History of science Books

Book SynopsisErnst Mach (1838â1916), the first scientist to study objects moving faster than the speed of sound, propounded a scientific philosophy which called for a strict adherence to observable data. He maintained that the sole purpose of scientific study is to provide the simplest possible description of detectable phenomena. In this work, first published in German in 1883 and here translated in 1893 by Thomas J. McCormack (1865â1932) from the 1888 second edition, Mach begins with a historical discussion of mechanical principles. He then proceeds to a critique of Newton's concept of 'absolute' space and time, reflecting Mach's rejection of theoretical concepts in the absence of definitive evidence. Although historically controversial, Mach's ideas and attitudes informed philosophers as influential as Russell and Wittgenstein, and his insistence upon a 'relative' idea of space and time provided much of the philosophical basis for Einstein's theory of general relativity decades later.Table of ContentsTranslator's preface; Author's preface to the translation; Preface to the first edition; Preface to the second edition; Introduction; 1. The development of the principles of statics; 2. The development of the principles of dynamics; 3. The extended application of the principles of mechanics and the deductive development of the science; 4. The formal development of mechanics; 5. The relation of mechanics to the departments of knowledge; Appendix; Chronological table; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Austrian scientist Ernst Mach (18381916) carried out work of importance in many fields of enquiry, including physics, physiology, psychology and philosophy. In these essays, published in this English translation in 1906, Mach examines geometry from three different perspectives, arguing that a mathematical standpoint alone is inadequate.Table of Contents1. On physiological, as distinguished from geometrical, space; 2. On the psychology and natural development of geometry; 3. Space and geometry from the point of view of physical inquiry; Index.

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Book SynopsisBoth an amateur astronomer and a strongly religious man, Thomas Wright (171186) is known for his description of the Milky Way as disc-shaped. The various claims he made, based on a combination of his observations and his religious beliefs, are given in this illustrated and influential work of 1750.Table of ContentsPreface; Letters 1-9.

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Book SynopsisThis 1769 work brings together published and unpublished letters both from and to Benjamin Franklin, which demonstrate the range of his interests. The letters show a lively transatlantic group of scientific friends and colleagues describing their experiments, interpreting each others' results, and theorizing on all aspects of the natural world.Table of ContentsAdvertisement concerning this fourth edition; Preface to the first edition; Letters I-V; Additional papers, 1749; Letters VI-XIII; Remarks on the Abbe Nollet's letters on electricity, by Mr David Colden of New-York; Electrical experiments together with some observations on thunder-clouds, in further confirmation of Mr Franklin's observations on the positive and negative electrical state of the clouds, by John Canton, M.A. and F.R.S.; Electrical and other philosophical papers and letters; Letters XIV-XXIII; Accounts of water-spouts; An account of the new-invented Pensylvanian fire-places; Letters XXIV-LXI; Index.

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Book SynopsisGeorges Cuvier (1769â1832), one of the founding figures of vertebrate palaeontology, pursued a successful scientific career despite the political upheavals in France during his lifetime. In the 1790s, Cuvier's work on fossils of large mammals including mammoths enabled him to show that extinction was a scientific fact. In 1812 Cuvier published this four-volume illustrated collection of his papers on palaeontology, osteology (notably dentition) and stratigraphy. It was followed in 1817 by his famous Le rÃgne animal, available in the Cambridge Library Collection both in French and in Edward Griffith's expanded English translation (1827â35). Volume 3 of Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles recounts Cuvier's excitement at acquiring fossils from gypsum quarries near Paris, and the challenges of piecing the fragments together correctly. Cuvier describes the methodical reconstruction of the pachyderm fossils and lists other fossils occurring in the same rock formations: carnivores, an opossumTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Sur les espèces d'animaux dont proviennent les os fossiles de Paris.

