DragonflyTV . TV Schedule

Program TV Schedule | Program Viewing Tips | Episode Descriptions

Program TV Schedule

DragonflyTV is carried at different times around the nation. Please check your local listings for broadcast times and dates in your community.

Program Viewing Tips

Why watch DFTV?

Watching DragonflyTV is a great way to help kids understand, enjoy, and do science. In a very real sense, DragonflyTV itself is an investigation - an ongoing experiment to find new ways to engage kids in scientific inquiry. DragonflyTV is about the "how" of science - not just the "what." And research shows kids get it! An independent research firm evaluated DragonflyTV with hundreds of kids across the country. The findings are clear: DragonflyTV gets high marks for appeal, clarity, and effectiveness. The series teaches kids how do science inquiry and, most importantly, it makes them eager to explore science on their own.

Kids understand the investigations in DragonflyTV. More than 90% of 5th graders and 87% of 6th graders understand DFTV investigations. In small-group discussions, children can describe the experiments in detail, and offer ideas for new investigations of their own.

DragonflyTV teaches kids how science works. Children watching DragonflyTV significantly improve their understanding of the science basics: how to ask questions, repeat tests, control variables, and analyze results.
DragonflyTV motivates kids to do science. DragonflyTV significantly increases student interest in doing experiments. 41% are more interested in doing their own science investigation after viewing DragonflyTV. And the largest gains occur among minority viewers.
Kids like watching DragonflyTV! More than 80% of 5th graders and 70% of 6th graders give DragonflyTV positive ratings, with comments like "amazing," "cool," "awesome," and "it was fun and I learned new things."

In sum, results from the evaluation overwhelmingly supported the fact that DragonflyTV is not only capable of entertaining viewers, but also educating them. The program succeeds at appealing to children in the target age group (9-12) and manages to promote greater awareness of the steps associated with the scientific process. Teachers were extremely excited about the program and were eager to incorporate it into their instruction and students were turned on by the fact that they could learn something from a program that they enjoyed.

Before you watch the show:
Find out what show or segment your students or children will view. Then go online to find supporting activities.

The DragonflyTV Educators Guides are one source of step-by-step, hands-on investigations that accompany select segments. If you use a Guide activity, duplicate the student page for your chosen segment, and distribute to your students. Encourage them to describe how they would answer the investigation question prior to watching the segment. You might want to explain the steps of developing an inquiry as shown in the Educator's Guide, then watch the segment to see how the DragonflyTV kid scientists approached the experiment.

Other online sources of related activities exist online. Simply go to the online search feature, type in the topic, and see the suggested experiments. These experiments might come from the Do It, Get To It feature, which are offline, hands-on activities, or from the DragonflyTV Riddles section, which challenges kids to solve a scientific puzzler online. You can watch the show together, then pull out these activities afterwards to show related real-life, hands-on science applications.

If you have the show or segment on tape, previewing is encouraged, as this will enable educators and parents to design methods for active viewing (see below).

While you watch the show:

Seek out ways to help children actively view the segment. Ask them to watch for a definition (e.g. "What is friction?") or process ("Look for how the kids gathered and charted their data.")
Challenge young viewers to make predictions: "What will happen next? What do you think they're going to do?"
Don't hesitate to point out the "mistakes" made by young DFTV scientists. Since trial and error is a vital part of any inquiry, it's important to let kids watch other kids "going back to the drawing board. "
Let them know that unlike watching some other television shows, it's okay to talk during DragonflyTV! This is one instance in which asking questions and making observations during the show is not only not rude, but is actually encouraged! If this is disruptive to some viewers, you may want to tape the segment so students can watch silently the first time, then have a second, "conversational" viewing.
If you have the show on tape, you might want to pause or rewind to allow kids to ask questions, seek definitions of science terminology, clarify a process. Since DragonflyTV features real kids who look, talk, and behave like viewers, it is often fun for children to make connections to their own experience with the featured activity or topic

After you watch the show:

Open the floor for kids' observations and questions.
Use related DragonflyTV Educators Guides or online materials.
Encourage kids to relate the segment or show to their own interests, or think about how they might create their own inquiry.

Episode Descriptions

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 7

701/Size and Scale

What's Nano?: Ebony and Jasmine catch the Amazing Nano Brothers Juggling Show at Museum of Science in Boston. The show gets them thinking, How big is a billion? And how small is a billionth? They search Boston for examples of a billion. Then they visit laboratories at Harvard University to find examples of nanoscale objects on their quest to "see" a nanometer.
Where's Nano?: Regina, Linda, Harrison, Jared, Lorenz, and Randi, visit the "Zoom In" exhibit at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill. They wonder what examples of nanoscale science and technology they can find in their everyday lives. Their nano "scavenger hunt" takes them to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where a scientist helps them print images of nanoscale structures. The kids then create a display of their findings to share at the science center.

