Databases | Websites

DATABASES

Infotrac's Science Resource Center provides topic overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations, as well as articles from over 200 magazines and academic journals and links to quality web sites. The database covers curriculum-related science topics, and offers teachers an easy-to-use tool to identify content directly correlated to state and national standards.

Home access for this database is available only to Newton residents with a Newton library card number beginning 21323.

Ask a science question, browse past questions going back to 2004, or search by category.

From the National Association of Manufacturers, Cool Stuff Being Made has over 60 videos of the manufacturing process, with a new video added each week.

EarthTrends is a comprehensive online database, maintained by the World Resources Institute, that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world. Included for each of ten research topics (Coastal and Marine Ecosystems; Population, Health and Human Well-Being, etc.) are searchable databases, maps, country profiles, feature articles and data tables. News and monthly updates are highlighted.

Fun science facts from the Library of Congress.

Founded by Marshall Brain, an electrical engineer and former computer science professor, this website features articles that explain the inner workings of everything from diamonds to chocolate to a rotary engine, as well as hypnosis, cell phones, home appliances, audio electronics, and holiday traditions.  Categories of "stuff" include computers, autos, electronics, science, home, entertainment, money, travel and people.

Ask a Scientist! MadSci Network represents a collective cranium of scientists providing answers to your questions. They field questions in 26 different subjects, covering topics in astronomy, the biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, engineering, and physics. You can also visit their archive of past questions. 

Minuteman Science Resources is an indexed list of internet sites concerning science, conservation, and the environment, focused on Massachusetts resources. A Minuteman Network Librarian has developed this list to assist patrons in finding information on science topics.

National Science Foundation (NSF)'s online library of resources for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and research.

NatureServe Explorer contains information on more than 65,000 plants, animals, and ecosystems of the United States and Canada. Explorer includes particularly in-depth coverage for rare and endangered species. Species can be searched by common or scientific name, and searches can be limited by location.

From the Library of Congress, Science Reference Service. Open access eprint archives are where authors of published research papers and papers destined for peer reviewed publication can self-archive the full texts of their work for all to see.

A searchable full-text database of more than 7 million patents and patent applications from WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, EPO (European Patent Office), and IP Australia.

Search thousands of science journals, databases and credible websites through a single portal.

Science.gov is a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by 10 U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results. Science.gov brings together, through one interface, reliable resources selected by the respective agencies as important science information. Easy access options are provided through a search feature, an in depth search feature for more detailed information, and a browse feature. Science.gov is the official FirstGov for Science Cross-Agency Portal.

Two major types of information are included—selected authoritative science Web sites and databases of technical reports, journal articles, conference proceedings, and other published materials. (The specific content varies by database.) The selected Web sites can be explored from the science.gov homepage. The Web pages and the databases can be searched individually or simultaneously from the search page.

ScienceDaily is an online magazine and Web portal devoted to the latest research news in science, technology, and medicine.

Scirus is the most comprehensive science-specific search engine available on the Internet.  Driven by the latest search engine technology, it enables scientists, students and anyone searching for scientific information to chart and pinpoint data, locate university sites and find reports and articles quickly and easily.

Categorized links on many scientific subjects from the Library of Congress. Also included are links for science fair projects, teacher resources, and government science images.

Calculators include: Distance Conversion Calculator, Speed Conversion Calculator, Pressure Conversion Calculator, Weight Conversion Calculator, Volume Conversion Calculator, Wind Chill Calculator, Surface - Cross / Head / Tail Wind Calculator, Flight Level - Cross / Head / Tail Wind Calculator, Temperature Calculator, Relative Humidity Calculator, Heat Stress Index Calculator, Fighter Index of Thermal Stress, Height and Temperature D-Val Calculator, Pressure Altitude Calculator, Density / Pressure Altitude Calculator.

From the Association of College and Research Libraries, a great collection of zoology websites.