Popular science Books

Book SynopsisImagine you are fluent in a magical language of prophecy, a language so powerful it can accurately describe things you cannot see or even imagine. Einstein''s Heroes takes you on a journey of discovery about just such a miraculous language--the language of mathematics--one of humanity''s most amazing accomplishments. Blending science, history, and biography, this remarkable book reveals the mysteries of mathematics, focusing on the life and work of three of Albert Einstein''s heroes: Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, and especially James Clerk Maxwell, whose work directly inspired the theory of relativity. Robyn Arianrhod bridges the gap between science and literature, portraying mathematics as a language and arguing that a physical theory is a work of imagination involving the elegant and clever use of this language. The heart of the book illuminates how Maxwell, using the language of mathematics in a new and radical way, resolved the seemingly insoluble controversy between Faraday''s idTrade ReviewOpen-minded students will come away from reading Einstein's Heroes with a newfound appreciation of the role of scientific inquiry and insight in the larger human enterprise-and hopefully, will acquire a hankering to 'take to the field' themselves. * The Mathematical Association of America *Arianrhod's achievement is to so masterfully combine history, biography, and mathematics as to absorb and enlighten even the mathematically maladroit. * Booklist *Arianrhod is an infectiously enthusiastic writer, keen for her audience both to admire Einstein's heroes and to understand their contributions to fundamental mathematical physics. * Nature Physics *An intriguing blend of science, history, and biography.... Arianrhod's well-written, fascinating discussion of intertwined topics not usually presented in one book aimed at general readers is highly recommended. * Library Journal (starred review) *Offers readers an engaging intellectual exercise combining physics, language, mathematics, and biography. * Science News *A thrilling story.... Arianrhod is an easy author to like, and not simply for the clarity of her narrative. She brings out the human side of the scientists. She also is a student of imaginative prose: Her explication of a novel by the Australian David Malouf helps introduce ideas about mathematics, and she quotes the poet William Blake to crystallize a thought about Maxwell.... Scientists' quest for knowledge is exhilarating to Arianrhod, and she conveys that to the reader. * bloombergnews.com *On one level, Robyn Arianrhod's Einstein's Heroes is about the crowning achievement of classical physics * James Clerk Maxwell's understanding of electricity, magnetism, and light. But on another level, Arianrhod adeptly examines a much deeper idea: why is mathematics the language of nature and how do physicists tap the hidden power of numbers to understand the physical world? Einstein's Heroes does an admirable job of explaining the strange allure that mathematics holds over the scientists who so dramatically altered the way we look at the universe.Charles Seife, New York University, author of Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea *With exceptional skill, Arianrhod makes her subject clearly understood through metaphor, example, and story. She has given us a treasure - a combination of history, biography, and essay that clearly shows how and why the language of mathematics is essential to imagination in modern physics. Her unique book deserves high praise and should be read by anyone who enjoys science writing at its best. * Science and Spirit *

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Book SynopsisAt the start of the 18th century there were no maps, anywhere in the world. No one knew, with any certainty, the shape of the earth or what lay beneath its surface. Was it hollow or solid? Were the Andes the highest mountains on the Earth or was it the peak of Tenerife? Was the Earth a perfect sphere or slightly squashed as Sir Isaac Newton prophesized? In Weighing the World, master-surveyor and bestselling author Edwin Danson presents the stories of the scientists and scholars who cut their way through jungles, crossed the artic tundra, and braved the world''s highest mountains to discover the truth about our Earth. Danson also recounts the extraordinary experiment, conducted on a desolate Scottish peak by Astromer Royal Neville Maskelyne, to understand the so-called attraction of mountains, the curious capability mountians have to bend gravity, without which it would be impossible to accurately map Earth''s surface. A spell-binding scientific adventure story, Weighing the World will Trade ReviewThis is history writ large, with a long list of characters, and a background of wars, where good maps could be the key to victory. * The New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. I Cannot Be Wrong ; 2. The Titan King ; 3. A Calm And Gentle Character ; 4. The Galileo Of France ; 5. Extreme Science ; 6. Robberies And Depredations ; 7. A Magnificent Military Sketch ; 8. Persons Well Versed ; 9. Very Expert In His Business ; 10. A Passage With My Horse ; 11. Frankenstein And Other Experiments ; 12. A Remarkable Hill ; 13. Important Observations ; 14. So Great A Noise ; 15. The Attraction of Mountains ; 16. The Best Of The Position ; 17. Distinguished Merit ; 18. Late A Whole Year ; 19. Geodetic Experiments ; 20. I Know It Will Answer ; 21. Offering Violence To Nature ; 22. A Meritorious Foreigner ; 23. Men Worthy Of Confidence ; 24. Irregularities We Have Discovered ; Explanations and Definitions