702/Structure of Matter

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.

703/Small is Different

Surface Area: After discovering that ordinary flour dust can be explosive, Lara and Anushua explore the importance of surface to area to volume ratio at the Science Museum of Minnesota. They conduct soda explosion experiments in the museum's Big Back Yard, investigating how surface area affects reactions. Finally, they visit the University of Minnesota where they learn how scientists are developing more affordable solar cells with nanotechnology that increases the cells' surface area.
Stained Glass: Alettie and Yvonne visit the Glass Experience exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and learn that nanoparticles are responsible for the colors in some medieval stained glass. The girls are surprised to learn that nanogold makes glass red! They go to Northwestern University to explore the relationship between size and color of nanoparticles. They create different sizes of gold and silver nanoparticles to produce a variety of colors, which they use to make their own works of art.

704/Forces at the Nanoscale

Gecko Feet: Jennifer and Nooshin like rock climbing. They wonder how some lizards can climb rocks so easily. They visit the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley and compare the climbing ability of different lizards. They notice that the best climbers are geckos. They visit a lab at the University of California Berkeley to find out why, learning that special, nanoscale hairs on gecko feet are the secret to their amazing climbing abilities.
Nasturtium Leaves: Jasmine and Melinda wonder why water beads up on some plants and not others. They head to San Francisco's Exploratorium, where they learn that surfaces at the nanoscale aren't always smooth, and that nano hairs on nasturtium leaves cause them to be water repellent. The girls collect other plants with hairy leaves and test their ability to repel water. They take some samples to Stanford University for up-close imaging and compare the structure of nasturtium leaves to water-resistant fabric.

705/Applications

Self-Assembly: Keely and Connor learn about self-assembly at the Children's Museum of Houston. The museum staff suggest they visit Rice University, where scientists use self-assembly to make things at the nanoscale. At Rice, a scientist helps the kids use self-assembly to make and "pop" microcapsules. Then they try out a similar technique at home, encapsulating chocolate sauce, mint and other flavors in alginate beads to serve on ice cream.
Bone Regrowth: Kobel, Nathan, and Adam go to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), where they learn that scientists are using nanotechnology to help regenerate nerves and bones. A scientist from Brown University explains that a solution of nanotubes and minerals is injected into the fracture and forms a scaffold to encourage bone regrowth. The kids want to know why both ingredients are needed to repair the bone. They try solutions with different amounts of each ingredient on sponges and test how much weight each treated sponge can support.

706/Nanotechnology and Society

Water Clean Up: Taylor and Gabe go to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and learn that nano-iron is being used to neutralize toxins in ground water. They collect soil samples from a contaminated site, then take them to Penn State University to test the efficacy of nano-iron treatments.
Nanosilver: Sarah and Mande visit the Sciencenter in Ithaca and learn that nanosilver is used in some socks to kill bacteria, keeping them odor-free. They wonder if the nanosilver in socks leaches out when you wash them, causing potential harm to beneficial bacteria and the environment. They buy two different brands of nanosocks and wash them. Then they take the socks and their wash water to Cornell University to test their effects on common bacteria.

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 6

601/Alaska

Glaciers: Deborah and Brittani learn about changes in glaciers over time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center before scaling the Mendenhall Glacier to track its movement.
Temperate Rain Forest: Starting at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Ketchikan, Emma and Gracie investigate tree growth rates in three areas of Tongass National Forest.
Science Secret: And Juneau turns out to be built on a Science Secret worth its weight in gold!

602/New Mexico

Balloon Fiesta: Alex and Andrew head to Explora to investigate how much hot air is needed to make balloons fly before soaring to new heights at Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta.
Cave Swallows: The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science inspires Emily and Isabel to travel to Carlsbad Caverns and track cave swallows.
Science Secret: The excitement heats up at Sandia National Labs, where a scorching-hot Science Secret is revealed.

603/North Carolina

Wetlands: SciGirls Sarah, Valencia and Sophia tromp through diverse wetlands after a visit to the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science.
Farm Animals: SciWorks' barnyard gets Imran and Nabil thinking about what it takes to raise farm animals, prompting visits to local donkey and dairy farms.
Science Secret: Winston-Salem holds a surprising connection to the Empire State Building that's unveiled in the Science Secret.

604/Montana and Yellowstone

Baby Dinosaurs: Nicole and Ellen dig up a dino bone at Egg Mountain and then head to the Museum of the Rockies to find out how old their dino was when it died.
Geysers: Phoebe and Shannon roam Yellowstone National Park investigating why some areas have geysers while others do not.
Science Secret: And simmering under Montana, Wyoming and Idaho is a science secret of volcanic proportions.

