Popular science Books

Book SynopsisWe are the product of our evolutionary history and this history colours our everyday lives - from why we kiss to how religious we are. In How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Robin Dunbar explains how the distant past underpins our current behaviour, through the groundbreaking experiments that have changed the thinking of evolutionary biologists forever. He explains phenomena such as why ''Dunbar''s Number'' (150) is the maximum number of acquaintances you can have, why all babies are born premature and the science behind lonely hearts columns. Stimulating, provocative and highly enjoyable, this fascinating book is essential for understanding why humans behave as they do - what it is to be human.

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Book SynopsisWith wit, colour and clarity, What A Wonderful World quickly and painlessly brings us up to speed on how the world of the 21st century works. From economics to physics and biology to philosophy, Marcus Chown explains the complex forces that shape our universe. Why do we breathe? What is money? How does the brain work? Why did life invent sex? Does time really exist? How does capitalism work - or not, as the case may be? Where do mountains come from? How do computers work? How did humans get to dominate the Earth? Why is there something rather than nothing?In What a Wonderful World, Marcus Chown, bestselling author of Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You and the Solar System app, uses his vast scientific knowledge and deep understanding of extremely complex processes to answer simple questions about the workings of our everyday lives. Lucid, witty and hugely entertaining, it explains the basics of our essential existence, st

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Book SynopsisAn awe-inspiring exploration of the sounds of the living Earth, and the joys and threats of human music, language and noise. ''A symphony, filled with the music of life . . . fascinating, heartbreaking, and beautifully written.''ELIZABETH KOLBERT, author of The Sixth Extinction''Sounds Wild and Broken affirms Haskell as a laureate for the earth, his finely tuned scientific observations made more potent by his deep love for the wild he hopes to save.''NEW YORK TIMES''Wonderful . . . a reminder that the narrow aural spectrum on which most of us operate, and the ways in which human life is led, blocks out the planet's great, orchestral richness.''GUARDIANWe live on a planet alive with song, music, and speech. David George Haskell explores how these wonders came to be. In rainforests shimmering with insect sounds and swamps pulsing with frog calls we learn about evol

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA New York Times Bestseller One of Forbes.com's 10 Best Popular Science Books of 2016: Maths, Physics, Chemistry Honorable Mention for the 2017 PROSE Award in Cosmology and Astronomy, Association of American Publishers One of Ars Technica's 12 engrossing nonfiction books from 2016 One of Symmetry Magazine's Physics Books of 2016 One of Men's Journal's 40 Best Books of 2016 "Reading through is akin to receiving a private museum tour from an expert scientist... The authors present challenging content in accessible prose as they lead readers from our solar system to the edge of the visible universe, getting into the how and the what of just about everything there is to know about the cosmos... As Tyson, Strauss, and Gott explain the cutting-edge physics of multiverses, superstring theory, M-theory, and the benefits of colonizing space, even seasoned science readers will learn something new."--Publishers Weekly "As citizens of the cosmos, we are duty bound to explore it. So opine astrophysicists Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael Struass, and Richard Gott, guides on this bracing expedition through dusty galactic hinterlands and the vast theoretical vistas of Albert Einstein's work."--Nature "All three [authors] write in informal, conversational tones, and the text is sprinkled with genuinely funny non sequiturs, such as a brief rumination on dwarfs versus dwarves and commentary on English-speaking aliens in Star Trek... What the book does very well is to present not just what we know about the universe but how we know it."--Science "An accessible and comprehensive overview of our universe by three eminent astrophysicists... An entertaining introduction to astronomy."--Kirkus "Three of the leading voices in astrophysics take us on a well-illustrated tour that includes Pluto, questions of intelligent life, and whether the universe is infinite."--Philadelphia Inquirer "The text is written in an informal and approachable style, referencing many popular-culture icons... This book will open up some of the newest and most sophisticated concepts in astrophysics to a general audience, helping all of us better understand the universe we live in."--Booklist "This book is anything but another ho-hum book on astrophysics... Unlike many popular scientific books that are very esoteric, this one is more like a conversation between expert and interested lay person... [Welcome to the Universe] will be a great read for any non-scientist but also science curious persons. It is certainly a good book for the teacher of science at any level as well as the high school and college student. Any reader will be able to see how some complex scientific thoughts fit together."--NSTA Recommends "Their laudable goal is communicating vast, cosmic ideas in ways that are accessible without being simplistic."--Washington Post "If you have a passing interest in astrophysics and would like to deepen it, this book is for you... An authoritative book written with humour and charm."--Marcus Chown, Times Higher Education "This is an important book. Part fascinating story, part reference book, and part astrophysical textbook, the work presents an information-rich summary of the current state of human knowledge of the cosmos... Reading this book, which packages many entertaining treatments of concepts in astronomy and astrophysics, will make you a whole lot smarter about how the universe works. It is highly recommended."--David Eicher, Astronomy.com "The authors remind us that even though people are not the center of the universe, we are an intelligent species able to measure, theorize, comprehend, and explore the limits of knowledge. An excellent introduction that will equip readers to follow current astronomical discoveries."--Library Journal "Well written with clear, helpful graphics and glossy pictures accompanying the text. This book would be ideal for those who want a slightly more technical read."--Dr. Chris North, BBC Sky at Night Magazine "Riveting questions fielded by three top astrophysicists in engaging style, with great illustrations and just a handful of equations. They may just have produced the best book about the universe in the universe."--New Scientist "Astrophysicists Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael Strauss and J. Richard Gott team up for a readable survey of the universe, from our solar system's worlds to cosmic inflation and the multiverse. They don't stint on the details, and yes, there's some math involved, but it's well worth the journey."--Alan Boyle, GeekWire "Don't know the difference between a pulsar and a quasar? Pick up this endlessly fascinating book by three astrophysicists that provides a clear, readable introduction to the inner workings of our universe."--Men's Journal, a 40 Best Books of 2016 selection "Looking like a cross between a textbook and a coffee-table book, Welcome to the Universe is an extremely readable compilation of introductory astronomy lectures for non-science students... Their talks present physics with clarity and a little levity--with references to pop culture items such as Toy Story and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Gott even tackles time travel. What's not to like?"--Symmetry Magazine, a Physics Book of 2016 selection "Welcome to the Universe is going to turn your head around, because, frankly, what you think you know about the universe is probably wrong... Welcome to the Universe deserves numerous curtain calls for allowing the cosmos to embrace our existential thinking like a great Whitmanesque hug."--Peter Lewis, Philadelphia Inquirer "Learn about everything from the birth of the Universe and quasars to dark energy and exoplanets from three of the coolest guys you'll ever meet."--Annalee Newitz, Ars Technica "Welcome to the Universe is more than a breathtaking guide to the cosmos. It is a unique bridge between popular science and textbooks, admirably achieving Tyson's goal to 'empower you to understand the operations of nature.'"--Cosmos Magazine "A unique intergalactic voyage from our solar system to the outermost frontiers of the universe."--Lisa Kaaki, Arab News "This entertaining and enlightening book is an overview of the latest discoveries in astrophysics... The writing is witty yet informative, and the book is beautifully illustrated. [Welcome to the Universe] will appeal to all those who wish to learn more about the universe from three internationally prominent astrophysicists."--Forbes.com "In an informative and entertaining way, the book takes us from the latest discoveries to the edge of outer space, from planets, stars, galaxies, to black holes, wormholes, and time travel."--Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "The book's breadth is impressive. It starts with the basics (the size and scale of the universe) and finishes with a discussion of Einstein, general relativity, and the universe's fate... The book's strength is the authors' ability to write conversationally."--Air & Space MagazineTable of ContentsPreface 11 Part I Stars, Planets, and Life 15 1 The Size and Scale of the Universe 17 Neil deGrasse Tyson 2 From the Day and Night Sk y to Planetary Orbits 26 Neil deGrasse Tyson 3 Newton's Laws 42 Michael A. Strauss 4 How Stars Radiate Energy (I) 54 Neil deGrasse Tyson 5 How Stars Radiate Energy (II ) 71 Neil deGrasse Tyson 6 Stellar Spectra 81 Neil deGrasse Tyson 7 The Lives and Deaths of Stars (I) 93 Neil deGrasse Tyson 8 The Lives and Deaths of Stars (II ) 111 Michael A. Strauss 9 Why Pluto Is Not a Planet 126 Neil deGrasse Tyson 10 The Search for Life in the Galaxy 146 Neil deGrasse Tyson Part II Galaxies 171 11 The Interstellar Medium 173 Michael A. Strauss 12 Our Milk y Way 183 Michael A. Strauss 13 The Universe of Galaxies 197 Michael A. Strauss 14 The Expansion of the Universe 207 Michael A. Strauss 15 The Early Universe 222 Michael A. Strauss 16 Quasars and Supermassive Black Holes 241 Michael A. Strauss Part III Einstein and the Universe 255 17 Einstein's Road to Relativity 257 J. Richard Gott 18 Implications of Special Relativity 270 J. Richard Gott 19 Einstein's General Theory of Relativity 289 J. Richard Gott 20 Black Holes 300 J. Richard Gott 21 Cosmic Strings, Wormholes, and Time Travel 321 J. Richard Gott 22 The Shape of the Universe and the Big Bang 347 J. Richard Gott 23 Inflation and Recent Developments in Cosmology 374 J. Richard Gott 24 Our Future in the Universe 400 J. Richard Gott Acknowledgments 425 Appendix 1 Derivation of E = mc 2 427 Appendix 2 Bekenstein, Entropy of Black Holes, and Information 431 Notes 433 Suggested Reading 439 Index 441

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Book SynopsisWhat is climate change? How does it work? Learn from the experts in the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIESLearn about one of the most important issues facing our world today in this clear, simple and enlightening introduction.From HRH The Prince of Wales, environmentalist Tony Juniper and climate scientist Dr Emily Shuckburgh, it explains the history, dangers and challenges of global warming and explores possible solutions with which to reduce its impact.You''ll learn about . . .- The causes and consequences of climate disruption- Heatwaves, floods and other extreme weather- Disappearing wildlife- Acid oceans- The benefits of limiting warming- Sustainable farming- New, clean technologies- The circular economyLearn about other topics in the Ladybird Experts series including Gravity, Quantum Physics, Climate Change and Evolution.Written by the leading lights and most outstanding communicators in their fields, the Ladybird Expert books provide clear, accessible and authoritative introductions to subjects drawn from science, history and culture.For an adult readership, the Ladybird Expert series is produced in the same iconic small hardback format pioneered by the original Ladybirds. Each beautifully illustrated book features the first new illustrations produced in the original Ladybird style for nearly forty years.

