Investigate Health! | The Lab
Grab a pair of safety goggles and dive into a hands-on experiment at The Lab. In this exhibit, you’ll take on the role of a scientist and ask questions, make observations, and most important, get your hands dirty! Find out which sodas are the most acidic, what a scab looks like under a microscope, and what you can do to fight the flu.
While you’re here, engage with our team of expert volunteers and find out what it’s like to have a career in science.
Labs change weekly during the school year, and daily during the summer, so check out our experiment schedule to find out what we are investigating today!
The Lab Hours:
Tuesday–Saturday: 10:30–12:30 and 1:30–3:30
August 3 - 7
Tuesday, August 3: TBA
Wednesday, August 4: TBA
Thursday, August 5: NanoScience: Investigating NanoScents
Friday, August 6: Amazing Animal Skin
Why do different animals have different types of skin? Compare your skin to a snake and a bird using a microscope. You will even get to meet some live animals and compare them with a thermal imager!
Saturday, August 7: Dangerous Decibles
Do you listen to music too loudly? Test different headphones with a decibel meter and find out what volume can damage your ears. Then measure the loudness of your own scream and whisper.
August 10 - 14
Tuesday, August 10: Don't Bug Me!
Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito or stung by a bee? Do these insects provide us any benefits? Investigate biting and stinging insects under a microscope and get a close-up view of your own bug bites. You will also meet some live bugs and find out what you can do to prevent bites and stings.
Wednesday, August 11: Exercise Science
What is your favorite way to exercise? Try out a heart rate monitor to find out which activities get your heart moving! Then measure the strength of your pitch and your grip and find out what happens to muscles when they get tired.
Thursday, August 12: Color-Changing Flowers
Ever wonder why flowers come in so many shapes and colors? Have you heard about the race to make the first blue rose? In this lab, we will extract flower pigments and change their colors and examine flowers under a microscope.
Friday, August 13: Science in 3D
Now that you’ve heard the hype about 3D television, it’s time to learn the science! Investigate 3D technologies and find out how we see in three dimensions.
Saturday, August 14: Under the Hood
What would you do for a car that is safe, affordable, stylish – and exceeds 100 miles per gallon? Join us at the Under the Hood cart and learn about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a $10 million contest to engineer the “car of the future.”
August 17 - 21
Tuesday, August 17: Grossology
Get ready to learn about the science of the super slimy, gooey and gross! Look at mold under a microscope, find out what’s inside your nose and conduct a chemistry experiment ... with diapers!
Wednesday, August 18: Cleaning up the Gulf Coast Oil Spill
The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has the potential to threaten the coastal ecosystem and human health. Scientists are working overtime to stop the spill, contain the oil and clean the water. In this lab, we will test out different methods of cleaning oil from the water, clean oil off bird feathers and brainstorm ways to reduce our own use of oil.
Thursday, August 19: Investigating NanoScents
How good is your sense of smell? In this lab, we will identify different nanoparticles with our nose! See if you can detect a scent at a 1 billionth concentration.
Friday, August 20: Healthy Lungs
How strong are your lungs? In this lab, we will listen to our breathing with a stethoscope and measure the volume of your lungs. We will also look at healthy and unhealthy lungs under a microscope and find out how much tar a smoker gets in their lungs in a year.
Saturday, August 21: Fighting the Flu
There is a simple solution to prevent the spread of germs – we all need to wash our hands! In this experiment, we will investigate the science behind soap and find out why we use soap to wash our hands. Then, we will take a close look at different germs under a microscope.
August 24 – 28
Sun Protection
How do you protect yourself from the sun? In this lab, you will use UV-sensitive plastic to test the UV-protection of sunscreens, sunglasses and clothing to find out how well they block harmful rays. Then make a UV-detecting bracelet to take home!
August 31 – September 4
Hurricane Safety
Scientists are predicting a strong hurricane season and it is important to be prepared for a storm to hit our area. In this lab, we will track some historic hurricanes that hit North Carolina and make a hurricane preparedness kit. Then, challenge yourself to build a sturdy structure and see how well it stands in strong wind.
September 7 – September 10
Food Safety Month
No one likes to eat moldy food! What can we do to make sure our food stays healthy and safe to eat? In this lab, we will look at mold under a microscope, test microbe growth in different temperatures and figure out how long it takes for food to loose its healthy vitamins.
September 11
Museum Event: Heroes, Villains and Special Effects
Join us as we explore the science behind entertainment!
September 14 – 18
Pollen Counts!
Bad news for those with allergies: the Triangle is rated one of the worst places for pollen! Investigate allergies and make a pollen collector to conduct your own pollen count. Then, examine different types of pollen under a microscope and learn some tips for controlling allergies.
September 21 – 25
Under the Hood
What would you do for a car that is safe, affordable, stylish — and exceeds 100 miles per gallon? Join us at the Under the Hood cart and learn about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a $10 million contest to engineer the “car of the future.”