This four-volume reference presents 100 experiments and projects that students in middle school and up can replicate or use as a springboard for their own projects in the earth, life, and physical sciences. Each of 50 subject-specific chapters (arranged alphabetically by scientific concept) is devoted to a topic such as acid rain, biomes, chemical energy, flight, greenhouse effect, optics, solar energy, stars, volcanoes, and weather, among others. Each contains two experiments and a "design your own experiment" section. Other features include words to know (with a cumulative glossary at the beginning of each volume), an experiments by scientific field index, sidebar boxes, and about 150 photographs and 300 drawings illustrating specific steps in the experiments. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)