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Book SynopsisLearn how to navigate the world of science through mind maps

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Book SynopsisEarth's history is embedded in its rocks, from dinosaur-trodden landscapes to new plastic-and-rock combinations. How to Read a Rock unearths stories buried in everything from grains of sand to mountain ranges, featuring over one hundred breathtaking illustrations that capture the planet's splendour. The book explores Earth's layers and landscapes, including caves, diamond volcanoes, ice strata, sand dunes, and lava flows, while also looking at space rocks beyond Earth to offer a sweeping history of rock formation unlike any other.How to Read a Rock delves into the geological past and what it can teach us about Earth's future, including evidence of the greening of the planet, the impact of natural forces, and clues on climate change and energy consumption. The book covers topics such as ancient coastlines and coral reefs, fossil fuels, deep earth, natural wonders, the contemporary limestone rock crisis, human-made minerals, technofossils, and so much more.

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Book Synopsis''A rare treat and it comes in seven servings, each essay will grip you at once'' NEW SCIENTIST''There is a lovely tribute to Dawkins''s friend Douglas Adams, some interesting speculations on the next few decades of genetic engineering, an explanation of what crystals really are, and some heartfelt reminiscences of Africa'' GUARDIAN''Essential reading'' SUNDAY TIMESRichard Dawkins is one of the finest minds in science, and in this superb collection of essays and letters, he demonstrates the depth of his knowledge and the rich variety of his interests. Whether he is examining postmodernism or the Human Genome Project, penning a letter to his daughter, or writing a moving eulogy to Douglas Adams and e-mailing Stephen Jay Gould, Dawkins writes with an intellectual vigour and grace that is second to none. This is a very human collection that shows not only the acuity of Dawkins'' scientific mind, but also his sense of humour and the warmth ofTrade Reviewthere is a lovely tribute to Dawkins's friend Douglas Adams, some interesting speculations on the next few decades of genetic engineering, an explanation of what crystals really are, and some heartfelt reminiscences of Africa. -- Steven Poole * THE GUARDIAN *his arguments sing with clear-eyed passion and conviction -- Patrick Nees * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *this erudite collection...... where Dawkins assesses the work of his late rival Stephen Jay Gould is essential reading. -- Travis Elborough * THE SUNDAY TIMES *'His passion collapses the notion that scientists are lab-coated androids.' * SUNDAY HERALD *A rare treat and it comes in seven servings, each essay will grip you at once. * NEW SCIENTIST *A must-read for fans and non-fans alike and for people of an independent mind everywhere. * THE HERALD *

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Book SynopsisFor centuries fireworks have been a source of delight and amazement in cultures around the world. But what produces their dazzling array of effects? This book takes you behind the scenes to explore the chemistry and physics behind the art of pyrotechnics. Topics covered include history and characteristics of gunpowder; principles behind each of the most popular firework types: rockets, shells, fountains, sparklers, bangers, roman candles and wheels; special effects, including sound effects, coloured smokes and electrical firing; firework safety for private use and displays; and firework legislation. The Chemistry of Fireworks is aimed at students with A level qualifications or equivalent. The style is concise and easy to understand, and the theory of fireworks is discussed in terms of well-known scientific concepts wherever possible. It will also be a useful source of reference for anyone studying pyrotechnics as applied to fireworks. Review Extracts a worthwhile addition to the pyroteTrade Review""" ... a worthwhile addition to the pyrotechnist's library ...""""""... interesting background information for those with A-level chemistry or its equivalent.""""""... a welcome primer on the chemistry of pyrotechnics.""""""... a useful source of information which makes absorbing reading.""""""... a useful primer or supplemental text for students and a handy reference source for fireworks aficionados."""Table of ContentsHistorical Introduction; The Characteristics of Black Powder; Rockets; Mines and Shells; Fountains; Sparklers; Bangers; Roman Candles; Gerbs and Wheels; Special Effects; Fireworks Safety; Fireworks Legislation; Subject Index.

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Book SynopsisThe weird and wonderful quest for unfathomably large numbersTrade Review‘A wonderful new book… if you love journeying into imagined mathematical worlds and simply exploring, then [this book] is pure, unadulterated escapism… brilliant.’ -- New Scientist‘We are taken on an amazing adventure… [with] witty humour and fascinating facts… a comprehensive read that I would struggle to find fault in and for anyone with a passion for maths, or a knack for numbers, I couldn’t recommend it enough!’ -- Astronomy Ireland‘The brilliant combination of an accomplished science writer and a young mathematical prodigy has resulted in page after page that oozes enthusiasm, clarity and intrigue.’ -- Bobby Seagull, on Weirder MathsTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Of Sand and Stars 2 At the Limits of Reality 3 Maths Unbound 4 Up, Up and Away 5 G Whizz 6 Conway’s Chains 7 Ackermann and the Power of Recursion 8 Figure This – If You Can 9 Infinite Matters 10 Growing Fast 11 Does Not Compute! 12 The Strange World of the Googologist 13 Bridge to Beyond 14 The Biggest Number of All Acknowledgements Bibliography Useful websites and webpages References

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Book SynopsisIn her addictive, bold voice, bestselling author Mary Roach delves into the unpredictable world where wildlife and humans meet.Trade Review‘A provocative and engaging exploration of our evolving relationship with the rest of nature.’ -- Guardian‘Combining diligently researched scientific reporting with the sniggering wit of a stand-up comic… Animal Vegetable Criminal loves an eyebrow-raising anecdote.’ -- The Times‘Bestseller Roach sheds light on nature’s malefactors in this often funny, always provocative survey…Roach’s writing is wry, full of heart, and loaded with intriguing facts… This eminently entertaining outing is another winner.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred review‘Reading a Mary Roach book is like spending a luxurious and joyful evening with the perfect dinner guest. Delightful facts become indelibly etched in your brain, and only later do you realise that hours have passed and your face slightly hurts from smiling too hard. In Animal Vegetable Criminal, Roach’s peerless storytelling skills are paired with a sense of moral urgency, as she recounts stories of humans and other animals, uneasily and clumsily learning to co-exist in a world that they must now share.’ -- Ed Yong, science journalist and author of I Contain Multitudes‘Hilarious! With Animal Vegetable Criminal, Mary Roach again takes us into an unfamiliar scientific realm, in this case the science of managing the conflicts between humans and the natural world – lethal leopards, rampaging elephants, jet-downing birds, even killer trees. It’s an ever-widening conflict zone, but one that Ms. Roach gleefully mines for a multitude of bizarre facts that’ll make you snort coffee through your nose.’ -- Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile‘An idiosyncratic tour with Roach as the wisecracking, ever-probing guide… My favorite moments, ultimately, weren’t the funny ones, but those that reveal a bit of scientific poetry.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘With her characteristic dry wit, [Roach] brings an intense fascination to the seldom discussed details and the at times absurd miscellany in the unexplored corners of unappreciated research… It is impossible not to smirk, chortle and sometimes outright belly laugh as you read her many wry asides and funny but fascinating footnotes… But the real trick Roach pulls off is to keep you laughing while at the same time making sure the earnest points come across.’ * New Scientist *‘A hugely enjoyable exploration of what happens when the nature we’ve decided to love doesn’t love us back. By turns hilarious and horrifying – and often profound – Roach’s entertaining journeys are full of delightful curios and I was swept up in her joyful writing.’ -- Gaia Vince, author of Transcendence‘Each chapter is packed with the results of [Roach’s] detailed investigations. Roach uses footnotes to add both depth and lightness to the topic at hand by capturing misfit studies, asides, and hilarious tangents… Refreshing.’ -- Science‘Full of kernels of fascinating information… Her approach is informative and unpretentious, and she’s always armed with a dry sense of humor. Roach will change the way you think about the great outdoors. What more could you ask for?’ * BuzzFeed *‘The book brims with Roach’s irreverent humor, which particularly shines when she experiences human-animal conflict firsthand… A blend of modern science and history, with Roach’s flair for spotting hidden absurdities… As another entry in Roach’s canon of books, Animal Vegetable Criminal stands tall (and hairy), educating as much as it entertains.’ * Science News *‘[Animal Vegetable Criminal is] powerfully propelled by the force of Roach’s unflinching fascination with the weird, the gross and the downright improbable… There’s a wacky genius to [her] interjections… [Her] curious and generous engagement with her subjects makes for world-expanding reading.’ -- Washington Post‘Traveling from a bear seminar in Reno to a bird-infested island in the Pacific that plagued the American military during World War II, among many other venues, Roach joyfully explores how human culture and wildlife, including plant life, have either found ways to coexist or are constantly at odds. Throughout, Roach highlights people who are genuinely passionate about the work, and she also includes suggestions for readers on how to deal ethically (and effectively) with their own wildlife issues, wherever they live. From the terrifying to the frustrating, a great starting point for understanding the animal world.’ -- Kirkus, starred review‘A witty and thought-provoking look at the darker side of animal behaviour through the ages. Highly entertaining and informative – excellent popular science writing.’ -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and author‘As hilarious as it is thought-provoking, Animal Vegetable Criminal is a brilliant read. Only Mary Roach can make such an obscure subject so intriguing. From battles with birds to marauding macaques, Roach reveals what happens when nature breaks human laws, with fascinating results.’ -- Monty Lyman, author of The Remarkable Life of the Skin‘Mary Roach has been writing brilliant, funny and illuminating popular science books for years. Unfortunately – at least for those of us with ambitions to step into her shoes – she has gone and done it again! Animal Vegetable Criminal is as good as anything this wonderful author has ever written, and that is saying something.’ -- Graham Lawton, author of Mustn’t Grumble: The surprising science of everyday ailments‘I sometimes wonder what animals have done wrong to deserve humans and what we do to them. But I know that humanity has done something right to deserve Mary Roach, the best guide possible to the fascinating but sometimes fraught interactions between human, animal and nature. She prowls through this intersection of worlds with the sleek grace of a leopard, diving into garbage cans, Indian elephant politics and mass murders of murders of crows, with her usual wit and wisdom. There’s only one downside to this delightful and brilliant book, and that’s that the animals can’t read it too.’ -- Rose George, journalist and author of Nine Pints‘Animal Vegetable Criminal is as funny as it is immersive. It is littered with colourful details of characters… The book is sympathetic to the complex problem of our coexistence with nature, and maintains that the dilemma of animals disturbing the peacefulness of our existence is only increasing in urgency.’ -- New Statesman‘This book is such a rich stew of anecdotes and lore that it’s best savored slowly, bit by bit… No matter the situation, Roach approaches it with contagious enthusiasm.’ -- BookPage, starred review‘[A] splendid study of all things alimentary…’ -- Bill Bryson on Gulp‘The most entertaining writer in science.’ * The Times *'Mary Roach has a knack for finding quirky corners of science to explore and does so with unfailingly good nature and charm.' -- Fortean Times

