|
|
|
TopClicks
->
Curiosities, Wonders & Interesting Facts
Choose a SubCategory or Select a TopClick below:
1939-40 New York World's Fair - Come on, let's visit the 1939 World's Fair, in Flushing Meadows, New York. Look, it's the big ball and tower known as the Trylon and Perisphere. That's supposed to symbolize purity of form in the world of tomorrow. Hey, it says here you can go inside and see the future! There are loads of illustrations and lots of information. Sounds good--let's get a lemonade first though; it sure is hot!
Aibo, the Robotic Dog - Meet Aibo, Sony's robotic dog. It has amazing lifelike movements! According to the product information, it is also capable of artificial intelligence: it thinks, feels, and "grows up." Learn about what it does, how it works, and how you can get one. (Hint: You'd better have lots of money.)
Ancient Bristlecone Pine - Imagine a tree that is nearly 5,000 years old! Back in the 1950s (that seems like a long time ago, but not when compared to the age of the tree), a man named Edmund Schulman was studying bristlecone pine trees in the White Mountains of California. He and fellow researchers discovered "Methuselah," which was found to be 4,723 years old. That was in 1957. Today, it remains the world's oldest known living tree. Read more here.
Biosphere 2 - Did you know there is a rain forest in the middle of the Arizona desert? There's also an ocean. It's true, and the most amazing part: they are both indoors! Biosphere 2 is a 7,200,000-cubic-foot sealed glass and space frame structure, and inside are seven wilderness ecosystems, or biomes, including a rain forest and a 900,000-gallon ocean. The idea was to find out how people could survive inside a sealed environment, in case we wanted to colonize other planets. Could they grow all their own food? Manufacture their own air? Recycle their own waste? The first crew of biospherians (four women and four men) entered Biosphere 2 on September 26, 1991. They remained inside for two years, emerging again on September 26, 1993. Biosphere's original experiments were very controversial, but the results were undisputed: we don't know how to successfully accomplish this mission--yet. Columbia University now operates the facility as a learning center about the greenhouse effect. See what they are up to and take a cybertour. Go into the Home section to check up on temperature, humidity, and other sensors around the building.
Birthstones - Did you know that if you were born in April, your lucky birthstone is the diamond? To find out more about various gemstones and their properties, check this site!
Build It & Bust It - Engineers figure out how to build bridges that stay up, tunnels that don't collapse, and buildings that rise to the sky without tumbling down. At this site you can try building your own joint and beam structures and then test them for stability. If you have a hard time, just go to the Testing area and load someone else's bridge and apply forces to it. Will it stand up or go falling down, falling down? This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest competition.
Carousel! Your Carousel Information Center - Everyone has seen carousel horses, but did you know that some carousels have frogs, roosters, and fantastic creatures like sea monsters on them? Find out about the history of carousels, see some detailed wooden horses, and listen to carousel music--guaranteed to make you smile! This site tells you where antique carousels can still be found and ridden (look in the History section, under Census). They are something of a rare species, since many old carousels have been taken apart and the horses and other figures have been sold. Maybe you can help save an old carousel in your town.
Cinema - How Are Hollywood Films Made? - It's fun to see a movie in a theater, but have you ever wondered what it takes to bring a movie to the big screen? This site takes you through the whole process, starting with screenwriting, moving through producing, directing, acting, and of course, editing. Along the way there are activities for you to try. For example, can you write a good comedy scene?
Computer Museum - Robots Gallery - If you were going to build your own robot to explore Mars, or maybe creep into a live volcano, or perhaps entertain humans at a party, what would you need to consider in your design? You'd need to figure out how it gets power, how it moves around, and of course, how it looks. This Shockwave simulation allows you to try out various choices in a robot lab and get feedback on your choices.
Cye - Cye is a gadget lover's dream: a robot that learns the lay of your house, and can perform tasks ranging from vacuuming to serving hot chocolate at your Christmas party.
