Goings Online
Healthy coral reefs in Gulf of Mexico
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (photo) is among the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the tropical Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to a recent NOAA report. The sanctuary is unusual in that it is dominated by top-level predators, including large grouper, jacks, and snappers that are virtually absent throughout the Caribbean. This website includes information about teacher workshops. The Corals to Classrooms workshop generally offers participants from 10-14 hours of SBEC credit, depending on the activities and the schedule. See the website for more about coral reefs, and learn about workshops.
DNA Blog
The Barcode of Life is chiefly a scientific blog about short DNA sequences for identification of species, a blog that has been developed as an outgrowth of a meeting on the Barcode of Life held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in cooperation with Rockefeller University. At the website, stories are updated each month of how the barcode is used. Some examples include tracking diseases with DNA, tropical trees identified with DNA, world species updated (latest count is 1.9 million published species), barcoding tropical reef fish, and more. The archives enable access to past uses of barcodes and DNA.
What is an ungulate?
Literally, "ungulate" refers to any animal with hooves—a hoof being an enlarged toenail. However, in practice, the use of the name "ungulate" has been inconsistent. While it was originally used to refer to the even-toed orders (Artiodactyla) and odd-toed orders (Perissodactyla), the "true" ungulates, the term over time expanded to seven different mammalian orders, some of which have no hooves whatsoever. As a result, ungulate now has no classification significance, and its definition has returned to its original descriptive roots: a mammal with hooves. Ungulates (257 species) account for the vast majority of large herbivores currently on earth. They include the horse, zebra, tapir, rhinoceros, camel, llama, hippopotamus, giraffe, deer, moose, elk, caribou, gazelle, bison, ox, antelope, sheep, cattle, pig, and more. To learn more, go to the Ungulates of the World website.
Ten inventions that changed the world
The Science Museum in London had its curators select the ten objects in its collection that had made the biggest mark on history. These then went to a public vote to find the most important invention of past centuries. Visitors to the museum and online voters cast nearly 50,000 votes. The winners, listed with illustrations and explanations, are available on the NewScientist website. The medical X-ray radiograph (photo) was the winner; penicillin came in second. Others in the top ten were: DNA double helix, Apollo 10 capsule, Model T Ford, and the electric telegraph.
El Niño and weather 2009-2010
El Niño in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence December through February winter weather in the United States. This information is according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released on October 15 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center. Warmer-than-average temperatures are favored across much of the western and central USA, especially in the north-central states from Montana to Wisconsin. This seasonal outlook does not predict where and when snowstorms may hit or total seasonal snowfall accumulations. Snow forecasts are dependent upon winter storms, which are generally not predictable more than several days in advance. Details are available on the NOAA website.
The Chemistry Collective
The Chemistry Collective is a collection of virtual labs, scenario-based learning activities, and concept tests which can be used in teaching as pre-labs, alternatives to textbook homework, and in-class activities for individuals or teams. It is organized by a group of faculty and staff at Carnegie Mellon University for high school and college teachers who are interested in using, assessing, and/or creating engaging online activities for chemistry education.
The SkyServer
The SkyServer website presents data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, a project to make a map of the entire universe. The "Getting Started" pages will tell you what types of data are available on SkyServer, and what tools are best for accessing specific types of data. These tools provide many different ways of looking at the data. Some tools also have help pages that will give more specific information on how to use the tool. Look at famous places, scroll the sky, look for individual space objects, and see the images of the northern sky.
Latest Ares I-X launched October 28
Outstanding teamwork brought about a successful Ares I-X Launch on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 01:18:57 PM CDT. During the flight, a range of performance data was relayed to the ground and also stored in the onboard flight data recorder. The 700 sensors mounted on the vehicle provide flight test engineering data to correlate with computer models and analyses. The rocket's sensors gathered information in several areas, including assembly and launch operations, separation of the vehicle's first and second stages, controllability and aerodynamics, the re-entry and recovery of the first stage, and new vehicle design techniques. To learn more about this launch go to the NASA Ares I-X Rocket website.
