Access Excellence: The Discovery of Radioactivity: Dawn of the Nuclear Age

Four activities demonstrate the chain reaction of nuclear fission to your physical science fans: falling dominoes, snapping mouse traps, throwing paper wads, and igniting a series of matches. They perform additional laboratory activities...

Radioactive pollutants can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or injection. The last lesson in a series of 36 introduces pupils to radioactive pollution. They study its sources, both natural and man-made, its...

Simplistic but cute cartoons and old photos are used to teach about the history of studying radiation. The video seems to be old and is somewhat blurry, but is sufficiently viewed in a smaller screen. You could use it as an introduction...

Access Excellence provides a detailed timeline charting the study of and discoveries made about DNA from 1869 to 1978.

This site is a comprehensive timeline of the history of the nuclear age, from the discovery of radioactivity to the cleanup of nuclear weapons.

Access Excellence provides a biography of Rosalind Franklin and her role in explaining DNA's structure.

This is a lesson plan involving the simulation of the radioactive decay of an imaginary substance.

An interesting article that describes the relationship between chance and controlled scientific research. Several famous scientific discoveries are discussed.

Excellent overview of the scientific career of James Watson. Includes a black and white photo. This site also offers links to information on Rosalind Franklin, Linus Pauling, and the Human Genome Project.

Read a history of the discovery and study of DNA and its structure. Links to a graphic, other references, and classroom activities.