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Book SynopsisHuman beings are the only species to have evolved the trait of emotional crying. We even create music, fiction, film, and theatre - 'Tragedy' - to encourage crying. Michael Trimble looks at the physiology and evolution of this unique human behaviour, exploring its links with language, consciousness, empathy, and religious practices.Trade ReviewThis is a fascinating cultural and neurological study about how humans are unique in shedding tears of sorrow, especially in the context of listening to music or attending the theatre... * Network Review *Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Crying ; 3. The Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Crying ; 4. Evolution ; 5. Tragedy and Tears ; 6. Tearful Logic ; 7. Why Do We Get Pleasure from Crying at the Theatre? ; Appendix 1: Neuroanatomy ; Appendix 2: Glossary of terms ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisPlate tectonics is a revolutionary theory on a par with modern genetics. Yet, apart from the frequent use of clichés such as ''tectonic shift'' by economists, journalists, and politicians, the science itself is rarely mentioned and poorly understood. This book explains modern plate tectonics in a non-technical manner, showing not only how it accounts for phenomena such as great earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, but also how it controls conditions at the Earth''s surface, including global geography and climate. The book presents the advances that have been made since the establishment of plate tectonics in the 1960s, highlighting, on the 50th anniversary of the theory, the contributions of a small number of scientists who have never been widely recognized for their discoveries.Beginning with the publication of a short article in Nature by Vine and Matthews, the book traces the development of plate tectonics through two generations of the theory. First generation plate tectonics covers the exciting scientific revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, its heroes and its villains. The second generation includes the rapid expansions in sonar, satellite, and seismic technologies during the 1980s and 1990s that provided a truly global view of the plates and their motions, and an appreciation of the role of the plates within the Earth ''system''. The final chapter bring us to the cutting edge of the science, and the latest results from studies using technologies such as seismic tomography and high-pressure mineral physics to probe the deep interior. Ultimately, the book leads to the startling conclusion that, without plate tectonics, the Earth would be as lifeless as Venus.Trade ReviewThis book is full of delightful surprises...I highly recommend this book as one for you if you want to be properly informed and royally entertained. * Pete Loader, Teaching Earth Science *...a super read; I thoroughly enjoyed it! If you have the slightest interest in the history of plate tectonics, do read this bookyou will not be disappointed! * Michael Brown, International Geology Review *The Tectonic Plates are Moving! is a rock-solid read... the pacing of the book is great, the irreverent jokes and anecdotes genuinely amusing, the overview of different schools of thought balanced, and the explanations lucid. * The Inquisitive Biologist *This book explains modern plate tectonics in a non-technical manner, showing not only how it accounts for phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, but also how it controls conditions at the Earths surface, including global geography and climate. * Ian Angus, Green Left Weekly *This is a great read for anyone interested in this fascinating subject. * Chris Darmon, Down to Earth *[A] packed account, richly contextualized. * Barbara Kiser, Nature *Roy Livermores book provides a comprehensive and authoritative account of the development of plate tectonics theory, from the earliest days of sea-floor spreading to current ideas on mantle plumes and the tectonics of Mars. It clearly describes the critical interactions of science, technology, human personalities and historical accidents. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, written from the point of view of a knowledgeable insider. * Roger C. Searle, Durham University, UK *Far from being a dense, jargon-laden history book, Livermore brings an accessible writing style and brilliant humour to the story, which certainly had me chuckling. If you know anyone (including yourself!) who is keen to find out more about our planet, give them this book. * Jonathan Scafidi, The Geological Society *Table of ContentsPart I: First Generation 1: Probably the best theory on Earth 2: The Paving Stone Theory of World Tectonics 3: Poles Apart 4: Plate Tectonics by Jerks 5: Plate Tectonics by Creeps Part II: Second Generation 6: Scum of the Earth 7: Continents and Supercontinents 8: All at Sea 9: Chilling Out 10: Ups and Downs 11: The Final Frontier

