Whether you’re tempted to spoil a loved one or just treat yourself, this season brings a variety of science-licious items to satiate the holiday season’s gifting hunger. Find gifts for the young and the mature alike below.
PHOTO VIA ETSY
Dinosaur skull prints
These handmade two-colour prints are made by the Toronto-based couple Fabled Creative. They include posters of dinosaur skulls, ideal wall art for dino-enthusiasts.
Available from Fabled Creative on Etsy, $27.48
PHOTO VIA ETSY
Science-themed coasters
These colourful coasters are a great way to prevent cup stains on your wooden furniture. With a cup in hand, you can start conversations or learn interesting facts about your favourite topic — be it math, statistics, chemistry, or biology.
Available from TheChemistTree on Etsy, $38.47
PHOTO VIA AMAZON
Space capsule tea infuser
Capturing the splashdown of astronauts in the ocean after returning from space, this capsule holds loose leaf tea for an “out of this world” brewing experience.
Available from ThinkGeek on Amazon from $13.99
PHOTO VIA ETSY
Crocheted organs and cells
PurpleLilacAmigurumi is a science crochet store created by U of T PhD candidate Tahani Baakdhah. A number of cuddly, detailed crochets of organs and cells are available, as Baakdhah uses her skills with yarn to communicate her science knowledge.
Available from PurpleLilaAmigurumi on Etsy, starting at $4.12
PHOTO VIA MASTERMIND TOYS
Build your own jet engine
A DIY project for the turbo-lover, this is a simplified working model of a two-spool turbofan engine.
Available through Mastermind Toys, $39.99 on clearance
PHOTO VIA THINKGEEK
Hatching dinosaur candle
This egg-shaped candle burns to reveal the porcelain figurine of a hatchling dinosaur.
Available through ThinkGeek, USD$29.99
PHOTO VIA AMAZON
Cuddly microbes
Pathogens are not really that bad; they’re just misunderstood. So cuddle with plushy versions of microbes responsible for the flu, common cold, or staph infections.
Available through Amazon, starting at $12.95
PHOTO VIA SPARKFUN
Weather station kit
This build-your-own weather monitoring kit contains a rain gauge, an anemometer to measure wind speed, and a wind vane for direction. It will ensure that you always have an answer to the question, ‘what’s the weather like outside?’
Available at Sparkfun, USD$76.95
PHOTO VIA FAT BRAIN TOYS
Edible chemistry kit
It’s like a collaboration between Willy Wonka and a chemist!
Available from Fat Brain Toys, $26.37
PHOTO VIA YAS PETIT POULET
Queer Chemistry enamel pins
These are an elegantly designed series of enamel pins by Toronto-based artist Yas Petit Poulet, dealing with questions of self-identification, labelling, and acceptance. Through Queer Chemistry, marginalized gender identities, sexual identities, and labels of attraction are presented in the form of chemical elements in the periodic table.
Available from Yas Petit Poulet, $10.00
