Science Shop

After many requests from students and readers, Merlin Science and Science Explained have developed this website - offering a wide variety of products, customized with help from CafePress and chosen from the best that Amazon has to offer.
The products listed will be updated frequently, as new ones are added and old ones are discontinued, so buy the products you want now and return regularly to see what new products are on offer.

Scroll down if you want to browse or leap to a specific topic of Astronomy or Chemistry!

Astronomy Stuff

Gifts from CafePress or Telescopes from Amazon

Trucker Hat with zodiac constellations

These hats display the night sky as seen along the ecliptic (zodiac line) showing the Sun's path through the year.

To see the image better, here's a link to the entire file that I uploaded to CafePress.
(The images displayed are of much lower resolution than the actual printing.)
Use your Back Button to return here.

Cap with zodiac constellations

Tote Bag

The Tote Bag, on the left, shows the night sky with northern celestial hemisphere on front (click here to see the enitre file that I uploaded to CafePress) and southern celestial hemisphere on back (click here to see the enitre file that I uploaded to CafePress). Major are stars identified.

The Messenger Bag, on the right, shows the night sky maps of both northern and southern celestial hemispheres along with zodiac (click here to see the enitre file that I uploaded to CafePress), all printed on the front. Major stars identified.

Messenger Bag

Teddy Bear with star class mnemonic
"Wow! Oh, Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me Right Now Sweetie"

These cute teddy bears have on their chest the mnemonic used to
remember the spectral class of stars in the proper order.

"Wow! Oh, Be A Fine Girl/Guy, Kiss Me Right Now Sweetie"
with the starting letters in bright white to stand out.

The bear on the left says "Girl" and the bear on right says "Guy".

Soft plush fur, 11 inches tall with a red and blue bow and the T-shirt!

Teddy Bear with star class mnemonic
"Wow! Oh, Be A Fine Guy, Kiss Me Right Now Sweetie"

Tile Coaster with H-R diagram

Tile coaster displaying the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, or simply the H-R diagram, plots star color along the horizontal axis and luminosity along the vertical axis.

Measures 4.25” x 4.25” and 1/6-inch thick. Images are applied with a polyester resin that accepts dye as part of the coating. Four felt pads protect your furniture from scratches. Dishwasher safe. Not for use with abrasive cups and mugs.

Mousepad with the night sky as seen from the northern hemisphere with major constellations identified (including all zodiac).

Durable cloth top. Rubber backing prevents the mousepad from sliding. Machine washable.

Mousepad with constellations

BBQ Apron with star fields

This apron shows the night sky maps of both northern and southern celestial hemispheres along with zodiac (click here to see the enitre file that I uploaded to CafePress), all printed on the front. Major stars identified.

Ties at neck and waist. Two center-stitched bottom compartment pouches for keeping tools and recipes handy. 35% Cotton / 65% polyester blend, twill fabric. Machine washable and guaranteed.

This pillow displays the night sky as seen from the northern hemisphere with major constellations identifies (including all zodiac).

Measures 18" X 18" with an 11" X 11" image area. Made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering.

Throw Pillow with constellations

Each of these mugs, arranged from least to most expensive (left to right), display the night sky as seen along the ecliptic (zodiac line) showing the Sun's path through the year.
Mug with zodiac constellations	Large Mug with zodiac constellations	Stein with zodiac constellations

Each of these clocks, arranged from least to most expensive (left to right), show the night sky as seen from the northern hemisphere with major constellations identified (including all the zodiac).
Wall Clock with constellations	Large Wall Clock with constellations	Modern Wall Clock with constellations

And, of course, we've got lots of shirts!
There are so many styles to choose from, that it would clutter the page to show them all. Instead, I've only shown the most basic type and posted a brief description along with a link to CafePress where you can see a photo of the clothing and its details.
Note that no dark colored shirts are offered. That is because white is made transparent - and dark stars on a dark shirt do not show up against the black "night sky"! I understand that some folks want a little color, so some shirts come in pink or light blue but, if you chose those shirt colors, expect the stars to have that color too. (Actually, it's a nice effect.)
There are many styles to chose from but they come in two types.

Those on the left display sky maps of both northern and southern celestial hemispheres along with zodiac, printed on the front.

Those on the right, are printed with the night sky with northern celestial hemisphere on front and southern celestial hemisphere on back.

