Surf Through 100 Years Of Science On The Science Odyssey Web Site
Posted on January 2, 1998
Nylon stockings. Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Polio vaccine. Pulsars. Plate tectonics. The workings of the human brain. These are just a few of the discoveries to explore on the Science Odyssey Web site -- the companion to the five-part, ten-hour television series broadcasting on PBS January 11 through 15, 1998. The Science Odyssey Web site launches on January 11 to coincide with the series premiere. Web surfers can journey through 100 years of discovery, encountering the people, breakthroughs, and social forces that have made this the most dynamic century in the history of science and technology. Online visitors can experience the thrill of discovery via interactive games and activities. Special features include:
- "You Try It" with the aid of the Shockwave* plug-in, viewers can
engage in hands-on interactive experiments including: "Probe the
Brain," where you "probe" specific areas of the brain and see
corresponding body parts twitch; and "Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker,"
where you move the earth's plates to build mountains and create
earthquakes. Or you can travel through the past 100 years to see
how science has transformed "Technology at Home" and through the
past five million years of "Human Evolution."
- "On the Edge"featuring an engaging comic-book style, each "On the
Edge" segment highlights the story of scientists and their
breakthroughs, including Jonas Salk and the polio vaccine, Rachel
Carson and the environmental movement, and Jocelyn Bell and the
discovery of pulsars.
- "That's My Theory"play this game, modeled after vintage TV game show favorites, to get to know scientists and their contributions to the sciences. In each episode, query the three contestants about their life and work, and see if your choice is correct when, for example, the host asks "Will the real Albert Einstein please stand up?"
PBS Online, PBS's award-winning site on the World Wide Web, produces high-quality Web programming as it pioneers the digital convergence of television and the Internet. PBS Online features more than 35,000 pages of content as well as companion Web sites for nearly 100 PBS programs and specials.