Computer Graphics & Digital Animation
Computer graphics is a term that encompasses a wide range of sciences and techniques. To understand some of the processes involved in generating computer graphics, Cornell University offers this detailed introduction to the subject (1). The site contains explanations and a series of pictures that illustrate object rendering, shading, ray tracing, and more. Computer graphics has seen rapid advancements in the past few years, partly because of the development of dedicated graphics processing units
All about glaciers
The National Snow and Ice Data Center created this website to educate everyone, from grade school students to glaciologists, about glaciers. At the Data and Science link, researchers can learn about glaciological organizations, publications, and research projects as well as how to obtain glacial data. Students and educators can find a glaciology glossary, answers to many of their questions, and amazing images of glaciers at the General Information link. The website also provides a detailed portr
Song of the Earth
This PBS Web site is the online companion to the Nature documentary "Song of the Earth," hosted by David Attenborough. The program explores the elemental purpose of music and offers a fascinating look at the connection between animal sounds and human music. The site includes two detailed lesson plans that integrate science and language arts, designed for grades 9-12. Learning objectives include conducting research on animal behavior, applying scientific methodology, synthesizing information to c
SuperFord.org: The Garage
Although SuperFord.org caters to an online community of Ford vehicle enthusiasts, this section of the Web site is appropriate for anyone with an interest in modern automobile operation. The best part of The Garage, as it is called, is the Engine Guide. This excellent reference describes nearly every type of engine component. Illustrations of the different parts show the associated forces and how they work together to control the engine. Another section contains eleven calculators to convert hors
Lava Layering
The Planetary Geology Group at Arizona State University developed this online activity to teach elementary and middle school students "the stratigraphy (layers) of lava flows produced by multiple eruptions" on the moon. The first part of the website provides teachers with background information about the layers of basaltic lava flows that cover about sixteen percent of the Moon as well as how to prepare for the activity and what to expect. Visitors can use the second part of the website as an in
Explorer
Supported by the US Department of Education, the Explorer educational Web site is a collection of educational resources geared to k-12 students that include instructional software, lab activities, lesson plans, student created materials, and more. The physical science related material includes matter, energy, force and motion, waves and vibrations, and electricity, as well as many earth science topics. The site also contains a wealth of life science and mathematics material, which helps to make
Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology
The Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) operates under the auspices of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. CMAVE "conducts research aimed at reducing or eliminating the harm caused by insects to crops, stored products, livestock and humans. Research is directed not only at the insects themselves but at pathogens they may transmit and at identifying inherent protective mechanisms in plants." The Center's website links to information about CMAVE researchers and
1394 Trade Association: About 1394b Technology
The IEEE 1394 interface, commonly known as FireWire, is a popular multimedia connection between computers and peripherals that can achieve high transfer rates. 1394b is the latest version, which increases the bandwidth and expands the utility of previous versions. The 1394 Trade Association hosts this page with several resources about the emerging technology. A white paper describes its applications and how it has evolved. Specifications for the upgraded "b" version are listed in an overview pre
University of Toronto: Department of Civil Engineering
This website highlights civil engineering research projects from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. Its research projects are intentionally chosen for their potential to "make significant contributions, ensuring that the interests of society, the economy and the environment are well-served." Some examples of topics addressed by the various research projects include: Sustainable Infrastructure, Building Science, Concrete Materials, Engineering GeoScience, Structural
Fear of Physics
The Fear of Physics Web site contains more than twenty interactive physics related activities. Everything from things that spin, sound, atoms, collisions, and the Doppler effect are included. The Speed and Acceleration link teaches about movement by allowing users to choose two vehicles and change their position, speed, and acceleration. After pressing the GO button, the program runs, and students get to see how the chosen variables affect the vehicles' movements. A great collection of online le
NOVA: Sinking City of Venice
First aired on November 19, 2002, the Sinking City of Venice is a fascinating episode of the NOVA television series that focuses on the threat of rising tide levels for the exposed Italian city. Venice has many historical treasures and centuries-old architecture, which is forcing the government to turn to engineers for possible solutions to safeguard the city. A very ambitious proposal that is currently being considered involves massive underwater gates that rise in times of dangerously high tid
Semiactive Damping of Cables with Sag
Vibrations in support cables can be caused by wind, rain, or other forces acting on the attached structure. This can result in premature failure of the cable or its connections, thereby reducing the cable's useful lifetime. This research paper, from the University of Southern California civil engineering department, extends the previous work of the authors on smart vibration damping techniques. Through accurate modeling of the cable and including the properties of "sag, inclination, and axial fl
Institute for Molecular Manufacturing
The Institute for Molecular Manufacturing (IMM) conducts and supports research on molecular systems engineering and molecular manufacturing (molecular nanotechnology, or MNT). The website provides information on the IMM research projects. Also posted here are IMM's "guidelines for research and development practices that will minimize risk from accidental misuse or from abuse of molecular nanotechnology." Some article preprints are also available to download free of charge.
Advanced Manufacturing: Tomorrow's Ideas at Work Today
This is the home page of a Canadian-based technical magazine that covers new technology and developments in advanced manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing technologies "include 'hard' technologies like design engineering tools, industrial automation equipment, and software systems and 'soft' technologies like lean manufacturing." All of the articles are free online, and new issues come out monthly. There are numerous features in each edition that discuss the global marketplace, manufacturing str
Easy-to-read Health Information
The National Network of Libraries of Medicine offers this collection of links to easy-to-read Web sites for health-related information. Topics cover everything from diabetes to wound dressing to environmental health and safety. The site appears as an extensive list of links organized by topic. A main menu at the top of the page allows users to quickly jump to subjects of interest. The links lead to pages from National Institutes of Health Web sites and other authoritative sources, and are select
Articles for Educators
Articles For Educators is a free resource offered by Virtu Software. On this website, teachers will find lesson plans, field trip ideas, tips and tricks for the classroom written by educators. Visitors can browse the directory of articles by subject or search for a specific topic. This section highlights Mathematics lesson plans written by math teachers and is organized into the following main sections: Competition, Fun with Numbers, and Miscellaneous. Membership, which is free, provides educato
Shakey Snake
This lesson plan comes from Science NetLinks, an online source of educational materials from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Designed for grades K-2, the lesson has students first read "The Adventures of Shakey Snake," an online illustrated story. The questions and activities that follow help students recognize how stories can attribute fictional features to animals. The lesson also touches on the influence of heredity on animal features, as well as the relationship betw
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) website promotes the agency's work to protect human and natural resources in the state. Users can find out the latest Texas environmental news and hot topics. Educators and students can find an abundance of materials dealing with air quality, water quality, and waste. Through the many documents at this website, users can familiarize themselves with the Texas environmental laws and policies. Researchers can learn how to obtain TCEQ data and pub
Museum of Science's Educator Resource Center
The Museum of Science's Educator Resource Center (ERC), based in Boston, MA, offers this website providing educators with "recommended and institutional Museum materials, all mapped to national and state standards, in order to increase the quality of science, technology, and engineering education." The collection includes a wealth of curriculum materials and science project resources focused specifically on engineering and technology education. Each lesson is evaluated in terms of usability, tea
US Climate Change Science Program
This Web site offers a portal to the recently held Planning Workshop for Scientists and Stakeholders, convened by the Bush administration to set the research agenda for its US Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). Clicking on Library will call up the draft strategic plan for the CCSP, which may be downloaded in whole or in part. The Web site also provides an overview of the meetings and the program, along with various publications and white papers also available to download. Climate change rese