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Book SynopsisFrom Ayurvedic texts to botanical medicines to genomics, ideas and expertise about veterinary healing have circulated between cultures through travel, trade, and conflict. In this broad-ranging and accessible study spanning 400 years of history, Susan D. Jones and Peter A. Koolmees present the first global history of veterinary medicine and animal healing. Drawing on inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary perspectives, this book addresses how attitudes toward animals, disease causation theories, wars, problems of food insecurity and the professionalization and spread of European veterinary education have shaped new domains for animal healing, such as preventive medicine in intensive animal agriculture and the need for veterinarians specializing in zoo animals, wildlife, and pets. It concludes by considering the politicization of animal protection, changes in the global veterinary workforce, and concerns about disease and climate change. As mediators between humans and animals, veterTrade Review'Captivating and unique! A complete account of the history of healing animals, the fight against their diseases, and how the veterinary profession has evolved across cultures and continents shaping food systems and our relations with animals today.' Katinka de Balogh, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations'This book promised to fill the gap of the missing text book on the history of veterinary medicine. It does! Summaries and questions provoke students to think critically. However, this book is more than only a textbook. This is the profession I've dedicated most of my professional life to as students will do overtime. The story starts with the animal healers in ancient times and goes up to the regulated veterinary professional today. The authors outline a little bit of our future. A Concise History of Veterinary Medicine will be the perfect birthday present for all my veterinary friends.' Rens van Dobbenburgh, President Federation of Veterinarians of Europe'An outstanding synthesis of global developments in the history of animal healing. Informed by the study of human-animal relationships, and drawing on the latest research findings, A Concise History of Veterinary Medicine is essential reading for vets and historians alike.' Abigail Woods, University of Lincoln, President of the World Association for the History of Veterinary MedicineTable of ContentsIntroduction: human-animal relationships and the need for veterinary medicine; 1. Animal healing in sacred societies, 1500-1700; 2. Animal healing in trade and conquest, 1700-1850s; 3. Formal education for animal healing: from riding schools to veterinary schools, 1700-1850; 4. Veterinary institutions and animal plagues, 1800-1900; 5. Veterinary medicine in war and peace, 1900-1960; 6. Food, animals and veterinary care in a changing world, 1960-2000; 7. Veterinary medicine and animal health, 2000-2020; Epilogue: veterinary medicine in the postmodern world.

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Book SynopsisQuantum mechanics impacts on many areas of physics from pure theory to applications. However it is difficult to interpret, and philosophical contradictions and counter-intuitive results are apparent at a fundamental level. This book presents current understanding of the theory, providing a historical introduction and discussing many of its interpretations. Fully revised from the first edition, this book contains state-of-the-art research including loophole-free experimental Bell test, and theorems on the reality of the wave function including the PBR theorem, and a new section on quantum simulation. More interpretations are now included, and these are described and compared, including discussion of their successes and difficulties. Other sections have been expanded, including quantum error correction codes and the reference section. It is ideal for researchers in physics and maths, and philosophers of science interested in quantum physics and its foundations.Trade Review'The book attempts to provide a balanced view of the conceptual difficulties of quantum theory.' K.-E. Hellwig, zbMATHTable of ContentsForeword; Preface; 1. Historical perspective; 2. Present situation, remaining conceptual difficulties; 3. The theorem of Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen; 4. Bell theorem; 5. Other inequalities, Cirelson's limit, signaling; 6. More theorems; 7. Quantum entanglement; 8. Applications of quantum entanglement; 9. Quantum measurement; 10. Experiments: quantum reduction seen in real time; 11. Various interpretations and reconstructions of quantum mechanics; 12. Conclusion; 13. Annex: basic mathematical tools of quantum mechanics; Appendix A. Mental content of the state vector; Appendix B. Bell inequalities in non-deterministic local theories; Appendix C. Attempting to construct a 'separable' quantum theory; Appendix D. Maximal probability for a state; Appendix E. The influence of pair selection; Appendix F. Impossibility of superluminal communication; Appendix G. Quantum measurements at different times; Appendix H. Manipulating and preparing additional variables; Appendix I. Correlations and trajectories in Bohmian theory; Appendix J. Models for spontaneous reduction of the state vector; Appendix K. Consistent families of histories; Appendix L. Attractive Schrödinger dynamics; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisJ. J. and G. P. Thomson are two significant figures in modern physics, having both played key roles in our understanding of the nature of electrons. This book presents their biographies, offering a fresh perspective for academics and graduate students working in the history of early twentieth-century physics.Trade Review'… a scholarly and readable account of developments that underlie modern chemistry … Navarro's thoughtful narrative should appeal to both historians and chemists.' Chemistry WorldTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The early years in Manchester and Cambridge; 2. J. J. Thomson's early work in Cambridge: a continuous and all-embracing physics; 3. The ether and the corpuscle: from waves to particles; 4. On creeds and policies: the corpuscular theory of matter; 5. Father and son. Old and new physics; 6. The electron in Aberdeen: from particle to wave; Index.

