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Category: Science

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Thoreau’s View of the Railroad

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

Today’s guest post is by Michael Sconzo, an intern from the University of Virginia in the Science, Technology, and Business Division.  Using inspiration and access to the extensive collections of the Library Congress, Michael was asked to write blog posts on the theme of transportation.  After reflection, he chose to write on the impact of …

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Cosmic Explosions and Cosmic Accelerators: NASA Lecture with Dr. Regina Caputo on August 8

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post was authored by Stephanie Marcus, Science Reference Librarian in the Science, Technology, and Business Division. In the past, our understanding of the universe came from studying visible light. Over the last 90 years, astronomers have extended this view to other forms of light, from radio waves to gamma rays. However, light isn’t the …

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The Bald Eagle, Creature of Nature and an American Symbol

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post was written by Science Reference Specialist Ashley Cuffia. As summer wraps us in its heated grasp, we dream of pools and picnics with family and friends, and fireworks on warm summer nights.  Before long, the 4th of July is upon us and we remember the rights and freedoms that the architects of our …

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2019 NASA Goddard Earth & Space Science Talks Announced

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post was written by Science Reference Specialist Stephanie Marcus. The Science, Technology and Business Division is partnering with NASA Goddard for the thirteenth year of earth and space science lectures.  The eight talks will be held in the Mary Pickford Theater in the Library’s James Madison Building.  Each will be recorded and available at …

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“The Earth Itself Is a Great Magnet”

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post was written by Science Reference Specialist Nate Smith. Lately there has been a lot of discussion about the migration of the magnetic north pole.  The magnetic north pole is different from the geographic North Pole and is part of the much larger magnetic field of the Earth.  Not only do the magnetic poles …

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Icebox: Exploring States of Matter Using Historic Photographs

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post is by Kellie Taylor, Ed.D., the 2018-2019 Library of Congress Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and was originally posted on the Teaching with the Library of Congress blog. How does science affect our daily lives? Or as students might ask, “Why do I have to learn this?” In addition to making communications faster …

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Happy 150th Anniversary to the Periodic Table

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

This post was written by Science Reference Specialist Nate Smith. This year marks the 150th anniversary of one of the most important breakthroughs in the field of chemistry: the Periodic Table of Elements.  While there have been over 700 distinct iterations of the table (Scerri, 20), the first tables that explicitly showed periodicity were created …