Women's Light T-Shirt

Women's Tank Top

Women's V-Neck T-Shirt

Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt

Women's Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Women's Plus Size Scoop Neck T-Shirt

Women's Plus Size V-Neck T-Shirt

Maternity T-Shirt

Value T-shirt not offered because cannot be printed both back and front

Jr. Spaghetti Tank not offered because cannot be printed both back and front

Men's Sleeveless Tee

Women's T-Shirt

Women's Light T-Shirt

Women's Tank Top

Women's V-Neck T-Shirt

Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt

Women's Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Women's Plus Size Scoop Neck T-Shirt

Women's Plus Size V-Neck T-Shirt

Maternity T-Shirt

Telescopes

You may be ready for a telescope. A good one costs plenty and a bad one is not worth owning at all. (So, kids, don't pester your parents. Telescopes are expensive! They are NOT toys!).
Here's a selection from Amazon that I believe are good value for money.

For young children, I highly recommend Celestron's FirstScope Telescope. It sits on a table top, so no tripod to trip over, and it's easy to use, so much more fun!		This portable refractor telescope comes with a carrying case and a (not particularly great) tripod but the diagonal eyepiece feature makes viewing comfortable.		This scope is not too expensive and with enough magnification to see Saturn's rings and the Galilean moons while also providing some detail to nebulae. And, during the day, you can use it to watch birds.		If you want something that actually looks like a telescope, this 127 mm (5'') Newtonian reflector is a great entry-level scope providing good optics at a low price.
The more serious amateur should focus on more advanced telescopes. Those listed here will provide magnification high enough to study lunar features, see planets as disks, some details in Saturn's rings and the Galilean moons will be more than specks. These scopes also provide ample aperture for inspecting faint nebulas and galaxies. These are all good instruments and arranged in increasing price - hopefully. you can find one that fits your budget. But don't simply go for the most expensive you can afford! Read each specification and review carefully and decide which is best for you. Money left in your budget can go towards extra eyepieces or a warm coat. (It gets cold standing around in the middle of the night!)

Chemistry Stuff

Gifts from CafePress or Chemistry Kits from Amazon

The Science Shop has dozens of chemistry subjects, each printed on nearly a hundred gifts, so there are thousands of possibilities to choose from! The best way to navigate this variety is to focus on an image or drawing that you like and use the link provided to leap to a selection of objects printed with that image. Then you can decide if you want the image on clothing, mugs, etc.

Of course, there are Perodic Tables (including the "long" format) - eight different fonts (styles) to choose from, printed on 90 different items!

Choose from one of the eight fonts (styles) depicted here

and leap to the page with items upon which it is printed!

Periodic Tables

Budding chemists and professional scientists will enjoy an object displaying the tools of the trade. These images are from early 20th century diagrams and arranged by themes, so you can choose the one that best suits your chemistry - or pick one that simply has drawings you like.

Intro to Chem - some basic techniques. Filtration of a mixture to remove particles from filtrate. Evaporation by gentle heating. Heating in the flame of a Bunsen burner. Determining the ratio in neutralization using a pair of burettes. Preparing ethanol and carbon dioxide from glucose fermentation by baker's yeast. Preparing acetylene by mixing calcium carbide with water.	Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Water series - chemistry of oxygen, hydrogen and water. Preparing hydrogen from acids. Preparing oxygen from potassium chlorate. Preparing hydrogen from iron and steam. Combing hydrogen and oxygen in a water-cooled eudiometer. Purifying water by boiling the water and condensing the steam. Using electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.	Click the image to see it at its full resolution.
Nitrogen & Sulphur series - chemistry of nitrogen and sulphur. Preparing nitric oxide from nitric acid and a metal, such as copper. Preparing ammonia from ammonium chloride. Preparing nitric acid from sodium nitrate and sulphuric acid. Preparing plastic sulphur by distilling sulphur from short-necked retort into water. Preparing hydrosulphuric acid by treating a sulphide with an acid. Preparing sulphur trioxide by heating sulphur dioxide and oxygen with a platinum catalyst.	Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Group 7 and 5 series - chemistry of fluorine bromine, chlorine, iodine arsenic and phosphorus. Preparing fluorine (at the anode) by the electrolysis of hydrofluoric acid. Preparing bromine by a mixture of sulphuric acid and a bromide. Preparing chlorine by heating manganese dioxide and hydrochloric acid. Preparing iodine by sublimation of crude iodine from a sand bath onto an inverted funnel. Marsh's test for arsenic. Preparing phosphine by heating phosphorus with potassium hydroxide.	Click the image to see it at its full resolution.
Chemical Engineering series - large scale production methods of common elements and compounds. Commercial production of nitric acid by heating sodium nitrate and sulphuric acid. Commercial production of phosphorus from bone ash or a pure mineral phosphate by heating the sand and carbon in an electric furnace. Commercial production of carbon disulphide using an electrical furnace. Commercial production of coal gas by heating coal in air-tight retorts. Commercial production of calcium oxide using a lime kiln. Commercial production of sodium hydroxide by electrolysis of sodium chloride using an Acker furnace. Commercial production of sulphuric acid by the chamber process. Commercial production of calcium carbide using a carbide furnace. Commercial production of aluminium by electrolysis.	Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Crystal series - preparation and classification of crystals. Preparing a small crystal by suspending a thread in a saturated solution. Isometric or regular system displays three equal axes, all at right angles. Tetragonal system displays two equal axes and one of different length, all at right angles to each other. Orthorhombic system displays three unequal axes, all at right angles to each other. Monoclinic system displays two axes at right angles, and a third at right angles to one of these, but inclined to the other. Triclinic system displays three axes, all inclined to each other. Hexagonal system displays three equal axes in the same plane intersecting at angles of 60 degrees, and a fourth at right angles to all of these.	Click the image to see it at its full resolution.

