·http://www.wolframalpha.com

Previously covered by the Scout Report in 2009, Wolfram Alpha, “the computational knowledge engine” is more astonishing than ever. The interface is deceptively simple. Just type what you want to know into the text field. For instance, “How many Buddhists are there?” returns not only the number of Buddhists worldwide (369 million); it also breaks the numbers down by country and provides a colorful world map. Another example: “health care Germany vs U.S.” returns a range of facts, figures, and graphs, including the amount each nation spends per person on health ($3,577 vs. $7,274). These are just the shallowest examples of what Wolfram Alpha can do, so its worth exploring with your specific needs in mind. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.psychologicalscience.org

The Association for Psychological Science (APS), founded in 1988, seeks to “promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, teaching, and the improvement of human welfare.” This website takes a step toward that goal. Start with the homepage, where you can find a list of links to Psychological Science in the News, featuring up to date coverage of psychology research in such news outlets as the New York Times, ABC News, and many others. Also check out recent issues of Observer, the association’s magazine, with articles about the latest scientific psychology. If you’re interested in the science of psychology, this site will provide hours of learning and fun. Educators, especially, will find much to digest in the Teaching section, replete with APS Blogs by Wray Herbert and Teaching Tips. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/historical-collection-publications/president-carter-and-the-camp-david-accords/index.html

President Jimmy Carter presided over a host of difficult circumstances, including rising energy prices, stagflation, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and a botched attempt to rescue hostages in Iran. Still, the 39th president did much to advance human rights and work for peace. Perhaps his crowning achievement was the Camp David Accords, in which he brokered a truce between Egypt and Israel. This collection, fully available on the Central Intelligence Agency’s website, includes more than 250 previously classified documents written between 1977 and 1979 in support of President Carter’s diplomatic efforts. Select Press Release for details of the papers, or follow the link to the President Carter and the Role of Intelligence in the Camp David Accords interactive website. The entire set of papers can be downloaded by selecting View the Complete FOIA Document Collection. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.eoearth.org/topics/view/51cbfc78f702fc2ba8129e70/

The Encyclopedia of Earth, a project by the National Council for Science and the Environment, was launched in 2006 as a “free, fully searchable online resource on the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society.” Over 1,400 scholars from around the world have contributed to the site to make it one of the most reliable sources for environmental and policy information on the web. This link to the Biodiversity section of the Encyclopedia opens a small universe of insights into the diversity of life on our planet. Featured Articles are forefront on the site, with topics such as Coral Reefs, Crustacea, or Habitat Fragmentation. Each category opens to dozens of loosely related articles. The Recently Updated section is another great place to start for those daunted by the variety of conceivable subjects related to biodiversity. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.arlis.org

Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), the self-proclaimed “Mother Lode of Alaska Resources Information,” is a find for anyone fascinated by the 49th state. A collaboration between federal and state agencies and the University of Alaska at Anchorage, the library features online explorations of First Nation tribes, environmental management, state government, and many other topics. Click Resources for a list of the Databases, Special Collections, and other topics. Points of interest include the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and the Iditarod Historic Trail special collection that features numerous oral history recordings. An Advanced Catalog Search makes finding what you are looking for that much easier. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://thegraduatewife.com

Grad school is hard - long hours, low pay, and, all too often these days, an uncertain future. But if it’s hard for grad students, it might be even harder for spouses. This blog is written by and for the wives of graduate students and might just provide a needed slice of community for the displaced partners of ambitious would-be theologians, biologists, mathematicians, and English professors. Scout the blog by its many alphabetized categories (Family, Identity, Community, etc.) or scroll chronologically. One complaint: given that over 50% of graduate students are women, where’s the site for the Graduate Husband? [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.pandasthumb.org

