Non-Popping of a Balloon

Here's a cool science experiment that you can do with your kids.  Ask them how it's possible to take a blown up balloon and stick something sharp in it without popping the  balloon.  They may think this is impossible, but there are a couple of tricks you can do to keep the balloon from popping.  One is to place a piece of tape on the balloon and poke a hole through the tape.  As long as the object remains embedded in the balloon, the balloon won't pop or deflate.  The tape holds the balloon material together and the embedded object prevents air from escaping.

Another trick is to use Vaseline.  Rub some Vaseline on a balloon and slowly poke a hole into the balloon, leaving the object embedded.  The Vaseline will hold the balloon material together.  This can be a bit tricky, so you may go through a few balloons before getting it right, but you should be able to make this work.

Make sure to glob the Vaseline in a small area.  Don't spread it too thin or the balloon will pop.  You can try experimenting with other types of tape or other types of greasy material.  Who knows, maybe you can find other ways to prevent the balloon from popping.