Popular science Books

Book SynopsisGenius Inventions gives readers an insight into the events, people and histories behind technological and scientific developments that have helped shape modern civilization. Table of ContentsAncient Inventions • The Islamic World • Printing • Renaissance Science • Telescopes and Microscopes • Submarines • The Age of Electricity • Steam Power • Photography • The Railways • Electromagnetism • The Mechanical Computer • Antiseptic • The Motor Car • The Light Bulb • The Telephone • Affordable Photography • Alternating Current Motor • Motion Pictures • Powered Flight • Radio • The Haber-Bosch Process • Television • The Helicopter • Rockets • Digital Computers • Immunosuppressive and Antiviral Drugs • The Internet.

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Book SynopsisMars: A Journey of Discovery takes us through previously uncharted territory to experience the unravelling of the mysteries of Mars first-hand and as they happened. Table of ContentsA Flickering Orb of Red • Red Planet Empire • The Sprinter: Mariner 4, First to Mars • Mars is Not Red: Marsniks Fail and Mariners Soar • Wet and Wild: A Shocking View from Mariner 9 • Into the Unknown • The Magnificent Vikings • Pink Sky, Red Sand • Is It Life? • Plucky Pathfinder • Pathfinder Triumphant • From on High: Mars Global Surveyor • An Odyssey to the Great Galactic Ghoul • Express Lane: Mars Express • Follow the Water • Blueberries, Dust Devils and Other Martian Delights • Opportunity's Grand Trek • HD in Space: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter • Empire of Ice: Mars Phoenix Lander • Seven Minutes of Terror: Mars Science Laboratory • We Found What We Came For • On to Mount Sharp • Yin and Yang: Maven and Mangalyaan • Next Steps: Insight and the Mars 2020 Rover: Russia's Turn: Europe's Exomars • NASA's Plan: Give Us (Another) 25 Years.

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Book SynopsisScience the Sh*t Out of Life reveals the nerdy secrets to living smarter, offering scientifically sourced advice for dealing with everything life throws at you. Presented with top tips, infographics and a sense of humour.Table of ContentsStaying Healthy. Working Smarter. Love and Relationships. At Home. Sport and Leisure. Travel. Money. Just In Case.

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Book SynopsisA compact guide to DNA: who we are, how we're wired, and how we repair ourselves. Table of ContentsMeet your genome • How do genes work? • Our genetic journey • Under attack! • Who do you think you are? • People are not peas • Genetic superheroes • Turn me on • Epigenetics • The RNA world • Building a baby • Wiring the brain • Compatibility genes • Why women are stripy • The viruses that made us human • When things go wrong • Human 2.0.

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Book SynopsisThe iconic futurist artist and designer Syd Mead once described science fiction as reality ahead of schedule. In From Science Fiction to Science Fact, Levy explores the visions of the writers, futurists and far-sighted inventors who made those realities, from the direct influence of H.G.Table of ContentsMilitary. Lifestyle and Consumer. Space and Transport. Medicine and Biology. Communications and IT.

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Book SynopsisIn the tradition of illustrated science bestsellers, like Thing Explainer and harkening back to the classic film The Powers of Ten, this unique, fully-illustrated, four-color book explores and visualizes the concept of scale in our universe.

