25 Reaching Out

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Reaching Out Liquid nitrogen (noun). The liquid form of nitrogen. It's super cold. So cold that it could burn you. Just like you would never drink boiling oil, you'd never drink this. It's that cold. "I WANT TO USE MY MONEY to do a livestreaming event," I said. "Maybe we could do science experiments on the internet like you do, Dr. Caroline. I could use my prize money to get all of the materials we'd need, and people might like them so much that they'd donate to the school. And maybe we could raise enough money to fund everyone's ideas. Phoenix could get composting bins for the garden and Elijah could start a battle of the bands!" "Woo-boy!" Dr. Caroline put her hand up to her forehead like it was blazing hot. "That's a lot of ideas." "We have two fifth grade classes," said Birdie. "So forty of them." "You want to do a science show like mine?" asked Dr. Caroline, after she was quiet for a moment. I nodded. She looked like she was

thinking about something and then smiled. "Let's do it! Let's do it here and now. And it won't cost a thing. You can use your prize money as the first donation for the event. Let me just set up the livestreaming funding app on my phone, and we'll see what science fans all over the world will donate to fund these awesome ideas—ideas that will give you all even more learning opportunities. Plus, I've got the perfect bonus demo." She grabbed her phone. "While I'm doing this, why don't the rest of you take a five-minute water break?" That's when Jeremy came up to me. He hung his head. "I'm so, so sorry, Kate. For messing everything up. I think you really did figure out the best way to use the prize money." "Thanks," I said. "I hope this works and we can get those soccer goals you want." Jeremy nodded and I could see his parents standing nearby looking pretty serious. I'm sure he was going to get a very big lecture when he got home tonight. Dr. Caroline went back to the microphone. "Okay, everyone, it's time for our demo. And for our livestream fundraiser to begin." Dr. Caroline made a few taps on her cell phone and before we knew it, we were livestreaming a

fundraiser in our multipurpose room. She asked our AV guru, Ms. Gottfried, to film. Dr. Caroline looked at both Birdie and me. "I want you two to stand up onstage. We're going to make a cloud." That seemed just perfect. Because I was already on cloud nine. That means your happy place, according to my dad. Only Dr. Caroline was going to make an actual cloud. "This is my all-time favorite demo," said Dr. Caroline. "And it's my finale. Because I've gotta catch a plane home tonight!" The idea of Dr. Caroline leaving made me a little sad. But only just a smidge. Because there I was standing next to Dr. Caroline, who was about to do her favorite demo ever. With me. I just knew I would remember this day for the rest of my life. "We're going to make actual clouds inside the multipurpose room?" asked Birdie, who looked just as wowed as the audience. "Yes! Yes!" I was already clapping. "So right there you have a bucket of liquid nitrogen," said Dr. Caroline. She pointed to the white bucket. I knew that was when nitrogen, usually a gas, was cooled so much that it became a liquid. "It's super cold!" I said.

"Exactly!" exclaimed Dr. Caroline. "Almost negative 200 degrees Celsius. Don't touch it or drink it. Safety first. That's why I'm handing you all goggles"—I took a pink pair and Birdie grabbed a blue one—"and cryogenic gloves to protect your hands. And in this blue bucket I have hot water at about 80 degrees Celsius." "Hot!" I said, blowing up my cheeks. That's about 175o F. So, really hot! "Are you ready for this?" asked Dr. Caroline. "Oh yes!" I shouted. "So ready!" said Birdie. Dr. Caroline asked us to stand a few steps behind her as she put her goggles firmly on her head. "So you girls are going to count to three backward for me." "Three. Two. One!" we cried. And then Dr. Caroline poured the hot water into the bucket of nitrogen. There was a loud crackly sound. A cloud poofed into the air. It was so thick that I couldn't even see my gloves. "Oh, look look!" I shouted. "The liquid nitrogen turned into a gas. So cool!" Ms. Gottfried tossed Dr. Caroline her phone so that she could start filming from behind the cloud. The crowd gasped and hooted and hollered.

"That was beautiful," sighed Birdie. Kids and parents were out of their seats. The applause was super loud. "Nice job on the countdown, girls!" said Dr. Caroline. "What kind of change was that?" "A phase change!" I shouted. "That's right!" said Dr. Caroline. "The nitrogen molecules stayed the same, but the phase changed from liquid to gas." "Gas takes up more space than the liquid," I said, looking up as the clouds of vapor started to disappear. "Exactly," said Dr. Caroline. "The molecules are more separated. And when they move from gas to liquid, the molecules go from far apart to close together." "Just like when farm dogs herd sheep," added Birdie. "That's right! You guys are a great team," said Dr. Caroline. She glanced at her phone. "Guess what?! We definitely raised enough money to fund every kid's idea. And maybe a little to help out with the STEM Night next year." She pumped her arm into the air. Everyone cheered. Some people stomped on the floor with their feet.

"Science is awesome," I said. "You can say that again," said Dr. Caroline. "Science is awesome!" we all cheered. Dr. Caroline shut down the fundraising app and put her phone in her lab coat pocket. "Thanks so much for having me here tonight, folks. Now go out and have more fun. There are tons of hands-on stations. Stay curious!" Since science was involved—that definitely wouldn't be a problem.