There is something magical about taking an everyday outdoor toy and turning it into a calming, glitter-filled sensory tool.

What is the best lava lamp? It seems that no matter how much culture changes, there’s always a demand for the retro, which is why the playful visuals of a lava lamp never seem to go out of style.

I write this column in defense of the lava lamp. You might ask, “Wait, why do we need a column in defense of the lava lamp? You mean the decorative novelty item that uses an incandescent bulb to heat ...