Understanding granular flow
The Granular-Volcano-Group has produced a comprehensive web site on granular-matter, granular flows, and fluid dynamics. State-of-the-art and recent research in this field are featured on the site. The intent is to make this topic understandable regardless of educational background. One definition of granular flow is a flow with grains. Observe, at a distance, sugar flowing from a vessel. Learn to understand the fundamental differences between granular fluid and any other fluid (such as gas or water).
More on dinosaurs
The Dinobase website is maintained by the Earth Science Department of the University of Bristol, UK. It comprises a wealth of information for the dinosaur enthusiast. Reports of dinosaurs in the news and in the media, press releases, forums for discussion, blogs, galleries of dinosaurs, and an entry for "dinokids" are sections to whet the appetite of those with special interests in dinosaurs.
Podcasts on nanotechnology
SmallTalk is a podcast series to chat about nanotechnology with leading scientists, thinkers, artists, writers, and visionaries, and look at quirky nanoscience stories in the news. Click on a link to listen now, or use your browser's "Save As" function to download and listen later. Topics to download include nanotechnology and medicine, cheap solar power, consumer products, nanocars, nanofactories, and more. Visit the Nanoscale Informal Science Education website.
Global glacier changes
There is mounting evidence that climate change is triggering a shrinking and thinning of many glaciers worldwide which may eventually put at risk water supplies for hundreds of millions of people. If the trend continues it is possible that glaciers may completely disappear from many mountain ranges in the 21st century. Go to the United Nations Environment Programme website to download a report from the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) and study figures and maps, or watch a video on glaciers prepared by WGMS.
WolframAlpha computes everything
WolframAlpha is a computational knowledge engine; the long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone. The aim is to collect and curate all objective data; implement every known model, method, and algorithm; and make it possible to compute whatever can be computed about anything. Their goal is to build on the achievements of science and other systematizations of knowledge to provide a single source that can be relied on by everyone for definitive answers to factual queries. Enter a town or date, for example, to learn numerical facts about the input. The website includes courses for K-12 and college that use WolframAlpha, for example, K-12 lesson plans for geology.
Watch protein animations
The Protein Movie Generator website aims to provide an easy way to generate pictures and movies of protein structures, with the concern of integrating the most frequently used concepts of the molecular graphics fields. High definition pictures and movies are produced. Tutorials are available at each site. Some features on the site are for beginners and others are for more advanced users.
Atmospheric optics
Light playing on water drops, dust or ice crystals in the atmosphere produces a host of visual spectacles: rainbows, halos, glories, coronas, and many more. Some can be seen almost every day and others are once in a lifetime sights. Find out where to see them and how they are formed on the Atmospheric Optics website; then seek and enjoy them outdoors.
Minneapolis bridge in top ten
The Interstate 35W bridge replacement project has been selected as one of the nation's ten best transportation projects for 2009. This distinction was determined by the American Automobile Association, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the US Chamber of Commerce. The top ten projects will compete for America's Transportation Awards' Grand Prize and the People's Choice Award. Technical details of the bridge and its history are summarized in the American Scientist, November-December issue, 2009, pages 444-448, and also on the MN Department of Transportation (MNDOT) website.
Huge ring around Saturn
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has enabled discovery of an enormous ring around Saturn—by far the largest of the giant planet's many rings. The new belt lies at the far reaches of the Saturnian system, with an orbit tilted 27 degrees from the main ring plane. The bulk of its material starts about six million kilometers (3.7 million miles) away from the planet and extends outward roughly another 12 million kilometers (7.4 million miles). One of Saturn's farthest moons, Phoebe, circles within the newfound ring, and is likely the source of its material. Learn more on NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope website.
Daddy-long legs
In many backyards the most conspicuous "spider" isn't a spider at all, but rather something related to the spiders, as are scorpions, ticks, mites, centipedes and millipedes (arachnids) - it is the harvestmen also known as daddy-long legs. They get their name because they often appear at harvest time. Harvestmen have no venom glands so they are not poisonous. Learn more about harvestmen on the Backyard Nature website as well as in an article in American Scientist (Nov-Dec, 2009, pp 468-475).
Mars images
Malin Space Science Systems designs, develops, operates, and does scientific research with instruments that fly on robotic spacecraft. Recent releases are Mars weather report, new impact craters, and a dust-raising event. More than 1600 images of Mars are available on this website.