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Book SynopsisHothersall and Lovett''s History of Psychology is a lively survey of the evolution of the field from 1850 to the present. Built around the lives of fascinating thinkers who proposed bold new ways of studying human behavior and mental processes, and telling the true stories behind their famous experiments, this textbook provides students with an intimate understanding of how psychology came to be what it is today. Thoroughly updated with the latest historical scholarship, the fifth edition includes greater focus on the contributions of women and people of color, and a new chapter on the late twentieth century and the cognitive revolution. It also features updated pedagogy such as chapter discussion questions and unique archival photographs, while instructor resources include a test bank, lecture slides, and an instructor manual.Trade Review'Perfect for graduate and undergraduate students, History of Psychology takes readers on a journey from psychology's roots in philosophy to the field's contemporary complexities. Hothersall and Lovett use history as a vehicle for answering psychology's recurrent questions and offer an inclusive and critical view of a scientific discipline that has grown by leaps and bounds since its early days.' Michael Axelrod, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire'Hothersall and Lovett have written a text that contains breadth and depth. Their writing is engaging, interesting, and brings alive the historical underpinnings of modern psychology.' Brian A. Johnson, University of Tennessee at Martin'The fifth edition is, like prior editions, lively with biographical stories of men such as Wilhelm Wundt, William James, and Edward Tolman and a documenting of the barriers faced by women such as Leta Stetter Hollingworth and Christine Ladd-Franklin. Students will come away from this new edition with an appreciation for the scope of the field, the brilliance and humanity of its leaders, and, too, a humbling appreciation of the role of the zeitgeist in shaping the questions we ask and who gets to ask them.' Kevin Lanning, Florida Atlantic University'A welcome update, the primary strength of this new edition is the quality of writing and the progression of psychological science from philosophy to physiology to the discipline of psychology. This accessible treatment is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate psychology courses.' Garrett Milliken, College of Charleston'The authors guide students along an integrative and multi-sub-disciplinary perspective of how each of the schools of thought emerged and how they still influence the modern study of psychology today. A thoughtful and well-articulated approach emphasizing the importance of psychology as an integrative science and applied clinical therapy.' Lorenz S. Neuwirth, SUNY Old Westbury'This awaited revision will generate significant fascination with psychology's history. Readers will come away with a greater appreciation of how people and context matter for psychology's history and future.' Bryan E. Porter, Old Dominion University'A triumph! With cutting-edge historiography and expansive, stunning discoveries, the fifth edition of History of Psychology brings together the anchors of our past and opens important questions for our collective future.' Richard Ruth, The George Washington UniversityTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Approaching the history of psychology: recurrent questions in psychology; 2. Scientific and philosophical foundations of psychology; 3. Early investigations of the central nervous system and the beginnings of neuroscience; 4. Wilhelm Wundt and the founding of psychology; 5. Wundt's students in the United States: Edward Titchener and Hugo Münsterberg; 6. German psychologists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; 7. Gestalt psychology in Germany and the United States; 8. The evolutionary perspective in Britain: Charles Darwin and Francis Galton; 9. Early Psychology in the United States: James McKeen Cattell, William James, Granville Stanley Hall, and Mary Whiton Calkins; 10. Functionalism at the University of Chicago and Columbia University; 11. Psychoanalysis and the development of clinical specialties; 12. Historical uses and abuses of intelligence testing; 13. The research of Ivan Pavlov and the behaviorism of John B. Watson; 14. Three neo-behaviorist psychologists: Edward Tolman, Clark Hull, and B. F. Skinner; 15. The cognitive revolution and beyond; Epilogue; Glossary; References; Name Index; Subject index.

