Science often begins with a question, a wild idea, or what if? Some of the most significant discoveries started as something that sounded impossible—until someone dared to prove it wasn’t.
Everything we have learned in science has come from a belief that something we did not know, a concept we cannot necessarily see or understand, is possible:
- Gravity
- Speed of light and sound
- Static force
- Atoms and molecules
These are all things that we cannot see with our eyes but feel the effects of every day. The process of discovering them came from questioning what we could see around us every day and asking: How is that possible?
Dr. Seuss filled his books with wild inventions, imaginary creatures, and bizarre landscapes. But if you look closer, many of his wacky ideas aren’t just nonsense—they reflect real scientific principles.
Consider these lines from Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!:
“Think left and think right and think low and think high.
Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”
–Dr. Seuss
That’s what science is all about—thinking up possibilities and then figuring out how to make them real.
When Fiction Becomes Fact
History is full of Seussian-sounding ideas that turned out to be accurate:
- The Invisible Becomes Visible: Scientists once thought germs were make-believe. Now, we know they shape our health and lives.
- Talking Over Distances: Imagine telling someone in 1850 that we’d one day have pocket-sized devices that let us talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime. That’s science catching up with imagination!
- Walking on the Moon: “The moon is out of reach,” they said—until it wasn’t. Neil Armstrong took that small step just 11 years after Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham.
The Science of “What If?”
The STEM fields encourage the same curiosity that Dr. Seuss inspired in his books. It’s about asking questions that seem absurd and then finding ways to test them.
Nanotechnology, for example, was once the stuff of science fiction. The idea that we could manipulate matter at the atomic level—constructing materials one molecule at a time—seemed like fantasy. Now, it is a booming field, revolutionizing medicine, electronics, and energy storage.
But before these discoveries could happen, someone had to imagine them first.
Bringing the Impossible to the Classroom
Teachers and educators have a unique opportunity to spark this thinking in students. One way is by blending storytelling with hands-on science. The NISE Network provides excellent interactive activities that do just that (shoutout to Catherine McCarthy at NISE for these resources):
1. Oobleck: A Real Dr. Seuss Science Experiment – Inspired by Bartholomew and the Oobleck, this experiment lets students explore non-Newtonian fluids, which behave like both liquids and solids. Read here: Exploring Materials – Oobleck | NISE Network.
2. Horton’s Big Idea: Sensing the Invisible – Just like Horton hears the Whos, kids discover that small things exist even if we can’t see them. Click here: Horton Senses Something Small | NISE Network.
3. In this story time program, visitors actively listen to “Horton Hears a Who!” by Dr. Seuss. Before the story is read, children make paper “elephant ears” to wear. After the story, they use their sense of smell to explore scent molecules that are too small to see. Read here: Horton Hears a Who! Storytime | NISE Network.
Encouraging the Next Generation of Innovators
Dr. Seuss wasn’t a scientist, but he taught us the mindset of one:
- Stay curious.
- Challenge what you think is impossible.
- Embrace the power of “What if?”
Every major scientific breakthrough started as just a thought—a think someone dared to think. If we can encourage students to dream big and explore boldly, who knows what mind-blowing discoveries they’ll make next?
Because, after all…
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
–Dr. Seuss
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
