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Book SynopsisThis book takes us beyond Childress''s previous books. This is an amazing book on an unusual voyage into the world ancient flying vehicles, ancient legends of flight and the mysterious power system of Atlantis. Taking us from ancient texts in a centuries old library in India (The Royal Baroda Library in Mysore India) to diagrams of mercury vortex engines and power broadcasting crystals of Atlantis, this will fascinate and amaze! Richly illustrated, and packed with evidence that Atlantis not only existed system more sophisticated than ours of today. Topics: The Ramayana and the amazing vimanas of ancient India; Atlantis and its crystal power towers that broadcast energy; Inventor Nikola Tesla''s nearly identical system of power transmission; How gyros with electrified gas or liquids anti-gravity effect; Mercury Proton Gyros and mercury vortex propulsion; The Crystal Towers that broadcast energy to the lost continent of Atlantis; How these incredible power stations may still exist today

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Book SynopsisThis handbook refutes the claims of the nuclear power industry that nuclear power can prevent the build-up of greenhouse gases and reduce US dependence on foreign oil, and shows how plutonium waste from power stations is a cause of nuclear weapons proliferation

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Book Synopsis50,000 years ago - merely a blip in evolutionary time - our Homo sapiens ancestors were competing for existence with several other human species. Yet something about our species separated it from the pack, and led to its survival while the rest became extinct. So just what was it that allowed Homo sapiens to become Masters of the Planet?Trade Review"...succinct and masterful ...Tattersall takes us from 6 million years ago in Africa's Rift Valley to the present day. On the way, he brilliantly describes humanity's cousins and rivals, from apes to the other hominins that competed with H. sapiens as, tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors made the cognitive leap to symbolic thought...' - Nature "...an authoritative snapshot of the ongoing struggle to understand our evolutionary past...Tattersall does an excellent job of showing how we can sketch the story of our origins from the new precious fossil remains, while at the same time not glossing over our ignorance of such crucial details." -Stephen Cave, The Financial Times "Tattersall is no slouch in the storytelling department, but his narrative emphasizes the necessarily fragmentary nature of the fossil record and the provisional nature of what we can safely conclude from it ...[His] account highlights the major advances in paleoanthropology that have been made in the last decade or two." - Natural History magazine "An efficient survey of 7 million years of evolutionary development and two centuries of evolutionary thought ... In deft combinations of authority and caution, expertise and wit, Tattersall invites the lay reader to the party. Throughout, he remains grounded in the salient details culled from archaeology, anatomy, genetics, primatology, nutrition and social science." - The Cleveland Plain Dealer "Asuperb overview of how our species developed (a long process) and how we grew smart enough to dominate the planet ... Keeping a critical eye on the evidence and a skeptical one on theories, Tattersall confirms his status among world anthropologists by delivering a superior popular explanation of human origins." - Kirkus Reviews starred review "A concise history of how humans became humans ... Tattersall moves through the complex fossil records effortlessly and with a welcome sense of wonder. He also consistently conveys a deep knowledge of his subject ... Tattersall's combination of erudition and a conversational style make this is an excellent primer on human evolution." - Publishers Weekly "This is a book I will be recommending to anyone who wants a good overview of evolution. This book puts the new discoveries in their proper sequence and perspective. It is an excellent work." -Jean Auel, author of The Clan of the Cave Bear, and the rest of Earth's Children books "We all think we know the story: first we evolved to walk upright, then use tools, then agriculture, language, and us - - an inexorable linear progression from ape to human. But Ian Tattersall introduces us to several different human-like precursors, all alive at the same time, as recently as 50,000 years ago - just barely before the period we humans chauvinistically refer to as 'history'. So it's no longer straightforward: beasts like us emerged several times within the past hundred thousand years, some of them distinct species. Some were the first to think like we do: in symbols and abstractions; those were our forebears. But while they were alive, these