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Book SynopsisWritten for students and researchers in the life sciences, this is the first book to provide an accessible introduction to philosophy of science with a focus on biology. It draws on contemporary examples to enable biologists to become more philosophically minded and informed, facilitating all aspects of research and communication.Trade Review'As a philosopher and a biologist I have been waiting for a long time for a book like this to come out. My students will learn a lot from it.' Massimo Pigliucci, K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy, City College of New York'Philosophy of Science for Biologists is a much-awaited book written for biologists, mainly for curious and open-minded biology students. Presenting a broad spectrum of perspectives and many fascinating examples from all areas of biology, the fifteen essays in this book offer a broad and exciting vista of biological ideas, their scope, their ambitions and their potential prejudices. The essays illustrate how a multiplicity of perspectives and methodologies can be combined to answer difficult questions, encouraging cooperation, healthy skepticism and necessary optimism. It should be the basis of an obligatory course for all biology students.' Eva Jablonka, Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas, Tel Aviv University'Historically, few biologists have recognized the valuable contributions that philosophy could make to their field. Finally, that is starting to change. In this landmark collection of essays from leading thinkers, Kampourakis and Uller provide the clearest summary yet of the philosophy that biologists really need to know if they want to be outstanding scientists who see the bigger picture.' Kevin N. Laland, Professor of Behavioural and Evolutionary Biology, University of St Andrews'Biologists do not simply uncover knowledge about the natural world, they build it, using concepts and classification schemes to frame their observations and experimental tests, and sifting the results so as to explain certain aspects of that enormously complex world. In this unusual volume, Uller and Kampourakis - a leading evolutionary biologist, and an accomplished critic of science and science education - call on biologists to carefully examine not just what they think, but how they think, by directly engaging with the philosophical issues that are imbedded in their scientific practice. The book will be of unique value to working biologists who seek to clarify their scientific aims and sharpen their concepts, research approaches, and analytical tools.' Sonia E. Sultan, Biology Department, Wesleyan University, Connecticut'… offers a collection of essays written by philosophy inclined scientists and science-minded philosophers who foster close connections to practicing scientists … The volume is not only a collection of several articles that can be read separately as introductory readings to a particular topic, there is also merit in reading this volume front to back. The contents are arranged carefully and communicate with each other by directly referencing other works in the volume and by implicitly establishing continuity across the chapters … [It] will come in handy for everyone looking for well-written, accessible introductions to some of the most exciting topics in the philosophy of biology.' Sophie Juliane Veigl, Acta Biotheoretica'... authors, make their case for the utility of the philosophy of science to the diverse community of students, teachers, and researchers pursuing careers in biology. The perspective is invigorating, offering insights to help biologists refine their thinking, even in fields with which they are most knowledgeable, and in particular to enhance how they might communicate science more effectively to a broader audience. This work celebrates the achievements, significance, and the potential of the biological sciences and is well worth reading.' Z. B. Johnson, Choice'… Philosophy of Science for Biologists delivers on its promise of presenting a highly readable, up-to-date overview of contemporary philosophy of science for biologists. Moreover, some of its chapters offer good contextualized case studies that could also be used for teaching philosophy of biology to philosophers.' Guido I. Prieto, Journal for General Philosophy of Science'… the editors assembled a 'dream-team' of experts in philosophy of biology to write accessible overviews of their specialized research topics that can be read in one sitting and can be used as assigned readings to facilitate discussion… Since