Human Embryology Animations
One of the most impressive ways to learn about biology, particularly that which we seldom see, is through modeling. Dr. Valerie O'Loughlin and her colleagues at Indiana University have created this thoroughly impressive set of animations so that "students could better understand the complex processes that must occur in embryologic development." The site is arranged into five main areas, including: Cardiovascular Embryology, Development of the Head and Neck, Gastrointestinal Embryology, Developme
Ocean Report Guide for Educators
The Ocean Report is a series of radio segments produced for SeaWeb that highlight a range of news and issues relating to the ocean. The Ocean Report Guide for Educators offers a comprehensive educational Web site based on these short radio pieces. Compiled by SeaWeb and KIDSNET, this Web site (designed for grades 4-8) is divided into three modules: Precious, Threatened Oceans; Teeming with Life: Amazing Ocean Creatures; and Protecting Our Seas: How You Can Help. Each section contains in-depth ba
Predictions 2005
Gartner, Inc., which provides research and analysis on the global IT industry for clients worldwide, offers annual predictions for the year ahead in the areas of technology, application, and industry. This section of the website highlights the firm's 2005 predictions for technology. Some of the technologies addressed in this issue include open source software, public network infrastructure, and mobile and wireless technologies. The full document must be purchased, but visitors may browse through
An Atlas of Cyberspaces
"CyberGeography is the study of the spatial nature of computer communications networks, particularly the Internet, the World-Wide Web and other electronic 'places' that exist behind our computer screens, popularly referred to as cyberspace." The Atlas of Cyberspaces highlights many efforts from around the world to visualize this type of information. Some of the features have links to download software tools, like an experimental browser that portrays Web sites as three dimensional buildings (the
Thanksgiving Biology
The first Web site (1) is an article from State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. It provides a short, readable introduction to the biology and natural history of wild turkeys in the US. Wild or domesticated, turkey meat is well know for its soporific power. Visitors to the Web site from International Anti-aging Systems (2) can learn all about tryptophan, the amino acid responsible for the post-Thanksgiving dinner nap. Also found in turkey (but much less appe
SRI International: SRI's Digital Earth Project
SRI International is a research institute with interests in engineering, information technology, and a variety of other fields. One of its current projects is dubbed Digital Earth, an effort "to create an open infrastructure that allows anyone around the globe to publish or to search for data based upon a specific location." This report describes the multiple technologies that are being integrated into the project, like GeoWeb as the information database, GeoVRML as a three dimensional geographi
Wolfram Graphics Gallery
Wolfram Research, creators of Mathematica software (see also NSDL Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology, July 16, 2004), have posted this gallery of images that demonstrate how "Mathematica has opened the door to a new kind of imagery that melds art and science." The colorful images in the gallery, created by Mathematica users around the world, are grouped by type: 2D Graphics, Polyhedra, Surfaces, and Animations. High resolutions images are available upon request, and in some cases there
Red Gold: The Epic Story of Blood
This Web site is the online companion to the PBS television series "Red Gold: The Epic Story of Blood," which aired June 2002. This extensive Web site offers a detailed look into the biology of blood and the "scientific developments that contributed to society's understanding and use of blood." Engaging feature articles make up the bulk of this site, with the addition of video clips from the television series, an education section with lesson plans and a discussion guide, a glossary, relevant li
National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) on Climate
The National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR), based in Bern, Switzerland, studies climate change and its impacts on society through "reconstruction of past climate; study of key physical, chemical and ecological processes; and a concerted effort to develop procedures for seasonal forecasting as well as the forecasting of extreme weather events." This extensive website offers summaries of the goals, methods, status, and results for the NCCR's fourteen main projects. While some of the publ
Drought Resources and Information
The Drought Resources and Information Web site is maintained by the Utah State University Extension Water Resource Issues Team, which was created to "address information needs related to water conservation and quality in agriculture and urban settings." The site provides information on several subjects including landscape irrigation, agricultural water uses, home water conservation, drought and weather monitoring, and more.
"What Clones? Were Claims of the First Human Embryo Premature?"
This is a Scientific American article that argues that the results of the first human cloned embryo are misleading.
A Butterfly's Life
Teachers in the market for lesson plans about butterflies can find hundreds of pages of Web-based material, but those looking for something simple and straightforward might be interested in this Web site, a joint project of Lotus School, Hult Museum, and the Wildlife Prairie Park in Illinois. Well-organized pages of text and images offer descriptions of butterfly migration, life cycle, habitat, food web, body parts, and gender. The site also provides research questions and steps that "outline a
Predicting Invasions of Nonindigenous Plants and Plant Pests
This Web site contains the free book Predicting Invasions of Nonindigenous Plants and Plant Pests provided by the National Academies Press. Compiled by the US Board on Life Sciences and the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, this 194-page book explores the difficulties in predicting the immigration and impact of exotic species. Researchers active in this field may find this free resource of use.
McMaster University: Hitchcock Group
This website promotes research by the Hitchcock Group at McMaster University with the "applications of inner shell excitation spectroscopies and microscopies to the analysis of advanced materials." Researchers can find general overviews, in-depth summaries, and highlights about the group's projects in the areas of synchrotron radiation and electron impact. Students can find out about funded research positions and postdoctoral opportunities. The website offers pdf files of the group's publication
NOAA Weather Education
NOAA offers links to a variety of educational materials on meteorology, hydrology, climatology, and other weather-related fields for children, teens, and young adults at this website. Students can find websites where they can learn about hurricanes, storms, tornadoes, and floods through interactive games. Teachers can find lightning safety presentations, satellite images, lightning photos, and glossaries. The website offers materials on weather related careers, degree programs, distance learning
BelgoBiotech
Belgo Biotech is a professional group of biotechnology companies within the Federation of Belgian Chemical Industries. Part of the group's mission is to "communicate the sector's position to the authorities and the public." This Web site does that and more. Some highlights of the site are a timeline of important genetic and biotechnology events, an in-depth look at what biotechnology is and some of its important applications, and an ethical code which governs all member companies. This is an int
NISEE: National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering
The National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering (NISEE) has a huge collection of earthquake data and images for researchers or anyone with a passing interest in these destructive forces. Operated at the University of California, Berkeley, the site has ten "eBooks" that range in topic from introductory earthquake engineering to earthquake risk-reduction measures. A giant database is given on the site with over 100,000 abstracts of research papers and reports. The Structural Engineerin
The Missing Link: Evolution in Action
This interactive game from PBS's NOVA Online allows students to observe a population of virtual creatures as they evolve under changing conditions. Background color, controlled by the student, represents environmental conditions, while the color of the organism indicates certain adaptations and mutations. Students are able to see how changes in environmental conditions support some colors of organisms, while others become extinct. The game includes instructions and an explanation of the game's p
Space Shuttle Columbia News
The official US gateway to all government information, FirstGov.gov, has compiled a number of informative links that chronicle the February 2003 Shuttle Columbia disaster. Visitors can read President Bush's address to the nation regarding Columbia and its crew; review the latest information from NASA about the Shuttle mission, crew, and current investigation; and discover how the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency are assisting in the shuttle recovery and
Database of Ship Collisions with Icebergs
As part of the Institute for Marine Dynamics of the National Research Council Canada, Database of Ship Collisions with Icebergs is written and managed by Brian T. Hill. The database contains 560 incidents and "concentrates on iceberg collisions in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland and Labrador but does include a few incidents further north, around Greenland, and also in the fiords of Alaska." The database loads onto one page but is linked to various categories, including a chronological listin
