Popular science Books

Book SynopsisHow did the atom bomb help save the elephant? Have we found the secret to eternal youth? Could a parasite be manipulating you right now? This dazzling collection of stories reveals the key recent breakthroughs in science, across all fields. Inside you will meet the killers lurking in Earth's ice, the super-coral that could save our seas and the neuroscientists hunting ghosts. You will travel beyond our galaxy to worlds where the sun sets twice, and beyond our time to a future where the Internet is unhackable and chickenosaurs roam the land. Divided into sections covering physics, space, humanity, the brain, plants and animals, and linking stories from different fields, Unbelievable Science offers a boundless journey of discovery for anyone with a passion for the world around them. Prepare to be shocked and amazed on every page.

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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 SynopsisThe atom. The Big Bang. DNA. Natural selection. All ideas that have revolutionised science - and that were dismissed out of hand when they first appeared. The surprises haven't stopped: here, Michael Brooks, bestselling author of 13 Things that Don't Make Sense, investigates the new wave of unexpected insights that are shaping the future of scientific discovery. Through eleven radical new insights, Brooks takes us to the extreme frontiers of what we understand about the world. He journeys from the observations that might rewrite our history of the universe, through the novel biology behind our will to live, and on to the physiological root of consciousness. Along the way, he examines how the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials means that many of the drugs we use are less effective on women than men and more likely to have adverse effects, explores how merging humans with other species might provide a solution to the shortage of organ donors, and finds out if there is such a thing as the will to live. When we think about science, we often think of iron-clad facts. But today more than ever, our unshakeable truths have been shaken apart. As Michael Brooks reveals, the best science is about open-mindedness, imagination and a love of mind-boggling adventures at the edge of uncertainty.Trade ReviewMichael Brooks is the canniest science writer around. He writes, above all, with attitude * Independent *Brooks reawakens us to the astonishing fact of our mere existence, the strangeness of the world around us, and the astonishing amount that science has yet to discover * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisPsychology is everywhere. Our emotions and desires, the decisions we make on a daily basis - absolutely every aspect of the way we think and feel has been studied by psychologists. Through dozens of interactive puzzles, IQ tests, quizzes, jokes, puns and visual illusions, Ben Ambridge guides us through this wealth of research, showing us how we can better understand ourselves. Debunking tabloid speculation, revisiting old favourites such as the Stanford Prison Experiment and unearthing bleeding edge research unknown to the general reader, renowned psychologist Ben Ambridge blows away the received wisdom to reveal to enthusiasts and novices alike the psychology behind our daily lives. With wit and humour aplenty, he explains whether your blue eyes make you more or less trustworthy, how analogies can help cure cancer, whether Rorschach's famous inkblot tests really work, what your love for heavy metal (or Mozart) says about you, how psychology could help solve the obesity crisis and countless other revealing, entertaining and downright astonishing tests of your Psy-Q. Visit Ben's accompanying website, http://benambridge.wordpress.com/, and test yourself - and your friends.Trade ReviewBoth broad and deep, serious but lots of fun. Recommended -- Tim Harford, author of * The Undercover Economist *A clear and engaging explanation of many psychological phenomena you've vaguely heard of, and many more you'll be glad to learn about -- Steven PinkerClever, broad-minded and fun * Sunday Times *He has a trickster's charm of "How did he do that?" presentation and a stage magician's "Hey presto!" delight in revelation * Times *For all its easy-peasy, playful, tick-in-the-box larkiness, Psy-Q makes some very interesting points about the counter-intuitive nature of human psychology, and has a fresh and often iconoclastic take on even the most celebrated experiments -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *A cornucopia of brain-teasers and other (psycho)logical delights that will challenge, surprise and amuse -- Guy Deutscher, author of 'Through the Language Glass'A readable, accessible and un-putdownable book that I managed to devour in an entire afternoon * The Bookbag *As I completed what Ambridge calls my "psych-odyssey", I did have a better understanding of myself * BBC Focus *A playful insight into the world of the human mind...Once finished with, it makes for great fun to turn psychologist and test friends and family and watch them sweat while you raise a brow uncomfortably * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisLaki is Iceland's largest volcano. Its eruption in 1783 is one of history's great, untold natural disasters. Spewing out sun-blocking ash and then a poisonous fog for eight long months, the effects of the eruption lingered across the world for years. It caused the deaths of people as far away as the Nile and created catastrophic conditions throughout Europe. Island on Fire is the story not only of a single eruption but the people whose lives it changed, the dawn of modern volcanology, as well as the history and potential of other super-volcanoes like Laki around the world. And perhaps most pertinently, in the wake of the eruption of another Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, which closed European air space in 2010, acclaimed science writers Witze and Kanipe look at what might transpire should Laki erupt again in our lifetime.Trade ReviewA volcanic tour de force: terrific story-telling that reveals our vulnerability to nature's most destructive forces. -- Nick CraneDeftly interweaving information compiled by naturalists and astronomers of the day ... with interviews with modern-day scientists and historians, the authors provide a captivating overview of an eruption. * Science News *A compelling and engrossing story of Laki and its worldwide impact. As the best book authors do, they have also ferreted out facts and examples that make their specific story one with implications for modern readers. * The Seattle Times *A terrific, disturbing book. In their fast-paced, enjoyable text the authors show how vulnerable we remain to the most unpredictable of natural disasters. -- Gillian Darley, author of VesuviusMuch of the research is amazing and is deftly woven into a strong narrative. The result is a book that is steeped in science, but also history and the stories of people affected by a little-known landmark event. -- Tom Henry * SEJournal *Island on Fire was the perfect book ... I've read a lot of novels which didn't hold my attention in quite the same way. * The Bookbag *Human drama and tragedy mix with science here. The science may enlighten readers with no prior knowledge of volcanism, but the human story carries the book. * Dallas Morning News *A compelling and readable account that is readily accessible and illuminating, and provides some fascinating examples of the intersections between volcanoes, humans and society....Succeeds as a 'popular science' text, covering complex aspects of science with a light touch, [yet] a useful source book for students of geography, Earth and environmental science. -- David Pyle, volcanologist, University of Oxford, on his Volcanic Degassing blogThis book...won us over....Witze and Kanipe skilfully interweave the science of the "bigger picture" (including modern-day climate change) with the human story of Jón Steingrímsson, a priest and early volcanologist who recorded the devastating effects that Laki's eruption had on his parish. -- Top 10 books of 2014 * Physics World *

