Ever since I can remember, my kids have liked the idea of
things blowing up.
When Jacob was two, I found him playing in the kitchen with
matches, and I asked him what he was doing. He said, “Making a bomb.”
I thought this would
pass. I was wrong.
Now my kids watch Brainiac: Science Abuse. (I’ve learned
that thermite is very cool.) And the Slo-Mo Guys.
I’ve learned about the Chemistry Dept. picnic where one
professor’s claim to fame is a very dangerous mixture of Mentos, soda and his
mouth. And I thought tying a cherry stem into a knot in my mouth was a cool
party trick. (Seriously, the Mentos/soda thing is very dangerous. Do not try it.)
My son Luke who’s in his senior year of a BS in chemistry
had a giddy look on his face the other day. I asked him what was up. He told me
he was doing Grignard reactions. They’re exothermic and have the potential to
go “boom.”
Yesterday, Luke and Jacob were discussing engineering. Jacob
is a freshman in college studying engineering. The subject came around to
nuclear engineering. My daughter Ariel sighed happily and said, “Nuclear engineering
uses partial differential equations.” I said, “And?” Her eyes lit up. “You
know, oscillations nearing infinity…well, boom!”
Even my daughter likes “Boom!”…okay, I like booms too. I get
giddy in thunderstorms. And my dad’s been known to go tornado chasing. I once
got a phone call from him when he was hiding under an interstate overpass,
watching a tornado. So I guess the kids come by it naturally.