Deb and Jen's Land O' Useless Facts - If you are the kind of know-it-all that likes to impress people with obscure facts, then this site is for you. It has more useless facts than one person could ever need! Here are some examples: In English, "four" is the only digit that has the same number of letters as its value. Or how's this: ZIP code 12345 is assigned to General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y. Try this one on Aunt Mabel: "The Panama Canal was excavated from the coasts inland; the final short segment was cleared by explosives detonated by President Woodrow Wilson, who sent the signal by wire from New York City." Now we're not sure any of this stuff is true. Don't use this page to do your homework. But if you just want to have some fun with facts that not many people know, you should definitely check out this Web site
Discovery Online - You'd expect to find background articles on many of the Discovery Channel's programs here, and you'd be right. There are stories and pictures from shows on history, nature, science, and people. And there's more: links to the Learning Channel and Animal Planet programming and a way to search the archives of past fascinating stories! A new area is DiscoveryKids, which highlights features of particular interest to kids.
Elvis Presley's Graceland - Ever heard of Elvisology? Neither had Net-mom until she dropped into this Web site to pay her respects to The King. It includes an official biography, a list of all the recordings and movies, and answers to frequently asked questions about Elvis. There is also lots of trivia, such as this statistic on Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee: "Graceland, Elvis Presley's home and refuge for twenty years, is, today, one of the most visited homes in America, now attracting over 700,000 visitors annually. It is also the most famous home in America after the White House." If only the White House had a jungle room perhaps it would have ranked still higher!
Encyclopedia Smithsonian - For 150 years, the Smithsonian Institution collections have been a treasure trove. They house many wonders of history, science, and the natural world. Thousands of people visit the museums of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where the staff hears the same questions over and over. The Smithsonian folks took the answers to many of those questions and put them in an encyclopedia format on the Internet. You can get information on the history of the U.S. flag, great lists of books on animals, the inside scoop on the Titanic , and loads of other info.
Evidence: The True Witness - Can you solve the crime? Or is it a crime that you call yourself a detective? Maybe you'd better take a few minutes to learn something about forensic sciences before you take on the case of the kidnapped Susie Van Konkel. Study how law enforcement officials investigate a crime scene and what high-tech tools they use to track down criminals. This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest competition.
FAQ on Antarctica - Read astronomer Chris Bero's hilarious FAQ on life in Antarctica. Here's a sample: "How much are you paid for going to the South Pole?" "Not enough! Trust me kids, get it in writing before you start working at the pole. Also, don't make the same mistake I made. There is no such thing as Antarctic dollars!" (In 1996, souvenir Antarctican dollars were printed, but they are not considered legal tender. See "Ron Wise's World Paper Money Homepage" in the MONEY section.)
FBI Kids & Youth Educational Page - The Federal Bureau of Investigation has had a long history of helping to solve crimes in the United States. At their Web site you can find out about fingerprinting, polygraph (lie detector) testing, DNA analysis, and other methods of crime detection. You'll be fascinated by the information on real-life crime dogs. They look for explosives, perform search and rescue operations, and also can be trained to sniff out drugs. Check the games section for a fun little concentration matching challenge.
Find a Grave - Want to know where Ben Franklin is buried and see a photo of his grave? Or how about Walt Disney, or maybe a baseball great like Ty Cobb. Or say you're going to Concord, Massachusetts, and want to know if anyone famous is buried there. Wow--Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne are in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery among lots of others! Find graves all over the world at this unique site.
Fugitive Facts File - What do Henry ("Hap") H. Arnold, Omar N. Bradley, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and George C. Marshall have in common? They are the only men who have been five-star generals in the U.S. Army or Air Force. You can find that here, along with a ton of information that could help you with a paper at school or let you impress family and friends. In fact, you'll get lots of neat information, from A (Actors' and actresses' real names--did you know that Tom Cruise was born Thomas Mapother?) to Z (it'll link you to a Web site about Zorro).
Going, Going, Gone - The Way Things Used to Be - Have you ever had to make your own soap? In the old days, that's what they did. They saved scraps of fat until they had enough, then cooked the fat until it was melted and smooth. They saved ashes too, and they poured water over them to release the lye. Then they added the lye water to the rendered fat. They cooked and stirred for several more hours, and the soap was then poured out into molds and left to harden. Those days are gone, because now we all buy scented soap in the store. What other things are different now than they used to be? Check out a fascinating list of them here.
