ScienceMaster - August 2001 Newsletter

WEB SITE NEWS

Science Camp
We're off to science camp this summer. How about you? We have been surprised by the number of science camps that are springing up all over the place. Many excellent day camps help young students and future scientists explore the world around us. There are even many overnight camps in different parts of the country. For the adventurous, there are hiking camps and camps in exotic locations. The camp we are attending is a bit more tame. But the science will be first rate. We'll be making robots, test tube goo, learning about the geometry of soap bubbles and building a model volcano that erupts. It's not to late to find a camp in your area. Just do a search in your favorite web director for "science camp" and have some fun.

Newest Series On The Human Brain
We're pleased to have a new series on the human brain by the esteemed educator and speaker Kenneth A. Wesson. Have you ever wondered what can we do in our schools (and homes) to enhance learning or what can we do to remain mentally alert and healthy as we age? Then don't miss part one of "Brain Basics" for the Teaching Professional. This series will give you an overview of the workings of the brain, the component parts and the latest science on the mind.

For the next few months we will be featuring this excellent series on the human brain. Don't miss part one now on ScienceMaster.com --> http://www.sciencemaster.com/columns/wesson/wesson_current.php

Galleries Galore
Take a look at our newest galleries for summer. We've been busy adding galleries for fun and learning. On a particularly balmy day in June I had the opportunity to visit Haleakala on Maui. Take a look at just a few of the stunning images of this sleeping giant. Also, welcome to our newest photographer, Roberta Stacy. Visit her wildlife gallery and then bounce over to her site for more great images.

View ScienceMaster's Learning Galleries --> http://www.monkeytime.com/sciencemaster/galleries/galleries.php

SCIENCE NEWS AND LINKS

Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Mount Etna Wakes Up, Again

Mount Etna has woken up from her brief nap. For the past few weeks Europe's most active volcano, and one of the world's largest continental volcanoes has been going through her entire repertoire of volcanic activities. These have included a rain of volcanic ash on Sicily's main airport, Catani, a ski lift engulfed in lava and assorted huffing and puffing. Local crews sought to tame the volcano and they are still busy bulldozing earth and lavarock to channel the flowing magma away from buildings and property.

Mount Etna is located near the east coast of Italy's province of Sicily, is one of the oldest active volcanos and stands about 3,350 m (10,991 feet) tall.

For an excellent overview visit the USGS's site, Italy Volcanoes and Volcanics. Don't miss ScienceMaster's JumpStart Science pages on Volcanoes --> http://www.ScienceMaster.com/jump/earth/volcanos.php

Visible Earth Image Database

If you enjoy learning more about the earth, including volcanoes, the atmosphere and biosphere, oceans, rocks and minerals or tectonics you will want to visit the Visible Earth Image Database, a searchable directory of images , visualizations and animations of the Earth. The goal of Visible Earth is to provide a consistently updated central Internet location for Earth science-related visualizations and images.

Space Seeds Return To Earth

Text and image courtesy NASA

When the space shuttle Atlantis returned to Earth recently, it brought home some unusual cargo -- seed pods grown in space. They're the harvest of an eight-week-long commercial gardening experiment. Astronauts on the station have been tending a batch of fast-growing mustard weed to discover whether plants can complete their entire seed-to-seed life cycle in a weightless environment.

Video from the experiment shows that seed pods were produced by the space-borne plants. Scientists are currently determining whether the pods hold viable seeds. In the future, plants in space won't only be a source of food -- they'll have other jobs to do as well, playing a critical role in cutting-edge life support systems.

On Earth, photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae provide a natural life support system for the planet's many life forms. Plants and algae use energy from light to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Then they combine the hydrogen with carbon dioxide to make sugars, which serve as food. Oxygen is released into the air as "waste." This serves as a perfect compliment to other life forms such as animals and fungi, which use the oxygen and respire carbon dioxide.

The QuikTOMS Mission to Launch No Earlier Than September 1, 2001

Following on a legacy of 23 years of daily mapping of the Earth's ozone layer, NASA will launch the fifth TOMS instrument aboard the QuikTOMS spacecraft to monitor changes of the Antarctic ozone hole, global and local ozone levels, as well as sulfur dioxide and ash from volcanic eruptions, smoke from forest fires and the flux of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface.

Launch Date: No earlier than September 1, 2001
Mission Life: Three years.
Mission Orbit: Sun synchronous, 800 km circular orbit, 10:30 am equator crossing in descending node.

For more on this story, click here --> http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20010705quiktoms.html

USDA Launches New Information-based Web Site On Food Safety Research Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new Web site (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fsrio) aimed at providing a database of food safety research projects to the research community and the general public. The Web site provides detailed information on food safety research projects, spending, and accomplishments by U.S. Federal agencies, along with links to other important food safety research information.

"This Web site is a tool that researchers and policy makers can use to examine research needs and priorities in food safety," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "The goal is to measure the progress of our food safety research and continue efforts to educate the public about these important issues."

The searchable database provides information on nearly 500 food safety research projects dating from 1998 to the present.

Quote of the Month
"Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum theory, cannot possibly have understood it."
Neils Bohr , Danish Physicist (1885-1962)
The ScienceMaster Newsletter is a free publication of ScienceMaster It is opt-in only. We NEVER spam. If you are on this list, it is because you subscribed at http://www.ScienceMaster.com or have purchased or downloaded products or information from us in the past or requested inclusion.

Feel free to duplicate this mailing in its entirety to forward to a friend!