crossposted from
unbossed
Science certainly has its sensual and aesthetic sides. So for today, we offer links to sites that unlock the manifold beauty of science.
Is that your magnetosphere, or are you just happy to see me?
And if you want cool photos, check out the
American Museum of Natural History photos and features weekly snapshots. Check out the beauty of the
earth's magnetic field, something I certainly don't see every day.
A Century of Photos
The Smithsonian has now made its collection of photos, some from the 1890's, on-line. Start here - and then click on "enter the frame" to bring up a new window with links to photos. The list spans the sciences, history, art, religion, and more.
Geology
Yes, you can reunite Gondwanaland!
The web now makes it possible to view what otherwise would be invisible. You can take a trip to Gondwanaland / Pangea through the ODSN Plate Tectonic Reconstruction Service.
You can view Gondwanaland / Pangea created and uncreated here. In addition, you can create your own maps here, and be sure to check the links page.
Dig Dinos?
And before we leave the deep, deep past, check out the Plesiosaur Directory, "your online resource for everything 'plesiosaur'."
You will find scientific information regarding the classification and evolution of the group, information on specific genera and species, and data on their palaeobiology - how the animals were in life. I am also including pages about the people behind the science (in development), and about plesiosaurs in popular culture - films, toys and monsters. I also believe that a picture says a thousand words and I have endeavoured to make this site as image-rich as possible, using photographs of fossils, reconstructions of fossils, and restorations of the possible appearance of the animals in life.
The site includes the silly but perhaps informative Dinobiscuits animations, as well as links from the main page to hoaxes, films, and more.
A big thanks to Adam Stuart Smith for creating this wonderful site.
Great science site and much, much more for all ages and tastes!
To see the world in a grain of sand
William Blake sure knew grains when he wrote that poem.
Most of us who are not Blake would not think of finding beauty in soil crusts - but that just shows limited thinking. Find the beauty in this photo gallery.
And then check out there meaning and importance at Soil Crusts 101, and you will become a convert. In addition to the aesthetics of the photos, they reveal information about a subject that matters and yet is off our radar screen.
Reef clips
I know I won't have to convince anyone to take a look at ReefVid, a resource of free coral reef video clips for educational use. The full database includes over 500 clips provided free for educational and research use.
And if you have not been to see the largest living organism on earth - the Great Barrier Reef - put it on your list.
Physics made visible
And finally, how about Flash Animations for Physics? The flash animations include:
* Chaos
* Classical Mechanics
* Electricity and Magnetism
* Micrometer Caliper
* Miscellaneous
* Nuclear
* Optics
* Oscilloscope
* Quantum Mechanics
* Relativity
* Sound Waves
* Vectors
* Waves
Links to each of these subjects lead you to many, many animations. A real treasure trove for physics teachers. Of folks who just like to look.
Beautiful links from the past
And, by the way, here are some past SSFs that with links to delight the senses. This one has links to stunning cloud photos toward the end of links. And this one has links to bird songs.