If a view from below is of any interest -- here is how I as a high
school physics student search for info (including use of the web). I am
emphasized my steps in finding physics and astronomy related info but
these also worked well in Chemistry and Biology.
1. I look up what I can find in my desk library my father stocked from
his library. (Feynman’s Lecture Series, Sagan’s Cosmos, Hawking’s Brief
Histrory of Time, a two volume set of lectures by Einstein, Newton’s
Principia (I can’t understand most of this!) texts by Tipler in Physics
and Modern Physics, an astronomy book by Hoyle, some utterly
incomprensible texts in optics, electromagnatism, optics, quantum
mechanics, etc., some popular booksby Thorne -- and my newest “The Arrow
of Time" by Coveny and Hitchfield.
Because of my limited experience I try only to grasp big concepts
from these established authors. The threshold for getting any personal
direction is that I read the chapter -- or parts that I can and at least
try to work a few problems. I also ahve a pretty good selection of books
on chemistry, biology and geology.
2. I access the World Lecture Hall on the University of Texas server and
find lecture notes by established departments and professors of physics.
I know that authoirty isn’t supposed to mean much in science but until I
can develop more expertise I re
on mainstream sites. I never look at “naked web sites” -- i.e., those
not sponsored by a university or linked to a department unless it is for
humor.
If I really want humor I amuse myself at the Art Bell web site.
Reading these folks’ explanations of the world is wonderful exposure to
how the medieval mind worked. I also try and stay away from Encarta or
other encylopedic explanations -- unless I am frustrated at knowing where
to start.
3. I maintain an organized set of web bookmarks from the university
sponsored sites. (See below).
4. I look for articles in Science and Nature. I read the abstracts
(most of this I can understand --or at least they provide me with
keywords) and then work my way down through the links provided to more
understandable stuff in Sky and Telescope, etc.
5. If all else fails I do a Profusion search on the site maintained by
the University of Kansas. I am always wary of the site until I can find
who sponsors it. I always look for an email address for the sponsor. I
look for .edu endings. I try to stay away from stuff from high schools,
community colleges or University of _______ at _______ links. Not out of
any snobishness -- just out of economy.
Websites:
I use for general surfing and reference. My links are organized (with
help from my father) as follows: (I don’t know if the hyperlinks will
transfer through email -- If anyone wants a specific URL just email me
privately and I’ll post it.
News, Programs & Periodicals
News
The Times
New York Times
Washington Post
____________________________
BBC World Service
NPR All Things Considered
NPR ATC Morning Edition
NPR Weekend Edition Saturday
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday
Programs
A Prairie Home Companion
NPR Sounds Like Science
C-SPAN: Booknotes Archive
C-SPAN: About Books Archive
____________________________
BBC
NPR
Networks & Stations
World Radio Network
Internet Broadcast Network
Periodicals
Sky and Telescope Magazine
National Geographic Society Magazine
Scholarly & Professional Journals
Journal of Nature
Journal of Science
____________________________
Physical Review
The Astronomical Journal
The Astrophysical Journal
American Journal of Physics
The Science Teacher Journal
Journal of College Science Teaching
Scholarly & Professional Societies
Royal Society (U.K. Academy Science)
U. S. National Academy of Science
____________________________
International Astronomical Union
National Science Foundation
American Astronomical Society
American Institute of Physics
American Geophysical Union
Society of College Science Teachers
National Science Teachers Association
American Association Physics Teachers
National Science Education Standards
NSTA: Curriculum
NSTA: Laboratory Procedures
Mathematics Education
National Mathematics Educational Standards
____________________________
Academia Library & Resources
Scholarly & Professional Conferences
Tutorial Library (University of Texas)
____________________________
National Institute for Science Education
National Asso Research Science Teaching
AAAS -- Essays on Science and Society
Canards
General Canard Archive
Science Canard Archive
Mad Scientist Network
Skeptic's Dictionary
Bad Physics
Bad Astronomy
Bad Chemistry
Bad Physical Science
____________________________
ERIC (Edu Resources Info Center)
History
Foundations of Western Civilization
Lectures re Western Civilization
Tutorials re Late Antiquity
Calendar Conversions
History of Mathematics
Lectures re History of Mathematics
History of Mathematics Overview
History of Mathematics Archive
Math Historical Epochs
History of Science
Lectures re History of Modern Science
Tutorials re History of Science
Tutorials re History of Physics
Collected Historical Science Texts & Papers
Collected Historical Chemistry Papers
Readings in Classical Science
Time-Line of Physics
Chemistry Milestones
SI Unit History
Timekeeping
Galileo & Einstein
Historical Inventions and Inventors
History of Law
Lectures re Western Legal Tradition
Tutorials re Ancient Law
Archaeology
Lectures re Archaeology
Tutorials re Archaeochronolgy
Tutorials re Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy Calculations
____________________________
History Library & Resources
Library of Congress
Nobel Prize Archive
Oxford Museum Hist Sci
Center for Archaeoastronomy
____________________________
Resources for History of Science
Resources for History of Astronomy
Languages
Latin Language & Composition
Lectures re Latin
English Language & Composition
Strunk, William. 1918. The Elements of Style.