605/New England

Kinetic Sculpture Challenge: Elly, John, Nick, and Linnea get help from the MIT Museum preparing a kinetic sculpture for the Friday After Thanksgiving Chain Reaction challenge.
Gravity Fountain: At the Montshire Museum of Science, Chloe and Jesse get wet and wild creating a gravity-powered water fountain.
Science Secret: The Science Secret lands in Boston, revealing the innovative ways this city has grown.

606/The Deep South

Garbology: Joshua and Sean get down and dirty studying the composition of garbage at the Southern Environmental Center.
Alligator Habitat: The swamp exhibit at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science inspires Katelyn and Blake to check out the characteristics of alligator habitats along the Mississippi River.
Science Secret: The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville will floor you in the Science Secret.

607/Hawaii

Volcanoes: Starting at the Kilauea Visitor Center, Julia and Briana investigate lava flow on the Big Island at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Sea Turtles: Zach and Devin assess the readiness of baby sea turtles for release into the wild at the Maui Ocean Center.
Science Secret: And the formation the youngest Hawaiian islands is explained in the Science Secret.

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 5

501/Pittsburgh

Bogs: Amy and Maya investigate why bogs help keep organic material from decaying and view the preserved humans in "The Mysterious Bog People," a traveling exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Roller Coaster Design: Tyler and Aditya design their own rollercoaster and test it on a simulator at the Carnegie Science Center, finishing their investigation on "Phantom's Revenge," a roller coaster at a nearby amusement park.
Science Secret: And at the Pittsburgh Convention Center, DFTV reveals something that makes other cities green with envy.

502/Dallas and Ft. Worth

Dinosaurs: Fossil detectives Brandy and Ashley discover that not everything about dinosaurs-even Texas-sized ones-is gigantic when they dig for microfossils with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
Baseball: Reed and Nick get game at the Science Place in Dallas, answering the question: so just where is the "sweet spot" on my bat?
Science Secret: DFTV uncovers a very clever pesticide at Discovery Gardens, a certified organic public garden.

503/Los Angeles

California Fish: Milan and Harison go deep, comparing fish at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific to those in the wild.
Sailboat Design: While at the California Science Center's Big Lab, Max and Brian create model sailboats and the set sail in the Pacific to determine the most efficient design.
Science Secret: DFTV heads to the La Brea Tar Pits to check out the Ice Age inhabitants of L.A.

504/Minneapolis and St. Paul

Music and Sound: Inspired by the IMAX movie Stomp, Maxine and Hannah create their own musical instruments at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Body Electricity: Rylee, who wears a myoelectric prosthetic arm, heads to The Bakken Museum and Library to explore how the electrical signals in her body help her arm function.
Animal Scent: Paige and Nick check out the "Animal Grossology" exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota before investigating how animals depend on their sense of smell at the Minnesota Zoo.
Science Secret: Find out how they heat the Mall of America, one of world's largest shopping malls, in the frigid Minnesota winter.

505/New York

Luge: Jenn and Emily, members of the Junior United States Luge Team, slip slide away at the New York Hall of Science playground, investigating gravity and then applying what they learn to maximize their speed on the icy tracks at Lake Placid.
Biodiversity: Stanley and Jessica go ape, checking out the Bronx Zoo's Congo Gorilla Forest to see how plants and animals coexist in the layers of the African Rainforest.
Science Secret: Find out what's not so natural about New York's Central Park-the most frequently visited urban park in the United States.

506/Arizona

Doghouse Design: Alexandra and Anna learn about construction techniques at the Arizona Science Center's "Many Hands Make a Home" exhibit, trying out what they learn on a house for their dog, Rupert.
Cactus: Alex and Mark head to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to see which creatures make the Saguaro cactus home.
Science Secret: DFTV learns how Chase Field-the only facility in world that has retractable roof, air conditioning, and a natural turf field-keeps its grass green and growing.

507/San Francisco

Earthquakes: Starting at Lawrence Hall of Science, Claire and Nisha walk the lines-the San Andreas and Hayward fault lines-to learn what causes earthquakes.
Light and Color: Inspired by the light and color exhibits at the Exploratorium, a group of industrious middle schoolers create their own interactive art installation.
Science Secret: DFTV demystifies how antique cable cars continue to conquer the city's incredible hills.

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 4

401/ Energy

Fencing: En garde! Paula and Alyssa investigate the energy and impact of different fencing moves.
Martial Arts - Kha and Peta, young martial arts athletes, determine how different tae kwon do moves challenge their bodies' skeletal and muscular systems and then apply what they learned in competition.
Riddle: How can you pedal your bike 80 miles per hour?

