This Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) activity explores the controversy over whether or not there is life on Mars. Part of the Mysteries of Deep Space Program that originally aired in April 1997, the activity includes instructional objectives, background information, and discussion/essay questions related to life on Mars. It also features an activity where students can grow microorganisms, examine them under a microscope, and analyze their observations with the aid of follow-up questions.

This educational web site features life forms of deep sea hydrothermal systems. Hosted by the American Museum of Natural History, this site offers a brief introduction of the community and then focuses on Vestimentiferan tube worms, Vescomyid clams, and Bathymodiolid mussels. The site includes interactive games, teacher resources, a glossary, and more.

This Ohio Sea Grant website features a WebQuest-like activity that explores the development of a dead zone, an oxygen-deprived area where there is no life, in Lake Erie. The activity aims to teach students about the processes that contribute to the development of the dead zones in Lake Erie and examine a decision making process to determine how to treat or cure the dead zone. Links to a teacher page (with a lesson plan and resources) and student page (with references and instructions) are included.

This EPA website provides general information about dissolved oxygen, including what it is, sampling and equipment considerations, and sampling and analysis protocols. The site also features a chart of dissolved oxygen solubility as a function of temperature.

This NASA website provides a summary of a study led by NASA's David McKay that may provide evidence for past life on Mars. McKay and his team found carbonate globule features on the ALH84001 meteorite that appear to be nanofossils. In addition, secondary mineral phases and hydrocarbons provide further evidence for past life. The website features color photographs as well as links to related web pages.

This is the expedition page of the 2002 Mission to the Abyss. Developed by the University of Delaware Graduate College of Marine Studies, the site highlights the mission and crew, seafloor geology, creature features, and high-tech tools used in the study. This interactive website allows students to explore the submersible Alvin, find out how hydrothermal vents form, define the deep ocean, study plate tectonics, and meet hydrothermal vent organisms. The site includes extreme experiments, including: compression of a fluid vs. a gas, rising under pressure, my cup shrinks, soda squeeze, and plant pressure.

This Yellowstone National Park web site is dedicated to Lower Geyser Basin. It includes images and descriptions of Queen's Laundry and Sentinel Meadows, Sentinel Cone, Ojo Caliente, Pocket Basin Mud Pots, Imperial Geyser, Spray Geyser, Octopus Spring, Great Fountain Geyser, White Dome Geyser, Pink Cone Geyser, Bead Geyser, Narcissus Geyser, Steady Geyser, Silex Spring, Fountain Paint Pot, Fountain Geyser, Clepsydra Geyser, and Jelly Geyser.

This is an on-line prototype for a book aimed at teaching kids the effects of acid mine drainage on our environment through experimentation and observation. Experiments introduce litmus paper, pH testing, neutralization, identification of aquatic organisms and their use as water quality indicators, acid mine drainage, organisms in acidic environments (including plants, bacteria, and algae), oxidation-reduction reactions, the manganese cycle, the water cycle, and treatments for acid mine drainage. The entire document is also available in a downloadable Adobe PDF format.

The extreme environments of the thermal areas of Yellowstone are rich in microorganisms. These tiny life forms, existing in complex ecosystems, offer scientists clues to the origin of life on our planet. This electronic field trip allows students to explore the dangers and wonders of the hidden worlds of Yellowstone's hot colors.

This PBS documentary provides an overview of the microbial world and offers an exciting glimpse into the field of microbiology. Meet scientists from around the world investigating the microbial world in diverse locations, from a termite's stomach to a hospital operating room to an African village, and even outer space. These programs - including The Tree of Life, Keepers of the Biosphere, Dangerous Friends and Friendly Enemies, and Creators of the Future - increase the microbial literacy of students, the general public, and biotechnology workers. The site also contains an interactive Game of Life, classroom resources for grades K-12, and information about the companion book published by ASM Press.

This is a companion website to a NOVA television series investigating strange life-forms found in toxic caverns. The program reviews the traditional theory of cave formation; introduces new theories of microbial sulfuric acid production; examines the role of oil-feeding microbes in dissolving limestone; presents the discovery of microbes in caves that live solely on chemical nutrients; and reviews other extreme environments. The site offers an interview with a microbiologist, an essay by a caver, a slide show of decorated caves, a teacher's guide including the classroom activity entitled "Microbial Townhouse," and interactive animation about cave formation.

This National Climate Data Center collection features links to climate data derived from ocean records. These include CLIMAP (sea surface temperature reconstructions), SPECMAP (a reconstruction based on planktonic counts and isotopic values and age and sea surface temperature models), Relative sea level, Calcium carbonate, and Foraminifera (shelled marine microorganisms) data proxies.

This collection of images highlights the Rio Tinto area of Spain, specifically where the NASA Mars Analog Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE) took place. The site includes links to related news releases.

This activity website, hosted by the National Health Museum Activities Exchange, explores protein purification using ion chromatography. Students will separate a positively charged lysozyme from a negatively charged albumin at a neutral pH using ion exchange chromatography. The site includes information for the teacher, instructions and follow-up questions for students, and a list of supplies.

This Science Junction website features general information and three lesson plans about dissolved oxygen geared toward middle and high school students. Lessons cover topics such as what dissolved oxygen is, why it is important, and how decomposition of organic material affects dissolved oxygen. The third lesson includes an activity in which students are instructed to design an experiment to test effects of changes in dissolved oxygen concentration. The lessons meet several National Science Education Standards, Delaware science standards, and North Carolina competency goals.