Turorials re Basic Prose Style and Mechanics
Tutorials re Basic Punctuation
Tutorials re Purals of Greek & Latin nouns
Tutorials re Argumentative Essays
Tutorials re Technical Writing
Dictionary: American·British
Citation Guide: MLA
Citation Guide: Historical Writing
____________________________
Language Library & Resources
Language & Ethnology Compendium
Dictionary of Sign Language
Dictionary of Morse Code
____________________________
Language Translation Service
Humanities
Mythology
Lectures re Classical Mythology
Bulfinch's Mythology
Literature
Collected Literature of the Ancient World
Collected Literature of the Classical Age
Collected Literature of the Medieval Age
Rhetoric
Lectures re History of Rhetoric
Art, Music & Theatre
Lectures re Humanities
Tutorials re Musical Opera and Composers
Tutorials re History of Theatre
Shakespeare
Shakespeare (Collected Writings)
____________________________
Humanities Library & Resources
Encyclopedia Mythica
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Index of Paintings and Artists
Index of Musical Lyrics
____________________________
Internet Museum of Art
Social Sciences
Psychology
Lectures re General Psychology
Tutorials re History of Psychology
Tutorials re Developmental Psychology
Tutorials re Biological Bases of Behaviour
Tutorials re Physiological Psychology
Sociology
Lectures re Sociology
Resources for Cultural Studies
____________________________
Social Science Library & Resources
World Geography Overviews
____________________________
Discussions on Science & Society
Government & Law
Government
Lectures re Comparative Government
Tutorials re Political Science
Economics
Lectures re Comparative Economics
Tutorials re International Econ
Tutorials re Environl Nat Res Econ
International Law
Lectures re International Law
United States Law
Constitution of United States
U.S. Supreme Court Opinions
United States Code
U.S. Federal Law
Tutorials re Evidence
Tutorials re Environmental Law
____________________________
Gov/Law Library & Resources
Congressional Law Library
FAFSA
IRS
____________________________
Resources for Law
Resources Pro se
Philosophy &Theology
Philosophy
Tutorials re Philosophy
Tutorials re Postmodernism
Philosophical Logic
Lectures re Logic and Critical Thinking
Dictionary of Logical Fallacies
Theology
Lectures re Theology
Religious and Sacred Texts
Comparative Scripture
Torah
Bible
Qu'ran
____________________________
Phil/Theology Library & Resources
Historical Chart of World Religions
____________________________
Essays re Warfare of Theology & Science
Essays re Science and Ethics
Mathematics
Algebra
Geometry
Geometry Glossary
Geometry in Action: Astronomy
Trigonometry
Trigonometry Lecture Notes
Calculus
Calculus Lecture Notes
Statistics
Statistics Lecture Notes
____________________________
Mathematics Library & Resources
Mathematical Constants
Mathematics Dictionary
____________________________
The Mathematics of Cartography
Physics & Astronomy
Astronomy
Lectures in Astronomy
Tutorials in Astronomy
Tutorials re The Planets
Astrophysics Glossary
Astronomy Photos
General Physics
Lectures re General Physics I
Lectures re General Physics II
Tutorials re Physics
Tutorial Demonstrations in Physics
Physics Applications (How Things Work)
Physics FAQ
Optics
Tutorials re Optics
Quantum Physics
Lectures re Structure of Matter
Tutorial Demonstrations re Quantum Physics
Tutorial re Standard Model
Glossary Physics Glossary
Relativity Physics
Lecture re Relativity Physics
Tutorials re Relativity of Light Cone
Cosmology
Lectures re Cosmology
Tutorials in Cosmology (Cambridge)
Tutorials re Space and Time
Tutorials re Cosmology
NASA HubbleConstant Cosmology
Cosmology FAQ
____________________________
Physics/Astronomy Library & Resources
SI Units
Constants
Messier Database
Satellite Tracking Database
U.S. Naval Observatory Clock
NASA Astrophysics Data System
Astronomical Coordinate Database
Physics Laws & Formula Compendium
Science Laws & Terms Compendium
Glossary Physics Terms and Concepts.
