Organic Chemistry Help - A virtual chemistry assistant from Frostburg University in the USA. Find tutorials on alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkanols (sorry...alcohols) and more. All the basics of what these compound groups are, how they are named, and how their atoms fit together to give them their specific range of properties. Each tutorial offers a short self-test problem for visitors to solve as well as explaining the answer you should get. If you are really stuck in understanding organic chemistry though you can always Ask Artickus, The Chemistry Answer Man, although he says he is very busy so don't bother contacting him with last- minute chemistry homework queries! (6 June 2001) DB
http://www.chemhelper.com/
New Frontier: Exploring Colorado Science and Technology - Maintained by the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting System (PBS), New Frontiers is a small but solid general interest site covering science and scientists located in Colorado. While some information provided on the site is regional, such as listings and times for science specials to be aired by Rocky Mountain PBS, much of the site will interest a general audience. Sections such as "Cool Careers," which includes profiles of a variety of scientists - everything from a University of Colorado, Boulder glaciologist to a formulation scientist at Geneva Chemicals - are a good resource for students, and the "Explorations" section includes high quality science feature articles written by New Frontiers and Rock Mountain PBS staff. The "Ask The Experts" section appears to have been added recently. While they had lined up some solid scientists, no questions and answers had been posted at the time of this review. (29 January 2001) RKM
http://www.rmpbs.org/learn/frontier/
Windows to the Universe - Dedicated to Earth and Space sciences and brought to you by The Regents of the University of Michigan and funded by NASA. Its purpose is to provide a user-friendly system for use by the general public. Coverage begins with Earth and our solar system and ranges from art, books and film, myths associated with the heavens (Egyptian, Maori, Sumerian and Norse to name a few) to geology, people from Archimedes to Armstrong, fun and games and the latest news. Each section is divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Most adults, and many children, will have little difficulty with intermediate level, and while advanced follows a more detailed path it is certainly not beyond the reach of the amateur. Beginner level has large text and basic details and is ideal for introducing younger children to the subject. Teacher resources, kids pages, the Ask A Scientist search facility and numerous links to other sites add to the overall impression that this site achieves its aims and lives up to its purpose. Graphics, sounds, movies and more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at make it sometimes confusing to navigate but always interesting. (16 January 2001) ALD
http://www.windows.umich.edu/
Odyssey Magazine - The site provides online access to Odyssey Magazine a US science magazine for readers aged 10-16 years. The latest news in science is on offer as well as special features such as StarGazing, the inevitable Ask A Scientist, live Webcams, and more. The webcams include animals, earth & space, news, people and places and the weather. These are all offsite, but nevertheless it's nice to have several linked from one place. (12 September 2000) DB
http://odysseymagazine.com/
OceanLink - Packed with information this site originates in Canada and is a good resource for anyone with an interest in the marine world. Sections include Ocean Info, Ask a Marine Scientist, Career Info, World Records and Ocean News. Dipping into a section on Sea Otters it's pretty comprehensive, with information on systematics, morphology, distribution, conservation etc. There's a great Food Web - just click on an organism to discover 'What it eats' and 'What eats it'. (30 November 1999) BA
http://oceanlink.island.net/
PhysLINK - Created by Anton Skorucak from his massive web bookmarks file in 1995, this site, he claims, allows anyone to find almost any physics information on the web without resorting to search engines. It is, in modern parlance, a physics portal. It is an amateur affair but with a professional, if cluttered, layout and still a one-man show. Skorucak invites contributions for cover stories from readers as well as answers to the 'question of the day'. The site is touted as a meeting place for anyone curious about physics and that means lay people to experts. Included are physics software reviews and a software site of the month feature and the ability to order online or download a demo for a particular program. (8 February 1999) DB
http://www.physlink.com/
