Magnetite is a highly magnetic mineral; in fact, magnetite is the most magnetic of all naturally occurring minerals. It is black or brownish-black in color with a metallic luster. Its chemical composition is Fe3O4; in other words, it's composed of three iron atoms and four oxygen atoms. It can be fo

According to Aquascapes of Connecticut, a waterfall "will always look better and more natural if large, irregular stones are used in the construction." If you do want to use small stones, keep your waterfall small in proportion to the size of the stones. A small trickle of water will look quite peac

The original nine Beanie Babies, plush animals filled with small PVC beads, were released by TY in 1993 and sparked a fad that lasted until around the end of the decade. Since then, many new members of the family have been added, leaving a variety of choices to select from when incorporating them in

The Wright brothers made their first successful attempts at flight in a fixed-wing aircraft on December 17, 1903. Since then, mankind has been involved in a steady pursuit of ever-increasing airspeeds. The speed at which any given plane travels is subject to many different variables and can be measu

Powerline networks use the electrical wires in a building to carry signals for a local area network, instead of using separate network cables. At the time of publication powerline networks can achieve speeds up to 200 megabits per second, which is twice as fast as a network using fast Ethernet. If y

The ability to administer electric currents led to a revolution in technology that transformed day-to-day life. From simple electric lighting to complex electronics, administering the flow of electric charge in a controlled manner can allow us to achieve goals unimaginable without this skill. Under

Catch basins serve to direct the flow of water to control erosion and to eliminate the problems associated with standing water and flooding. Most often used in a municipal setting, catch basins are also helpful in residences where roof runoff creates a drainage problem for the homeowner or his neigh

When designing and building a piece of furniture, you need to make sure that the dimensions are correct to allow the component pieces to fit together properly. Cabinet makers need to use geometrical calculations when drawing their intended design. The geometrical measurements used by cabinet makers

Genuine jade can be one of two different minerals: jadeite or nephrite. And true jade might not be green. Jadeite is a very rare mineral. The highest quality jadeite is found in Burma, but the mineral is also found in a few other areas around the world. Although jadeite is usually green, it can also

Lionel trains are one of the more popular model railroad brands available. Featuring larger train cars and track sizes, Lionel's classic layouts are often found at shows, shopping malls and the homes of hobbyists. Many model railroad enthusiasts maintain their Lionel train layouts for years wit

A fossil is a trace of a living organism that lived in prehistoric times. Although we often find fossils when we dig down through layers of rock, fossil formation is actually quite rare. The fossilization process can only occur in certain conditions, such as when volcanic ash traps an organism or wh

U.S. postage stamps have been in circulation since 1847, and thousands of stamps have since been issued. Determining the value of a stamp takes a certain amount of research and investigation. In addition to rarity and demand, U.S. stamp values are determined by their grade, which is a combination of

Polymer clay isn't technically clay, as it is formed from chemical compounds and not mined from the earth. However, it is popular for use in jewelry-making, creating miniatures and for children's projects because it is easy to work with and most brands offer a wide range of colors. In addition, a ki

Vacation Bible Dchools (VBS) are a form of religious education for children and teens. In a way, Vacation Bible Dchools provide an added dimension to the lessons learned in Sunday school, offering children spiritual guidance and a chance to deepen their understanding of the Bible stories.

Plant stands can be made from many types of materials including PVC pipe. Most types of plant stands are square but you can easily make one that is in the shape of a pyramid. This will require making cuts into the PVC pipe to form the necessary shape for the plant stand. To do this you will first ne

The Neolithic era, or period, is sometimes called the "New Stone Age." Preceding the Bronze Age and following the Mesolithic, it is characterized as the period in which early humans moved away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and began to cultivate agriculture and establish farming settlements by us

Water loss and arid conditions are stresses that have forces plants to evolve strategies that can counter their effects. Photosynthesis is key to plant life. This article will discuss the specific adaptations of big bluestem of the prairie. So superior is its ability to cope with the stresses of thi

Glass cutting skills come with experience. The thought of cutting circles or inverted curves in stained glass will seem impossible to beginners. The threat of getting cut is also a concern. Teach glass cutting to students by showing them the tools, demonstrating how to score and break the glass and

Most cells and bacteria are far too small to be seen with the naked eye. To study and describe them, biologists use a microscope. Compound light microscopes focus visible light rays to form an enlarged real image.

Synthetic crystals have a variety of scientific and decorative uses.crystal image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.comCrystals are special structures that occur frequently in nature. The resulting gemstones and mineral formations are both beautiful and useful. Lab-created crystals are similar to...