ScienceMaster - January 2001 Newsletter

WEB SITE NEWS
Happy New Year
- ScienceMaster wishes you and yours a happy, safe and prosperous New Year. We are pleased, we've made it through our first year and what a year it was. We launched our site in a dot.com craze that was sweeping the country. E-commerce sites were selling books, CDs, shoes, perfume and anything else you could think of. Hundreds of sites were the best 'this' and the number one 'that'. As we all know, in a few short months the Internet landscape changed dramatically and most of these sites have come and gone. Meanwhile, although ScienceMaster didn't launch with a big fanfare or mega venture capital backing, we're still here and going strong. That's because we love what we do and we love doing it for you. We have plans for 2001 to make our site stronger, more appealing, and yes, perhaps actually make a profit. Whatever we do, we can't do it without you. We only ask that you visit, visit often and share ScienceMaster.com with all your friends and family. That way we can continue to grow as the best science and education site on the Internet.
Cognitive Science Resources

Several of our educators are cognitive scientists, the science that concerns itself with the human mind. We have several web pages that explore this amazing area. Visit Mona Lisa and test your perception. We've created some interesting mind experiments with the enigmatic lady of art. Are you familiar with the old parlor game of Twenty Questions? Try your hand, or mind we should say, at a visual 20 questions. At ScienceMaster you can get some great insight as to the 'how' and 'why' we act and experience the world around us. Take me there.

Coral Reefs, A Threatened Environment
Read Gene Mascoli's column 'Coral Reefs, A Threatened Environment' and learn about the threatened coral reefs. At the close of the year 2000 almost 27% of the world's coral reefs have been effectively lost due to both man-made and natural causes. Find out how. Gene provides links to coral reef resources and information about this environmental threat. Read all Gene's columns to keep up with the changing world of science.
Do you like to write about science? If so, ScienceMaster is always looking for articles and items of interest.

SCIENCE NEWS AND LINKS
Army of Observers Ready for Solar Maximum
As the Sun's stormy season approaches its zenith, solar scientists have the best seat in the house, using the largest coordinated fleet of spacecraft and ground observatories ever assembled to observe these angry outbursts of solar radiation and predict the impact of turbulent space weather. According to scientists from NASA and NOAA, the Sun is near the peak of its 11-year cycle of activity. By combining sophisticated new instruments and time-tested older ones, researchers believe their predictions and warnings related to space weather events are becoming more accurate and timely. Solar storms can damage spacecraft and interfere with power systems on Earth.

Scientists Decode Genes of Microbe That Thrives in Toxic Metals
Understanding the genetic makeup of microbes that thrive in polluted environments may one day help scientists engineer bacteria that can clean contaminants from soil. In a step toward that goal, the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has just released the draft gene sequence of one such toxin-tolerant bug. Known as Ralstonia metallidurans, the bacterium is being deciphered by John Dunn and Geoffrey Hind at Brookhaven National Laboratory in collaboration with investigators in Belgium and others at JGI.

First Crew to See 3 Shuttle Missions
There is a lot of activity going on in the International Space Station and much more to come. While the Expedition 1 crew inhabits the International Space Station, three space shuttle missions will visit the station to continue on-orbit construction. The first mission was STS-97 on Flight 4A, which

delivered U.S. solar arrays to add to the station's power capability. The next mission will be STS-98 on Flight 5A will deliver and install the US Laboratory Destiny in early 2001. The third mission will be STS-102 on Flight 5A.1, which will deliver equipment racks for Destiny and the Expedition 2 crew. Expedition 1 will return to Earth on STS-102.

New Institute and Web Site For Marine Protected Areas
A new institute and Web site for Marine Protected Areas of the USA is designed to provide information, facilitate partnerships, and encourage public participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of marine protected areas. The site is a joint project of the U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior. MPA.GOV is designed to provide information, facilitate partnerships, help identify key needs and challenges, and encourage public participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of marine protected areas. The aim of the site is to provide useful information on MPAs to a broad range of interests — from educators and students to managers, scientists, policy makers, fishermen, boaters and other users of ocean and coastal resources.
Popocatepetl Mexican Volcano

Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano, quiet for several years gave nearby residents a wake up call in December forcing over 40,000 people to evacuate the area. The December events, over a two week period were marked by a violent explosion that rained a darkened sky with flaming cinders, rocks and debris. Popocatepeti, usually a snowcapped mountain is just over 40 miles from Mexico City.
Popocatepetl is a steep-sided volcanic cone. More than 30 million people live within view of the volcano and any serious eruption would threaten hundreds of thousands of people. Even Mexico City's airport would be affected should the volcano throw dark ash into the atmosphere. More information.

Quote of the Month
Responding to Einstein's famous quote that "God doesn't play dice with the universe", Stephen Hawking, the English physicist said "God not only plays dice, He also sometimes throws the dice where they cannot be seen."
Stephen Hawking (1942 - ____) Physicist
The ScienceMaster Newsletter is a free publication of Bamboole, Inc. 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!