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Digital Imaging Shows New Visions of Scientific Topics

By Marianne D. Hurst

When scientists first discovered the Archimedes text—a 2,000-year-old manuscript by the Greek mathematician—the task of deciphering it looked hopeless. The mathematician’s greatest surviving work, which had been converted into a prayer book, was nearly illegible. But with the help of digital imaging, in which scientists captured 10 digital images of the text under different illuminations, they were able to read it.

The use of such digital-imaging technologies, once available only to scientists and researchers, is growing quickly in science classrooms, experts say. Students and teachers are using digital cameras and other imaging technologies to conduct more sophisticated scientific data collection, lab work, and 3-D imaging.

"It takes data collection to a whole new level," said Gerry Wheeler, the executive director of the Reston, Va.-based National Science Teachers Association. In fact, Mr. Wheeler said, the 56,000-member organization has seen a sharp increase in discussions among its members about how to use...