Category: Ecology & Environment

A small bird eats a seed on a festive holiday table

A Six-Course Citizen Science Feast for the Holidays!

By Bob Hirshon, Nov 22, 2024

Our master chefs in the SciStarter kitchen have been working overtime to bring you this delectable Thanksgiving menu, featuring citizen science projects guaranteed to satisfy even the most insatiable curiosity. Hors d’oeuvres: Nature’s Notebook At Nature’s Notebook, nature is always in season; currently, the program features the spicy flavors of autumn! Deepen your connection with … Read more “A Six-Course Citizen Science Feast for the Holidays!”

Categories: Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Health, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter, Other

Falling for Fungi!

By Bob Hirshon, Oct 16, 2024

For thousands of years, people have been using fungi to bake bread and brew beer (yeasts), as nutritious foods (mushrooms and truffles), and, more recently, as a source of life-saving antibiotics (penicillin, neomycin and many more). And yet, an estimated 95% of all fungus species remain undiscovered. Fortunately, thousands of energetic citizen scientists like you … Read more “Falling for Fungi!”

Categories: Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Healthy People/Healthy Planet

By Bob Hirshon, Sep 06, 2024

Keeping people healthy also means keeping our environment free of pollutants and limiting our exposure to disease-causing microbes. In this issue of the SciStarter newsletter, we highlight projects that need your help researching and improving human and environmental health. Try one or all of them this month, as we commemorate Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Pollution Prevention Week (Sept. … Read more “Healthy People/Healthy Planet”

Categories: Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Health, Ocean & Water

Photo of parade in New Zealand from 1916, with cars from the period and onlookers.

Make History With Citizen Science!

By Bob Hirshon, Aug 03, 2024

Citizen science can be a time machine, with projects that transport you to the past through fragile photographs, ancient artifacts, and hand-written records. In some cases, these items tell stories, filling in missing pieces of our history. Sometimes they hold secrets that may prove to be vital to our future. Why not make some history … Read more “Make History With Citizen Science!”

Categories: Archeology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Other

Dive Into Summer Citizen Science

By Bob Hirshon, Jul 05, 2024

It’s July, ideal for cooling off with marine science exploration. In that spirit, here’s some wet and wild science research that needs your help. Sharks Are Jawsome! Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the television, it’s Shark Mania Season! If the wall to wall shark viewing frenzy puts you in … Read more “Dive Into Summer Citizen Science”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, Other

A firefly flashes on a black background

SciStarter Podcast: Sensations of Summer

By Bob Hirshon, Jul 02, 2024

Every season has its own unique sights, sounds and other sensations. In this episode of the SciStarter podcast, we look at fireflies, listen to cicadas, feel the ocean waves and extend our senses beyond the bounds of our planet. Audio Podcast Video Podcast Credits: Firefly Closeup Terry Priest CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Surfing Beach Video … Read more “SciStarter Podcast: Sensations of Summer”

Categories: Animals, Astronomy & Space, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Featured Projects, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, podcast, videos

Dragonfly sitting on a stalk of wheat

Days of Dragonflies, Fireflies and Fly Fishing

By Bob Hirshon, Jun 06, 2024

It’s the season for emergences, whether you’re a dragonfly, firefly, periodical cicada or fly fishing enthusiast! The warm weather brings a variety of citizen science opportunities, some of them fleeting, so we hope you can get outdoors and experience the wonders of nature with your friends and family, and help document them for the many … Read more “Days of Dragonflies, Fireflies and Fly Fishing”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Insects, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter, Ocean & Water, Other

Photo of race horses crossing a finish line

Across the Finish Line! Citizen Science Month Final Days

By Bob Hirshon, Apr 27, 2024

You did it! As of April 25, you’ve completed 1,017,253 acts of science, with five days still to go! But even though we’ve reached our target and April ends next week, we’re not skimping on fun citizen science activities! We’re focusing on medicine and public health, along with a big One Million Acts of Science … Read more “Across the Finish Line! Citizen Science Month Final Days”

Categories: Alzheimers, Animals, Citizen Science Month, Ecology & Environment, Girl Scouts, Global Citizen Science Month, libraries, Nature & Outdoors, webinar

Citizen Science Month and #OneMillionActsOfScience Needs You!

By Bob Hirshon, Apr 23, 2024

It’s a packed week, with Earth Day, Arbor Day, The City Nature Challenge and more! The last full week of Citizen Science Month is jam packed! It’s the week of Earth Day, Arbor Day, Noise Awareness Day, and the City Nature Challenge! Find a project and report your Act of Science here. Just creating a … Read more “Citizen Science Month and #OneMillionActsOfScience Needs You!”

Categories: Alzheimers, Citizen Science Month, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Featured Projects, Geology & Earth Sciences, Global Citizen Science Month, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter, Other

Photo of an old metal sign along a trail reading "Halfway Point."

Highlights of Upcoming Week 3 of Citizen Science Month

By Bob Hirshon, Apr 13, 2024

Next week, we celebrate the halfway point of Citizen Science Month! Join us for a 12- hour nonstop Palooza of Zooniverse Projects! Pick your favorite project and hop online with a SciStarter Team Member. The rest of the week, we count bats, chat with dolphins, observe the weather, and try a whole slew of projects supported … Read more “Highlights of Upcoming Week 3 of Citizen Science Month”

Categories: Calendar, Citizen Science Month, Ecology & Environment, Global Citizen Science Month, Nature & Outdoors, Webinar