Visual Science
Snow
Crystals - Stunning designer show crystal
galleries, an historical photo collection, and tips on photographing
snow crystals make this site breathtaking to brows. Learn about
different types of snow crystals and watch movies that show them growing
at different temperatures. Produced by a physics professor at
Caltech, the site covers the basics, but it also gets into details that
would interest even ... well, a physics professor at Caltech.
Panda
Central - Finally, A slide show that won't
put you to sleep. You'll watch, fascinated, as baby panda Hua Mei
grows from a helpless 4.5-ounce newborn to the precocious yearling she
is today. After watching Hua Mei grow up, you may feel you need to
check in on her now and again. That's easy to do with the site's
live pandacam. See her play, lounge, and eat in real time, or
watch RealPlayer movies of her frolicking with mom Bai Yun.
Operations
Significant Event Imagery - Point your
browser here for gorgeous satellite images of the world's most violent
natural disasters. Get a bird's eye view of a raging firestorm, or
track the path of a hurricane in full-motion video. the site's
intuitive organization makes finding the images a breeze, and topical
sections like the Image of the Day keep you up-to-date with the latest
in global catastrophes.
The
Multidimensional Human Embryo - Nary a
stork nor a cabbage patch lurks here. Instead, you'll find
exceptional three-dimensional MRI(magnetic resonance imaging shots of
human embryos - the first of their kind. You can see the tiny
forms change from 22 days after conception to 56 days - when an embryo
becoms a fetus. A click of the mouse brings up internal
cross-sections. Son the site will offer time-lapse movies of new
life morphing from a tiny speck into an embryo.
Scanning
Electron Microscope - Is there such a
thing as too close for comfort? Judge for yourself after you've
taken a unique microscopic look at the barbed mouth parts of a deer tick
or the scruffy hairs atop a mosquito's head photographed at several
hundred times life size. Then try your hand at determining if some
images are animal, vegetable, or mineral. When you tire of
guessing, browse through the archive for magnificent magnifications of
everything from a spiny-headed worm to scratch-'n-sniff paper.
Science
Learning
SpaceKids
- Care to take a virtual tour of the solar system?
Or lander? You can do both at Space Kids, a NASA Web site designed
for "children" of all ages. Here also are links to
space-science news, interactive lessons, and information about
organizations where you can help scientists explore the final
frontier. Resources for teachers help bring the heavens down to
Earth.
The Yuckiest Site
on the Internet - Yes, this
site is yucky, but it's low with a loft goal: teaching kids about
biology and physiology. In Roach World, kids follow the exploits
of Ralph the Roach, learn such facts as how each of the critters has at
least 18 knees, and play an interactive roach-whacking game. Gross &
Cool Body answers such questions as "Why does poop smell?" and
"What is the gunk in the corner of my eyes?" Plus:
instructions for icky experiments, creep crafts, and revolting recipes.
The
Science Museum - Whether it's a
contemporary science topic like Dolly the cloned sheep or an historical
one like Leonardo da Vinci's flying inventions, London's Science Museum
has it covered. In addition to offering a rich assortment of
entertaining and education online exhibits, the site offers a vitrual
3-D tour of the museum's recently opened contemporary science center,
the Wellcome Wing.
TryScience
- Nothing quite captures a child's attention like a good science
experiment. That's why more that 400 science learning institutions
contributed experiments to these site. Children and adults alike
can participate virtually online or use household items offline.
Health
& Medicine
WebMD
- An excellent reference for the latest health and wellness information,
WedMD publishes news articles and reference materials on topics as
divers as pregnancy and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The site has broad
reference sections, and in-depth analysis of medical news, diseases,
conditions, and treatment options. The information is presented
clearly enough for non-physicians to understand.
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention - Fir e concerned
or curious, the Centers for Disease Control site offers information,
tips, and warnings on everything from bicycle safety to
biohazards. The site has one of the most extensive A-to-Z
health-related reference lists on the Net, a comprehensive list of links
to other public health-related resources, and links to state health
departments. And if you're planning on leaving the country, check
out the travelers' health section before heading to the airport.
DNA Learning
- Want to know why Mendel used peas in his genetic experiments? Or
maybe how a gene produces a protein? The DNA Learning Center is
the source for anything related to DNA. To get up to speed, start
with the "DNA form the Beginning" section of the site.
Animations, videos, and problem-solving sections clearly explain the
complex functions -- everything from DNA molecules' base pairs to genes
to proteins.