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Book SynopsisA former NASA scientist makes the cosmic common knowledgeTo study astronomy is to consider the most wondrous phenomena on the grandest of scales - the universe and all it contains. Beginning with our earliest explorations of the night sky, William Waller takes us on an enthralling journey through the Milky Way and far, far beyond. He combines science and history to show how our understanding of everything from black holes to the structure of the universe has evolved over time, illuminating past discoveries and offering contemporary insights into the cosmic histories of stars, planets and galaxies. Whether object of study or curiosity, the universe - and all it contains - is tantalisingly introduced here.Trade Review‘The most informative and approachable introduction to astronomy of recent years. Bill Waller is a congenial guide on this grand tour to the farthest reaches of the universe.’ -- Alan Hirshfeld, author of Starlight Detectives: How Astronomers, Inventors, and Eccentrics Discovered the Modern Universe‘A fun, engaging and entertaining introduction to the wonderful phenomena in space. Covering broad topics spanning the birth, life and death of the universe, this book is a fantastic way to quench your astronomical thirst.’ -- Dr Sheila Kanani MBE, Education, Outreach and Diversity Officer, Royal Astronomical Society, and Honorary Researcher, Lancaster University

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Book SynopsisA leading biologist looks at how humans have meddled with evolution throughout history – and what we will do nextTrade Review‘An accessible, enlightening writer… Big history meets big science – and it’s great entertainment.’ -- The Times, Best Books of 2021‘[Life as We Made It] provides a detailed exploration of some of the most influential technologies of our time. It also offers a tantalising glimpse of what might be in store in the future, when humanity starts to mix things up all over again.’ -- New Scientist‘[A] fun-filled survey… Shapiro’s anecdotes are full of energy… Perfect for fans of Mary Roach, this is science writing with much to savour.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘A brilliant combination of science, natural history, and first-person experience, Life as We Made It shows how our species has been manipulating nature for nearly as long as we’ve been around. Anyone who wants to better understand the future of life – human and otherwise – should read this book.’ -- Jennifer Doudna, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry‘For the past two decades, Beth Shapiro has pioneered using ancient DNA to understand the diversity of life. In Life as We Made It, her twin passions for cutting-edge science and natural history leap from every page. This book will entertain and challenge you to think in new ways about our role in the future of life on Earth.’ -- Neil Shubin, evolutionary biologist and author of Your Inner Fish‘Very few people write about the insane complexities and power of biology with greater clarity, insight and levity than Beth Shapiro.’ -- Adam Rutherford, author of A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived‘In this brilliant new book, biologist Beth Shapiro tells the incredible story of how we’re remaking much of nature and lays out a thoughtful path for how we can survive and thrive by learning to more wisely apply our god-like powers.’ -- Jamie Metzl, author of Hacking Darwin‘Shapiro chronicles the many ways humans have influenced the evolutionary trajectories of other species, from prehistory through the present day. Tools like CRISPR are just the latest way we have shaped the life on this planet. She effectively makes the case that our use of evolution as a tool is ethically acceptable, if done carefully and with informed consent.’ -- Emma Marris, author of Wild Souls‘[Shapiro’s] expansive survey of the hopes and fears – and the hypes and fails – of genetic manipulation is an enjoyable tour of “impossible” species created to solve pressing human problems… She builds a convincing case… there is no doubt that synthetic biology has the potential to help solve some of our biggest global problems. With this clear-eyed account of its humanitarian potential, Shapiro has done the field a great service.’ * Nature *‘Life as We Made It presents a compelling vision that encourages us to be more open-minded.’ -- Philippa Nuttall * New Statesman *‘Thoughtful and entertaining’ -- Adrian Woolfson * Wall Street Journal *‘In an age when “technology” has become synonymous with the information kind, it is worth being reminded that other sorts are available. And with one of them people can, if they so choose, remake themselves.’ -- Economist‘Throughout our existence, humans have been unconscious genetic engineers. In this excellent summary of the most exciting parts of 21st-century biology, Beth Shapiro shows how we have inadvertently shaped the natural world, producing extinctions and slowly altering domestic animals. Above all, she optimistically describes how we might be able to use our new conscious ability to engineer genomes to save species and deliberately change the world for the better.’ -- Professor Matthew Cobb, University of Manchester‘An engaging account of how our ancestors’ actions, over tens of thousands of years, ended up modifying our genomes and those of countless other species, a thanksgiving for the beauty and bounty wrought by these changes, and a thoughtful, refreshingly optimistic anticipation of what is to come as we, one way or another, exert ever greater control over evolution.’ -- Austin Burt, professor of evolutionary genetics, Imperial College London‘Deeply thought-provoking… Around two to three decades ago the protests against genetically modified food types seemed warranted and necessary due to far too many unknowns. Now, with more precise genetic editing, examples such as Golden Rice discussed by Shapiro demonstrate that we are now in more nuanced times, and this is a topic that does need to be examined and more closely debated. Shapiro’s book is timely and well worth reading.’ -- Simon Cocking, Irish Tech News‘The scientific study of ancient DNA preserved in extinct species and the possibility of de extinction make for truly fascinating reading. Employing just the right amount of paleontology, history, genomics, and archaeology, Shapiro warns that we stand on the precipice of fashioning a new, unnatural nature. The risk of messing up the future of other species and even the planet itself looms large.’ * Booklist *‘Shapiro takes readers on a succinct and compelling journey through historical events, inventions, and decisions that have forever changed the course of life on Earth… In what is perhaps the greatest accomplishment of Life as We Made It, Shapiro clearly articulates key questions whose answers will define how we think about and use the power we now yield… Shapiro offers readers a history lesson from which to pull both caution and inspiration. In doing so, she sets the table for a needed conversation about our lasting imprint on the tree of life. It is up to us to take a seat.’ -- Science‘Shapiro is a fantastic science communicator who addresses the many nuances of each topic she touches, and she can be disarmingly funny. I heartily recommend you read this book.’ -- The Inquisitive Biologist‘Beth Shapiro’s unmissable book… My advice is not to waste time on COP26, and read this book instead… She is a thoughtful academic… This book brings readers up to date, assessing the impact on research of the Covid-19 event and the appetite for adopting riskier technologies more quickly… Life as We Made It turns a potentially chilling threat into a promise – so long as those charged with the process are as far-seeing and practical as its author. That’s the challenge upon which readers will be left reflecting.’ -- Reaction‘Beth Shapiro takes readers on a journey of scientific discovery, explaining how symbiotic relationships between humans and the environment around us have changed – but not always for the better…’ * Engadget *

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Book SynopsisOverlooked, sidelined, excluded, discredited: key figures in scientific discovery come and take their bow in an alternative Nobel prize gallery.

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Book SynopsisBiology Essentials For Dummies (9781119589587) was previously published as Biology Essentials For Dummies (9781118072677). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. Just the core concepts you need to score high in your biology course Biology Essentials For Dummies focuses on just the core concepts you need to succeed in an introductory biology course. From identifying the structures and functions of plants and animals to grasping the crucial discoveries in evolutionary, reproductive, and ecological biology, this easy-to-follow guide lets you skip the suffering and score high at exam time. Get down to basics master the fundamentals, from understanding what biologists study to how living things are classifiedThe chemistry of life find out what you need to know about atoms, elements, molecules, compounds, acids, bases, and moreConquer and divide discover the ins aTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Chapter 1: Exploring the Living World 5 Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life 23 Chapter 3: The Living Cell 39 Chapter 4: Energy and Organisms 57 Chapter 5: Reproducing Cells 73 Chapter 6: DNA and Proteins: Life Partners 95 Chapter 7: Ecosystems and Populations 111 Chapter 8: Understanding Genetics 129 Chapter 9: Biological Evolution 145 Chapter 10: Ten Great Biology Discoveries 157 Index 163

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Book SynopsisPhysics Essentials For Dummies(9781119590286) was previously published asPhysics Essentials For Dummies (9780470618417). While this version features a newDummiescover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. For students who just need to know the vital concepts of physics, whether as a refresher, for exam prep, or as a reference,Physics Essentials For Dummiesis a must-have guide. Free of ramp-up and ancillary material,Physics Essentials For Dummiescontains content focused on key topics only. It provides discrete explanations of critical concepts taught in an introductory physics course, from force and motion to momentum and kinetics. This guide is also a perfect reference for parents who need to review critical physics concepts as they help high school students with homework assignments, as well as for adult learners headed back to the classroom who just need a refresher of the core concepts. The Essentials For DTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Chapter 1: Viewing the World through the Lens of Physics 5 Chapter 2: Taking Vectors Step by Step 15 Chapter 3: Going the Distance with Speed and Acceleration 25 Chapter 4: Studying Circular Motions 41 Chapter 5: Push-Ups and Pull-Ups: Exercises in Force 49 Chapter 6: Falling Slowly: Gravity and Friction 63 Chapter 7: Putting Physics to Work 77 Chapter 8: Moving Objects with Impulse and Momentum 95 Chapter 9: Navigating the Twists and Turns of Angular Kinetics 111 Chapter 10: Taking a Spin with Rotational Dynamics 127 Chapter 11: There and Back Again: Simple Harmonic Motion 139 Chapter 12: Ten Marvels of Relativity 159 Index 167