____________________________
NASA
NASA JPL
NASA GRB Studies
SETI
Scale Universe Great Debate
The Nature of the Universe Debate
Lectures in General Chemistry
Tutorials in General Chemistry
Tutorials in Chemistry
Tutorials in Non-metaliic Chemistry
Tutorial Demonstrations of Orbitals
Analytical Chemistry
Lectures in Analytical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Lectures in Quantum Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Lectures in Organic Chemistry
Biochemistry
Lectures re General Biochemistry
____________________________
Chemistry Library & Resources
Periodic Table
Chemical Instrumentation
____________________________
Advanced Analytical Spectroscopy
____________________________
Chemistry Resource Gateway
ChemistryWeb Resources
Geology
Geology
Lectures in Geology
Tutorials in Historical Geology
Tutorials in Mineralogy
Tutorials re Geoevolution
Geophysics
Tutorials in Geophysics
Tutorials in Geophysics Labs I
Tutorials in Geophysics Labs II
Tutorials re Tectonic Plate Motion
Tutorials re Impact Geology, Chem and Physics
Tutorials re Geocatastrophism
Meteorology
Tutorials in Meteorology
Meteorology Glossary
Oceanography
Tutorials in Oceanography
GIS
GIS Tutorials (UT)
AutoCAD® Resources
AutoCAD Command Index
____________________________
Geology Library & Resources
National Geophysical Data Center
____________________________
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. National Weather Service
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
National Center Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
____________________________
Geophysical Abstracts
Biology & Medicine
General Biology
Lectures in General Biology
Text re General Biology
Tutorials in Plant Taxonomy
Tutorials re Evolution
Evolution FAQ
Molecular Biology
Tutorials in Molecular Biology
Tutorials in DNA Structure
Genetics
Lectures in Genetics
Developmental Biology
Lectures in Developmental Bio
Physiology
Lectures in Physiology
Microbiology
Microbiology Glossary
Medicine
Lectures in Gross Anatomy
----- Tutorials in Embryology
----- Tutorial Demos Embryology
Lectures in Neuroanatomy
Lectures in Histology
Lectures in Medical Biochemistry
----- Tutorials in Clinical Lab
Lectures in Genetics
Lectures in Medical Microbiology
Lectures in Immunology
----- Tutorials in Immun & Virology
Lectures in Pathology
Lectures in Pharmacology
----- Tutorials in Nursing Pharm
____________________________
Reference Library
National Institute of Health
Centers for Disease Control
____________________________
MEDLINE (Sci & Med Abstracts)
BioMedNet Archives
Engineering
Electronics
Lectures in Micro & Digital Design
Tutorials in Electronics
____________________________
Reference Library
Edmund Scientific
C. Crane Company
SciQuest Scientific
____________________________
Computer Engineering
Hewlett Psckard
SARC - Virus Encyclopedia
Radio Engineering
AM Antennas
AM Radio Reception
Triumph
The Triumph Maintenance Handbook
Triumphs-List FAQ
British Leyland
_______________________________
Registry & Reference
Internet Search via Profusion
Research & Documentation
Bibliographical Resources
Bibliomania
Project Gutenburg
The English Server
_______________________________
Blackwell's Academic Bookshop
Powell's Out of Print Books
Primary Source Media
Barnes & Noble
Encyclopedia
Acronym Dictionary
Biographical Dictionary
Biographical Research
Under Review
Nasa Science News: new results on Gamma-Ray Bursts
NASA/Marshall research leads to Rossi prize
Blasts from the Past
Gamma-ray bursters cross the Line of Death
Scientists catch another gamma-ray burster in visible light
Answer to gamma ray bursts remains elusive
Gamma Rays from Severe Weather
It's too bad we couldn;t have an "approved" web reference source. I
think Stanford tried this with their WWW virtual libray -- but most the
links seem outdated. Perhaps Internet2 will solve this and take away
having to deal with the wackos (except for fun!).
Any other suggestions?
Sincerely,
Lee Wilmoth Lerner
Fairhope High School, Fairhope, AL USA Email via:
lw.lerner@juno.com
“But I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened by not
knowing things,
by being lost in the mysterious universe....” -- Richard Feynman
"...unless, of course, I have a test" -- LWL
Lee Wilmoth Lerner
Fairhope High School, Fairhope, AL USA Email via:
lw.lerner@juno.com
“But I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened by not
knowing things,
by being lost in the mysterious universe....” -- Richard Feynman
"...unless, of course, I have a test" -- LWL
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