402/Engineering

Ice Bike: Kid engineers Bob and Brennan fine-tune the number of tire studs required to speed a bike across a frozen lake.
Robot War Contest: Karl engineers a robot, modifying and testing its "weapons" for the greatest competitive edge.
Riddle: How do you propel a rollercoaster without climbing the first hill?

403/Animal Behavior:

Rabbits: Jerika and Shannon stage a mini-Olympics for the pet rabbits, observing how different breeds - and different body types - fare in the different events.
Sea Lions: Robyn and Alex alter some sea lions' diets to see if food impacts the amount of time the animals hunt and play.
Riddle: Which sport keeps bears healthy and happy?

404/Friction

Curling: Slippery scientists Mimi, Haley, Tara, and Lauren investigate how the rotation of the curling stone and the act of sweeping the ice changes the path of the stone... and determine the winner!
Hovercraft: Sara and Rachel get a rise out of engineering a real hovercraft.
Riddle: How can you practice hockey skills without ice?

405/Sound

Volleyball: Against the bumpin' backdrop of a volleyball game, Brittney and Maggie explore how noisy communication with their teammates affects their performance.
Extreme Sounds: Tarissa and Sabrina pump up the volume, grabbing a decibel meter to monitor the sometimes dangerous sounds in their favorite New York City hang-outs.
Riddle: How can you turn sheet music without using your hands?

406/Canines

Wolf Behavior: Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? Not Zachary and Jerit, who explore pack behavior to figure out how wolves know the "top dogs" - the alpha male and female.
Sled Dogs: Alexa, Miriah, and Janaya investigate which sled dog should lead the pack to victory.
Riddle: How do you keep your pooch from becoming a "hot dog?"

407/Science at Play

Jump Rope: Francesca, Marnika and Precious jump into a Double Dutch investigation, exploring whether things they see and hear influence their ability to match the rope's rhythm.
Perception: Maddy and Martina use clowns, juggling, and science to demonstrate how unreliable human perception can be.
Riddle: How can you clock a whizzing baseball's speed without a radar gun?

408/Earth Systems

Rivers: Elizabeth and Margie hit the links at the Science Museum of Minnesota to explore the how rivers change the shape of the landscape.
Sand Dunes: Join some young desert scientists as they discover how plants survive the harsh conditions on the Guadalupe-Nipomo Sand Dunes.
Riddle: How can kids "make a stink" to reduce dangerous bus emissions?

409/At the Zoo

Tigers and Otters: Chelsea and Camille invent enrichment equipment for zoo animals.
Prairie Dogs: Julian and Sabrina "go to the dogs," creating sound spectrum snapshots of prairie dog barks to explore animal communication.
Riddle: How do you weigh a whale?

410/Chemistry

Makeup Science: Young chemists explore the formulations of make-up like lipgloss and lotion to determine the most marketable new products.
Forensics: Carolyn and Kaila turn into forensic scientists to solve a birthday mystery.
Riddle: How can you recycle paper that is full of adhesives and other "stickies?"

411/Human Body

Diving: Divers Niki and Jaq explore how body position reduces splash and improves their performances.
Ski Jumping: Garrett, Karl and John investigate old and new ski jumping positions to determine the most effective stance.
Riddle: How can a musician hold a loooong note?

412/Animal Behavior

Cheetahs: Mickey and her new friends observe the world's fastest cats at the Cheetah Conservation Fund site in Namibia Africa.
Baby Animals: Matt, Kyndal and Danny track the growth patterns of newborn animals at the Minnesota Zoo.
Riddles: How do you walk a cheetah on a leash?

413/Simple Machines

Trebuchet: Gerit and friends design and build a trebuchet, a medieval slingshot-like tool.
Kart Racing: Kart racers Allie and Paige of Team "Beat the Boys," use an onboard computer to find the optimum gear ratio for their kart before a race.
Riddle: How can you easily carry gallons of water long distances?

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 3

301/Investigate!

Whitewater Rafting: While rafting on the American River, Rasheed, Kohner, Scotty, and JB measure the river grade, water flow, and study the flow patterns around eddies, holes, and tongues.
Hovercraft: Rachel and Sarah build their own hovercraft out of plywood, a picnic tablecloth, and a leaf blower.
Horse Ears: Young equestriennes Mallory and Ting don faux horse ears, positioned to signal both contentedness and aggression, to investigate how their horses communicate.
Scientist Profile: Dr. Ayanna Howard, a NASA robotics research engineer, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make robots "smarter."
Riddle: How can you pedal your bike 80 miles per hour?

