The Royal Society, the national academy of science of the UK, last week made its complete archive of scientific journals freely available for the first time in its 340 year history. Online access is free for the first two months, starting from its opening day September 14. The archives contain articles from as far back as 1665, including reports on Benjamin Franklin's experiments with kites and electricity (right), Edmund Stone's discovery of aspirin from willow bark, and a performance before the society by the young prodigy Mozart in the year 1770, when he was eight years old. Until now, the online archive contained articles going back to only 1997. The free access period will end in December at which time interested readers may access articles as part of a Royal Society journal subscription or on a pay-per-view basis.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) website has an excellent multimedia report on the new, $153 million Amundson-Scott South Pole Station for scientific research that is scheduled to be completed in January 2007. There are a number of amazing technological features of the new station. As noted on the website, the station will be "a radical departure from the first man-made structure erected at the Earth's southernmost point: the forlorn pyramidal tent erected by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen almost a century ago to mark the advent of human habitation at the Pole." To withstand a shifting foundation of snow and ice, the station sits on 36 12-foot-tall columns that can extend an additional two stories to keep the station level and above future snow and ice build up. To the delight of visitors, the new station also has windows, which were missing in the prior station designs. Parts for the new facility had to be flown in by a Hercules cargo plane, and it is so cold that the planes cannot shut down their engines or even land in the winter season. The new station is the third research station to be built by the NSF since 1956. Scientists at the Amundsen-Scott station will study climate change, air and ozone, solid earth geophysics, extreme biological systems, and will also conduct tests of technology intended for the study of Martian polar caps and other planets. Antarctic research at the station is coordinated by the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is funded by NSF. Go here for a video tour of the living and working conditions at the South Pole station.

Human eyes are capable of seeing only a small segment of the spectrum of electromagnetic waves that exist in the universe. Astronomy Professor David Helfand at Columbia University created a website and movie to explain how our eyes are tuned to see only a single 'octave' of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum. Taking advantage of humans' ability to hear several octaves of sound at once, Helfand uses Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to illustrate this concept. Helfand writes, "The history of the last fifty years in Astronomy has been one of expanding our vision, of opening new windows on the Universe by observing in the many octaves of the electromagnetic spectrum to which our eyes are blind. Entirely new constitutents of the Universe have been revealed, and our models for its origin and fate have been radically revised. At last, we are close to seeing the whole symphony." (via IR)

Raven Hanna, a Yale-educated scientist turned artist in San Francisco, California, creates her own science-inspired jewelry and other gifts for her company Made With Molecules. Her designs feature familiar molecules in sterling silver, printed textiles, such as her Testosterone Boxer Shorts (currently sold out), and holiday cards. While a "mood charm bracelet" may bring visions of New Age hocus-pocus, Hanna's NeuroCharm Bracelet is firmly based in chemistry and includes charms in the shape of neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and serotonin. If you're feeling particularly low on dopamine, you can even buy extra charms. Other items for sale include the Dopamine Heart Card and Glucose baby shirts for "your little sweetie."

Students at New York University's Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) have created a new webzine called Scienceline. Started by NYU grad student Karen Schrock in July 2006, Scienceline covers topics in biology, environmental science, health, physics, technology, and science policy. The webzine contains original reporting as well as a blog and a weekly science Q&A. Many of the articles are focused on people and events in the NYC area, such as The Blue Revolution, by Edyta Zielinska, which covers Brooklyn College Lecturer Martin Schreiber's efforts to develop sustainable urban aquaculture, or fish-farming, in New York City. These students are the science writers of tomorrow. Catch them now and you can say you knew them when.

GlobalSpec is a specialized search engine focusing on engineering and related websites and information. While largely a directory of commericial engineering firms and supply companies, the site also has a handy engineering-focused science and reference section that includes links to mathematical equations, theorems, calculaters, libraries, journals, CAD tools, professional organizations, news, forums, and technical articles, among other things.

FairerScience has two good articles on how to present your scientific research to journalists in a way that will help them convey the main points to readers. In KISI (Keep It Simple and Interesting): Journalists' Advice to Researchers, FairerScience recommends that you simplify your story for the journalist, or risk having the journalist simplify it for you, possibly leaving out important points and caveats. Also, have a few good jargon-free quotes or soundbites prepared, since the journalist will only publish your direct quotes, not quotes from your article. Don't forget, any good journalist will cross-check your work with other scientists in your field. You can help them and yourself out by having names and contact information for the experts in your field. In KICI (Keep It Careful and Intelligent): Researchers' Advice About Journalists, FairerScience offers tips on how to be your own best public relations rep by being careful about what you say to journalists and avoiding 'gotcha' moments that could lead to public embarrassment or worse. KICI's first bit of advice is that you know the journalist's perspective on the subject before you agree to do an interview. Also, have your main points prepared in advance and don't be afraid to use them in multiple interviews. Keeping a consistent message will help you get your important points across to the audience.

The journal Nature is offering free web access to an online compilation of articles on the current suite of new energy technologies in development around the globe. The challenge facing us is that not only is the volume of new oil discoveries decreasing, but we have yet to find a single economically competitive alternative energy source that will not release carbon dioxide or other pollutants into the atmosphere. The Nature articles go back as far as 2004 and cover carbon sequestration, solar, wave, and wind energy, nuclear power, biofuels, hydrogen, fuel cells, and energy policy. It's a good place to start if you're looking to separate science from the hype behind many of these emerging technologies.

Own your very own piece of science history with the Element List 2005 Year of Physics Commemorative T-Shirt. It's 2006, you say? So what! It's not old, it's vintage! If last year's 2005YoP t-shirt is looking a little tattered from too many keggers in the lab, now is your chance to buy a fresh, spanking new one. The unique Element List design features Einstein iPodified against a bright blue blackground with the Element List URL printed on the back. The t-shirt is 100% cotton and comes in body hugging cuts for men and women. We have mugs, bags, and mousepads, too. Hurry up and buy yours before this design is gone forever!