Celebrating the year of Darwin
This year (2009) marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of his most influential publication, On the Origin of Species, in which he introduced the concept of evolution by natural selection. Darwin's ideas had a profound influence on 19th-century thought, and today evolution is a cornerstone of modern biology. Learn how evolution applies to agriculture, industry, and medicine. Access definitions, books and reports, science and religion, and more on the Evolution Resources website.
What are constellations?
The Constellations and Their Stars website explains what constellations are, lists stars and constellations alphabetically, by month, and by catalog number. It also includes interactive star charts, a bibliography of star myths from various cultures, and a brief explanation of the myths behind the names of constellations. Remember that constellations are totally imaginary, and were made up by poets, farmers, and astronomers over the past 6,000 years.
Stars that shine forever
The starting point on this website is a detailed star map called the browsing area. How fast is the universe expanding? The so-called Hubble rate is 74.2 kilometers per second per megaparsec. Read articles, see the photo gallery, view the frequently asked questions, and a lot more on the WIKISKY.ORG website.
Bug Nebula seen by new Hubble
The Bug Nebula is about 4000 light-years away but can be seen through the recently refurbished Hubble space telescope. The refurbished telescope is ten to thirty times more sensitive than its earlier version. View it on the NASA website, or see the image in Science, 18 September 2009, page 1481.
Science Podcast
Co-produced by the BBC World Service, Public Radio International, and WGBH, The World is a daily international news magazine broadcast on public radio stations across the United States. The World Science Podcast brings you science news with a global spin—Afghanistan to Zambia, astronomy to zoology. Science coverage is heard in three ways: podcast, online, and on-air. Learn more on the website.
What do ecologists do?
Ecologists study oceans, deserts, forests, cities, grasslands, rivers, and every other corner of the world. More and more, ecologists are teaming with physical scientists, social scientists, policy makers, and computer programmers to understand better how organisms interact with each other and with the environment in which they live. This Ecological Society of America (ESA) webpage is part of an ongoing project to introduce web visitors to the options available to students interested in ecology. The viewer can select ecologists listed and learn what they do in their specific careers. Check out the ESA website.
Tour the brain
Memory and learning are closely connected but the specialists consider them two distinct phenomena. Memory depends on learning, but learning also depends on memory because the knowledge stored in your memory provides the framework to which you link new knowledge by association. Learn more about memory and other topics related to the brain such as pleasure and pain, emotions, body movement, senses, mental disorders, sleep and dreams, at The Brain From Top to Bottom website.
Realistic fiction about scientists
LabLit.com is dedicated to real laboratory culture and to the portrayal and perceptions of that culture—science, scientists and labs—in fiction, the media, and across popular culture. The site is intended for non-scientists as well as scientists, and the goal is to inform, entertain, and surprise viewers. LabLit.com is edited by scientist and science writer Dr. Jennifer Rohn who has fifteen years of research experience in the fields of virology, cell biology, cancer and gene therapy, and an incurable addiction to scientist-related literature (or "lab lit," a term she coined in 2001 which is now used widely). Lab lit is not science fiction; briefly, lab lit fiction depicts realistic scientists as central characters and portrays fairly realistic scientific practice or concepts typically taking place in a realistic, not a speculative or future world. The action does not have to take place in a laboratory, just anywhere where scientists are doing what they do, such as a field station. The website contains a long list of novels, films, plays and TV programs in the Lab Lit fiction genre.
Saturn storm sets record
The longest continuously observed thunderstorm in the solar system has been active since mid-January of 2009 according to a team scientist at the European Planetary Science Congress in Potsdam, Germany. This storm is larger than continental United States and the lightning bolts are more than a thousand times greater than in conventional lightning. The origin of the storm is not known. See photos and videos of the storm and learn background information on Saturn and its moons on the NASA Cassini Equinox Mission website. Click on the link titled "Saturn's Turbulent Storm Alley."
Global Climate change effect in Minnesota
Steps in energy conservation for Minnesota are suggested on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website. During the last century, the average temperature in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has increased slightly from 43.9 °F (1888-1917) to 44.9 °F and the precipitation in the state, especially the southern half, has increased by up to 20%. Information is provided on causes of change, greenhouse emissions, and potential effects on human health, agriculture, forestry, and the environment in general—a good source of local information.
