Science & Technology : Editor's Choice
by Steve Ellis

The Dinosauria: Truth is Stranger than Fiction
ucmp1.berkeley.ed u/exhibittext/dinosaur.html
Not everything big and dead is a dinosaur. But what do we know about the "thunder lizards?" How did they evolve? And, perhaps most importantly to humanity, what led to their extinction? The answers are found in the Dinosauria, a colorful and comprehensive Web site devoted to topics in "the paleontological investigation of dinosaurs." The site is filled with interesting facts and myth-busting information, like the fact that pterosaurs were not true dinosaurs, but only a sub-genus of archosaurs.

The well-known sail-backed Dimetrodon was "neither a reptile nor a mammal, " but "an early relative of the ancestors of mammals." The aquatic ichthyosaurs and marine plesiosaurs were neither fish nor fowl, nor were they true dinosaurs; they enjoy a unique taxonomy all their own. While the site may be somewhat technical for smaller children, it should prove an invaluable resource for elementary students working on those dino-projects, complete with plenty of illustrations. The higher education set can use a search tool to dig through the impressive online vertebrate catalog, link from the collection of pointers to other dinosaur resources on the Web, or dig deeper into their studies with the impressive bibliography.

The Exploratorium
www.exploratorium.edu/
Comprised of 650 interactive exhibits in the areas of science, art, and human perception, the Exploratorium provides a unique educational experience for students of all grade levels through "maximum exposure to the phenomena of science in an environment with a minimum of apparent structure." The unconventional approach to the learning experience goes beyond a standard "hands-on" science museum: With active use of visual and performing artists to expand students' focus and perception, museum curators include the full range of cognition, "using the mind to understand the very workings of the mind itself" as an integral part of the learning process.

Educators and students can sample special projects or visit the digital library to jump into a few of the Exploratorium's famous interactive exhibits, view still images or listen to sound files. Perform your own dissection at the interactive online Cow's Eye Dissection page, take part in film and lecture series, or catch up on the latest news and events from the world of science. This vibrant, creative Web site offers an unusual and memorable learning experience for students and teachers alike by making full use of the potential of interactive technology.

Fermilab Education Office
www-ed.fnal.gov/
If you think a quark is related to a Klingon and a lepton is a type of lizard, you've got a lot to learn about nuclear physics. Despair not! The Fermilab Education Office, a division of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory outside of Chicago, stands ready with the facts on these smallest of small particles. Fermilab is the home of Tevatron, a gigantic, four-mile ring that sends protons whizzing around at nearly the speed of light. To find out why and explore this subatomic world, start with the Phantastic Physix essay in the QuarkQuest newsletter. It may be targeted to middle school students, but it's written at a perfect level for most non-quarkians.

Along with this basic intro to particle physics, find discussions of high-energy physics and the discovery of the top quark. The teachers' resource section includes info about the role of accelerators and computers in subatomic research, and articles that explain particle properties and current theories. This crash course may set your head to spinning like the Tevatron, but you'll leave the Fermilab site with a greater appreciation for the most basic particles and forces in nature, not to mention the scientists who probe these mysteries of the universe.

Forensic Entomology
www.u io.no/~mostarke/forens_ent/forensic_entomology.html
One of the wonders of the Web is stumbling across a subject you never even knew existed, like forensic entomology. Entomologists all over the world assist police departments by analyzing the insects present on a dead body to help determine or corroborate the time, place and cause of death. That's right, bugs on dead people. Webmaster Morten St¾rkebyan, an entomology student at the University of Oslo, Norway, wants to tell you all about it. He warns off the squeamish, but don't expect gruesome pictures or lurid details; this site avoids sensationalism and concentrates on facts and technique.

