Goings Online
News on Devonian fish
The Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods featured dinosaurs, but much can also be learned about the "Age of Fishes." Dennis Murphy created Devonian Times with support from scientists at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia as a way to learn about paleontology. Descriptions of finding "new" species are written in newspaper article format, which makes the stories seem current and more interesting.
The Green Kingdom
The kingdom Plantae includes all land plants, mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants, etc., comprising more than 250,000 species. Plants have been around for a very long time; about 360 million years ago there was a wide variety of shapes and sizes of plants including tiny creeping plants and tall forest trees. The most striking and important feature of plants is their green color, the result of the pigment called chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll to capture light energy, which fuels the manufacture of sugar, starch, and other carbohydrates. Without these food sources, most life on earth would be impossible. There would still be mushrooms and algae, but there would be no fruits, vegetables, grains, or any animals which ultimately rely on plants for food. Another important contribution of plants is their shaping of the environment. Plants are everywhere from the tundra, to the rainforest, to the desert. To learn more about the fossil record, life history, ecology, classification, and plant shape and form, go to the Introduction to the Plantae webpage of the University of California Museum of Paleontology.
Biology of the mammary gland
The Biology of the Mammary Gland website was established by the Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology and the Scientific Computing Resource Center within the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. It includes basic information on gland formation and function, tissue formation, the genome program, how breast cancer is diagnosed, and much more. Some material is intended for the specialist, but there is also useful general information available.
Keep up-to-date on NASA missions
Current NASA missions include an ocean surface topography mission in which Jason 2 begins to map the oceans. Find information on past and future NASA missions as well as a launch schedule on their website. The mission gallery includes photos of rockets headed for orbit and includes information on how the Phoenix Mars lander works.
Locate meanings of acronyms
The ARGH Biomedical Acronym Resolver is a database constructed in an automated manner, using a set of heuristics to identify acronyms/abbreviations and their definitions within MEDLINE records. Currently, it is the world's largest and most comprehensive catalog of biomedical acronyms and abbreviations, containing approximately 257,000 out of an estimated 277,000 unique acronyms within MEDLINE.
Digital Nature Guide
The Digital Nature Guide has free software to allow you to make and to view natural history guides. Make a field guide for any type of animal or plant. When viewing a guide you can select species on the basis of characters or geographical distribution. A guide can include species texts and other illustrations. It will show a species list and has many other features. The software is available for Windows only.
Tour the mangrove swamps
Mangroves dominate the world's tropical and subtropical coasts, paralleling the geographical distribution of coral reefs. Ecological processes influence inputs from the land, sea, and sky, which affect fluctuations in flooding, salinity, temperature, light, and nutrients. Mangrove-associated organisms thrive in this variable environment. The Mangrove study is exploring the relationships among physical and chemical factors, nutrients, microbes, trees, and elemental cycling in clear-water mangroves on offshore islands in Belize. These results enable scientists to manage and conserve mangrove ecosystems and understand the biocomplexity in other ecosystems. Take a virtual tour of mangroves by going to the Mangal Cay website created by the Smithsonian Institution.
Something for everyone!
Learn about plasma and fusion containment on the Interactive Plasma Physics Education Experience website. The interactive topics include electricity, magnetism, energy and fusion. Learn how ants communicate with pheromones, how to develop a paint ball catapult, and how to make topographic maps. There is a section on "Ask a Physicist." You can download a free version of either Shockwave or Flash to view the animation.
Sounds in the sea
Oceanographers, submariners, whales, dolphins, seals, in short, all working or living organisms in the ocean use sound to sense their surroundings, to communicate, and to navigate. This web site will introduce you to the science and uses of sound in the sea. There are sections about the science of sound, animal sounds, and people sounds. Resources for both teachers and students accompany the features. The Discovery of Sounds in the Sea website also includes galleries of scientists, audio, and technology.
Earthguide for news
The Earthguide website features science and nature of the Earth, its oceans, and the environment. Get the latest news on floods, earthquakes, coral reefs, giant crystal caves, and more. The site is kept current and covers resources for teachers, activities, and lesson plans.