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Book SynopsisOur systems are failing. Old models - for education, healthcare and government, food production, energy supply - are creaking under the weight of modern challenges. As the world's population heads towards 10 billion, it's clear we need new approaches. Futurologist Mark Stevenson sets out to find them, across four continents. From Brazilian favelas to high tech Boston, from rural India to a shed inventor in England's home counties, We Do Things Differently travels the world to find the advance guard re-imagining our future. At each stop, he meets innovators who have already succeeded in challenging the status quo, pioneering new ways to make our world more sustainable, equitable and humane. Populated by extraordinary characters, We Do Things Differently paints an enthralling picture of what can be done to address the world's most pressing dilemmas, offering a much needed dose of down-to-earth optimism. It is a window on (and a roadmap to) a different and better future.Trade ReviewStevenson is an excellent storyteller ... fascinating. * The Times *Inspirational. The book works so well because Stevenson gets out there to see things for himself. * Daily Mail *An ability to express even the most complex scientific problems in terms easily understood by a layperson. * Sydney Morning Herald *Stevenson wears no blindfold. His tools are curiosity, open-mindedness, clarity and reason. That makes his journey intriguing... and ultimately exhilarating. * TED.com *Stevenson's engaging commentary has the ability to restore your faith in human ingenuity in the face of adversity * Geographical magazine *Not just a great read, but a really important one too. * Atlas of the Future *Stevenson is one of those rare visionaries who fascinates and entertains in equal measure. Do not be surprised if he becomes a household name in the not-too-distant future. * London Literature Festival *Stevenson writes with enormous warmth and humour. * Cory Doctorow *By the end of this exhilarating page-turner my faith had been restored. * EcoHustler *From the reviews of An Optimist's Tour of the Future: 'A rollicking roller-coaster ride around the cutting edge of science with dozens of laugh-out-loud moments * Scotsman *Stevenson puts the trends of tomorrow's world into perspective with a quizzical, fast-paced, quick-witted tour of the scientific horizon * The Times *Certainly one of the most interesting science books I've read for a long time * New Statesman *A grand tour of charismatic technologies and their prophets ... Stevenson bags an impressive list of interviewees * Financial Times *Essential ... illuminating and refreshingly hopeful ... an auspicious yet grounded vision * The Atlantic *

