Science Reviews

I swallowed it whole and it actually tasted like mars!

I never knew Mars tasted so good!

The little metal balls and the tips of the colored pieces have all turned color (black spots). It feels gross!! I hope it doesn't have lead in it.

I am a cell biologist and use microscopes daily in the lab. This microscope was purchased for my six year old son as a birthday gift. It gives bright and clear views with three objectives (4x, 10x, 40x), and it is easy to manipulate for a six year old. It has clean simple outlines and a very steady structure. It's a real microscope and great buy at that price.

I bought this scope for my granddaughter's Christmas present, and it is impressively built. Unfortunately, right out of the box, the head was loose, (but was fixed by tightening the three deeply recessed set screws with a jeweler's screw driver, even thought at first glance it appeared they were missing.), and to make matters worse, the bulb had blown during a factory test, and not replaced. So, if you are planning on buying one of these, get a spare bulb, which has no part number on it, so I am giving it to you here, and write it down,...15T7/CL/DC. Shop wisely, because these bulbs will range anywhere from $1.50 to $10.00. The microscope was excellent otherwise, and had high quality optics, and great "seeing". The light source is excellent, and is the best I have seen in an affordable microscope. It made me want to buy one for myself! This is definitely the one to buy if you want an affordable microscope, and I would recommend you spend the extra $40.00 or so over the cheaper ones to upgrade to this one.

We are using this microscope as amateurs - for general curiousity and eventually for homeschooling - and it has been just wonderful. It is also much easier to use than I remember my high school microscope being 25 years ago.

This scope is easy to focus and use (although I hesitate to let my 6 and 8 year old focus it at 40x due to the risk of cracking a slide), and it has bright lighting, crystal clear images, and sturdy metal construction!!

I initially balked at the price tag, but after the kids received an inexpensive scope that was terribly frustrating for them because they couldn't get a clear image (it had a mirror underneath that you had to move to reflect light), I decided to purchase this one.

This is such a timeless gift. And $100 spread across the next 10 years and three kids is really quite a good value!!

It has been weeks since Christmas Morning when we first set up the Sea Monkeys' tank. It wasn't until yesterday that we saw them for the first time.. just as I was about to dump the water... It's kind of cool now to see the little shrimp swimming around but the disappointment for the last weeks has not yet been made up for. maybe in time. The glow in the dark part is kind of cool.

I am 15 1/2, and haven't had sea monkeys in a while. (I had the ocean zoo) I just ordered this set, though. I do remember a couple things and this should help out the people sick of the pointless reviews about hoards of dead sea monkeys and kids that love them to death.

The most important ting about sea monkeys is that you must read the instructions! I can't stress this enough. You have to wait 24 hours for the chemicals in the water purifier to work the tank, so you might as well. The manual has a couple hidden things in it, so you really have to read most of it.

You also really need the million bubble pump. Its like $4 in the order form on the manual, and will keep them alive for at least a year. Mine lasted a year and a half, with the pump. (I forgot to revive them, though) So be nice and buy the stupid pump. Blowing straws into it and stirring with a spoon don't help at all, and that's probably the reason so many died in the opther reviews. (The aqua leash works a little bit, but its better if you just buy the million bubble air pump)

For parents: this is a good example for patience (it takes a week for them to become visible) and the cycle of life. After a couple months, they get born and die at about the same rate. They make a good first pet, or a good one for someone with fur allergies.

For offices and dorm rooms, they look cool and attract attention. For crazy-animal children, it might get boring for a little bit until 2 weeks when they're half an inch long. Sea Monkeys require very little care besides a weekly feeding and a daily pump with the million bubbles thing.

Also, try not to tip it over, as the top is really loose on it, and all of the water will come out.

Thanks, and I hoped this helped you all out. Sorry if it was a little bit long!

You certainly need to read the instructions before jumping in with these. We got them in the hopes that my 4 year old would enjoy them instead of the fish he was asking for. They are interesting, but after a while you kind of get bored. We'll be doing a fish tank for his Easter present. The sea monkeys though are easy to raise, easy to keep, and they seem dedicated to continuing the species. =) Due to their size though, there is only so much watching them you can do before you want to wander off and do something else. Having one of the keychains or other more portable containers would help though I'm sure.

The million bubbles thing is a must I think...really makes aerating the water much easier.