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Book SynopsisThese essays and poems show that poetry and science are both forms of discovery. Though they can disagree, what is most provocative and exciting is just how often poets and scientists agree. Contributors include bestselling psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison, astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and poets Paul Muldoon and Simon Armitage.Trade ReviewEngaging essays studded with wit and humor an entertaining and illuminating volume. * Diane Ackerman, Science *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Rampage, or Science in Poetry ; As Above ; Poetry and Virtual Realities ; Grimoire ; Spirit Machines: The Human and the Computational ; Biology ; Testament and Confessions of an Informationist ; The Working Self ; A Science of Belonging: Poetry as Ecology ; Steinar undir Steinahlithum ; Modelling the Universe: Poetry, Science, and the Art of Metaphor ; Circadian ; Astronomy and Poetry ; A Fistful of Foraminifera ; The Act of the Mind: Thought Experiments in the Poetry of Jorie Graham and Leslie Scalapino ; Once I Looked into Your Eyes ; The Art of Wit and the Cambridge Science Park ; The Organ Bath ; Contemporary Psychology and Contemporary Poetry: Perspectives on Mood Disorders ; Afterword

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Book SynopsisMagdolna Hargittai uses over fifteen years of in-depth conversation with female physicists, chemists, biomedical researchers, and other scientists to form cohesive ideas on the state of the modern female scientist. The compilation, based on sixty conversations, examines unique challenges that women with serious scientific aspirations face. In addition to addressing challenges and the unjustifiable underrepresentation of women at the higher levels of academia, Hargittai takes a balanced approach by discussing how some of the most successful of these women have managed to obtain professional success and personal happiness.Women Scientists portrays scientists from different backgrounds, different geographical regions-eighteen countries from four continents-and leaders from a variety of professional backgrounds, including eight Nobel laureate women. The book is divided into three sections: Husband and Wife Teams, Women at the Top, and In High Positions. Hargittai uses her own experience toTrade ReviewThis book will be of interest to both upcoming and established women in science, their children and families, as well as historians. * Karen Swider Lyons, MRS Bulletin *The book fulfils the authors wish to show women scientists as they are and encourage others to follow, and should prove valuable to all those interested in how women are progressing in fields formerly, and still often, deemed as masculine. * Ruth Watts, Gender and History *Table of ContentsContents ; Preface ; Introduction ; Husband and Wife Teams ; At the Top ; In High Positions ; Final Thoughts ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe overnight appearance of mushrooms in a meadow or on a suburban lawn is a marvelous sight. It is one of many awe-inspiring, magical processes that have evolved among the fungi, yet this group remains the least studied and most poorly understood kingdom of organisms. In Mushroom, Nicholas Money offers a vibrant introduction to the world of mushrooms, investigating the science behind these organisms as well as their enduring cultural and imaginative appeal. Beginning with the basics of mushroom biology, Money leads us through a history of mushroom research, painting portraits of the colorful characters involved in their study--among them, Beatrix Potter, the celebrated author and creator of Peter Rabbit, and Captain Charles McIlvaine, a Civil War veteran who engaged in a dangerous quest to determine the edibility of every mushroom in North America. Money also discusses the uses of mushrooms today, exploring their importance as food and medicine, their use as recreational drugs, and asTrade ReviewBotanist Nicholas Money is unashamedly in thrall to the 'fungal sex organ'. In this brilliant scientific and cultural exploration, these organisms of rot and soil positively sparkle. * Nature *Table of ContentsPreface ; Chapter 1: Angels on the Lawn: How Mushrooms Develop ; Chapter 2: Gill Gymnastics: The Beautiful Mechanism of Mushroom Spore Release ; Chapter 3: Triumph of the Fungi: Diversity and Functions of Mushroom ; Chapter 4: Satan's Gourmand: Harvesting Wild Mushrooms ; Chapter 5: Snow White and Baby Bella: Global Industry of Mushroom Cultivation ; Chapter 6: Death Caps: Poisonous Mushrooms and Mushroom Poisoning ; Chapter 7: Magic Mushrooms: The Culture and Science of Hallucinogenic Mushrooms ; Chapter 8: Cures for Mortality?: The Medicinal Mushroom Fraud ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisBeam is the story of the race to make the laser, the three intense years from the birth of the laser idea to its breakthrough demonstration in a California laboratory. The quest was a struggle against physics, established wisdom, and the establishment itself. In 1954, Charles Townes invented the laser''s microwave cousin, the maser. The next logical step was to extend the same physical principles to the shorter wavelengths of light, but the idea did not catch fire until October 1957, when Townes asked Gordon Gould about Gould''s research on using light to excite thallium atoms. Each took the idea and ran with it. The independent-minded Gould sought the fortune of an independent inventor; the professorial Townes sought the fame of scientific recognition. Townes enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, Arthur Schawlow, and got Bell Labs into the race. Gould turned his ideas into a patent borth ation and a million-dollar defense contract. They soon had company. Ali Javan, one of Townes''Trade ReviewHecht tells the story of the several competing laboratories that were attempting in the late 1950s to use the phenomenon of simulated emisson to produce a coherent and monochromatic light source. The story is interesting in its own right, both to physicists and engineers interested in the intellectual climate of the time and to the general public as an example of excitement and competition within the scientific community. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsPREFACE; PROLOGUE; DRAMATIS PERSONAE; SOURCES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

