Science

Looking for reading suggestions?

Books featured in our latest Nature & Science newsletter


Related Programs

We offer related programs to Science such as lectures and workshops. View them here.

Magazine, Newspaper, Encyclopedia & Journal Articles

Use Information Databases to search thousands of current and expert articles on your topic at one time.

Government Documents

In the Government Documents section on the 2nd Floor of the Central branch library, you will find a wealth of federal and provincial information to meet your science research needs.  A sample includes:

More government information is available online

Anatomy

Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?

Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of medicine and surgery

Know your body : the atlas of anatomy

World Book Encyclopedia Online: search for "anatomy"
 

Searching for Books? book cover image

Books about human anatomy

Books about comparative anatomy

Be specific in your search! The catalogue has books to borrow on the following topics, and more: Human anatomy, Comparative anatomy, Artistic anatomy, Anatomy of the Hand, of Horses, of Muscles, and so on.


Searching for Audiovisual material?

Incredible human machine, National Geographic, 2007

Understanding the human body: an introduction to anatomy and physiology, 2004

Body atlas. Muscle and bone. Breath of life, Discovery Communications, 2002
 

Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?

Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.

Health Reference Center Academicdatabase logo

  • Type in Human Anatomy and choose subject then search
  • The academic journals and magazines tabs above your results display articles. For encyclopedia entries, click on the books tab.

Science Resource Centre

  • Select Anatomy from the topic list on the home page.
     

See all Information Databases.

What are Information Databases?
 

Recommended Websites

Human Anatomy Online
By Intellimed International Corporation, this is on Popular Science’s “Best 50 of the Web” list.

An Online Examination of Human Anatomy and Physiology
The creator of this site has taught these subjects for many years. It provides a useful interactive visual tool and is constantly being expanded. Flash required.

Le Cerveau, à tous les Niveaux – The Brain from Top to Bottom
A bilingual site delivered also at three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

How Stuff Works: the Body Channel
 “How Stuff Works”, a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Communications, has been one of PC Magazine's "Top 100 Web Sites" four times, including in 2007.
 

Animals

In My Community

Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
Site of the Authority including the municipality of London. Provides information on local areas of environmental significance, rehabilitation projects, and describes the management, history, geology, plants and wildlife of London and region's natural areas. Lists volunteer and employment opportunities.

McIlwraith Field Naturalists
The McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London Ontario was established in 1864, and later renamed in honour of a pioneer Canadian ornithologist Thomas McIlwraith. MFN's Conservation committee undertakes a variety of projects to promote environmental awareness, enhance habitat and protect natural areas. The club owns an 11-hectare nature reserve near Delaware. MFN members participate in the Christmas Bird Count, the annual Butterfly Census and other initiatives which encourage the study of local natural history.

Websites

Amphibia Web
AmphibiaWeb is an online database that allows free access to information on amphibian biology and conservation for every recognized species of amphibian in the world. Includes species descriptions, photos, range maps, life history information, conservation status, and literature references.

Animal Diversity Web 
Extensive, searchable database of thousands of creatures. Pictures included, and sound clips of birds.

ARKive
ARKive is a centralized digital library of films, photographs and associated recordings of endangered species from around the world. A British site.

Biodiversity and Conservation: the Web of Life
Explore the basics of biological diversity with this website from Chicago's Field Museum through meeting its scientists who work around the globe.

Bird Studies Canada
Bird Studies Canada our national bird conservation organization, with a mission to advance and encourage the wider understanding, appreciation and conservation of wild birds and their habitat.

BugBios: shameless promotion of insect appreciation 
A great portal for online insect information. Provides categorized and reviewed web links, insect photographs and information. Also discusses the impact of insects on human culture.

BugGuide.Net
An online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information. An excellent resource!

Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network 
Devoted to conserving Canada's native species of amphibians and reptiles. A great resource for identifying and learning about Canadian frogs, snakes, salamanders, turtles, newts and lizards.

Canadian Peregrine Foundation
Home page of charitable group dedicated to the conservation and recovery of endangered and threatened raptors in Canada. Includes live peregrine nest webcams, peregrine biology information, and migration research.

Canadian Species at Risk
Environment Canada site giving up-to-date information on species at risk in Canada. Search using map or by species.

Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is dedicated to fostering awareness and enjoyment of our natural world. Programs include education about sustainable use, sponsoring wildlife research and lobbying for legistlative change to protect wild species and spaces.

