Cool Science Websites

You often hear that we're living in a golden age of scientific discovery.  That's true, but  it's also true that we're living in a golden age of science communication and education.  These days, innovative websites and visualization techniques have made it easier than ever to understand the basics of science.  The web is loaded with great free sites for learning about science and nature.

If you're interested in science in general, or in keeping track of the latest discoveries, the online versions of magazines are a great place to look. Discover Magazine has excellent articles written for laypeople, while Scientific American gets a little more into the technical details.  Science Daily is a great place to catch up on breaking news in science.  National Geographic covers more than just science, but its website has an excellent section devoted to science and nature. Public television networks are also great for science information.  PBS has a science and nature section of their website, while the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has separate sections for science and nature.

Science and natural history museums also have some great websites.  Some of the best are the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York, home of the famous Hayden Planetarium.  If you're especially interested in fossils, dinosaurs, and such, the University of California Museum of Paleontology has great online exhibits about the history of life on earth.  The museum with the best online exhibits may be the Exploratorium in San Francisco, "The Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception". 

If you like watching videos about science and nature, the first place we recommend is one of the library's databases:  Access Video on Demand, or AVOD.  AVOD has thousands of streaming videos about all kinds of topics, including hundreds about science and nature.  There are videos from BBC, PBS, Nova, National Geographic, Scientific American Frontiers, and more.  If you like to hear great thinkers and scientists talk about their discoveries, TED offers hundreds of fascinating 20 minute lectures by some of the world's great minds, available for free online (and on AVOD).  The people at TED have also launched a site for young people, called TED-Ed.  TED-Ed's video are shorter than TED videos, and many of are beautifully animated.  Here's one that explains just how small atoms are (they're really, really, really small).



The Open Culture website has links to all sorts of free educational material online.  Their webpage on great science videos has enough links to free videos to keep a science buff entertained for weeks.  Another great way to find science videos is to look at science channels on YouTube. National Geographic, Scientific American, and NASA all have channels with fascinating videos.  If you or your kids like science experiments, Sick Science is a great channel to check out.  Finally, Hulu has a page devoted to shows about science and technology.  You may also be interested in their documentaries page.

Now let's look at a few of the best websites that focus on the different branches of science:

Astronomy and Cosmology

An Atlas of the Universe: This amazing site lets you see where the Earth fits into the universe; allowing you to jump to larger and larger views:  from nearby stars, to galaxies, to the entire visible universe.

Eyes on the Solar System: This interactive website lets watch a "you are there" simulation of the Mars Curiosity landing, and virtually fly around all the planets in the solar system!

HubbleSite - Picture Album: Another stunning website, which lets you look through all the images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. 

The Scale of the Universe 2:  This interactive animation lets you zoom inward and outward to visualize just how small atoms are, and just how stupendously gigantic the universe is. 

Physics

The Particle Adventure: A nice overview of particle physics from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Physics.org: A great website about general physics topics, with links to a wide range of other good sites.

Chemistry

Web Elements: An online guide to all the elements in the periodic table.

What's That Stuff?  If you've ever wondered what's in wasabi that makes it so hot, or what Silly String is made of, here's the place to find out.

Earth Sciences

Geology.com: "News and information about geology"

Global Climate Change: A good website on the topic from NASA

Encyclopedia of Earth: An online encyclopedia covering all the earth sciences.

Biology

Encyclopedia of Life: "Global Access to Knowledge About Life on Earth"

Learn.Genetics:  An informative website about one of the fastest-changing areas of biology.  From the University of Utah.

MolecularMovies.com:  A little more technical, but this site features amazing animations of the the molecular machinery inside of us all.

Brain and Behavior

The Secret Life of the Brain:  A great site from PBS, with an interactive 3-D model of the brain, and amazing optical illusions.

 Exploratorium: Mind:  A wonderful resource for exploring the mind and its quirks.

Technology

We'll cover technology websites in depth in a future blog post, but here are a couple of interesting ones.

 How Products Are Made: An online encyclopedia with hundreds of articles about how everyday products are manufactured.

 How Stuff Works:  A good website explaining how all kinds of things work.  There are a lot of ads, but many of the articles and videos are worth wading through them.

This is just a small sampling of the amazing variety of science websites out there.  If you look around and find some other great ones, tell us about them in the comments!  Have fun exploring!

