In this lesson about the origin of life, students will learn that under suitable conditions, life-like structures can form naturally from relatively simple materials. Students will mix a carbohydrate solution with a protein solution, adjust the pH, and view coacervates: amoeba-like objects, which change shape, flow, merge, divide, form vacuoles, release vacuole contents, and show other life-like properties.
Explore the new, interactive, digital map created from merging two United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps that depict the topography and geology of the United States. This composite is the most detailed and accurate portrait of the U.S. land surface and the ages of its underlying rock formations. The new map resembles traditional 3-D perspective drawings of landscapes with the addition of a fourth dimension, geologic time, which is shown in color.
