Dr. Dare's Lab

Scheduled Times - Level 4

Welcome to Dr. Dare’s Lab, where you can explore science with hands-on experiments and activities for guests of all ages!

We provide everything you’ll need to perform each experiment in a space designed to get you excited about science with a different theme each month. The lab is open on weekends and select other times; see the calendar for more information on our hours of operation. 

Check out the Building Guide to see what’s happening during your visit. 

Download Building Guide

Open Experiments at Dr. Dare's Lab

Open Experiments

The main programming for Dr. Dare’s Lab. Come on in and have a seat at any open station, where you’ll be greeted by one of several different experiments and an iPad with instructions you can flip through to learn all about that activity.

Our experiments take complex science concepts and make them easy to understand and can be about anything from physics to chemistry and more!

Get hands-on with fun science experiments focused on physical and mental health.

  • Ancient Perfume Cone: Create an aromatic cone by measuring and mixing components.
  • Muscle and Bone: ​​Observe how muscles help move our bones.
  • Vitamin C: ​​Mix different substances to see how vitamins protect your body.
  • Minerals In your Morning Breakfast: ​​Extract iron from breakfast cereal.
  • Sensory Slime: ​​Make your own slime as a tactile and relaxing activity.

Explore the world of STEM and learn about its many fields for STEM Discovery Month!

  • Strawberry DNA Extraction: ​Extract DNA from strawberries to see DNA without a microscope.
  • Coding with Ozobot: ​​Code Ozobots to follow a path you create with colors.
  • Dino Displacement: ​​​​Using displacement, calculate how large a stegosaurus was.
  • Projectile Motion: Adjust launch angles to learn how the arch of a projectile affects its landing.
  • Strongest Shape: Compare how different shapes in architecture stand up to the forces of nature.
  • Like Magic: ​​Mix different chemicals to produce different colors based on pH.

Explore the science behind forensic investigation in our Superhero Forensics Lab.

  • Serology: ​​Compare blood samples against each other using chemicals to find out the victim’s blood type.
  • Fingerprinting: ​​Use ink and graphite to take your own fingerprint and learn about the different patterns of fingerprints.
  • Powder Analysis: ​​Compare samples of different household powders to find the match to the one found at the crime scene.
  • Chromatography: ​​Separate ink into its components to match the type of marker to the ink left at the crime scene.
  • Kastle-Meyer Test: ​​Create a color changing chemical reaction to figure out the tool used for the crime.
  • Soil Analysis: ​​Note the properties of different soil samples to match their origins to the scene of the crime.

Investigate nature up close with wildlife and aquatic themed experiments

  • Owl Pellets: ​​Dissect owl pellets to learn about owl diets and the anatomy of their prey.
  • Water You Talking About: ​​Measure different features of water to learn about the conditions in which different aquatic life thrives.
  • Temperature Mapping: ​​Use the heat sensing FLIR device and a hair dryer to observe how different surfaces retain heat.
  • Unseen World: ​​Use magnifying tools to get an up-close look at the different textures that can be found in nature.
  • Watch Out Watershed: ​​Observe how terrain and gravity affect how water flows.
  • Investigating Clouds: ​​Simulate the creation of clouds and observe their characteristics by making a cloud in a bottle.
  • Bear’s Shadow: ​​Understand how the angle of a light source creates shadow by mimicking a storybook.

Put on your goggles and get messy with creative and fun experiments in Dr. Dare's Lab.

  • Watch Out Watershed: ​​Observe how terrain and gravity affect how water flows.
  • Don’t Spill The Water: ​​Take the challenge and see how many drops of water can fit on the head of a penny.
  • Erupting Toilets: ​​Make an erupting mess with a vinegar and baking soda chemical reaction.
  • Gooey Oobleck: ​​Measure out and mix ingredients to create a non-Newtonian fluid.
  • No Mess Magic: ​​Observe how air's mass displaces water while you try to keep a paper towel dry.
  • Wacky Waterway: ​​Learn how cohesion and adhesion work together by creating a path for water to travel.
  • Sensory Slime: ​​Make your own slime as a tactile and relaxing activity.

Get crafty with hands-on science experiments in this month's Maker themed Dr. Dare's Lab.

  • Strongest Shape: ​​Compare how different shapes in architecture stand up to the forces of nature.
  • Can You Hear Me Now: ​​Make a telephone using a string and cups and see how sound travels through solids.
  • DIY Dye: ​​Crush dried cochineal and change its PH to create different colored fabric dye.
  • Fabric Burn Test: ​Identify a fabric based on a scrap by noting its properties when burned.
  • Invisible Ink: ​​Create an ink that disappears when dry but shows your message when heat is applied.
  • Popsicle Stick Catapult: ​​Assemble a catapult from popsicle sticks and launch pompom balls.

Learn about space in a fluorescent black light version of Dr. Dare's Lab with our Cosmic Lab.