Digital Dragonflies
Digital photographs of North American dragonflies, flatbed scans of specimens and imaging tips from entomologists at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Digital Morphology 
The Digital Morphology library is a dynamic archive of high-resolution X-ray computed tomographs of biological specimens. Browse through the site and see unique 2D and 3D images, animations and details on the morphology of many different animals. Entries for many species also feature evolutionary, ecological and natural history information.

Electronic Zoo 
Comprehensive. Links to sites related to animals, but not just those in a zoo.

IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species 
Identifies species in need of conservation attention and at risk of global extinction.

The Butterfly Conservancy
An excellent introduction to the world of butterflies from the American Museum of Natural History. Includes anatomy, metamorphosis, defense, evolution, ecology and conservation. Also features tips on butterfly gardening including lists of good nectar plants.

Astronomy

book coverAt the Library

Books of astronomical tables

Guides to the stars and planets

In My Community

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - London Centre
Amateur Astronomy Club based in London, Ontario.

Websites

 Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards
From NASA's Ames Research Center, this site details the possibility and effects of a comet or asteroid hitting the Earth. Includes news, images, and a catalogue of near-Earth objects.

Astronomy Today
Astronomy news and information site from the UK. Presents articles on astronomy, cosmology, and space exploration. Also includes astronomy definitions and a monthly guide to the nothern hemisphere night sky.

Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute 
" Advancing the art, science, engineering and application of aeronautics and space in Canada". Links to many aeronautic and space sites.

Canadian Space Agency
Canadian space milestones, space program qualifications, Kidspace and much more.

Cool Cosmos
Learn about infrared light and how astronomers are using light outside of the visible spectrum to view the universe with Multiwavelength Astronomy. See how astronomical objects would look if your eyes could see beyond the narrow visible wavelength range. Also features very interesting infrared photos and videos of the objects and animals in the world around us.

HubbleSite
News, discoveries, facts and an extensive gallery of images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Imagine the Universe
Aimed at those 14 years of age and above, this site from NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center is an excellent resource for finding out about our universe. It features the latest space news, scientist biographies and both basic and advanced explanations of everything astronomical from the basics of light to black holes.

Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Find the latest on NASA's "Spirit" and "Discovery" Rovers. Features the latest Mars news and photographs as well as animations of how the rovers travelled to Mars, landed and will perform their explorations.

NASA Homepage
Get the latest NASA news, shuttle mission dates (past and present), biographical information on astronauts, research programs, movie gallery, exhibits.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JPL undertakes the robotic exploration of the solar system for NASA. Their homepage includes descriptions of current and past missions as well as outstanding information and visuals about the sun, planets, moons and other astronomical bodies.

NASA Space Science
Wondering about Hubble, Stardus, or Voyager? Click on "Missions" to obtain data for current, upcoming and past NASA missions to space.

National Air and Space Museum
Take a tour of the fascinating Smithsonian Museum. Various galleries allow you to explore the history of flight; look at the future of space.

National Maritime Museum 
A series of educational "fact files" from the UK's National Maritime Museum on a wide range of astronomical and cosmological topics including "astronomical instruments", "comets, meteors and asteroids" and "space exploration". Click on "Learning" and then "Fact Files".

Planetary Society
The Planetary Society was founded in 1980 by astronomer Carl Sagan to encourage exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life. The society's website has become a valuable source of news and information related to space exploration.

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Dedicated to the Advancement of Astronomy and Allied Sciences.

Sky & Telescope Online
The electronic companion to the popular UK astronomy magazine. Provides current information about space research, development and news. Also includes a searchable index to past issues.

Space Today Online
An online magazine offering news and information on space and space exploration.

Spaceweather.com
News and information about the Sun-Earth environment including discussions of solar flares, solar wind, sunspots, coronal holes, near-earth asteroids and more "spaceweather" phenomena.

Views of the Solar System
Images, descriptions and animations of the Sun, planets, moons, and asteroids. Also covers rocketry, comets, the history of space exploration, and space missions.

Biology

In My Community

McIlwraith Field Naturalists
Over 125 years old, this local organization promotes environmental awareness, enhances habitat and protects natural areas.  Members can participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count or the Butterfly Census, among other activities.

ReForest London
An invitation to all Londoners to join in improving London's environmental health by planting trees in our community - along streets, in backyards, and in parks and natural areas.

Websites

Action Bioscience
Examines bioscience issues in biodiversity, environment, genomics, biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers in the sciences, and education. Includes peer-reviewed articles, class lessons, and educator resources. Some articles are available in Spanish.

Becoming Human
Explore four million years of human evolution with paleoanthroplogy expert Donald Johanson on this interactive multimedia website.

BiologyBrowser
A portal to quality online life sciences information. Searchable by organism, region or subject. Also features biology news.

