Problem: Article: In order for your experiment to be meaningful, you need to have an experimental sample size large enough to perform statistical analyses on. In order to determine this, you need to know some information about your experimental population and use a power analysis calculator. To use a power analysis, you need to have an estimate of the effect size, an estimation of the variability within the data (standard deviation), the level of significance (standard convention is p<0.05), and power (the rate of false negatives you are willing to accept, generally set at 80%). Running smaller pilot studies can help you gather the necessary information for a proper power analysis to calculate sample size. If you don't have the means to do a pilot study, use some rough estimations based on information you have gathered from the literature. When designing the experiment you need to know all of the solutions you will need to use and the type of equipment you will need access to. Many universities have core facilities with instruments you can use if your specific lab does not have all of the equipment necessary. You may need to be trained on the equipment and develop the proper expertise before you can start your experiments. Keep this in mind when planning a timeline. If you don't have access to the necessary equipment, you might consider working with collaborators who have the equipment and expertise. The key to a well-designed experiment is to have a manageable number of testable conditions. If you are doing a drug study, you probably want to test different dosages, but you don't want too many. You will likely have to do a few smaller experiments to optimize the test conditions you will use in the final experiments. Literature searches can help you identify time points, dosages, and treatment conditions relevant to your studies. Experimental data is useless without the proper control conditions to compare them to. A control is a condition that is kept constant and used to measure the change of the experimental condition. When a known response is expected, it's considered a positive control. When no response is expected, it's considered a negative control. A proper experiment has only one variable and multiple controls to ensure that any changes seen in the results are due specifically to the variable that was changed. To test different variables, you will need to perform multiple experiments. In research you must identify and define what the outcome is for your study. You also want to define what you consider "success" of an experiment. If you are studying a biological process, the outcome may be the measure of the amount of a specific protein produced. The outcomes must be measurable with consistency or they will not produce usable data. All statistical analyses to be used for the study should be established before data collection. After completing the overall design of the experiment, write up a detailed protocol that includes every condition to be tested and all the necessary calculations. Performing the experiment is much simpler when you have done all of planning before you begin. The more detailed you make the protocol, the easier it will be to follow and repeat the experiment later.
Summary: Determine the sample size. Identify all of the necessary solutions and equipment. State all experimental conditions. Include the necessary controls. Define the experimental outcomes. Write up the experimental protocol.

Problem: Article: This method works with either single-layered or multi-layered spitballs. Multi-layered spitballs will usually travel farther. Put the spitball between your thumb and middle finger, pull your arm back, aim, and throw. This method works best with single-layered spitballs because they're easier to spit out. Place the spitball between your lips, take in a deep breath, and blow as hard as you can. The spitball should pop out from between your lips, straight at your target. You might need to be standing close to your target for this launching method to work. This is another method that works best with single-layered spitballs because they fit better in a straw. You can also use a pen for this method. Put your spitball inside of a straw, pushing it in as far as you can. Take a deep breath and put your mouth on the straw so no air can get in. Blow as hard as you can. Your spitball should pop out of the other side of the straw, right at your target. This method works best with multi-layered spitballs because you get more velocity. Curl your middle finger into your thumb to form a circle, so that the nail of your finger is touching your thumb. Press them together so there is tension between your fingers. Put the spitball in the spot where your middle finger meets your thumb. Right between them, on the outside of your middle finger. Push your middle finger out, away from your thumb. This should make the spitball fling up and out, toward your target.
Summary: Throw it with your fingers. Spit it out of your mouth. Blow it through a straw. Flick it with your fingers, or a ruler.

Problem: Article: Bring these ingredients to a boil in a large pan over medium heat. Once they reach a boil, bring down the heat to low. Keeping the temperature up too high will result in the barley burning and the water evaporating too quickly. If you don't have 4 people to serve, this recipe is easily cut in half. However, don't necessarily modify the toppings too much if you like it sweet, you may need just as much sugar! Barley is a tough nut to crack (figuratively, of course. Literally barley is a grain with just a nutty flavor). Because of it's tougher consistency, it takes longer than oats or rice to make tender. Stir every 10 minutes or so, checking on how it's doing. Every pot will differ slightly in the time needed to cook. Keep the lid on as much as possible. When 10 minutes is up, take it off and give it a few stirs with a wooden spoon. When the water is mostly gone, the barley is done. Even if you're looking for a runnier porridge, drain the cooked barley. The water that's left probably won't taste as good and rich as a cup of milk will. This is easiest to do with a plastic or metal colander. If you're in a bind, hold the lid up the edge of the pan and tip it over into the sink to dispel the water. 1 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, teaspoon cinnamon will turn your plain barley into a regular breakfast feast. Modify the sweetness as you see fit, of course. The milk is necessary (the fatter the milk, the creamier the taste), but you can experiment with the brown sugar and cinnamon and explore other things like honey, fruit juice, or yogurt, too. This is generally how long it takes until the milk has almost been entirely absorbed. What's more, the barley will take on some of the sweet, cinnamon-y flavor. When it has a thick, glutinous, porridge-like consistency, it's done! You can add more milk if you'd like it a little thinner. Right now you just have basic barley porridge. To spice things up, top each dish with walnuts, a drizzle of heavy cream, and fruit, if desired. There's no getting tired of that! If you're the curious type, try yogurt, peanut butter, cocoa, honey, or any other addition that you think would make the porridge a breakfast of champions.
Summary:
Combine 2 cups barley with 6 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer until the barley is tender, about 45-60 minutes. Drain the cooked barley. Combine the cooked barley and the rest of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 15 more minutes. Divide the porridge between four bowls.