Surfing the Supernova For those looking to learn the ropes in astronomy, it's hard to find a better site than NASA's StarChild, a learning center for young astronomers. Blast off to http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html and fly through a galaxy of fun and facts. StarChild explains all things related to outer space, from quasars to asteroids. Did you know that a comet is just a big ball of dirty ice? Whether you're looking for advice on driving a lunar rover or you want to sneak a peek at a Black Hole, the photos and activities at StarChild will go a long way in making a space explorer out of any kid.
The Life of a Slave Girl Harriet Jacobs was a slave. Her autobiography is a fascinating tale about the life of a young girl and her family. You might say she's like an American foremother to Anne Frank, because she too hid for years in a small attic to preserve her life. Her story has a happy ending, though, because she did escape to freedom and lived to tell her story. You can read her whole story right now at www.gc.cc.va.us./ ~gcadamj/ hjhome.htm. You'll also find photos from slavery days that help us see the everyday life of the people who helped to build America. (This site is no longer available.) Hockey Hoopla From the Stanley Cup playoffs to the women's and men's hockey tournaments at the Winter Olympics, hockey has proven to be one of the fastest, coolest games on Earth. At the Exploratorium's Science of Hockey Web site, you can learn a side of this game that the television announcers never tell you about, such as: How to slap a puck 100 miles per hour, or how much energy is generated by two hockey players in a mid-ice collision. Find out by skating to www.exploratorium.edu/ hockey. The site features a fascinating look at the mechanics of skating and the science of ice. Plus, you'll hear from leading physicists, chemists, and the players and coaches of the NHL's San Jose Sharks! And when you're ready to hit the ice yourself, be sure to check out the links page, which is a slice of hockey heaven. The Science of Hockey World Wide Web site is for both the young scientist and the hockey enthusiast alike!
This 4Kids Detective game has expired. To play the current Kid Quest Challenge, go to 4Kids.org/kidquest.
1. How old do scientists think our solor system is?
Dear Amy: When doing a search, how do you find just the Web sites you are looking for?-Jeff, Brewster, NY Dear Jeff: A single keyword search can return tons of unwanted URLs. That's why you should always ask your parents' permission before using a search engine. The search engines build their databases of URLs in different ways, too. So even if you use the same search word on every site, you may get back different results. The solution is to be smarter than the search engine and tell it what to do. The Spider's Apprentice at www.monash.com/ spidap5.html is a great place to learn about how search engines work and how to use them.