Science fans are finding out everything from what happens to a marshmallow in a vacuum to how to make slime.

Oxfordshire Science Week - part of National Science Week - runs until Saturdaymar 15 across the county, and prosthetic limbs, honey bees, onion DNA and poetry are all playing a part.

The week-long event, which began at the weekend with Wow! How? at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum, is designed to bring together scientists and science fans from the University of Oxford, museums and science centres across the county.

Dominic McDonald, head of public programmes for Science Oxford, coordinating the event said: "The week is about the whole community in Oxfordshire getting involved in science to see that science is fun and an important part of the culture of our county.

"It's a big collective event and we are hoping for tens of thousands of people to come along during the week.

"We don't want science to be scary or exclusive. It's fun and quite accessible a lot of the time."

Wow! How? was the week's largest event and attracted hundreds of visitors to stalls run by volunteers showing off fun and interesting experiments.

This weekend, the week concludes with a two-day event at Science Oxford in London Place, Oxford.

Science in the Kitchen explores scientific phenomena using household materials and equipment.

For example, children will be able to find out how to investigate ink using jelly and batteries, make paint from eggs and explore the chemistry of polymers using custard powder!

And if you are still wondering what happens to a marshmallow in a vacuum, Mr McDonald knows.

He said: "A marshmallow is made up of lots of little air pockets.

"When you put one into a vacuum the air that's trapped inside has got to get out and as a result the marshmallow swells up to the size of a fist, 10 or 15 times its original size."

Slime, on the other hand, is made from glue and household cleaning products.

For more details, see www.oxtrust.org.uk/festival