National Pollutant Release Inventory
The National Pollutant Release Inventory is maintained by Environment Canada and provides access to pollutant release information for facilities located throughout Canada. The data can be searched by chemical name and location, and results provide detailed information on the substance, its release, its disposal, and its transfer at a particular facility.
The Turing Test
A man before his time, Alan Mathison Turing is arguably one of the most recognized mathematicians of the 20th century. In 1950, he published a paper that, to this day, sets the standard for artificial intelligence. He proposed a way to determine if a machine has intelligence, and this is now called the Turing Test.In his 41-year life, Turing accomplished a great deal as a mathematician. Bordering on many philosophical issues, his work is recounted in this online biography (1). A very good introd
Orchids of Wisconsin: An Interactive Flora
Orchid enthusiasts may appreciate this Web site developed by Jeff Hapeman, graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Information including "photos, typical taxonomic descriptive information, a description of similar species to aid in identification, habitat information, blooming dates, a section on pollination biology (if information is available), herbarium records, and a range map" are included for each species of orchid (native and naturalized) found in Wisconsin. Species can b
Public Education Acid Rain Lesson Plan
Offered by The National Park Service Air Resources Division, this Web site includes a series of five 1-2 hour educational activities related to understanding acid rain and air quality for children grades six through eight. The very simply designed site includes lessons on: The pH scale; Understanding the difference between an acid and a base; Understanding what gases contribute to acid rain; How acid rain is measured and monitored in the US; and Understanding weather maps and the importance of s
Integrating Content Management with Digital Rights Management
This white paper, published in May 2003, explores the task of effectively managing digital content while incorporating and protecting the digital rights associated with the content. The authors begin by defining a content management system as it is discussed in their paper and outline the key components and capabilities of such a system. After touching on the foundations of digital rights, the paper then argues for the adoption of a "Rights Expression Language" to integrate digital rights inform
Microbes: Friend or Foe?
This Web site contains the online companion to an episode of the PBS series, Closer to the Truth, which "brings together leading scientists, scholars and artists to debate latest discoveries and their impact on the human condition." Microbes -- Friend or Foe? offers a thought-provoking look at the role of microbes and the importance of "maintaining a microbial balance of power" on the planet. Visitors may download a transcript or view video clips of the episode, or delve deeper into the topic th
Science North: Learn and Play
Science North Museum is self-described as creating high quality science education and entertainment experiences for its visitors. The Learn and Play portion of the accompanying Web site contains a Cool Science link with a wide variety of activities including an interactive stargazer and solar system, science quizzes, a reflex tester, a geology exploration activity, and more. Other links on the Learn and Play page include descriptions and movies, additional recommended science links, and Web cams
The Brighton University Resource Kit for Students
The Brighton University Resource Kit for Students (BURKS) is an archive with "compilers, tutorials and reference manuals for dozens of different programming languages, a dictionary of computing with over 13,000 entries...a vast amount of useful software, information about the Internet itself, and much more." BURKS is primarily intended for individuals who do not have access to an Internet connection, which is why the collection mostly consists of resources from external websites. The collection
All Catfish Species Inventory
The All Catfish Species Inventory (ACSI) serves to "facilitate the discovery, description and dissemination of knowledge of all catfish species by a global consortium of taxonomists and systematists." Contributed to by ichthyologists around the world, this Web site provides a useful portal to catfish resources and information. Features include a listing of type specimen locations, a guide to current phylogenetic studies and other projects, distribution maps, catfish news and announcements, and m
Insect Mouthparts
This Web site contains a pictorial guide to insect mouthparts, a complicated topic served well by this simple yet effective tutorial. Created by University of Ottawa entomology professor Dr. Houseman -- using material adapted from Digital Zoology (on CD from McGraw-Hill) -- this site provides labeled diagrams and high quality photos of chewing, siphoning, piercing, sponging, and combination mouthparts. Users may view images by category or click through the entire set in sequence. The photographs
Earth Observatory: Melting Snows of Kilimanjaro