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Book SynopsisWhich mathematician elaborated a crucial concept the night before he died in a duel? Who funded his maths and medical career through gambling and chess? Who learned maths from her wallpaper? Ian Stewart presents the extraordinary lives and amazing discoveries of twenty-five of history's greatest mathematicians from Archimedes and Liu Hui to Benoit Mandelbrot and William Thurston. His subjects are the inspiring individuals from all over the world who have made crucial contributions to mathematics. They include the rediscovered geniuses Srinivasa Ramanujan and Emmy Noether, alongside the towering figures of Muhammad al-Khwarizmi (inventor of the algorithm), Pierre de Fermat, Isaac Newton, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky, Bernhard Reimann (precursor to Einstein), Henri Poincaré, Ada Lovelace (arguably the first computer programmer), Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing. Ian Stewart's vivid accounts are fascinating in themselves and, taken together, cohere into a riveting history of key steps in the development of mathematics.Trade ReviewStewart is Britain's most brilliant and prolific populariser of maths. -- Alex BellosThis is not pure maths. It is maths contaminated with wit, wisdom, and wonder. Ian really is unsurpassed as raconteur of the world of numbers. He guides us on a mind-boggling journey from the ultra trivial to the profound. Thoroughly entertaining. * New Scientist *In his latest book, master mathematics expositor Ian Stewart delivers on his catchy title with succinct summaries of twenty-five of the most influential mathematicians of all time, from Archimedes, ca 250BCE, to modern day giant William Thurston, who died in 2012. By providing short descriptions of their most significant works, Stewart provides a concise overview of what has been hot in math at different times in the discipline's history. A great way for an outsider to get a sense of the huge historical arc of mathematical discoveries that has led to the mathematics-and the world-of today. I recommend it. -- Keith Devlin, Stanford University, author of The Man of Numbers: Fibonacci’s Arithmetic Revolution and Finding Fibonacci: The Quest to Rediscover the Forgotten Mathematical Genius Who Changed the WorldPraise for previous books: 'With captivating stories and his signature clarity, Ian Stewart shows us how math makes the world - and the rest of the universe - go round -- Steven Strogatz, Professor of Mathematics, Cornell University, and author of The Joy of XProfessor Ian Stewart shows us emphatically that great mathematicians have often also been public servants, political activists and expositors, not just lone geniuses or one-track minds. Mathematics for all its abstraction is a communal and human activity, and this is vividly captured in this fascinating whistlestop tour of the human lives behind the greatest mathematics in history. -- Dr. Eugenia Cheng, Scientist In Residence, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, author of 'How to Bake Pi' and 'Beyond Infinity'This beautifully written assemblage of the lives and work of the world's greatest mathematicians is both humbling and inspiring. Stewart shows with his typical clarity how the power of pure thought has shaped our world for over two millennia. -- J.S. Al-Khalili, OBE, Professor of Physics, University of SurreyThe search for mathematical truth, no matter how abstract, is ultimately carried out by flesh-and-blood people. In this readable book, Ian Stewart makes math accessible by humanizing its greatest practitioners, simultaneously illuminating who they were and the discoveries they made. You cannot read it without being struck by admiration for the driven souls who created mathematics over the centuries. -- Sean Carroll, author of 'The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself'In Significant Figures, Ian Stewart brings mathematics to life with intriguing accounts of twenty-five extraordinary contributors to the field. His biographical sketches blend equal parts passion-love affairs and rivalries-with insights-groundbreaking discoveries-to offer vivid, complete portraits of his subjects. By showing how even mathematical geniuses face all-too-human challenges, Stewart offers a riveting chronicle of one of humankind's loftiest endeavors. -- Paul Halpern, author of 'The Quantum Labyrinth: How Richard Feynman and John Wheeler Revolutionized Time and Reality'

