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Science
Online
Help Page
Science Online is a complete reference database containing thousands of entries covering animal anatomy, anthropology and archaeology, astronomy and space technology, atomic physics, biochemistry, biology, botany, chemistry, computer science, earth science, environmental science, general science, genetics, health and medicine, human anatomy and physiology, marine science, physics, and weather and climate. These Diagrams, Definitions, Biographies, Essays, and Experiments are cross-referenced through hyperlinks and are searchable by keyword, topic, and year. In addition, the site includes a Timeline dating from the big bang to the present. Science Online is an indispensable resource for students, teachers, and librarians.
Please select the area in which you need help or more information:
Users of Science Online must have an Internet-accessible computer running Explorer 5 or higher or Netscape 4.74 or higher for PCs, or, for the Macintosh, Netscape Navigator 4.7 or higher or Explorer 5.1 or higher.
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On the main page of Science Online you will see a left menu. This is the main navigational tool of the database and is present on every page of the website. No matter where you are in the database, you can start a new search by clicking on a link from the left menu.
To browse entries in any section of the database, click a link in the left menu; then select a specific subject from the menus to the right. To locate a specific entry, enter a term or phrase in the search box. Check the boxes below the search box to narrow your search or select Advanced Search from this menu for more options.
For more information, view the help section on Searching.
There are also several buttons in the upper right corner of the Science Online window. To return to these instructions, click Help at any time; or click Home to return to the main page of Science Online. The Available Databases link in the title bar will return you to the Facts On File Reference Database Center, where you may select from among the available databases.
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Printing Biographies, Definitions, and Essays:
To view a version of an entry that is formatted for printing, click the Printable Page link that appears at the top of the page in all biographies, definitions, and essays. Once this page has loaded in a new window, simply use the print command of your Internet browser to print the page.
Printing Diagrams:
Diagrams can be printed and saved using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click on the Printable PDF Page link at the top of a diagram page to open that diagram in PDF format.
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Emailing Entries:
To email a database entry to yourself or to a research partner, click the Email Page link that appears at the top of the page in all biographies, definitions, essays, diagrams, and experiments. Use the pop-up window to enter the email address to which you would like to send the page, and click Send.
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General Information:
The Science Online folder allows users to store their research in one central location for later access. Important database entries or interesting photos can be archived until needed, then reviewed, printed, or emailed when the user is ready. Because the folders are stored online, users must first create an account to begin using their folder. Thereafter, a user must log in to view or access the folder. Both steps can be accomplished via the View Folder button on the right side of the Science Online title bar.
Once you have established an account and logged in, pages can be added to your folder for later reference. Simply click the Add to Folder link at the top of the page you want to add. If you haven't logged in yet, a pop-up window will inform you that you need to log in. Log in and try again. If you have already added pages to the folder, you can view them by clicking the View Folder button on the right side of the Science Online title bar. A dialogue box will prompt you to log in. Enter your log-in name (your email address) and password.
To view a page you have saved in the folder, simply click the title of the page in the folder. You may then print or email the page. To delete a page you no longer need, click its check box and click Delete Checked. This action will apply to all checked records and cannot be undone.
When you are done using the folder, simply log out via the link in the upper right corner of the screen.
How to Get a Password:
Obtaining a password to access your folder is very easy. All that is required is a valid email address.
First click the View Folder button in the upper right corner of the window. This will open the folder log-in window. In the lower left corner of the log-in box is a link to create a new account. Enter your email address, desired password, and first and last names in the appropriate boxes, then click Create New User ID to finish the process.
Your user ID will be your email address, and you can start using your folder as soon as you complete the registration process.
How to Log In:
First click the View Folder button in the upper right corner of the screen. This will open the folder log-in window.
Enter your user ID (your email address) and password in the appropriate fields, then click Log In.
What to Do If You Forget Your Password:
If you need help recovering your password, first click the View Folder button in the upper right corner of the screen. This will open the folder log-in window. To recover your password, click the Forgot your password? link in the lower left corner of the log-in box.
A new dialog box will prompt you to enter your email address. After doing so, click the Send me a reminder button at the bottom of the dialog box. A password reminder will be sent to your email address.
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Type a word or phrase into the box at the top of the left menu and click Search to find all the entries that contain your search terms. Because the search returns only pages that include all of your search terms, there is no need to include "and" between terms. To restrict a search further, just include more terms. Your search terms will be highlighted in red in the text.
If you wish, you may narrow this search by unchecking the boxes next to categories (biographies, essays, definitions, diagrams, experiments, and timeline) on the left menu. By default, all content categories are checked, and the search runs in every part of the database. However, if you are looking only for a particular type of record, such as a biography or a diagram, you can uncheck the boxes next to the other categories to remove those categories from your search.
Capitalization:
Searches are not case sensitive. For example, it does not matter if you enter "marie curie" or "Marie Curie" or even "mArIe CuRiE"; all will return the same results.
