During the 3rd century BCE, the scientist Archimedes began to explore the emerging field of mathematics (including the concept of infinity), along with developing elaborate war machines for use by his native Syracuse against the Romans. This new Web site (along with its accompanying NOVA television program) explores his life and the recent discovery in a Parisian apartment of his manuscript,...

While not offering new publications, this fun and handy resource does provide a glimpse into the possible future of libraries and publishing. literature.org has made available online four definitive volumes by Charles Darwin. These include The Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Origin of Species - 6th Edition, and The Descent of Man.

The Center for History of Physics presents the Selected Papers of Great American Physicists Web site. Seven physicists are featured: Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Henry, Albert Michelson, Henry Rowland, Josiah Gibbs, Robert Millikan, and Arthur Compton. Each page contains a biography and various documents produced by the scientist, a letter commenting on experiments and observations on electricity in...

This extensive website provides "a hypertext history of how scientists came to (partly) understand what people are doing to change the Earth's climate." Students and researchers can learn about climate trends -- both modern and past cycles -- the various factors and chemicals influencing the climate, and much more. Visitors will find a concise timeline describing the major discoveries throughout...

This wide-ranging collection from the Huntington Library brings together well over 100,000 items from its prodigious physical collection, which includes 7 million manuscripts, 1.3 million photographs, and prints. As the homepage of its digital collections, this site includes Maps, Rare Books, and Southern California Edison Photographs and Negatives. This last collection offers over 70,000 items...

Professor Elizabeth Green Musselman of Southwestern University is excited about the history of science, and she's devised a rather ingenious way to get others excited about it as well. She's created a monthly podcast which can be found on this site, along with lists of suggested readings for those who are looking for additional information. Episodes currently available include "Time's Arrow",...

Maintained by The Museum of the History of Science, the Oxford Virtual Science Walk Web site explores "some of the most important and interesting historic scientific sites in Oxford, from the time of the founding of the University in the 13th century and the work of Friar Bacon to advancements in modern science such as the development of penicillin." Visitors visit thirteen sites and view an...

Created by Professor Norman Herr of California State University, Northridge (CSUN), The Sourcebook for Teaching Science covers biology, chemistry, physics, and geoscience. This section of his creative sourcebook provides access to online materials that deal with the scientific method. The materials here are divided into five sections, including "Observation vs. Inference," "Brainstorming and...

This feature article from Scientific American, "The Unexpected Science to Come" by Sir John Maddox, looks at the next 50 years of scientific discoveries and comes to the conclusion that the most important discoveries will be ones we cannot foresee. The article addresses this topic through the lens of previous discoveries and the patterns they present. Within the text, key terms, names, and ideas...

The Science Festival aims to provide the public with opportunities to explore and discuss issues of scientific interest and concern and to raise aspirations by encouraging young people to consider a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Each year, the Festival welcomes over 30,000 visitors to over 250 events and receives extensive national and local media coverage. Over 170...