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NASA Science News for July 1, 2003

Check out NASA at the Library

A traveling exhibit brings a taste of outer space to your community
library

July 1, 2003:  Coming soon to a library near you: a portal to outer
space!

It's not a wormhole or a Star Trek-style teleporter, of course. This
"portal" is a brand-new interactive exhibit that begins a 2-year tour
of U.S. libraries this month. Fun activities on flat-screen computers
allow curious minds to puzzle over floating water droplets and
spherical candle flames, marvel at the beauty of the Earth seen from
orbit, and learn what living in space is really like. 

Space buffs can put their knowledge to the test: Do people's spines
"stretch out" without the compression of gravity, making them taller
in orbit? How can you take a shower when the water droplets float
around? What happens to boiling water in space, since the bubbles
don't rise? And what can we learn about the environment by looking
down at the Earth from space?

The goal of this new exhibit, called "NASA {at} your library", is to use
the "cool factor" of space to interest children in math and science,
and to make people aware of the unique benefits of doing science in
orbit. Interested libraries can still apply to host the exhibit by
filling out the form at
http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ALSC/NASA_application.pdf 

"Space research plays an integral role in our daily lives," says Mary
Kicza, NASA's Associate Administrator of Biological and Physical
Research. "It affects many things around us including the foods we
eat to everyday household products. This exhibit will educate
everyone on the importance and opportunities in space research." 

The exhibit consists of two stands: One houses six new flat-screen
iMac computers for visitors to play with. The computers, supplied by
Apple Computer, run an interactive, multimedia presentation featuring
animated cartoon characters, which was specially designed for the
exhibit. The other stand is a plasma-screen theater. It will show
movies about NASA research. 

The tour kicked off today at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore,
Maryland. Five exhibits will visit a total of 120 libraries around
the U.S., staying a month at each one. The other four opening
libraries are Johnson County Library, Overland Park, Kansas; Lakewood
Library, Tacoma, Washington; Northwest Reno Library, Reno, Nevada;
and Spartanburg County Public Libraries, Spartanburg, South Carolina.
A list of all participating libraries, along with the dates that they
will host the exhibit, can be found here. 

"The 'NASA {at} your library' program is a wonderful example of how
libraries have become modern community centers for information,
education and entertainment," says American Library Association
President Carla Hayden. Hayden adds that while not everyone can
afford to have the information resources of the Internet in their
homes, everyone in the community can utilize the local library. 

It may not be the Space Station itself, but if this new exhibit
inspires some young people to pursue careers in science, they just
might find themselves conducting research in weightlessness some
day! 

Credits & Contacts
Author: Patrick L. Barry 
Responsible NASA official: Ron Koczor 
Production Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips 
Curator: Bryan Walls 
Media Relations: Steve Roy

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