Take virtual geologic field trips
The Geology Central website enables the viewer to take geologic field trips that include informative links, animations, and videos. It is a database of geologic web sites maintained by Richard Robinson. For example, the viewer can take a tour of beaches, deserts, earthquakes, glaciers, national parks, reefs, streams, and more. There are video links to the same locations.
Plant cell dynamics
The Ehrhardt laboratory at the Carnegie Institute for Science investigates plant cell development using live cell imaging methods to view the organization and behavior of molecules and organelles. On the Plant Cell Dynamics website, you view each structure, such as root or embryo, and click on the image to see it in three dimensions or as a video. You can even watch cells divide!
The retina and visual Systems
The Webvision website describes and illustrates the anatomy of the eye and how the retina works together with its form and function. Articles on age-related macro-degeneration, color vision, retina circuits, photoreceptors can be accessed. The web page was created by the University of Utah and updated July 2009.
The Dynamic Earth
The Dynamic Earth: NASA Observes Our Ever-Changing Planet is a 17-minute video which provides an introduction to Earth System science and NASA's role in observing our changing planet. Download the video from NASA's Earth Observing System website.
Mountain slide in south China
On June 5, 2009, a mountainside collapsed in the Chongqing region of southern China. The landslide dropped twelve million cubic meters (420 million cubic feet) onto several homes and an iron ore mine, trapping dozens of people. The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) onboard NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this photo-like image of the landslide on June 17, 2009. This landslide and other images, such as lava flow in Arizona on September 7, and the tropical storm Erika on September 6, can be viewed on NASA's Earth Observatory website.
Hudson sought a northwest passage
Four hundred years ago, on September 12, 1609, Henry Hudson sailed in the ship "Half Moon" up the river, now the Hudson River, in an attempt to find a new passage to the Orient. He and his crew were the first Europeans to explore the 150 miles of river. Later he sailed north, via Iceland, into the Hudson Strait and from there into Hudson Bay, which also bears his name ,in a continued search for a north-west passage. Learn more about these journeys on the Henry Hudson webpage.
DNA fingerprinting
DNA—It's what makes you unique. It's the stuff that tells each and every one of your body's ten trillion cells what it's supposed to be and what it's supposed to do. Although your DNA is different from that of every other person in the world—unless you have an identical twin—it's the same in every cell that makes up your body. NOVA Online, the website of the PBS series NOVA, presents a mystery to be solved using DNA fingerprinting. One of seven sisters has licked a lollipop belonging to their brother; since a lollipop cannot be licked without leaving behind a bit of saliva. The task is to create a DNA fingerprint from the saliva left on the lollipop, then use the fingerprint to single out the culprit of this crime. Check out the activity on the NOVA Online website.
Methane—energy source and greenhouse gas
"Methane trapped in marine sediments as a hydrate represents such an immense carbon reservoir that it must be considered a dominant factor in estimating unconventional energy resources; the role of methane as a 'greenhouse' gas also must be carefully assessed" wrote Dr. William Dillon of the US Geological Survey. Methane, a "greenhouse" gas, is ten times more effective than carbon dioxide in causing climate warming. On the other hand, the immense volumes of gas and the richness of the deposits may make methane hydrates a strong candidate for development as an energy resource. To learn more about ethane, check out the fact sheet prepared by the US Geological Survey.
Weather, Climate, and Paleoclimatology
Paleoclimate is climate that existed before humans began collecting instrumental measurements of weather (e.g., temperature from a thermometer, precipitation from a rain gauge, sea level pressure from a barometer, wind speed and direction from an anemometer). Instead of instrumental measurements of weather and climate, paleoclimatologists use natural environmental (or "proxy") records to infer past climate conditions. Paleoclimatology also includes investigation of the climate processes underlying these conditions. Paleoclimatic proxy data can be used to extend climate records and provide a longer time frame (hundreds to tens of thousands of years) for evaluating the warming of the last 140 years. Check out the National Climate Data Center website to learn more about Paleoclimatology.