Named for Stephen Jay Gould’s groundbreaking work of popular science essays, The Panda’s Thumb is a haphazard, helter-skelter, mash up of opinions, refutations, and arguments - all aimed loosely at the anti-evolution movement. If you’re a proponent of Creation, perhaps steer clear. But if you like a good intellectual fisticuffs, and you’re a lover of Darwin, you might spend hours happily scrolling through the decade’s worth of blog posts gathered on this site. A typical entry? Everything from sitings of rare bird species to refutations of William Demski’s recent talk on Intelligent Design at the University of Chicago. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5490

With congressional approval ratings hovering well below 20% for the last four years, and “A New Kind of Gridlock” threatening to make even the smallest legislative motion difficult, one might wonder what members of the house and senate are actually doing with their days. What better way to find out than to actually read a bill? This link will take readers to the Wall Street Accountability through Sustainable Funding Act, sponsored by Representative Rosa L. DeLauro of Connecticut. From there, check out the Summary, which overviews the bill, the full Text, and Amendments, Actions, Cosponsors, Committees, and Related Bills. Don’t miss the chance to read about democracy in action. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University is a research and education cooperative of some 120 PhD level researchers and several dozen graduate students, all dedicated to uncovering the origin, evolution, and future of the natural world. The organization operates its own federally funded research ship, and studies everything from polar science to atmospheric processes. From the homepage, click Research to access the troves of information available. From there, access the Video Channel Pages (Earth Science Colloquium Series, Public Lecture Series, and others) or browse the site by category (Climate/Paleoclimate, Oceanography, etc.). All projects can also be searched by keywords, title, and people. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16124coll2

The New York Historical Society is home to some of the most fascinating and extensive archives of photographs of the Boroughs and their surroundings on the web. Starting with street scenes, portraits, and landscapes from the late 1830’s, documentary images progress throughout the decades and culminate with the end of World War II. Scroll through the photographs on the landing page for some favorite images. Then click View the Collection. From there, you can continue to scroll hundreds of pictures, or use the excellent search function to narrow your options. However you choose to scout the site, these images provide insight into the ever-changing landscapes of New York City and the surrounding areas. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://acsh.org

It’s a well rehearsed trope that information age homo sapiens have access to more information than any previous generation. In fact, it seems we create more information in two days than was generated, period, before 2003. But finding good information? That’s tricky. Take a look at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) if you want peer-reviewed, expert opinions about issues related to health and the environment. However, be prepared for an “industry-friendly” point of view, as this group has clear advocacy goals. On the site, start with News and Views where you can read all the latest on chemicals, vaccines, smoking, and other topics. Browse by Topic to explore Chemicals and Environment, Medical and Pharma, Nutrition and Lifestyle, Public Policy, and Tobacco. The original reports released by the ACSH can be found under Publications. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.cspinet.org

For balance, read the American Council on Science and Health’s arch enemy, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). As a consumer advocacy organization, CSPI also has clear goals. As such, the organization conducts original research and attempts to provide objective information on such topics as food, alcohol, health, and the environment. On the site, read through the News Releases and Action Alerts for updates on what CSPI is looking at and doing in the world of consumer health. Then have a look at the categories Nutrition, Food Safety, and More!, each with multiple topics. For instance, under Nutrition readers will find the Sugar Drinks section with information about the Excise Tax on Sugar in Soda and downloadable fact sheets on the risks of sugar in soft drinks. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/

If you’re looking for a mountain of information, opinions, trends, and skirmishes on economics, this site is for you. Granted, it’s not the most flashy site, but it showcases an incredible array of authors, from Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman to Fed Chair Janet Yellin. Assembled by Mark Thoma, an economics professor at the University of Oregon, there is no end to the fascinating debates you can immerse yourself in on this site. Start with Recent Posts to read the last few days of articles and arguments. Check out topics such as Marginal Revolution, Calculated Risk, and the Big Picture. It's fun to explore wherever your mouse takes you in this wide-brained world of economics theory and practice. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·http://www.favoritepoem.org