Moving from the causes of rigor mortis and the five stages of bodily decay, St¾rkebyan then discusses the life cycle of the blowfly and how the age of the insects can be used to estimate the time of death. He includes a catalog of insects occurring on dead bodies, from the common to the rare, with descriptions and effects, and explains the methods of forensic entomology examination and specimen collection. The facts come together in the selection of fascinating case histories. Despite the somewhat fractured English and misspelled words, this site provides an intriguing glimpse into a precise and painstaking aspect of scientific criminology.

Gallery of Interactive Geometry
www.geom.umn.edu/apps/galle ry.html
Looking for a new angle on understanding geometric concepts? Go no further than this Web site which features fascinating graphically-oriented exercises that illustrate fundamental and advanced theorems in geometry. Even the most mathematically challenged can get the point of these exercises and gain an understanding of the "plane" facts illustrated in these interactive exercises. While the terminology and nomenclature can be intimidating to many visitors, diving into the offerings will enlighten even the dimmest of mathematical corners in the mind. Take Projective Conics; once you grasp the fundamentals of the construct, the interactive exercise illustrates it beautifully and in full color. Ever wonder how rainbows are formed?

Build a Rainbow examines a mathematical model of light passing through a water droplet and demonstrates why rainbows occur only when the sun is behind the observer. And if a discrete symmetry group of the hyperbolic plane leaves you cowering in the corner, the Lafite program will create Escher-like patterns by replicating a motif through the action of a user-selected group, clearing up any questions you may have. If this all sound too intimidating, forget the words and let the visual interactions guide you to geometric enlightenment. You won't be disappointed.

International Space Station
issa-www.jsc.nasa.gov/
Ever wonder what it would be like to live in outer space? How would it be to sleep floating in zero gravity? These questions and more are addressed at NASA's International Space Station site. The Technical Data Book page provides a frequently updated database of current station design, where you can view schematics of the design in progress or click on an interactive drawing of the proposed homestead in space. Visitors to this site can view animations of the orbiting habitat or link to an archive of images proposed by the design team.

If you are looking for information on how future denizens of the ISS will prepare for their adventure, link to the Mockup & Trainer section for a description of the habitable portions of the space station; or link to the Business Opportunities section for descriptions of proposed on-board research and development facilities which will play an integral role in the financial viability of the ISS. A weightless dream is but a click away.

More Aquatic Ape Theory
huizen.dds.nl/~seismo/aat.html
It's dangerous to monkey around with evolutionary theory. Scope out the State of Tennessee's attempt to -- again -- ban Darwinian concepts from the classroom. The legislation failed, but a relatively new concept has again raised the banners of outrage in anthropological circles: the theory that man is descended from an aquatic hominid whose human characteristics predated the savanna bipeds, like Austalopithicus and his descendents. The aquatic ape theory postulates that human features can "only be explained in the light of an aquatic, or more likely semi-aquatic stage that our ancestors underwent in the past."

Citing such adaptive characteristics in homo sapiens as the skin-bonded subcutaneous fat usually found in aquatic species, conscious breath control, the hairlessness common to sea-going mammals, large sebaceous glands needed for waterproofing skin or fur, and the excretion of minerals and salt in human tears and sweat, this site poses some fascinating questions for the professional anthropologist and amateur Darwinian. Next time you feel the need to ape a dolphin while monkeying around in the local swimming hole, ask yourself if it is more than coincidence.

The NASA Home Page
www.nasa.gov/
If you think space, you probably think NASA, and this is the gateway to the largest repository of space-related information on the Internet. For all of its problems, the accomplishments of this agency defy belief. Think about it: NASA landed men on the moon who drove around in a buggy! Vehicles launched from the Kennedy Space Center have explored the surface of Mars; the Hubble Space Telescope has photographed the outer limits of our galaxy with unprecedented clarity and detail; the Space Shuttle has positioned and recovered satellites using a robotic arm; and countless revolutionary advances in aeronautics, computer science and technology development can be directly attributed to NASA.