Spectacular imagery and animations
Browse through the Digital Morphology website and see spectacular imagery, animations, and details on the morphology of many representatives of the Earth's life forms. The library is a dynamic archive of information on digital morphology and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography of biological specimens. For example, the three-toed sloth, as it is commonly called, has small eyes, unnoticeable ears, and forelimbs that are about one and a half times longer then its hind limbs, giving this mammal a comic appeal. The short, blunt tail resembles 'an amputated limb,' and can only add to this species' curious appearance. What do you know about the "rainbow wrasse?" Find out on this website by the University of Texas at Austin.
Fire facts
Each year, more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires, many of which could have been prevented. Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.6 billion annually. To protect yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames. Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio. Learn what to do before, during, and after a fire Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.
NASA Kid's Club Website
The new website, NASA Kids' Club, features animated and colorful educational activities for children in grades K-4. Interactive games teach children about exploring space, building and launching rockets, keeping airplanes on schedule, and how a comet travels through the solar system.
Science lesson plans for K-12 teachers
The Space Foundation has developed a new website for Pre-K-12 teachers with more than 200 science lesson plans organized by grade (Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12). Go to the Educators National Science Standards & Lesson Bank.
NASA Express E-mail signup
Receive announcements related to the NASA Education program by signing up for Express E-mail. Learn about new educational publications, NASA multimedia materials from Central Operation Resources for Educators, and other opportunities by getting on the mailing list. Materials are prepared for grades K-4, 5-8, 9-12.
Atmosphere optics
Light playing on water drops, dust, or ice crystals in the atmosphere produces a host of visual spectacles—rainbows, halos, glories, coronas and many more. Some can be seen almost every day or so, some are once in a lifetime sights. Find out where to see them and how they are formed. Then seek and enjoy them outdoors. View photos of rays and shadows, rainbows, water droplets, ice haloes, and high atmosphere images on the Atmospheric Optics website.
Food allergy research
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is the nation’s principal supporter of food allergy research. Its broad support of basic research in allergy and immunology provides leadership as scientists strive to better understand both the immune system and how certain foods trigger an allergic reaction. NIAID-funded researchers, in the USA and abroad, are doing clinical trials on managing allergy to cow's milk and are carrying out innovative clinical trials attempting to harness the body’s innate immunity to combat peanut and egg allergies. Did you know that food allergy occurs in 6-8 % of children four years of age or under, and in 3.7 % of adults? Learn more about food allergies and how to diagnose and treat them on the NIAID website.
Gravestones to measure weather rate
The weathering rates of gravestones are an indication of changes in the acidity of rainfall between locations and over time. The acidity is affected by air pollution and other factors, and could be used as a measure of changes in climate and pollution levels. The Gravestone Project aims to map the location of a graveyards around the globe and then use marble gravestones in those graveyards to measure the weathering rate of marble at that location. Gravestones are useful because they have dates on them. To participate you will need a GPS device to record coordinates of a gravestone and a micrometer to measure the degree of weathering. Find background and further explanation of this project on the website.
GRID-Arendal celebrates 20 years
The non-profit foundation GRID-Arendal was established in 1989 by the Norwegian Government to support the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The center was opened on August 22, 1989, by Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. This was the year that the Berlin Wall fell and age of the internet dawned. The goal was to find new ways to communicate and work with Eastern Europe and the Arctic.Today, UNEP has called for a “Green New Deal”, an initiative to rebuild economies based on responsible use of the environment. The 20th year anniversary celebration of GRID-Arendal addresses the question: How can GRID-Arendal contribute to UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative? A seminar will be held August 21, 2009, at Arendal, Norway (near Oslo) and a program and other information are available on the GRID-Arendal website.
Listen to ocean sounds
The NOAA Acoustic Monitoring Program records sounds under ocean water surfaces using a deep sea hydrophone. Sounds are recorded both as spectrograms and as actual sounds. Listen to the sounds of blue, fin, humpback, and Minke whales in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Other sounds, as heard under water, include ships, air guns, whistles, and more. Sounds are used to detect whale activity in oceans. A concern is the effect of environmental sounds on whales' existence. NOAA can also detect submarine earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Comet may have caused scar on Jupiter
Anthony Wesley, an amateur astronomer in Australia, first noted on July 19, 2009, a dark spot (photo) near the south pole of Jupiter which was later estimated to be about the size of the Pacific Ocean. Five days later, the Hubble Space Telescope was aimed at this spot and the analysis of astronomers was that the scar was caused by the impact of a comet. (This is the first image taken after the Hubble repair and upgrade in May). Their argument was that comets cross Jupiter's orbit while asteroids rarely do. Of course, Jupiter is a gas planet so the scar represents a disturbance in the gases that make up that planet. To learn more and view images, go to SPACE.com.
