Search

Informs on how science came to the rescue of southern Californians after the January 1994 Northridge, California earthquake. How Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams look for victims trapped in buildings; Their use of electronic sound and seismic sensors and fiber-optic cables that carry a light source and remote camera into the rubble; How MAXIFORCE(R) airbags, from PARATECH(R) Inc., are used to shore up buildings.

Praises the valuable contributions of amateur astronomers to knowledge about the stars. David Levy, co-discoverer of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9; Amateurs' research on variable stars, plotting dust storms on Mars, and other topics; Their observations of auroras and meteors.

Tells how the television show `Star Trek: the Next Generation' is being used in schools to teach science. Sixth-grade teacher Randall Landers' use of the episode `Force of Nature' to discuss ozone hole-type theories; How the program's visuals illuminate mathematical concepts; The traveling exhibit `Star Trek: Federation Science'; Resources.

Looks at an experiment by the Casper, Wyoming school district to learn if virtual reality (VR) can enhance learning. Computer specialist John Russell; How the students have used VR in the classroom; Next year's VR project.

Interviews Rob Staehle, NASA's preproject manager for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Pluto Fast Flyby mission. Two tiny spacecraft will be launched to Pluto before its atmosphere collapses-sometime between 2005 and 2015. Staehle's involvement with the Pluto mission; Pluto's exploration; Anticipation of findings.

Discusses the importance of communication after a natural disaster and explains how people used cellular phones, beepers and computer networks to reach each other after the Northridge earthquake. The new television station, Recovery Channel on Air, created by FEMA; Information that it broadcast via cable; The reassurance its 24-hour presence provided; How FEMA building inspectors used palmtop computers after the quake.