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Archive: 2013 (46 Posts)

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300 Years of Imaginary Space Ships: 1630-1920

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

The following is a guest post from Trevor Owens, Special Curator for the Library of Congress Science Literacy Initiative and Digital Archivist in the Office of Strategic Initiatives.  He is also the author of the Inside Adams post on Envisioning Earth from Space before We Went There. While humans didn’t build apparatus capable of traveling to the …

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Wit and Lucidity: Carl Sagan’s Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Today’s post is from science reference librarian Margaret Clifton. In light of recent discussions about ‘STEM’ (science, technology, engineering, and math) education floating in and around government lately it is worth noting that scientific educational outreach, that is, science communication from the scientific community to the public (or at least to a captive youthful audience) …

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Featured Advertisement: Buy Useful Presents!

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

On Thanksgiving Day I received with my newspaper a hefty amount of fliers from various retailers all touting their Christmas bargains.  Advertising for Christmas shopping isn’t exactly a new concept, but what I find interesting is the evolution of the buying season and the tricks advertisers have used in their advertisements to influence shopper behavior. …

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‘Tis the Season for Squash

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Once Autumn hits the Northern Hemisphere we begin to see a plethora of gourds, such as pumpkins and squash, popping up all around our towns and homes. We use them as decorations to signify the season, as well consume them in pies, casseroles, and even beverages! Squash and pumpkins are angiosperms (flowering plants) and part …

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Books That Shaped America: The Business Edition

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

In September I volunteered at the 2013 National Book Festival in the Library of Congress pavilion where the Science and Business sections shared a space.  I spent a few hours talking to people about the Library, as well as what I do as a business reference librarian.  I brought along a few items that I …

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Mendel to DNA Structure to Translational Medicine

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

The following is a guest blog post by Science Reference and Research Specialist Dr. Tomoko Steen. This week (November 7-8, 2013) the Library of Congress will celebrate the life of Gregor Johann Mendel, the discovery of DNA structure, and the discoveries in biology that are critically necessary for the advancement of clinical and translational medicine. Gregor …

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What’s Happening in Science Education

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Have you ever wondered, “is it really possible to fry an egg on the sidewalk if it is hot enough?” or “why do pigeons bob their heads when they walk?” Answers to these and many other science questions can be found on the Library of Congress website Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Science …