multiple different humanoids may have known about each other; interacted; fought; lived together or apart; possibly even bred. It turns out that our lineage is anything but linear; Tattersall demolishes the versions we were once taught, and lays out the remarkable new history of our diverse origins for the first time." - Richard Granger, author of Big Brain "Are you ready for a 3.5 billion year stroll down the path of life's origins to the present. Ian Tattersall takes you by the hand and covers the highlights like few are capable of doing. The continuities and discontinuities reveal insights on why we humans are the masters of the planet. A must read." - Mike Gazzaniga, author of Human: The Science Behind What Makes Your Brain Unique "This [book] is excellent ... Among other things, and very importantly, it is a very good read." - Colin Tudge, author of The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor "For almost 40 years, Ian Tattersall has been one of our leaders in the field of human evolution. Mastersof the Planet is a stunning culmination of a career in science: a brilliant and engaging account that illuminates and inspires. Read Tattersall and you will not see yourself, let alone our entire species, in the same way again." - Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish "This is a book full of wisdom: the distillation of a lifetime's experience combined with finely honed critical faculties. Tattersall is a captivating and surefooted guide through the ranks of hominids, over several million years, in search of the origins of our uniquely symbolic mind. He ranges widely across evidence from DNA sequences and molecular forensics to skeletal morphology and ancient artifacts, never shirking the telling detail, never lacking a finely judged opinion, yet always making the science beautifully clear. The best guide to human origins that I have read." - Nick Lane, author of Life Ascending and Oxygen "A guide for the perplexed student of human origins...Tattersall weaves a history of palaeoanthropology into the text, showing that though fossils may provide the bulk of the evidence for human origins, few of the details are set in stone." - New Scientist

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Book SynopsisHow the brain helps us to understand and navigate space—and why, sometimes, it doesn’t work the way it should.Trade Review"Christopher Kemp may not be able to find his way out of a stairwell, but he has quickly and with no false turns made his way to the top of my list of favorite science writers. For all his navigational shortcomings, Kemp is an expert guide to the most complex landscape of all: the human brain. He’s a natural storyteller, a deft explainer, and a terrific and funny writer." -- Mary Roach, author of Fuzz"Christopher Kemp’s brilliant and beguiling new book reveals that behind the curtain of the seemingly quotidian act of traversing space lies an array of intricate neuroscientific magic tricks, temporal feats of strength, hiccups, and elusive mysteries. Like the brain itself, Kemp’s wild writing quakes and sparks, uncovering the lyric lurking in the neuroscientific, the hilarious in the incantatory." -- Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Flight of the Diamond Smugglers"A dazzling—at times dizzying—exploration of brains and places, how they trouble one another and how they give one another meaning." -- Robert Moor, author of On Trails"A fascinating and sneakily amusing book. Kemp is an elegant and quick-witted writer who, feeling perpetually and hopelessly lost himself, is perfectly qualified to lead us through some of the most complicated and discombobulating corners of human cognition." -- John Mooallem, author of Wild Ones and This Is Chance!"A modern look inside the brain, written as beautifully as a long-form poem. Don’t miss this opportunity to let Kemp show you the how and why of where." -- David Eagleman, Stanford neuroscientist, author of Incognito and Livewired"As both scientist and scribe, Kemp brings his gifts of curiosity and intelligence to bear on the topic of navigation and shows us that there is no shame in being lost. On the contrary, Kemp demonstrates that to be continuously and authentically in search of our place on Earth is a wondrous thing." -- M. R. O’Connor, author of Wayfinding"Finding our way is a basic necessity of life, yet it is mostly taken for granted. Kemp effectively explains just how complex and astonishing that task really is." -- Tony Miksanek - Booklist"An intense lesson in the neuroscience of getting around." -- Kirkus"This tome is no textbook. It is designed to be accessible to a large audience: Nonscientists will benefit from Kemp’s capacity to render vivid representations of the complexity of living organisms, but scientists, too, are likely to gain something from reading this book." -- Marcia Bécu and Christian