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Book SynopsisIn an engaging tour of the science and history of cheese, Michael Tunick explores the art of cheese making, the science that lies underneath the deliciousness, and the history behind how humanity came up with one of its most varied and versatile of foods.Dr. Tunick spends his everyday deep within the halls of the science of cheese, as a researcher who creates new dairy products, primarily, cheeses. He takes us from the very beginning, some 8000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, and shows us the accidental discovery of cheese when milk separated into curds and whey. This stroke of luck would lead to a very mild, and something akin to cottage, cheese-deemed delicious enough by our traveling cheese maker that he or she did it again another day.Today we know of more than 2,000 varieties of cheese from Gorgonzola, first noted in year 879, to Roquefort in 1070 to Cheddar in 1500. But Tunick delves deeper into the subject to provide a wide-ranging overview that begins with cows and milk and Trade ReviewMany books tell us about the cheeses of the world, but here the author introduces the reader to the chemistry and biology involved in cheese formation. I recommend this book to any cheese-eater who has wondered about the cause of their latest taste-sensation. * Simon Cotton, Chemistry and Industry *The book is full of fascinating data. * Colin Berry, The Oldie *A charming and informative book that will have you seeking out cheese shops with informed enthusiasm. * Christine Evans-Pughe, Engineering & Technology *Tunick comes very close to perfection. * Hans Bouma, NVOX *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. IN THE BEGINNING Milk ; 2. CURDS AND WHEY Cheesemaking ; 3. YOU'RE NOT GETTING OLDER, YOU'RE GETTING BETTER Ripening ; 4. DOES THIS CHEESE MAKE ME LOOK FAT? Nutrition ; 5. STICK IT UP YOUR NOSE, AND OTHER ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES ; 6. CHEESE IT - THE COPS! Laws and Regulations ; 7. DO TRY THIS AT HOME ; 8. THE CHEESE STANDS ALONE ; References ; Acknowledgments ; Index

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Book SynopsisLisa Kaltenegger offers first-hand access to her expertise on the search for planets in the universe, and the life they may contain. Along the way, Lisa''s breezy narrative style invites you to experience with her the challenges and joys of being a scientist on the frontier of discovery' Neil deGrasse Tyson, AstrophysicistFor thousands of years, humans have wondered whether we''re alone in the cosmos. Now, for the first time, we have the technology to investigate. The question should have an obvious answer: yes or no. But once you try to find life elsewhere, you realize it is not so simple. How do you find it over cosmic distances? What actually is life?Astronomer Lisa Kaltenegger works from Carl Sagan's former office at Cornell University, where she built a team of tenacious scientists from many disciplines to find life on faraway worlds, using Earth's diverse biosphere and its history as a Rosetta Stone. With infectious enthusiasm, she provides an eye-opening insider's guide to the most unusual exoplanets that have shaken our worldview planets covered in oceans of lava, lonely wanderers lost in space, and others with more than one sun in their sky as well as the best contenders for Alien Earths. She also shows how close imagined scifi worlds come to reality.We live in an incredible new epoch of exploration. As our witty and knowledgeable tour guide, Professor Kaltenegger shows how we discover not merely new continents, like the explorers of old, but whole new worlds circling other stars and how we could spot life there. Worlds from where aliens may even be gazing back at us. What if we''re not alone?

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Book SynopsisIn the childhood of every human being and at the dawn of human history there is an amazing and, until now, unexplained leap from simple genetically programmed behaviour to language, symbolic thinking, and culture. In The First Idea , Stanley Greenspan and Stuart Shanker explore this missing link and offer brilliant new insights into two longstanding questions: how human beings first create symbols and how these abilities evolved and were transmitted across generations over millions of years. From fascinating research into the intelligence of both human infants and apes, they identify certain cultural practices that are vitally important if we are to have stable and reflective future societies.