Great American Landmarks Adventure - At this page you can download pages of historic landmarks to color. But it's not the usual type of famous landmark. Here you'll find some really weird stuff, such as Independence Rock (Casper, Wyoming), where folks traveling along the Oregon Trail got out of their covered wagons long enough to scratch their names. You'll find the U.S. Capitol here, but you can also choose to color the Taos pueblo. If you send in your drawing, they may put it on the Web. Check it out!
How Far Is It? - In the not-too-distant past, finding the distance from one part of the globe to another took a fair amount of work. It involved using complicated tables and converting map scales. Now, we have an alternative. On this page, all you need to know is the name of two locations, and the distance between the two is calculated for you. This service provides distance for almost all places in the United States and a good number of major cities elsewhere. If a city doesn't appear to be in the database, just put in the name of the country and see what cities are available.
Legends - Visiting this site is like entering a wizard's storeroom, stocked with lots of neatly labeled jars full of strange herbs, exotic powders, and unusual amulets. There are some books left on the dusty shelf, and they are about people like Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Peter Pan. Pirates, fairies, and even artists like William Morris are represented here. Shhh--did you hear someone coming?
Lego Mindstorms - The Official Lego Mindstorms Web Site has the latest official news and information on Lego Mindstorms, a line of products that lets you build and program robots that do what you want.
LookItsA - Natures' Atmospheric Images in a New Light! - See clouds and other images of nature as you did when you were younger! Caution, this is a very addictive sight!!! Join the club of watchers.
Maine Solar House - This is Bill Lord's solar house. He built this house in southern Maine, on a property specially chosen for the project. Everything was planned with the goal of constructing a house that would make the most out of solar energy. Descriptions and diagrams show how he uses heat from the sun to warm the house and produce his own electricity. He even sells electricity to the power company when he has a surplus!
Martindale's "The Reference Desk" - Hotlist this one now. First off, find out what time it is, not only where you live but all over the world. You'll learn what the weather is, where the earthquakes are, and where the surf's up. Then move on to the calculators. There are over 6,400 of them. In fact, there is so much compelling information here we bet you can't take just one link! Unfortunately, each time you go back for a new one, the entire page has to reload, and it's very frustrating. Perhaps by the time you read this, Martindale will have divided up the Web site a little more for your navigating pleasure.
Monsters of Mystery - Here a monster, there a monster, everywhere a monster monster! Seems like every region of the world has a "pet" monster they like to tell stories about. Whether it's the Yeti of Asia or the Mokele-Mbembe of Africa, you can read some of those legends here.
National Cryptological Museum - Years ago, the road signs pointing to the CIA (the spy guys--the Central Intelligence Agency) building in Virginia read "Bureau of Public Roads." Everybody knew what it was, but nobody was willing to admit it publicly. A lot of this has changed. The National Security Agency, a similar government agency that does all kinds of James Bond-type things,d (in 1993) this public museum devoted to secret codes and code breaking. This page has a nice sampling of museum exhibits, complete with photographs. You'll see once-secret cryptology devices, such as the Cipher Wheel, the Black Chamber, and Enigma. You'll also find out about the Native American "Code Talkers" and their critical role in World War II. Museum hours and instructions on how to get to the place (including a map) are available here as well. Thank goodness they didn't put the directions in code!
Nerds 2.0.1 - If you've ever wondered about the history of the Internet, this is a good site to visit. Just click on the Timeline section. You'll find out how the Internet went from "Networking the Nerds" to "Serving the Suits" to "Wiring the World." It's easy to read an entire multipage section once you figure out that the Next Page button is at the top of the text. The Next Section button is at the bottom. There's also a nice glossary as well as a Cast of Characters.
Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster - Mark Chorvinsky has put together a remarkable Web site exploring the controversies surrounding Scotland's world-famous Loch Ness Monster. Nessie, as the lake monster is affectionately known, has been the subject of numerous credible sightings over the past 60-plus years, even though extensive scientific efforts to track it down have been a lesson in frustration. This page presents well-researched and clearly written essays on the sightings, the searchers, and the debunkers, as well as investigations into other, lesser-known lake monsters from around the world. For example, ever heard of Canada's Ogopogo? He/she's been spotted regularly since 1926 in Lake Okanagan, British Columbia.
NOVA Online - Ice Mummies of the Inca - Sometime in the 1500s, she was taken to the top of Sara Sara in the Cordillera Mountains of Peru and offered as a human sacrifice. The frozen and mummified remains of this child, now known as "Sarita," were recently uncovered there. Now, through NOVA Online, you can share in the discovery. Read the story of the expedition that reclaimed her from the ice, and see beautiful photographs of the Peruvian landscape, the local children, and the expedition and its discoveries. Listen to a native melody, a bilingual "Happy Birthday," and the sounds of the picks and shovels of the dig. This finely crafted site is a joy to experience. Don't miss it!
Overview of Lasers - How many lasers do you think you encounter in a day? Go to the checkout line at the grocery store: lasers read the prices coded on those zebra-striped labels. Climb into the car and crank up some tunes on the CD player--lasers again. Every CD player has a tiny laser in it to read the digital code on the CD. Visit this site for more close encounters of the laser kind.
Peace Pilgrim - How far would you walk for peace? Maybe around the block? A mile? Five miles? How about 25,000 miles? That's what Peace Pilgrim did. "From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman calling herself only `Peace Pilgrim' walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She vowed to `remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food.' In the course of 28 years of walking she touched the hearts, minds, and lives of thousands of individuals all across North America. Her message was both simple and profound: `This is the way of peace: overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.'" You can read about her life, her journey, and her message at this site. Since her death in 1981, others have taken up similar quests, and you can read their stories here.
Pomp - The True Story of the Baby on the Sacagawea Dollar - He's so cute! On the new "golden" dollar coin, Sacagawea's little baby is seen sleeping in his cradleboard. His adventures travelling with his mom and explorers Lewis and Clark were just the beginning of his exciting life story. This site rounds out what we know about the baby, who was nicknamed Pomp. And what we do know about his later life is filled with fascinating details. At one point, when Pomp traveled to Europe, he even played the piano for composer Ludwig van Beethoven!
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum - Look in the Exhibits area. Are these really the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll? Well, it's a start, and if you have other ideas, you can always vote in the Ballot Box for your personal choice. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is in Cleveland, Ohio, and it is a little bit like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Read profiles of the rock legends who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame and listen to their audio files. You can also read about and listen to the 500 songs. If you take the virtual tour to the museum's exhibits, say "Hi" to Eddie the Elevator Man. What rock star was born on your birthday? A file in Play Around will tell you.
Rolling Ball Web - If we said, "Kinetic sculpture," you might say, "Huh?" How about marble runs--do you know what they are? No? OK, then how about those cool machines you see in museums, airports, and malls with the balls that travel around mazes of tracks, doing strange things like ringing bells, inflating balloons, traveling in elevators, only to get to the bottom and travel up to the beginning again? Now you know what we mean! This no-frills page is a collection of kinetic art resources that reside on the Web, but the links have not been checked.
Sea-Monkey Central - It's "Instant Life"--it's "Sea-Monkeys"--it's a great marketing gimmick! Take the lowly brine shrimp (also known as live fish food) and develop a foolproof way to raise herds of them in a tiny plastic "zoo" aquarium. Advertise in the backs of comic books and sell the little critter eggs for a really cheap price. Everything you'd ever want to know about these fun but tiny pets is here, including terrible jokes, such as this one: Question: What do you call a Sea-Monkey tank that's been spilled on your sister's favorite doll? Answer: Shrimp on the Barbie.
Skywalker Sound - Learn how movie sound tracks are made from the pros at Skywalker Sound, where the famous sounds of the Star Wars movies, Jurassic Park, and Toy Story were made. One of Skywalker's specialties is creature sounds, like the ones made by Imperial Walkers, Chewbacca, and other aliens. To make these characters sound sad, happy, or scary, sound artists use everything from bicycle chains dropping on concrete to the voices of lots of different animals mixed together.
