·http://www.learnpsychology.org/

Deciding what to study in college is often a difficult and complex task, fraught with future unknowns about career paths, salary projections, and job trends, in addition to the simple love of a subject. For students who are interested in psychology (and for the counselors and educators who assist them), this site provides a well-referenced overview of psychology career options. Readers will find a section dedicated to Careers, where they may explore Top Psychology Careers and a Salary Tool that pinpoints average salaries in every state in the nation. The Education section outlines The Different Psychology Degrees, Schools with Psychology Programs, Misconceptions About the Major, and offers an insightful Online Courses + Online Programs Q & A. [CNH]

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·http://www.ed.gov/blog/

As the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education, Homeroom addresses dozens of issues with multiple posts every week. Some of the posts are primarily text-based, others lean heavily on well-developed graphs, charts, and other graphics, and still others include videos about programs, teachers, students, and communities. Homeroom can be scouted via an efficient search function. Readers may also like to peruse the offerings by scrolling through the several dozen categories, which cover College Completion, Success Stories, Headlines, Interviews, and many others. Recent stories have included a graphically oriented narrative about the progress of the Elementary and Secondary Act, and an educator's account of her time at Edcamp, a conference that brings together teachers from around the nation to discuss problems and solutions in today's educational environments. [CNH]

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·http://huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=838

The Huntington, which is located in San Marino, California, is unusual among cultural institutions for its scope. Including a library, an assortment of art collections, and botanical gardens, the center supports a community of scholars via numerous educational and aesthetic programs. This portion of the Huntington's website presents a number of teacher resources that elaborate on the center's various Garden Programs. The lessons range from explorations of seeds and soil to world history, art, and culture. For instance, the Japanese Garden section boasts a number of teacher resources aimed at Grades 4 through 12, including lesson plans on Japanese Stone Lanterns, Haiku, and Zen Gardens. Each section includes a freely accessible PDF lesson plan that outlines required materials and clearly explicates educational standards assessed, materials needed, and other tidbits. [CNH]

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·http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/beyond-the-essay/

The Visible Knowledge Project, a five-year, four million dollar initiative designed to improve college and university teaching, brought together 70 faculty members from 22 campuses in a giant brainstorming exercise that addressed aspects of the humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary culture fields. Readers may access some of the conclusions from the Visible Knowledge Project on Vanderbilt University's Center for Teaching page, where Nancy Chick outlines a few basic principles, such as creating external representations of internal processes, using "signature pedagogies," and making hidden ways of thinking accessible to students. The informative introduction is followed by two pages offering examples of humanities-based activities and assignments. For instance, readers can proceed to "Formative Activities: Snapshots of Learning in Progress," where they can learn about concept maps and word webs. Or, they may also enjoy "Summative Assignments: Authentic Alternatives to the Essay," which elucidates metaphor maps, student anthologies, and poster presentations. [CNH]

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·http://floradelaterre.com/

When Montana Public Radio and the University of Montana School of Pharmacy teamed up in 1996 to create a radio show about medicinal plants, no one ever dreamed that the popularity would spread so far. But over time Flora Delaterre, the Plant Detective, became a small sensation, reaching listeners around the United States, Canada, and even the Philippines. Episodes are just 1.5-minutes long, and were recorded "from locations as far-flung as Sri Lanka and Siberia, the Appalachian Mountains and the rainforests of the Northwest, research labs and your own backyard." Dozens of them can be accessed in the Audiofile Archive on the website, where plants are listed in alphabetical order, from Aconite to Yucca. [CNH]

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·http://www.un.org/disarmament/education/

The Disarmament Education site from the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs can be read and experienced in six languages. And that's just the beginning of the impressive depth and reach of the material presented here. Readers will find annual reports from the Secretary-General on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, pithy presentations such as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's slide show, "The world is over-armed and peace is under-funded," and podcasts addressing issues of disarmament and peace. Educators may be particularly drawn to the section titled For Teachers and Students, which links to educational sites around the web, such as Tutorials on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. For anyone interested in the international peace movement, time spent on this site will pay dividends. [CNH]

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·http://www.intechopen.com/books/methods-and-techniques-in-urban-engineering

Cities around the world run into a range of burdensome difficulties, from dwelling deficits to infrastructure problems to inefficient services to environmental pollution. The field of Urban Engineering attempts to address these complications with cost-effective and implementable strategies. This open access book outlines solutions related to urban automation, geographic information systems (GIS), monitoring and management of urban noise, floods, transportation, and many other topics. Each chapter of the book is available for individual download and covers a distinct topic. For instance, Chapter 3 focuses on "Experiences with the Ubranisation of Slums: Management and Intervention Models," while Chapter 10 looks at "Urban Flood Control, Simulation and Management - An Integrated Approach." For readers interested in understanding more about Urban Engineering, this freely accessible online book will provide a thorough introduction. [CNH]