Looking Beyond the Rhetoric: Finding Non-Partisan Political Information

 “A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on.” - Mark Twain

Actually, that's a lie itself:  Mark Twain didn't really say it.  Most people who have heard the quotation think he did, but it really comes from a British Minister named C.H. Spurgeon.  The fact that it is so commonly attributed to the wrong person just shows how true the quotation really is.  It's a lot easier to spread a lie than it is to figure out what's really true.

As a librarian, I know this all too well.  One of the most important parts of my job is helping people find accurate, unbiased information. Needless to say, this is a real challenge when it comes to politics. Any time an issue is politically-charged, people start trying their best to convince everyone their stance is the right one. The more opposing interests there are, the more spin there will be, which makes it harder and harder to get a clear view of the real facts and issues.

In a situation like this, it's very important to find information sources that strive to be nonpartisan and fact-based. It's doubtful that any observer can be completely unbiased, but there are some sources that do a very good job of walking the tightrope between one side and the other. One of these is a website called FactCheck.org, which is run by the Annenberg Public Policy Center; a non-partisan organization dedicated to providing voters with accurate information about politics and politicians. FactCheck investigates claims by politicians on both sides of the aisles, and points it out when they have their facts wrong.

There is also a column at the Washington Post called The Fact Checker, written by Glenn Kessler. Kessler gives claims a rating of between one and four "Pinnochios", with four being awarded for the biggest whoppers.  Claims found to be completely true get a "Geppetto Checkmark."  These don't seem to be given out very often.

Another good fact-checking site is PolitiFact.com. Run by the St. Petersburg Times, PolitiFact.com won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for its fact-checking coverage of the 2008 elections. PolitiFact rates the truthfulness (or lack thereof) of political statements by showing a reading on their "Truth-O-Meter." Statements are rated True, Mostly True, Half True, Barely True, and False. Statements judged outrageously false are slapped with a rating of "Pants on Fire". PolitiFact.com also gives the sources used in researching claims, and explains their rationale for the rating given.

If you're an iPhone user, you may want to check out the SuperPAC app, which can identify political ads on TV by sound, and then direct you to sites like FactCheck.org and PolitiFact.com.

Finally, Snopes.com is a slightly different kind of fact-checking site.  This site started out investigating the origins and truth of urban legends.  However, as more and more people got on the internet, false rumors about political figures came to be circulated widely through email.  The stories would change and grow over time, much like urban legends.  So, Snopes.com became a fact checking site for political rumors.  It's gotten so well known that some of these email rumors, even though they're false, will claim in the email that they have been found true by Snopes.com.  Apparently, this keeps people from actually checking Snopes.com, and that helps keep the rumor going.  So it's probably a good idea to check Snopes, especially if the email suggests that you don't need to.

Of course, when you are talking about fact checking, the question that eventually comes up is:  who will fact check the fact checkers?  In other words, how do we know the fact checking sites aren't biased?  That's tough, and all of the sites listed above have been accused of bias, often by both sides of the political spectrum (which suggests they can't be that biased).  Perhaps the safest bet, if you really want to evaluate a claim or rumor, is to try to check it on multiple sites.  Another strategy is to look at the links and sources the fact checkers cite, and check them out yourself.  Figuring out the truth can be a challenge, especially when it comes to complex political issues where different people want you to think different things. 

All the websites above are very good for up-to-the-minute coverage of issues in the news. For more in-depth coverage of controversial issues, Terrebonne Parish Library has two very good resources. One is a database called Issues & Controversies. This database, which can be found under the Social Sciences heading on our database page, has a wide range of articles giving a balanced overview of controversial issues. Most articles start with a short summary of the arguments on each side, and then go into a more detailed explanation of the history of the controversy, and the points of view of the opposing sides. This database is excellent for high school and college students studying politics or debate, but it is also a good way for adults to get some balanced background on today's overheated quarrels. Access Issues & Controversies directly from within the library, or call the reference desk (985.876.5861, option 2) for the username and password to use it from home or work.

Another excellent source for understanding both sides of various issues is a series of books called Opposing Viewpoints, published by Greenhaven Press. These books have the following motto: "Those who do not know their opponent's arguments do not completely understand their own". Each book includes several essays, both historical and current, arguing on either side of the debate. They also provide lists of articles, books, and even organizations that address the issue. Terrebonne Parish Library has a wide range of Opposing Viewpoints titles. If you want to try to understand the arguments on all sides of today's big controversies, this series is a great place to start.