F. Doeller - Science"Kemp debunks numerous myths, including the idea that females possess poorer navigational skills than males, and reflects on the difference between the navigational abilities of modern humans versus those of Neanderthals. What separates the two, he suggests, is the use of the subjunctive form, which led to humans being better at navigating. Kemp peppers in accounts of his own poor navigational abilities and colorful stories of people getting lost, which keep things moving along. The result is both enjoyable and accessible." -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisWhen Galileo dropped cannon-balls from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, he did more than overturn centuries of scientific orthodoxy. At a stroke, he established a new conception of the scientific method based upon careful experimentation and rigorous observation and also laid the groundwork for an ongoing conflict between the critical open-mindedness of science and the recalcitrant dogmatism of religion that would continue to the modern day.The problem is that Galileo never performed his most celebrated experiment in Pisa. In fact, he rarely conducted any experiments at all. The Church publicly celebrated his work, and Galileo enjoyed patronage from the great and the powerful; his ecclesiastical difficulties only began when disgruntled colleagues launched a campaign to discredit their academic rival. But what does this tell us about modern science if its own foundation myth turns out to be nothing more than political propaganda?Getting Science Wrong discTrade Review[So] beautifully, passionately written, in such an engaging, subjective manner, that it deserves a secure place on the library shelf, where it’s sure to influence, inspire, even transform the outlier student. Where else would you find a philosophy of science text that dared quote at length from Jean-Paul Sartre’s 1938 novel Nausea? Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. * CHOICE *Paul Dicken takes us on a romp through the history and philosophy of science. This is a fun and accessible resource for anyone who wants to think more carefully about how science works. -- Kevin Elliott, Associate Professor, Michigan State University, USAIt is very readable ... [and] the book’s message is an important one and should serve as a great springboard for further discussion and exploration of the literature, or perhaps even as an introductory read to coursework. * The Inquisitive Biologist *Table of ContentsList of figures Introduction 1. Learning from our mistakes 2. A matter of trial and error 3. Images of science 4. 88.6 percent of all statistics are all made up 5. Living in different worlds 6. The bankruptcy of science 7. Deus ex machina Epilogue Dramatis Personae Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSynopsis coming soon.......Trade Review“Interweaves his intriguing and instructive on-the-road adventures with fascinating and rarely addressed facts about sound, health, and environment. Many books help us see the world differently; this one induces us to hear the world clearly.”—Booklist, Starred Review“An important message.” —Kirkus Reviews“Fascinating and disturbing.” —LA Times

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Book SynopsisA deeply reported look at the rise of home genetic testing and the seismic shock it has had on individual lives You swab your cheek or spit into a vial, then send it away to a lab somewhere. Weeks later you get a report that might tell you where your ancestors came from or if you carry certain genetic risks. Or the report could reveal a long-buried family secret and upend your entire sense of identity. Soon a lark becomes an obsession, an incessant desire to find answers to questions at the core of your being, like Who am I? and Where did I come from? Welcome to the age of home genetic testing. In The Lost Family, journalist Libby Copeland investigates what happens when we embark on a vast social experiment with little understanding of the ramifications. Copeland explores the culture of genealogy buffs, the science of DNA, and the business of companies like Ancestry and 23andMe, all while tracing the story of one woman, her unusual results, and a relentless methodical drive for anTrade Review“So many families have been touched—and will continue to be touched—by the secrets unearthed by home genetic testing. We are in an epidemic with few signposts, little to guide us as we contend with the unintended consequences brought upon us by scientific advancement. The Lost Family is an urgently necessary, powerful book that addresses one of the most complex social and bioethical issues of our time.” -- Dani Shapiro * New York Times bestselling author of Inheritance *Not long ago, the idea of sequencing your DNA was as plausible as booking a trip to Jupiter. Now we give each other DNA tests