Canadian snow and ice
The purpose of the State of the Canadian Cryosphere (SOCC) website is to provide up-to-date information on the past, present, and future state of important cryospheric variables in Canada. Click the various options to get a snapshot of the latest state of snow, sea ice, lake ice, glaciers and ice caps, frozen ground and permafrost across Canada and its surrounding regions. SOCC for kids is filled with cool stuff, fun facts, and games, including the chance to ask questions of Dr. Frost. The cryosphere refers to ice and snow accumulations and includes glaciers, polar ice caps, and permafrost.
Puff tracks path of volcano plumes
Based on wind data, plumes from erupting volcanoes can be tracked by use of a software program called "Puff." This program was created by Rorik Peterson at the University of Alaska. Click on any icon on the map and a plume will form and move over the earth surface. This is important information because aircraft will fly around such plumes to avoid getting grit that will enter and clog engines. Go to the Puff Volcanic Ash Tracking website.
Science programs over the Internet
The Vega Science Trust is an independent, not-for-profit, broadcaster of informed scientific visual and audio media. The site features interviews, workshops, discussions, lectures, issues, and career information. Workshops, for example, are selected for viewing online. Programs are indexed by series, scientist, subject, and an A-Z list by topic. Listen and watch William Klemperer in a lecture on the helium ion, for example. A wealth of resources is available on this website.
Dragonflies and damselflies
Facts and photos about dragonflies and damselflies, their distribution, biogeography, and identification worldwide are available on the OdonataCentral website. From the menu bar, choose "checklist", then "photo/ID" to view pictures of various species.
Ocean color science
The Sea WiFS Project website is sponsored by the Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA and includes ocean images and information for educational use. The site features spacecraft information, receiving stations, resources for teachers (oceans, their color, plankton, and a teacher's guide), mission operations, remote sensing of coral reefs, and more.
Map a planet
Explore global imagery of the planets and satellites from a variety of missions in an easy to use web interface. Customize and download your own image maps of the Moon, Mars, Venus, and other planets and moons. Background information is available for each topic. The Map-a-Planet website is maintained by the USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
Plant photo of the day
The UBC Botanical Garden webpage prepared by the University of British Columbia in Canada features a wealth of plant information and photos of plants and gardens. A “plant of the day” is highlighted (July 4, 2008 was an orchid) including a photo and links to more information. You can view many exotic plants in flower. Access links, books, forums, gardens, conservation, and many more topics. There is a page for kids and instructions on how use a plant photo as wallpaper on a computer.
Webvision eye information
Do you known there are 6.4 million cones and from 110 -125 million rods in the human retina? The area of the human retina is 1,094 square millimeters (1.7 square inches). Gross anatomy of the eye and degenerative diseases of the retina are only two of the many topics covered in the Webvision website; for example, find out about age-related macular degeneration. Many drawings and illustrations are included in this online text prepared by the University of Utah.
Look at moth images
There are more than 10,500 identified species of moths in North America (north of Mexico). Images of many of these species can be viewed online at Web Images of North American Moth Species. Find various images by species, most prominent groups, or by name or family. Adult moths and larva are both pictured.
Study greenhouse gases with gumdrops
Molecules make up just about all matter, and are made of atoms, the basic building blocks of matter. Use gumdrops to build models of molecules; by using just four kinds of atoms as building blocks, you can construct many different types of molecules. In this project highlighted on the NASA website, you can build models of greenhouse gases. All you need are gumdrops, any size of four different colors, and some toothpicks.
Podcast journal of arctic impressions
Arctic Impressions is the audio journal of Dorian Janney, a middle school teacher from Rockville, Maryland. Dorian joined the Sun-Earth Day team in Barrow, Alaska, for the 4th polar conference called, "Polar Gateways Arctic Circle Sunrise 2008." She kept a written journal of her entire experience complete with descriptive text and imagery that she e-mailed back to her students in Maryland at the end of each day. She reads directly from her journal, and photos illustrate places described in her journal. Four podcasts can be found on the Sun-Earth Day: 2008 website.
