WEB SITE NEWS AND COMMENTARY
Holiday Greeting From ScienceMaster
We want to thank all our readers, over 10,000 strong, for making this a great year for all of us at ScienceMaster. We love what we do. In fact I wish there was more time each month to update our site, tell you about fantastic web pages we’ve found and share our enthusiasm for science and learning. We’re especially proud of ScienceIQ.com which is exceeding our expectations. Again, thanks to all of you. We couldn’t think of a better holiday gift.
The Snow Crystal Gallery
"The intricacy and wonder of nature revealed in a snowflake."For many of us, winter is here. In fact we’ve heard from some of our readers that New England got quite a blanket of snow for Thanksgiving. If
you're interested in the white stuff, especially on a microscopic level, check out our Snow Crystal Gallery by Ken Libbrecht, where we’ve put
together some amazing photographs of the white stuff up close and personal. --> http://www.monkeytime.com/sciencemaster/galleries/snow_crystals/gallery.php
ScienceIQ Makes A Great Holiday Gift
Are you looking for a unique, educational and fun holiday gift? Why not give a subscription to ScienceIQ.com’s Science Fact of the Day service? We are holding a special price for you, just $19.95 for an entire year. ScienceIQ.com helps keep you informed and up-to-date about the world of science and math, from white noise to gray matter to black holes. So hurry. And while you're at it, pick up a subscription for yourself if you haven’t already. -->
http://www.ScienceIQ.com/index.cfm?oid=02
SCIENCE NEWS AND LINKS
A Super Galactic Discovery
For the first time, scientists have found proof of two supermassive black holes together in the same galaxy. These black holes are orbiting each other and will merge several hundred million years from now. The event will unleash intense radiation and gravitational waves ... and leave behind an even larger black hole than before.
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory spotted the two black holes in the galaxy NGC 6240. The observatory was able to "see" them because the black holes are surrounded by hot swirling vortices of matter called accretion disks. Such disks are strong sources of x-rays. [Read More]
Image: An artist's concept of two black holes (surrounded by glowing hot accretion disks) about to merge.
Text and the Image Courtesy NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Science@NASA
Dark Rings
In 1974, NASA's Pioneer 11 spacecraft plunged through the rings of Jupiter. And no one noticed. Jupiter's dark rings--as wide as Saturn's yet nearly invisible--hadn't been discovered yet. Indeed, it wasn't until five years later that cameras onboard Voyager 1 caught sight of them for the first time. On Mar. 5, 1979, the spacecraft swung behind Jupiter, and from inside the planet's shadow the faintly sunlit rings were visible--but just barely.
Ever since, researchers have wished for another flyby like Pioneer 11's. NASA's Voyager, Cassini and Galileo spacecraft have photographed the rings many times, but always from a distance. No probe had actually entered the rings for 28 years. On Nov. 5, 2002, Galileo took the plunge and flew through Jupiter's rings again. And this time scientists were ready. [
Read More]
Image: An artist's concept of Galileo, Amalthea, and Jupiter's rings.
Text and the Image Courtesy NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Science@NASA
The National Snow & Ice Data Center
Now that winter is just around the corner in the Northern hemisphere you might want to take a trip to the ice and snow. Better yet, try it from the comfort of your home and visit the online site of the "The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is part of the University of Colorado Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, and is affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Geophysical Data Center..." -->
http://nsidc.org/
World's First Hydrogen Fuel and Power Station Now Operating
The Department of Energy announced on November 15th the opening of the world's first hydrogen energy station that can provide fuel for vehicles and also produce electricity. Producing both hydrogen fuel and electricity may be an attractive approach for future hydrogen merchants, who will be able to generate a steady revenue stream from electricity sales while their fuel sales to hydrogen vehicles ramp up. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the new $10.8-million station is the result of a private-public partnership among DOE, the City of Las Vegas, Plug Power Inc., and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Housed in the city's vehicle maintenance and operation service center, the new station combines a hydrogen generator, compressor, liquid and gaseous hydrogen storage tanks, dispensing systems, and a stationary fuel cell. It is capable of dispensing hydrogen, hydrogen-enriched natural gas and compressed natural gas. DOE is also working with the city and NRG Technologies Inc. to convert municipal vehicles to operate on hydrogen. [
Learn More]
Image: Hydrogen gas.
Text and the Image Courtesy U.S. Department of Energy
WINDandSEA: The Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Internet Locator
Last The NOAA has created a locator meant to make Internet searching more efficient for anyone hunting down information concerning oceanic and atmospheric issues. Presently WINDandSEA has over 1,000 selected links to science and policy sites organized by topic and alphabetically within topic. -->
http://www.lib.noaa.gov/docs/wind/windandsea.html
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Educators' Page
For formal and non-formal educators. This website includes curriculum resources and activities, community service projects, professional development opportunities, background information, and contacts and other links from the
U.S Fish & Wildlife Service.
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