Have you ever wondered whether your child's fascination with all things gross and creepy could be put to some good purpose? Now it can be. An interactive video series, Grossology Live, aims to teach kids -- mostly in the 8-to-14-year-old range -- about science by presenting them with material guaranteed to make them giggle, squeal and squirm. The series examines what the producers call "the 'impolite' science of the human body"; despite being goofily entertaining, it hews closely to the official science curricula for the targeted age groups.

Grossology Live is broadcast over the Internet to live audiences who interact with the teachers/entertainers via videoconferencing. The underlying technology comes from Glowpoint, a managed video network, and LifeSize, a manufacturer of high-definition videoconferencing equipment. At present, the shows are broadcast only to the Columbus Children's Hospital's Community Education Center in Columbus, Ohio, and the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

The show is produced by the National Association of Health Education Centers and IDSolutions with funding from the National Science Foundation.