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·http://www.sharks.org

The Discovery Channel's Shark Week drew record ratings this year, netting more than 2.5 million viewers. What is it about sharks that so captivates our attention? The Shark Research Institute (SRI) website might provide a few answers to that question. Readers might like to start with SRI Alerts, which links to coverage of all things shark-related from around the web. Next, the About Sharks section features information concerning dozens of shark species listed in alphabetical order, as well as shark videos and a shark photo gallery. Links to the Global Shark Attack File, a site devoted to providing current and hsitorical data on shark/human interactions, can also be found here. The Education section is another great feature of this site, with Games, Handouts for Teachers, a Whale Shark Q&A, and a section on Kids Making a Difference, which profiles a number of children who have made contributions to shark conservation and research. [CNH]

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·http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/

Aside from its status as an online emporium of historical curiosities and captivating tales, Wonders & Marvels boasts an alluring backstory. It all started in 2008, when Vanderbilt University Professor Holly Tucker mocked up a site on Blogger so her students could post their musings about a course she was teaching on the history of medicine. One thing led to another, and eventually a full-fledged website blossomed. Recent articles, written by specialists and nonspecialists, have focused upon the Mongol Invasions of Japan, the dire impacts of untreated syphilis, and and an expose of the great Arab historian Ibn Khaldun. A number of interviews are also featured on the site, including a very insightful piece about writing history, as experienced by Jeremy Dronfield and Deborah McDonald. Regardless of topic, by combining a playful attitude with some good, solid historical research the articles here are sure to both delight and inform. [CNH]

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·http://science.howstuffworks.com/

HowStuffWorks, which began in 1998 at a college professor's kitchen table, has garnered dozens of awards and features thousands of posted articles and podcasts about everything from cars to animals to money. There are even HowStuffWorks Quizzes, Shows, and Videos, as well as an app for both iOS and Android devices. Unsurprisingly, the Science section of the HowStuffWorks website is loaded with fascinating facts. After scouting the Most Popular section on the landing page, readers may like to jump to What's Inside: Science, which boasts over a dozen topics, such as Engineering, Environmental Science, Forces of Nature, Innovation, and others. Don't miss the article, "10 Historical Robots," which explicates automata from as far back as Swiss clockmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz's 1774 intricately constructed moving dolls. Readers are sure to find hours of edifying entertainment on this most famous of science sites. [CNH]

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·http://publiclibrariesonline.org

This site, which is the companion to the Public Library Association's print magazine, Public Libraries, provides a wealth of information on topics that matter to public libraries and public librarianship. The site is sorted into five categories, including News & Opinions, where readers can peruse articles on topics such as how libraries help writers succeed and how Bibliobot the robotic librarian is helping autistic patrons in Longmont, Colorado. Additionally, the Books & More section features Book Reviews, Indie and Self-Published E-Book Reviews, and intriguing Interviews with authors as diverse as children's writer Cece Bell, first time novelist Kathleen Hale, science fiction writer Ben Winters, and literary essayist, novelist, and short story writer Edwidge Danticat. Readers eager for the print version of Public Libraries will happily find archived versions in the Magazine section of the site, enhanced by the ability to leave comments and share select articles via social media sharing. [CNH]

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·https://www.ncwit.org

The National Center for Women & Information Technology seeks to "correct the imbalance of gender diversity in technology and computing" in order to "improve the design of products and services to better serve a more diverse population, and increase economic and social well-being by providing more women with stable and lucrative careers." There is plenty on the site to scout, including, under the Resources & Tools tab, sections on K-12 education, Higher Education, the Workforce, and other topics. The programs tab provides information about a number of programs around the country designed to diversify computer science. And, under the News & Events tab, besides the Press Room and Newsletters, there exists an excellent Blog that addresses topics such as how to increase male advocacy in gender diversity efforts and how how Latina talent is key to the future of the U.S. technology workforce. [CNH]

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·http://www.museum.state.il.us/RiverWeb/harvesting/index.html

This cooperative project by the Illinois State Museum, the Meredosia River Museum, and the Havana Public Library District provides an interactive look into the cultural and economic lives of the people who lived in the central Illinois River region between 1875 and 1950. All three sections of the site - Harvesting, Transportation, and History - are worth scouting. Under Harvesting, readers will find photographs and explanations of how local residents harvested ice, fish, mussels, and waterfowl from the river. The Transportation section includes insights into local experiences of different kinds of boats, roads, and railroads. Meanwhile, the History section provides enlightening narratives about the river and nearby settlements, including first-hand accounts of life in the region. [CNH]