This impressive project, spearheaded by Robert Pinsky during his term as U.S. Poet Laureate in 1997, features 50 Americans, young and old, of diverse races and creeds, reading their favorite poem. Drawn from the 18,000 poetry lovers who wrote into the project, each video starts with a beautifully produced mini-documentary. During these five minute films, the subject talks about his or her life, about poetry, and then reads a favorite poem out loud. All told, the effect is extremely touching and powerful, as we get to look into the worlds of these 50 American poetry lovers, and hear from them their view of poetry and of America. It will also open up the world of poetry to readers, who may find a touching piece they never knew existed. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·https://quip.com

If you’re looking for a way to collaborate on office projects (documents, spreadsheets, lists, and chat), look no further than Quip. This app allows you to work in real time with your collaborators in a handy framework that keeps everything fluid yet structured. Recently updated for Android (4.0.3+), the app was originally designed for iOS (7.0+). Newer versions take care of old bugs that you’ll read about in last year’s reviews. [CNH]

Back to Top  |

·https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/

OneDrive is Microsoft’s file sync solution for those desiring access to files and photos whenever and wherever they want. OneDrive offers plenty of storage and integrates well with other Windows devices running Windows 8+. Users can keep all of their files and photos in one place, accessing or sharing them easily via phone, tablet or computer. It's a smart solution for Windows-using Scout readers looking for “one place for everything.” [CBD]

Back to Top  |

Another global warming contrarian paper found to be unrealistic and inaccurate
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2014/oct/21/global-warming-contrarian-paper-unrealistic-inaccurate

After record warm September, 2014 is on track to warmest year, NOAA says
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/10/20/after-record-warm-september-2014-is-on-track-to-warmest-year-noaa-says/

Hot News: 2014 On Track to Become Warmest Year
http://www.livescience.com/48365-hot-news-2014-on-track-to-become-warmest-year.html

Global Warming News
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/global_warming/

Mini multiples display decades of sea ice in a trice
http://climate.nasa.gov/news/2168/

What EPA is Doing: Climate Change
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities.html

Here are some facts: 1. Average global temperature increased by 1 degree celsius during the 20th century; 2. The United States contains 5 percent of the world’s population and contributes 22 percent of the world’s carbon emissions; 3. 15 percent of the world’s carbon emissions stem from deforestation; 4. Climatologists are 95 percent certain that global warming is largely due to human activities such as the release of greenhouse gases; 5. Less than one tenth of one percent of climate scientists doubt that humans are contributing to climate change.

Now for some projections: 1. 2014 will likely be the hottest year in recorded history; 2. If we manage to maintain our current levels of emissions (which seems unlikely), we can expect to see a further increase of 0.2 degrees celsius per decade; 3. These increases will likely lead to severe weather patterns, with some ecosystems experiencing devastating droughts, while others witness increases in tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods; 4. Increased temperatures will continue to melt arctic ice. As such, the world’s oceans will likely rise by as much as six feet within the next century, submerging New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and dozens of other cities in the U.S. and around the world. [CNH]

Given the above statistics, it seems unsurprising that global climate change was in the news again this week. The first link takes readers to an article by climate scientist Dr. John Abraham. In it, Dr. Abraham explains that few climate skeptics submit their ideas to peer review in scientific journals. He then goes on to eviscerate a poorly constructed and inaccurate model lately published by Roy Spencer, one of the few skeptics who does publish his models. The second link navigates to an article about the National Climatic Data Center’s report projecting that 2014 will likely be the hottest year on record. Next, readers will find a wealth of evidence-based information in the Global Warming News section of the Science Daily website, with recent articles explaining the science of everything from warmer temperature’s effects on everything from glaciers to coral reefs. The fifth link offers a visual display of 412 images of the North Pole ice extent between 1979 and 2014. Lastly, have a look at what the Environmental Protection Agency is Doing About Climate Change, including instituting regulatory initiatives, carbon pollution standards, and other measures.