Satellite photos of Mt. Kilimanjaro have become recently available from NASA's Earth Observatory, a "freely-accessible publication on the Internet where the public can obtain new satellite imagery and scientific information about our home planet." Taken in 1993 and again in 2000, these photos chronicle the dramatic disappearance of Kilimanjaro's glacial ice cap, a sensitive indicator of climate change that some scientists believe may vanish altogether by 2015. The Web site provides links to othe
Molecular Monte Carlo Home Page
The Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Chemistry of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art maintain the Molecular Monte Carlo Home Page. For those unaware, Monte Carlo refers to the use of "random walks" (stochastic methods) to simulate and analyze molecular systems. The main page contains descriptions of the various types of Molecular Monte Carlo such as classical, quantum, and volumetric; links to Monte Carlo tutorials including simulation basics and stochast
Wolfram Research's Mathematical Functions
Wolfram Research, the maker of the popular software Mathematica, recently added a comprehensive database of mathematical functions to its Web site. Currently, there are over 37,000 formulas that can be browsed alphabetically or divided into fourteen categories. Documents explaining general identities and notations used on the site are also available; however, users must sign the guestbook before they can be viewed. Wolfram Research hopes eventually to add a history section for many of the functi
Internet Culture
Martin Ryder, a technologist, self-proclaimed Luddite, and educator affiliated with the University of Colorado at Denver School of Education has compiled this list of online resources on Internet Culture. The resources are organized by topic areas, which include, for example, history, virtual architecture, Internet communities, psychology, norms, gender, and political structures. The Other Resources section refers to websites addressing issues such as The Digital Divide, a Theory of Technology,
Online Maps and Data
From the California Geological Survey, the Online Maps and Data site contains information focused on natural hazards. Topics include minerals, earthquakes, and landslide and erosion hazards. The site also includes the General Location Guide for Ultramafic Rocks in California. The site also has links to a publications page and a new interactive mapping program called the Seismic Hazards Mapping Web page.
The Economist: Proof and Beauty in Mathematics
This article from the magazine _The Economist_ argues that the notion of mathematical proof is now in flux and that "the use of computers to prove mathematical theorems is forcing mathematicians to re-examine the foundations of their discipline." The author discusses the differences between proofs conducted by hand and those conducted by computers, using the classification of finite simple groups as an example showing how some proofs are unverifiable. The article concludes with a discussion of t
IDEERS: Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research
Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research in Schools (IDEERS) is a program of the University of Bristol "to communicate the challenge and excitement of earthquake engineering research to young people." Beginning with a detailed explanation of earthquake causes and effects, the Web site provides motivation for designing structurally reinforced buildings. Five recent earthquake disasters are outlined and related to the general impact of earthquakes on society. The material then
Genome Bioinformatics
This no-frills UC-Santa Cruz Genome Bioinformatics Web site contains searchable "working drafts of the human genome and the mouse genome," which each represent "immense collaborative efforts" within the biomedical research community. Those who are active in genome research may find this Web site useful, especially for the multi-faceted genome browser that "provides a rapid and reliable display of any requested portion of genomes at any scale, together with dozens of aligned annotation tracks (kn
Temperature World
Temperature World.com gives in-depth and varied information on temperature. The site offers links to a temperature converter, world city temperatures, a printable temperature conversion table, temperature forecasts, temperature related product recalls, and information on metal temperature by color. It also contains explanations of earth temperature issues, temperature sensors and controls, organizations and standards, temperature tools, and more. A unique and thorough site, it can be enjoyed by
Cirrus Digital Imaging: High Resolution Insect, Spider, and Wildflower Photographs
As photographer Bruce Marlin explains, "Cirrus Digital Imaging was founded primarily as a hobby, as a way to share the joy I find in the amazing flora and fauna the natural world provides us." Visitors to this Web site can enjoy over 500 stunning photographs of insects, spiders, and wildflowers, mostly taken at the Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve in Illinois. The image galleries are organized as thumbnails of major taxonomic groups, and may also be accessed by selecting a species name from a lis
