November 30th, 2010 • 04:11
2010 Holiday Gift Guide
Behold, for the 2010 CENtral Science Holiday Gift Guide for the chemist in your life has arrived. Granted, we’re a touch late for Chanukah this year (unless you’re a last-minute shopper), but take advantage of that 8-day grace period, folks. We’ve got some good stuff here. And feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments or check out last year’s gift guide.
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- Science literature means more than journal articles. Three noteworthy books made it to Amazon’s Best of 2010 list: “The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks” (#1), “The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World From the Periodic Table of the Elements” (#100), and “The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York” (#84).
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- What crocheting chemist wouldn’t love to unwrap a peppy little methane ($15) or a venti caffeine ($70)? Etsy purveyor prim&plush can hook you up.
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- For a unique gift, the genetics testing company 23andme is offering their kit for $99 until 12/25 (usually $499). Pair it with a copy of Misha Angrist’s “Here is a Human Being” to fill the void before the kit results are returned.
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- Need to dress up that bottle of wine? We’ve got three options for you, all for a mere $15: WINe, VInO, and BrIBe.
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- Trim your lab tree with these festive wooden element ornaments. Get a set of five for $14.50 or the whole kit-and-kaboodle for $255.
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- Perennial favorite Made With Molecules is featuring pinene as its 2010 holiday ornament ($24).
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- Etsy shop QueInteresante is featuring nifty labels ($1-$22) to transform ordinary Crayolas into chemistry crayons. Perfect for the Little Einstein who always wonders which chemicals look like cerulean blue (aqueous CuSO4).
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- If the little chemist in your life prefers experiments to coloring, try out the Potato Chip Science Kit ($10.77).
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- For the tiniest chemist in your life, CafePress has a bounty of bodysuits. For older kids and grownups, Zazzle.com and Yellowibis.com have plenty of offerings as well.
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- This Erlenmeyer Flask Love Fine Silver necklace is perfect for either the one whom you fell in love with in the lab or the one who loves the lab a bit too much ($50).
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- Help your science fashionista keep her toes warm this winter with these funky socks ($7.50) at Sock It To Me. The safety googles are a nice touch.
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- We nearly swooned over this whimsical miniature chemistry set in hand-blown glass ($74). Individual pieces are also available at the Kiva Ford Glass shop on, you guessed it, Etsy.com.
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- Sure, an iPad ($499 and up) is a pretty nifty gadget. But add The Elements app ($13.99), and it becomes a nifty chemistry gadget.
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- This next suggestion is for all women who have quested for and queried about flattering and functional lab coats. Custom seems to be the answer for now, and sewists could win Gift of the Year. KwikSew 3347 (PDF) is a good basic pattern, with waist shaping from a buttoned belt in the back. Check out the mandarin collar zip-front coat in New Look 6163 – just add patch pockets. And for a fashonista lab coat, tackle the unbelted version, view B, of Burda 7786. It has darts and curved seams to flatter feminine figures.
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- Someone’s lab or office space need some chemical-izing? Try some removable vinyl decals. This set of six decals from Sissy Little is $79. Lovesick Robot Designs (right) has some premade decals for laptops ($8) and walls ($17) but can also make a custom molecule for a few bucks more.
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