Holiday Gift Ideas

Department: Newscripts
Keywords: gift guide, molecular jewelry, molecular gastronomy, coctail science, periodic table games

Are those chestnuts we smell roasting on your Bunsen burner? It must be that time of year again, and the Newscripts gang has been wading through sites on the Internet to find the perfect gifts for the chemistry lover in your life. Here are a few of our favorites. Visit the Newscripts blog (cenblog.org/newscripts) for our complete holiday gift guide.

Once you've collected all your holiday loot, you'll surely want to send out a few thank-you notes. We found the perfect ones ($10 for a pack of six) at the gentlemanscientistco shop on Etsy.com.

Credit: The Gentleman Scientist

Periodic Quest ($25 from ThinkGeek or Amazon) is a great way to show off your chemistry know-how to Uncle Al during family get-togethers. The board game can be played by up to eight people aged eight and up, so it's a perfect diversion while the turkey is roasting.

Credit: ThinkGeek

If you’re going to be enjoying a beverage, shouldn’t you be using a coaster? Show off your chemical acumen while protecting your furniture with these elemental coasters from bplusshop.com. Choose cherrywood or neon-hued plastic ($20 for a set of four).

Credit: B+ Shop

Kick the cocktails at your holiday party into the 21st century with Molecule-R’s Cocktail R-Evolution ($60). The molecular mixology kit includes five premeasured food additives, three specialized tools, and a 30-recipe DVD that will teach you how to make mojito bubbles that explode in your mouth, among other potent potables.

Credit: Molecule-R

The Newscripts gang thinks diamonds are a surefire winner in the gift department. But if that’s out of your budget this season, consider the diamond molecule ring ($95) from slashpiledesigns.com, or opt for an entirely different allotrope with buckyball earrings ($25) from Etsy.com’s Stark060.

Credit: Slashpile Designs

Credit: Stark060

Bethany Halford wrote this week’s column. Please send comments and suggestions to newscripts@acs.org.