CancerSource.com
- Whether you know a little, a lot, or somewhere in between about
cancer, CancerSource doesn't discriminate: information on all varieties
of the disease is presented at three levels. You can learn about
the basic biology of cancer, get the latest news o the subject, and find
opportunities to chat live with cancer specialists. the site also
offers a dictionary, drug guide, and online support groups.
RxList: The
Internet Drug Index - RxList is a trove of
pharmaceutical knowledge with more than 4,000 medications on file, a
pharmaceutical discussion board, and an online dictionary of medical
jargon. And for anyone inetrested in alternative medicine, RXList
covers a handful of herbal remedies as well. Check out the online
pharmacy too.
ClinicalTrials.gov
- Before this site debuted this year, terminally ill people who wanted
to take a shot at an experimental therapy had no centralized place to go
for information. ClinicalTrials presently contains information on almost
5,000 clinical studies, sponsored primarily by the National Institutes
of Health. You'll not only find details on the experimental
treatment, but also whether researchers are recruiting volunteers, and
how to get involved. During the coming year, additional studies
from other federal agencies and the pharmaceutical industry will be
added to the site.
The
Universe
Imagine
the Universe - This site has been wowing
would-be astronomers for years, serving up the basics (and not-so
basics) about our universe in a clear and concise format. A recent
reorganization of the site has finally earned it a spot as a true
"Best of the Web". Ask an astronomer your burning cosmic
questions, or just sit back and view videos of the heavens.
Intimidated by the jargon? Run you mouse over a confusing term and
clear explanation pops up onscreen.
Solar System
Simulator - Zoom past Saturn or simply
gaze at the moons of Mars at this exquisite site from space
exploration's holy trinity: NASA, JPL, and Caltech. Originally
designed to visualize deep space satellite missions, the simulator lets
you see a body from any vantage-point at any time -- so you can view
Jupiter as seen by Galileo (the man) or Galileo (the satellite).
The renderings of the planets are startlingly realistic, and it's easy
to set the simulator for the image you want.
Space.com
- Whether you're really out there or have only an occasional need to
dwell on the heavens, Space.com offers it all. Read, listen to, or
watch daily news stories. Along with the headlines are sections on
industry happenings and space science features. Quizzes, areas on
science fiction movies and TV, and even a special page for kids enliven
the site.
Windows to
the Universe - A richly colored, highly
detailed encyclopedia of space, Windows on the Universe also brings you
all the benefits of Internet interactivity. It's a bountiful site,
with areas on our planet, solar system, universe, the arts, and people
in science. Tailor all of the information to beginner,
intermediate, or advanced reading level with the click of a button -- so
it works for junior as well as the family member who's the most
space-savvy.
Astronomy
Picture of the Day - Sometimes the best
sites have the simplest ideas behind them. Case in point, the
Astronomy Picture of the Day, which offers exactly that: a stunning
image of a celestial body, phenomenon, or space-related event. Add
to that a rich assortment of links for each image, and you've got a fun
place to visit and revisit. Miss a day? An archive provides images
back to 1995, and a searchable index brings you to info on specific
categories such as black holes or spiral galaxies.
Inventions
& Labs
Invention
Dimension - MIT's Invention Dimension
enchants, inspires, and entertains emerging Edisons and simple gadget
fanatics alike. Archives of inventions range for the goofy Makin'
Bacon -- a microwaveable dish that drains cooking grease -- to the
lifesaving balloon catheter. For your own endeavors, you can get
sound advice from The Inventor's Handbook, and compete in serious-minded
contests and frivolous trivia challenges. Links to related sites
make this an ideal gateway to online innovation information.
Science
for the Millennium - Reinterpreting the
World's Fair for the electronic age, the gracious e-pavilions at the
National Center for Supercomputing Application's site overflow with
technological enterprise. Exhibits on everything from biosphere
modeling to star formation to meta-computing deftly weave text, images,
movies, and sound into dazzling tour of the universe. You stay on
track with the aid of navigation maps and flowcharts. Wandering
through this celebration of science, you won't miss cotton candy for a
second.
About.com's
Inventors - How do you go from nuts and
bolts to a full-fledged invention? How can you tell an invention
from a scam? How do you fund your research? What are the
most bizarre inventions? This site distinguishes itself by
covering inventions from a seemingly limitless number of angles.
Plus, it doesn't stint on the staples: inventors, inventions,
upcoming events, and conventions. Truly an invention tour de
force.
Delphon
Intellectual Property Network - Boasting
an extraordinarily rich collection of patents from around the world,
this site lets you search by patent number, Boolean text, and a variety
of specific terms. And it has plenty of what is de rigueur for
such sites: inventions so outré' or comical, that you can't imagine
they ever received a patent. They did, though. Try, for
example, a motorized ice cream cone or a jet-powered surfboard.