Chemistry Equipment

For those with a more historical mind, theses drawings of 18th Century Laboratory & Chemistry Apparatus come from "Elements of Chemistry, in a New Systematic Order, Containing All the Modern Discoveries" by Antoine Lavoisier (1790) as illustrated by Marie Anne Lavoisier (his wife).
All thirteen plates (plates 10 and 11 share one image) are reproduced in high quality, bringing modern computer imaging to centuries-old engravings. Marie Anne Lavoisier's talent and attention to detail prove her skills as an artist, illustrator and scientist.

Plate 1 cited in "CHAP. IV. Of Mechanical Operations for Division of Bodies.", "SECT. I. Of Trituration, Levigation, and Pulverization' and "SECT. II. Of Sifting and Washing Powdered Substances." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 2 cited in "CHAP. IV. Of Mechanical Operations for Division of Bodies.", "SECT. III. Of Filtration." and "SECT. IV. Of Decantation." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 3 cited in "CHAP. V. Of Chemical Means for separating the Particles of Bodies from each other; without Decomposition, and for uniting them again.", "SECT. III. Of Evaporation." and "SECT. IV. Of Cristallization." and "SECT. V. Of Simple Distillation." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 4 cited in "CHAP. VI. Of Pneumato-chemical Distillations, Metallic Dissolutions, and some other operations which require very complicated instruments.", "SECT. I. Of Compound and Pneumato-chemical Distillations." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.
Plate 5 cited in "CHAP. VIII. Of Operations upon Combustion and Deflagration.", "SECT. I. Of Combustion in general." and "SECT. IV. Of the method of Separating the different Gasses from each other." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 6 cited in "CHAP. III. Description of the Calorimeter, or Apparatus for measuring Caloric." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 7 cited in "CHAP. II. Of Gazometry, or the Measurement of the Weight and Volume of Aëriform Substances.", "SECT. II. Of the Gazometer." and "CHAP. VI. Of Pneumato-chemical Distillations, Metallic Dissolutions, and some other operations which require very complicated instruments., SECT. II. Of Metallic Dissolutions." and "CHAP. X. Of the Instruments necessary for Operating upon Bodies in very high Temperatures.", "SECT. I. Of Fusion." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 8 cited in "CHAP. II. Of Gazometry, or the Measurement of the Weight and Volume of Aëriform Substances.", "SECT. II. Of the Gazometer." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.
Plate 9 cited in "CHAP. II. Of Gazometry, or the Measurement of the Weight and Volume of Aëriform Substances.", "SECT. II. Of the Gazometer." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 10 cited in "CHAP. VI. Of Pneumato-chemical Distillations, Metallic Dissolutions, and some other operations which require very complicated instruments.", "SECT. III. Apparatus necessary in Experiments upon Vinous and Putrefactive Fermentations." Plate 11 cited in "CHAP. VIII. Of Operations upon Combustion and Deflagration.", "SECT. IV. Of the Combustion of Oils." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 12 cited in "CHAP. II. Of Gazometry, or the Measurement of the Weight and Volume of Aëriform Substances.", SECT. V. Of the necessary corrections upon the volume of the Gasses, according to the pressure of the Atmosphere." and "CHAP. VIII. Of Operations upon Combustion and Deflagration. SECT. III.", "Of the Combustion of Charcoal." and "SECT. VI. Of the Combustion of Ether." and "CHAP. X. Of the Instruments necessary for Operating upon Bodies in very high Temperatures.", "SECT. III. Of increasing the Action of Fire, by using Oxygen Gas instead of Atmospheric Air." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	Plate 13 cited in "CHAP. V. Of Chemical Means for separating the Particles of Bodies from each other; without Decomposition, and for uniting them again.", "SECT. V. Of Simple Distillation." and "CHAP. X. Of the Instruments necessary for Operating upon Bodies in very high Temperatures.", "SECT. II. Of Furnaces." Click the image to see it at its full resolution.