Weeds Gone Wild
Weeds Gone Wild, Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas, is a web-based project of the Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group. The project provides information for the general public, land managers, researchers, and others on the serious threat and effect of invasive alien (introduced, non-native) plants to the native plant, animal, and natural ecosystems of the United States. Fact Sheets and other information on this web site can be used in class. The Fact Sheets are for specific invasive plants in five groups: aquatic, herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees. Eurasian watermilfoil (photo) leads the list of aquatics and is a pest in many lakes in the state. It may be surprising to some that Japanese barberry and black locust are on the list.
Air pollution and particles
"Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution comprises many components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. The size of particles is related to their potential for causing health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned about particles that are 10 micrometers (0.000393701 inches) in diameter or smaller because those are the particles that generally pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. EPA groups particle pollution into inhalable coarse particles and fine particles. Learn more about particles and pollution on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website.
Take a guided tour of the brain
An interactive website, The Brain from Top to Bottom, reveals the human brain and its behavior. Click on the user's guide to take a tour like that of going to a museum. A site manual shows the entire site contents by topic or subtopic. Browse the site in different ways. Memory and learning are closely connected but are distinctly different. Also, as an example, learn the difference between forgetting and amnesia. The site is updated regularly.
World wind
NASA's World Wind lets you zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth. Leveraging Landsat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data, World Wind lets you experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if you were really there. Virtually visit any place in the world. You can choose to look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps, or along the African Sahara. View Java-based World Wind demos, or find a quick summary on the World Wind website. This is a part of the Learning Technologies Program of NASA.
Discover life
The Discover Life website provides free on-line tools to identify species, share ways to teach and study nature's wonders, report findings, build maps, process images, and contribute to and learn from a growing, interactive encyclopedia of life. The site now has 1,289,946 species pages. Major categories include "all living things," "nature guides," and "global mapper." Under living things, there are descriptions and illustrations of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, insects, spiders, crabs, snails, slime molds, fungi, corals, anemones, and more.
Latest storm images from NASA
The current situation of storms and hurricanes over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are illustrated on NASA's Hurricanes/Tropical Cyclones website. Hurricane archives from 2009 to earlier years can be retrieved on the site. NASA has also developed several educational tools including posters, graphics, and classroom activities on hurricanes, which can be accessed on this site.
Lasers set stones alight
Laser scanners are being used in archaeology to find long lost ancient art at Stonehenge. At the website, an article on "Lasers Set Stones Alight" tells of recent findings on the henge that help archaeologists explain the stones. Additional information includes the technology of laser scanning as well as other related topics. Check out the Stonehenge Laser Scans website.
Laws, rules, and principles in physics
This web site has a list of laws, rules, and principles that applies to physics and astronomy which can also be used as a kind of dictionary. Do you know, for example, Occam's Razor? It states that if there are two theories to explain a phenomenon and if both are equally accurate, then the simpler of the two explanations is the better one. The Law's List website is a good place to quickly access laws or rules in physics.
Problems with gardens in class projects
The University of Minnesota Extension Service has a web page to answer questions about insects, weeds, diseases, and other gardening information. Choose a plant category such as vegetables, fruits, turf, annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs; there are categories within each group. The information is useful for class projects or home gardening.
Tour basic genetics
The Learn. Genetics website was developed by the University of Utah. It features a "tour of the basics" to answer questions such as: What is DNA? What is a gene? What is a chromosome? What is a protein? What is heredity? and What is a trait? After the basic tour topics such as DNA to protein, stem cells, cloning, addiction, family health history, and more are explained. There is a wealth of genetic information at this site.
Wind power
The Wind with Miller webpage on wind power was developed for students 12-14 years old. It offers a crash course on wind energy. Drawings and illustrations form the framework of a series of short texts. It focuses on the physics and technology of wind power. Practical activities are described, for example, you can learn how to assemble a wind turbine. A useful teacher's guide is provided.
