The month of July saw some ups and downs in the scientific community: on July 4, we heard about the discovery of the Higgs boson particle which the New York Times described as “one of the longest, most expensive searches in the history of science.”¹  Then, on July 23, we heard of the sad death of astronaut Sally Ride. Perhaps you’ve studied Physics or Astronomy here at IU East and have a firm understanding of the implications of these events. In that case, you may just want to catch up on the news surrounding such events using our Newspaper Source database. You might also search Biography in Context or American Women’s History Online for information on Sally’s life and the lives of other female pioneers.

Perhaps such stories sparked your interest in science and astronomy, but you’re less familiar with the scientific jargon surrounding such events? Fear not! There are some great resources that are ideal for the casual enthusiast to peruse. One of my personal favorites is NASA-Science. Read through basic Q & As, learn about recent missions, and view pictures and videos such as the fascinating video below about NASA’s recent Curiosity mission:

Science in Context is another great resource to provide you with an overview on topics that may seem otherwise overwhelming.  Browse the database for topics and biographies of scientists.  Have you heard a lot about the Mars landing but can’t figure out what all the fuss is about? Search Science in Context under the topic “Mars” and you’ll find an overview of the planet with a history of its exploration, photos, videos, news and journal articles, and websites.

As always, if a topic catches your fancy but you just don’t know where to begin, Ask Us! iueref@iue.edu  We’re always eager to help you with your research.

[1] Overbye, Dennis. “Physicists Find Elusive Particle Seen as Key to Universe.” New York Times, July 05, 2012., 1, Newspaper Source, EBSCOhost (accessed July 31, 2012).