Science Surfing
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Genetic Code Cracking
Can’t tell a base pair from a Bosc pear? The National Library of Medicine offers an impressive, informative Web site devoted to the intricacies of genetics and molecular biology. Its science primer explains basic concepts, from bioinformatics to gene maps. The site also points users toward helpful resources on topics such as the human genome. […]
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Seaweed Sights
Should dabberblocks, murlins, and sea whistles come up in conversation, here’s the page for figuring out what’s going on. The seaweed Web site, hosted at the National University of Ireland, Galway, offers a gallery of glamour photos of prominent seaweeds, as well as an introduction to the seaweeds we may not have realized we were […]
- Physics
Signatures of the Invisible
Contemporary artists worked with CERN particle physicists to create pieces of art that respond to (rather than simply illustrate) the preoccupations of modern physics. This quirky Web site, hosted by the London Institute, provides glimpses of the artworks that resulted from this collaboration. Go to: http://www.signatures.linst.ac.uk/
- Health & Medicine
Fibroid Maladies
Every year, roughly 200,000 women in the United States get a hysterectomy–surgical removal of the uterus–to alleviate the pain and pressure of uterine fibroids. These noncancerous growths affect millions of women in child-bearing years. A good source of information on symptoms, treatments, surgical options, and possible causes is found at this site, compiled by the […]
- Math
Pi Day Festivities
Pi Day celebrations take place, appropriately enough, on March 14 at 1:59 p.m. For a glimpse of activities highlighting the enduring fascination of the digits of pi (the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter), take a look at the Exploratorium’s Web pages devoted to pi, then try the links to other weird and […]
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Ivorybill Search
The huge ivory-billed woodpecker has remained one of the United States’ most charismatic birds, even years after its presumed demise. In the latest effort to find the bird, a Zeiss-sponsored expedition this year sought the woodpecker in a Louisiana swamp. Catch up with the doings of the woodpecker’s many fans and learn more about its […]
- Math
Math Class Artifacts
Do you recall the 7-foot-long slide rule that used to hang above the blackboard in math class? Ever wonder who invented graph paper? Have you worked with a geoboard? The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has put together an exhibit displaying tools used to teach mathematics in the United States from the 1800s to […]
- Anthropology
The Way We Were
Dig into news, educational material, and even an online documentary about the contentious science of human evolution. This impressive Web site is operated jointly by the Institute of Human Origins and Arizona State University. Go to: http://www.becominghuman.org/
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Bug Watching
Crazy about insects? The Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute in Arizona has a “Backyard Bugwatching” page with links to photos and articles focusing on a variety of insects and their diverse habitats. Learn what it takes to track Mexican leaf-cutter ants and catch bullet ants. Journey to Costa Rica’s rainforests for close-ups of novel arthropods. Watch […]
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Virus Picture Book
If you’re interested in biological viruses, a good place to start is the “Big Picture Book of Viruses.” Founded by Robert F. Garry of the Tulane University School of Medicine, this Web site serves as a catalog of virus images on the Internet and provides links to tutorials, Web courses, and many other resources devoted […]
- Health & Medicine
Painful Thoughts
It may not surprise people terrified by a visit to the dentist that one of the top pain research groups at the National Institutes of Health is located within the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Check out the group’s history in NIDCR’s fascinating primer on the science of pain. Go to: http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/pain/
- Astronomy
Planet Quest
Need help in tracking discoveries of planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system? NASA’s new Planet Quest Web site offers one-stop shopping for planet discovery news. Check out the latest findings, search an atlas of extrasolar planets, and learn about NASA’s proposed missions to search for new worlds, particularly those that might harbor life. Interactive […]