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Chapter 1: Matter and Energy: Exploring the Stuff of Chemistry 5 Knowing the States of Matter and Their Changes 6 Solids, liquids, and gases 6 Condensing and freezing 7 Melting and boiling 8 Skipping liquids: Sublimation 9 Pure Substances and Mixtures 9 Pure substances 10 Throwing mixtures into the mix 11 Measuring Matter 12 Nice Properties You’ve Got There 13 Energy Types 14 Kinetic energy 14 Potential energy 15 Temperature and Heat 15 Chapter 2: What’s in an Atom? 17 Subatomic Particles 17 Centering on the Nucleus 19 Locating Those Electrons 21 The quantum mechanical model 21 Energy level diagrams 26 Isotopes and Ions 30 Isotopes: Varying neutrons 31 Ions: Varying electrons 32 Chapter 3: The Periodic Table 35 Repeating Patterns: The Modern Periodic Table 35 Arranging Elements in the Periodic Table 38 Grouping metals, nonmetals, and metalloids 38 Arranging elements by families and periods 41 Chapter 4: Nuclear Chemistry 43 Seeing How the Atom’s Put Together 43 Dealing with a Nuclear Breakup: Balancing Reactions 44 Understanding Types of Natural Radioactive Decay 46 Alpha emission 47 Beta emission 48 Gamma emission 48 Positron emission 48 Electron capture 49 Half-Lives and Radioactive Dating 49 Calculating remaining radioactivity 50 Radioactive dating 51 Breaking Elements Apart with Nuclear Fission 51 Mass defect: Where does all that energy come from? 52 Chain reactions and critical mass 52 Coming Together with Nuclear Fusion 53 Chapter 5: Ionic Bonding 55 Forming Ions: Making Satisfying Electron Trades 55 Gaining and losing electrons 56 Looking at charges on single-atom ions 58 Grouping atoms to form polyatomic ions 61 Creating Ionic Compounds 63 Making the bond: Sodium metal + chlorine gas = sodium chloride 63 Figuring out the formulas of ionic compounds 64 Naming ionic compounds 66 Bonding Clues: Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes 68 Chapter 6: Covalent Bonding 69 Covalent Bond Basics 69 Sharing electrons: A hydrogen example 69 Comparing covalent bonds with other bonds 71 Dealing with multiple bonds 72 Naming Covalent Compounds Made of Two Elements 73 Writing Covalent Compound Formulas 74 Empirical formulas 74 Molecular or true formulas 75 Structural formulas: Dots and dashes 75 Electronegativities: Which Atoms Have More Pull? 81 Predicting the type of bond 81 Polar covalent bonding: Creating partial charges 83 Attracting other molecules: Intermolecular forces 84 Chapter 7: Chemical Reactions 87 Reactants and Products: Reading Chemical Equations 87 Collision Theory: How Reactions Occur 88 Hitting the right spot 89 Adding, releasing, and absorbing energy 90 Types of Reactions 92 Combination reactions: Coming together 92 Decomposition reactions: Breaking down 93 Single displacement reactions: Kicking out another element 93 Double displacement reactions: Trading places 95 Combustion reactions: Burning 97 Redox reactions: Exchanging electrons 97 Balancing Chemical Equations 97 Balancing the Haber process 98 Balancing the burning of butane 99 Knowing Chemical Equilibrium Backward and Forward 100 Matching rates of change in the Haber process 101 Constants: Comparing amounts of products and reactants 102 Le Chatelier’s Principle: Getting More (or Less) Product 103 Changing the concentration 103 Changing the temperature 104 Changing the pressure 104 Chemical Kinetics: Changing Reaction Speeds 105 Seeing How Catalysts Speed Up Reactions 107 Heterogeneous catalysis: Giving reactants a better target 108 Homogeneous catalysis: Offering an easier path 108 Chapter 8: Electrochemistry: Using Electrons 111 Transferring Electrons with Redox Reactions 111 Oxidation 112 Reduction 113 One’s loss is the other’s gain 114 Oxidation numbers 115 Balancing Redox Equations 116 Exploring Electrochemical Cells 120 Galvanic cells: Getting electricity from chemical reactions 121 Electrolytic cells: Getting chemical reactions from electricity 122 Having it both ways with rechargeable batteries 123 Chapter 9: Measuring Substances with the Mole 125 Counting by Weighing 125 Moles: Putting Avogadro’s Number to Good Use 127 Defining the mole 127 Calculating weight, particles, and moles 128 Finding formulas of compounds 129 Chemical Reactions and Moles 130 Reaction stoichiometry 131 Percent yield 132 Limiting reactants 133 Chapter 10: A Salute to Solutions 135 Mixing Things Up with Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions 135 How dissolving happens 136 Concentration limits 136 Saturated facts 137 Understanding Solution Concentration Units 138 Percent composition 138 Molarity: Comparing solute to solution 140 Molality: Comparing solute to solvent 143 Parts per million 143 Chapter 11: Acids and Bases 145 Observing Properties of Acids and Bases 145 The Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory 146 Understanding Strong and Weak Acids and Bases 147 Strong: Ionizing all the way 147 Weak: Ionizing partially 149 Acid-Base Reactions: Using the Brønsted-Lowry System 151 Acting as either an acid or base: Amphoteric water 152 Showing True Colors with Acid-Base Indicators 153 Doing a quick color test with litmus paper 153 Phenolphthalein: Finding concentration with titration 154 Phun with the pH Scale 155 Chapter 12: Clearing the Air on Gases 159 The Kinetic Molecular Theory: Assuming Things about Gases 159 Relating Physical Properties with Gas Laws 162 Boyle’s Law: Pressure and volume 163 Charles’s Law: Volume and temperature 164 Gay-Lussac’s Law: Pressure and temperature 165 The combined gas law: Pressure, volume, and temp 166 Avogadro’s Law: The amount of gas 167 The ideal gas equation: Putting it all together 168 Chapter 13: Ten Serendipitous Discoveries in Chemistry 171 Archimedes: Streaking Around 171 Vulcanization of Rubber 172 Molecular Geometry 172 Mauve Dye 172 Kekulé: The Beautiful Dreamer 173 Discovering Radioactivity 173 Finding Really Slick Stuff: Teflon 173 Stick ’Em Up! Sticky Notes 174 Growing Hair 174 Sweeter than Sugar 174 Index 175

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2024Couldn't be a bolder, more forthright SOS for sport The ObserverThe world of sport has a new opponent: climate change. In recent years, a world championship marathon was held at midnight to avoid the blistering sun. Professional athletes needed oxygen tanks to play during wildfire season in California. Players collapsed and play was suspended amid the heat and bushfire smoke at the Australian Tennis open. Ski resorts in the Alps have turned into ghost towns. Golf courses are sinking into the sea. And then there's the Qatar World Cup, among the greatest follies in sporting history, one that saw hundreds (perhaps thousands) of heat-induced deaths before a ball was even kicked. The threat climate change poses to sport is clear, but with billions of participants and fans around the world who rely on the sector for entertainment, jobs, fitness and health, this is one industry we can't afford to lose. In this book, Madeleine Orr s

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Book SynopsisNeil Delamere: ''Smart, accessible and full of brilliant tidbits''Dave Moore: ''A delightful wander through the human body''Dylan Evans: ''Prepare to be genuinely astonished by the marvels of the human body.''Explore the intricate nature of our amazing anatomy...Scientist and ''Chaser'' Dr Darragh Ennis reveals everything about the human body in ten informative, bite-sized essays. We all have questions about our body that we really should know the answers to, so discover why blood is red, how our body defends itself, why we sleep, how hormones control everything we do and much, much more!A fascinating, illuminating and engaging read, it''s the perfect gift for anyone interested in biology, DNA or who just wants to learn more about the human body.

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Book SynopsisDid you know—• It took more than an iceberg to sink the Titanic.• The Challenger disaster was predicted.• Unbreakable glass dinnerware had its origin in railroad lanterns.• A football team cannot lose momentum. • Mercury thermometers are prohibited on airplanes for a crucial reason.• Kryptonite bicycle locks are easily broken.“Things fall apart” is more than a poetic insight—it is a fundamental property of the physical world. Why Things Break explores the fascinating question of what holds things together (for a while), what breaks them apart, and why the answers have a direct bearing on our everyday lives.When Mark Eberhart was growing up in the 1960s, he learned that splitting an atom leads to a terrible explosion—which prompted him to worry that when he cut into a stick of butter, he would inadvertently unleash a nuclear cataclysm. Years later, as a chemistry professo

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Book SynopsisDid you know that stars are seasonal? That Orion is one of the brightest constellations? That a single day on Venus is longer than an entire year on Venus?Space has captivated mankind since the beginning of time. Fifty years ago, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon and since then our knowledge of astronomy has continued to expand. With so many mysteries yet to be solved, science journalist Abigail Beall takes readers on an astonishing journey though the landscape of space. In The Art of Urban Astronomy, you will be guided through the seasons and learn about the brightest stars and constellations, the myths and legends of astronomy and how to identify star clusters and galaxies with just your eyes or a pair of binoculars. For urban dwellers wrapped up in the rush and bustle of the city, it can be calming and truly valuable to take the time simply to stop, look and reconnect with nature. Packed full of seasonal star charts, con

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Book Synopsis Dive into the mind of Nikola Tesla! Written in his own words, this Nikola Tesla book features the lectures, illustrations, and other works that established Tesla as one of history’s great geniuses. During the early twentieth century, the eccentric and brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla blazed the path that electrical development followed for many years to come. This fascinating illustrated record of Tesla’s pioneering work gathers many of his most famous findings and theories, allowing contemporary readers to experience the amazing range of his thinking. It includes lectures, articles, and discussions—particularly those bearing on polyphase motors and the effects obtained with currents of high potential and high frequency—and gives us a rare glimpse of a genius at work.A fascinating look at Tesla’s contributions to the history of electricity, including the electric motor that inspired Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors. Filled with Tesla facts and diagrams of his groundbreaking work, this is the perfect book for anyone searching for a Tesla biography focused on his scientific discoveries.  

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Book SynopsisOur brains evolved to solve the survival problems of our Stone Age ancestors, so when faced with modern day situations that are less extreme, they often encounter a mismatch. Our primitive brains put us on the wrong foot by responding to stimuli that - in prehistoric times - would have prompted behaviour that was beneficial. If you''ve ever felt an anxious fight or flight response to a presenting at a board meeting, equivalent to facing imminent death by sabre-toothed tiger, then you have experienced a mismatch.Mismatch is about the clash between our biology and our culture. It is about the dramatic contrast between the first few million years of human history - when humans lived as hunters and gatherers in small-scale societies - and the past twelve thousand years following the agricultural revolution which have led us to comfortable lives in a very different social structure. Has this rapid transition been good for us? How do we, using our primitive minds, try to su