as holiday gifts. As tens of millions of people look at their genes and link them to their ancestry, this science is having a profound impact on our society as a whole. It is reuniting relatives, breaking up families, and sending criminals to jail. The Lost Family is a deeply reported, deeply humane exploration of our ongoing redefinition of our identity and our kinships. -- Carl Zimmer * author of She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity *“The Lost Family is a fascinating exploration of the mysteries ignited by DNA genealogy testing—from the intensely personal and concrete to the existential and unsolvable. In the world Copeland's 'seekers' are exploring, 'Who am I?' becomes a mystery more intricate and more crucial than any novel's 'Whodunit?' Copeland deftly weaves together individual stories, technical explanations and sociological discussion to make a book that's both gripping and deeply thought-provoking.” -- Tana French * New York Times bestselling author of the Dublin Murder Squad series and The Witch Elm *A compellingly readable narrative that takes us down the rabbit hole of modern personal genomics. Libby Copeland brings a gripping story from the front lines of genealogy and genomics. -- Razib Khan * The Insitome Institute *“A riveting mystery combined with a beautiful meditation on family and identity. I read it in one sitting and immediately preordered copies for everyone I'm related to, both by blood and by love.” -- Monica Hesse * author of American Fire and Girl in the Blue Coat *“A fascinating account of consumer genetic testing’s ‘fundamental reshaping of the American family’ over the past two decades. … impeccably researched … up-to-the-minute science meets the philosophy of identity in a poignant, engaging debut.” -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Page-Turner.” -- Alison Stewart * WNYC’s All Of It *“Copeland takes readers inside America’s first DNA testing lab dedicated to genealogy, to Salt Lake City’s Family History Library—the largest genealogical research facility in the world—and into the living rooms of dozens of people whose lives have been turned upside down due to the results of a recreational DNA test. It is at once a hard look at the forces behind a historical mass reckoning that is happening all across America, and an intimate portrait of the people living it.“ -- Wired.com“Before You Spit in That Vial, Read This Book.” -- New York Times“[The Lost Family] wrestles with some of the biggest questions in life: Who are we? What is family? Are we defined by nature, nurture or both?” -- The Washington Post“A fascinating account of lives dramatically affected by genetic sleuthing.” -- The Wall Street Journal“A fascinating deep dive into the massively popular world of direct-to-consumer DNA testing.” -- Associated Press“Journalist Libby Copeland’s deep dive into the family secrets uncovered and privacy questions untested will blow your mind.” -- OZY.com“…well-researched, thorough and fascinating" -- The Columbus Dispatch

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Book SynopsisThis book tie-in to National Geographic's ambitious 5-year ocean initiative—focusing on overfishing—is written in National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle's accessible yet hard-hitting voice. Through compelling personal stories she puts the current and future peril of the ocean and the life it supports in perspective for a wide public audience.Trade Review“In her new book, ‘The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean’s Are One,” Earle explains how close we are to a tipping point.” –Bloomberg.com

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Book SynopsisArgues passionately and articulately for continuing to push the boundaries of our knowledge of the universe and, specifically, for focussing assets, intellect, and policy toward sending humans to the planet Mars by the year 2032.Trade Review"Colonizing space is essential for the long term survival of the human race, and Buzz Aldrin's book shows us how." —Stephen Hawking "Buzz Aldrin has been as far from Earth as any human being, and now he's leading the charge to go much farther, to our next epic destination: Mars." —James Cameron “Any time an Apollo-era astronaut steps forward with ideas for our future in space, it’s time to stop what whatever we’re doing and pay attention. Buzz Aldrin, one of the first moonwalkers, has no shortage of these ideas. And in Mission to Mars he treats us to how, when, and why we should travel there.