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·https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/international-relations/building-of-the-berlin-wall/index.html

This report, published in conjunction with a 2011 symposium on the Berlin Wall, is the first of a three part history and covers the years 1945 to 1961. A joint project between the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Archives and Records Administration - National Declassification Center, the publication can be read in its entirety on this site. To understand the human impact of the "Iron Curtain," readers may like to start by reading "A Family Divided," where, in four photographs, a mother hands her young son over the barbed wire that would become the Berlin Wall, knowing that she might never see him again. Of special interest in the rest of the document are the four pages of historical maps depicting the dividing of Berlin, the excellent historical essays, and, perhaps especially, the nine pages of declassified documents that tell the story of the increasing East German regime's control of its population in real time. [CNH]

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·http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/index.aspx

The Scottish Register of Tartans website will be of interest to genealogists, textile aficionados, and history buffs in equal measure. This online database of tartan designs, established by the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008 and administered by the National Records of Scotland, is searchable by Tartan name, Designer, Registration Date, and Colours (as well a number of other more specialized apects, like threadcount). For those wishing to purchase lengths of their family tartan, the Scottish designers page lists current designers and weavers operating in Scotland, as well as a link to the STA (Scottish Tartan Authority) website. The History section defines tartan, cites sources from the National Records of Scotland, and relays interesting bits of history, such as the earliest mention of 'Highland tartan', 1538; or a Comic postcard dating from the 1920s, showing a young boy in a tartan kilt. [DS]

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·http://photopin.com/

For anyone who blogs or otherwise posts content on the web, one of the vexing tasks can be finding the perfect Creative Commons (CC) image to illustrate one's content. Enter PhotoPin. To use the service, start by entering a keyword into the search box. PhotoPin will then present all related, useable images from Flickr's collection. After reviewing the list, simply select "get photo" to download the photo and attribution link, and upload to your site or blog. For those interested in learning more about CC licensed photos, the FAQ offers a wealth of information. [CNH]

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·http://www.livetrekker.com

For short- and long-distance travellers, smart phones have become requisite. Readers can now add to the litany of conveniences LiveTrekker, an app that allows users to record and share their travels with the world. To use the app, select "Tracker," then "Start." LiveTrekker will then record your route on a GPS map. Meanwhile you can use the appropriate icons to take photos, record video and voice memos, or write comments along the way. When finished, select "Stop" and name the trip. From there, sharing to Facebook or other social media is as simple as touching another icon. [CNH]

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Stephen Hawking and Yuri Milner Announce $100M Initiative to Seek ET
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stephen-hawking-and-yuri-milner-announce-100m-initiative-to-seek-extraterrestrial-intelligence/

Read the Inspiring 'Questions of Existence' Letter from the World's Greatest Thinkers
http://time.com/3964301/breakthrough-listen-letter/

Drake equation: How many alien civilizations exist?
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120821-how-many-alien-worlds-exist

Stephen W. Hawking News
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/stephen_w_hawking/index.html

The Billionaire Who Friended the Web
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0328/billionaires-11-profile-yuri-milner-billionaire-friended-web.html

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: A Brief History
http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2008-06/et-phone-earth

The modern search for far away alien civilizations officially began in 1960, when astronomer Frank Drake used a 25-meter (85-foot) radio telescope to comb the skies for radio transmissions. Since then, funding for SETI - the Search for Extraterrestrial Life - has been, in turns, meager and sporadic. So when tech billionaire Yuri Milner and famed physicist Stephen Hawking announced this week that Milner's foundation would pour $100 million into SETI over the next ten years, alien enthusiasts around the world rejoiced. The dozens of scientists engaged in the effort, fittingly titles Breakthrough Listen, will allow for state-of-the-art radio and optical surveys, using many of the world's most powerful telescopes and advanced data analyses to finally attempt to answer one of life's most vexing questions: are we alone in the universe? [CNH]

The first link provides coverage of the recent announcement, including a short article from Scientific American and the full 90-minute webcast in which Milner and Hawking unveiled the good news. Next, readers may peruse the "Questions of Existence" letter, which makes a passionate case for SETI and is signed by Milner, Hawking, and over a dozen other dignitaries from the sciences and beyond. The third link takes readers to a BBC interactive graphic of Frank Drake's famous equation, in which he made the case for the possibility of numerous advanced alien civilizations. By making adjustments to such variables as the number of habitable planets or the number of new stars born each year, readers can figure out how many intelligent civilizations there could be in our universe. The fourth and fifth links fill out the picture on two of the major players in this new SETI effort, first with an aggregate of articles and links about Stephen Hawking, courtesy of the New York Times, and next with an excellent 2011 Forbes profile of Yuri Milner. The last link brings readers to a short history of the search for extraterrestrial life.