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Book SynopsisIncredible stories of love, history, and the nature of mankind, brought to us by the Periodic Table.Trade Review'With a constant flow of fun facts bubbling to the surfaace, Kean writes with wit, flair and authority in a debut that will delight even general readers' - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Book SynopsisPalaeontologist Michael Novacek is an authority on patterns of evolution and on the relationships among extinct and extant organisms. This book is his account of how a boyhood passion for dinosaurs became a lifelong commitment to vanguard science.

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Book SynopsisPhysicists have discovered a phenomenon that operates outside the confines of space and time: nonlocality - the ability of two particles to act in harmony no matter how far apart they may be. If space isn't what we thought it was, then what is it? In Spooky Action at a Distance, the journalist George Musser sets out to answer that question.

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Book SynopsisThis revised and expanded bestseller includes a new chapter on putting, a new appendix on the fundamental physics covered in the book, increased coverage of modern club design, and an updated reference section. As in the previous book, most of the mathematics is relegated to a technical appendix. The first edition of this book was enthusiastically received by the both the science press in Physics Today, IEEE Spectrum, and Nature and the golf world in American Golf Pro and Golf Week.Trade ReviewFrom the reviews: "… Gives new insights and precise views into the forces and torques developed in the downswing.... Thank you, Dr. Jorgensen...We will all treasure your book." American Golf Pro "The heart of golfer Ted Jorgensen's delightful book lies in his analysis of the swing of the golf club and how, armed with insights from that analysis, you, he and I might all swing the club better and play better golf . . . [The book] is designed to be accessible to the casual reader while satisfying the critical student. But first word or last, for anyone who has swung a golf club, the book is fun to read." Physics Today (BOB ADAIR, AUTHOR OF PHYSICS OF BASEBALL)Table of ContentsChapter 1- The Secret of Golf is in the Swing//Chapter 2- The First look at the golf stroke//Chapter 3- A second look at the golf stroke//Chapter 4- Variations on Parameters brings new Understanding of the Golf Swing//Chapter 5- The energy of the swing//Chapter 6- Producing power with precision//Chapter 7- Developing your own golf stroke//Chapter 8- The aerodynamics of golf//Chapter 9- When the clubhead meets the ball//Chapter 10- The Harry Vardon swing//Chapter 11- The matching of clubs//Chapter 12- The flexibility of shafts//Chapter 13- Examining the handicap system//Chapter 14- On short putts//References//Technical Appendices//Index

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Book SynopsisRosalind Franklin's research was central to the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. She never received the credit she was due during her lifetime.

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Book Synopsis"Perkins' style is engaging—not for eggheads only—and the brainteasers are entertaining and surprisingly fresh."—Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisWhere the science of black holes, gravitational waves, and time travel will likely lead us, as reported by spacetime's most important theoreticians and observers.Trade Review"This is story making that lifts the human spirit out of our sometimes petty terrestrial concerns and places us among the stars." -- Scientific AmericanTable of ContentsChronology protection, Stephen W. Hawking; Can we change the past?, Igor Novikov; Speculations about the future, Kip S. Thorne; on the popularization of science, Timothy Ferris; The physicist as novelist, Alan Lightman.

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Book Synopsis"More than a history of science; it is a tour de force in the genre."—New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review"Galison provides a unique and enlightening view on the origin of time as we know it in the modern age." -- American Scientist"An easy-reading but penetrating book. [Galison] brings the story of time to life as a story of wires and rails, precision maps, and imperial ambitions, as well as a story of physics and philosophy." -- Science"This is how twentieth-century science really began....Engaging, original, and absolutely brilliant." -- James Gleick

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Book Synopsis"A display of scientific courage and imagination." —William Saletan, New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review"As she did in The Nurture Assumption, independent scholar Harris makes waves again with a new theory of personality to explain why no two people are alike." -- Kirkus Reviews"This is an absolute stunner of a popular science book. The author does a brilliant job of demolishing the academic psychology establishment, by questioning a fundamental assumption that was made without properly checking it—that nurture would influence personality. She does all this in a very personal, human fashion, with as much reference to the way traditional crime fiction works as to scientific research." -- Martin O'Brien - Popular Science"No Two Alike is another firecracker of a book by the woman who forced the world to rethink how we became who we are. Harris's scholarship and the persuasiveness of her arguments make this book mandatory reading for psychologists; her style, humor, and storytelling skills make it exhilarating reading for everyone." -- Steven Pinker, author of Rationality and The Better Angels of Our Nature

