Ten Great Science Web Sites for Kids and Adults

If you are home schooling your kids or if you have an interest in things scientific but often find science-based web sites disappointing, here is a list of web sites that are fun, well-produced and highly interactive. These are web sites that will not disappoint.

1) Solar System Simulator from NASA via the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology: http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/

This site allows you to view the planets, spacecraft, and a variety of stars from our solar system as they appeared at any particular minute, day and year going back to 1990. You can also opt to view them from a variety of chosen angles and orbits. Both educational and fun, there is something rewarding about choosing ones criteria and hitting the button labeled Run Simulator. Other links will take one to fascinating articles and information from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Lab. A must see site for science and space-minded kids.

2) Popular Science Magazine Online: http://www.popsci.com/
An absolute wealth of articles from all aspects of up-to-the-minute science and technology

3) The Why Files: http://whyfiles.org/ and the Why Files Interactives:
http://whyfiles.org/interactives/

This site not only has great science articles, but it contains Why Files Interactives which has a rainbow making site--allowing you to make rainbows according to the angles of the sun, the clouds and the viewer; a lightning site, and a tornado site which you will not want to miss.

4) The Exploratorium: http://www.exploratorium.edu/

Great visualizations of all kinds of natural phenomenon: eclipses, animals, microscopic views and more

5) Clipart Etc.: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/index.htm

Science and math centered educational clip art : an excellent resource

6) Eye Design Book : http://www.eyedesignbook.com
This is a complex site all about the way eyes work and are designed. Human, animal and insect eyes are discussed and illustrated in enormous detail. For the sophisticated science student or adult.

7) American Science & Surplus : http://www.sciplus.com
This is a commercial retail site you will not want to miss. Looking for cheap lab supplies, gears, ball bearings, drives and wheels, water testing kits, bottles and corks, small gear motors and science fair supplies? You must visit this site-- which combines good humor with good prices!

8) Nanoworld Image Gallery :
http://www.uq.edu.au/nanoworld/index.html

From the The Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis at Australia's University of Queensland, photos of all manner of microscopic things.

9) Glass Making Videos from the Corning Glass Museum: http://www.cmog.org/dynamic.aspx?id=260

A list of nice clear online videos of glassblowing and other various glass making processes.

10) Home Experiments on SciFun.org: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/HomeExpts/HOMEEXPTS.HTML

A list of do try this at home science experiments for kids which cover some basic principles.