Science Surfing
- Math
Functions on Display
To mathematicians, the term “function” has a specific meaning. It’s a rule that assigns a fixed output for a given input; in effect, a formula. Among the most familiar functions are the sine and cosine functions of trigonometry. The Wolfram Functions Site offers a huge functions database, providing information about and visualizations of more then […]
- Humans
Sense of Smell
Get in touch with your sense of smell. This invitation comes from the Sense of Smell Institute, which aims to spotlight the importance of smell in human psychology, behavior, and quality of life. The institute’s Web site offers a report addressing what would happen if you were to lose your sense of smell. The site […]
-
Understanding Evolution
Understanding Evolution is an extensive Web site designed to meet the needs of K–12 teachers presenting evolution in the classroom. Developed by the University of California Museum of Paleontology at Berkeley and the National Center for Science Education, the site provides an informal online course covering essential science content, as well as a searchable database […]
-
Earth Image
Presented by the Universities Space Research Association, this Web site features a new photo, graphic, or illustration every day. Each one deals with an aspect of earth science. Captions provide information about the images and links to related Web material. The archive, dating back to September 2000, includes images of atmospheric phenomena, unusual cloud formations, […]
-
Coral Reef Report
Coral Reef Report is a new online magazine that aims to “celebrate the power and mystery of the planet’s coral reefs.” It features articles, personal stories, audio interviews, photo galleries, news items, and other materials devoted to exploring and elucidating the beauty of coral reefs. Go to: http://coralreefreport.info/
-
Medieval Science
This page provides links to a wide variety of materials devoted to different aspects of medieval science. Compiled by James McNelis, editor of a journal on medieval literature, the links cover such topics as alchemy, hunting and falconry, archaeoastronomy, horology, mathematics, botany, medicine, and cartography. Go to: http://members.aol.com/mcnelis/medsci_index.html
-
National Pi Day
National Pi Day—March 14—is a time to celebrate the number 3.14159. . . . Take a look at how this remarkable number has been honored in various settings, from a middle school classroom to the Exploratorium and Harvard University. Go to: http://www.germantownacademy.org/academics/MS/PiDay/Index.htm, http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/piday.html, http://www.nvnet.org/nvhs/dept/math/pi.html, http://mathforum.org/teachers/middle/activities/pi_day.html, http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/pi/, and http://www.math.harvard.edu/piday/index.html
-
Microbe Library
The American Society for Microbiology offers a variety of images and other materials about the microbial world for classroom use. The collection includes images of various microbes, videos and animations, curriculum materials, articles, activities, and more. Go to: http://www.microbelibrary.org/
- Earth
Desert Life
What is a desert? How many deserts are in North America? This extensive Web site offers information about the desert environment and the unique characteristics that define the beautiful desert landscapes of the U.S. Southwest. It includes images, stories, movie and audio clips, and virtual-reality tours on many desert-related topics, from plants and animals to […]
- Computing
Paint by Pixel
Aaron Hertzmann is both a computer scientist and a painter. Among his art-related programming projects, he has developed a way for computers to refashion images and animations to reflect different painting styles. Other work includes a stretched “canvas” that projects a continually-changing painting of the viewer and a learning-by-example system that animates characters based on […]
- Astronomy
A Habitable Planet
NASA offers kids a chance to search for and build a fictional planet on which people could live. This multimedia, interactive Web site guides students through a sequence of role-playing steps, starting with observations of the effects that changes to Earth can have and what’s needed for survival. Go to: http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/
- Astronomy
Historical Astronomy and More
The NASA Astrophysics Data System offers access to a huge, searchable database of journal articles and abstracts in the fields of physics and astronomy. The collection includes many historical publications in astronomy, including observatory reports, bulletins, and annals. It also has more than 300,000 abstracts from the Physical Review series published by the American Physical […]