Cells Alive
Cells Alive is a library of biological images and video clips which showcases a diversity of cells and microscopic organisms and their importance to human life. A useful website for learning the basics of cell biology, microbiology and immunology.

Digital Morphology
The Digital Morphology library is a dynamic archive of high-resolution X-ray computed tomographs of biological specimens. Browse through the site and see unique 2D and 3D images, animations and details on the morphology of many different animals. Entries for many species also feature evolutionary, ecological and natural history information.

Genome News Network
A biweekly online magazine that focuses on news and feature stories about medicine, agriculture, microbes, and biotechnology. GNN also publishes special features such as relevant Book Reviews, a gallery of genomics-related art, and "A Quick Guide to Sequenced Genomes."

The Biology Project
This excellent site from the University of Arizona, billed as "an online interactive resource for learning biology", provides clear descriptions of basic biology concepts including biochemistry, genetics, cellular and molecular biology, human development and immunology. Highly recommended.

The Genomic Revolution
Genomics - the study of genes and their function - is a rapidly growing field of study. This online exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History details how expanding genomic knowledge will change our world in the near future. Also includes a history and timeline of DNA discoveries, human genetic identity, how genes work, and DNA evidence.

 

Chemistry & Physics

book coverAt the Library

Books on chemical elements

Websites

Causes of Color
Why is the sky blue? Find out the answer to this and more on this site. An excellent discussion of the many aspects of colour including the basics of light, how the eye sees, iridescence, aurorae, colour blindness and what animals see.

Chemi Cool
This site has the periodical table of elements, a chemistry dictionary, Chemistry tools and other resources.

ChemSpy.com
Need data on a certain chemical? Though designed as a navigation tool for the chemical industry, this site is a useful place to visit if you need any kind of chemical information. The site brings together a wide range of search tools that can help you track down information about virtually any chemical compound. Users are able to obtain toxicity, structural, medical and manufacturer information all from a single easy-to-use search box.

Cool Cosmos
Learn about the properites of light and how astronomers are using light outside of the visible spectrum to view the universe with Multiwavelength Astronomy. See how astronomical objects would look if your eyes could see beyond the narrow visible wavelength range. Also features very interesting infrared photos and videos of the objects and animals in the world around us.

Einstein
From the American Museum of Natural History, this online exhibit invites you to view the world through Einstein's eyes. Features biographical information, a discussion of his theories on light, time and energy, as well as his cultural and scientific legacy.

MolecularUniverse
Molecular Universe is a great website that aims to provide accessible information on molecules, molecular systems and materials science. Features images showing the inner structure of plastics, metals, minerals, enzymes, viruses and medicines in straightforward language. Includes an index for those seeking more information on a specific molecular topic.

Nobelprize.org
The website for the Nobel Prize features an enormous amount of information on past and present Nobel Laureates - press releases, biographies, Nobel lectures, interviews, and more. Click on "Physics" or "Chemistry" on the top menu.

Physics Classroom
A tutorial intended for secondary school students, the Physics Classroom is an excellent multimedia resource that teaches and illustrates basic physics concepts.

Purplemath: algebra
An extensive collection of lessons for those starting algebra to those learning advanced algebra. Lessons are organized by topic.

WebElements
Periodic Table of the Elements with information on history, uses and other key data.

Podcasts

Podcasts are simply an audio file. You can visit these sites and click on a link to listen to the recording right on your computer or you can download it to your portable listening device, such as an iPod or a MP3 player. If you really enjoy the recording, you can subscribe to the podcast via their website so that every time they add a new broadcast it is placed on your listening device using your computer. These sites provide more information on how to subscribe.

Quirks and Quarks
This popular CBC radio show with Bob MacDonald investigates recent and emerging information about science from the smallest particle to the largest entity.

Earth Sciences & Weather

Science

Choose a Topic

Anatomy
Animals
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry & Physics
Earth Sciences & Weather
Inventions & Inventors
Mathematics
Paleontology
Plants

 

Earth Sciences & Weather

book coverAt the Library

Books about violent storms

Websites

David Suzuki Foundation
Click on "Solving Global Warming" for an excellent introductory discussion on the topic.

Earth Science World
This site, produced by the American Geological Institute, provides geological-related news, statistical information on natural resources and details of recent seismological events. Also features an interactive geological time-scale and an image bank of high-quality, free geoscience photographs for the public.

EarthNet
A great Canadian educational website packed with teaching resources, activities and a range of earth science information from plate tectonics and climate change to glaciers, mining and volcanoes. Also includes biographies of famous Canadian geoscientists, an animated interactive glossary, and a "virtual field trip" to some of Canada's geological sites.

