Blog: Citizen Science Projects, People, and Perspectives
By Michael Gold, Sep 03, 2010
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 citizen scientists”
Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Physics
By Darlene Cavalier, Aug 23, 2010
Our pal, Elsa Youngsteadt, at Sigma Xi (one of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world) asked us to invite you to participate in an online conversation taking place right now over at The World: Science. Elsa co-produces the popular science podcast for The World, a daily international news magazine broadcast on public radio stations … Read more “Want to chat with the physicists from Einstein@home?”
Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology
By Michael Gold, Aug 20, 2010
You are cordially invited to what might be called a worldwide moon-up. September 18 is International Observe the Moon Night, when, if the program’s organizers get their wish, people all over the world will collectively gaze up and admire the dry seas, mountain peaks, fields of rubble, and, of course, the craters of our planet’s … Read more “Crowd-viewing the moon: September 18”
Categories: Astronomy & Space
By Michael Gold, Jul 28, 2010
Can I pick your brain for a minute? Next week I’m going to be part of a panel discussion on the topic of citizen science. It’s part of a joint conference of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the Geological Society of America titled “Earth and Space Science: Making Connections in Education and Public Outreach.” To … Read more “What makes a good citizen science project–for you?”
Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Geology & Earth Sciences
By Michael Gold, Jul 07, 2010
While in New York last week, I dropped in at the Hayden Planetarium for a real treat: an old-fashioned sky show. This was not your typical overwrought, highly digitized, celebrity narrated, long-on-glitz and short-on-insights production number that planetariums feel they have to create these days in order to get the public’s attention. This was a … Read more “I love an old-fashioned sky show”
Categories: Astronomy & Space
By John Ohab, Jun 04, 2010
Not that we’re competing, but stargazers Anthony Wesley and Christopher Go have now spotted one more giant fireball on Jupiter than me, according to several news reports. Wesley apparently caught the impact event on camera from Australia, and Go simultaneously captured video of the resulting blast of light from the Philipines. Pretty amazing stuff. If … Read more “Amateur Astronomers Discover Massive Fireball on Jupiter”
Categories: Astronomy & Space, In the News
By Michael Gold, May 13, 2010
This is going to sound odd, but I’m pretty sure I’m being stalked…by citizen science. Ever since we launched Science for Citizens a few months ago, I find myself bumping into science and taking part in science-flavored activities no matter where I am or what I’m doing. Take my recent trip to California’s Anza Borrego … Read more “Science for citizens is everywhere!”
Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Birds, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors
By Michael Gold, Mar 10, 2010
One of the many reasons I love to sneak up to Point Reyes is the night sky. It’s often stunningly clear up there compared to foggy, urban San Francisco, offering a gorgeous celestial show to anyone inclined to look up. But on a recent getaway, I was bummed to find out that I’d forgotten to … Read more “Phone apps for citizen scientists: What are you packing?”
Categories: Animals, Apps, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Birds, Computers & Technology
By John Ohab, Feb 25, 2010
The coolest new citizen science project may also be the HOTTEST! Launched this week, Solar Stormwatch is looking to citizen scientists to help spot explosions on the sun and track them across space to Earth. These explosions, also known as “coronal mass ejections” or “solar storms”, release high-energy particles that can be a safety hazard for … Read more “Watch Out for Solar Stormwatch!”
Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Physics
By Michael Gold, Feb 24, 2010
British astronomers have shed new light on an intriguing quirk in the anatomy of certain galaxies: a structure that looks like a bar running through a galaxy’s center. But how the researchers formulated their findings is just as interesting as the findings themselves. Their report is based on an analysis of a mountain of astronomical … Read more “Citizen scientists power cosmic research”
Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Computers & Technology, Other
