The North Star Science Store at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is a local secret for holiday shoppers who are looking for amazing, fun––and sometimes even secretly educational––gifts for all ages. The Fleet is open 365 days a year, so for procrastinators looking for that last-minute really cool gift—they’ve got it! They are even open on Christmas––but not until 11:30 a.m.
In order to cover all kinds of holiday gifting choices, they asked Senior Retail Manager Dave Miller & his amazing sales associate elves what the top sellers in science geekitude are—then added a bunch of staff picks!
Hoberman Sphere: A classic and a favorite of kids and adults everywhere. The sphere expands from 9″ to 30″ with a magical motion, using a combination of geometry, engineering, and beauty that amazes everyone that sees it. Everyone in the house should have their own, because nobody will want to share. It can be thrown, bounced, kicked, spun, rolled or suspended as a cool, kinetic mobile from the ceiling. This amazing toy is a tool for teaching and an object of art that’s both educational and fun. Age 4+. $19.99
Nebula Balls: If you are looking for a cool light show for parties or an educational demonstration, these plasma balls blow people’s minds. There is something to be said about our fixation with electricity. If Tesla wasn’t so obsessed with his inventions, we wouldn’t even be using electricity right now! The inert gasses inside the blown glass ball create plasma when charged. However, one does not truly understand its beauty until you have seen it for yourself. Two sizes available. $21.99 and $49.99
Ultimate Geek Pen: Five awesome tools, and yes, it does write too! The best tool for writing in the dark; a UV light, red laser pointer, and bright white LED too! This high tech gadget has enough bells and whistles to make most geeks drool. Twist the shaft one way and you get a ballpoint pen, the other for a stylus tip for PDAs and games. The top button turns on the laser pointer, the bottom button cycles through the flashlight and UV light; it even has a flexible rod for precision aiming! $14.99
Medusa Jellyfish Lamp: You will feast on the beautiful eco-jellyfish scene. And you can take from the jellyfish tank: colorful jellyfish are relaxing to watch as they swim leisurely! And it has a four-hour cut off switch, perfect for a child’s night light! Lifelike jellyfish movement. With three small jellyfish. Multi-color changing light effects. Two sizes available. $24.95 and $49.99
The store staff made these recommendations:
Astronaut Ice Cream: There is no place like space to enjoy a delicious ice cream. Super yummy! Find the great-tasting freeze dried snack that astronauts eat and love; add all your favorite flavors and enjoy! Originally developed for the early Apollo Space missions, it’s frozen to -40 degrees, vacuum dried and placed in a special foil pouch. $3.99
T3 Transforming Solar Robots: Science fiction buffs, child or adult, can mentally transform themselves into stalwart galactic knights (dedicated to the struggle between “Good versus Evil”) with this award-winning 70-piece T3 Transforming Solar Robot kit. Animated by solar energy, the Robot changes into three intergalactic designs. $24.99
“Geek Guide to World Domination”: From the massive mind of an alpha-geek come hacks, puzzles, and fantastically useless facts no self-respecting geek can possibly live a second longer without. Some of the delights you’ll peruse: Five Thought Experiments You Can Do Without Getting Out of Bed, Spam Haiku, Futurama Quotes, and How to Ask Where the Bathroom is in Twelve Different Languages. $13.95
Visit the Fleet online at www.rhfleet.org.
