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Ask Science Theatre Archive - Why does ice float? Where does helium come from? Why do we lose our tans in the winter? How does a match work? These are just a few of the hundreds of questions answered at this site, sponsored by Michigan State University.
Earth and Sky - is a daily radio feature about science, heard on 950 stations around the world. The topics range from deep-ocean vents to the farthest-flung star nurseries in deep space. It also answers intriguing listener questions, some of which have been collected on this Web site. Why is the sky blue? Are soap bubbles round in weightless conditions? Why do leaves change color in the fall? Earth and Sky knows!
Frequently-asked Questions in Science and Physics - Why do stars twinkle? What's the purpose of all those dimples on a golf ball? Why does hot water freeze faster than cold? How do those "Dippy Bird" toys work? Seek here and ye shall find the answers.
How Stuff Works - Have you ever wondered how your television set works? Or how cell phones get a message from here to there without any wires? And CDs--how is all that music written onto those shiny discs? Don't forget those See `N' Say toys--how do they keep talking without using batteries? And while we're at it, let's look at How Airplanes Work and How Toilets Work. There's a lot here to know about, but if you still have questions, go ahead and ask in the Question of the Day area. There's an archive of questions that have already been answered, so check there first.
KidZone Olympic Pin Collecting Page - Ashley has it all figured out, and she's letting you in on her secrets of Olympic pin collecting. One of her tricks is to find out all the Olympic sponsors and get their addresses. Then send them each a polite letter saying how old you are, what you like to do, and how much you would love to have one of their pins. She says she always offers to pay, but most places will send them for free. She says she's gotten over 250 pins this way! Read her other suggestions; then go for the gold yourself.
My First Garden - My first garden. Sounds pretty neat, doesn't it? Imagine what fun it will be. A lot of hard work is involved in planting a garden, but the end results make it all worthwhile. At this site, you will learn how to choose the seeds, clear the land, and tend the soil. You will learn about watering and weeding, and finally, about harvesting the vegetables and clipping the flowers for a pretty dining room bouquet.
Quasi Comprehensive Candy Bar Wrapper Image Archive - Here's a person who is easily amused. He collects candy bar wrappers, scans them, and puts them on the Web. Apparently, he's not the only one: he has links to people who do the same thing for gum wrappers, European candy, and Mentos! If you can get past the M&M's, Skittles, Snickers, and Kit-Kats, you may need the Pepto-Bismol-pink background.
Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick - Did you ever wonder if fish have ears? Why rabbits like carrots? Where the water goes during low tide? What causes heartburn? This Twig guy has the answers to these and a lot more questions in a wide variety of topics. Check it out, and, among other things, you'll learn why the sea is blue in some places and green in others.
Super Trooper - My Car - It's exciting and scary to see a police car! You don't want to go too close to a real police car, but you can walk right up to this one on the Internet. Press the horn, work the siren, listen to the squeal of the tires and the roar of the engine. No one will mind--well, maybe your sister will if she's trying to concentrate on her homework.
Technology: For Students: Brainspin - Ever wonder how your telephone works? This site gives you an overview of what takes place when you make that call to your great-grandparents in Cleveland. You did remember to thank them for sending those cool handkerchiefs for your birthday, right? You'll also learn about fiber optics, Alexander Graham Bell, and what the phone company's going to do when they run out of phone numbers. There are also some fun interactive games to try.
The Skinny On... - This site offers "the skinny on" a lot of unusual subjects. Why does bright light make you sneeze? How do sonic booms work? Why do you twitch sometimes when you're falling asleep? Why does eating beans give you gas? What color is snow (the answer will surprise you!)?
The Word Detective - This syndicated newspaper column has been running since 1953. William Morris started it, and now his son, Evan, does the honors. A short while after the columns run in newspapers, he posts them on this page. Morris answers readers' questions about the English language and its odd words and phrases, such as "busting chops," "lame duck," or "eyes peeled," and he does this cleverly, with wit and humor. He also has a sampling of The Word Detective , a newsletter that "aims for the large grey area between the Oxford English Dictionary and Monty Python."
Why Do Cat's Eyes Glow in the Dark? - At night, if you shine a beam of light into a cat's eyes, they seem to glow back at you. You can also get this effect if you take a flash photo of a cat's face. What gives the eyes this spooky appearance? Find out at this site!
Why Doesn't a Spider Get Stuck to its Own Web? - It turns out that there are several types of silk in the web. First, there is anchor silk that the spider walks around on, and then there is sticky snare silk that actually catches the insects. The spider knows which is which--and she also has a special claw on her legs that lets her "hook" the web to swing from anchor line to anchor line, avoiding the sticky stuff. This site has much more on silk, spiders, and webs.
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