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Book SynopsisSwearing, it turns out, is an incredibly useful part of our linguistic repertoire. Not only has some form of swearing existed since the earliest humans began to communicate, but it has been shown to reduce physical pain, help stroke victims recover their language, and encourage people to work together as a team. Swearing Is Good For You is a spirited and hilarious defence of our most cherished dirty words, backed by historical case studies and cutting-edge research. From chimpanzees creating their own curse words to a man who lost half his brain in a mining accident experiencing a new-found compulsion to swear, Dr Emma Byrne outlines the fascinating science behind swearing: how it affects us both physically and emotionally, and how it is more natural and beneficial than we are led to believe.Trade ReviewA good book about bad language by a trash-talking woman? Sign me up! Swearing Is Good for You makes science feel downright celebratory. -- Mary Norris, bestselling author of Between You & MeAn impressive catalogue of research showing how effing and blinding helps us deal with pain, bond with others, is associated with intelligence and makes us more inclined to trust each other... a glorious uplifting read. -- Lucy Kellaway * Financial Times *Swearing has been the subject of considerable scientific analysis, it turns out, which Byrne's book deftly reviews...Swearing is stinky cheese and malbec in a world of clean eating. -- India Knight * The Sunday Times *A chatty, humorously informative narrative that rummages through the science of bad language, grabbing at sociology, psychology, neuroscience and anthropology. -- Hephzibah Anderson * The Mail on Sunday *This excellent book backs up my long-held theory that people who swear are generally less uptight or anxious than those who don't...I think the most joyous bit about this book is learning that swearing is a powerful and acceptable weapon in a woman's armoury, a strong signal that we don't have to adhere to old-fashioned, traditional views of what is "ladylike", a phrase I often hear when swearing is discussed in mixed-gender debates. -- Lorraine Candy * The Sunday Times Style *Byrne is a science writer with a PhD in robotics and a gleefully robust attitude to language... Swearing Is Good For You is a lively defence of its subject. -- James McConnachie * The Sunday Times *Entertaining and informative ... reminds you of the mysterious pleasure of using words that are not meant to be said. -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *A lively examination of a neglected subject. * The Week *The next time someone tells you off for swearing, give them a copy of this book. Byrne explains all the ways in which swearing is good for us, from pain relief to team bonding, and reveals what cursing chimpanzees can tell us about the origin of dirty words. * BBC Science Focus *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2020 Baillie Gifford Prize A New Statesman Book of the Year This is the story of our quest to understand the most mysterious object in the universe: the human brain. Today we tend to picture it as a computer. Earlier scientists thought about it in their own technological terms: as a telephone switchboard, or a clock, or all manner of fantastic mechanical or hydraulic devices. Could the right metaphor unlock the its deepest secrets once and for all? Galloping through centuries of wild speculation and ingenious, sometimes macabre anatomical investigations, scientist and historian Matthew Cobb reveals how we came to our present state of knowledge. Our latest theories allow us to create artificial memories in the brain of a mouse, and to build AI programmes capable of extraordinary cognitive feats. A complete understanding seems within our grasp. But to make that final breakthrough, we may need a radical new approach. At every step of our quest, Cobb shows that it was new ideas that brought illumination. Where, he asks, might the next one come from? What will it be?Trade ReviewAn intellectual tour de force, and a brilliant demonstration of how a historical approach is often the best way of explaining difficult scientific problems ... For anybody who wants to understand the depths of our understanding of our brains, and our even deeper ignorance, I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. -- Henry Marsh * New Statesman *Sweeping and electrifyingly sceptical -- James McConnachie * The Times *Cobb is a rare jewel. [The Idea of the Brain] is a typically erudite, thrilling and thorough exploration of the most complex thing in the known universe. -- Adam Rutherford * The Week *The best book produced in my lifetime on the brain. -- Richard C Atkinson, President Emeritus, University of California

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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 SynopsisThought the science of the future was all hoverboards and space travel? Think again. Every day, scientists come up with the ingenious solutions and surprising discoveries that will define our future. So here, Jim Al-Khalili and his crack team of experts bin the crystal ball and use cutting-edge science to get a glimpse of what's in store. From whether teleportation is really possible (spoiler: it is), to what we'll do if artificial intelligence takes over, What's Next? takes on the big questions. And along the way, it'll answer questions like: Will we find a cure to all diseases? An answer to climate change? Will bionics make us into superheroes? Touching on everything from genetics to transport, and nanotechnology to teleportation, What's Next? is a fascinating, fun and informative look at what's in store for the human race.Trade ReviewA collection of mind-boggling essays that are just the thing for firing up your brain cells * Saga *Praise for Aliens: 'A brilliantly sharp collection * Observer *[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 * 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 * Daily Mail *Accessible and fun ... an utterly fascinating glimpse into all our potential futures -- Doug Johnstone * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisScientific evidence has proven the power of kindness to change the brain, impact the heart and immune system, and even be an antidote to depression.We're actually genetically wired to be kind. In this book, inspirational ex-scientist David Hamilton shows that the effects of kindness are felt daily throughout our nervous systems. When we're kind, our bodies are healthiest.In his down-to-earth and accessible style, David shares how:- Kindness makes us happier - Kindness improves relationships - Kindness is good for the heart - Kindness slows ageing - Kindness is contagiousThere’s a chapter dedicated to each of these side effects in turn, in which you’ll learn about how and why it happens, the science that proves it, how it plays out in our lives and how it affects children, adults and older people. Along the way, there are also a few stories of acts of kindness performed by ordinary people and 50 suggestions for acts of kindness you can do yourself.Reading these stories will nourish your soul and leave you with renewed optimism for the future. The Five Side-effects of Kindness will help you see the many ways in which giving your time, energy and love to another could transform your health – and your whole world.Trade Review'KINDFULNESS is a powerful medicine. By making kindness a conscious practice, your life will improve in solid, measurable ways – better health, inner peace, everyday abundance, deep joy and more love. Dr Hamilton’s inspiring book shows you how.’Robert Holden, author of Life Loves You and Shift Happens!‘A beautiful, heart-opening reminder of the importance of kindness at every level.’ Bronnie Ware, author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying‘I have always felt that kindness is love made visible. As this encouraging book from David Hamilton points out, it also slows ageing, improves heart health and is kind of contagious as well!’Michael Neill, bestselling author of The Inside-Out Revolution and The Space Within‘I LOVE David Hamilton. And anyone (even if it was Darth Vader) who writes about kindness gets my endorsement, my kudos, and my first-born child. Just kidding about the first-born child, but I do want to encourage anyone who might listen to me (the three of you) to GET THIS BOOK! And be kind. Always. And forever.’ Pam Grout, #1 New York Times bestselling author of 18 books, including E-Squared, E-Cubed and Thank & Grow Rich‘This book is an act of kindness! It’s packed full of practical, inspirational and scientifically proven techniques for how to bring more kindness into our lives, and it makes you want to go and be kind!’ Charlie Morley, author of Dreams of Awakening‘This is the book for you if you’ve ever wished for an easier life. David has a way of making the complex very simple and profound obvious. I had so many aha moments while reading this book and I’m absolutely sure you will too. Do yourself the greatest kindness and open these pages as you open your mind, while you allow David to gently open your heart to a whole world of possibilities and the life you truly deserve.’Ali Campbell, author of Just Get on With it! and More Than Just Sex‘If you think this is a whimsical book on kindness, please think again. David Hamilton wouldn’t create a book of sugar-coated fluff, even though he’s an expert on placebos! No one on this planet has researched the mind–body connection in the way David has. He lives it and he embodies it! His last book, I Heart Me, took us on a journey of ‘Self-love’; this book is about ‘Social-love’ and the brilliant side effects kindness has on our own wellbeing. David shows you that kindness is far from being whimsical – it’s powerful. It will improve your life and your world.’ Becky Walsh, author, broadcaster and TV Presenter‘Kindness is an electrical spark of life that runs through all kingdoms and has a reciprocal action when shown to others. David has a remarkable capacity to write from the heart, from his own experiences, which, when combined with scientific evidence, makes this book truly unique. As science shows, physical changes occur in the brain when kindness is expressed. David explains how this kindness can be used to overcome stress, anxiety and depression, and strengthening the heart. In my opinion, this book would make a fascinating and enlightening read for all ages. I found it a real treasure of insight and practical application.’Joe Hayes, B.Mph., B.Es.AstRol., B.Es.Psych, Chairman of the Claregate Trust