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Book SynopsisBragg's bestselling account of the greatest figures and discoveries in the history of science from Archimedes to DNATrade Review'Enchanting ... if anything will unlock the Aladdin's cave of science to a general readership it is Melvyn Bragg's approach' * Lisa Jardine in The Times *A fascinating exploration forthe lay reader into the leagacy of 12 of the greatest figures in science form Archimedes to Galileo an dNewton to Einstein, Crick and Watson with the help of leading contemporary scientists..Publishing News 30 .10 .98What a wonderful way to approach a difficult subject. Take 12 of the world's greatest scientists from Archimedes to Watson and then not only outline their scientific achievements but also discuss the implications with our present greatest... The consequence is a potted history and debate on the past and its influence on the present, resulting an enlightened view of science. Brilliant. News Extra 30. 10. 98...Bragg plays the part of the interested, intelligent layman, asking the questions on behalf of the reader, and since this is what he really is, the device works perfectly.The Good Book Guide 11. 98'It's hard to see how this volume, based on a Radio 4 series, could be improved on as an introduction to science. A dozen scientific greats, from Archimedes to Einstein, are dazzlingly illuminated by successors working in the same fields...Sparks fly between contributors on Darwin. This is science told with passion'Independent on Saturday 13.2.99'OGS is an informative, spirited guide to the history of science and the individuals who have shaped it, from Archimedes to Crick and Watson. Bragg encourages debate between leading scientists on the significance of science, its place in society through the ages and the impact of individual genius. Brief chronologies and a bibliography complement the concise, yet thorough, chapters...'The Observer 21.3.99'A stunningly simple idea...a populist, highly entertaining study of science past, present and future. The approach is genuinely invigorating and the contents are all set out in delicioius and highly digestible morsels. Recommended reading'The Scotsman 6.3.99'a Clever and illuminating approach...he rounds up the best contemporary science writers and challenges them to explain the importance of the "greats"'Venue (Bristol) March 99'A dozen scientific greats, from Archimedes to Einstein, are dazzlingly illuminated by contemporary experts in the same field.''Sparks fly between contributors on Darwin. This is science told with passion.'(unknown)

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Book SynopsisThe Bible was the first scientific textbook of all; and it got some things right (and plenty more wrong). Steve Jones'' new book rewrites it in the light of modern science. Are we all descended from a single couple, a real-life Adam and Eve? Was the Bible''s great flood really a memory of the end of the Ice Age? Will we ever get back to Methuselah given that British life expectancy is still rising by six hours a day, every day? Many people deny the power of faith, many more the power of science. In this ground-breaking work, geneticist Steve Jones explores their shared mysteries - from the origins of life and humankind to sex, age, death and the end of the universe. He steps aside from the noisy debate between believers and unbelievers to show how the same questions preoccupy us today as in biblical times - and that science offers many of the answers.Erudite and accessible, The Serpent''s Promise is a witty and thoughtful account of the ability and the limits Trade ReviewWith sensitivity towards religion and sardonic wit, geneticist Steve Jones delivers a masterful scientific take on biblical events * Nature *Brilliantly told . . . highly entertaining and informative . . . one of the best books I have read * Biologist *Witty, urbane and erudite * Independent on Sunday *Jones is always lively and often wickedly funny * New Scientist *Erudite and accessible, The Serpent's Promise is a witty and thoughtful account of the ability and the limits of science to tell us what we are * New Statesman *a good natured, supremely well-informed guide ... beautifully written, stuffed with big ideas and sprinkled with fabulous anecdotes * Mail on Sunday *enthralling, in the best, most bracing way * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisWhy do testicles hang the way they do? Is there an adaptive function to the female orgasm? And why is the penis shaped like that anyway? Exploring the history of cannibalism, the science of homosexuality, and serious questions about life and death, the author covers a generous expanse of our kaleidoscope of quirks and origins.

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Book SynopsisAn eloquent, accessible tour de force that reveals how the concept of number evolved from prehistoric times through to the 20th century.

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Book SynopsisA highly readable guide to the evolution of colour and vision in the natural world.

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Book SynopsisThe Inside Out of Flies is a look under the bonnet at the astonishing mechanics of fly anatomy. Erica McAlister reveals the engineering miracles embodied in different species of fly and some of the fascinating implications they hold for human technology.Trade Review''Flies are not filthy… they are always cleaning themselves,'' notes entomologist Erica McAlister's caption for a photo of a fly maintaining its antennae — one of many eye-popping images in her erudite, irresistible natural history of the insects. She agrees with naturalist Pliny, who wrote two millennia ago that insects display nature's ''exhaustless ingenuity''. - Nature; ‘Not only is her subject matter engrossing and outlandish, but McAlister is also enthusiastic and witty… McAlister is an inspired spokeswoman for dipterology and entomology more generally, combining a heartfelt sense of wonder at the small things around us with a knack for popularizing science. The Inside Out of Flies, together with its predecessor The Secret Life of Flies are must-read books for anyone interested in insects.’ - The Inquisitive Biologist; ‘Her adoration for flies is utterly infectious and her accessible accounts of cutting-edge research are interspersed with amusing anecdotes that will be sure to induce a giggle.’ BBC Wildlife

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Book SynopsisA wry look at what the astonishing world of animal penises can tell us about how we use our own.

