Have your kids explored Zooniverse yet? This amazing Citizen Science site asks participants to help research subjects as diverse as finding planets, mapping tropical cyclones, hearing whales communicate, exploring ancient Greek artifacts and analyzing real cancer data, plus lots more.
The free website relies on participants to help real scientists with their research in fields of astronomy, ecology and medical science, among others.
Zooniverse explains:
The Zooniverse began with a single project, Galaxy Zoo , which was launched in July 2007. The Galaxy Zoo team had expected a fairly quiet life, but were overwhelmed and overawed by the response to the project. Once they'd recovered from their server buckling under the strain, they set about planning the future!
Galaxy Zoo was important because not only was it incredibly popular, but it produced many unique scientific results, ranging from individual, serendipitous discoveries to those using classifications that depend on the input of everyone who's visited the site. This commitment to producing real research - so that you know that we're not wasting your time - is at the heart of everything we do.
The current projects include:
Galaxy Zoo:
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope archive provides hundreds of thousands of galaxy images.
Moon Zoo:
Explore the surface of the Moon
We hope to study the lunar surface in unprecedented detail.
Solar Stormwatch:
Explore interactive diagrams to learn out about the Sun and the spacecraft monitoring it.
Planet Hunters:
Lightcurve changes from the Kepler spacecraft can indicate transiting planets.
The Milky Way Project:
We're asking you to help us find and draw circles on infrared image data from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Planet Four:
Planetary scientists need your help to discover what the weather is like on Mars.
Old Weather:
Model Earth's climate using wartime ship logs
Help scientists recover worldwide weather observations made by Royal Navy ships.
Cyclone Center:
Classify over 30 years of tropical cyclone data.
Scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center need your help.
Ancient Lives:
Study the lives of ancient Greeks
The data gathered by Ancient Lives helps scholars study the Oxyrhynchus collection.
Whale FM:
You can help marine researchers understand what whales are saying.
Seafloor Explorer:
The HabCam team and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution need your help!
Bat Detective:
You're hot on the trail of bats!
Help scientists characterize bat calls recorded by citizen scientists.
Notes from Nature:
Transcribe museum records to take notes from nature, contribute to science.
Cell Slider:
Analyse real life cancer data.
You can help scientists from the world's largest cancer research institution find cures for cancer.
This is a great way to supplement your child's science studies and help real scientists.
Have fun!
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