Have you ever noticed that if you leave something outside through the summer or in a window that gets a lot of sunlight that it starts to fade in color over time? What is it about the Sun that makes this happening?

Energy from the Sun travels to Earth as light waves. There are certain light waves, called ultraviolet waves, that have enough energy to break the bonds of chemicals they encounter, like the dyes that create the colors you see on different objects. Over time, the more these chemicals are broken down the more the object will lose its color. For some objects, rather than loosing their color they become brittle overtime with constant exposure to the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.

In this experiment, you will discover that the construction paper shaded by whatever object that you choose will not change color. That’s because the ultraviolet light waves will be blocked out of that area and cannot damage the paper. In those areas of the construction paper fully exposed to the sun, you should notice more of a faded color change the longer you leave it out in direct sun.

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can damage skin too. That’s why it’s smart to wear UV-blocking sunscreen, or stay in the shade when the sun is strong.

A glove box is a piece of safety equipment that lets you perform work on something while keeping it in isolation. It is most commonly used to protect operators working with hazardous materials, but it can also be used to protect sensitive materials from the outside atmosphere.

On the International Space Station, experiments with small parts or liquids are done in a glove box. This helps keep the space station safe and clean. Back on Earth, scientists utilize a glove box to run certain tests on the moon rock samples that were brought back during the Apollo missions.