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Book SynopsisSimplexity. A groundbreaking new concept that reveals the hidden ways the world really works.

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Book SynopsisFor readers of On Trails, this is an incisive, utterly engaging exploration of walking: how it is fundamental to our being human, how we''ve designed it out of our lives, and how it is essential that we reembrace it.I''m going for a walk. How often has this phrase been uttered by someone with a heart full of anger or sorrow? Or as an invitation, a precursor to a declaration of love? Our species and its predecessors have been bipedal walkers for at least six million years; by now, we take this seemingly arbitrary motion for granted. Yet how many of us still really walk in our everyday lives?Driven by a combination of a car-centric culture and an insatiable thirst for productivity and efficiency, we''re spending more time sedentary and alone than we ever have before. If bipedal walking is truly what makes our species human, as paleoanthropologists claim, what does it mean that we are designing walking right out of our

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Book Synopsis* An engaging, accessible and fascinating look at science's 'best bits' by popular comedian and particle physicist Ben MillerTrade ReviewBen Miller has made a successful career out of concealing his intellect, but in this book he fails to obscure his scientific credentials beautifully. It's a fun and insightful ride through the whole of science - it's almost as if he'd finished his PhD! -- Professor Brian Cox This book makes climate change actually seem interesting. Not just important - it's obviously important - but interesting. As a result I bought lots of other books about climate change, something I now regret -- David Mitchell

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Book SynopsisWith his trademark brand of bulldozer-banter, Twitter legend James Felton guides you through the most morbidly fascinating facts you''ll then wish you could forget.Ever wondered why the chainsaw was invented?* How authorities dealt with a beached whale back in ye olde days of 1970?** Or what being a human decanter entails?*** Then you''ve come to the right place!Within these pages you''ll find the maddest, strangest and downright grossest stories from history, nature and science that you don''t want to know. (Except secretly you really do, you masochistic, beastly person you.) Illustrated, painfully funny and drop-your-jaw ridiculous, this is trivia from the cesspit of time that you won''t be able to stop reading once you start.*To aid childbirth.**They exploded it with 100 times too much dynamite and rained blubber down on unsuspecting people and buildings.***Decency prevents us from answering this one here. You''ll have to buy the book to fin

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Book SynopsisHow to clone a sheep. How to build a brain. How to boil a planet. How to save the world. From the microscopic to the cosmic, this book takes you on a glorious tour of the known universe and beyond, encompassing alien worlds, bizarre life forms, quantum weirdness, parallel dimensions and dissected brains along the way.Trade Review'Jha's clear writing style organises these big ideas in a way that makes them a pleasure to revisit, and an eye-opener if you're discovering them for the first time' BBC Science Focus Magazine. * Science Focus Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction. How to clone a sheep. How to start a plague. How to live forever. How to heal the sick. How to build a brain. How to turn sunbeams into oak trees. How to become invisible. How to put the world in order. How to make artificial life. How to build a Universe. How to make lightning. How to put the Universe to work. How to split an atom. How to know the mind of God. How to age slower than you twin. How to get life started. How to predict the unpredictable. How to fight for survival. How to boil and planet. How to build an Earth. How to control the weather. How to survive in space. How to find the missing parts of the Universe. How to programme your genes. How to find other universes. How to break codes. How to live with uncertainty. How to know yourself. How to spot a pseudoscientist. How to become a cyborg. How to read minds. How to think like an ant. How to save the world. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Short Story of the Universe is a new introduction to the subject of the universe. Covering 130 key components that make it up - from dwarf galaxies and spiral arms to red giants and the planets of the solar sytem - and linking these to the universe''s structure and the theories that help us understand it, this book simplifies this riveting yet mind-boggling subject, telling the story of how it came into being and how it will eventually be no more. Accessible and concise, generously illustrated throughout, and with all the essential information presented without jargon, readers are given all the tools they need to enjoy the fascinating history of the deepest depths of the universe.