302/Sports Science

Ski Jumping: Avid ski jumpers Karl, Garrett, and Johnny use GPS technology to examine the differences between modern and "old school" jumping styles.
Hockey: Hockey players Tess, Alison, and Christina investigate how sticks of different stiffness affect the speed of their shots.
Scientist Profile: Mike Lowe and Brian Sidwell design and test bicycle helmets for ultimate safety and weather resistance.\
Riddle: How can you paddle a canoe without using your arms?

303/Wind

Kites: Danielle, an accomplished sport kite flyer, wants to learn how the height-width proportion of a kite (called its aspect ratio) affects the kite's performance during competitive maneuvers.
Wind Tunnel: Using common household items, Nathanial constructs his own wind tunnel to measure the aerodynamic efficiency of toy racecars.
Scientist Profile: Weather researcher Ameri Gurley studies the damaging affects of tornados and hurricanes.
Riddle: How do you sail in outer space?

304/Forensics

Forensics: Kalia and Caroline use forensic research methods to gather evidence at a birthday party "crime scene."
Coral Castle: Aaron and Tevi examine the construction of the Coral Castle, a Florida landmark consisting of over 1,000 tons of coral, to solve the mysteries behind its construction.
Scientist Profile: Jose Alimirall is a criminalist with the Metro-Dade Police Department in Miami, Florida, where he uses forensic science to solve legal disputes. Using physical evidence such as glass, residue, or drugs, he identifies criminals and helps bring them to justice.
Riddle: How do you catch a graffiti vandal red-handed?

305/Engineering

Hovercraft: Rachel and Sarah build their own hovercraft out of plywood, a picnic tablecloth, and a leaf blower.
Milk Carton Derby: Ciara, Brittney, and Maria engineer a boat entirely out of milk cartons to enter in a hometown race.
Scientist Profile: Mechanical engineer Una-May O'Reilly designs mobile robots. Her research in artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually give human faces and personalities to robots.
Riddle: How can you easily carry 100 pounds of water?

306/Earth Systems

Whitewater Rafting: While rafting on the American River, Rasheed, Kohner, Scotty, and JB measure the river grade, water flow, and study the flow patterns around eddies, holes, and tongues.
Scientist Profile: Underwater geologist Carol Reiss' research helps scientists better understand earthquakes. She has studied the ocean floor firsthand in the submersible, the Turtle.
Riddle: How can you tell the earth is really rotating?

307/Animal Behavior

Horse Ears: Young equestriennes Mallory and Ting don faux horse ears, positioned to signal both contentedness and aggression, to investigate how their horses communicate..
African Penguins: Keshia and Ashley visit the New Jersey Aquarium to explore ways to keep the African penguins busy and active, by observing their behavior at feeding time.
Scientist Profile: Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis studies birds and their songs, to learn how the brain controls complex behaviors, such as language.
Riddle: How can you squirrel-proof your bird feeder?

308/ Speed

Speedskating: Speedskaters Eric, Lisa, Ned, and Sarah investigate what types of turns optimize their speed and maneuverability in short track racing.
Mountainboarding: To determine which tire pressure will allow them to maintain speed and control through turns, mountainboarders Sean, Ben and Neil create a mini-course, and ride it at different tire pressures.
Scientist Profile: Ryan Newman, NASCAR driver and engineer, creates faster, safer race cars using mathematics, computer simulations, and other technologies.
Riddle: How can you pedal your bike 80 miles per hour?

309/ Health

Pet Therapy: Cancer survivor Jeff and his sister Jenny conduct a study with kids undergoing medical treatments to see if pets can help lessen pain.
Glo Germ: Jordan and Sydney use Glo-Germ technology to track the spread of germs from their hands and their clothes at a party with their friends.
Breakfast Science: Cameron and Ashley investigate if skipping breakfast affects their classmates ' testing abilities.
Scientist Profile: Nutritionist Corey Scott researches the nutritional composition of fruits and vegetables, to help develop healthier snacks.
Riddle: How can you measure just how bad your breath really is?

310/Habitats

Caves: Marie and Michelle explore the California Cavern to discover how speleothems vary with differing conditions in the cave.
Lizard Habitat: Gillian considers the properties of two neighboring lizard habitats to understand why lizards are numerous in one and not the other.
Malformed Frogs: Susie and Katie investigate what's causing the malformations at their neighborhood frog pond.
Scientist Profile: Biologist Erin Gilliam uses a "virtual bat," which is a technology that mimics real bat sounds and calls.
Riddle: How can you return a spider to its natural habitat squish-free?