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson “Buzz is one of the foremost forward thinkers of our time and this book will be essential reading for those who care about humanity’s future in space.” —Richard Branson “Although the lunar landing is decades behind him, Dr. Aldrin is just plain passionate about humankind’s exploration of space. An extraordinary pilot, scuba diver, moonwalker, and the first man to board a spacecraft on its way back to Earth, he advises us to keep going— farther and deeper into space. Page by page, this book makes you want to slide into your space suit and light your engines.” —Bill Nye, The Science Guy®“A masterful array of strategies for exploration by a true space expert and patriot.” —Michael Collins, astronaut and command module pilot, Apollo 11 "Aldrin calls for systematic investment to establish a cycle of transportation and sustained, permanent settlements on the Red Planet." --NPR "Talk of the Nation" “Mission to Mars is pure Buzz: creative ideas flying off the pages, a big picture view of how to move forward, and a laser-like focus on why space exploration is key to humanity's future. Buzz Aldrin has been making major contributions to the U.S. space program for a half century, and his new book continues that tradition.” —John M. Logsdon, founder of the Space Policy Institute and professor emeritus, The George Washington University “I’ve traveled to the North Pole with Buzz, and if I were to travel to Mars I can’t think of a better person to plan the trip than he. Sign me up!” —Norm Augustine, Chairman, U.S. Human Spaceflight Review Committee “Buzz Aldrin’s Mission to Mars presents a bold, inviting plan to colonize Mars. His call that the ‘Earth isn’t the only world for us anymore’ is incontrovertible.” —Roger D. Launius, Senior Curator, Division of Space History, National Air and Space Museum“No one's given more thought to Mars exploration than Buzz Aldrin— a hero whose legacy as one of the first men on the moon may well be eclipsed by his contributions to engineering our future in space." —Elliot Holokauahi Pulham, CEO, The Space Foundation"Mission to Mars is a white paper for getting us back on track, complete with math, science, and diagrams—though Aldrin and his coauthor put it all together with clear and quick-moving prose." --The Weekly Standard“There are places to go beyond belief, and this book is the call to get there.” —Chris Lewicki, President & Chief Asteroid Miner, Planetary Resources"Aldrin’s hand-drawn diagrams throughout the book offer a uniquely human glimpse at what must be going through an astronaut’s mind as he looks up at the night sky." --Washington Post"A blend of reminisces, snippets of mission and policy concepts, and revisited analyses of the space landscape to-date." —Space Safety Magazine“A detailed, multi-stage plan for journeying to the red planet that would culminate in the first permanent human settlement beyond the Earth.” --Smithsonian Magazine"Aldrin wants to inspire the next generation." -- International Business Times "A critique of current space policy, examining the economic, political and technological viability of various options to explore the solar system." --ZeeNews.com "While the title focuses on Mars, the book covers much more...What Aldrin calls his "unified vision" could provide a timeline of crewed missions to Mars between 2035-2040." --Universe.com "Aldrin's new book [charts] a course that could put astronauts on the surface of Mars by 2035." --MSNBC"[Aldrin] believes the time has come to broaden our horizons- and rediscover once again the spirit of exploration." --BeforeItsNews.com"Aldrin outlines his vision for the permanent human settlement of Mars." --EuroNews.com

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking narrative explores the surprising power of suggestibility and how our minds can shape our response to pain, major diseases and everyday events.Trade Review"An eye-opening exploration of the intersection between philosophy and science and a fascinating peek into our innermost selves." —Kirkus Reviews"Science journalist Vance takes an inspired journey into the profound and often unnoticed powers of our brains." —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisWas Jesus a giant electron? How much does a mouseâs soul weigh? Can women mate with monkeys? As mad as these questions may seem, they have been asked by science in years gone by. Forgotten Science unearths some of the most extraordinary attempts to understand the world around us.

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Book SynopsisAnswers the questions on everyone's mind about a diverse range of topics, abstract concepts, and popular and hard core science. Sections include: animals and agriculture, body, climate and energy, medical myths, mind and brain, research and technology, and more. Table of Contents Foreword 1 Foreword 2 Acknowledgements Animals and agriculture Body Climate and energy Ever wondered? Medical myths Mind and brain Research and technology Space, time and matter Glossary

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Book SynopsisChallenges the traditional four seasons, and encourages us to think about how we view changes in our natural world.