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Book Synopsis"A timely, fair-minded and crisply written account."—New York Times Book ReviewTrade Review"This is a well-researched portrayal of immunisation, from the earliest pioneers to an arm of preventive medicine now thoroughly entangled in politics, commerce and public relations." New Scientist "For those interested in the politics and debate of compulsory vaccination, and the personalities involved in all sides of the fight, Vaccine is a good read." Nature "One of the joys of Allen's well-researched but never boring 500-page history is that he pricks both camps, taking a critical look at both the anti-vaccinists' championing of pseudo-science and the medical establishment's repeated tendency to downplay the genuine dangers of vaccine side-effects." The Guardian "A fascinating, meticulously researched history of vaccination which is admirable for its even-handedness." The Independent"

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Book SynopsisDavid Quammen is simply the best natural essayist working today.--Tim Cahill, author of Lost in My Own Backyard

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Book Synopsis“Excellent. . . . [Buonomano] reveals the intricate limitations and blessings of the most complex device in the known universe.”—The AtlanticTrade Review"[An] intriguing take on behavioral economics, marketing and human foibles." -- Kirkus Reviews"An ingenious idea, and Buonomano has fully delivered on its promise. . . . A remarkably accessible and engaging introduction to the neuroscience of the human condition." -- Sam Harris, author of The Moral Landscape"A great book, filled with nuggets about how the brain works—and falters—and even some suggestions on how to put it to better use." -- Joseph LeDoux, author of The Emotional Brain

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Book SynopsisThe former editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Psychiatry explores the mysteries of creative genius, using evidence from both arts and the sciences for a fascinating investigation.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating introduction to the science of decision making.

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Book Synopsis"Few revolutions in science have been more far-reaching--but less understood--than the quantum revolution in physics. Everyday experience cannot prepare us for the sub-atomic world, where quantum effects"Table of Contents* Introduction Act I: Mechanical Failure * The Mystery of The Other Glove * In Which Things Are Exactly What They Are Seen To Be * Block That Metaphor! * Learning Through Repetition * Coin Tossing and Weather Forecasting * Not Just Electrons * Enter the Photon * So Photons Are Really Real, Then? * Particle or Wave? * One Photon at a Time * Learning to Live With Uncertainty * Is It or Isnt It? * Which Way Did the Photon Go? * No, but Really, What Happened? * How To Make Money From Quantum Mechanics * The importance of Being Rigorous * The Chronic Poor Health of Schrdingers Cat * Psychophysics quest ce que cest? Intermission: A Largely Philosophical Interlude * Does the Moon Really Exist? * The Fatal Blow? * A New Spin on the Puzzle * In Which Einstein is Caught in a Self-Contradiction * Whose Reality Is the Real Reality? * In Which Niels Bohr Is Obscure, Even By His Own Standards * And How Many Universities Did You Say Youd Be Needing? * Indeterminacy as Illusion * In Which Seeming Virtues Are Displayed as Faults * What Does Determinism Mean Anyway? * You Can Push it Around, but You Cant Get Rid of It Act II: Putting Reality To the Test * A New Angle on EPR * Fun With Algebra * And The Answer Is... * In Which Reality, Once Changed, Can Never Be Changed Back * The Possibility of Simultaneity * Not At All What Einstein Wanted Act III: Making Measurements * An Engineer, a Physicist, and a Philosopher... * The One True Paradox * At a Loss for Words * Can a Quantum Superposition Be Seen? * Like Peas in a Box * More than You Really Wanted to Know About Dried Peas * A Brief Digression About Time * The Defining Difference * At Last, the Quantum Cat * The Ghost of Schrdingers Cat * In Which Einsteins Moon is Restored * What Have We Learned? * The Last (or First) Mystery * Will We Ever Understand Quantum Mechanics?

