Some nights, Don Mueller comes home from his day job as a research associate at Penn, changes into a costume and becomes "Doctor Bones."
Yesterday was one such day. Mueller appeared as "Doctor Bones" at the Wilson Middle School science fair, located in Northeast Philadelphia, to demonstrate scientific principles to the students.
Mueller, who has been researching lasers at Penn for the last year and a half, came up with the idea for his alter ego while giving talks to children about nutrition.
"I was trying to get kids interested in health," he said.
In order to catch students' interest last night, Mueller dressed as a stereotypical scientist in a white lab coat, curly wig and glasses. He also used a plastic model of a skeleton to tell jokes and juggled plastic fruit.
Mueller entertained science fair participants with a variety of demonstrations as they waited for their projects to be judged.
Mueller said his goal was to "give them a sample of a little of everything."
At one point, Mueller illustrated some concepts of rocket science with a plastic bottle and a balloon.
Amid "oohs" and "ahs" from the crowd, he also introduced the concept of torque with a bicycle wheel on a string.
"We do the same thing in college physics," he told onlookers.
Mueller included chemistry in his presentation as well, mixing baking soda and vinegar in a handmade model of a volcano to show a chemical reaction.
In one of the most popular demonstrations, he allowed students to test their lung capacities by blowing water into a bottle, and then used the data to draw a graph.
In addition, Mueller emphasized to the children that mistakes are acceptable in science.
"If I had a nickel for every time I had a wrong answer, I'd be rich," he said. "Scientists don't have all of the answers... it wouldn't be much fun if we did."
Mueller said he performs for children as "Doctor Bones" as often as possible.
"I'm trying to get them interested in taking a closer look at science," he said.
Wilson Middle School principal Arlene Holtz said "Doctor Bones" was invited because "we're always looking for ways of entertaining" the children.
"He sounded like he would be fun," she added.
Mueller has appeared as "Doctor Bones" on NBC news in Philadelphia and New Jersey. He has also visited bookstores to perform scientific experiments.
"Doctor Bones" has made appearances around the world, performing in a Taiwanese hospital when he was working overseas.
No matter the location, Mueller said he has one message for children.
"Give science a try -- it's fun," he said.