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Book SynopsisA dramatic refutation of the dominant paradigm in biological thinking and popular science. A short introduction to evolutionary theory and the misconceptions that have come out of it. Short, clear and thought provoking - a must read for the general audience.

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Book SynopsisGet ready for the shocking truth about botanical sex. Did you know bee orchids trick insects into having sex with them? Or that avocado flowers open female one day and male the next? Discover over 200 of nature’s most unseemly creations in this sensational exposé. Trade ReviewThe sex life of plants did not top my list of "things one is curious about" but on reading Michael Allaby's neat hardback I had a change of heart. There is much switching of gender and some rather modern practices, but the light-hearted tone is supplemented by genuine erudition. -- Alexandra Henton * The Field *What secret raunchiness is going on in your garden without your knowledge? No, the doggers haven’t come to town, it’s the plants that are getting naughty in this light-hearted botanical volume, packed with delightful illustrations. -- Prudence Ivey * Ham & High *Delve into the world of botanical sex and discover the techniques used by plants to enter into unseemly liaisons to reproduce and survive. * Gardens Illustrated *

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Book SynopsisParis at the time of the French Revolution was the world capital of science. Its scholars laid the foundations of today''s physics, chemistry and biology. They were true revolutionaries: agents of an upheaval both of understanding and of politics. Many had an astonishing breadth of talents. The Minister of Finance just before the upheaval did research on crystals and the spread of animal disease. After it, Paris''s first mayor was an astronomer, the general who fought off invaders was a mathematician while Marat, a major figure in the Terror, saw himself as a leading physicist. Paris in the century around 1789 saw the first lightning conductor, the first flight, the first estimate of the speed of light and the invention of the tin can and the stethoscope. The metre replaced the yard and the theory of evolution came into being. The city was saturated in science and many of its monuments still are. The Eiffel Tower, built to celebrate the Revolution''s centennial, saw the worlTrade ReviewAn ingenious guidebook to the scientific past of Paris, written in lucid, erudite prose -- Ruth Scurr * New Statesman *Every section provides a richly informative guide to the history of a different scientific subject - from evolution to the rise of the potato * Daily Mail *A wonderful read * Guardian *Jones makes his mark as a popular science historian * New Scientist *[An] erudite mixture of science and history . . . a wide-ranging look at the discoveries of the era * Publishers Weekly *The outcomes are never what anyone could have guessed, and watching Jones unfurl them is spellbinding -- Peter Carey * Sunday Times *Jones is an excellent writer of popular science, but he is also able to cross over seamlessly into lucid discussions of culture and history * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisIn The Accidental Universe, physicist and novelist Alan Lightman explores the emotional and philosophical questions raised by discoveries in science, focusing most intently on the human condition and the needs of humankind.Here, in a collection of exhilarating essays, Lightman shows us our own universe from a series of fascinating and diverse perspectives. He takes on the difficult dialogue between science and religion; the conflict between our human desire for permanence and the impermanence of nature; the possibility that our universe is simply an accident; the manner in which modern technology has divorced us from enjoying a direct experience of the world; and our resistance to the view that our bodies and minds can be explained by scientific logic and laws alone.With his customary passion, precision, lyricism and imagination, in The Accidental Universe Alan Lightman leaves us with the suggestion - heady and humbling - that what we see and understandTrade ReviewAlan Lightman might be the only writer who can dance through not just one but seven universes in a book not much larger than a human hand. * The Columbus Dispatch *

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed popular-science writer Brian Clegg and popular TV and radio astronomer Rhodri Evans give us a Top Ten list of physicists as the central theme to build an exploration of the most exciting breakthroughs in physics, looking not just at the science, but also the fascinating lives of the scientists themselves. The Top Ten are: 1.Isaac Newton (1642-1727)2.Niels Bohr (1885-1962)3.Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)4.Albert Einstein (1879-1955)5.James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879)6.Michael Faraday (1791-1867)7.Marie Curie (1867-1934)8.Richard Feynman (1918-1988)9.Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937)10.Paul Dirac (1902-1984)Each of these figures has made a huge contribution to physics. Some are household names, others more of a mystery, but in each case there is an opportunity to combine a better understanding of the way that each of them has advanced our knowledge of the universe with an exploration of their often unusual, always interestiTrade ReviewThis is a lovely book, easy to read, and sure to provoke debate * John Gribbin, author of In Search of the Multiverse *

