Posts Tagged ‘science’

For anyone who ever dreamed of being an astrologer, The Zooniverse is the internet’s largest, most popular and most successful citizen science projects.

The Zooniverse began with a single project- Galaxy Zoo. It was launched in July 2007. The Galaxy Zoo team expected a fairly quiet life, but were overwhelmed by the response to the project! Once they’d recovered from their server buckling under the strain, they set about planning the future!

Produced, maintained and developed by the Citizen Science Alliance, and working with many academic and other partners around the world, the site’s goal is to produce projects that use the efforts and ability of volunteers to help scientists and researchers deal with the flood of data that confronts them.

The registration is free. You sign up, add an avatar which you can create, and add a profile. There are many projects to help with, and plenty more are on the way. If you’re new to the Zooniverse, it is suggested you pick a project and dive in! Your account will get you into all of our projects, and you can keep track of what you’ve contributed by watching ‘My Zooniverse’.

Current projects include Galaxy Zoo, Solar Storm-watch, and The Hunt for the Supernovae!

Galaxy Zoo was important because not only was it incredibly popular, but it produced many unique scientific results, ranging from individual discoveries to those using classifications that depend on the input of everyone who’s visited the site. This commitment to producing real research is at the heart of everything they do.

Maybe you cannot boldly go aboard your favorite starship, but you can search the stars like the pros!

Scientists have shown off an effect not unlike that of the “phasers” in the show Star Trek – but- hold yer tricorder there, Trekfan! it only works on tiny worms called nematodes.

The worms were fed a molecule that, when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, changes its shape. Then they exposed to UV light, and they exhibited paralysis.

When the worms were again exposed to visible light, they regained their ability to move.

So, no handheld phasers yet, but maybe someday…

Meanwhile, keep practicing that Vulcan neck pinch there, sport!

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