311/Games

Tug of War: Lara wants to know how she and her fifth-grade friends can gain a competitive advantage against the older kids at YMCA camp.
Basketball: Jay and Jonathan investigate how their starting hand position on the ball affects scoring from the free-throw line.
Midway Games: Mary Jane and Eliza investigate the physics behind carnival games, to increase their chances of winning.
Scientist Profile: Engineer Katie Broughton designs and builds motorized toys that mimic real-life motion.
Riddle: How can you have a water balloon fight without the balloons?

312/Space/Astronomy

Microgravity: Tianna and Sammy investigate weightlessness in space by watching what happens to their favorite toys in a free-fall "drop box."
Mars: Young astronomers T.J. and Trey trek the Arizona desert to learn what infra-red imaging can reveal about the Martian landscape.
Lift Off: Megan, Monica, Jenny, and Emilia create minature weather monitors, launch them on their model rockets, to learn what it takes to successfully record data on a distant planet.
Scientist Profile: Dr. Ayanna Howard is a robotics research engineer who uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make robots "smarter."
Riddle: How can you tell if aliens are trying to contact Earth?

313/ Dogs

Sled Dogs: Veteran mushers Alexa, Jenaya, and Miriah want to create a "dream team" of sled dogs, so they test their dogs' several compatibility factors.
Colorblind Dogs: Elizabeth and Caitlin create a fetching investigation using colored and grey tennis balls to determine if their pets Sassie and Chime are colorblind.
Scientist Profile: Ben Ho trains dogs in search and rescue (SAR) techniques. His work has aided lost hikers, natural disaster victims, and survivors of the extreme 9/11 tragedy in New York City.
Riddle: How can you tell what your dog really wants?

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 2

201/Investigate!

Ice Skating: Figure skaters Elliot and Rhianna explore how to avoid dizziness while performing their most difficult spins.
Kart Racing: Kart racers Allie and Paige of Team "Beat the Boys," use an onboard computer to find the optimum gear ratio for their kart before a race.
Baby Animals: Do big animals grow faster than small animals? Matt, Kyndal and Danny track the growth patterns of a chick, a piglet, and a calf.
Scientist Profile: Dr. Phillip Tong explains the art and science of inventing new ice cream flavors
Riddle: How do you stop a boat from rocking on stormy seas? 1

202/Structures

Snow Shelter: Can snow keep you warm? Morgan, Rio and Thianna of Aspen, Colorado, explore the mysteries of insulation by building an igloo-like shelter called a quinzhee, and measuring the temperatures inside and outside all night long.
Straw House: Brenett, Kim, Lucretia and Omney from the Crow Nation in Montana test straw, stucco and cinder blocks to find the most economical and durable building material.
Scientist Profile: Engineer Jose Rostrepo designs earthquake-resistant buildings.
Riddle: How do you climb a building without ropes? 2

203/Sports Science

Soccer: Dana and Alicia build a soccer ball kicking machine to determine how muscle power and leg speed affect their kicks.
Waterskiing: Matt and Kelley explore how boat speed affects their ability to perform waterskiing stunts.
Circus: Alex, Sarah and Sasha determine which length of "balancing pole" is most effective on the highwire.
Scientist Profile Microsoft game designer David Ortiz designs Xbox's NFL Fever 2002 game.
Riddle: How do you keep your gym shirt from smelling? 3

204/Spinning

Free-Ride Skiing: Jon, Andrew and Zach explore how different arm positions affect their 360-degree spins in the freeride skiing half-pipe.
Yo-Yo: Yo-Yo champs John, Kevin and Minna find out if a longer yo-yo string makes a yo-yo sleep longer.
Scientist Profile: Meteorologist Jason Dunion researches the power of hurricanes.
Riddle: How can you send a message on a spinning Frisbee? 4

205/Propulsion

Model Rockets: Mary Lynn, Jessica and Aren test different model rocket designs to find out which features increases how high the rocket flies.
Kart Racing: Kart racers Allie and Paige of Team "Beat the Boys," use an onboard computer to find the optimum gear ratio for their kart before a race. (Longer version of investigation in Show 1.)
Scientist Profile: Engineer Dick Yue investigates how fish swim with "Robotuna," a robotic tuna.
Riddle: How do you propel a rollercoaster without climbing the first hill?"5

206/Human Body

Ice Skating: Figure skaters Elliot and Rhianna explore how to avoid dizziness while performing their most difficult spins. (Longer version of investigation in Show 1.)
Sunscreen: Aaron and Justin investigate which SPF lotion really works best at keeping out the sun's harmful UV rays.
Exercise & Memory: Jada and Maurna test their friends to determine whether physical activity improves memory.
Scientist Profile: Dr. Phillip Tong explains the art and science of inventing new ice cream flavors.
Riddle: How can you get rid of warts using a home remedy? 6