Bioluminescence in nature
Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction that originates within organisms. It is mainly a marine phenomenon. The Bioluminescence Web Page includes information about the basic properties of bioluminescence, as well as images of bioluminescence from space. Watch the angler jellyfish lure fish by light, and see luminescent bacteria in the "milky sea" of the Indian Ocean. Luminescent bacteria occur nearly everywhere. A mailbag section answers questions about bioluminescence.
Physics songs
Songs about physics can help students to remember critical concepts and formulas, but perhaps more importantly they communicate the lesson that physics can be fun! Music helps establish an informal classroom atmosphere in which even shy students ask questions. Songs may also activate a different part of the students' brains. In 1983, Howard Gardner advanced the theory that each person has many different kinds of intelligence. Songs about physics link into the musical aspect of intelligence, helping many students build a richer "knowledge tree" relating to the concept being taught, thus promoting better retention. Listen and learn songs at PhysicsSongs.org.
All about spider myths
House spider myths, weird stories about spiders, myths about identifying spiders, myths about "dangerous" spiders, and other general fallacies are exposed on The Spider Myths Site. Spiders, of course, are not insects; they are arachnids. All spiders have eight legs but not all eight-legged creatures are spiders—some are ticks and scorpions. Not all spiders spin webs, and spider bites are rare events. Spiders feed mainly on insects. Learn the truth and untruths about spiders on this website.
Reefs of the deep
The cold-water coral ecosystems of the deep oceans can be seen on this website created by Lophelia.org, a project of The Scottish Association of Marine Science. Lophelia pertusa is a stony coral found in deep, dark waters. There is a colorful Learning Zone for watching videos, with stories, animations, and fun. Join an interactive dive into the ocean deep; background information accompanies the videos.
History of world earthquakes
The Earthquake Archives website was developed to preserve the history of earthquakes around the world including detailed descriptions and seismograms. For example, get information about the earthquakes in San Francisco (1906); Fukai, Japan (1948); Chili (1960), Alaska (1964); Venezuela (1967), and San Fernando, California (1971).
Animal and human cells seen in culture
The fluorescence microscopy digital image gallery on the MicroscopyU website provides a window into the world of the cell. Both living and fixed cells in culture can be seen. In looking at animal and human cells the viewer can see both slides and videos of monkey kidney cells, water mongoose skin cells, hamster ovary cells, human bone cells, or fox lung cells, and many more. The gallery of images shows what can be seen by using fluorescence microscopy.
How to read tree rings
The Ultimate Tree-Ring Web Pages are designed to be the ULTIMATE source for information on the science of Dendrochronology. The pages were designed to be easily understood at all levels of education, from elementary school students to high school students, and from first grade teachers to college professors. Learn the basics of tree-ring dating, find reference and bibliographic information, access products and supplies, and books all on these webpages.
Science culture in fact and fiction
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!. 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). Rohn posts everything from reviews of science-themed plays and novels to a profile of a retired college mathematician.
Illustrate physics with a flash
Flash animations are used for illustrating physics content and provide access to animations of general interest. The Flash Animation for Physics website has topics sorted by category, and the file size of each animation is included in the listing. Also included is the minimum version of the Flash player that is required. Some of the categories are chaos, electricity and magnetism, optics, sound waves, and vectors. A small tutorial is included; the website was created by the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto.
The scholar's Google
Normally, looking up information on a topic brings forth a wealth of information sources pertinent to that topic and often includes citations to the original scientific paper. However, if you want only the references or paper citation on which the topic was based, search via Google Scholar which will supply only the scientific papers relating to the topic. The search will yield abstracts of the technical journal article. If you want to read the entire article you may have to buy a reprint or subscribe to that journal; some journals permit access to the entire article free.
The Cephalopod page
Octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses are all cephalopods, which means "head foot." Cephalopods can rapidly change color, disappear in a cloud of ink, have three hearts that pump blue blood, are jet powered, and are found in all oceans of the world. They can squeeze through tiny cracks and holes; watch one escape from a box in a video shown on The Cephalopod Page. Learn more about these fascinating mollusks on the website.
