To learn more about the portable light project through an interactive website, visit www.portablelight.org/intro.html (Portable Light Project).

For further information about the Huichol people of Mexico, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huichol (Wikipedia).

For a wealth of cultural and historical information about the Huichol, see www.everyculture.com/Middle-America-Caribbean/Huichol.html (World Culture Encyclopedia).

To learn more about the Arrernte people of Australia, go to www.aboriginalart.com.au/culture/arrernte.html (Aboriginal Australia Art and Culture Centre).

To learn more about LED technology, visit www.howstuffworks.com/led.htm (HowStuffWorks).

For a scientific introduction to incandescent light bulbs, go to www.howstuffworks.com/light-bulb.htm (HowStuffWorks).

Raloff, Janet. 2006. Illuminating changes. Science News 169(May 20):314-316. Available at http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060520/bob9.asp .

Sohn, Emily. 2005. Power of the wind. Science News for Kids (March 9). Available at http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050309/Feature1.asp .

______. 2003. Electricity's spark of life. Science News for Kids (Oct. 1). Available at http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20031001/Feature1.asp .

Teachers: For a light-bulb related lesson plan, go to www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=356 (Science NetLinks).

Books recommended by SearchIt!Science:

Blinkers and Buzzers: Building and Experimenting With Electricity and Magnetism — Bernie Zubrowski Published by William Morrow/HarperCollins, 1991. You can make a flashlight from a soft-drink can, a burglar alarm from a magnet, and a traffic light from bobby pins and a coffee can. This book contains more than 50 experiments that use everyday items to demonstrate the principles of electricity and magnetism. Simple switches, the power of electromagnets, and how a motor works are a few examples. Each experiment includes a list of items needed, step-by-step instructions, an explanation, line drawings, and suggestions for further activities. The book also contains a list of other books on electricity and magnetism.

Thomas A. Edison: The World's Greatest Inventor — Anna Sproule Published by Blackbirch Press/Gale Group, 2000. Thomas A. Edison was an inventor who changed the world. Though he is best known for inventing the incandescent light bulb and pushing the world into the electric age, he is responsible for many other inventions, as well. This work in the "Giants of Science" series begins with Edison's birth in 1847, describes his boyhood in Ohio, and details his life as an inventor until his death in 1931. The remarkable inventor worked with the telegraph, the phonograph, electric car batteries, the kinetoscope (a precursor to the movie camera), cement works, and iron works—to name a few. A chronology of important dates at the end of the book summarizes his achievements; a glossary and index are also included.

Electricity and Magnetism — Steve Parker Published by Chelsea House, 2005. Electricity is electrons on the go. So how can you collect static electricity? Turn to the projects in this book to deepen your understanding of electricity and magnetism—or just read the interesting text. Colorful double-page spreads introduce topics like compasses, electromagnets, sources of energy, and voltage. The photo-filled pages feature fact-boxes, suggested projects, and "How it Works" panels; a glossary and index are included.

electricity A form of energy produced by particles that have charge, especially electrons. Electricity can flow in an electric current, or it can be static.

incandescent lamp A lamp that produces light by heating up a filament of wire inside a bulb with an electric current. Because the filament, usually made of tungsten, would burn from the heat, the bulb is filled with a nonreactive gas, such as argon, which protects the wire from burning.

LED Short for light-emitting diode. An electronic semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs are used for indicator lights, such as those on the front of a disk drive.