several different scientific angles: Environmental Science, Weather & Atmosphere, Chemistry, or Plant Biology. You can probably think of your own variations to emphasize...

The poet Carl Sandburg wrote, "The fog comes on little cat feet". In this weather science fair project, you'll discover why this beautiful, quiet creeper appears on some days, and not on others. If you are fascinated by fog and weather...

In this environmental science fair project, students will build models of fields prepared by plow-based and no-till methods, and see which ones are best at retaining soil moisture and preventing surface runoff.

A collection of downloadable, ready-to-use lessons and student worksheets aimed to raise awareness of the need for safe drinking water. Lessons are investigative in nature and utilize inexpensive materials that can be purchased at most...

An in-depth explanation of the Earth's water cycle, including a hyperlinked diagram that provides direct access to information about each phase in the cycle.

This site from the U.S. Geological Survey provides great definitions of seven measurements that can be taken on water. Includes pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.

It's hard to believe that the same water that you use every day to quench your thirst, cook with, bathe in, swim in, and wash your clothes and dishes, is capable of another trick-it can make electricity. Electricity can be generated...

Here is a cool project about making fresh water from salt water using solar power, also known as water desalination. The apparatus is made from readily available materials, and the power source is free. As an inventive thinker, you will...

In this activity, you will investigate some of the processes that make water move in and out of the atmosphere by making a miniature water cycle model inside a plastic bag.