Keep up-to-date on science and technology
The Internet Encyclopedia of Science is an online A-to-Z listing of science, mathematics, and technology maintained by David Darling. For example, look up “Phoenix” to learn about the recent Mars Phoenix lander. The goal of the website is to provide a comprehensive source of information on contemporary science.
Phoenix landing on Mars
When NASA's spacecraft Phoenix was 200 miles from landing on Mars, May 25, 2008, it took a picture of a six-mile wide crater (see photo).The name temporarily given to this crater is Heimdall after the Teutonic god of light and guardian of the great bridge Bifröst. For a view of this crater, check out the Sky and Telescope website.
Young naturalist stories
Stories about Young Naturalists on the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website are kid friendly and introduce young readers to natural resources of Minnesota from agates to zooplankton. Articles on amphibians and reptiles, birds, fish, mammals, insects, plants, seasons and systems, and more are shown and accompanied by teacher's guides.
Natural hazards gateway
Each year in the United States, natural hazards cause hundreds of deaths and cost tens of billions of dollars in disaster aid, disruption of commerce, and destruction of home and critical infrastructures. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has prepared a series of articles on earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanoes, and wildfire to show how USGS science helps mitigate disasters and build resilient communities. For a description and updates of these disasters and their causes, go to the Natural Hazards Gateway on the USGS website.
Gardening is science and art
The Exploratorium has developed a webpage on the science of gardening. Discover the stories behind fruits and vegetables, learn the science of soil, or unveil the secret life of flowers. See how plants feed our bodies, minds, and senses. What is the nature of farming? Videos of most of the topics enhance learning about gardening as a science and as art.
The World Science Festival
The World Science Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the wonder and excitement of science to a large and diverse audience. The festival will be held in New York City May 28 to June 1, 2008. The Web site features the events during this period and a list of speakers. One featured event is "The Wonderful Weirdness of the Quantum World".
Get ready for the solar eclipse
The NASA Eclipse Website includes information on the total solar eclipse to take place August 1, 2008, as well as eclipses in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Check a Google map showing the path of totality on Earth's surface. This is a good site to find background information about this and other eclipses of the sun and moon. Because the total eclipse will not be visible here, the Exploratorium will send an eclipse expedition to northwest China near the Mongolian border, and the total solar eclipse will be webcast live. More details about this webcast will be available soon on the Exploratorium's Total Solar Eclipse webpage.
Cyclones, typhoons, and hurricanes
Questions about cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms are being answered on the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory website of the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA). Tropical storms that travel into the North Atlantic Ocean are called hurricanes whereas those that develop in the South Pacific are called cyclones. Because of Cariolis forces, hurricanes (photo) spiral counter-clockwise whereas cyclones spiral clockwise. Check out the NOAA website for more information.
Watch a shorebird feed
A juvenile red-necked phalarope is feeding. The bird spins on the water surface to generate an up-flow that transports the desired prey toward the water surface. With each dipping event, the bird captures at its beak tip a drop with suspended prey. The high-speed "tweezering" motion of its beak draws the drop toward its mouth, where the prey is consumed and the drop expelled. Watch a movie showing how the bird drinks the water using capillary action on the Science Magazine website; click on Movie s1 and Movie s2 under Supporting Material.
Get the latest on earthquakes
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has prepared a list of earthquakes in the United States and the world sorted by region. These include historic earthquakes, deadly earthquakes, largest earthquakes, the Top Ten earthquakes, and more, including maps and statistics. Go to the USGS website.
The pollen season has begun
The study of pollen and spores is called palynology; learn all about pollen on this University of Arizona website. Learn how it functions in seed production through diagrams and photos. A key shows how to identify the seventeen basic pollen classes. The Kids Palynology section (K-3) includes basics about pollen and photos. Although the site is produced by the University of Arizona, there are links to other institutions in the United States.
Archaeology by satellite
NASA has a program that supports Archaeology from space. For example, a satellite photo of Angkor Wat, Cambodia, shows locations of ancient settlements near the city and is accompanied by descriptions. Other sites include the Great Wall of China; Giza, Egypt; Jerusalem and the Dead Sea; and Wadi Kufra, Libya. Access the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) by clicking on the link in this website.