So You Want to Make a Car... - Have you ever wondered how cars are made? This site takes you through all the steps, saving you from walking the 16 miles of conveyors that transfer car bodies from start to finish. That's more than 230 football fields in length! At this auto factory, over 260 programmable robots install, weld, and paint in order for those shiny new vehicles to roll off the line. Look over their shoulders (or whatever robots have) and see how cars are built. There are also some great links on car history, solar cars, and race cars.
Superflag - Learn all about the world's largest flag! Its dimensions are 505 feet by 255 feet, and it weighs 3,000 pounds. See it draped over Hoover Dam, and you can get an idea of how big this U.S. flag really is. Other parts of the site show the flag's other appearances at sporting events and other display opportunities. Give this flag a really big salute, and wonder where they might find a flagpole to fly it.
The Weather Rock - Build your very own weather station using--a Rock. This site explains how your observations of the Rock can reveal current weather conditions. For example: if the Rock is wet, it's raining out. There are many more observations you can make, guided by this funny site. Remember: If the Rock is bouncing up and down, it's an earthquake!
Time 100 - The most influential people of the 20th Century according to Time magazine. From entertainers to leaders, heroes to scientist, this is a great way to take a look at the 20th Century. There is also a game to see if you can identify the top 100 from the pictures or clues given.
Totem Poles and Native Sites - If you've ever seen a totem pole, you might wonder why there are various figures and objects carved into it. You'll usually see animals, such as the eagle, raven, frog, killer whale, grizzly bear, and others. They all have meanings, and you can learn more at this most interesting site.
World's Columbian Exposition - Back in 1893, a wonderful fair took place in Chicago, Illinois, and it was called the Columbian Exposition. It introduced the American public to the wonders of the day: electric lights, the cotton gin, typewriters, and all manner of nineteenth-century technology. It was also the first appearance of food products we know so well today: carbonated soda, hamburgers, Juicy Fruit gum, Cracker Jack, and Aunt Jemima syrup, among many others. There were strange displays, too, such as a map of the United States "made entirely of pickles" and "not one, but two Liberty Bell models--one in wheat, oats, and rye, and one entirely in oranges." Take a virtual visit to the past here!
World's Columbian Exposition: Idea, Experience, Aftermath - You'll find a thoughtful essay and more pictures about the World's Columbian Exposition. Click on Legacy and learn how it has influenced places such as Disney World. Find out which famous composer wrote a piece in honor of the Exposition and more as you explore this site.
World's Largest Roadside Attractions - Want to plan a summer vacation trip that will allow you to visit the World's Largest Clam, the World's Largest Ukrainian Easter Egg, and the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock? No problem. This Web site has all the details you'll need! (By the way, you'll be visiting Pismo Beach, California, Vegreville, Alberta, and Wilmot, Ohio.)
Xavier the Robot - Where in the world is Xavier the Robot? Exploring the classrooms and halls of Carnegie Mellon University, of course! Check in at this Web site and find out where he is, plus see what he's "seeing" as he wanders around. You can even control his movements if you visit during certain times (check the schedule). See if you can think up some new jokes for him to tell when he encounters people; the ones on the list right now are real groaners: "I'm a screen Xavier."
You Can with Beakman and Jax - Put on your thinking cap and visit this site. Discover the answers to important questions, like "What are fingernails made of?" and "Why do I hear weird sounds at night?" There are some neat animations, too. For example, check out "How the Internet Works."
Zamboni! - OK, hands in the air: how many of you really have the secret fantasy of driving the Zamboni around the ice rink? You know, that big machine that magically lays down a new layer of smooth ice for you and your friends to skate on. You can learn the history of the company (they celebrated their 50th birthday in 1999), buy some cool Zamboni merchandise (including the fabulous "Zamboni Crossing" sign), and check out the trivia. For example, did you know that the top speed of a Zamboni ice resurfacing machine is 9 mph? There's also a neat diagram of how the machine actually works.
|
|