207/Sound

Hip Hop: Kyla and Jenna explore how the beats per minute (BPM) of hip-hop songs affect the way a dancer dances.
Extreme Sounds: Sabrina and Tarissa use a decibel meter to monitor the surprising and sometimes dangerous sounds in their favorite New York hang-outs.
Prairie Dog Calls: Julian and Sabrina create sound spectrum snapshots of prairie dog barks to explore animal communication.
Scientist Profile: Scientist Joseph Pompei pinpoints sound with his "Audio Spotlight."
Riddle: How can you create the sound of 1,000 people marching? 7

208/Technology

GPS versus Compass: Ravi and his friends pit GPS technology against a traditional compass and map to determine which orienteering tools are most effective.
Robot War Contest: Karl engineers a robot, modifying and testing its "weapons" for the greatest competitive edge.
Scientist Profile: Teen scientist Ryan Patterson demonstrates his award-winning electronic glove that translates sign language.
Riddle: How do you light up your bike without a light bulb? 8

209/Ecosystems

Salmon Run: Andy, Mason, and Marshall investigate whether more salmon thrive in Washington's Dewatto River or Union River.
Baby Turtles: Carlos and Akeem study the nesting habits of Juno Beach's baby turtles, determining what conditions are optimal for survival.
Sand Dunes: Victoria and Alejandra investigate why some plants thrive and others cannot withstand the elements on the Guadalupe-Nipomo Sand Dunes.
Scientist Profile: Tree-climbing scientist Nalini Nadkarni explores the survival of forest canopies.
Riddle: How can you gather environmental information from everywhere in a giant forest? 9

210/Underwater

ROV's: Chris, Cory, Nikki and Bruce design and use their own deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to explore the health of their local coral reefs.
Fish Population: Ronnie and Denise investigate the fish population in their tribal lakes.
Manatees: Kristen and Christopher track manatees, using the scars inflicted on the animals by boat motors as identifying marks.
Scientist Profile: Aquatic scientist Lisa MacCartney shares her fascination with octopi.
Riddle: How do you stop a boat from rocking on stormy seas? 10

211/Mammals

Baby Animals: Do big animals grow faster than small animals? Matt, Kyndal and Danny track the growth patterns of a chick, a piglet, and a calf. (Longer version of investigation in Show 1.)
Sea Lions: Robyn and Alex alter some sea lions' diets to see if food impacts the amount of time the animals hunt and play.
Pet Handedness: Cleo, Brittany and Molly investigate if their cats have a "dominant paw. "
Scientist Profile: Primate specialist Lisa Parr tests chimpanzees to better understand the human mind.
Riddle: How can you train your cat to walk on a leash?

212/Earth Explorations

Mountain Biking: JR and Ari investigate why Moab's mountain biking terrain varies so widely.
Sink Holes: Caitlyn, Meredith and Margi explore how sinkholes form.
Scientist Profile: Mineralogist Liz Arredondo uses garnets to uncover the earth's secrets.
Riddle: How do you look deep inside the earth? 12

213/ Creepy Crawlies

Crocodiles: TJ and Courtney explore whether crocodiles can be trained to do simple tasks.
Reptiles: LeighAnne and Carmen investigate the relationship between a snake's tongue flicking and its food preference.
Worm Farm: A profile of Kevin, a young environmentalist from Sierra Madre, California, who (literally) digs worms - and shows how to build your own worm farm.
Scientist Profile: Entomologist Betty Faber studies the complexities of cockroaches.
Riddle: How can you stop termites before they start snacking on your house? 13

DRAGONFLYTV - SEASON 1

101/Investigate!

Kayaking - Simi, Jenny and Danny premiere DFTV with a splash as they kayak down a raging river, relating river speed to rock size.
Martial Arts - Kha and Peta, young martial arts athletes, determine how different tae kwon do moves challenge their bodies' skeletal and muscular systems and then apply what they learned in competition.
Scientist Profile - Paleontologist Gary Takeuchi unearths fossils in Red Rock Canyon State Park.
Robot Contest - A GEMS team (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) designs, builds, and tests a robot to compete in the "First LEGO League" contest.
Riddle - DragonflyTV asks a heavy question: How do you weigh a whale?

102/Wheels:

Motocross - Tamara and Tara, twin motocross racers, explore what impact their body positions have on their motorcycle jumps.
Skateboard - Skateboarders Scott and Anthony experiment with different sized wheels to maximize speed and maneuverability.
Snow Scooter - Patrick and Justin, two young inventors, show how skis and scooters can pair up to speed through the snow.
Scientist Profile - Bruce Roberts and Rick Solarez design Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Riddle - How do you ride a square-wheeled bike?

