Dragonflytv

Hockey Sticks/Butterfly Wings

Season 7, Episode 2 of 6

Hockey Sticks - Nicholas and Jordan love hockey. They know that carbon nanotubes are used in some hockey sticks, but aren't sure how the tiny structures change the equipment. They head to Boston's Museum of Science to learn more about carbon nanotubes. Then, they put their sticks to the test on the ice. Finally, with help from scientists at Harvard University, they compare the tensile strength of the sticks and use powerful microscopes to "see" carbon nanotubes. Butterfly Wings - Emily and Julie check out the Magic Wings Butterfly House at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. They wonder why butterfly wings are so colorful. They learn that iridescence in some butterfly wings - like the iridescence of soap bubbles - results from their structure. At Duke University, the girls learn how to determine whether colors in wings are the result of pigment or nanoscale structures. They test butterfly wings and learn that blue iridescence is due to structure, not pigment.

Previously Aired

Day
Time
Channel
11/23/2008
3 p.m.
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