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Book Synopsis''A dazzling chronicle, a bracing challenge to modernity''s smug assumptions'' - Bryce Christensen, Booklist''O what a world of profit and delightOf power, of honour and omnipotenceIs promised to the studious artisan.''Christopher Marlowe, Dr FaustusBetween the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, Europe changed out of all recognition and particularly transformative were the ardent quest for knowledge and the astounding discoveries and inventions which resulted from it. The movement of blood round the body; the movement of the earth round the sun; the velocity of falling objects (and, indeed, why objects fall) - these and numerous other mysteries had been solved by scholars in earnest pursuit of scientia. Several keys were on offer to thinkers seeking to unlock the portal of the unknown:Folk religion had roots deep in the pagan past. Its devotees sought the aid of spirits. They had stores of ancient wisdom, particTrade ReviewA dazzling chronicle, a bracing challenge to modernity's smug assumptions -- Bryce Christensen * Booklist *Covers a lot of ground without being superficial . . . a rich and interesting book -- Kostas Kampourakis * Springer Nature *

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Book SynopsisHIGHLY COMMENDED for the British Medical Awards book prize for Popular Medicine''Filled with emotionally resonant stories, Can''t Just Stop helps us understand not only the underpinnings of some forms of mental illness, but also the everyday worries that drive so much of our behaviour. A fascinating peek into the human mind in our age of anxiety.''David Kessler, author of Capture: Unraveling the Mystery of Mental Suffering Do you check your smartphone continuously for messages? Or perhaps do the weekly shop with military precision? Maybe you always ensure the cutlery is perfectly lined up on the table?Compulsion is something most of us have witnessed in daily life. But compulsions exist along a broad continuum, and at the opposite end of these mild forms are life-altering disorders.Sharon Begley''s meticulously researched book is the first of its kind to examine the science behind both mild and extreme compulsive beha

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Book SynopsisIs it possible for humans to live on other planets?What will happen on the next mission to the Moon?And was there really once life on Mars?Brought to you by the infectiously enthusiastic team behind The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society, The Year in Space highlights the most exciting space news from the past twelve months and looks forward to the year ahead. Packed with features, interviews, in-depth explainers and stunning photography, it covers everything from the extraordinary new images from the James Webb telescope to the search for extraterrestrial life. You''ll also find practical tips on what to look out for in the night sky in 2023. Fun, engaging and accessible, this is essential reading for every space enthusiast.Trade ReviewEverything you could possibly want to know about recent space science accomplishments. Expertly delivered with a human touch. * Professor Lucie Green *What a superb astronomical companion book this is. A fantastic snapshot and collection of all our astro and space travel events in this feverishly busy chapter we're travelling through! A fascinating and accessible read that shows what a hugely inspiring period this is, consolidating our place ever further into space. * Jon Culshaw *

