It is that time of the year again: The holiday season has started. If you are still searching for the perfect present for chemists or science fans among your friends, family, or colleagues, we can help: ChemistryViews and Wiley/Wiley-VCH Editors recommend science-themed presents below.
Games, Toys & Crafts
 |
This board game lets one to four players design a scientifically managed zoo and support conservation projects. It requires them to balance visitor attraction with animal protection, build enclosures, choose animals, and look for sponsors to create the most successful zoo. Lisa Pecher, Angewandte Chemie
|
 |
These natural wood planks can be used by builders two years and up. The toy teaches science concepts intuitively through building, and the only rule is set by gravity. Susanne Poth, ChemCatChem and ChemistrySelect
|
 |
This board game was developed by researchers to showcase the work done at the Diamond Light Source (the UK’s national synchrotron science facility) and shows players what it is like to work in scientific research. It can be printed at home and lets two to five players manage a diverse range of scientific projects using synchrotron beamlines. Lisa Pecher, Angewandte Chemie
|
 |
Black 3.0 – The World’s Blackest Black Acrylic Paint This paint absorbs up to 99 % of visible light and provides a very matte finish for your projects. However, you can only buy it if you promise you are not Anish Kapoor, a British-Indian sculptor who has an exclusive license for the artistic use of Vantablack, a different type of super-black coating. This exclusivity inspired the development of Black 3.0. David Peralta, ChemMedChem
|
 |
STEM Toys & Jigsaw Puzzles For Kids These problem-solving games, puzzles, and toys are based on real-world STEM subjects. They aim to stimulate children’s curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Claudia Ley, Wiley-VCH
|
Apparel
 |
Schrödinger’s Cat Revenge T-Shirt This shirt is fun for fans of quantum theory. David Peralta, ChemMedChem
|
Home & Desk Decor
 |
Chemistry-Themed Art Prints These prints feature brilliant chemistry-based art, putting the molecules that make our daily lives more pleasant into focus—covering subjects from honey over maple syrup to beer! Axel Straube, ChemistryOpen and ChemistrySelect
|
 |
The “Gömböc” is a physical example of a class of three-dimensional bodies that, when resting on a flat surface, have only one stable and one unstable equilibrium point. The existence of this class of bodies was conjectured in 1995—and now you can buy your own. Xin Su, Angewandte Chemie
|
Food & Drinks
 |
These kits include a range of aromas found in either white or red wine, along with a book. They train you to better analyze the wines that you taste. Charlotte Gers-Panther, ChemCatChem
|
Books
 |
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures This book is a journey into the secret world of fungi. It covers, e.g., yeast, psychedelics, fungi that range for miles underground, and those that infiltrate and manipulate insects. David Peralta, ChemMedChem
|
 |
The Carbon Footprint of Everything This book gives a breakdown of the carbon footprint of different items, which allows readers to calculate their contribution to climate change and compare it to other contributors. It features easy-to-follow charts and graphs and includes updates that consider the effects of the pandemic on global supply chains. Vera Köster, ChemistryViews
|
 |
What If? 2 This book provides answers to the weirdest questions you never thought to ask, such as “Can you ride a fire pole from the moon back to Earth?”, “Could we cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time?”, or “What would happen if you built a billion-story building?” Lisa Pecher, Angewandte Chemie
|
 |
Lessons in Chemistry This novel is about a female scientist who reluctantly becomes a TV chef in the early 1960s. It covers themes such as feminism and women’s empowerment with wry humor. Rachel Schmidt-Radde, Angewandte Chemie, and Anne Deveson, ChemistrySelect
|
 |
Randomly Generated Mathematics Textbooks These books are generated by Mathgen, a program that randomly generates professional-looking mathematics papers. They make a great joke gift. Each volume contains over 300 pages of guaranteed mathematical rubbish and an exhaustive bibliography of non-existent references. For each copy sold, USD 5.00 are donated to the American Mathematical Society in support of actual research. Xin Su, Angewandte Chemie
|
 |
A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them This book is a tale of murders and poisons, with cases drawn from historical records and current news—for enthusiasts of medicine, popular science, and true crime. David Peralta, ChemMedChem
|
 |
The Mind of a Bee This book gives insight into the development and expression of intelligence in bees, not just as swarm creatures but also as individuals. For example, bees are the fastest learners in the animal kingdom when it comes to associating colors with rewards and they can sense magnetic fields. Greta Heydenrych, now Executive Director at IUPAC
|
 |
Thicker than Water In this audiobook, a whistleblower tells the captivating story of the infamous Theranos scam. In 2003, Elizabeth Holmes founded the health technology company Theranos, which claimed to have developed a revolutionary method for easy, low-cost blood tests. However, this claim turned out to be false: Holmes has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to over eleven years in prison. Catharina Goedecke, ChemistryViews
|
If you have already found the perfect gift, you can add your own suggestions in the comment section below.
For even more suggestions, check out our lists of gift ideas from previous years.
Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegaral’s children’s book series, Little People, BIG DREAMS or Pequeña & GRANDE, as the Spanish original is called. Meanwhile, the books are available in many languages. They introduce children to scientists, artists, and pioneers who had a great impact on the world
https://littlepeoplebigdreams.com/?s=scientist