Spider Myths
Although unlikely to cure your arachnophobia, spider specialist Rod Crawford's site does shed some rational light on those dreaded creepy-crawlies. Myths are presented (all spiders make webs; house spiders should be kindly put "back outside") and systematically debunked (webs are useless to the 50 percent of spiders who hunt their prey; house spiders are actually happiest in your house). Finally, some peace of mind for those who fear a brown recluse might lay eggs in their cheeks, resulting in a faceful of baby spiders: rest easy--another myth!

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Focusing on public health preparedness, infectious diseases, biosecurity and food security, CIDRAP's Web site is a comprehensive, up-to-the-minute resource on all news related to epidemiology. The site features the organization's own reports on everything from the latest avian flu outbreak to new developments in anthrax detection. It also contains a continually updated list of links to related articles in scientific journals, government reports and other sources.

The Intersection
In this age of stem-cell research debates, senators advocating the addition of "intelligent design" to school curricula, and bureaucrats arguing against the need for endangered species protection, science is lucky to have such a staunch ally in acclaimed journalist Chris Mooney. His blog concentrates on the intersection of science and politics, providing a constant critique of how conservative policy wonks misrepresent scientific fact. Equally relevant are his amusing rebuttals to critical reviews of his recent book, The Republican War on Science, wherein he plays a starring role in his own ongoing discussion.

Cornell Ornithology Lab: All About Birds
For dyed-in-the-feathers ornithologists and binocular-newbies alike, a beautifully designed site covering all aspects of birding, including identification, gear selection, conservation efforts, location scouting and even a detailed guide on how to attract the winged voyagers to your own yard. Most impressive and useful is the field guide--sortable alphabetically or taxonomically--that includes gorgeous photos, detailed descriptions, "cool facts," audio tracks of birdsongs, and a host of other info that will have you telling the recently rediscovered ivory bill (the largest woodpecker north of Mexico) from an imperial (the largest woodpecker in the world) in no time flat.

Sport Science
San Francisco's Exploratorium Museum offers a series of delightful and beautifully designed microsites devoted to revealing the science behind our favorite sports. You'll try your hand at hitting a virtual 90-mph baseball pitch, calculate the aerodynamic drag necessary to keep you cycling at constant velocity and even watch a video of professional skateboarders performing daredevil tricks--with each kickflip and nolie explained by an Exploratorium staff physicist. Don't miss the Q and A section, which reveals the answers to such constant queries as "Why do I feel sore the day after exercising?" and "How high can I jump?"

Devonian Times
Extra! Extra! Read all about the Devonian Period, a.k.a. the Age of Fishes, in this fascinating "newspaper." Committed to providing "all the news that's in the record" on the ancestors of modern tetrapods, the Devonian Times traces the evolution of four-limbed land dwellers from fish, examining the fossils and paleoenvironmental data relevant to this most marvelous evolutionary metamorphosis.

E-naturalist
Geared toward budding young naturalists, this site features a series of units on topics as diverse as the habits of house mice, skin burns inflicted by wild parsnip plants and the causes for leaves changing color in autumn. Each unit, culled from categories including "Creepy-Crawlies," "Mammals" and "Ecology," is available in both a quick-read version and a longer format, and includes brightly hued drawings, experiments and activities. As entertaining as it is edifying, the "Ask a Naturalist" section offers students the opportunity to consult a pro on pressing questions like "Why can't all maggots survive on dead tissue?"