Accent Marks and Diacriticals:
Many names, especially those from non-English languages, contain special symbols to clarify their pronunciation. To search for these names, simply type the name without the accent marks. For example, to search for Léon Brillouin, simply type "leon brillouin" in the search box.
Phrase Searches:
To search for an exact phrase, enclose the phrase in quotation marks. Without quotation marks, the search will return all pages that have all the words in your search, regardless of their location on the page or relation to one another. With quotation marks, the search will return only records that contain your search phrase exactly as you entered it.
Limiting Results with "NOT" Searches:
Sometimes you may want to limit results even further. For instance, to retrieve entries on Marie or Pierre Curie, but not on their daughter Irène Joliot-Curie or her husband Jean Frédéric Joliot-Curie, enter "curie not joliot" or "curie -joliot" into the search box. As you can see from the two examples, you may use either the word "not" or the minus sign to exclude a word from the search; however, the minus sign must be attached to the front of the word to be excluded, while "not" must be surrounded by spaces. Both approaches have the effect of excluding all entries that contain the word.
"OR" Searches:
Sometimes you may want to search on two different topics that do not appear together, such as two different people or two different concepts. In that case, enter both search terms, or sets of terms, separated by the word "or." For instance, the search "albert einstein or robert oppenheimer" will return any record that deals with either physicist, including records that mention one but not the other.
Several options are available to allow you to further refine your search. All of these options can be accessed using the Advanced Search link at the bottom of the search box in the left menu.
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Select this option from beneath the search box in the left menu to access advanced search options. You can select one or all of the search options to locate specific entries. You can also ignore any search option, leaving that search box empty. Choose from one or more options to refine your search and click Search. To clear your search click Reset. Multiple options work as an "and" search, which means that you will only get results that match all categories chosen, not one or the other.
The following are the search options:
with ALL of the words:
This search returns only pages that include all of your search terms; however, the words may be anywhere on the page and can appear in any order. To restrict a search further, just include more terms. (This search is essentially the same as the basic search box on the left menu. However, when used in combination with the other options below, its power and accuracy can be magnified.)
with the EXACT PHRASE:
Use this box to search for an exact phrase if the basic search returns too many results. The search will return only records that contain your search phrase exactly as you entered it. The phrase search in the advanced search has the same effect as putting quotation marks around a phrase in the basic search box.
with AT LEAST ONE of the words:
Sometimes you may want to do a search on two different topics that do not appear together, such as two different people or two different organizations. In that case, enter both search terms or sets of terms. You may also use this search box to locate a record if you are unsure of the exact words to use. For example, to conduct a search on the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you might type "Hiroshima Nagasaki" into this box and place the word "atomic" in the with all of the words box.
WITHOUT the words:
Sometimes you may want to limit results by excluding certain words. For instance, to retrieve entries on "Marie" or "Pierre Curie, " but not on their daughter "Irène Joliot-Curie" or her husband "Jean Frédéric Joliot-Curie, " you might type "Joliot" into this search box, "Curie" into the with all of the words box, and "Marie Pierre" into the with AT least one of the words box.
Full-Text vs. Title/Heading Search:
Use the pull-down menus to the right of the search boxes to specify what part of the database to search. Full-Text searches apply to the text of an entry as well as to the title and header material. The Title/Heading search applies only to the title. Please note that timeline entries do not have titles or headings, so all searches on timelines are full-text.
The Title/Heading search will almost always return a smaller result than the Full-Text search, so it is probably more helpful for frequently mentioned figures or term. The Full-Text search will help locate all the information on less well-known figures or terms.
Search Categories
Use the check boxes at the bottom of the advanced search screen to eliminate content categories that are not relevant to your search. By default, all content categories are selected, and the search runs in every part of the database. However, if you are looking only for a particular type of record, such as a biography or diagram, you can eliminate the other content categories.
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Click on the Biographies link on the right-hand search menu to access four main search and display options for biographical entries:
Browse by Subject:
Select your subject of interest from a list of science topics, and click on the link for that subject to view all biographies in that subject.
Browse by Occupation:
Select an occupation from the pull-down menu to view biographies of people in that profession.
Browse by Nationality:
Select a nationality from the pull-down menu to view biographies of people of a specific nationality.
Browse by A to Z Index:
Click on any hyperlinked letter of the alphabet to view all the
biographies for people whose last names begin with that letter.
To view your search results, click on the hyperlinked name.The entry displays the person's name at the top of the page, followed by any alternate name, and the dates of birth and death. You can view related entries by clicking on hyperlinked words in the text or in the box on the right under Related Diagrams, Related Definitions, Related Essays, or Related Experiments. Back to Top
Click on the Essays link on the right-hand search menu to access the search and display options for essays:
Browse by Subject:
Select your subject of interest from a list of science topics, and click on the link for that subject to view all essays in that subject.
