General
http://www.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBriefings/sugar.html
This Web site contains the October 2003 issue of Brain Briefings; a series of "two-page newsletters explaining how basic neuroscience discoveries lead to clinical applications." Brain Briefings comes from the Society for Neuroscience, is written for a lay audience, and includes excellent images and diagrams. The current newsletter features new research on sugar addiction, which may actually share some of the same neurological characteristics as drug addiction. Readers should be sure to check out the back issues of Brain Briefings as well. [RS]
The Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University provides this informative Web site focused on the invasive imported fire ant. Visitors will find all the latest in fire ant research and management, as well as an introduction to fire ant natural history and environmental impact. Materials include multimedia presentations, downloadable publications and factsheets, and lots of related links. Visitors can also check out an audio clip of fire ant stridulations -- a weird little sound the ants make rubbing thorax against abdomen. [RS]
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/mammals/mammals.html
With AnimalPlanet.com's new Mammal Guide, readers can "get a detailed look at the mating, survival skills and recreational habits of mammals." The guide covers mammalian biology and natural history, mammal-watching tips, geographical distribution, and more. Easy-to-use drop down menus lead to pages and pages of information, although photos and images are surprisingly absent. Nonetheless, the Mammal Guide is, on the whole, an excellent information resource. [RS]
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/biodiversity/
Chicago's Field Museum has dubbed the 2003-2004 school year as "The Year of Biodiversity and Conservation," and invites everyone to join in "exploring, celebrating, and protecting our planet's amazing web of life." Visitors can start the exploring, celebrating, and protecting right here in the well-designed and informative Web site created for the program. Biodiversity basics, conservation issues and efforts, free downloadable lesson plans, and other resources are all on hand. The site also contains an interactive map featuring Field Museum researchers studying biodiversity around the world. [RS]
http://digital.library.utoronto.ca/insulin/
This Web site "documents the initial period of the discovery and development of insulin, 1920-1925, by presenting over seven thousand page images reproducing original documents ranging from laboratory notebooks and charts, correspondence, writings, and published papers to photographs, awards…" and much more. "The Discovery of Insulin" part of the University of Toronto's digital library collections should interest casual browsers as well as those in the market for primary research sources. Selected Highlights is a good place to start, and the interactive timeline (illustrated with original documents and photos) is even better. [RS]
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/glowingalgae/
As NASA's Earth Observatory Web site describes: "Each year, the North Atlantic Ocean announces springtime by producing 'blooms' large enough to be seen from space." While scientists have had satellite images of these phytoplankton blooms for years, researchers can now detect biofluorescence from these microscopic organisms, with important implications for monitoring the environment. The Web site presents some of these incredible images, along with an interesting essay on the topic (which includes a handy hypertext glossary). [RS]
This is the homepage of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI), a nonprofit organization "dedicated to the conservation of gorillas and their habitats in Africa through anti-poaching, regular monitoring, research, education and support of local communities." Web visitors will find the latest DFGFI news and project information, as well as gorilla basics, kid's activities, and lots of references (popular literature, scientific papers, and kid-friendly titles). [RS]
http://www.mos.org/cst/article/4849/
This Web site is the online companion to an exhibit at the Current Science & Technology Center of Boston's Museum of Science. "MedTech Exhibit: Beyond the Cutting Edge" (pun intended?) offers a look at some of the advanced medical technologies currently on display at the Center. The site includes photos and informative descriptions of amazing inventions like the first fully implantable artificial heart and a wireless miniature camera that's swallowed like a pill. The Web site provides little more than a cursory overview of the exhibit, but it's definitely worth a quick look. [RS]