Come to Kinetic City
The Kinetic City website is a collection of science experiments, games, activities, and challenges produced by the American Society for the Advancement of Science. How many different organs does your heart work with? Find out how to start a science cub. Check out the Kinetic City Educators page.
Spring watch of Monarch's migration
The Journey North website tracks the monarch migration each year by collecting sightings of the FIRST monarch butterfly an observer sees in the spring. A live migration map provides a snapshot of the migration as it progresses. This study is important because it helps scientists learn where monarchs are during spring migration, in time and in space. The goal is to understand how the monarch's annual spring re-colonization of North America proceeds, and to explore the factors that influence its timing. On the website, contribute to this study by recording sightings of monarchs and watching a weekly update of the migration northward. Details are available on the website.
Stories from a changing planet
You can learn some amazing facts about the Arctic and Antarctic on the POLAR-PALOOZA website. Read about misconceptions of the North and South Poles - did you know: Antarctica is on average colder than the Arctic; that dinosaurs once roamed both the Arctic and Antarctic; that polar bears don't eat penguins? Polar bears live in the arctic and penguins in the Antarctic. Review the events of the 2007 POLAR-PALOOZA and find out about events scheduled for 2008. Note the schedule of K-12 workshops for educators. This web page is sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Be a pigeon watcher
Learn about city pigeons, watch pigeons for science, learn cool facts, and increase your awareness of nature in your neighborhood. Project PigeonWatch aims to: teach people how to conduct a scientific study and show them that research can be fun; help people learn about the coloration and courtship behaviors of pigeons; and try to understand why pigeons exist in so many colors. Individuals of any age, including kids in urban youth groups, rural after-school groups, science classes, or home schools can be pigeon watchers. Using the Project PigeonWatch materials, learn pigeon color types, called morphs, and courtship behaviors. Then count the numbers of pigeons of each color morph at your PigeonWatch Sites and record the colors of courting pigeons. This website is maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Pine cones are female not male
Pine trees have no flowers or fruits, but like other members of the pine family, they produce seeds wedged between scales of a woody cone. Cones are named because of their "cone" shape. Because the cone produces seeds it is a female cone; the male counterpart is not a cone and is known botanically as a strobilus, which produces the wind-blown pollen. Seeds have wings to enable them to be dispersed by wind. Learn more about Pine Cones from the Lovett Pinetum Charitable Foundation website.
What is cystic fibrosis?
Learn about Cystic Fibrosis: what causes it, how is it inherited, how is it diagnosed and treated, and what it is like to have it on the Your Genes, Your Health website. Follow links to genetics, chromosomes, and genes on this well-illustrated site.
Journey to the deep sea vents
Deep sea vents are like underwater geysers that shoot out hot, mineral-rich waters from below the sea floor. Scientists were surprised to see the variety of life in that water. The Journey to Deep Sea Vents takes you on a trip to the sea floor on a submersible vessel, down to 14,750 feet below sea level to see the kinds of life forms living there. Click on the life forms and learn more about them on the American Museum of Natural History website.
Ten ways to landscape for birds
This website created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes ten ways to landscape for song birds. The site includes additional topics on feeding birds the natural way, watching birds with a purpose, how to attract birds, plan a workshop on urban birds, and more.
Want to see the backside of the Moon?
Where did the Moon come from? Was it derived from a chunk from Earth? Did Earth capture a small planet from space? Did the Moon form itself from the same material as Earth? What did the Apollo mission tell us about the Moon's origin? Find answers to these questions on the To the Moon website. Also explore the Moon and hear space pioneers talk in this site created by NOVA science television series.
Wolfsnail as predator of African snails
The giant African snail (Achatina fulica) was introduced into Hawaii as a garden novelty; however, it soon became a major pest in farmer's fields of crops. Then, the rosy wolfsnail (Euglandina rosea) was introduced to prey on the giant African snail. Unfortunately, the wolfsnail preferred the small native Hawaian snails and fifteen to twenty of the native snails in one island (Oahu) became extinct. Government experts are now seeking ways to control the wolfsnail to preserve native Hawaiian snails. To learn more, and see a video of a snail being devoured, check out the Rosy Wolfsnail web page on the Florida State University website.
