Brian pops the question about balloons. We make funny animals out of them. We celebrate birthdays with them. We use them to play games. Balloons are a blast, but they're also super for science.
Meteorologists monitor atmospheric conditions by sending up weather balloons .
Doctors open blocked veins and arteries by inserting special medical balloons into them. Scientists are even investigating something called superpressure balloons. Sealed against leakage and strong enough to handle the sun's heat, these helium-filled balloons would float in the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere. The material that makes balloons stretch is latex , obtained from rubber trees. Latex is collected as it flows out of cuts in the tree bark.