  • Erupting Aliens: ​​Mix baking soda and vinegar to create an eruptive chemical reaction.
  • A Solid or a Liquid: ​​​​Measure out and mix ingredients to create a glowing non-Newtonian fluid.
  • Projectile Motion: ​​Adjust launch angles to learn how the arch of a projectile affects its landing.
  • Blacklight Phone Hack: ​​Turn your phone flashlight into a blacklight.
  • Crater Creation: ​Observe how the size and height of an object changes the force of impact.
  • Fluorescent Fun: ​​Observe the relationship between UV light and fluorescence by comparing different household chemicals.
  • Shooting Stars: ​​Learn why we see streaks of light when looking at a shooting star.

Learn about the engineering design process with this month’s engineering themed experiments!

  • Projectile Motion: ​​Adjust launch angles to learn how the arch of a projectile affects its landing.
  • Strongest Shape: ​​Compare how different shapes in architecture stand up to the forces of nature.
  • Popsicle Stick Catapult: ​​Assemble a catapult from popsicle sticks and launch pompom balls.
  • On The North Pole of a Magnet: ​​Observe how the different shapes of magnets affect magnetic fields.
  • Paper Bridge Challenge: Test how many pennies you can fit on different bridge designs before they fall.
  • DIY Water Wheel: Create a water wheel to power

Celebrate science literacy with fun experiments that explain big science concepts.

  • Measuring Clouds: ​See how much a cloud weighs by calculating different measurements.
  • Hungry Hungry Animals: ​​See how competition has shaped the way animals have evolved over time.
  • Fireworks: ​​Learn fire safety while creating colorful chemical reactions with an open flame.
  • Like Magic: ​​Mix different chemicals to produce different colors based on pH.
  • Projectile Motion: ​​Adjust launch angles to learn how the arch of a projectile affects its landing.
  • Unseen World: ​​Use magnifying tools to get an up-close look at the different textures that can be found in nature.

Investigate ghosts, mummies, and more with ghastly experiments in Dr. Dare’s Lab.

  • Ectoplasmic Goobleck: ​​Measure and mix cornstarch, water, and food coloring to make green Oobleck.
  • Slimer Attack: ​​Mix baking soda and vinegar to create a reaction with Slimer.
  • Ectoplasm Detector: ​​Turn your phone into a blacklight and see how it affects highlighter ink.
  • Ghostobots: ​​Learn to code Ozobot robots (disguised as ghosts) using sequences of color.
  • Poultrygeist: ​​Learn the process of mummification from start to finish with Fred the rubber chicken.
  • It’s Alive: ​​Use a neodymium magnet to create a spinning motor with just a battery and copper wire.

Learn about space in a fluorescent black light version of Dr. Dare’s Lab with our Cosmic Lab.

  • Erupting Aliens: ​​Mix baking soda and vinegar to create an eruptive chemical reaction.
  • A Solid or a Liquid: ​​​​Measure out and mix ingredients to create a glowing non-Newtonian fluid.
  • Projectile Motion: ​​Adjust launch angles to learn how the arch of a projectile affects its landing.
  • Blacklight Phone Hack: ​​Turn your phone flashlight into a blacklight.
  • Crater Creation: ​Observe how the size and height of an object changes the force of impact.
  • Fluorescent Fun: ​​Observe the relationship between UV light and fluorescence by comparing different household chemicals.
  • Shooting Stars: ​​Learn why we see streaks of light when looking at a shooting stars.

Explore the world of all things ancient with a mix of paleontology and archaeology themed experiments.

  • I Dig Cookies: ​​Extract chocolate chips from a cookie like paleontologists excavate fossils.
  • Mummify Fred: ​​Discover the mummification process with Fred the rubber chicken.
  • Tar Pit Oobleck: ​​Find out how the La Brea tar pits have preserved ancient fossils.
  • Dino Displacement: ​​Using displacement, calculate how large a stegosaurus was.
  • Soil Analysis: ​​Examine soil samples to determine the location of the T. rex fossil.
  • Who Dunnit: ​How did the dinosaurs go extinct? Create your own extinction event with baking soda and vinegar, and rocks and sand.
  • Nature of Dye: ​​Learn how ancient peoples made dye using cochineal.
Takeovers at Dr. Dare's Lab

Takeovers

Join us for a fun time in Dr. Dare’s Lab hosted by community partners! Takeovers mean that instead of our regular fare, you’ll get to try out activities chosen and run by a community partner or third party.

These activities are only around for a limited time each month. Stay up to date on Takeovers by checking out our calendar.

Workshops at Dr. Dare's Lab

Workshops

Workshops are a special type of longer form programming that explores an experiment or activity in depth. During a workshop, groups of guests will be given a task and are instructed on the techniques used to complete their activity. These generally take between 45 minutes to an hour, although durations are subject to change with each workshop, and are ticketed events.

Stop by the lab 15 minutes before the start time to collect your ticket. You only need 1 ticket per group. Space is limited.

Special Events at Dr. Dare's Lab

Special Events

Dr. Dare’s Lab is also open for certain special events! Whether you’re joining us for Science Night Live (OSC’s 21+ event), Break Camps, or something else, you’ll find exciting experiments for every member of the family!