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Book SynopsisFundamental does for physics what Tim''s first book, Elemental, does for chemistry: it demystifies the topic in his trademark humorous, engaging style, including the most recent developments in the field.At the start of the twentieth century, science appeared complete and the laws of nature were almost all discovered, but then we woke a sleeping giant - we discovered quantum mechanics. In the quantum realm, objects can be in two places at once. It''s a place where time travel is not only possible, but necessary. It''s a place where cause and effect can happen in reverse and observing something changes its state. From parallel universes to antimatter, quantum mechanics has revealed that when you get right down to it, the laws of nature are insane. The scientist J. B. S. Haldane once said, ''Reality is not only stranger than we imagine . . . it''s stranger than we can imagine.'' Never is this more true than with quantum mechanics; our best, most recenTrade ReviewA hugely entertaining tour of the periodic table and the 118 elements that are the basic building blocks of everything. - Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThe discovery of the Higgs boson made headlines around the world. Two scientists, Peter Higgs and François Englert, whose theories predicted its existence, shared a Nobel Prize. The discovery was the culmination of the largest experiment ever run, the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN''s Large Hadron Collider.But what really is a Higgs boson and what does it do? How was it found? And how has its discovery changed our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature? And what did it feel like to be part of it?Jon Butterworth is one of the leading physicists at CERN and this book is the first popular inside account of the hunt for the Higgs. It is a story of incredible scientific collaboration, inspiring technological innovation and ground-breaking science. It is also the story of what happens when the world''s most expensive experiment blows up, of neutrinos that may or may not travel faster than light, and the reality of life in an underground bunker in Switzerland.Trade Review[An] excellent account of one of the greatest intellectual adventures of modern times . . . I loved this insider's story of the discovery of the Higgs boson. -- Roger Highfield * Sunday Times *Like The Lord of the Rings, Smashing Physics takes readers on a long path with many moments of peril and uncertainty to reach the triumphant discovery of the Higgs Boson * Jim Gates, US Science advisor to President Obama *This is more than just another telling of the story of the hunt for the Higgs at the LHC - the reader here is utterly immersed in the politics, excitement and sheer intellectual adventure of discovery... from someone who was actually there! The process of scientific research is laid bare in all its glory, warts and all, and emerges as a delightful example of what is best about human intellectual endeavour. * Jim Al-Khalili *The author's enthusiasm would excite any reader to want to be part of the adventure, too, and this book will surely inspire a new generation into science * Frank Close *

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Book SynopsisFrom the phenomenal New Scientist series, with over 2,500,000 copies soldThe second compilation of readers'' answers to the questions in the ''Last Word'' column of New Scientist, the world''s best-selling science weekly. Following the phenomenal success of Does Anything Eat Wasps? - the Christmas 2005 surprise bestseller - Why Don''t Penguins'' Feet Freeze? includes answers to the most fascinating, trivial, idiosyncratic, baffling and strange questions in popular science. Ever wondered why we have fingerprints? Or whether bumblebees really defy the laws of physics when they fly? And why are eggs egg-shaped? And dogs'' noses black? Why do our eyes water when we cut onions? Why doesn''t superglue stick to the inside of its tube?Why Don''t Penguins'' Feet Freeze? is popular science at its most entertaining and enlightening.

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Basic Mathematics teaches you all the maths you need for everyday situations. If you are terrified by maths, this is the book for you.Do you shy away from using numbers? Basic Mathematics can help. An easy-to-follow guide, it will ensure you gain the confidence you need to tackle maths and overcome your fears. It offers simple explanations of all the key areas, including decimals, percentages, measurements and graphs, and applies them to everyday situations, games and puzzles to help you understand mathematics quickly and enjoyably.Everything you need is here in this one book. Each chapter includes clear explanations, worked examples and test questions. At the end of the book there are challenges and games to give you new and interesting ways to practise your new skills.

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Book SynopsisTake a trip beyond this Earth to explore the myths of The Mandalorian and uncover the anatomy of the newest space western in the Star Wars Universe.Star Wars dominates the film world. The combined box office revenue of the Star Wars movies equates to over $10 billion, making it the second highest-grossing film franchise of all time. But this franchise is no blaster from the past. Its fantastically successful films have now been followed by multiple television series set in that same galaxy far, far away. The franchise’s flagship television series, and likely the firmest fan favorite for some time to come, is The Mandalorian. Tracing the tale of the titular bounty hunter, traveling across the furthest reaches of that mythic galaxy, The Mandalorian has been greatly praised and highly acclaimed for creating characters with gravitas and originality, worlds with depth and impact, resulting in some of the best Star Wars content ever. Even though it’s set in deep space, The Mandalorian has as much in common with Western movies as it does with science fiction. Saloons. Bandits. “Gun” duels. Bounty hunters. Outlaws with a price on their heads. Space exploration as a “final frontier.” And a wild hero who doesn’t quite belong in a lawless part of the Galaxy after the fall of the Empire.The Science of The Mandalorian takes you on a badass journey with a mysterious, lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, where your beskar armor will protect you from many things, but not the sight of a small, green, carnivorous humanoid with big black eyes and mysterious powers. This is the way.

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Book SynopsisWhat’s the best book ever written? What would happen if we all stopped eating meat? What's the secret to living past 110? And what actually is the best thing since sliced bread? In An Answer For Everything, 200 of the world’s most intriguing questions are settled once and for all through beautiful and brilliant infographics. The results will leave you shocked, informed and thoroughly entertained. Created by the team behind the award-winning Delayed Gratification magazine, these compelling, darkly funny data visualisations will change the way you think about ... everythingTrade ReviewFresh, fascinating, and fun – a visual and verbal treat * Ian Hislop *A chunky, colourful book packed with fascinating facts and figures in infographic form * Daily Mirror, Books of the Year *Data just got a lot more fun * It's Nice That *Achieves the ultimate factual book goal; makes you cleverer, with minimal effort on your part. You’ll learn from it but somehow it makes that pleasurable * Rachel Parris, The Mash Report *A fabulous compendium of a thousand new things you didn’t know you didn’t know. And it looks very nice too * Andrew Hunter Murray, No Such Thing as a Fish, QI *Delayed Gratification is one of my favourite magazines, and one of the best things about it is the infographics. They've now published a book of them and it's glorious! * Alex Bellos *

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Book SynopsisWe don't know what we've got until it's gone...This brief, lucid book by the Director of Science at Royal Botanical Gardens takes you on an unforgettable tour of the natural world, showing how biodiversity - the rich variety of life in the world and in our own backyards - provides both the source and the salvation of our existence. Combining inspiration stories and the latest scientific research, Alex Antonelli reveals the wonders of biodiversity at a genetic, species and ecosystem level - what it is, how it works, and why it's the most important tool in our battle against climate change.A deeper understanding of biodiversity has never been more important, as the slow violence of habitat loss has put the fate of almost one-fifth of all species on Earth at risk of extinction in the coming decades. These building blocks of life form a network that underpins almost every aspect of our lives, providing invaluable sources of food, medicine, fibre, clothing, building material and more. With simplicity and clarity, The Hidden Universe shows you not only what's at stake, but what can be done (and is already being done) to protect and restore biodiversity around the world. It marks the arrival of a bold new voice in popular science.Trade Review'Engaging and urgent' * Nature *'The Hidden Universe is a smooth read ... biological facts are leavened by personal stories Antonelli tells of his "adventures" as a botanist traveling the world in search of plants.' * NewCity Lit *'For anyone who still needs winning around to our planet's beauty - and wants to know how we can save it - this is the book they should read.' * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'Amazing. It would be my desert island choice' Martin Rees'Fascinating, beautiful, alarming and revelatory use of mapping and infographics' Stephen Fry on EarthTime maps'An indispensable read' Arianna Huffington From the global impact of the Coronavirus to exploring the vast spread of the Australian bushfires, join authors Ian Goldin and Robert Muggah as they trace the ways in which our world has changed and the ways in which it will continue to change over the next hundred years. Map-making is an ancient impulse. From the moment homo sapiens learnt to communicate we have used them to make sense of our surroundings. But as Albert Einstein once said, 'you can't use old maps to explore a new world.' And now, when the world is changing faster than ever before, our old maps are no longer fit for purpose.Welcome to Terra Incognita. Based on decades of research, and combining mesmerising, state-of-the-art satellite maps with enlightening and passionately argued analysis, Ian and Robert chart humanity's impact on the planet, and the ways in which we can make a real impact to save it, and to thrive as a species.Learn about: fires in the arctic; the impact of sea level rise on cities around the world; the truth about immigration - and why fears in the West are a myth; the counter-intuitive future of population rise; the miracles of health and education that are waiting around the corner, and the reality about inequality, and how we end it. The book traces the paths of peoples, cities, wars, climates and technologies, all on a global scale. Full of facts that will confound you, inform you, and ultimately empower you, Terra Incognita guides readers to a new place of understanding, rather than to a physical location.Trade ReviewAmidst an abundance of global crisis and unrest, it's easy to feel as if there's no prescription for the future. But Terra Incognita provides us with just that, through stunning maps and visual aides that illuminate the most pressing issues of our time. -- Chris Anderson, New York Times Bestselling author of Ted Talks and Head and Curator of TedA completely brilliant guide to global survival * Jon Snow *Terra Incognita take us on an exhilarating journey of the mega-trends that are remaking our world. Using powerful maps and graphics, it provides much-needed guideposts to the incredible shifts and challenges going on all around us. Ian Goldin and Robert Muggah provide a necessary antidote to the paralyzing uncertainty and pessimistic fatalism that threatens to overwhelm us all. This book offers a bold new perspective not just on the challenges we face, but how, armed with the right data and information, we can go about fixing them -- Richard Florida, University of Toronto Professor and author of The Rise of the Creative ClassAmazing . . . it would be my desert island choice! This extraordinary book - with 100 fascinating maps, embedded in a richly informative text - offers a comprehensive perspective on global trends. It is amazing how much analysis the distinguished authors have distilled into a single volume. The book is especially welcome at a time when COVID-19 is disrupting our interconnected planet. It would be hard to imagine a better text to guide and enlighten us as we aim to 'remake' a better world. It deserves a very wide readership. -- Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and author of On the FutureTerra Incognita draws readers into multiple worlds and provides the tools to navigate between them. Goldin and Muggah use powerfully-engaging maps to help understand and confront our biggest challenges - from climate change to inequality. By inviting readers to traverse a vast range of disciplines and ideas, their volume helps each of us better appreciate how our problems are interconnected. This is a must read for everyone striving to make a better world. -- Saskia Sassen, Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University, author of Expulsions and The Global CityEvery young person must read this book. Full of mesmerizing maps and powerful story-telling, Terra Incognita is an indispensable guide to change our futures for the better. -- Marvin Rees, Mayor of BristolFascinating, beautiful, alarming and revelatory use of mapping and infographicsA riveting account of humanity´s most pressing challenges and innovative solutions, fusing mesmerizing maps and compelling analysis to help navigate our complex future.An indispensable read. Ian Goldin and Robert Muggah´s hypnotic maps surprise and amaze. This book offers a future-looking guide to navigate our uncertain times. Offering an unflinching account of our challenges and ways to fix them, it willleave you optimistic about the future.A stunning account of our fast-changing world. Earth Time is a wake-up call and blueprint for future change. Ian Goldin and Robert Muggah´s extraordinary maps offer an entirely new perspective on some of our most urgent environmental and geopolitical conundrums.The mapmakers of old wrote "Here Be Dragons" to designated unknown and uncharted areas. Terra Incognita simultaneously shows us how much of our world we can see and map and how many dark places still remain to be explored. Most important, it is a vital tool for teaching students, researchers, and analysts how to change our mental models -- our imagined maps -- of the worlds we think we inhabit. Our future depends on it. -- Anne-Marie SlaughterTerra Incognita is a terrific achievement. It utilises maps as a graphic foil to a wide-ranging and deeply informed argument about our current international challenges and the possibilities for future collective action. The result is both compelling and subtle. Situating the argument within the current pandemic is very powerful and timely. Essential reading-and viewing-for anyone engaged in the global state we are in. -- Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in 12 MapsIt not only charts the mesmerising development of geographical maps, [...] but also contains maps that reveal insights into global cultural developments, including the incredible rise of McDonald's and Netflix. * Mail Online *