each essay has a narrow focus on a particular problem, the volume manages to strike an impressive balance between breadth and depth… The essays are clear and accessible, and yet, admirably, they do not sacrifice philosophical precision and rigor. As a result, many of the essays turn out to be engaging overviews for philosophers and non-philosophers alike. The volume also knows its audience the essays are written to preempt typical 'triggers' that lead scientists to disregard philosophy, such as that philosophical thinking is 'too abstract,' or that it is merely for idle hours … Having a resource like this is incredibly useful for initiating engagement across philosophy and biology, and it is an especially valuable resource for teaching.' Peter Woodford, Metascience'… this book is a success … the book by and large achieves its aims, and could be a base volume for a philosophy pf science course geared towards biologists. ' Aaron Novick, The Quarterly Review of Biology'… I can strongly recommend this book to PhD students as well as senior scientists, working in all branches of ecology. It nicely demonstrates that philosophers of science today usually do not regard themselves as 'guardians over good scientific practice', ready to set rules on how scientists should do their job. Rather, the main interest is in understanding how scientific practice works. The chapters thus provide a great 'view from the outside' … [it] offers inspiring insights into hot topics of philosophy of science with high relevance also for ecologists. And the presumably most convincing advantage of it being an edited volume is that you could start with any one chapter that seems interesting - then, most likely, you will want to read more.' Tina Heger, Basic and Applied Ecology'… Philosophy of Science for Biologists and the collection as a whole will come in handy for everyone looking for well-written, accessible introductions to some of the most exciting topics in the philosophy of biology. The ideas conveyed can undoubtedly be helpful for aspiring biologists.' Sophie Juliane Veigl, Acta Biotheoretica'… will be interesting for students and specialists alike.' Peter Woodford, Metascience'Although philosophically minded, the editors of this volume are primarily biolo­gists, while most of the fifteen chapters are written by philosophers … an informative and sometimes inspiring read. It is probably fair to say that evolutionary biology is the pet subject of philosophers of biology, and there is plenty about evolution to be found in its 300 + pages, but I was glad to see that the scope is much wider than that. Many of the topics covered are classical philosophy of science … The presentation, however, is always tailored to the needs of biologists in that the examples chosen to illustrate philosophical claims are explicitly biological, from paleontology to genetics, and from cultural evolution to Alzheimer's disease … Overall, the book will be interesting and relevant reading for biologists, but also philosophers with a serious interest in biology.' Frank E. Zachos, Philosophy of Science for BiologistsTable of Contents1. Why should biologists care about philosophy of science? Tobias Uller and Kostas Kampourakis; 2. What constitutes an explanation in biology? Angela Potochnik; 3. What is biological knowledge? Kevin McCain; 4. What is the nature of theories and models in biology? Emily Parke and Anya Plutynski; 5. How are biology concepts used and transformed? Ingo Brigandt; 6. Why does it matter that many biology concepts are metaphors? Kostas Kampourakis; 7. How do concepts contribute to scientific advancement? Evolutionary biology as a case study David Depew; 8. How can conceptual analysis contribute to scientific practice? The case of cultural evolution Tim Lewens; 9. What methods do life scientists use? A brief history with philosophical implications Erik L. Peterson; 10. Is it possible to scientifically reconstruct the history of life on earth? The biological sciences and deep time Carol Cleland; 11. What is the basis of biological classification? The search for natural systems Thomas Reydon; 12. What is the nature of scientific controversies in the biological sciences? Michael R. Dietrich; 13. What is the relation between facts and values in biological science? Biology in society Carrie Friese and Barbara Prainsack; 14. A philosopher in the age of creationism: What have I learned after fifty years doing philosophy of biology that I want to pass on to biologists Michael Ruse; 15. How can we teach philosophy of science to biologists? Kostas Kampourakis and Tobias Uller.