18th Century Laboratory & Chemistry Apparatus

Here you will find the Giants of Chemistry - portraits of some of the world's great chemists.

ROBERT WILHELM BUNSEN (German) 1811-1899 Invented many lecture-room and laboratory appliances (Bunsen burner); invented the spectroscope and with it discovered rubidium and caesium; greatly perfected methods of electrolysis, inventing a new battery; made many investigations among metallic and organic substances. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	JOHN DALTON (English) 1766-1844 Developed the atomic theory; made many studies on the properties and the composition of gases. His book entitled "A New System of Chemical Philosophy" had a large influence on the development of chemistry. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	HUMPHRY DAVY (English) 1778-1829 Isolated sodium, lithium, potassium, barium, strontium, and calcium by means of electrolysis; demonstrated the elementary nature of chlorine; invented the safety lamp; discovered the stupefying effects of nitrous oxide. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.
ANTOINE LAURENT LAVOISIER (French) 1743-1794 Famous for his care in quantitative experiments, for demonstrating the true nature of combustion, for introducing system into the naming and grouping of chemical substances. Executed during the French Revolution because of his connection with the government. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	MARIE ANNE LAVOISIER (French) 1758-1836, with her husband Antoine. Laboratory assistant to her husband, Antoine Lavoisier, and illustrator of much of his work. Fluent in French, English and Latin, she translated papers, edited her husband's reports and contributed to his success. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	DMITRI IVANOVITCH MENDELEEV (Russian) 1834-1907 Author of the periodic law; made many investigations on the physical constants of elements and compounds; wrote an important book entitled "Principles of Chemistry"; university professor and government official Click the image to see it at its full resolution.
HENRI MOISSAN (French) 1853-1907 Famous for his work with the electric furnace at high temperatures; prepared artificial diamonds, together with many new binary compounds such as carbides, silicides, borides, and nitrides; isolated fluorine and studied its properties and its compounds very thoroughly. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	JOSEPH PRIESTLEY (English) 1733-1804 School-teacher, theologian, philosopher, scientist; friend of Benjamin Franklin; discoverer of oxygen; defender of the phlogiston theory; the first to use mercury in a pneumatic trough, by which means he first isolated in gaseous form hydrochloric acid, sulphur dioxide, and ammonia. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.	WILLIAM RAMSAY (Scot) 1852-1916 Made many studies in the physical properties of substances; discovered helium; together with Lord Rayleigh and others he discovered argon, krypton, xenon, and neon; has contributed largely to the knowledge of radio-active substances, showing that radium gradually gives rise to helium; professor at University College, London. Click the image to see it at its full resolution.

Giants of Chemistry

There are far too many gift items to list but here's a few examples. Leap over to Merlin's Alchemy to choose from hundreds of different items. Clothing of all types (from T-shirts to maternity clothes), caps, blankets, yoga mats, bottles, bags and even teddy bears!

And much more - so start with a Merlin's Alchemy (Chemistry) and choose the perfect gift!

Chemistry Kits!

This low-priced and simple kit is for young children (8 - 12 years).

This is a very good kit with over a thousand child-safe experiments and procedures for 9 to 15 year olds.

This is a fun kit that suits the young Alchemists very well!

This kit demonstrates basic chemical laws properties to kids 8 years and older.

This excellent kit teaches, by experimentation, the most important chemistry topics to children 11 years and older.

Merlin Science offers self-paced, self-learning science courses specially created for distance (flexible) learners. Each course has computerized exams, unique features and a style best suited for teaching the subject.

Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry) is for younger students (up to highschool),
while Principles of Astronomy is for more advanced students (hobbyists & first-year university),
and Principles of Genetics is most suitable for very advanced students (at university).

However, every student is different and it would not be fair to generalize. So, visit Merlin's Academy where you can learn more about the courses, request free samples of each course (to download onto your computer) and enjoy the free online samples.