Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Giant Pandas: 2003 Pregnancy Watch
http://natzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaConservation/2003PregnancyWatch/
Mei Xiang, a female panda at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., may or may not be pregnant. With pandas, it's hard to tell. Since Mei Xiang and Tian Tian mated on April 4, 2003, Zoo scientists have kept a close eye on the giant panda to try to determine whether Mei will have a true pregnancy or a "pseudopregnancy," in which she would exhibit the signs of a true pregnancy even if no fertilization occurred. Visitors to this Web site will find the latest updates from the 2003 Pregnancy Watch, a volunteer-based program that began in July. The site also provides links to a mountain of online panda-related resources, including panda cams, a photo gallery, information about panda habitat, profiles of the Mei and Tian, and much more. [RS]
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Science Museum: Treat Yourself [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/treatyourself/index.asp
Treat Yourself, a Wellcome Trust exhibition at London's Science Museum, "is about the vast array of actions and therapies that people have used over the last 300 years or so to enhance their health, to feel better." Click on the link to the Wellcome Trust's mini-site to explore this fascinating exhibit on medical self-help "from sea bathing to amulets, from quack cures to abstinence." The virtual exhibit is nicely presented - an engaging stop for any reader. Treat Yourself is just one of a series of Wellcome Trust exhibitions at the Science Museum that explore medicine in the context of science, art, and history. [RS]
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Historical Anatomies on the Web [jpeg]
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/historicalanatomies/home.html
Historical Anatomies on the Web is a digital project of the National Library of Medicine offering selected images from illustrated anatomical atlases spanning the 15th to 20th centuries. The atlases represented in this collection were chosen primarily for their historical and artistic significance, but anyone with an interest in medicine or the history of medical science should find this Web site appealing. All images may be downloaded free of charge, and new items will continue to be added to the online collection. [RS]
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eMedicine Consumer Health
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/
This Web site is the consumer health version of eMedicine.com, "the largest and most current Clinical Knowledge Base available to physicians and health professionals." Launched in May 2003, eMedicine Consumer Health offers over 5,500 pages of health-related information geared toward the general reader. This extremely comprehensive site is organized into three main sections: Heath Resources, First Aid and Emergency, and Life and Wellness. For users not looking for specific information, Featured Resources on the main page offers a good place to start. [RS]
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VN Illustrated Database of Mexican Biodiversity [aiff, wav, jpg]
http://www.vivanatura.org/
Viva Natura (VN), a conservation organization based in Puerto Vallarta, "is an initiative focused on understanding and conservation of nature." Its pilot project is this Web site, which presents the biodiversity of Mexico. The site includes an excellent photo collection featuring Mexico's plants, animals, and different habitat types. Similarly, a library of animal sound clips lets visitors get better acquainted with some of the Mexican bird, mammal, amphibian, and reptile species. A catalog of thematic maps is also available. And finally, the VN Fun and Educative Page offers links to slideshows, puzzles, interactive features, and other great ways to learn more about Mexico's natural resources. [RS]
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Whyfiles: Zoonotic Disease Go Global
http://whyfiles.org/180zoonotic_disease/index.html
This recent Whyfiles feature offers a detailed look at zoonotic diseases, or those diseases that spread to people from other animals. Zoonotic diseases, such as monkeypox and West Nile virus, make up two-thirds of all infectious diseases and may represent a growing threat. This 4-page Whyfiles piece provides an insightful and easy-to-understand discussion of emerging zoonotic diseases, including a short section on the hazards presented by our own household pets. [RS]
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The Hormone Foundation [pdf]
http://www.hormone.org/
The Hormone Foundation, the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, "is dedicated to serving as a resource for the public by promoting the prevention, treatment and cure of hormone-related conditions." Visitors to this Web site will find a rich resource of information on menopause, pituitary imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome, testosterone and men's health, breast cancer, and much more. The site has recently added Web pages and downloadable publications addressing menopause management, the pros and cons of menopause treatment, and an explanation of what endocrinologists do. Visitors will also find the latest related news and events, fact sheets, an online physician referral database, and other useful features. [RS]
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The National Gardening Association
http://www.garden.org/
This is the homepage of the National Gardening Association, a nonprofit organization established "to help gardeners, and to help people through gardening." The Web site contains loads of garden-related information, including over 2,000 articles, 30,000 FAQs, seed swap programs, a zone finder, pest control library, and much more. The site does advertise some retail items, but all information in this extensive online resource is available free of charge. [RS]
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