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Book SynopsisThis engaging new account of the powerful Tunguska explosion of 1908 provides a fresh look at the enigmatic disaster and the generations of researchers who have tried to understand it. Taking readers inside expeditions and investigations to explore the role of mystery in environmental history, Bruno examines the legacy of the explosion.

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Book SynopsisConsidered ''the father of genomics'', Fred Sanger (19182013) paved the way for the modern revolution in our understanding of biology. His pioneering methods for sequencing proteins, RNA and, eventually, DNA earned him two Nobel Prizes. He remains one of only four scientists (and the only British scientist) ever to have achieved that distinction. In this, the first full biography of Fred Sanger to be published, Brownlee traces Sanger''s life from his birth in rural Gloucestershire to his retirement in 1983 from the Medical Research Council''s Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Along the way, he highlights the remarkable extent of Sanger''s scientific achievements and provides a real portrait of the modest man behind them. Including an extensive transcript of a rare interview of Sanger by the author, this biography also considers the wider legacy of Sanger''s work, including his impact on the Human Genome Project and beyond.Trade Review'Fred Sanger's innovation and achievements enabled us to read the code of life. His breakthroughs transformed science, medicine, industry and society, and continue to open our eyes to a new knowledge and understanding of how life works … This book provides a rare opportunity to see a glimpse of a remarkable man who changed the world.' David Bentley, Vice-President and chief scientist, Illumina Inc., Cambridge'Every student of molecular biology would profit greatly by lingering over Sanger's own descriptions of the several strategies he attempted and the tools he had to invent to arrive at what is referred to today as Sanger DNA Sequencing … Sanger's success transformed molecular biology in inestimable ways and his methodology is equally foundational in such varied fields as evolutionary biology, plant breeding, paleontology, anthropology, linguistics, forensics and computer science … Fred Sanger was motivated by the challenge of discovery and believed fervently that through art and science, in their broadest senses, it is possible to make a lasting contribution towards the improvement and enrichment of human life.' Paul Berg, Stanford University, California'As this wonderfully illuminating biography of Sanger reveals, his contributions were deceptively simple but profoundly far-reaching … Fred Sanger was truly an extraordinary individual whose influence in modern biological and biomedical sciences cannot be overstated.' Elizabeth Blackburn, University of California, San Francisco'Fred Sanger was an extraordinary scientist as is evident from this informative biographical essay, celebrating his life and his contributions to science. To be awarded one Nobel Prize is very rare, to be awarded two, as was the case for Fred, has only been accomplished by four individuals in over one hundred years. His was a truly outstanding life … Fred is one of those few individuals of whom it can be said that they changed the world for ever. This essay gives a personal insight into his science and what he achieved. It allows all of us to be a little closer to this gentle, modest man of genius.' Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, London'Sanger, typical of many successful scientists, is reserved, even shy so we are fortunate that he offered to be interviewed. This book provides a wide-ranging account of his early life and his scientific career … The biography will provide inspiration and encouragement for aspiring inventors, for whom there is still a great need. Above all, it provides lessons for the funders: to find the next Sanger, they must be prepared to give long term support with strings loosely attached.' Sir Ed Southern, University of Oxford, from the Foreword'If you type the word 'Sanger' into a search engine, you may find that the Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge - named after Fred - comes out on top. I think he wouldn't have minded that. He has a living memorial - better than a statue … Sanger taught us to read the information of life, so that we can begin to understand it.' Sir John Sulston, founding Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge'This intimate biography gives readers an unparalleled glimpse into the life of a scientist who transformed biomedical research. This work is filled with scientific details that will delight a biochemist, is accessible to lay readers, and will certainly inspire budding scientists and established academics alike.' ISCB Newsletter'Revealing and fascinating.' Nature'The biography is well illustrated, very readable … a fascinating insight into the man, told very much, one feels, the way he would have wanted … [It] is a wonderful introduction to the man and his science. Read it and see what you think.' Hugh Pelham, The Biochemist'This is a great read and one that I would recommend to any student considering a career in the biological sciences - they will find a hero in Sanger and, in doing so, will be inspired.' Andy Squires, The BiologistTable of ContentsForeword Sir Edwin Southern; Acknowledgements; Brief chronology and honours; Introduction; 1. A Quaker upbringing; 2. How about studying insulin?; 3. Radioactive sequencing of proteins and nucleic acids; 4. Interview of Fred by the author in 1992. Early life; 5. Interview of Fred by the author in 1992. Insulin and the Biochemistry Department, Cambridge University; 6. Interview of Fred by the author, 1992. Nucleic Acids at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge; 7. Post-Sanger sequencing – high throughput, automated sequencing; 8. Cancer – the impact of New Generation Sequencing; 9. Commentaries on Fred Sanger's scientific legacy by Paul Berg, Elizabeth Blackburn, Sir John Sulston, David Bentley and Paul Nurse; Epilogue; Endnotes; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisRanging from the early Royal Society of London in the seventeenth century to the uptake of experimental philosophy in Paris and Berlin in the eighteenth, this book is the first integrated history of early modern experimental philosophy, one of the most significant developments of the period.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Tables and Figures; Abbreviations; Note on Citations; Introduction; 1. The Rise of Experimental Philosophy; 2. The Heyday of Experimental Philosophy; 3. From Experimental Philosophy to Empiricism; Conclusion; List of Manuscripts; Bibliography; Index.

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Book Synopsis“Bill Bryson is as amusing as ever. ... As a celebration of 350 years of modern science, Seeing Further is a worthy tribute.” —The EconomistJoin Bill Bryson on an unforgettable exploration of scientific genius, discovery, and invention. Edited and introduced by Bryson, with original contributions from “a glittering array of scientific writing talent” (Sunday Observer) including Margaret Atwood, Richard Dawkins, and Neal Stephenson, Seeing Further tells the spectacular story of modern science through the lens of the international Royal Society, founded on a damp November night in London in 1660. Isaac Newton, John Locke, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking—all have been fellows. Its members have split the atom, discovered the double helix and the electron, and given us the computer and the World Wide Web. Gorgeously illustrated with photographs, documents, and treasures

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Book SynopsisFrom Smithsonian Books, The Department of Mad Scientists is the first trade book ever on DARPA—the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—the maverick and controversial agency whose futuristic work has had amazing military and civilian application, from the Internet to GPS to driverless cars. Michael Belfiore, author of Rocketeers, visited science research sites across the country to provide this unprecedented look at the people who shape our country’s future technology.