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Book SynopsisPhysics in Minutes covers everything you need to know about physics, condensed into 200 key topics. Each idea is explained in clear, accessible language, building from the basics, such as mechanics, waves and particles, to more complex topics, including neutrinos, string theory and dark matter. Based on scientific research proving that the brain best absorbs information visually, illustrations accompany the text to aid quick comprehension and easy recollection. This convenient and compact reference book is ideal for anyone interested in how our world works. Chapters include: Newton's Laws of Motion, Schrodinger's cat, Magnetism, Superconductivity, Fission and fusion, Higgs Boson, Entropy, Dark matter.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Classical mechanics. Waves. Thermodynamics. Electromagnetism. Matter. Electricity. Nuclear physics. Quantum physics. Particle physics. Relativity and cosmology. Glossary. Index. Acknowledgements.

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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 SynopsisPlease note that this Floris Books edition has been revised for UK and European notation, language and metric systems.From the early peoples who marvelled at the geometry of nature -- the beehive and bird's nest -- to ancient civilisations who questioned beautiful geometric forms and asked 'why?', the story of geometry spans thousands of years. Using only three simple tools -- the string, the straight-edge and the shadow -- human beings revealed the basic principles and constructions of elementary geometry. Weaving history and legend, this fascinating book reconstructs the discoveries of mathematics's most famous figures. Through illustrations and diagrams, readers are able to follow the reasoning that lead to an ingenious proof of the Pythagorean theorem, an appreciation of the significance of the Golden Mean in art and architecture, or the construction of the five regular solids.This insightful and engaging book makes geometry accessible to everyone. Readers will be fascinated with how the knowledge and wisdom of so many cultures helped shape our civilisation today.String, Straight-edge and Shadow is also a useful and inspiring book for those teaching geometry in Steiner-Waldorf classrooms.Trade Review'Shows us what we don't realise we know, what civilisations before us learnt and passed down to us. It brings an awe and magic back to our learning… Those that advanced knowledge of geometry had a grounded and practical understanding of where it came from. This book helps us to do that.'-- The Smart Happy Project'This was an enjoyable read for the everyday person of curious mind.' - Amazon.com'Fantastic, accurate, readable, teachable and Classical.' -- Amazon.com'The well constructed narrative brings these people and their excitement over these discoveries to life. I learned about the patterns in math from a new perspective and it made me wonder why math is always taught in the abstract format. These people understood it in a completely different way and I would think that some people would learn it better if it were explained this way.' -- Goodreads'This gem is about ancient Geometry that has definite application today. Knowing the stories behind many great discoveries make them so much more interesting and really helps math to come alive.' -- Goodreads'Whether you are learning geometry for the first time, teaching it to students at home or in the classroom, or are parents helping your children through their first geometry course, this is a must-read for everyone! You will be fascinated with the graphic illustrations and written depiction of how the knowledge and wisdom of so many cultures helped shape our civilization today.' -- Waldorf Books‘String, Straight-edge and Shadow (is) an interesting and informative book and its numerous diagrams and illustrations are part of its appeal. Anyone interested in learning how discoveries made thousands of years ago still underpin much of our modern day science and mathematics will find this a useful and engaging read.’-- New View