Where is the center of the universe?
There is no center of the universe! According to the standard theories of cosmology, the universe started with a "Big Bang" about 14 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since. Yet there is no center to the expansion—it is the same everywhere. The Big Bang should not be visualized as an ordinary explosion; the universe is not expanding out from a center into space. The whole universe itself appears to be expanding and apparently doing so equally at all places. What is the famous balloon analogy? Learn more about the Big Bang theory on the University of California Riverside webpage.
Interactive Library of Congress
The Library of Congress Experience offers "hands-on" interaction with rare cultural treasures in ways that inspire and engage. See Waldseemüller's map of the world charted in 1507—the first time America appears on a map. Access the The Learning Page to find teacher resources and lesson plans. The site was launched in April 2008 and will continued to be developed.
Microbes in the mouth
The Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD) reports that there are about 600 species of bacteria that inhabit the human mouth. Some of these bacteria cause cavities or periodontal diseases and others are beneficial and provide fresh breath, but roles of most are unknown at this time. Not all of the bacteria are named and they are known only by their rRNA sequences. The goal of HOMD is to get comprehensive information about these bacteria, and learn interactions that may affect human health. This work is being done at the Forsyth Institute in Boston. Other microbiomes are being developed for the skin and gut.
Corpse plant near blooming at Como
The corpse plant (Amorphophallus titanum), so called because it has an odor of rotting flesh, is nearing the flowering stage in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, in Como Park, St. Paul. It is native to Sumatra and plants had been growing previously at the Gustavus Adolphus College greenhouse. It was started from seed there in 1993, and two plants were transferred to the Como Conservatory in 2005. It is reported to bloom about every fifteen years. There are signs that the plant is getting ready to bloom and a blog was established to record daily progress in the blooming of this plant. To learn more about the plant and to see it in stages of blooming (time-lapse photography), go to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory website.
Eureka science
Do you want to better understand the latest science news? This site is designed for you! On the Eureka ! Science website, learning is shown to be fun, and science is endlessly fascinating. The "I Can Do That!" site was a recommended site for the National Science Teachers Association. Learn what DNA is, what proteins are, do fun science projects, get science kits, and find ideas for science fairs on this site.
Where is the jet stream now?
Jet stream analysis maps attempt to highlight the location and strength of the jet streams. The maps presented by the California Regional Weather Server (CRWS) show the pattern of winds in the upper troposphere, on the 300 millibar pressure surface (which corresponds roughly to an altitude of around 32,000 ft). This is roughly the level where winds in the atmosphere are typically strongest (with the exception of winds in tornadoes, strong hurricanes, and a few other unusual situations, all near the earth's surface). Learn more about the jet stream on the CRWS website.
Gecko technology
Geckos are an extremely diverse and species rich group. Geckos comprise about 14% of all reptile species with approximately 1,100 described species, and are widely distributed in both the eastern and western hemispheres. Geckos are perhaps best known for their climbing abilities. Specialized scales on their feet, known as setae, allow geckos to climb on a variety of surfaces, including glass (see photo). Individual seta possess branching, spatula-like projections at the tip. The contact of the finely branched setae with a surface produces millions of weak molecular attractions allowing the gecko to stick. Gecko feet never lose their “stickiness”. In fact, dead geckos still retain the ability to stick! Learn more about geckos from Tony Gamble and his work at the Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota.
Lesson plans to welcome spring
Are you ready to welcome spring? The Education World website has five lessons to make the most of the signs of spring: Cherry Blossom Time; Ode to Spring; Butterfly hunt; Spring Robin Migration; and Introducing Math into a Spring Thematic Unit. Each activity indicates the approximate grade levels recommended, and links to a variety of other resources for springtime ideas are also available.
