Feature

Science in a Stocking

Tired of giving underpants, socks and perfumes for Christmas presents? Why not try something a little more interesting for your nearest and dearest. Take a wander down to your local science centre, museum or observatory for gift ideas -- many of them have associated shops which stock posters, books, toys and kits.

Genea Instone of Science Alive! in Christchurch says that metal gyroscopes are good value at $14.95. They're virtually indestructible and will spin on the end of anything, including pens and fingertips, and fascinate kids of all ages. Inflatable globes (from $12.95) showing the world's tectonic plates or endangered animal distribution make a more interesting beach ball than the usual kind.

Nature's Window in Milford Mall, Auckland, has found various desktop "executive toys" popular, such as oil-and-water timers (from $12.95), magnetic paperweights with piles of metal dolphins or spiders ($14.95), or the traditional Newton's Cradle set of swinging balls. If you want to light up someone's life, lava lamps (from $139) have made a comeback with new rocket-shaped versions that update this 1970s icon. Plasma balls range from $150 to $1,600, complete with versions that pulse in time to music or other sound.

For the less economically challenged, antique shops or auctions can prove an interesting hunting ground for old instruments such as telescopes, microscopes and sextants that are functional as well as decorative. Team these up with a new book on a suitably related topic.

Bookstores aren't particularly good at stocking science books -- Unity Books in Wellington being one exception to the rule -- and you have to sort through the science and pseudo-science that tends to be shelved together. It's worth persevering because there are a great many beautifully produced books available.

Christmas 1988 saw lots of people puzzling over Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time -- if you were one of those who didn't quite make it all the way through that book, you might have better luck with the new edition (The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Bantam/Transworld; $59.95) which is expanded to include more information in the form of extra text and a host of explanatory illustrations. A good way to remember 1996 is with Eruption! Mount Ruapehu Awakes, by Bruce Houghton, Vince Neall and David Johnston (Viking/Penguin; $19.95). It's got great photos and informative text.

There's plenty of science activity books out these days for children, such as those produced by Osborne. Try sneaking a little science into a young life with Learning Media's Reading Science series. These are brilliant wee books ($5.95) written and illustrated by New Zealanders which wrap a story around simple science concepts across the four new Learning Strands (The Lunchbox deals with how things decay; Up Went Edmond with levers; A Name for Rabbit with the needs of living things; Rumble, Rumble, Boom with geological processes.)

There are 32 books in the series; they are officially aimed at 5-8 year-olds (Levels 1 and 2) but my pre-schoolers love them. If you're feeling particularly generous, shout your local primary school or kindy a set ($42.16), and make a teacher's day by getting the Teachers' Guide ($24.95) as well -- the 64-page guides are packed with information and ideas for extension work related to the books in each Learning Strand and come complete with photcopiable activity sheets.

Dinosaurs and astronomical topics continue to prove popular, from books to glow-in-the-dark solar system mobiles. Auckland and Carter Observatories both produce astronomical yearbooks that contain useful information. Astronomy posters ($15-$30) and stickers ($3-$4.50) are a hit at the Auckland Observatory shop which also has a mail order catalogue for orders from around the country.

For those with Web access and a credit card, things are even easier with the ever-expanding number of businesses offering their goods in the electronic marketplace -- you can buy everything from a sliver of Martian meteorite to an inflatable life-size killer whale on the Net. One enterprising New Zealander offers a great wee pocket astronomical diary crammed with all manner of useful information for the star-gazer and personalised for locations around the world. (The site, complete with pages in German, French and Italian, is at http://www.rat.de.apd/apd. htm

Vicki Hyde, NZSM

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.