The Mission to Planet Earth alone has led to radical advances in environmental science, meteorology, geology, cartography, navigational systems and a host of applied and theoretical disciplines. The agency's Web presence is quite possibly the single largest entity on the Internet, and this gateway takes you to the incredible array of information, images and databases it offers. It would be impossible to list the possibilities for research, study and entertainment. Just link from this home page and launch yourself into a galaxy of resources that quite possibly encompass the whole of modern science and technology.

NetVet
netvet.wustl.edu/vet.htm
Does your dog need glasses? Maybe your Orca has carpal fin syndrome. Perhaps you want to take a break and enjoy a quiet stroll through the Electronic Zoo. All this and more is as close as your mouse at the NetVet Web site. This graphically rich veterinary resources guide offers a comprehensive compilation of information and hyperlinks for veterinary professionals, scientists and animal lovers. Find out how to apply to a veterinary college, download educational software or link to a pet supplies catalog.

Ever wonder what the government is doing to regulate animal and genetic experimentation? Netvet provides the answers in its government listings section. Professionals and students can access an enormous listing of online publications and scientific resources or browse the veterinary directory for the latest information on research and network services. Whether exploring career opportunities, searching for the perfect photograph of a brachiating Siangmang or looking for a humane rescue organization, you will find it at the NetVet pages.

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
www.rw.doe.gov/
"Our mission is to manage and dispose of the Nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste." This daunting task is the responsibility of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM), whose Web site describes its research, engineering, administrative and lobbying efforts to accomplish this job while protecting the environment, winning public confidence, and assuring public and worker health and safety within the confines of today's budgetary constraints.

Sound like a daunting task? It is: read the texts of congressional testimony and public speeches delivered by program officials, or review current events and ongoing activities within this burdened government agency. You can also reference publications, reports, educational materials and facts about the agency's programs. One of the more compelling projects under the aegis of the OCRWM is the Yucca Mountain Project, an attempt to establish a national central waste repository in Southwestern Nevada, where radioactive wastes can be safely and securely stored for the next 10,000 years. But until such a site can be established -- if ever -- discover what temporary measures are being taken by the agency to process, transport and house the nation's fissionable byproducts.

PsychNET
www.apa.org/
Timely, informative and focused, this searchable site from the American Psychological Association (APA) covers a broad spectrum of issues targeted to professionals and interested consumers. Proactive pamphlets provide practical tips for teaching children how to resist violence and to be kind in a harsh world, counterpoised with a sobering discussion of the psychological effect of television violence on children. Thinking about therapy? Another pamphlet provides a list of early warning symptoms, along with a definition of psychology and the types of questions to ask a potential therapist. Myths and realities of sexual harassment, psychological and career effects, and what to do if you're a target are the subject of another pamphlet.

Selected stories from the APA Monitor, the newspaper of the APA, deal with such wide-ranging issues as Internet addiction, the new tougher divorce laws being considered in many states, helping people identify and cope with anxieties, and the ethical dilemmas that arise in conjunction with treating AIDS patients. The four specialized directorates of the APA -- science, practice, education and public interest -- provide information on their programs and resources. From children to aged parents, from panic disorders to federal legislation, APA's PsychNET informs and educates.

The Raptor Center
www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu/
Don't look for the Jurassic Park experience here; the raptors at this Center are predatory birds like eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota is an international medical facility that has treated thousands of sick and injured birds since it was founded in 1972, and is committed to preserving biological diversity in the face of human environmental depredation. Although some of these birds sustain natural injuries, many have been shot, poisoned or injured by contact with human-made structures or equipment.

The site details the medical care these birds receive, explains the rehabilitation process and provides valuable tips on handling injured raptors. One indicator of the importance of the Center's work is the fact that over one-tenth of the bald eagles now flying in the wild were treated there. Additional features of this excellent educational resource include classroom activities, a diary of an eagle's nest site, general info about predatory birds and photographs of peregrine falcon nests (one on the 32nd floor of Montreal's Stock Exchange!). You don't have to be an eco-warrior to appreciate the magnificence of these birds and to be moved by the description of a once-injured bird's release into the skies.