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Book SynopsisYou've got questions: about space, time, gravity, and the odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole. All the answers you need are right here.As a species, we may not agree on much, but one thing brings us all together: a need to know. We all wonder, and deep down we all have the same big questions. Why can't I travel back in time? Where did the universe come from? What's inside a black hole? Can I rearrange the particles in my cat and turn it into a dog?Physics professor Daniel Whiteson and researcher-turned-cartoonist Jorge Cham are experts at explaining science in ways we can all understand, in their books and on their popular podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. With their signature blend of humour and oh-now-I-get-it clarity, Jorge and Daniel offer short, accessible, and lighthearted answers to some of the most common, most outrageous, and most profound questions about the universe they've been asked.This witty, entertaining, and fully illustrated book is an essential troubleshooting guide for the perplexing aspects of reality, big and small, from the invisible particles that make up your body to the identical version of you currently reading this exact sentence in the corner of some other galaxy. If the universe came with an FAQ, this would be it.Trade ReviewDelightful, funny, and yet rigorous and intelligent: only Jorge and Daniel can reach this exquisite balance -- CARLO ROVELLI, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and HelgolandEasy-to-understand explanations of complex scientific theories and concepts. . . . This quirky, easily digestible book makes for a fun read * Library Journal *Cham and Whiteson use nontechnical language and humor to discuss the most up-to-date theories about the cosmos and humans' place in it. Illustrated with Cham's science-themed cartoons, the book is both educational and entertaining * Physics Today *Amusing intro to the mysteries of the cosmos. . .The authors' answers always feel fresh, and Cham's fun cartoons are a treat. Entertaining and satisfying, this is sure to please * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *The authors' work fits neatly into the recently burgeoning market of breezy pop-science books full of jokes, asides, and cartoons that serve as introductions to concepts that require much further study to fully understand. A solid foundational education in a handful of lively scientific topics * Kirkus *These are some of the biggest questions humanity has ever asked and the authors tackle them with wit, humor, expertise, and humility . . . an excellent, easy-to-understand resource for curious people who want to start learning about cosmology * Booklist *A treat of a read * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisCAN YOU BOOST YOUR IQ? WHAT IF YOU COULDN'T FORGET ANYTHING? WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU GET AN IDEA? COULD YOU BE A PSYCHOPATH? . . . NEW SCIENTIST HAS ALL THE ANSWERSFrom the strange ways to distort what we think of as 'reality' to the brain hacks that can improve memory, The Brain takes you on a journey through intelligence, memory, creativity, the unconscious and beyond to help you understand your brain - and show you what it's truly capable of.

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Book Synopsis'Real science can be far stranger than science fiction, and much more satisfying'Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?Is there other intelligent life in the universe?Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries. Will Artificial Intelligence Outsmart Us? considers the threat of artificial super-intelligence - as well as the likelihood of intelligent life beyond our planet.'Modest, profound and sometimes very funny' Sunday TimesBrief Answers, Big Questions: this stunning paperback series offers electrifying essays from one of the greatest minds of our age, taken from the original text of the No. 1 bestselling Brief Answers to the Big Questions.

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Book SynopsisWhat happens when you really get under the skin of the world around you? Everything that surrounds us - and we ourselves - are made of molecules, constructed from a limited set of elements that can combine to form an almost limitless kaleidoscope of possibilities.Dr Kathryn Harkup reveals the inner lives of the invisible molecules that make up our world, ranging from the fundamental to the frivolous; via the psychedelic effects of caffeine to the deadly march of CO2 emissions. This is a book about the stories of discovery, the quirks of science and of human history that have enhanced our appreciation and understanding of the world.

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Book SynopsisIncreasing evidence suggests that hidden, low-level inflammation may be the number one cause of modern disease. Shilpa Ravella, an expert in nutrition and the gut, explains why our immune systems are turning against us and what we might do about it.'Controlling inflammation is the key to good health and this beautifully written and researched book is the best way to understand it' TIM SPECTOR, #1 bestselling author of Food for Life'A beautiful and authoritative dive into one of the most important scientific frontiers of our time' DANIEL M. DAVIS, Professor of Immunology and author of The Beautiful Cure___Inflammation is the body's response to injury and foreign microbes. But as our environments and diets have changed, low-level inflammation, simmering quietly and undetected, has been identified behind everything from heart disease and cancer to mysterious autoimmune conditions.Shilpa Ravella is a doctor at the forefront of this field, specialising in gut transplants, nutrition and the microbiome. In A Silent Fire she interweaves the latest research with unusual case studies from her own practice and the history of immunology to explain what we know about this elusive phenomenon. She debunks common myths about 'anti-inflammatory' lifestyles and explains the simple principles by which we can reform our relationship with food and our microbiomes to benefit our health.___'As gripping as a mystery story and as useful as a self-help book' BEE WILSON, author of First Bite'Compelling, thoughtful and rigorously researched' The TimesTrade ReviewAs gripping as a mystery story and as useful as a self-help book, A Silent Fire may change the way you eat as well as opening your eyes to the hidden connections between microbes and medicine, the food we eat and the air we breathe * Bee Wilson, author of First Bite and The Way We Eat Now *Controlling Inflammation is the key to good health and this beautifully written and researched book is the best way to understand itCompelling, thoughtful and rigorously researched ... Ravella fuses scientific history with something more in the line of a self-help guide ... if your new year's resolution involves a promise to take care of yourself, this book might just help it stick too * The Times *A beautiful and authoritative deep dive into one of the most important scientific frontiers of our time. Big new ideas in health and medicine are explained brilliantly, using case studies, history and cutting-edge research. Every page is fascinating * Daniel M. Davis, author of The Beautiful Cure and The Secret Body *A must read ... Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist with a writer's gift for translating complex science into clean, beautiful prose, is the perfect person to tell this gripping taleRavella's fascinating exploration of the body food, and history will sweep you up ... A book that could not only reshape readers' understanding of their own systems and choices but possibly medicine itselfA spellbinding tale ... unveils how the two-edged sword of inflammation shapes the past, present, and future of our healthAn enlightening dive into the medical science at the root of the modern epidemic of chronic diseases and what it all means for healthy eatingAccessible and engaging, [winds] together a wonderful historical perspective with cutting-edge scienceA fascinating primer on the crucial role of inflammation in our bodies ... Ravella's writing style keeps even the most dense page engaging. She breathes life into biological functions ... [this] book is perfect for those looking to delve deeper into the history and intricate workings of immunology, diet and disease * New Scientist *[A] fascinating, case-oriented, story of inflammation, diet and disease * Nature *

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Book SynopsisNearly two decades in the making, The Warped Side of Our Universe marks the historic collaboration of Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne and award-winning artist Lia Halloran. It brings to vivid life the wonders and wildness of our universe’s “Warped Side”—objects and phenomena made from warped space and time, from colliding black holes and collapsing wormholes to twisting space vortices and down-cascading time. Through poetic verse and otherworldly paintings, the authors explicate Thorne’s and colleagues’ astrophysical discoveries and speculations, with an epic narrative that asks: How did the universe begin? Can anything travel backwards in time? And what weird and marvellous phenomena inhabit the Warped Side? Featuring more than 100 paintings, including a soaring Stephen Hawking, this one-of-a-kind volume, with its multiple gatefolds, takes us on an Odyssean voyage into and through The Warped Side of Our Universe.Trade Review"A fascinating account of our universe's most bewildering phenomena written entirely in verse... Dimension-defying paintings decorate every page. The textual and visual narrative that emerges is something akin to an epic poem about the nature of spacetime.... The enigmatic concepts discussed in ‘The Warped Side of Our Universe’ are some of the most difficult for humans to understand, but Mr. Thorne’s verse and Ms. Halloran’s art bring these far-out concepts down to earth. Even what the eye can’t see can be beautiful." -- Angelina Torre - The Wall Street Journal"Evocative... an ambitious art-science artifact.. grounded in cutting-edge research" -- David Kaiser - Science Magazine"Physicist Kip Thorne and artist Lia Halloran find a novel approach to exploring these topics in startling detail. The collaboration between the two is just as fascinating as the book itself...Written in verse form, Thorne’s writing is perfectly complemented by Halloran’s vivid illustrations in explaining how that research has pierced a universe that is ‘varied and vast.’ The paintings portray a swirling universe of wonders, explaining a black hole’s characteristics with images of Halloran’s wife being bent by its warped spacetime." -- Andrew DeMillo - Associated Press

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Book SynopsisWhat are the chances?! This exclamation greets the scarcely believable coincidence – you’re picked up by the same taxi driver several years and thousands of miles apart or, in a second-hand bookshop far from home, you find your own childhood copy of Winnie-the-Pooh on the shelf. But the unlikely is more probable than you think. Against every fibre of common sense, the fact is that it’s quite likely that some squirrel, somewhere, will be struck by lightning as it crosses the road. The chaos and unpredictability of our lives is an illusion. There is a rational order to the universe, and it’s called mathematics. Fluke is a fascinating investigation into the true nature of chance, a must-read for maths enthusiasts and avid storytellers alike, it tears down the veil of improbability to reveal the wonderfully possible. Trade Review‘Delightfully written.’ * E&T Magazine *'[An] entirely delightful slice of popular science...I'm no mathematician, and I was both fascinated and enchanted'. -- Alison Flood * Bookseller *‘Mazur uses probability to strip chance events of some of their mystery.’ * Guardian *‘Always entertaining and frequently insightful, Fluke is never less than thought-provoking.’ * Amir Alexander, Wall Street Journal *‘With charm and clarity, Joe Mazur leads us through the strange terrain of chance and surprise... A terrific read, and a welcome antidote to superstition and gullibility.’ -- Ian Stewart, author of Professor Stewart’s Incredible Numbers‘The chances are very slim that you’d ever read this blurb. A simple-minded calculation puts the odds at about 50,000 to one against. Yet... here you are. How weird is this seemingly far-fetched coincidence? Well, dear reader, you’ve picked up the right book to answer that question.’ -- Charles Seife, author of Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea‘Joe Mazur’s Fluke walks the reader, hand in steady hand, through the weird and dangerous landscape of extreme probability, distinguishing cause from correlate, and phenomenon from mere coincidence.’ -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not To Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking‘An exciting addition to the ranks of books exploring the mysteries of chance and coincidence in the vein of The Black Swan and The Improbability Principle.’ -- David J. Hand, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Imperial College London and author of The Improbability Principle

