Who says there¿s no science to gift giving? Tell that to the geek on your list whose bemused smile at "yet another acrylic turtleneck" is but a thin veil for his real desire for a James Watson Bobble Head doll.

Once again, we have left no stone unturned in ferreting out the very best gifts for the science lovers in your midst. What¿s under those rocks, you might well ask. Well, the South American Longhorn Beetle Collection for one, mounted quite elegantly in your choice of frames in one of our most attractive present selections. What¿s more, we¿ve got a one-pound, anatomically correct chocolate brain for hungry minds, an at-home forensics lab for the pint-sized Sherlock, and, at long last, a clever contraption that will help your loved ones to divine their dogs¿ most profound emotions. For your very nearest and dearest, consider a self-orienting telescope, a Swarovski crystal-studded computer mouse, or Sony¿s AIBO ERS-7, the latest and most astounding in robotic pet technology.

Scientific American.com stands firm in the belief that there truly is a science to gift giving. We¿ve done the research¿now you furnish the results! ¿The Editors

Special thanks to Melissa Kirsch for her assistance in producing this section

GIFTS UNDER $25

A Crick in His Neck? Best known for his contributions to the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the structure of DNA, James D. Watson has never been so memorably depicted as in the form of the Watson Bobble Head. Bearing an uncanny likeness to the scientist himself, the doll's head lolls hither and yon delightfully, perhaps unsteady with the weight of all that knowledge! A mini-model of the famous double-helix clasped in his tiny hands, the figurine is a must-give for the biologists on your gift list. James Watson Bobble Head $21.95

Not Just for Hydrochloric Acid Anymore One need not be a chemist to enjoy drinking that morning joe from a beaker! These sly Pyrex mugs sport handles, unlike many beakers in the lab, so your loved ones won¿t burn their hands on the vessels¿ steaming hot potions. This addition is also useful for science teachers, as students can watch the transfer of liquids without the demonstrator¿s hand blocking the view. The mugs hold up to 400 milliliters of coffee, tea or corrosive chemicals. Beaker Mug $10.95 ($59.95 for set of six)

Food for Thought Studies abound detailing the effects of chocolate on our nervous systems. But we¿ve yet to see a scientific study on the results of consuming a chocolate brain. Now you can find out when you give the gift of an anatomically correct one-pound solid milk chocolate brain to all the neurosurgeons, med students, brainiacs and knuckleheads on your holiday roster. Potential organ donors should note that warm climates require express shipping for their brains. Chocolate Brain $16.95