Meet some interesting rocks. Learners discover information about the three types of rocks and different rocks that are within each group. They read imaginary interviews with six rocks as each rock tells the story of their formation and a...

Rocks and minerals are great on their own, but they also turn into some pretty amazing stuff! An online lesson explains the different types of materials we get from rocks and minerals, including glass, plastic, and coins. An embedded...

Learn all about meteorites with links to the latest meteorite news and articles.

View a lithograph set that includes pictures and brief descriptions of planets, sun, asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites. While viewing the lithograph learn important dates and interesting facts about our solar system.

Use this site to find out where falling stars come from. Audio content included. Vocabulary words linked to a glossary of terms. Printable version available.

Search the database of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History for gems & minerals, meteorites with images, or petrology & volcanology.

The first meteorite fossil discovered in this period when tests can be run on it, was found at Chicxulub in Northeastern Yucatan, Mexico. Scientists believe it is part of the meteorite which made the dinosaurs extinct.

An overview of Walter and Luis Alverez's theory that a large meteorite crashed into earth causing huge tidal waves, showers of ash, and an enormous dust cloud.

"The survivals and extinctions at the close of the Cretaceous are such as might be expected to result from intensely hot winds such as would be generated by extra large meteoritic impacts." This article suggests that this theory should...

Useful interface and gateway into the research collections of the Department of Mineral Sciences at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Find information, image galleries, exhibits, specimens, and related resources about...

The civil engineering department presents the physics of a tsunami. The topics addressed: what does "tsunami" mean; how do tsunamis differ from other water waves; how do earthquakes generate tsunamis; how do landslides, volcanic...

A searchable database of minerals and gems. Search by keyword or pre-defined characteristics. A Help section is available as well for aid in searching.

This article, reprinted from the fall 1979 LBL News Magazine, was written about Dr. Luis Alvarez and his part in the study of geological sediments and the great extinctions.

MarsToday.com provides a collection of sites related to the planet Mars. Not your dad's "Whole Earth Catalog" since it's missing all of the advertising and humor. Latest news, basic planetary facts, and historic missions to Mars.

Contains a small set of images of solar system objects and a series of links to information about all solar system objects. Solar System Tours link to excellent image collections.

The origin of the Barringer Meteorite Crater was the basis for heated debate. Learn how the scientific community eventually accepted the impact theory of the crater's origin. Check out this website to view slideshows and history.

A detailed overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in the solar system.

StarChild from NASA defines and describes the Solar System in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. The website is broken down into two versions for the student, grade school and junior high.

This is a list of links to online resources related to the study of the planets. It has a literary theme associated with the Lewis Carrol poem "The Hunting of the Snark" with many quotes from literature and science. Navigation tools...

In this site you will find several topics such as steel and earthquakes, steel production, microorganism and minerals and microgravity.

"One of the great mysteries in science is the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic Era some 65 million years ago. Who (or more likely what) caused it is unknown and a subject of great debate." Many theories are touched...

Understand the differences between rocks and minerals and identify types of each.

Get to know your next door neighbor in space. An introduction to Mars, the Red Planet. Vocabulary words linked to glossary of terms. Printable version available.

Provides good information about Mercury and is a good starting point for information about the planet along with pictures and audio. Links to a simple fact table, puzzle, glossary, and more detailed information.