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Book Synopsis“A colorful page-turner.” —Walter Isaacson, New York Times Book Review“As important a book on space as has ever been written.” —Homer Hickam, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rocket BoysThe dramatic inside story of the historic flights that launched SpaceX—and Elon Musk—from a shaky start-up into the world’s leading-edge rocket company.SpaceX has enjoyed a miraculous decade. Less than 20 years after its founding, it boasts the largest constellation of commercial satellites in orbit, has pioneered reusable rockets, and in 2020 became the first private company to launch human beings into orbit. Half a century after the space race it is private companies, led by SpaceX, standing alongside NASA, pushing forward into the cosmos, and laying the foundation for our exploration of other worlds

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A truly astonishing and eminently readable work of chemical detection, provocative, surprising and alive with moments when you just want to tug your neighbor’s sleeve and ask—can you believe this?” — Simon Winchester, bestselling author of The Perfectionists and editor of Lapham's Quarterly "Dan Levitt's What's Gotten Into You is one fascinating journey, from the fireworks of the Big Bang to the busy life of cells, this is a story of scientific discovery, history, dazzling egos, quiet courage, and pure unexpected insight. In other words, the best kind of story. Don't miss it." — Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Poisoner's Handbook and The Poison Squad "Fascinating . . . . I particularly recommend this book as a gift for high-school and college-age children to spark their interest in science." — Eva Moskowitz, The Wall Street Journal "Levitt sheds light on the tiniest bits of what humans are made of in his stellar debut . . . . This is marvelous." — Publishers Weekly, starred review “Mind-broadening and thought-provoking.” — Boston Globe "Science and history documentarian Dan Levitt’s upcoming book, What's Gotten Into You evokes a series of striking and often forceful images in tracing how our cells, elements, atoms and subatomic particles all found their way to our brains and bones and bodies . . . . it's a pretty mind-blowing book to read." — Bryn Nelson, CNN "[Levitt] keeps matters simple enough that science buffs will be satisfied and average readers will learn a great deal . . . . Lively, illuminating popular science." — Kirkus Reviews “This documentary effort is truly ambitious. He investigates the various chemical elements that make up the human body, then tracks them all the way back to the big bang.” — Library Journal “In What’s Gotten Into You, Dan Levitt delivers a survey of life’s building blocks that’s intelligent, accessible and just sheer fun.” — BookPage "The 14 billion years story of how the primaeval seeds of matter become you and your breakfast—easily digested." — Frank Close, Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics, Oxford University and author of Elusive: How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass ". . . brilliant popular science." — Undark "If someone asks you 'Where are you from?', thinking Europe maybe, or China or Africa, some ancient village somewhere, this book tells the deeper story, that you aren't local. You come from everywhere, from the air around you, from the sunshine, from rocks in your solar system, from comets, from distant stars that blew up long ago, from teeny mushroom threads boring into boulders. You and every atom in you have an origin story that will make you feel very small, very lucky and very magnificent and that, says Dan Levitt, is What's Gotten Into You." — Robert Krulwich, cofounder of Radiolab “Great book! Big Bang to vitamins! It brings home how we go about our daily lives with such a narrow and myopic view of the world. It’s refreshing to take a step back to see the very large, very small, and very old. What we know of the nuts and bolts of the universe is so far outside our everyday experiences.” — Paul Kenrick, Paleobotanist, Natural History Museum, London “This book is sheer pleasure, a grand exploration through space and time from the expanding universe to the molecules in living cells. As told through the experiences of the men and women who made the discoveries, this is also a beautifully human story—a marvelous read in every way!” — Ruth Lewin Sime, author of Lise Meitner: A Life in Physics “In this breezy ramble through multiple scientific domains, Dan Levitt takes the popular pursuit of family ancestry to cosmic extremes.” — Laurence Marschall, Natural History "The book is an immense journey and a deep dive into an endless and endlessly fascinating subject." — proto.life “There were many moments when I felt a deep sense of awe at the stranger than fiction journey that our planet has been on.” — GreenSpirit, UK

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