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The US government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has set up shop in Second Life. Their hang-out is called Meteroa, and if you visit you'll apparently find interactive educational demos about the oceans and weathers. Given that climate/weather researchers are always pushing the limits of scientific simulation, I find it, um, meta-interesting that they're now participating in the synthetic world of Second Life. From Second Life Insider:
Link (Thanks, Sean Ness!)On this lovely island sim you can find fully interactive educational demonstrations about the ocean and weather. Examples include a sea life submarine ride created by The Magicians, and two different tsnuami demos by Aimee Weber Studios and Electric Sheep Company (seen here). Other fun stuff includes a demonstration of a real-time temperature map powered by Yahoo, narration by Exploratorium Chief Scientist Paul Doherty, an airplane ride into a hurricane, and a melting glacier demonstration.
The NOAA's arrival may be a great sign of things to come. United States government agencies aren't exactly what you call flamboyant, trendy, or fashionable. Their interest in Second Life as a solid educational tool may give other companies a greater sense of comfort in the stability of the platform.