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Book SynopsisJohn Hands's extraordinarily ambitious cosmological quest brings together our scientific knowledge and evaluates the theories and evidence about the origin and evolution of matter, life, consciousness, and humankind.Trade Review'An audacious tour of all that science can teach us about the origin and evolution of humanity in the universe, start to finish. It's encyclopedic sweep can be read straight through or browsed in parts of special interest' Edward O. Wilson'A substantial, sceptical survey of the current state of scientific knowledge of about the most basic questions... An invaluable, encyclopedic achievement' A.N. Wilson, Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year'Lucid and intelligible to the non-specialists... a book of astonishing ambition and scope' Tim Crane, Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year'Audacious, ambitious, and philosophically completist study... a thoughtful treatise for the eternally curious' Publishers Weekly (starred review)'From dark energy to the selfish gene, Hands looks at how we know what we know - and what we don't. An overview of current thought on this ever fascinating subject' Observer'This is a truly exceptional piece of work' Tim Crane, Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge'A magisterial, persuasive and thought provoking survey of the horizons of modern science' Dr James Le Fanu, author of The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine'Even in cases where one might disagree, the arguments are thought-provoking' Paul Steinhardt, Albert Einstein Professor in Science, Princeton University'John Hands has done a remarkable job of disentangling the many topics that are long overdue for reinterpretation. The enormous effort he has made to cover so many evolutionary questions is heroic... A major accomplishment' Professor James Shapiro, author of Evolution: A View From The 21st Century'A game-changer. In the tradition of Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, this lucidly written, penetrating analysis challenges us to rethink many things we take for granted about ourselves, our society, and our universe. It will become a classic' Peter Dreier, E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, Occidental College'A work as bold, broad, and challenging as this will no doubt tweak the bias any one of us may have regarding a particular event, but, then, so did Darwin's On the Origin of Species' Jeffrey Schwartz, Professor of Physical Anthropology and of The History & Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh'This book is an intellectual tour-de-force... highly recommended for anyone wishing to get a deeper insight into the fundamental but typically arcane theories that purport to explain where we and the universe that surrounds us are coming from' Professor Francis Heylighen, Evolution, Complexity and Cognition Group, Free University of Brussels'Any conventional Darwinist (and I am one of them) will find a lot to take exception to: but disagreement is the fuel of progress and if you enjoy an argument this is the book for you' Professor Steve Jones, author of The Language of the Genes'An audacious and admirable book... written with engaging style, and the strongest scientific ideas across a swathe of fields in physics and biology are presented lucidly' Larry Steinman, Professor of Neurological Sciences, Stanford University'Hands's voyage of inquiry will not only educate you, it will also surprise' Derek Shearer, Director, McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Los Angeles'A fine book... brave, very wide ranging, synoptic' Professor Stuart Kauffman, author of At Home in the Universe'Makes us realise how much we don't know. From this book we get that big picture' Professor David Knight, author of The Making of Modern Science

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Book SynopsisWritten during a long sea voyage from England through the Mediterranean, Civilization and the Limpet unveils many fascinating phenomena of undersea life. Wells captures with exquisite detail how limpets, like bees, navigate by the stars how the brainless sea urchin makes a myriad of critical survival decisions every day how deserted islands teem with an incredible abundance of animal life and why deep-diving whales never get the bends. Elegant and finely crafted, Civilization and the Limpet will enlighten, amuse, and awe anyone interested in the natural world.

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Table of ContentsContentsForeword1. A BIT OF A FLUTTER2. SATISFIED CUSTOMERS3. FOLIES DE GRANDEUR4. A LOT OF BALONEY5. IMPRESSIONS6. MAKING YOUR MARK7. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND8. SWEET DREAMS9. WAVING THE FLAG10. THE SILK CIRCUIT11. OUT OF GAS12. ORDINARY BUFFOONS13. BREAKFAST THOUGHTS14. STONES AND BONES15. IS THIS ESSAY NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT?16. SHOWTIME17. COOL STUFF18. REVOLUTIONARY MATTERS19. DON'T FORGET THIS ONE20. TAKE TWO ACRONYMS21. THE BUCK STARTS HERE22. HEALTHY BLOOMS23. AND NOW THE WEATHER24. ON TRACK25. IS THERE ANYBODY THERE?26. TURKISH DELIGHT27. SHEER POETRY28. LUCKY HE MISSED29. CHEERS30. WHAT'S IN A NAME?31. FEATHERED FRIENDS32. SCRIBBLE, SCRIBBLE33. HEAVY STUFF34. TICK TOCK35. REBELLIOUS AFFAIRS36. LOCAL COLOR37. DOES THIS TAKE YOU BACK?38. OOPS39. TEA, ANYONE?40. A LIGHT LITTLE NUMBER41. LEND ME YOUR EAR42. ENTENTE CORDIALE43. ZZZZZZZ44. A FEW NOTES45. SOUND IDEAS46. OR MAYBE NOT47. A MATTER OF DEGREE48. ROOM WITH (HALF) A VIEW49. VARIOUS, UNREQUITED50. THE O ZONESelect Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA FANTASTIC NEW VIEW OF A LOST ERA. Here are dinosaurs as you've never seen them before in a dramatically expanded new edition of the book that started the renaissance in dinosaur books. Here are dinosaurs that are swift, stunning, scary and stupendous, presented in a lavish format. Using the latest paleontological research, THE NEW DINOSAURS presents a scientifically accurate look at the way dinosaurs lived: how they moved, ate, dueled, drank and mated. From ten-ton brontosaurus to thirty-foot hadrosaurus, here is a story more fantastic than fantasy itself! THE DINOSAURSA FANTASTIC NEW VIEW OF A LOST ERA, by William Stout, with narration by the late William Service, is considered to be a classic in illustrated naturalist books. Featured in LIFE magazine, it helped spark the worldwide interest in dinosaurs that culminated in Jurrasic Park.