Science On-line
science-mag.aaas.org/science/
Page through current and back issues of the online version of Science magazine, one of the most notable publications on the World Wide Web. Going far beyond selective reproduction of the print version, Science On-line offers a wealth of educational materials, interactive experiences, databases and information on the latest scientific news and projects. The publication itself provides both full-text and summary versions of the articles covering the whole of current research in medicine, biology, climatology, oceanography, physics and every other imaginable scientific discipline.

Readers can browse through the issues or elect to use the search tool basing queries on subject, keyword, title or author. Go beyond the printed page and participate in the interactive Web projects designed exclusively for readers of this fine online publication. View an STS-based map of the human genome, explore genetic clues to Alzheimer's Disease, or grasp the subtleties of fluid dynamics. If all this seems beyond the comprehension of younger readers, proceed through the gateway to Science's Next Wave, "an electronic network for the next generation of scientists." Everyone from researcher to layman interested in current trends in science need look no further than this Web site to satisfy their curiosity.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography
sio.ucsd.edu/index4.html
Recognized worldwide as one of the finest oceanographic research and educational institutions, Scripps Institution of Oceanography comes alive on these Web pages. From its state-of-the-art research vessels and laboratories to its renowned graduate programs in all spheres of oceanography and marine biology, visitors to its site are treated to well-designed tours and comprehensive information servers. Click on the interactive map of Scripp's Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum for a description of the giant kelp forest display, or wade through the tide pool and learn all about the crustaceans and small fish who inhabit these incredibly productive and environmentally sensitive ecosystems.

For those interested in graduate study at this prestigious institution, read about admissions guidelines and the programs of study available for the select few who are accepted into the school. Ride the high seas with the high-tech vessels who roam the ocean blue studying environmental conditions, weather patterns and underwater mountain ranges. For the student or researcher, dive into the numerous databases of raw and collated data on coastal geophysics, hydrographic observations, cetacean migratory patterns and behavior, marine biomedicine, fish collections and literally dozens of other areas of study undertaken by this venerable Institution.

TOPEX/Poseidon
topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/
The Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX/Poseidon) is a cooperative project between the United States and France to develop and operate an advanced satellite system dedicated to observing the Earth's oceans. The satellite was launched in summer of 1992, and is used to track changes in ocean currents and to chart the height of the seas across ocean basins. Combining these data with measurements from other resources such as the NASA Microwave Radiometer, which estimates total atmospheric water vapor content, the project provides a dataset that relates the changes in these environmental conditions to atmospheric and climate patterns.

This site includes a collection of impressive images prepared specifically for public release and publication, continuously updated by the TOPEX/Poseidon team. Visitors to these Web pages can read papers and reports prepared by the team's principal investigators, or order an information CD-ROM produced by the scientific computing group affiliated with the project.

UCARweb
www.ucar.edu
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) meets the demands of a program "encompassing the Earth's atmosphere, land masses and oceans, and the interaction between our planet and the Sun" by use of computer modeling, theoretical study and direct observation. The coordination of these interdisciplinary investigations and the synthesis of the data are the most challenging aspects of the laboratory's goal of developing viable climate models and meteorological prediction paradigms. UCAR's Web pages provide links to its numerous laboratories, research centers, field units and satellite monitoring stations that work in such diverse scientific disciplines as atmospheric chemistry, scientific computing, climatology, remote sensing and solar physics.

UCAR also provides one of the most comprehensive sets of weather-related links on the Internet which "includes dozens of sites with global weather and research data, CD-ROMs, education resources" and image archives. Weather forecasts and conditions are available along with real-time radar imagery and accurate weather maps by region and city across the United States. The severe weather pages contain datasets and information about hurricanes, tornadoes and other dangerous weather systems as well as satellite imagery, reconnaissance data and background. In short, UCAR is a one-stop resource for virtually every aspect of climatology and meteorology.

