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 …
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) …
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 …
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 …
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 …
We are happy to report that the Library’s science lecture Our Place in the Universe – Cosmology from the Ancient Greeks to Today with astrobiologist Michelle Thaller will continue as scheduled for Wednesday Oct. 23rd at 11:30 a.m. in the Library’s Mary Pickford Theater of the James Madison Building. [Update 4/11/2014- The Our Place in …
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. Few images are as powerful as the 1968 Apollo 8 Earthrise photo and the 1990 Pale Blue Dot photo from Voyager 1. Seeing the Earth from space …
It is difficult to increase the accuracy of hurricane-intensity forecasts, but such improvements have the potential to save lives and property. Starting 50 years ago, scientists have pursued a line of inquiry that has tried to connect hurricane-intensity change to the existence of tall storm cells, called “hot towers,” that occasionally form near the eyes …
Being the self-proclaimed LC weather gal, I felt compelled, and it was thoughtfully suggested to me, to write about the weather on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington. I love researching historical weather; the temperature, precipitation, humidity, cloud coverage, wind, etc., all aid in setting the stage or painting the picture of a …