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Book SynopsisToday, the language of science is English. But the dominance of this particular language is a relatively recent phenomenon - and far from a foregone conclusion. In a sweeping history that takes us from antiquity to the modern day, Michael D. Gordin untangles the web of politics, money, personality and international conflict that created the monoglot world of science we now inhabit. Beginning with the rise of Latin, Gordin reveals how we went on to use (and then lose) Dutch, Italian, Swedish and many other languages on the way, and sheds light on just how significant language is in the nationalistic realm of science - just one word mistranslated into German from Russian triggered an inflammatory face-off between the two countries for the credit of having discovered the periodic table. Intelligent, revealing and full of compelling stories, Scientific Babel shows how the world has shaped science just as much as science has transformed the world.Trade ReviewInsightful, engaging and based on superb scholarship, lightly worn -- Mark Viney * New Scientist *Erudite and engaging * Nature *He has hit on a marvellous idea and executed it with panache and laconic humour. -- John Gallagher * Guardian *It is hard to imagine that anyone with even the slightest interest in science or language will fail to find this book a treat * Prospect *Perceptive ... insightfully and engagingly written, a masterful mix of intelligence and style. He illuminates an important side of science with academic rigor, but without a trace of academic obfuscation. * Science News *

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Book SynopsisHow is The Colour Code different to other books on colour? Well, the short answer is that it is a whole lot more fun - not least because it is extensively illustrated. We don't just get a story about Mummy Brown (the pigment made from Egyptian mummies), we see a painting created with pigments from the remains of French kings. We are reminded of the blue/gold dress that swept Twitter, view paintings by Mondrian (red ones sell for higher prices) and Van Eyck (he invented an enduring green), and inspect the red soles of Louboutin shoes. We see what lumps of Indian yellow look like, while reading what they are made of (strained cow's urine). We get to see the latest most vibrant pigment - YinMn Blue - and have a real estate agent's tour of Frank Sinatra's ranch (he was obsessed by orange). We see William Morris's arsenic-inflected wallpapers and hear about whether wallpaper killed Napoleon. We encounter the pink pussy hats worn on the Women's March and Elvis's pink jackets from Lansky's in Memphis, take in a history of the black dress from Audrey Hepburn to Princess Diana and a rare black chicken (even its eggs are black) from Indonesia. Featuring a cast of actors, artists, chemists, composers, dentists, dictators, fashion designers, film-makers, gods, musicians, mystics, physicists, poets, quacks, tigers and tycoons, The Colour Code will change the way we all perceive the spectrum - and see the world.Trade ReviewSuch fun. An illuminating story for every stitch in your wardrobe and pigment on your wall -- Simon Garfield, author * Just My Type *Fun ... If you want to know about football strips or national flags, why fire engines are red, why the Pope wears white or why the leader of the Tour de France has a yellow jersey you'll find the answer here -- Honor Clerk * Spectator *An entertaining, surprisingly informative piece of work that might even change the way we see the things around us -- Derek Parker * Weekend Australian *

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Book SynopsisDo Aliens Exist? And if they do - what would they look like? Where would they live? Would they be conscious beings? And what would happen if they found us? These are the biggest questions we've ever asked - and here, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, theoretical physicist and host of BBC Radio Four's The Life Scientific, blasts off in search of answers. Coming with him are Martin Rees, Ian Stewart, Louisa Preston, Monica Grady, Sara Seager, Paul Davies and a crack team of scientists and experts who've made it their life's work to discover the truth. So get ready to visit the ice boulders and hydrocarbon lakes of Saturn's moon Titan, meet the tiny eight-legged critters that could survive in space, and learn about the neuroscience behind belief in alien abductions. Along the way, you'll enter the mind of an octopus, work out the probability of us finding an alien civilisation and discover whether quantum computing might hold the secret to life itself. Lively, curious and filled with scientific insights fresh from the cutting edge of the Galaxy, Aliens is the perfect book for anyone who has ever looked up into the starry sky and wondered: are we alone?Trade ReviewA brilliantly sharp collection -- Nicola Davis * Observer *Jim Al-Khalili has gathered a useful cross-section of the brightest minds in space science ... [Aliens] goes far beyond the what and the where and the when of extraterrestrial-hunting to the biggest conundrum of all: why bother? ... This book is always lucid and sometimes unexpectedly beautiful. -- Oliver Moody * The Times *With a handsome cover sprinkled with green glitter, and pages wittily edged in matching green, this is an ideal stocking-filler for keen alien-fanciers -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWhat are the strangest numbers? Where do numbers come from? Can maths guarantee riches? Why are three dimensions not enough? Can a butterfly's wings really cause a hurricane? Can maths predict the future? In How Big is Infinity?, acclaimed writer Tony Crilly distills the wisdom of some of the greatest minds in history to help provide answers some of the most perplexing, stimulating and surprising questions in mathematics.Table of ContentsIntroduction. What is mathematics for? - An introduction to purposes and prospects. Where do numbers come from? - From notches on bones to hexadecimals. Why are primes the atoms of mathematics? - Building blocks and the fundamental theorem of arithmetic. Which are the strangest numbers? - Real, irrational and transcendental numbers. Are imaginary numbers truly imaginary? - From the imaginary 'I' to octonions. How big is infinity? - Set theory and the infinity revolution. Where do parallel lines meet? - The birth of new geometries. What is the mathematics of the universe? - The Calculus miracle. Are statistics lies? - Data, proof and 'damned lies'. Can mathematics guarantee riches? - Uncertainty, chance and probability theory. Is there a formula for everything? - Mathematical recipes and the search for knowledge. Why are three dimensions not enough? - Higher dimensions, monster curves and fractals. Can a butterfly's wings really cause a hurricane? - Chaos theory, weather equations and strange attractors. Can we create an unbreakable code? - Ciphers, the Enigma machine and quantum computers. Is mathematics beautiful? - Music, art, golden numbers and the Fibonacci sequence. Can mathematics predict the future? - Mathematical models, simulations and game theory. What shape is the universe? - Topology, manifolds and the Poincare conjecture. What is symmetry? - Patterns, dualities and the fundamental nature of reality. Is mathematics true? - From Plato's reality to Godel's incompleteness theorems. Is there anything left to solve? - The great unsolved problems and the future of mathematics. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered why ice floats, how the GPS on your mobile phone works (and what it has to do with Einstein), or why woollen jumpers shrink in the wash?In this fascinating scientific tour of household objects, The One Show's resident scientist Marty Jopson explains the answers to all of these, and many more, baffling questions about the chemistry and physics of the stuff we use every day. Always entertaining and with no special prior scientific knowledge required, this is the perfect book for anyone curious about the science that surrounds us.