University of California Museum of Paleontology
ucmp1.berkeley.edu/
Housing the fourth largest collection of fossilized protists, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates in America, the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) offers an unusually well-developed and designed Web site. While not as graphically pleasing as some of the eye candy common to many other online natural science museums, the UCMP more than fulfills its stated mission of "the conservation of paleontological materials, collections development, and research and instructional support."

For example, the publications section of the site offers a comprehensive indexed archive of papers published by staff, graduate students and faculty affiliated with the museum, along with issues of the peer reviewed museum publication "Paleobios." Visitors to these pages can also enjoy a virtual tour of the museum's state-of-the-art research facilities, like the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope Laboratory, or schedule their attendance at one of the UCMP's acclaimed Public Outreach programs. And if all these possibilities don't get your paleontological juices flowing, navigate your way through the "extensive online exhibits using phylogeny, geology or evolutionary theory as your paradigm."

University of Virginia Social Sciences Data Center
www.lib.virginia.edu/socsci/
Who says population statistics are boring? Well, lots of people, but you may change your tune after visiting The University of Virginia's Social Sciences Data Center. This demographer's wonderland includes mountains of data accessible through an impeccably organized home page. Select Data Collections to browse a well-annotated, alphabetized catalog of studies and data sets. Okay, so that section of the Data Center is targeted primarily to students and researchers. But here's the fun part: back on the home page, select Interactive Data Resources.

The County and City Data Books let you select geographic locations and search parameters, and then choose to have the results displayed on your browser or prepared for FTP. Want to know the net population change from 1980 through 1992 in Phoenix? How about the number of males per 100 females in Alaska? The percentage of the Miami Beach population over 75 years old? The permutations are practically endless. Go back to the home page and select Hypertext Documents for yet another library of info, including the Government Reference Shelf. To embellish your next letter to Congressman Blowhard with a few facts, or justto satisfy your curiosity, the UVA collection provides one-stop browsing.

VolcanoWorld
volcano.und.nodak.edu/
Think you're ready to blow your stack? Well, you have nothing on this Web site. VolcanoWorld brings you real-time information and images drawn extensively from remote sensing equipment around the globe. The pages "add value to these data by relating each image to geologic processes, and by encouraging users to analyze images with provided algorithms." Explore volcanic regions, dive into submarine volcanoes or warp to other planetary volcanoes through the provided hyperlinks.

Maps provide an intuitive interface for navigating to further information, and online interactive experiments stimulate learning for students of all ages. Take a tour of volcanic parks and monuments, or enter through the Kids' Door for elementary-level educational materials. Visitors to these pages can read the latest related news items, search through an online terminology dictionary or query the scientific database. If you are feeling competitive, you can even participate in an online quiz to match wits with other enthusiasts. So let the lava flow along with the abundant resources available at these pages ... but watch your ash.

WebElements
www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/A-C/chem/web-elements/web-elements-ho me.html
Throw away those dusty chemistry reference books; they're probably outdated anyway. WebElements serves up a hypertext version of the periodic table here and turns the intimidating chart on the chemistry classroom wall into an interactive, user-friendly tool. Created by Mark Winter at the University of Sheffield in England, the chart lists 117 elements and provides the atomic weight, atomic number, and group number for each element.

That's the usual stuff you'd expect from a periodic table, but there's more! Specify the type of information you want -- general, chemical, physical, electronic, biological, geological or crystallographic properties -- or find reduction potentials, isotope abundances, electronic configurations and ionization enthalpies. WebElements is the hottest thing to happen to chemistry since the Bunsen burner. The site is virtually an online chemistry tutor.

Along with the elemental facts, WebElements includes links to the Sheffield ChemPuter, a set of interactive calculators for chemistry, and to the Sheffield ChemDex, a list of over 1600 Internet chemistry sites. Continually updated, plans are to add definitions, sound files and additional information to WebElements' already-extensive resources. Mirrored all over the world, this site is an alchemist's dream.