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Book SynopsisIt is London in the 1890s. A young woman has just taken a dose of a tonic she’s been given in the belief that it will improve her complexion. About ten minutes pass and she starts to experience breathing difficulties. Another minute and she collapses. Mercifully, death arrives but the poison has not yet finished, for the process of rigor mortis has set in with unusual speed. Her body is frozen into a rigid and contorted mass. This is the horror of strychnine, the nastiest of poisons. Despite knowing all the dreadfulness of this poison, Dr Thomas Neill Cream, the Lambeth Poisoner, used it to kill several prostitutes. And who knows how many other victims experienced the horror of strychnine, for it was by no means an uncommon poison. Today, there may well be more poisons available to the individual than ever before, but there are also advances in medical examination and forensic analysis that increase the likelihood of the poisoner being caught. This book will examine poisons, both natural and man-made menaces, and cases based on a particular poison as well as information about how forensic analysis is conducted. Appealing to scientists and non-scientists alike, this enthralling book will entertain and educate and bring the reader up to date with how important chemical analysis is in crime detection.Trade Review"is outstanding...gives me a copious number of interesting stories that I can relay to my classes to connect chemistry to the “real world”...has a cornucopia of stories that would appeal to any chemist. I recommend reading and using many of these stories in your classroom." -- Yvonne Clifford, Jacob Hespeler Secondary School Cambridge, Ontario * Chem 13 News, January 2018 *Table of ContentsPrimitive Potions and Poisons; Chemical Chaos; Animal, Vegetable, Mineral; Man-made Menace; From Poison to Prison; Chemistry Clues and Crime; Testing the Toxin; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn 2006 Dr Adrian Owen and his team made medical history. They discovered a new realm of consciousness, somewhere between life and death, which they called the Grey Zone. The people who inhabit it are frequently labelled as irretrievably lost, with no awareness or sense of self. The shocking truth is that they are often still there, an intact mind trapped inside a broken body and brain, hearing everything around them, experiencing emotions, thoughts, pleasure and pain. But now, through Dr Owen's pioneering techniques, we can talk to them - and they can talk back.

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Book Synopsis'Funny, wise and absolutely fascinating.' Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to HurtDo you want to be happy? If so - read on. This book has all the answers*In The Happy Brain, neuroscientist Dean Burnett delves deep into the inner workings of our minds to explore some fundamental questions about happiness. What does it actually mean to be happy? Where does it come from? And what, really, is the point of it? Forget searching for the secret of happiness through lifestyle fads or cod philosophy - Burnett reveals the often surprising truth behind what make us tick. From whether happiness really begins at home (spoiler alert: yes - sort of) to what love, sex, friendship, wealth, laughter and success actually do to our brains, this book offers a uniquely entertaining insight into what it means to be human.*Not really. Sorry. But it does have some very interesting questions, and at least the occasional answer.

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Book Synopsis'Compelling and wise and rational.' - Jon RonsonOne in four of us experience a mental health problem each year, with anxiety and depression alone affecting over 500 million people worldwide.Why are these conditions so widespread? What is it about modern life that has such an impact on our mental health? And why is there still so much confusion and stigma around these issues?In Psycho-Logical, neuroscientist and bestselling author Dean Burnett answers these questions and more, revealing what is actually going on in our brains when we suffer mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and addiction.Combining illuminating scientific research with first-hand insights from people who deal with mental health problems on a daily basis, this is an honest, entertaining and reassuring account of how and why these issues occur, and how to make sense of them.

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Book SynopsisOur history is littered with heads. Over the centuries, they have decorated our churches, festooned our city walls and filled our museums; they have been props for artists and specimens for laboratory scientists, trophies for soldiers and items of barter. Today, as videos of decapitations circulate online and cryonicists promise that our heads may one day live on without our bodies, the severed head is as contentious and compelling as ever. From shrunken heads to trophies of war; from memento mori to Damien Hirst's With Dead Head; from grave-robbing phrenologists to enterprising scientists, Larson explores the bizarre, often gruesome and confounding history of the severed head. Its story is our story.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2018 Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2017 A stunning new non-fiction voice tackles an urgent question... what next for mankind? 'Troubling and humorous, this is one of my current give-it-to-everyone books - I buy six copies at a time' Jeanette Winterson

