Things That Go Boom—on Purpose!

Students cover their ears as a balloon filled with hydrogen and oxygen bursts during the Chemistry Department’s Desserts and Demos Night on April 15. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)

Anyone who (misguidedly) thinks chemistry isn’t fun obviously hasn’t been to the PLU Chemistry Department’s annual Desserts and Demos Night. Held every April around Earth Day, Desserts and Demos is an outreach event that brings students and teachers from local schools to campus for liquid-nitrogen ice cream and desserts, hands-on chemistry activities and flashy chemical demonstrations by faculty and Chem Club students. This year’s event was held April 15 in the Rieke Lobby and Open Chem Lab, where science projects popped, banged, flashed, glowed and even oozed—and science fans oohed and ahhed (and covered their ears).—Sandy Deneau Dunham, PLU Marketing & Communications