http://www.robothalloffame.org/

The School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University's Robot Hall of Fame honors "landmark achievements in robotics technology and the increasing contributions of robots to human endeavors." The website groups robots into two categories: Robots from Science and Robots from Science Fiction. Robots from Science includes "real robots that have served useful or potentially useful functions and demonstrated unique skills in accomplishing the purpose for which they were created." The Robots from Science Fiction, which are fictional robots, are honored for the inspiration they have provided and for helping "form our opinions about the functions and values of real robots." The Inductees honored for 2004 include ASIMO, Shakey, ASTRO BOY, Robby, the Robot, and C-3PO. A separate page is dedicated to each Inductee, where visitors will find an overview of the robot, video footage or photos, and other information. The Jury, which selects the robots each year, is made up of international scholars, researchers, writers, and designers. The website also includes a running list of nominations and invites others to include their own nominations. [VF]

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Rainer_Wuerlaender/statquot.htm#intro

This webpage, produced by a statistical consultant and IT manager in Germany, offers a collection of quotations and jokes on statistics. The sections include: citations on statistics by statisticians, remarks or "comments to think over," and jokes. Links to similar websites with quotes and jokes on statistics are also provided. [VF]

http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/200/202/lc1136k.htm

This website from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides information on the metric system and useful conversions to know when cooking. A printer-friendly version of the website can serve as a poster with handy conversions to keep in your kitchen. The Capsule History section provides an overview of America's metric history and the slow process of "metrication." Also provided here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the metric system and All You Will Need to Know About Metric (For Your Everyday Life). Other helpful Metric Conversion Cards are also posted. [VF]

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/10.2004.2.html

This article from the USGS highlights current research by USGS scientists and colleagues at the Southern California Earthquake Center using Global Positioning System technology to "track minute changes in the Earth's surface around Los Angeles and assess the risk of future earthquakes." The research is based out of the Image of PKRD station and is part of the Southern California Integrated GPS Network, which "watches over the city day and night." Using GPS technology, the station is are monitoring earthquake hazards in urban areas such as Los Angeles and along the San Andreas Fault System. From this website, visitors can view a picture of the PKRD station and read more about the research and an overview of Earthquake Research in the Satellite Age. [VF]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4111253

This article and audio file from National Public Radio highlights the work of Manjul Bhargava, a professor at Princeton University. He is an expert in number theory and "a master of the tabla, a small Indian hand drum used to create music with rhythmic, precise patterns." In this article, Bhargava describes the mathematical and improvisational aspects of classical Indian music. The article is part of a Morning Edition series exploring the intersection of art and science. An audio file lets visitors listen to Bhargava playing the tabla. [VF]

http://www.eurekalert.org/context.php?context=nano

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) created EurekAlert! to serve as an online press service to distribute science-related news to reporters and news media. The In Context section highlights a particular area of science, which in this case is nanotechnology. The website offers an overview of nanotechnology and posts several research papers, news releases, essays, background articles, a calendar of upcoming meetings, a glossary of terms and links to other related online resources. [VF]

http://www.fuelcells.org/info/maps.html#company

Fuel Cells 2000, an organization dedicated to informing the public about fuel cells, offers this website with an interactive map listing companies and research organizations connected with the U.S. fuel cell industry. A second map shows U.S. Fuel Cell Installations and Vehicle Demonstrations. Links to the organizations' websites make this an easy-to-use resource for finding out more about fuel cells and looking up local demonstrations. Visitors can also download a full directory of nearly 1000 fuel-cell related companies and organizations and a chart showing fuel cell installations worldwide. (Unfortunately, many of the other links on this website were not working at the time of this writing.) [VF]

Fractal Music
http://www.gwfa.de/fractal/m.html
and Fractal Music Lab [Java]
http://www.fractalmusiclab.com

This first website offers a collection of fractal music using images created by G.W.F. Albrecht. The technology and mathematics which this presentation draws on is described on the second website. The second website, developed by David Strohbeen, offers some basic information about fractals and fractal music. He has also posted some samples of his music and invites visitors to download software for creating fractal music and to submit their own compositions.
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