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Book SynopsisProvides a fascinating and at times amusing insight into the real world uses of chemicals. This sixth edition of Chemistry in the Marketplace provides fresh explanations, fascinating facts and funny anecdotes about the serious science in the products we buy and the resources we use. It might even save you some money.Trade Review“This is a wide-ranging, detailed and authoritative text, presented clearly and attractively with numerous images, tables and diagrams…it is good to see a text that has retained the essential chemistry and has not been oversimplified for the popular science market”.- Janet Mitchell, School Science ReviewTable of Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1: Molecular musings 2: Chemistry of health and risk 3: Chemistry of surfaces 4: Chemistry in the laundry 5: Chemistry in the kitchen 6: Chemistry in the dining room 7: Biochemistry of metabolism and sport 8: Chemistry of cosmetics 9: Chemistry in the medicine cabinet 10: Chemistry of plastics and glass 11: Chemistry of fibres, fabrics and other yarns 12: Chemistry in the garden 13: Chemistry of hardware and stationery 14: Chemistry in the swimming pool 15: Chemistry at the beach 16: Biological effects of metals and metalloids 17: Chemistry in energy 18: Chemistry of ionising radiation 19: Experiments Appendix 1: Nomenclature in chemistry Appendix 2: Reporting amounts of material (units) Appendix 3: Prevalence of logarithmic scales Appendix 4: How much is safe? Appendix 5: Phase diagrams Appendix 6: Metal foils Appendix 7: Metal alloys Appendix 8: Maillard reaction Appendix 9: Refractive index Appendix 10: Glass transition temperature (Tg) Appendix 11: The entropy game Index

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Book SynopsisWitnessing a total solar eclipse is a wondrous and unforgettable event! Eclipse Chasers is a guide to past and future Australian total solar eclipses, exploring historical and cultural knowledge, as well as featuring five upcoming eclipses that will be visible in Australia.Trade Review"This is an attractive and an attractively priced thoroughly readable book, and will be enjoyed by all eclipse chasers" -- Professor Wayne Orchiston * Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 26(1) *"There will be five total eclipses over Australia between 2023 and 2035, and this book will enable you to discuss, observe, understand, and worry about them." * Cosmos *"This fascinating book takes us behind the scenes for the solar eclipse observations by professionals, amateurs, and tourists in Australia for the last 100 years or so. It also prepares the reader for the forthcoming total eclipses visible from Australia, starting with 2023 and 2028. It explains the eclipse observations to be made and why. It even has a couple of pages of recommended activities for teachers to arrange. Everybody in Australia and those world citizens interested in solar eclipses should have a copy." -- Jay Pasachoff * Chair, International Astronomical Union Working Group on Eclipses; Field Memorial Professor of Astro *"Eclipse Chasers is an intriguing book about eclipses providing great insight to what an eclipse is as well as tips on how to become an eclipse chaser. What this book does is remind the read that there is much more to what’s happening in the skies above, it’s asking you to be aware of your surroundings, the stillness, the darkness, and the chance to see 'the diamond ring' in the sky." -- Deanne Fitzgerald * Western Australian Museum *

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Book SynopsisEntertaining, colorful, and deceptively full of facts, This Phenomenal Life tells the story of the wondrous ways that humans are always completely at one with our surrounding world. From the vast galaxies above to the miniature microbes within, humans are organically connected to the complex cycles and mysterious processes of our universe. Every single atom of our body is made of remnants of stars and massive explosions in the galaxies, and we share the same biochemical basis of life with all living beings on earth, from a single-celled amoeba to a giant blue whale. Whimsically hip illustrations elucidate wild science-based facts, from the unexpected intimacy we have with fungi on a daily basis, to the similar ways that humans and birds learn to communicate. Powerful evidence of our interconnection with nature combined with beautiful artwork will inspire the reader to look at the world in a whole new way.Trade ReviewIn these exuberant, surprising, joyous, gorgeous pages, artist and writer Misha Maynerick Blaise celebrates THIS PHENOMENAL LIFE with facts that will amaze and artwork that will delight. What a great way to reawaken our connections with the universe! -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of the Octopus, finalist for the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction“This book lies in the ever-disappearing