103/Animal Behavior:

Otters - Josue and Michelle compare the grooming habits of otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium with otters in the wild.
Dog Behavior - Laura and Anna test their dogs' performances on basic intelligence tests.
Scientist Profile: Otter biologist Melissa Jefferies introduces the Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program in Monterey.
Riddle - How do you keep birds off of an airport runway?

104/Water:

Surfing - Champion surfer Carsten explores how the terrain around different beaches affects the waves and the sport.
Dolphins - Hilary investigates how dolphins make friends, observing pair bonding among captive dolphins.
Scientist Profile - Aquatic biologist Carlos de la Rosa describes his research in the wetlands of central Florida.
Water Slides - Valerie and Margie tackle two twisty waterslides to determine which is speediest and most "wild."
Riddle - How do you weigh a whale?

105/ Rocks:

Kayaking - Simi, Jenny and Danny kayak down a raging river, relating river speed to rock size.
Rock Climbing - Climbers Gordon and Jesse explore the properties of different types of rock as they scale sheer cliffs in Aspen.
Scientist Profile - Paleontologist Gary Takeuchi unearths fossils in Red Rock Canyon State Park.
Riddle - How can you cut rock without a saw?

106/Flight:

Model Airplanes - Alex and Ryan, model airplane pilots, investigate how different wing designs affect the performance of stunt planes.
Paragliding - David, Abby and Alex use a thermal camera to determine how the terrain below affects the paragliding above.
Scientist Profile - Aeronautical engineer David Urie tests his new SkyTrac, a body surfboard for parachute jumpers.
Riddle - How do you wakeboard without a boat?

107/Weather:

F-Scale - Melissa and Elizabeth visit the site of a recent tornado, examining the damage to determine the tornado's strength on the F Scale.
Tornado Model - Sullivan and Alexa engineer their own tornado model, to explore the forces that produce a tornado.
Forecasting - Mari and Lindsay test traditional "folk" forecasts against modern weather predictions.
Scientist Profile - Expert "stormchaser" Howie Bluestein investigates hurricanes, tornadoes, and other wild weather.
Riddle - How can you use weather to foil a potential crook?

108/Technology:

Robot Contest - A GEMS team (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) design, build, and test a robot to compete in the "First LEGO League" contest.
Solar Car - Isaac and Anjali find out how their model solar car performs as the sun moves across the sky.
Scientist Profile - NASA engineer Lloyd French introduces his Cryobot, an ice-melting robot designed to help study the moons of Jupiter.
Riddle - How do you get electricity from a cow?

109/Plants:

Weevils - Elissa and Julia track a swarm of weevils charged with saving the Everglades from invasive melaleuca trees.
Kelp Forest - Megan and Ian, certified scuba divers, get deep as they meet some amazing creatures in an underwater kelp forest.
Leaves - Start seeing red (and yellow and orange!) as Maddie, Mia, Ally and Mikki investigate how leaves change color.
Scientist Profile - Dr. Elizabeth Stryjewski of the Kennedy Space Center researches plants for gardens in space.
Riddle - How do you sort 600 apples per minute?

110/Air:

Sailing - GiGi and Emmanuel investigate how sail position affects speed of sailboats - both model sailboats and sailing yachts.
Balloon - Masha and Patsy check out how the temperature inside a hot-air balloon makes them soar or sink.
Scientist Profile - Award-winning engineer Lonnie Johnson demonstrates his most popular invention, the SuperSoaker 2000.
Riddle - How do you use air to right a tipped 18-wheel truck?

111/ Human Behavior:

Perception - Maddy and Martina investigate how unreliable human perception can be.
Roller Coasters - Zahabiya and Christopher hold onto their hats for their stomach-churning investigations of people's reactions to roller coasters.
Scientist Profile - Web developer Idit Harel shows off MaMaMedia.com, and the research process that produces online stories, digital art and educational games.
Riddle - How can you see your brain working?

112/Space:

Coconauts - Sarah, Shakivia and Erica send coconut snacks into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle to investigate how the coconut would fare as a space food.
Moon Craters - Chris and Vanessa make models of moon craters, and compare their models with the view through their own telescopes.
Scientist Profile - MIT project scientist Andy Liu investigates how humans adapt to the zero-gravity atmosphere of long space flights.
Riddle - How do you transport heavy equipment on Mars?

113/Human Body:

Martial Arts - Kha and Peta, young martial arts athletes, determine how different tae kwon do moves challenge their bodies' skeletal and muscular systems and then apply what they learned in competition.
Taste Test - Leah, Julia and Folabi engage their friends in a taste test to reveal what the nose knows.
Scientist Profile - Danny Smith and Scott Holmes, medical device designers at Medical Plastics Laboratory in Gatesville, Texas, apply science to the creation of anatomical models.
Riddle - How do you blow a single note for several minutes without stopping for breath?