Enivronment Canada's Green Lane
Environment Canada's online resource for weather and environmental information. "Weather Office" provides the lastest conditions, while "EnviroZine" is an electronic newsmagazine discussing climate issues.

Geologic Hazards
From the United States Geological Survey, this website provides information, interactive maps and images about the causes of geological occurences with a focus on earthquakes, geomagnetism and landslides.

Geotimes
An earth science news magazine from the American Geological Institute. Provides news, archived articles arranged by topic, careers advice, environmental information, and materials concerning government affairs.

Global Warming: Early Warning Signs
"An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system." This well-referenced site documents over 150 world-wide indicators.

Mindat.org Mineral Database
The largest mineral database on the internet, featuring photographs and chemical information for more than 25,000 minerals, varieties and synonyms from over 37,000 locations worldwide.

Mineralogy Database
Features mineral physical, elemental and optical properties and pictures, a mineralogical glossary and a discussion on crystallography.

NASA Earth Observatory
NASA's Earth Observatory aims to provide the public with freely-accessible satellite imagery and scientific data about our planet. Focusing primarily on climate and environmental change, this site offers data, multimedia features, reference material and articles about the atmosophere, oceans, land, heat and energy, life on Earth, and remote sensing.

NASA's Visible Earth
A searchable directory of images, visualizations and animations of the Earth arranged by category and extensively searchable.

The Nature of Diamonds
What is a diamond? Find out with this online exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History. Features origins, mining, and uses of the world's most famous gemstone.

WorldBiomes.com
Information on aquatic, desert, tundra, grassland, and forest biomes. Also offers recommended reads, biome maps, images news and related websites.

Inventions & Inventors

Websites

Edison Invents!
Learn more about Thomas Edison and his inventions, and find out how to make your own light bulb.

Friends of the Hunley
Learn about the evolution, design and history of the Hunley, the first submarine to ever sink another warship.

Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century
This site is a listing of the 20 most important technological achievements of the 1900s, as chosen by the United States National Academy of Engineering. Each of the entries receives a written history and a selected timeline of major contributing achievements the century.I

nventor's Guide
Western Economic Diversification Canada's website: Are you re-inventing the wheel? Here are some tips to help you find out what's currently on the market and whether your idea is original and/or commercially viable.

Inventure Place : National Inventors Hall of Fame
Index of inventions and inventors established by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Made in Canada: Patents of Invention and the story of Canadian Innovation
Library and Archives Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, presents Made in Canada: Patents of Invention and the Story of Canadian Innovation. This website offers a view into the Canadian patent system, its processes and its background.

Project Ornithopter
An ornithopter is an aircraft that derives its thrust and lift from mechanical flapping wings. First envisioned by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1490 this design has been made functional by by a team from the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies. The development of this unusual aircraft is covered on this site.

The Quartz Watch
In 1927, Canadian engineer Warren Morrison invented the quartz clock and revolutionized the way time was kept. This site, from the Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center, tracks the development of this technology that most people now take for granted.

Podcasts

Podcasts are simply an audio file. You can visit these sites and click on a link to listen to the recording right on your computer or you can download it to your portable listening device, such as an iPod or a MP3 player. If you really enjoy the recording, you can subscribe to the podcast via their website so that every time they add a new broadcast it is placed on your listening device using your computer. These sites provide more information on how to subscribe.

Ideas: how to think about Science
Produced by CBC radio, this podcasts features interviews with scientists, philosophers, historians and sociologists about "how the institution of science is structured". A fascinating journey into the history of science and current consideration of what science is and the role it plays.

Mathematics

book coverAt the Library

Books for math review 

Websites

Ask Dr. Math
If you have a math question, this is a good place to start. Click on "Ask Dr. Math" under "Student Center".

Calculator Home Page
The Calculator Home Page is a collection of resources related to calculators. The link "units conversion and constants database" provides conversions and constants for a wide variety of physical properties. Also features "Online Calc", a calculator designed to run directly in your web browser, without the need to download software.

Calculus.org: The Calculus Page
Resources for calculus students including online tutorials, explanations of concepts, sample problems and exams, and material on the history of calculus. Secondary school level and above.

Mathematical Atlas: A Gateway to Modern Mathematics
This website is a collection of short articles designed to introduce users to the areas of modern mathematics and pointers to further information. Information can be browsed by subject, searched by keyword, or found via a "MathMap" which arranges the subdisciplines of mathematics by their degree of relatedness. Secondary school to postsecondary level.