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Book SynopsisEver wondered what a superhero eats for breakfast? Do they need a special diet to feed their superpowers? The odd metabolisms of superheroes must mean they have strange dietary needs, from the high calorie diets to fuel flaming bodies and super speeds, to not so obvious requirements for vitamins and minerals. The Secret Science of Superheroes looks at the underpinning chemistry, physics and biology needed for their superpowers. Individual chapters look at synthesising elements on demand, genetic evolution and what superhero suits could be made of. By exploring these topics, the book introduces a wide range of scientific concepts, from protein chemistry to particle physics for a general scientifically interested audience. With contributions from leading science communicators the book hopes to answer some of these important questions rather than debunk or pick holes in the science of superheroes.Trade ReviewCover-to-cover, the book is short and sweet, an experience populated with quintessential superheroes and comic history (the authors' knowledge is impressive). It introduces a wide range of topics that can captivate a diverse range of readers - from those with general science knowledge to comic book and film enthusiasts. What I enjoyed most about this book was how well it made difficult concepts understandable. -- Cam Meze * Nature Reviews Chemistry, Volume 1, 2017, Article Number 0089 * I found this book very inspirational - I do not think that there are many books that join fundamental science and popular fiction in such an engaging way! [A]n illustration of the fact that serious subjects can be explained in a fascinatingly clear way to which broader audience can easily relate. -- Darja Lavogina * Darja Lavogina * The secret science of superheroes is fun, engaging and suitable for superhero fans of any level. -- Aurora Walshe * Chemistry World, December 2017 * The Secret Science of Superheroes is quite possibly the best book I have read that uses science fiction as a vehicle for science fact. -- Michael Follows * Physics World, November 2017 * Much like superheroes, scientists tend to assemble...at conferences or science festivals. At one such event, the 2016 Manchester Science Festival to be precise, a team of like-minded scientists came together to try to suss out the real-world science behind everything from Wonder Woman's lasso to the Hulk's gigantic transformation. The result is The Secret Science of Superheroes - an eclectic collection of essays by 15 scientists and science communicators, edited by Mark Lorch and Andy Miah. While not explicitly a sequel to James Kakalios's The Physics of Superheroes, this book is greater than the sum of its parts and fills many of the gaps when it comes to other sciences including biology and chemistry. It is clear from the preface that the book does not aim to debunk the science (which is easy) - instead, it considers how science might make the superheroes plausible. Each section is concise and faster-paced than similar books, as the authors each had to fit their contributions into 15 or so pages. Laced with gentle humour, every chapter ends with a list of references for the interested reader. In biology, the book covers key issues such as evolution, epidemiology and cancer. Louise Gentle, from Nottingham Trent University, writes about the evolution of superpowers but starts with an excellent explanation of natural selection, before suggesting that X-Men mutants could originate from a founder population. Embryos develop structures reminiscent of gills, a testament to life evolving in the oceans. It is conceivable that an environmental trigger might lead to the expression of this ancestral characteristic and the appearance of Aquaman. Gentle shows that many living creatures possess the superpowers claimed by our superheroes and this refrain echoes throughout the book. For example, shape-shifting comes as naturally to the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) as X-Men's Mystique. By using muscular hydrostatics to squeeze through an aperture the size of a pound coin, a 273 kg octopus outdoes Elastigirl. Although she can stretch any part of her body by 30 m, Elastigirl gets undone by the effect of turning forces - the further she stretches, the smaller the force she can apply - one of the few places in the book where we are confronted with the limits of superheroes. To a greater or lesser extent, all of the writers strayed from their superhero brief. For example, Isabel Pires, a life scientist at the University of Hull, uses the Hulk as a metaphor for how cancers develop. Paul Coxon, a materials scientist at the University of Cambridge, talks about lithium, though he cleverly weaves it into the superhero world by suggesting that we should not overlook the super elements we already have at our disposal. Felicity Heathcote-Marcz, at the University of Manchester, tells us that Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth was most likely a comic-book manifestation of the lie-detector test. After all, William Moulton Marston, who dreamt up and wrote the first Wonder Woman comics, also developed the systolic blood pressure test, an integral part of the polygraph. Rob Miles, from the University of Hull's school of engineering and computer science, writes about big data, computers and artificial intelligence, but he starts by talking about Tony Stark's (aka Iron Man) home computing system "Jarvis" (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System). Miles then turns his back on superheroes, veering to "homicidal HAL" in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: a Space Odyssey, before going into the Turing test, personal assistants such as Apple's Siri, and even Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Miles closes by talking about recent, possibly state-sponsored, cyber-attacks and the dangers of big data. While Spider-Man is arguably the best superhero vehicle for explaining physics, the University of Surrey's Suze Kundu makes a persuasive case for using Batman and his costume to showcase composite materials. Kevlar would be a good choice for his suit, as it is bulletproof. This is because it spreads the force of an impact over a wide area, and this effect could be enhanced by incorporating a non-Newtonian material such as D3O. Already used in beanie hats worn by snowboarders, it stiffens on impact, turning the hat into a crash helmet and deforms slightly to absorb kinetic energy. Weaving in carbon nanotubes would enhance its tensile strength and provide a figure-hugging Faraday cage. Carbon is a conductor so Batman would be insulated from electric shocks, while heat would be channelled along the tubes. His cape could be made from "memory cloth" and the desired shape could be activated by an electrical current. If it were made of something like Nitinol, it could pop back into shape. Shape-memory materials are already in use as arterial stents and underwiring for bras. Of course, all these superheroes really need crumple zones or an airbag to avoid injury but this would compromise the visual spectacle and we are prepared to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story. Meanwhile, scientists are developing supersuits for soldiers and people with disabilities, inspired by science fiction. Brian Mackenwells, of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, tries to trip up the Flash, who can run at a maximum speed of 140,000 mph (or just shy of 63 km/s) - an ideal pretext to talk about the physics of re-entry from space. Mackenwells uses the "isentropic gas equation" to work out that the temperature of someone running at Mach 182 would rise by 3.4 million DegreesC. Three strategies are used for space re-entry vehicles to minimize heating: ablation, where some material absorbs thermal energy and changes state; emission, where thermal energy is absorbed and then emitted as electromagnetic radiation; or using heat sink material with a high specific heat capacity, which is the only option open to the Flash. Mackenwells works out the Flash's specific heat capacity to be around 7 billion J kg-1 K-1, making him an amazing human heat-sink. Very few typographical errors sneaked in, though the book could have benefited from a few tables of data rather than some of the infographics used. Despite these small niggles, The Secret Science of Superheroes is quite possibly the best book I have read that uses science fiction as a vehicle for science fact. -- Michael Follows * Physics World * The secret science of superheroes is a collection of scientific essays that were written by a team of science writers over a single weekend, then compiled and edited by Mark Lorch and Andy Miah. While there are plenty of equations, diagrams and mind-bending concepts, it's definitely not a textbook. It's far too silly to be a textbook. In fact, there is a wonderful juxtaposition in using well-considered logical scientific arguments to explain the (often ridiculous) comic book world by, for example, predicting and understanding the physical properties of Captain America's vibranium shield or asking how easy it would be for Elastigirl to give birth. What I loved about this book was the fact that each chapter was independent and unique, and each had a different approach - which makes sense as each chapter is written by a different author talking about their own favourite subject in their own way. The secret science of superheroes addresses all of those niggling inconsistencies that hardcore nerds have grumbled about during movie marathons, but it also breaks the science down in a fun and easy-to-read way for the comic book novice. I honestly think this book would appeal to anyone, regardless of their scientific education. Let's face it, is there really a better way to learn about epidemiology than by choosing which virus would best enslave humanity? The secret science of superheroes is fun, engaging and suitable for superhero fans of any level. Not to mention a great way to learn how to laugh like an evil genius. -- AURORA WALSHE * Chemistry World * In worlds where superheroes exist, I often imagine how such powers could be possible. These are worlds in which we often have to suspend belief. But what if we didn't? The authors - a banded `super' team of scientists - of The Secret Science of Superheroes aim to explore the many scientific principles underpinning the superpowers we marvel at. This book is composed of short, concise chapters that delve into individual superpowers and provide examples of comparable abilities exercised in the world we live in, whether they appear in nature or spawn from technology. The reader is challenged to consider what sort of nutritional intake Spider-Man would need to kickstart his crime-fighting day, or how the ins and outs of Batman's suit allow him to keep Gotham City safe. Cover-to-cover, the book is short and sweet, an experience populated with quintessential superheroes and comic history (the authors' knowledge is impressive). It introduces a wide range of topics that can captivate a diverse range of readers - from those with general science knowledge to comic book and film enthusiasts. Each chapter is structured similarly and is accompanied by educational illustrations by Andy Brunning, providing the perfect blend of entertaining and informative material with plenty of references for the reader to peruse should he or she want to explore the science a little more. The sheer diversity of the content means that not all chapters may appeal to you. However, I would dissuade against skipping them. On first glance of the contents page, I had an opinion on what chapters I thought I would enjoy the most. How wrong I was; do not judge a chapter by its title. A highlight of the book included an exploration into how Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth could be made from aramid rope - a type of material made from Kevlar - with an absorbent layer that allows a truth serum drug, such as sodium pentothal, to permeate the skin of the captive. What I enjoyed most about this book was how well it made difficult concepts understandable. For example, one chapter focuses on the Hulk and his transformation from Bruce Banner as a model to explain the biological processes of cancer. These types of discussions - based on our present understanding of disciplines such as genetics, materials science and physics, among others - could inspire those interested in comic books and films to take up the study of science. Superheroes such as Batman and Iron Man were my exposure and gateway into science; these characters made science cool, and this is exactly what this book does. It is hard to read this book and not wonder what ability I would want. I often overlook the adverse effects and the dark side of power. This book explores these trade-offs and made me rethink what power I would want - remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Those with a keener hawkeye will notice a few mistakes, but these can be forgiven. After all, the authors embraced the power of The Flash and wrote this book in just 36 hours. This book does what it sets out to do: it introduces a wide range of scientific concepts in a fun, light-hearted and understandable tone. Occasionally, we have to accept that, sometimes, superpowers are just magic. However, the world as we know it may be working towards `super', with advancements in technology and the development of military supersuits, memory materials and programmable polymers. As one of the authors states, "The science behind superheroes is not entirely outside the realms of the physical possibilities that operate within our world." Science is a marvellous field that might just make the impossible possible. -- Cam Meze * NATURE REVIEWS | CHEMISTRY *Table of ContentsThe Breakfast of Superheroes; The Evolution of Superpowers; The Hallmarks of Hulk; Supervillainy 101; How to Build a Super Soldier; The Real World Super Metal; Is it a Ceramic? Is it Graphene? No it's Vibranium; The Science of Super Suits; Why Doesn't the Invisible Woman Bump Into Things?; The Flash: The Fastest Man on Fire; You've Got to Learn to be More...Flexible: The Mechanics of Marvellous; Big Data, Big Heroes and Bad Computers; The Wonder-ous Truth: The Workings of Wonder Woman's Lasso; Super Frequently Asked Questions

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Book SynopsisA compendium of sounds from this world and beyond, from the author of A New Map of Wonders and The Book of Barely Imagined Beings Sound shapes our world in invisible but profound ways, and here Caspar Henderson brings his characteristic curiosity, knowledge and sense of wonder to the subject to take us on an exhilarating journey through the heard universe. A Book of Noises gathers together sounds from the cosmos, the natural world, the human world, and the invented world, and contains quiet pockets of silence. From the vast sound of sand in the desert to the tuneful warble of a songbird, to the meditative resonance of a temple bell and the improvisational melodies of jazz, this is a celebration of all things auricular.Trade ReviewHaunting and captivating... a marvel... Caspar Henderson confirms that, for all its turbulence, this is still "a world alive with good noises". Open your ears -- David Farrier, author of Footprints: In Search of Future FossilsA book of exquisite richness and erudition, dedicated equally to the beautiful strange and the precious ordinary -- Jay GriffithsCaspar Henderson's books are a special kind of treasure; I struggle to think of another writer who achieves this combination of scope, intellectual rigour and deep reflection with such grace and style. Don't be deceived by the title - far from being a noisy book, this is a quiet and determined call to listen better -- Helen JukesYou will gasp with surprise and sigh with delight in the pages of A Book of Noises. It's the most elegant and erudite history of the world as sound ever written -- David Rothenberg, author of Whale Music and Secret Sounds of Ponds

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Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of how losing our sense of smell can shape our world, and how the global pandemic transformed our understanding of this mysterious sense.Trade Review“Engaging and hopeful” New Scientist “Genuinely interesting …There were quite a few of those 'ooh, that's interesting' moments … If you have lost your sense of smell or had it distorted - something that far more of us have experienced in the past couple of years as a result of Covid - I would strongly recommend this book.” Popular Science “An enthralling, elegantly written, and poignant exploration of our most neglected sense, one whose role in human life – in memory, emotion, attachment – has suddenly been made vivid by loss.” Peter Godfrey-Smith, author of the bestselling OTHER MINDS "Such an engaging and pleasurable read which should do a lot to lift smell out of the shadows ... packed with insights and observations that bring this topic to life for everyone" Professor Barry Smith, Centre for the Study of the Senses, University of London "Destined to be a bible for anyone who has lost their sense of smell, whether from Covid or not" Chrissi Kelly, AbScent "You don’t need to have lost your sense of smell to love this book, but if you have you will devour it... it will profoundly change the way you think about our ability to smell and how its loss affects our lives. This is science writing at its very best." Fiona Fox, author of BEYOND THE HYPE: The inside story of science's biggest media controversies ”Of the three major senses – sight, hearing and smell – smell is the most neglected. But it got its revenge in Covid. Paola Totaro and Robert Wainwright have written a fascinating book, alerting us to so many aspects of what we take for granted.” David Hare

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