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Book SynopsisWould your body work better with some artificial parts? Will you live longer, perhaps a lot longer, than you now expect. This book treats the landscape of human self-change and robotic development as poles of the same phenomenon. It tells about the accumulation of small scientific advances that add up to something large and challenging.

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Book SynopsisThe author of Life and Death on 10 West chronicles the fascinating true story of the Oxford scientists who discovered penicillin by experimenting on mold, creating a family of drugs that would eradicate some of the worst diseases in human history. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWhy do some things pass under the radar, while others capture our attention? From art to religion, sport to supersistion Riverted is a fascinating and accessible exploration of the scientific and evolutionary underpinnings of why we find things compelling.

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Book SynopsisThe first academic study of this subject is an entertaining look at the search for Sasquatch which considers not just the nature of monsters and monster hunting in the late 20th century, but the more important relationship between the professional scientists and amateur naturalists who hunt them—and their place in the history of science.Trade Review'Using the career of anthropologist Gordon 'Grover' Sanders Krantz as a focal point, Regal explores the work and lives of the professional scientists ('eggheads') and amateur naturalists ('crackpots') who considered the possibility of Sasquatch and other 'manlike monsters' to be anomalous primates, as opposed to relics of regional folklore. Recommended.' CHOICE 'This excellent and fascinating book is not just about scientists searching for monsters, but others, called 'amateur naturalists' that are looking and doing field work as well. This book is a rare and insightful look by an academic who writes and thinks well.' Bigfoot Times 'This is a book not about Sasquatch, but about the men who spent their lives searching for it. Brian Regal's fast-moving narrative uncovers the complex relationships within and between the amateur enthusiasts and the small number of professional scientists who took the monster seriously. Regal opens a window onto the psychology and sociology of monster-hunting and has provided a valuable case study in the relationship between science and popular culture.' Peter Bowler, Professor of History of Science, School of History and Anthropology, Queen's University Belfast 'Searching for tangible evidence of elusive monsters has a long tradition among naturalists, highly trained scientists, adventurers, and charlatans. In this fascinating book, Brian Regal explores the many sides to 'monster-hunting,' or cryptobiology, through a case study of anthropologist Gordon 'Grover' Krantz's search for Sasquatch. Regal has skillfully used Krantz's career to raise a number of significant issues for the history of science, most important, what is the nature of evidence in science itself and how is its legitimacy negotiated.' Garland E. Allen, Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis 'The Yeti, Sasquatch, and the Minnesota Iceman take a back seat in this lively and engaging book which shows us that far more interesting, surprising, and bizarre than these mythical monsters may be are the many naturalists, both amateur and professional, who strove to make a legitimate science out of their study.' Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, Professor, History of Science, University of Florida 'A unique and remarkable work that highlights the people involved in the search for unknown primates. A fount of information on many characters about whom I knew little or nothing. Brian Regal has created a valuable, historic and highly readable tome.' Richard Freeman, Zoological Director, Centre for Fortean Zoology, UK 'Sasquatch has always been a creature of the margins half-human, half-beast; authentic and plastic; science and nonsense. In this incisive and often funny book, Brian Regal shows how the beast also stood between professional scientists and amateurs, and how debates about Sasquatch were simultaneously attempts to define the complicated relationship between these two groups.' Joshua Blu Buhs, author of Bigfoot: The Life and Times of a LegendTable of ContentsChasing Monsters Crackpots and Eggheads The Snowmen Bigfoot, the Anti-Krantz, and the Iceman The Life of Grover Krantz Suits and Ladders The Problems of Evidence A Life with Monsters

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Book SynopsisSynopsis coming soon.......

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