Browse by A to Z Index:
Click on any hyperlinked letter of the alphabet to view all the
essays starting with the selected letter.
To view your search results, click on the hyperlinked title to view the essay. The entry displays the title of the essay at the top followed by the text. You can view related entries by clicking on hyperlinked words in the text or in the box on the right under Related Diagrams, Related Definitions, Related Essays, or Related Experiments.Back to Top
Click on the Definitions link on the right-hand search menu to access the search and display options for definitions:
Browse by Subject:
Select your subject of interest from a list of science topics, and click on the link for that subject to view all definitions in that subject.
A to Z Index: Click on any hyperlinked letter of the alphabet to view all the definitions in the database that begin with that letter.
To view an entry, click on the hyperlinked keyword to view its definition. Each entry displays the title at the top of the page, followed by the alternate title (when applicable), the definition text, and any related entries. You can explore related entries by clicking on hyperlinks in the text or in the box on the right under Related Diagrams, Related Definitions, Related Essays, or Related Experiments.
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Click on the Diagrams link on the right-hand search menu to access the search and display options for diagrams:
Browse Diagrams by Subject:
This choice allows you to browse diagrams by broad subject areas. After you select a subject area, you will be brought to page with additional options for refining your search. For example, if you click on the Animal Anatomy link, you will be brought to a page that allows you to browse all the animal anatomy diagrams by subcategory, to search all the animal anatomy diagrams by keyword or phrase, or to view a list of all the diagrams in the animal anatomy category.
Browse by Subcategory:
This option allows you to further refine your subject search by providing a list of subcategories for your selected subject. For example, if you select Animal Anatomy from the Browse Diagrams by Subject menu, you will be provided with a list of search topics related to animal anatomy: Lower Groups, Annelids and Mollusks, Arthropods and Echinoderms, Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals. If you click on one of these options, you will be brought to a list of all the diagrams in that subject that fits that category. For example, if you click Mammals, you will see a list of all the diagrams of mammals that are in the animal anatomy category.
Search by Keyword or Phrase
This feature allows you to search the title and caption of all diagrams in the selected subject. For example, if you have clicked Animal Anatomy on the Browse Diagrams by Subject menu and then type "worm" into the Search by Keyword or Phrase box, you will receive a list of animal anatomy diagrams that contain the word "worm" in the title or caption. The search functions in the same manner as the search box on the left-hand menu, except that it will only return results from the selected subject.
List All Diagrams
This option will generate a list of all the diagrams in the specified subject. For example, if you have clicked Animal Anatomy on the Browse Diagrams by Subject menu, and you then click the List All Animal Anatomy Diagrams link, you will receive a list of all the animal anatomy diagrams in the database.
Search by Keyword or Phrase: Use this search to find specific words or phrases in the title or text of any diagram. This search functions in the same manner as the search box in the left-hand menu with only the Diagrams box checked.
To view your search results, click on the hyperlinked title to view the diagram. Each
diagram page includes: entry title, diagram, caption, and hyperlinks. Click on the hyperlinks in the caption and/or under Related Diagrams, Related
Definitions, Related Biographies, and Related Essays to see other
relevant entries.
Preview and print a diagram by clicking on the link beneath the diagram title. Your computer will not be able to read the printable format without Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, download it at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.
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Click on the Experiments link on the right-hand search menu to access the search and display options for experiments:
Browse by Grade Range and Subject Category:
Click the appropriate radio buttons to select your preferred grade level and your subject of interest. Click Display Experiments to view a list of matching experiments. Click on the hyperlinked title of an experiment to view the experiment as a PDF file.
Browse by Key Terms, Topics, and Principles:
Select a subject from the pull-down menu and click Display Index to view a list of subtopics within that subject. Click on the hyperlinked title of a subtopic to view a list of experiments in that subtopic. Click on the hyperlinked title of an experiment to view it as a PDF file.
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Click on the Timeline link on the right-hand search menu to access the search and display options for the timeline:
Select by Time Period: Choose a date range from the list and click on the link for that date range to
view timeline entries for that period.
Select by Topic: Click on a topic to view timeline entries in that topic.
Search by Year or Range of Years:
Two different sets of search boxes allow you to search for timeline entries within a single year or across a range of years not specified in
the standard list of time periods above.
Search By Word or Phrase:
Search for a word or phrase that appears in the timeline. This search is the same as using the basic search box on the right-hand menu with only the Timeline box checked.
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View the National Science Education Content Standards and Benchmarks. The general
standards are listed under four categories: Earth and Space Sciences, Life Sciences,
Physical Sciences, and Nature of Science. Click on a link to view the specific standards
for each grade level and to find the related entries for that benchmark.
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Access a list of bibliographies, credits and permissions, and acknowledgments for the Science Online database.
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