Science Mein Twist on National Geographic Channel tries to make science exciting and accessible for children. The ten part series is hosted by a 13-year-old boy, Aavik and a 16 yr old girl, Khyati. These kids are bitten by the curiosity bug and are all set to explore different aspects of science. In this journey they play scientific pranks on one another, meet experts, visit labs, factories and even go on a trek.
The series covers different topics varying from sound to space, from genetics to geoscience. Each episode has a series of energetic, interesting experiments through which the child can understand different aspects of science. The show also tries to show that science is universal not just for the city kid; so there are interesting aspects of science in villages that has been woven into the show. Some cutting edge, futuristic developments in science have also woven into the episode to excite the child into exploring career options in science.
Science Mein Twist is not about formulas or textbooks; it tries to make science vibrant and fun and highlights how science powers most things in our everyday life. Its a cool, fun way to approach science that will resonate with children all over.
EPISODE 1: CHEMISTRY
Khyati sets a trap to catch Aavik RED handed. And this takes us into the mad world of chemical fun! Aavik and Khyati explore how to light a bulb with lemons and how to clean silver using chemistry instead of polish. Khyati visits a potter to see the chemistry of glazes. And Aavik changes the colour of water magically using an indicator. And then they explore the nanoworld to see how things behave differently when they are really tiny.
Figure out how Chemistry is everywhere on this episode of Science Mein Twist!
EPISODE 2: MECHANICS
Guess what Aavik and Khyati are up to? They are building a remote tranporter, their own invention that connects pulleys, seesaws, inclined planes, balloons and cars to carry the remote control to them. Its their biggest build ever!
And the fun doesnt stop here they race cars and build a CD model that works like a yo-yo. They also head off to an amusement park to check out the physics there. Aavik heads to a small village in Uttarakhand to see how the waterwheel is used to grind flour and create electricity.
And finally they see how mechanics may change the future with advances in robotics.
A whirlwind tour of the mad world of mechanics on this episode of Science Mein Twist.
EPISODE 3: MICROBIOLOGY
Its all about good bugs and bad bugs on this episode of Science Mein Twist.
Khyati and Aavik decide to prepare their favourite microbial dish bread! On the side Aavik makes fungus sandwiches to see how mould grows in different conditions! More baking follows but this time it is mud! Khyati and Aavik see whether microbes help or hinder the growth of plants. Then Aavik heads off to a village to see how microbes help in the production of biogas. And then its all about bad bugs HIV, malaria and swine flu. And finally we head to a lab to see scientists who are on the verge of a breakthrough for a new vaccine. Who knew there were so many facets to microbes?
EPISODE 4: LIGHT
Khyati has figured a fun way to paint with light! Watch Aavik and Khyati explore the magic of light on this episode of Science Mein Twist they make photograms and create optical illusions. And then they figure out how lenses work. They even manage to put together a homemade spectroscope that can split light up!
They explore how light bends and how this is used in fibre optics. And they finish up with a little laser shopping. A fun filled journey into the world of light!
EPISODE 5: HEAT
A mindbender for Aavik: Khyati has an egg inside a bottle. But the egg is bigger than the mouth of the bottle!! How does Khyati manage to get it in? Aavik figures out the funda of this anda and the scientific duo enter the world of heat in this episode of Science Mein Twist. Lots of cool, or rather hot stuff follows building a solar cooker, a flask for daadi and a hot air balloon. Khyati heads off to a small village to see how a clay refrigerator works and Aavik sees how heat is used to delicious effect in a biscuit factory. A host of fascinating stuff that shows almost nothing can happen without heat and heat transfers!
EPISODE 6: GEOSCIENCE
In this episode Aavik and Khyati trek through the Himalayas to explore the magic of Earth Science. Aavik is on a rock trail and they figure out a host of interesting facts about different kinds of rocks. They travel to a village to understand how different methods are used for rainwater harvesting and they see the connection between forest cover and erosion. After minor adventures like losing their way, they end up at the marvelous underground limestone caves in Patal Bhunaneshwar.
Through all this adventure and excitement they learn how many resources the Earth offers us and how we need to value and preserve these.
EPISODE 7: GENETICS
Aavik and Khyati are on the gene trail today. Aaviks pizza is stolen and he decides to use genetics to find the pizza thief! They extract Khyatis DNA from a saliva sample and Aavik heads off to a lab to see how they can do the same with a strand of hair. They then work out how DNA can be art too!!!
Its all about genes and chromosomes next. They try to figure why we look the way we do and how its easier for some traits to be passed on than others. They also explore how genetics can be used to help endangered species, how a plant can be genetically modified and a little bit about cloning. A fun filled episode that shows us how genetics is truly extending the boundaries of science!
EPISODE 8: SOUND
Khyati and Aavik start their journey into the world of sound by exploring the acoustics of the ancient Golconda Fort in Hyderabad. They then figure out the mystery of the singing tree! They work out the properties of sound how it travels through different mediums, how does hearing work, do girls have higher pitched voices than boys. They then go on a decibel tour to explore how the intensity of sound varies in different settings. Khyati then heads off to a hospital to see how sound we cannot hear ultrasound can help us see images in a womb. Then they put together a speaker a woofer, no less. And end up at a movie theatre to see how sound is engineered to maximum effect!
EPISODE 9: SPACE
The wonders of space preoccupy Khyati and Aavik on this episode of Science Mein Twist. They figure out a bit about how it is like to live in a spacecraft and what micro-gravity is. And then they head off to ISRO The Indian Space Research Organisation to see what it takes to put together a lunar mission like Chandrayaan-I and even manage to get their own personal images of the moon taken by Chandrayaan I. They find out what kind of tests need to be done before a spacecraft is launched.
And then its all about satellites. They actually see Oceansat II being tested before it is launched. And they learn about the first Indian satellite, which will be used exclusively for education.
A sure fire way to spark off your interest in space!
EPISODE 10: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
Aavik amazes Khyati by managing to bend water to his will! Its all a matter of static electricity. Our scientific duo set out to explore the magic of electricity and magnetism on this episode of Science Mein Twist. They figure out how to build a burglar alarm to keep out Khyatis snooping sister. And then Khyati manages to spook Aavik using magnets. They figure out how electromagnetism can get their bedside lamp to work and manage to get a pencil to float in mid-air using magnets. All in all a magical electro-magnetic tour into one of most fascinating aspects of science!
