Category: Nature & Outdoors

Car windshield with the message "Totality or Bust"

The Sun Takes Center Stage for Citizen Science Month Week 2

By Bob Hirshon, Apr 04, 2024

The solar eclipse is the big event of the second week of Citizen Science Month, with activities for folks who will be in the eclipse path and also for those who aren’t. There are also other great citizen science activities, celebrating National Pet Day, National Library Week, and more!  One Million Acts Of Science Challenge SciStarter … Read more “The Sun Takes Center Stage for Citizen Science Month Week 2”

Categories: Citizen Science Month, Environment, Global Citizen Science Month, Library, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter

Scistarter Ambassador Jim Webster

SciStarter Ambassador Jim Webster helps others discover how to protect the planet through citizen science

By Nathaniel Scharping, Dec 15, 2023

In 2017, Jim Webster began going out at night near his New Jersey home to take pictures of our galaxy. With a 14-millimeter lens and a DSLR, he would capture long exposures of the Milky Way galaxy, revealing the delicate filaments of nebulae and countless clusters of stars hidden within the band of the galaxy’s … Read more “SciStarter Ambassador Jim Webster helps others discover how to protect the planet through citizen science”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Nature & Outdoors, Staff Spotlight

Spy on animals around the world while contributing to ecological research

By SciStarter Team, Nov 29, 2023

You don’t need to go on a safari to see wild creatures in their natural habitats. There are a number of scientific studies of wild creatures that depend on the eyes of observers just like you. Take part to be transported (virtually) to ecosystems around the world through images and videos (sometimes even livestreams!) where … Read more “Spy on animals around the world while contributing to ecological research”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Education, Featured Projects, Nature & Outdoors, Newsletter

Put the Fun in Fungi with SciStarter This Fall!

By SciStarter Team, Oct 10, 2023

Think your backyard is filled with just plants and animals? Think again! Fungi, which comprise an entirely different kingdom of the natural world, can be found everywhere in nature. These hardy, surprising organisms carry out crucial processes on Earth, like recycling dead organic matter. Even so, fungi are still wildly understudied compared to plants and … Read more “Put the Fun in Fungi with SciStarter This Fall!”

Categories: Biology, Ecology & Environment, Education, Nature & Outdoors

Birds migrating

Fall Nighttime Migrations Can Be Deadly for Birds. Help Keep Them Safe With These Simple Actions

By Nathaniel Scharping, Sep 25, 2023

As fall begins across the Northern Hemisphere, hundreds of millions of birds are preparing for a journey that can take them thousands of miles to warmer climates near the equator. These fall migrations are both a simple fact of life for many avian species, and an epic adventure that takes them halfway across the globe. … Read more “Fall Nighttime Migrations Can Be Deadly for Birds. Help Keep Them Safe With These Simple Actions”

Categories: Animals, Birds, Nature & Outdoors

5 ways you can aid environmental research with your camera

By SciStarter Team, Jun 22, 2023

Did you know? Your camera (or smartphone) is a fantastic tool you can use to help scientists better understand the world and answer big questions affecting us and our planet. Next time you’re taking a walk, visiting a local park, heading out on an outdoor adventure or even just exploring your own basement, you can … Read more “5 ways you can aid environmental research with your camera”

Categories: Animals, Apps, Biology, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Featured Projects, Nature & Outdoors

Find fire, smoke and air quality monitors near you

By SciStarter Team, Jun 09, 2023

According to AirNow.gov, ground-level ozone and airborne particles (like those generated by wildfires) are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country. EPA developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to make information available about the health effects of the five most common air pollutants, and how to avoid their … Read more “Find fire, smoke and air quality monitors near you”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Climate & Weather, Do-It-Yourself, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Silhouette of three people jumping happily in front of purple and blue sunset

Life-Changing Citizen Science

By Bob Hirshon, May 04, 2023

Have you ever considered exploring strange new worlds? Maybe seeking out new life and new civilizations? And then abandoned the idea because you’re too young or too old to seriously consider going boldly where no one has gone before? Well, these are completely achievable goals and they don’t require working your way through Star Fleet … Read more “Life-Changing Citizen Science”

Categories: Astronomy & Space, Citizen Science, Citizen Science Month, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Other, podcast

Let’s talk about trees!

By SciStarter Team, Mar 04, 2023

The Girl Scouts have teamed up with SciStarter to invite everyone to plant, protect and honor trees. Trees conserve water, reduce air pollution, improve wildlife habitats, and contribute to climate change solutions. Below, you’ll find the Girl Scout Tree Promise citizen science projects you can do to protect and honor trees. Cheers, The SciStarter Team

Categories: Citizen Science Month, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Girl Scouts, Nature & Outdoors

Science in the Snow Audio and Video Podcast

By Bob Hirshon, Jan 22, 2023

Whenever you’re out frolicking in a winter wonderland, why not take a frolicking break every now and then to measure snow depth for your friends at the Community Snow Observations project? Your observations will help them verify data obtained from satellites and other remote sensing tools, and also fill in both spatial and temporal gaps … Read more “Science in the Snow Audio and Video Podcast”

Categories: Apps, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Environment, Featured Projects, Geology & Earth Sciences, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water, videos