How viruses are put together
There are currently twenty families of viruses that contain viruses of humans and animals. Viruses are identified by looking at them through an electron microscope. They are identified by shape, dimensions, and whether or not they have an envelope. The Virus Ultrastructure website includes photos of DNA viruses such as the herpes virus, and RNA viruses such as the influenza virus (photo). Additional information is available on the site such as virus architecture and design of the protein shell.
Impact of asteroids and meteorites on Earth
The Earth Impact Database website lists impact structures around the world which are the result of meteorites and asteroids striking the Earth. Data are available on 169 craters in the world. Criteria are listed for determining whether or not a geological feature is formed from an impact of an asteroid or meteorite. General information on meteorites supplement the description on the website.
The greatest engineering achievements
The Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century website lists the top twenty achievements of the 20th century. The Top 10 include: electrification, automobile, airplane, water supply and distribution, electronics, radio and television, agricultural mechanization, computers, telephone, and air conditioning and refrigeration. Each of these achievements is described further on the website. For example, the first minicomputer kit shown in the 1975 issue of Popular Electronics was the Altair 8800.
Learn about energy
Energy Quest, the energy education website of the California Energy Commission, is geared for elementary and middle school students. The site’s goal is to show how energy is an integral part of daily life, and to teach an "energy ethic" to conserve finite resources. Energy Quest may spur creativity and imagination. Teacher resources, news, and other activities are available at the website.
Why we should listen to frog calls
Frog Calls are featured on this website as well as documentary video clips of scientists discussing frog issues such as the declining amphibians and malformed frogs. Watch a video or read a transcript of the documentary. The videos can be viewed only with Windows Media Video (wmv) unless a Mac has installed a program such as Flip4Mac.
Why is Earth's core so hot?
The solid core of Earth is about the same size as Pluto. There is an solid inner core and a liquid outer core, and together they are about half the size of the entire planet. The temperature at the core is between 7,000 and 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Why is it so hot? The answer involves radioactivity. To get a full explanation, listen to a podcast or read a transcript on NASA's The Space Place website. This site is intended for elementary-aged children.
Update on sea ice melt
Sea ice in the Arctic has melted substantially in the last thirty years. Sea ice also reflects sunlight keeping polar regions cool and moderating global climate. The status of sea ice in the Arctic is monitored daily and reported with a one-day lag on the Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis website. The status of sea ice melting is also available for previous years on this site.
The June sky at a glance
The June Solstice occurs at 1:46 AM EDT on June 21, as the Sun reaches its greatest celestial declination north. By convention, it is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. For the former, it is the day with the longest period of daylight. However, due to the Earth's inclination and the eccentricity of its orbit, the date of earliest sunrise is around a week earlier and the latest sunset is around a week later than the solstice. In Boston, for example, the earliest sunrise occurs at 5:07 AM EDT on June 14, while the latest sunset occurs at 8:25 PM EDT on June 27. Also in the June sky, look for the moon phases, the evening planet (Saturn), five morning planets, and meteors - but no comets. Find out more about the Night Sky on the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics website.
Listen to Nature
More than 150,000 sounds made by animals from all over the world can be heard online at the British Library Sound Archive. Browse the collection by location, animal group, or habitat. The web site includes birds, insects, mammals, and soundscapes.
Plant photo of the day
The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden website features a photo of a new plant each day with a description of interesting characteristics. The photo can be enlarged and printed for hanging if desired. Previous photos and information are available, as are images for free download as desktop wallpaper. A special section for kids is also available on the website.
Biological resource data
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources. The NBII Program is managed by the US Geological Survey's Biological Informatics Office. Keep current on topics such as developments on protected lands, the white-nose syndrome in bats, and Asian influenza; view an image library and aquatic data as well. A kid's page is included with activities.
West Nile Virus 2009
The West Nile Virus was first isolated in 1937 in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It reached New York City in 1999. It has since been reported in forty-six states and has caused illness in 9,800 people. The virus is transmitted by mosquito bites but is not contagious from person to person. There is no treatment or vaccine for it. The United States Geological Service Disease Maps website has background information and a list of frequently asked questions; keep progress of the disease at this website.