Court TV: Forensic Files [Macromedia Flash Player, RealOne Player]
http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/forensicfiles/index2.html
This companion Web site to the Court TV series Forensic Files offers a virtual forensics lab where visitors can learn more about the different techniques experts use to "put together the pieces of the crime puzzle." Each room of the virtual 3-story lab is dedicated to a different forensic technique, including DNA evidence, bite marks, blood splatter, time of death, and more. Each room offers an explanatory video presentation, as well as an annotated slide show or video of forensics scientists at work. [RS]
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Traits of Life [Macromedia Flash Player, QuickTime]
http://www.exploratorium.edu/traits/index.html
Traits of Life, a new collection of exhibits and demonstrations at San Francisco's Exploratorium, offers a fascinating look at the "fundamental elements common to all living things." Culminating from 3 years of research and development, the Traits of Life collection follows four themes: cells and DNA; reproduction; evolution; and energy consumption. This companion Web site offers cool interactive features for each theme, as well as articles, movies, interviews with experts, and more. Overall, this well-designed site offers a engaging way to "see past the diversity of living things to the underlying unity connecting us all." [RS]
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Visual Cognition Labs [QuickTime]
http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/djs_lab/demos.html
This Web page from the Visual Cognition Laboratory at the University of Illinois Psychology Department offers a collection of intriguing video demos showing examples of visual stimuli used in the lab to study change blindness and inattentional blindness. In the first demo, for example, an actor changes into another actor within the same cut -- something that naïve observers will fail to notice about a third of the time. These videos (22 in all) are available only for individual non-commercial, non-research, non-anything-but-good-clean-fun. [RS]
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Madagascar Fauna Group
http://www.madagascarfaunagroup.org/
This is the homepage of the Madagascar Fauna Group, an "international consortium of zoos and related organizations that pool their talents and resources to work together in one of the world's most endangered places." Readers will find loads of information about the island and its diverse assortment of animal species, many of which are "bizarrely beautiful" and found nowhere else. The site also offers a number of Web links for general information about Madagascar, educational sites about lemurs and other animals, and links geared towards kids. [RS]
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World Resources Institute: A Guide to World Resources 2002-2004 [pdf]
http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_pdf.cfm?PubID=3764
The World Resources Institute (WRI) offers an electronic version of the Guide to World Resources 2002-2004: Decisions for the Earth: Balance, Voice, and Power. The report, which was distributed in part at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development conference in Johannesburg, is now available in its entirety to any interested reader. Issues addressed include direction for "environmental governance," the role of information technology in the equitable distribution of power, public participation in environmental policymaking, and more. The report's substantial executive summary provides a comprehensive overview of key issues. [RS]
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Tigers [RealOne Player]
http://www.worldwildlife.org/tigers/
This World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Web site offers an excellent introduction to tigers and WWF efforts to protect these highly endangered animals. The site covers tiger natural history, related scientific research, and current WWF projects in India and elsewhere. In Field Notes, visitors can retrace the route of a WWF conservation officer who has recently returned from a world tour of tiger field projects. Visitors will also find a short video featuring a wild tiger, a quiz, and information on WWF's Adopt a Tiger program. [RS]
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Grasshoppers: Their Biology, Identification, and Management [pdf]
http://www.sidney.ars.usda.gov/grasshopper/index.htm
The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Research Service provides this detailed extension resource on the biology, identification, and management of grasshoppers. Identification tools, species fact sheets, an integrated pest management handbook are available. Recent additions include a guide to the grasshoppers of New Mexico and a 2003 grasshopper hazard map, among others. [RS]
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Marine and Coastal [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.npca.org/marine_and_coastal/flash.html
Anyone interested in learning more about the state of coral reefs, marine wildlife, wetlands, and beaches in the US national park system should find this National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Web site of interest. Each of these four natural resources is presented with a brief but informative introduction and loads of links to related NPCA Web pages. In the coral reefs section, for example, users may read up on coral regeneration and snorkeling tips, and visit NPCA Web pages devoted to national parks where coral reefs are found. [RS]
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