- Ross Mays, Reference Librarian

Keeping an Eye on Isaac

As Isaac makes its way across the Gulf, Louisiana prepares for possible landfall.  Below are links to help you keep an eye on the weather and stay safe should the storm head our way.


Weather Monitoring

The National Weather Service's Hurricane Center

Wunderground Tropical Weather and Hurricanes



Preparedness Links

Terrebonne Parish Emergency Info (TPCG)
Latest news on school closures, sandbags, shelters, and other important Parish emergency announcements.  At the time of this post, schools for Terrebonne Parish will be closed on Monday, August 27, 2012.  Click here for the latest updates.

Southeast Louisiana Evacuation Guide

Louisiana Governor's Office: Get a Game Plan

Louisiana Department of Transportation Interactive Contraflow Map

National Hurricane Center's "Be Prepared" Website

Hurricane Supply Checklist

The Red Cross Hurricane Prep Resources - includes link to a Hurricane App for iPhone or Android to help you and your family prepare, find shelter, and stay in touch should a storm strike

Mars Rover Landing @ 12:31AM!

The Mars rover Curiosity is set to begin its landing at 12:31am CDT on Monday, August 6th -- less than 7 hours at the time of this post.


The countdown clock is ticking, but there is still time to learn about Curiosity's mission and how you can follow this historic event at home. Check the NASA Mars Science Laboratory web site for pictures, news, links to the different ways to follow the landing, and a variety of interactive games and lessons for all ages.


NASA's Mars home page is a good quick stop for a look at the countdown clock and links to Curiosity mission images.  You can also follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter.


NASA TV will be streaming the event live via cable and online.  A continuous UStream broadcast leading up to the landing has already started and will continue through the landing.

Free live streaming by Ustream

Universe Today and the SETI Institute will be hosting a pre-landing Google+ Hangout this evening from 10pm - 2am CDT.  This Google+ live feed and interactive web page will feature an all star lineup of scientists, available to answer questions and provide a variety of perspectives on the Curiosity mission and search for evidence of life on Mars.


According to Gaming Age magazine, you will even be able to watch the landing via Xbox 360!


The first photos from the surface aren't expected until 2 hours after landing, but if the landing is successful, we will be treated all week to a stream of new images as the mission progresses.  If you missed the video NASA produced to explain the perils of the rover landing, see the 7 Minutes of Terror video below.  

The EBSCOhost Mobile App: Databases on the Go!

Some of the databases we use most often at the library are part of EBSCOhost.  EBSCOhost is a service that allows you to see and search many different databases, including MasterFile Premier, Academic Search Complete, and many more.  Now, courtesy of Terrebonne Parish Library, anyone can access EBSCOhosts’s databases on the go on their mobile phones and devices.  Below is a quick set of instructions on how to download and set up the EBSCOhost mobile app.

On your computer, type "mytpl.org" into your web browser’s address bar.

On the home page, move your mouse cursor over "research” on the top menu bar.

When the drop-down menu that appears, click “Databases by Name.”

On the next page, click the “M,” and then click “MasterFile Premier” from the drop down menu that will appear.

A new window or tab will open.  Click on the link at the bottom of the page that reads: “New: EBSCOhost iPhone and Android Applications.”

A pop up window like the one below will appear on the page.  Enter an email address you can easily access on your mobile phone or device.  Then click send.

 At this point, you should open your e-mail on your mobile phone or device.  You should have an email from “ephost” that looks like this: 

Follow the instructions in the email (which exactly match the example above).  The quickest way to find and download the app in the iTunes App Store or Google Play is to search for “ebscohost.”  Once you tap “authentication key,” the app will open up ready to use for a 9 month period.  After the period ends, you simply have to re-authorize. 

If you need any help, please call the Main Library at (985) 876-5861 and select option 2 to reach the Reference Department.  Or, you can stop by and see us on the second floor at 151 Library Drive behind the Houma Civic Center.