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Book SynopsisWhat is Big Data, and why should you care?Big data knows where you''ve been and who your friends are. It knows what you like and what makes you angry. It can predict what you''ll buy, where you''ll be the victim of crime and when you''ll have a heart attack. Big data knows you better than you know yourself, or so it claims.But how well do you know big data?You''ve probably seen the phrase in newspaper headlines, at work in a marketing meeting, or on a fitness-tracking gadget. But can you understand it without being a Silicon Valley nerd who writes computer programs for fun?Yes. Yes, you can.Timandra Harkness writes comedy, not computer code. The only programmes she makes are on the radio. If you can read a newspaper you can read this book.Starting with the basics what IS data? And what makes it big? Timandra takes you on a whirlwind tour of how people are using big data today: from science to smart cities, business to politics, self-quantification to the Internet of ThiTrade ReviewA superb explanation of how we got to today. * Evening Standard *Harkness has the perfect combination of wit, charm and statistical insight to crunch big data. It's the book about stats, life and big data we've all been waiting for. -- Matt Parker, Stand-up MathematicianHarkness raises some very big questions indeed, not just about the grandiose claims of the big data evangelists, but also about how in the age of universal surveillance we can defend the concept of privacy. * The Herald *A wonderful collection of fascinating data stories, all told in Timandra's smart and chatty style. But this book also asks the important questions. If big data brings new opportunities, just what are the implications? -- Hannah Fry, author and mathematicianA brilliant guide to our brave new world. -- Brian CleggThis book is a great read – full of interesting stories and fun interviews. But it is not just another credulous tale of technological wonders – Harkness is suitably sceptical of the hype about data analytics, and serious about the challenges is brings. -- David Spiegelhalter, author and mathematicianTable of ContentsIntroduction: What is it? Where did it come from? 1: What Is Data? And what makes it big? 2: Death and Taxes. And Babies. 3: Thinking Machines What Has Big Data Done For Us? 4: Big Business 5: Big Science 6: Big Society 7: Data Driven Democracy Big Ideas? 8: Big Brother 9: Who Do We Think You Are? 10: Are You A Data Point Or A Human Being? Appendix - things you can do to keep your data private Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisAs you read this, billions of neutrinos from the sun are passing through your body, antimatter is sprouting from your dinner and the core of your being is a chaotic mess of particles known only as quarks and gluons.If the recent discovery of the Higgs boson piqued your interest, then Why The Universe Exists will take you deeper into the world of particle physics, with leading physicists and New Scientist exploring how the universe functions at the smallest scales. Find out about hunt for dark matter and why there is something rather than nothing. Discover how accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland are rewinding time to the first moments after the big bang, and how ghostly neutrino particles may hold the answers to the greatest mysteries of the universe. ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subject

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Book SynopsisThe story of how our ancestors made the first tentative steps towards becoming human, how we lost our fur but gained language, fire and tools, and how we strode out of Africa, invented farming and cities and ultimately created modern civilisation

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Book SynopsisA myth-busting, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping and fun-filled expedition through the world of Game of Thrones.Trade ReviewThe book is a breezy, funny, but thoroughly researched survey of the fantastic wonders on Game of Thrones. * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisBy the simple expedient of asking questions and conducting experiments to answer them, science has transformed our understanding of the world. It has made us who we are, and revealed a universe that is older, bigger and stranger than we could ever have imagined.The Big Ideas in Science is an accessible and easy-to-use introduction to the scientific world, what it has achieved over the past few hundred years and what it promises for the future. Covering everything from the Big Bang to global warming, it provides everything you need to know in one book.You will learn what science has discovered about matter, space, energy, life, weather and information, and how we have transformed these discoveries into our modern technologies. You will witness the birth of the solar system, follow ocean currents for thousands of miles, ride on beams of light and, ultimately, gain a deeper understanding of issues as complex as global warming, and as controversial as synthetic life.ABOUT THE SERIESThe Complete Introduction series from Teach Yourself is the ultimate one-stop guide for anyone wanting a comprehensive and accessible entry point into subjects as diverse as philosophy, mathematics, psychology, economics and practical electronics. Loved by students and perfect for general readers who simply want to learn more about the world around them, these books are your first choice for discovering something new.Table of Contents : How we got here 1.: Bang, we're off 2.: Molecules in space 3.: Recipe for a solar system 4.: Life begins 5.: Evolution and extinction : Way of all flesh 6.: Life in sequence 7.: From the bottom up 8.: Getting it on 9.: Man the defences 10.: Attack of the nerves : Earth, wind and fire 11.: Ground beneath our feet 12.: Shake, rattle and roll 13.: Earth rocks 14.: Wet and windy 15.: Stormy water : We have the technology 16.: Full of energy 17.: Coming in waves 18.: Information overload 19.: Pedal to the metal 20.: It's alive : When science goes bad 21.: Fraud, fakery and fantasy 22.: Shocks and scares 23.: Hot enough for you? 24.: Apocalypse now 25.: Know your limits : Science of the future 26.: Back to the future 27.: A.I. 28.: Innerspace 29.: A space odyssey 30.: Things to come

