In this activity, users construct and analyze maps of the the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) and its component data sets to compare ESI rankings around the world. The ESI is a numerical index, produced by the Environmental Performance Measurement Project, that measures the progress of 146 more

This animation from Exploring Earth shows a cross section of Earth; it illustrates a mathematical model of how convection might occur in the mantle.

This contrived natural selection simulation has students build and modify simple paper airplanes (Origami Birds). They demonstrate that: mutations occur randomly; selection is based on the immediate needs of the organism; inherited characteristics (whether mutated or not) are contingent; divergent e more

In spite of the unpredictability of volcanoes, scientists have learned to read the many signs they display prior to an eruption, in the hope of minimizing damage to lives and personal property. This video segment describes efforts of scientists at the Pinatubo Volcanic Observatory to read the signs more

This web page is part of Visible Earth, the National Atmospheric and Space Agency (NASA) web site, a searchable directory of images, visualizations, and animations of the Earth. Subtopics of Oceans: Coastal Processes are: Barrier Islands, Coral Reefs, Deltas, Estuaries, Fjords, Lagoons, Sea Level Ri more

Base Camp Earth features inquiry-based virtual expeditions on contemporary science issues. Teams of four students and a teacher are given four days to explore a topical science issue, using as resources scientists, research assistants, and e-mail contacts that specialize in the area in question. Cur more

This resource provides a graph of monthly average carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in ppmv (part per million by volume) versus time in years (1958 to 2000) at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii. This is a classic Earth science figure that illustrates the "breathing of the planet." The overall upwa more

In this unit, students explore the Sun, its magnetic fields, and sunspots, and investigate Earth's magnetic field. Images of the Sun, hands-on inquiry activity, and real data that show the effects of the Sun's variations on the Earth allow students to understand the connections between solar activit more

In 1985 an experiment, designed to unravel the carbon chemistry in red giant stars, revealed the existence of C60 or buckminsterfullerene (a special form of carbon, known also as bucky balls). This video lecture describes the story of the discovery of this molecule and the way its symmetry relates t more

This identification key has been designed to assist teachers, students, or collectors in the identification of rocks. It consists of a series of "yes/no/then go to" questions that pertain to observations of structure, texture, color, hardness, and other properties of the specimen being examined.