National
Laboratories - You know the names -- Los
Alamos, Argonne, Oak Ridge, Brookhaven -- hre are their Web sites.
Welcome to the Department of Engery's gateway to the major national
laboratories. Brows these sites and you'll be well acquainted with
how your tax dollars are being spent. Each site takes a different,
richly varied approach. Just for fun, Argonne gives you a look at
its annual Rube Goldberg machine contest.
News &
Answers
ScienceDaily
Magazine - A geme os decoded, and news
organizations form ABC to the BBC are all over it. But where can
you find information about less flashy, but no less noteworthy,
breakthroughs? Try ScienceDaily. Each day, news is presented
in a clear, concise format.
Ask Dr.
Universe - From the scientifice (if light
has no mass, how can it be sucked into black holes?) to the speculative
(why are sisters so boring?), Dr. Universe answers some of life's most
confounding questions. The did oriented site invites visitors to
submit their own questions. The good doctor is also kind enough to
include links to his favorite sci-tech sites.
Te Science and
Technology News Network - This site is not
for you. You'll find plenty of useful information here. but the
site is actually designed to promote science news to media
organizations. Our suggestion: Skip the middleman, and log
on frequently. The site features in-depth stories from such fields
as space, medicine, and the environment.
The Mad Scientist
Network - Burning for answers to science
questions? You'll get them for the "collective cranium"
of more that 800 researchers in the Mad Scientist Network, a remarkable
service of Washington University Medical School. Search the huge
Q&A archive or submit your own questions to Ask-A-Scientist.
There are also incredible edible/inedible experiments to try at home, a
MadSci Library of links for exploring science elsewhere on the Internet,
and the Random Knowledge Accumulator -- a search engine that turns up
entertaining information.
The Why
Files - The Why Files gives you the science behind the
headlines. After the recent Concorde crash in Paris, for instance,
a Why Files report explored why planes crash. There's a new story
every week, with in-depth features on topics including Mad Cow disease,
genetically engineered chickens with three drumsticks, and the chemistry
of love. The site also hosts a user forum where you can write to
and interact with other readers.
Earth & Environment
eNature
- Bird lovers should flock to this site, which
includes tips on equipment, opportunities to pos questions to an online
naturalist, and a clever search program that helps stumped birdwatchers
identify unfamiliar birds. You can even create online "life
lists" of birds and other wildlife that you have seen over the
years.
The Living
Edens - Based on a PBS series of the same
name, The Living Edens transports you to undisturbed corners of the
world. From the Ngorongoro crater in Africa to Canyonlands
National Park in Utah, each of more than 15 locations comes to life via
geological information and wildlife profiles.
Earthquake
Information from the USGS - Produced by
the U.S. Geological Survey, this handy reference site presents current
earthquake conditions throughout the United States and teh word in a
simple format. Clickable maps, updated hourly, show the location
and strength of the week's quakes. And resource pages define
terms, relay the history and science of earthquakes, help you prepare
for an earthquake, and tell you what to do if you get caught in one.
6 Billion Human
Beings - If you're 38 years old, there are
now about twice as many people on the earth as when you were born, and
about 30 percent of the people born that year are already dead.
You can learn facts like these by plugging you age into one of the many
interactive "Did you know?" games at this online exhibit from
Musée de l'Homme in Paris, part of France's National Museum of Natural
History. The exhibit is designed to help visitors "understand
why the world's population has exploded in recent years and why it might
stabilize during the next century."
Environment News
Service - Independently owned and
operated, the ENS provides timely reports from around the world on a
wide range of environmental topics, with the usual spin provided by an
affiliated business or environmental group. The wire service
covers legislative and judicial decisions, demonstrations, conferences,
and other daily news that affects land use, public health, and
wildlife. Also find links to information about becoming an
Earth-smart consumer, planning eco-travel, learning about local
environmental problems, and making businesses more sustainable.
Moving Science
Fuel Cells 2000 -
Devoted to the promotion of fuel cell technology, Fuel Cells 2000 is a
comprehensive source of information that relates all the benefits of
fuel cells. You'll also find a basic primer on how fuel cells
generate electricity from hydrogen, the latest information on the
numerous companies developing fuel cell technology, and a useful set of
links to other sources.
Fuel Economy
Site - Ever wonder how much you spend on
gasoline each year? Or how your car's gas mileage stacks up
against the competition? Look no further that the government's
fuel economy Web site. Here you can browse the environmental
benefits of economizing fuel, learn how cars process gasoline, and even
study the vital statistics of that lemon you owned in 1985. What's
more, the site provides a tantalizing peek into the fuel-efficient
future of automobiles.
