woodchurch science

here’s a few places you could look for resources concerning mary anning:
mary anning wikipedia page
mary anning google search
mary anning images
plesiosaur fossil images

here’s a picture from microsoft virtual earth looking directly into the cone of mount vesuvius. you can zoom in further here.

here you can see a stack of images from the last major eruption in 1944.

this downloadable pdf file takes the reader through contraction theories developed by edward suess and james dana in the 19th century, then into why these were rejected in the early 20th century; how alfred wegener put forward his theory of continental drift and its rejection by many, and finally to the development of plate tectonics. it is a story which shows that the development of scientific theories requires more than just evidence in their favour.

this website has been designed by moorland school in clitheroe, lancashire. it provides some evidence for plate tectonics, comment on alfred wegener’s idea of continental drift, and the earlier contraction theory. excellent animations and information support the topics of sea-floor spreading, subduction, and what convergent and divergent plate boundaries are and where they occur. link here

when the eruption of vesuvius started on the morning of 24 august, ad 79, it caught the local population utterly unprepared. at the same time, as we now know in retrospect, all the tell-tale signs were there to warn them. volcanologists of today constantly monitor any changes in levels of seismic activity from an observatory on vesuvius, because they know that the same increase of activity in the deep reservoir of magma (molten or partially molten rock beneath the earth’s surface) causes both earth tremors and volcanic eruptions. through measuring seismic activity, these scientists expect to predict an approaching eruption months in advance.

the casts that you see below were made by 20th century archaeologists of the people, frozen in their moments of death. they are a haunting reminder of what nature can do.




kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of science fiction feared by superman. a new mineral matching its unique chemistry has been identified in a mine in serbia. according to comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap superman’s powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals. however the real mineral is white and harmless. it’s not green and it doesn’t glow either!

you can read more about the discovery here and here.

visit the rio tinto website. what is most noticeable about their home page? what is the main story? visit their products page. they mine for many transition metals with many applications at various locations.

now visit the friends of the earth site. the friends of the earth are an environmental pressure group who are involved in various campaigns. their corporates page states that they are concerned about big business. why is this?

now revisit the rio tinto site. rio tinto refute the claims of environmentalists. their approach page says they are a ‘responsible’ company.

who do you trust? who can you trust? rio tinto or the friends of the earth?

these ancient buildings are made of limestone. why do you think the egyptians needed to build pyramids if they wanted to build high buildings?

see how versatile limestone can be. all of these beautiful buildings have been made from concrete and glass, both products of limestone.




take the tours - two to choose from. also visit the infobank and learn how distillation and cracking work.