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Book SynopsisA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK An original and revelatory journey through the three-billion-year history of slime - a substance upon which we and our world depend. Slime is an ambiguous thing. It exists somewhere between a solid and liquid. It inspires revulsion even while it compels our fascination. It is a both a vehicle for pathogens and the strongest weapon in our immune system. Most of us know little about it and yet it is the substance on which our world turns. Slime exists at the interfaces of all things: between the different organs and layers in our bodies, and between the earth, water, and air in the environment. It is often produced in the fatal encounter between predator and prey, and it is a vital presence in the reproductive embrace between female and male. In this ground-breaking and fascinating book, Susanne Wedlich leads us on a scientific journey through the 3 billion year history of slime, from the part it played in the evolution of life on this planet to the way it might feature in the post-human future. She also explores the cultural and emotional significance of slime, from its starring role in the horror genre to its subtle influence on Art Nouveau. Slime is what connects Patricia Highsmith's fondness for snails, John Steinbeck's aversion to hagfish, and Emperor Hirohito's passion for jellyfish, as well as the curious mating practices of underwater gastropods and the miraculous functioning of the human gut. Written with authority, wit and eloquence, Slime brings this most nebulous and neglected of substances to life. Rich and strange... a deft cultural history of the idea of slime as well as an up-to-the-minute exegesis of its science - Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewSusanne Wedlich is your smart and genial guide through the curious realms of natural goop, how we think of it, treat it and need it. An illuminating and eloquent story of slime, it will leave you appreciating in whole new ways the sticky stuff that covers our world, inside and out -- Helen Scales, marine biologist and author of The Brilliant AbyssRich and strange... a deft cultural history of the idea of slime as well as an up-to-the-minute exegesis of its science * Daily Telegraph *An enjoyably icky guide * Telegraph *Packed with disarming facts... Wedlich is a modest and understated guide * Spectator *Remarkable... [Wedlich] takes delight in the ooze, revels in the squidge, and brings it together in admirably well-organised form to create a rollicking read -- Cal Flyn * Prospect *

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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 SynopsisWhy do we vote the way we do?; Pundits, pollsters and politicians are queuing up to tell us, but do they really know? More importantly, do we really know?; Psychologists have been studying how we make political decisions for years, and the truth is we're a lot less rational than we think we are; sometimes we vote for reasons we're not even consciously aware of.; Delving into the science and psychology of politics, What's Your Bias? gets under the skin to reveal what really drives us - whichever way we vote. In this absorbing book, psychologist and neuroscientist Lee de-Wit explores the subtle - and often surprising - factors that could be influencing our votes, from our personality traits and unconscious biases to our susceptibility to campaign targeting and fake news.; Whether we're debating nationalism, immigration, welfare or equality, psychology can help us to better understand the decisions we make in modern politics. If you want to know more about yourself, your friends and family, or the bigger political picture, this is essential reading.Trade Review“A very timely release that condenses a lot of relevant academic work into an accessible, lively volume. It helps us to appreciate the nature of own political thoughts better as well as those of others” – Jamie Pow, Northern Slant; “A thought provoking read … [I] regularly pulled my head out of the book to quote passages to my (long suffering) husband, finding that some sparked interesting debate between us” – The Quiet Knitter; “A highly accessible introduction and essential reading for anyone interested in – and puzzled by – the drama of contemporary politics” -- Professor Peter John, author of Nudge, Nudge, Think, Think; “A joy to read . . . takes the reader on a journey from our genes to the structure of our brains, and how those in turn are related to our political attitudes” -- Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, University of Bristol; “In a time of extreme political unrest and uncertainty, Lee de-Wit’s What's Your Bias? provides a thrilling scientific analysis as to why things seem to have gone so awry over Brexit, Trump and the future of reason. … It is a brilliant debut written in an easily accessible style. Quite remarkable” -- Professor Bruce Hood, University of BristolTable of ContentsCONTENTS; Introduction: The Political Animal 1; Chapter 1: It's Not Fair! 9; Chapter 2: Personal Politics 31; Chapter 3: Why You Always Think You're Right 57; Chapter 4: What's in a Face? 79; Chapter 5: Making the Headlines 97; Chapter 6: Faking It 123; Chapter 7: Are You Being Nudged? 147; Chapter 8: A Silent Majority 167; Conclusion: Democracy for Humans 187; Notes 197; Acknowledgements 209; Index 213