Photos from International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) is a NASA education program that enables students, teachers, and the public to learn about Earth from the unique perspective of space. At the core of the program is a spectacular collection of digital images of Earth. The image collection and accompanying learning guides and activities are extraordinary resources to support classes in Earth science, space science, geography, social studies, mathematics, communications and even art. ISS EarthKAM images are unique because they are taken by middle school students. Using the World Wide Web, select middle schools request images based upon their classroom investigations. Since the program's inception in 1996, the ISS EarthKAM camera has flown on five Space Shuttle flights and taken almost 5000 images. Currently, the camera resides on the International Space Station and has taken a variety of pictures.
Internet Public Library
The Internet Public Library (IPL) was founded by a class at the University of Michigan's School of Information and later moved to Drexel University College of Information Science and Technology. Now it is developed and maintained by a consortium of colleges and universities. Look up topics in a diversity if areas such as computers, health, science, as well as features such as kids space and teen space. Get homework help or learn step by step ways to write a research paper. See photos of lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and many more topics.
Encyclopedia of Life is underway
The Encyclopedia of Life website is maintained by a consortium of twenty-five museums, botanical gardens, and other scientific institutions to provide key information about all life on Earth accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. This is the first phase and includes information on 30,000 plants and animals. The goal is to provide information on Earth's 1.8 million known species. Some popular entries include the American burying beetle, Atlantic cod, yellow fever mosquito, and peregrine falcon. The website is a work in progress.
Constellations and their stars
The Constellations and their Stars website points out that constellations were invented, not discovered. Naming them provides an easy-to-remember pattern of stars. Most of the star names used today come from Arabic names. Stars twinkle because of disturbances in the atmosphere, and they appear to change colors because the atmosphere acts like a prism in breaking up light into colors and accentuated by air turbulence. Learn more about stars and constellations on the website.
The dynamic Great Lakes
Find photos, maps, up-to-date information, and a book about changes in the Great Lakes and connecting waters. Population centers around the Great Lakes show up at night as blazes of light which can be seen from outer space.
How does a roller coaster work?
What you may not realize as you're cruising down the track at 60 miles an hour is that the coaster has no engine. The car is pulled to the top of the first hill at the beginning of the ride, but after that the coaster must complete the ride on its own. You aren't being propelled around the track by a motor or pulled by a hitch. The conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy is what drives the roller coaster, and all of the kinetic energy you need for the ride is present once the coaster descends the first hill. What is the physics behind the operation of a roller coaster? Find out on the Amusement Park Physics webpage.
The sweet lure of chocolate
This special online-only edition of Exploring takes a closer look at the sweet lure of chocolate. Examine the fascinating—and often misreported—history of chocolate, follow the chocolate-making process, and take an online visit to a chocolate factory. Look at the science of chocolate, and find out about the latest research into the possible health effects of its consumption. Explore the somewhat controversial question of why chocolate make us feel good.
Animated knots
Learn how to tie dozens of knots for a variety of purposes. Using animation, the Animated Knots website shows how to actually tie the knot step-by-step in either fast or slow motion. Shown are knots for boating, climbing, fishing, scouting, search and rescue, general household, decorative, and rope care. Did you know knots can weaken rope? Find out why rope and the sports associated with it can be dangerous.
Experience the Map Machine
The National Geographic Society has a website that enables viewers to connect science events to locations on maps by means of the MapMachine. There are prehistoric maps and time line, interactive climate change maps, a genographic project map, country profiles, conservation maps and more. For example, viewers can see maps and photos of the "Doomsday" Seed Vault in Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway, where seeds of economic plants are stored for posterity, a giant frog discovery, cool clicks for kids (videos and activities), science and space, an earthquake in progress, and even entrance to the Jurassic Period. These current science stories are enhanced by maps to show location. This site is an interesting and informative way to keep up with science news and locale of the events.
Check out the night sky
Use the Harvard Optical SETI telescope to view the sky above the observatory. See where the telescope is pointed, and get the latest update each night. The SkyCam updates every ten minutes when the weather is clear. Learn the workings of the telescope. The Optical SETI telescope is maintained by The Planetary Society and Harvard University. The Planetary Society is the leading advocate of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.