Get a Jump on the Heliophysics Big Year

On April 8, 2024, millions of people along a wide swath of territory running from Durango, Mexico up to Toronto, Canada will be waiting to experience an amazing total solar eclipse– the last one in North America until 2045. While they wait, they will be pacing around impatiently with nothing much to do. You on … Read more “Get a Jump on the Heliophysics Big Year”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Geology & Earth Sciences, Physics

Are We Alone? Citizen Science and the Search for Exoplanets

Recently I attended a lecture by award-winning astronomy professor Dr. Andrew Fraknoi, who spoke about the most exciting research happening in astronomy today. He said that while black holes and gravity waves are interesting, the research he finds most intriguing is the search for planets in other solar systems, called exoplanets. What sets exoplanet research apart, … Read more “Are We Alone? Citizen Science and the Search for Exoplanets”

Categories: Citizen Science, Physics, Project Profile

Two days left to apply to participate online! Informing NASA’s Asteroid Initiative: A Citizen Forum

In August, we shared information about NASA’s Asteroid Initiative and Cooperative Agreement with ECAST (Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology), to enable everyday citizens to have a say in the future of space exploration. How does the online citizens’ forum work? Two in-person deliberations will take place on 11/8 in Phoenix, AZ at Arizona … Read more “Two days left to apply to participate online! Informing NASA’s Asteroid Initiative: A Citizen Forum”

Categories: Citizen Science, Physics

MIT Museum Sets Off Annual Chain Reaction on the Friday After Thanksgiving

Remember the game Mouse Trap? For those of you not familiar with it, Mouse Trap is a board game in which players build a contraption, using various tools and materials, in order to capture a toy mouse on the run. Players often build creative, elaborate traps that operate in various stages, with each distinct stage setting … Read more “MIT Museum Sets Off Annual Chain Reaction on the Friday After Thanksgiving”

Categories: Computers & Technology, Events, Physics

10 back-to-school projects for young citizen scientists

As summer comes to a close, a young person’s fancy may turn to fretting at the thought of being cooped up in a classroom. But for fans of science and nature—and by that we mean kids who like to watch clouds, hunt mushrooms, prowl around graveyards, and check out what gets squashed on the side … Read more “10 back-to-school projects for young citizen scientists”

Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Birds, Chemistry, Climate & Weather, Computers & Technology, Ecology & Environment, Education, Geology & Earth Sciences, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Physics, Science Education Standards

The importance of thinking scientifically

What does it mean to think scientifically? If you asked me this question when I first moved back to New York three years ago, I’m quite positive I would have said something like, “What do I know? I’m not a scientist,” and pointed the questioner in the direction of the nearest pocket-protecting nerd in the … Read more “The importance of thinking scientifically”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Biology, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Physics, Science Education Standards

Top Citizen Science Projects of 2010

Which citizen science projects in our Project Finder were the most visited in 2010? Check out the top 10! Is your favorite on this list? If not, tell us about your favorite citizen science project(s) on your very own (free) member blog! 10. Foldit: Solve Protein Puzzles for Science Foldit is a revolutionary new computer … Read more “Top Citizen Science Projects of 2010”

Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Birds, Climate & Weather, Computers & Technology, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Geology & Earth Sciences, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Physics, Science Education Standards