Hooked on Science: Fly CPR

Are you dealing with a lot of annoying flies this summer? You can learn a lot about a fly by using a few materials from around the house.

Materials

* Drowned fly

* Salt

* Paper towel

* Popsicle stick

Instructions

STEP 1: Place a drowned fly on a white paper towel.

STEP 2: Cover the drowned fly with salt and consistently move the fly around in the salt with the popsicle stick until the fly starts moving.

Explanation

Flies and other insects breathe through tiny openings along the sides of their abdomen called spiracles. These openings were filled with a liquid causing the fly to drown. The salt draws the liquid out of the spiracles allowing the fly to "breathe" again.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.