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Book SynopsisThe Four Horsemen - War, Pestilence, Famine and Death - first appeared in the Book of Revelations a thousand years ago, but they continue to track us in our own time. This original and inspiring study bycelebrated historian Emily Mayhew traces the advances in science, technology and humanitarianism that are enabling us to take them on, one by one.'The beauty of The Four Horsemen is how she takes her quaking readers to the edge of the abyss . . . I was left moved and uplifted . . . [A] first-class example of popular science' The Times'[A] thoughtful and ultimately uplifting analysis of the unsung heroes of our age' IndependentIt begins in Mosul, our oldest surviving city, and the extraordinary coalition created in a matter of days to save its people from the worst horrors of the liberation battle against ISIS. As the city and the humanitarian operation that helped it to survive are restructured for a new age, Mayhew shows other people whose work gives us hope for the future, from the search to find new ways to discover and use antimicrobial medicines and the innovations in preventing the spread of deadly viruses; the laboratory work being taken to protect crops from disease and reduce famine, and why the potato, not the banana is the future; to the unique courage and resolution of those dedicated to securing the rights of the dead and their families. Standing in the way of the Horsemen is what Emily Mayhew calls, 'the most extraordinary alliance ever to come together in defence of our humanity.' These are the doctors, scientists, statisticians, engineers, peace negotiators, pharmacists, historians, forensic scientists, vaccinators and volunteers who are creating solutions to life and death problems which threaten us all. They are the new heroes of our age and this book is about them.Trade ReviewThe most gripping non-fiction book I have read in a very long time -- Mark Haddon, on A Heavy ReckoningA Fascinating book * The Times, on Wounded *An engaging piece of research, history and recollection * The Economist, on The Guinea Pig Club *[A] thoughtful and ultimately uplifting analysis of the unsung heroes of our age * Independent *Mayhew's book is rich in explanation and background detail...Although this is a scary book, it is also one full of hope * Independent *The beauty of The Four Horsemen is how she takes her quaking readers to the edge of the abyss, encouraging them to peek into the darkness below, then gently pulls them back, explaining how the worst can be averted, by dint of carefully accumulated wisdom, generosity of spirit, hard work and sheer ingenuity . . . I was left moved and uplifted . . . [I]n this first-class example of popular science Mayhew demonstrates that's also where salvation lies. * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'What I like best about this fascinating book is the detail. Brian Butterworth doesn't just tell us stories of animals with numerical abilities: he tells us about the underlying science. Elegantly written and a joy to read' - Professor Ian Stewart, author of What's the Use? and Taming the Infinite'Full of thought-provoking studies and animal observations' - Booklist'Enlightening and entertaining' - Publishers WeeklyThe Hidden Genius of Animals: Every pet owner thinks their own dog, cat, fish or hamster is a genius. What makes CAN FISH COUNT? so exciting is the way it unveils just how widespread intelligence is in nature. Pioneering psychologist Brian Butterworth describes the extraordinary numerical feats of all manner of species ranging from primates and mammals to birds, reptiles, fish and insects. Whether it's lions deciding to fight or flee, frogs competing for mates, bees navigating their way to food sources, fish assessing which shoal to join, or jackdaws counting friends when joining a mob - every species shares an ability to count.Homo Sapiens may think maths is our exclusive domain, but this book shows that every creature shares a deep-seated Darwinian ability to understand the intrinsic language of our universe: mathematics CAN FISH COUNT? is that special sort of science book - a global authority in his field writing an anecdotally-rich and revelatory narrative which changes the way you perceive something we take for granted.Trade ReviewHis densely detailed but remarkably clear exploration, illuminated by fascinating experiments, maps our understanding of numeration in the animal kingdom * Nature *

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Book SynopsisReveals the lesser-known facts about famous inventors, including their less successful and sometimes ludicrous inventions.

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Book SynopsisConventional wisdom has it that science is boring. “The Science Files,” an hourly radio call-in talk show about science, is anything but boring, and certainly none of the listeners, emailers or tweeters who participate in the call-in radio talk show think science is boring either. Richard Zurawski has been hosting “The Science Files” for eight years and has fielded literally thousands of questions. This book, The Science Files, is about the questions that listeners have been asking about science and the way the world, nature and the universe works. Compiled by Zurawski, the questions and answers in this book are lively, engaging and interesting discussions about a wide range of topics. Present throughout is Zurawski’s passion for learning and his genuine fascination with the natural world. Furthermore, The Science Files is a dialogue that encourages readers and participants alike to continue to learn and to ask questions.

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