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Book SynopsisSay 'algae' and most people think of pond scum. What they don't know is that without algae, none of us would exist.; There are as many algae on earth as stars in the universe, and they have been essential to life on our planet for aeons. Algae created our oxygen-rich atmosphere, abundant oceans and coral reefs. Crude oil is made of dead algae, and algae are the ancestors of all plants.; Today, seaweed production is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with algae hard at work to make your sushi, beer, paint, toothpaste, shampoo and so much more. Delving into science and history, in this revelatory book Ruth Kassinger takes readers on an around-the-world, behind-the-scenes, and into-the-kitchen tour. We'll meet the algae innovators working towards a sustainable future: from seaweed farmers in South Korea, to scientists using it to clean the dead zones in our waterways, to the entrepreneurs fighting to bring algae fuel and plastics to market.; Bloom will overturn everything you thought you knew about algae and the immense power that they hold. This could be the future of our rapidly changing world.Trade Review“Truly mind expanding ... science writing at its most engaging and rewarding” -- Tonto Williams, Electronic Scrapbook; "Algae are among the earth's oldest life-forms, pervasive in everything from pond scum to crude oil. Kassinger explains their history and biology, and makes a persuasive case for their future importance." —New York Times Book Review; “Gives a distinct view into these underappreciated organisms and demonstrates our intertwined history with algae. Hopefully, it will help readers see algae in a different light." — Science Magazine; "Fascinating and relevant...As Kassinger finds unique nuggets within algae's backstory and possible future, she unravels amazing, microscopic details of this vital resource...Where it gets really interesting is her detailed explanation of the large role algae played in the complicated, multistep process of human evolution, supplementing our ancestors’ diets with iodine and the omega-3 oil DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), both essential ingredients for developing larger brains. And it has continued to serve as a nutritious food source for many cultures ever since...Kassinger has penned a wondrous story of this multifaceted, often misunderstood microorganism whose existence is vital to our own." —BookPage, starred review; "We often look for big solutions, but the reality is that the smallest things often offer hope. This globetrotting book showcases the 'algae innovators' (the phrase of the month) exploring what we can learn from these often-ignored plants." —EcoWatch; "Deep and enlightening...Readers will learn more about algae than they ever imagined (and relish every minute of it). Comparisons to Mary Roach and Susan Orlean are well-deserved, and Kassinger’s erudite and wide-ranging approach should entice readers with a wide range of interests, from food to fashion, bioengineering, marine biology, farming, and general fascination with the wonders of nature. Gardeners will welcome Kassinger's latest, and everyone else will feel lucky to discover this winsome writer." —Booklist, starred review; "A fun and fascinating deep dive into the natural history, current uses, and vast potential of algae...Accessible and enthralling...Kassinger delivers the powerful and optimistic message that slime just may be our savior...Thorough but not dense, informative but never boring—a delight from start to finish." —Kirkus, starred review; "In chirpy prose chock-full of homespun metaphors...Kassinger turns an obscure subject into delightful reading...Even readers who never expected to enjoy a book about slime will find this an informative and charming primer to 'the world’s most powerful engines.'" —Publishers Weekly; "Compelling ... there is something for everyone, from committed phycologists to people who hitherto (but hopefully no longer) regarded algae as an inconvenience or worse. Blanket weed may never seem the same again" -- Nature; "With brio and great wisdom, Ruth Kassinger demonstrates how the apparently humble and often disregarded algae ("pond scum") are actually amongst the major engines of life on our planet. Bloom is a classic of our environmental crisis, alongside books such as Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction." - Peter Forbes, author of The Gecko's Foot; "A book full of delights and surprises . . . This is a beautiful evocation of the many ways that our past and future are entangled in their emerald strands" - David George Haskell, author of Pulitzer Prize-finalist The Forest Unseen; "Ruth Kassinger is a witty and affable guide throughout this globetrotting celebration of an overlooked life form" - Thor Hanson, author of Buzz, The Triumph of Seeds and Feathers; 'Engaging and deeply informative' - Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural HistoryTable of ContentsContents; Introduction ix; Section I: In the Beginning; 1. Pond Life 3; 2. Something New Under the Sun 13; 3. Algae Get; Complicated 21; 4. Land Ho, Going Once 27; 5. Land Ho, Going Twice 37; 6. Looking for Lichens 43; Section II: Glorious Food; 1. Brain Food 55; 2. Seaweed Salvation 69; 3. On a Grand Scale 79; 4. Welshmen's Delight 89; 5. A Way of Life 99; 6. Flash! 113; 7. Spirulina 123; Section III: Practical Matters; 1. Feeding Plants and Animals 131; 2. In the Thick of It 147; 3. Land Ho, Going Thrice 159; 4. Seaweed Stuff 169; 5. Algae Oil 185; 6. The Algae's Not for Burning 203; 7. Ethanol 215; 8. The Future of Algae Fuel 229; Section IV: Algae and the Changing Climate; 1. Gadzoox 243; 2. Saving the Reefs? 255; 3. A Plague Upon Us 273; 4. Clean-up 283; 5. Making Monsters 295 6. Geoengineering 303; Epilogue 315; Acknowledgements 323; Appendix: Recipes 325; Selected and Annotated Bibliography 341; Index 371

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