Movies and Documentaries @ the Library: How to Find Videos in the Online Catalog

Whether you prefer blockbuster movies or educational documentaries, the library is sure to have videos that interest you.  However, people sometimes have trouble finding videos in our online catalog, because they don't know how to separate the videos from the books in their search.  For example, if you go to the catalog and type in "Civil War", you'll see that we have over 1,800 items with those keywords.  Most of these are books, so scrolling through all 1800 items to find the videos would be pretty tedious. 

Luckily, there's a better way.  Simply click on "Format", to the right of the page, and select "Visual Materials", as in the picture below:

This will narrow your search to videos only, so now you will see 249 items, instead of 1838 (see below). Once you have narrowed your search this way, you will see that our Civil War videos can be further divided into three formats:  Electronic Resources (most of which are streaming videos available through the Access Video on Demand database), DVDs, and a few VHS tapes (most of our hard copy videos are now on DVD).

If you want to narrow your search further, you can click on one of these formats.  For example, if you click "DVD", this will narrow your search to just 66 DVDs, as in the picture below.  Notice that each time you limit your search, the "limiters" will appear near the top of the page, as shown in the red box below.  If you decide you don't want to limit your search so much--for example, if you want to see all visual materials, not just DVDs--you can click the "x" next to the DVD limiter, and it will disappear.  For now, let's say you want to limit your search to just DVDs.  Those 66 DVDs will include videos made for adults, teenagers, and children.  If you're an adult looking for a video to watch yourself, you're probably not interested in the teen and children's videos.  To limit the DVD's to the ones made for adults, you can click "Collection", and then "DVD Adult", as shown below.

While we have a great selection of DVDs, don't forget that we have a huge selection of online videos available through Access Video on Demand. You can start watching these immediately.  Simply click on the title you are interested in, scroll to the bottom of its catalog page, and click the link that looks like this:

This will take you to the login page for Access Video on Demand.  Enter your library card number, and you're ready to watch the video.  For more on using Access Video on Demand, see this blog post. If you have any questions about finding videos at the library, give us a call at 876-5861, or email us at reference@mytpl.org.  Happy viewing!

Understanding Health Care Reform

Earlier today, the US Supreme Court made a historic decision, upholding most of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare.  Everybody is talking about the Affordable Care Act, but it's a safe bet that not everyone understands it.  One reason is that it's been extremely controversial, so each side has tried to spin it in different directions.  Another reason is that the act itself is nearly a thousand pages long, so it's not something you can read on your lunch break.

To try to cut through the spin and confusion, we've put together some links to resources that explain Obamacare, and today's Supreme Court decision, in a simple, balanced way.

One of the best resources we've found is the video above, which is an entertaining, animated explanation of the basics of the Affordable Care Act.  It comes from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit and non-partisan organization focused on health care policy.  It's good to be aware that this foundation was started by Henry J. Kaiser, who also started Kaiser Permanente, a major health insurance provider.  However, the foundation is a separate organization, and its educational resources are well-made and seem to offer balanced coverage.  They have also created a written overview about health care reform, as well as a variety of graphics explaining the Affordable Care Act's main provisions.

HealthCareandYou.org, another non-profit healthcare education organization, is a great site to look at for easy-to-read information about the Affordable Care Act.  The US government also has an educational site devoted to the topic, at HealthCare.gov. 

If you want to learn more about the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act, CNN has a simple guide to the main legal issues they considered in the case.  NPR has an interactive transcript of the court's opinion, which lets you jump to the main opinion by Chief Justice Roberts, as well as supporting and dissenting opinions by other justices.  The first six pages offer a syllabus (summary) of the court's opinion.

If you're wondering what the effects of the law will be, the New York Times has a graphic showing how insurance coverage is likely to change among Americans, using data from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.  For a look at what the law might mean for your coverage, this interactive tool from the Washington Post is useful.  The Reuters news organization also has a useful overview of the law's effects on individuals and families.

For background on the history of healthcare legislation, and all the controversy around it, the library's Issues and Controversies database is a great place to start.  This database offers summaries of the arguments on all sides of controversial issues, which makes it a great way to get a balanced, fact-based look at the issues.  Their article on healthcare reform has a wealth of information on the history of the issue.

Whether you agree or disagree with the Affordable Care Act, everyone can agree that healthcare policy will have a big impact on all Americans in years to come.  We hope these resources will help you find the information you need to draw your own conclusions, and make informed decisions.