International Human
- Powered Vehicle Association - Laziness
is not an option for the pilots of human-powered planes and
ornithopters -- two of the many vehicles described an the International
Human-Powered Vehicle Association site. Engineers worldwide
contribute plans for vehicles that one day may turn our noisy, fossil
fuel society into a pollution-free yet mobile civilization. Watch
test videos of these mechanical works of art and check out the latest
attempts at work human-powered speed records.
Smithsonian National
Air and Space Museum - If you can't make
it to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., its Web
site has all the galleries, complete with photos and short
summaries. Trace the history of aviation and space exploration,
learn about how things fly, and explore our solar system. If
you're looking for a specific aircraft or space artifact, the site
features a comprehensive listing, with photos, of the museum's entire
collection - on and off display.
Jane's Information
Group - One of the world's leading
authorities on defense and transportation, Jane's brings you the latest
news on just about everything that floats, flies, or drives. The
focus is on vehicles that serve naval, air, and land forces, but you'll
also find information on civilian air shows, trains, and
transportation-related international businesses.
High Technology
CNET.com
- In the fast-paced worlds of computer technology
and Internet design, CNET, a.k.a. the Computer Network, provides the
tech-minded surfer with a one-stop shop for all the latest news.
This information portal contains everything from hardware reviews to
free software downloads, from investing to jobs.
Geek.com
- If horror stories about personal digital assistants turn you on, or if
you just want to get an update on the latest computer news, the Geek.com
is the place to turn. The site is divided into sections about
computers, games, PDAs, and chips, so you can dive into the specialty
scene of you choice. Users post their comments on all the latest
doings. For the uninitiated, a mini-glossary helps translate
geek-speak.
Gnutella
- At first glance, you might think this is a site about a nutty
sandwich. And while the site doesn't have any snazzy features, what it
does offer is making copyright owners tremble. Download Gnutella
software and you'll be linked "peer to peer" to thousands of
other computers worldwide -- at which point you can upload desired files
without any clue where the originating request came from.
Etown
- If you can listen to it,m watch it, or speak it, Etown has it.
This astonishingly information-rich site brings you the latest news and
reviews relating to audio, video, communications, photography -- in
other words, just about any electron item. And if you're in the
market to buy, Ida, a virtual personal shopping assistant, helps you
decide what model is right for you based on how you plan on using
it. You can even make some online purchases.
Yahoo Broadcast
- With cable modems and DSL lines providing high-speed connections to
the Internet, watching audio and video feeds via the Web suddenly make
sense -- a lot of sense. And a terrific place to get start is
Yahoo Broadcast's extensive listings of live and taped special events o
topics ranging from politics to fitness to sports. Or browse
through a wide selection of Internet radio and TV stations.
Eclectic Science
Bug Bios
- To promote insect appreciation, this site has more than 100 crisp,
color pictures of ants, bees, wasps, beetles, hoppers, roachers, and
spiders, which technically aren't insects but arthropods. Those
who already appreciate creepy, crawly things will be dazzled by the
site's breadth of information, but even entomophobics can learn
something here. Did you know that beetles represent the largest
order of insects, with more than 250,000 described species?
Sodaconstructor
- "Sodaconstructor can seriously damage your productivity,"
reads a warning posted at the bottom of this site. They're not
kidding. Join masses and springs to form small mathematical
creatures that writhe and twist in two dimensions as you adjust spring
stiffness and weight placement. Sodaconstructions can walk,
bounce, roll, or jiggle their way across the screen, depending on your
design. If you can't get the hang of creating 2-D critters, load a
pre-designed model for inspiration.
Big Dig -
Watch while one of the biggest construction projects of the modern era
continues to be built. The Central Artery/Tunnel Project
(including the Ted Williams Tunnel), also called the Big Dig, is turning
a five-lane elevated highway in Boston into an eight- to 10-lane
underground expressway. Also in the plans; the widest cable-stayed
bridge ever built.
Phil Plait's
Bad Astronomy - The first in a series of
Bad Science sites, Bad Astronomy is devoted to correcting misinformation
about astronomy spread in the media or by word of mouth. Austin
Powers and global warming get their due, with tidbits offered by real
scientists. The sometimes esoteric information is always
interesting.
The UnMuseum
- Seen a UFO lately? A dinosaur? Bigfoot? Aliens, lost
worlds, and humanoid legends are just a few of the oddities you'll find
at this site devoted to bizarre and unnatural phenomenon. A
detailed history and analysis accompanies every unnatural mystery,
including a current account if its status. |
