Notebook
- Materials Science
Fridge Magnets and Chemistry
Theres a tiger on your fridge! Lurking inside refrigerator magnets of the flat, flexible variety are magnetic-field stripes of alternating polarity. This University of Wisconsin Web site explains how fridge magnets work, shows how you can use such magnets to learn about magnetic force microscopy, and suggests experiments involving fridge magnets to model how metals […]
- Humans
From the March 8, 1930, issue
LEAVES OLDER THAN GRAND CANYON FOUND Fossil remains of plants found in the walls of the Grand Canyon show that many millions of years ago stunted vegetation of very singular aspect grew in a great, red, sandy floodplain under a semi-arid climate in northern Arizona. This great red land has been found by Dr. David […]
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Making Waves
Dive into ocean waves, tides, currents, and much more at the Office of Naval Researchs oceanography Web site. This educational resource for students and teachers provides information on topics such as the creatures inhabiting hydrothermal vents, suggests simple experiments focusing on the forces that keep ships afloat and allow submarines to sink, and offers quick […]
- Humans
From the September 10, 1932, issue
COVER PICTURE PURSUED OVER NEW ENGLAND HILLS By chasing a blue hole in the screen of cloud that covered part of New England, a party of eclipse observers that included Prof. John Q. Stewart, Princeton astronomer, successfully saw the corona in clear sky and obtained the News Letter‘s cover picture. Originally they planned to view […]
- Tech
Future Tech
Science fiction and fact seem to mingle at this Web site, which provides entertaining glimpses of a variety of futuristic technologies, from wearable computers to electronic healing. Links lead to other Web sites that offer additional information. Go to: http://www.21stcentury.co.uk/technology/index.asp
- Humans
From the September 3, 1932, issue
INSECT LARVAE MAKE MOSAIC JEWELRY Manufacturers of modern jewelry might well turn to the larvae of the caddis fly for effective models for small containers–tiny perfume bottles, say, or lipstick cases. These water-dwelling “worms” build mosaic coverings for the little cylindrical houses they spin for themselves, taking bits of sand and gravel from the streambed […]
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Art of the Gene
Artworks and essays inspired by current genetics research are featured at the Web site accompanying the traveling art exhibition known as “Gene(sis): Contemporary Art Explores Human Genomics.” Curated by Robin Held of the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle, the exhibition offers a wide variety of artistic speculations–from the whimsical to the starkly dramatic–on the implications […]
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From the March 1, 1930, issue
BEAUTY IN A DITCH Among the photographs that attracted much attention at an exhibition of the London Salon of Photography not long ago was one that stood out as a gleaming example of the beauty to be found in common things–even in ugly things–by a sufficiently discerning eye. S. Uyeda saw a lot of big, […]
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Weird Science Projects
The name of this site–Bizarre Stuff You Can Make in Your Kitchen–sums it up nicely. It describes, in detail, classic science projects originally published in books and magazines from the 1930s to 1960s. The list includes lessons on how to build your own seismograph, manufacture strange goo, or make pickles glow. The site even explains […]
- Humans
From the February 22, 1930, issue
THE “BARREL” OF CORONA When high voltage surges on electric transmission lines jump an ordinary string of insulators, arcs form from one insulator to the other and destroy them. But when both ends of the string are protected by metal grading shields, the arc jumps through the air from shield to shield and saves the […]
- Health & Medicine
Surgery Guide
Designed for patients and their families, physicians, and students, this Web site provides detailed information about a variety of common surgical procedures, ranging from hernia repair to LASIK for vision correction. Illuminating diagrams and cutting-edge animation accompany each description of a type of surgery. Go to: http://yoursurgery.com/index.cfm
- Humans
From the August 27, 1932, issue
DEDICATE WORLD’S LARGEST POWER PLANT IN RUSSIA Dneprostroy was dedicated on August 25. This hydroelectric power project exceeds similar undertakings in size and difficulty of accomplishment. It is on the Dnieper river in the U.S.S.R. From an installed capacity of 756,000 horsepower, abundant electricity will be available to smelt iron and other metals and to […]