intersection between beauty and truth. Every single person I know would love it to pieces.” —Ella Frances Sanders, author of the New York Times bestseller Lost in TranslationI have a new favorite book in the universe and it’s called This Phenomenal Life. It explodes with the wonders of creation and the beauty of being alive. -- Rainn Wilson, actor, author'Blaise’s characters are almost all adults, but older children as well as grown-ups may enjoy this lovely graphic book, which offers a sweet-spirited reminder that all human beings are more alike than different, and that the entire cosmos is interconnected in ways we’re only beginning to comprehend.' **Starred review** * Publishers Weekly *Blaise (My Wondrous Cloud Odyssey) provides illustrations for a trove of scientific facts to demonstrate how closely humans are intertwined with the natural world. Playing with both meanings of the word 'phenomenal,' Blaise depicts dark skies dotted with stars, swirling currents, riotous flowers, and creatures from microorganisms to elephants—a vibrant visual world shared with ethnically and culturally diverse humans. Gentle whimsy prevails: a bewigged avian playing a harp illustrates an aspect of birdsong that’s similar to human music, while two people shyly sitting far apart are yet connected by their 'microbial clouds.' Addressing such wide-ranging topics as the Big Bang, plant neurotransmitters, insect husbandry, hidden water footprints, and 'mitochondrial Eve,' Blaise encourages a sense of wonder at the phenomenal world. 'Even in an office with no windows,' she writes, 'every breath we take contains trillions of air molecules that cycle through the world and connect us with life on Earth.' Blaise’s characters are almost all adults, but older children as well as grown-ups may enjoy this lovely graphic book, which offers a sweet-spirited reminder that all human beings are more alike than different, and that the entire cosmos is interconnected in ways we’re only beginning to comprehend. **starred review** * Publishers Weekly *Children and adults alike will appreciate Blaise's vibrant illustrations paired with a bevy of scientific facts. Whether they be atoms or our enormous universe, these eye-catching depictions detail how closely connected we are with the natural world. * Green Living Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Lion in the Living Room comes a fascinating and provocative exploration of the biology of motherhood that “is witty, reassuring, and takes motherhood out of the footnotes and places it front and center—where it belongs” (Louann Brizendine, MD, New York Times bestselling author). Everyone knows how babies are made, but scientists are only just beginning to understand the making of a mother. Mom Genes reveals the hard science behind our tenderest maternal impulses, tackling questions such as why mothers are destined to mimic their own moms (or not), how maternal aggression makes females the world’s most formidable creatures, and how a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic can make or break a mom. Weaving the latest research with Abigail Tucker’s personal experiences, Mom Genes “is an eye-opening tour through the biology and psychology of a rolTrade Review“This is a fascinating book….Her stories about her own parenting misadventures, including her emergency C-section and a bout with postpartum depression, helpfully illustrate the role context plays in our experience of parenthood.” —The Wall Street Journal“[Tucker's] ability to break down complex topics and conflicting research is formidable… Mom Genes is a book for the many mothers within—and those willing to see them in a new light.” —The Washington Post"Tucker climbed that mountain of inconclusive science about how humans succeed at the terrifying and ancient task of mothering only to find the answers closer to home… [Readers will] see that an intriguing subject — the author herself — awaits you." —New York Times Book Review“Tucker’s enthusiasm radiates on every page, and her dive in to the wacky world of motherhood is fascinating.” —Discover Magazine“Meticulously researched and well-documented, Mom Genes is one part memoir (Tucker intersperses her own experiences as a white mother of four children), and one part incredibly readable popular science… Richly entertaining, filled with humor, and deeply informative, this engaging book is recommended for mothers, potential mothers, and anyone who has ever known a mother.” —Library Journal, starred review “Using clever, colorful, figurative language and a warm, conversational tone, Tucker documents the complex challenges women who become mothers face.” —Booklist“Tucker has a knack for making complex science accessible, and she encouragingly touts the importance of mothers having a support system… Moms-to-be in search of a straightforward look at the changes ahead will find this a good place to start.” —Publisher’s Weekly“Tucker is a consistently energetic guide, and she doesn’t shy away from discussing ‘the dangerous and opaque mental problems that hound moms.’ In a particularly vibrant chapter, the author explores the countless deleterious effects of poverty and how American society continually fails to provide the support that mothers deserve. Filling in the gaps and moving the story forward are Tucker’s personal observations—she is the mother of four—and the ups and downs of her experiences, many of which will be familiar to mothers of all backgrounds.” —Kirkus Reviews “Shocking and yet somehow reassuring...Whether you're a mom, know a mom (of any species), or ever had a mom (that's pretty much everybody), you are going to want to read this surprising and rigorously-researched book.” —Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus “Mom Genes is my new favorite book on motherhood: fascinating, informative, funny, and smart as a whip. Abby Tucker is the friend you want to lean on when you’re wondering how to cope with your child, the researcher who can explain a thousand weird, wonderful aspects of parenting, and the quirky thinker who can open your mind to the strangeness and beauty of being a mother.” —Martha Beck, New York Times bestselling author of Expecting Adam“Mom Genes is witty, reassuring, and takes motherhood out of the footnotes and places it front and center—where it belongs!” —Louann Brizendine, MD, author of New York Times bestseller The Female Brain“Filled with jaw-dropping facts and findings, this brilliant, absolutely fascinating book grabbed me from page one. In Mom Genes, Abigail Tucker distills an extraordinary range of cutting-edge research into fun, accessible chapters. Written in an engaging, often hilarious voice, Mom Genes illuminates the biology of everything motherly. I couldn’t put it down.” —Amy Chua, Yale Law professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations“I’m a father, but I found every page of this gripping and wonderful—not least because of the author’s rare skill at making science vividly understandable to lay readers.” —John Colapinto, New York Times bestselling author of As Nature Made Him“With thorough research, keen insight, and wry humor, Abigail Tucker shows us why moms are different from other people—even, daresay, special, with superpowers that science is just beginning to reveal. For anyone who is a mother, or who has a mother, her book is an eye-opening tour through the biology and psychology of a role that is once utterly ordinary and wondrously strange.” –Annie Murphy Paul, author of Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives“Deeply researched and compulsively readable, Mom Genes illuminates the ancient biological roots of modern motherhood. Tucker narrates vividly and often hilariously on a journey that travels from the nursery to the laboratory and back again, out into the wild and across time. I loved this book and its rich exploration of the causes—and consequences—of becoming a mother.” —K.S. Bowers, coauthor of Wildhood and Zoobiquity“An entertaining storyteller, [Tucker] weaves neuroscience with tales from all kinds of mammal moms, including her own travails and joys. If you’ve ever had a hunch that motherhood changed your brain forever, Mom Genes not only confirms your suspicions, but shows you how and why.” —Randi Hutter Epstein, MD, author of Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything

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Book Synopsis The geeks will inherit the earth.With well over two hundred episodes and a dozen seasons, The Big Bang Theory is one of America’s favorite television series, bringing a new class of character to mainstream television: the science nerd.In spite of its evident popularity and influence in shaping public attitudes to science and scientists, there are relatively few books that explore the show’s culture and social dimension. The Science of The Big Bang Theory looks behind the comedy scenes and scripts of this long-running and successful TV show to explore topics such as:The Bachelor Party Corrosion and ArchimedesThe Valentino Submergence: Fun with FlagsThe Dumpling Decoupling: Sheldon and Doctor Who The Mystery Date Observation: The Unlikely Dating Habits of EggheadsAnd More!This book is a light-hearted science companion to TV's The Big Bang Theory, providing you with just the kind of dissection of the science and culture you’d need to understand “math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries, that all started with the big bang! Hey!”

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Book SynopsisSpy-Fi Culture with a License to KillFrom Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, James Bond is the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time. Out-grossing Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world’s most iconic and international secret agent has a shelf life of almost six decades, from Dr. No to Spectre. As nuclear missile threats are replaced by a series of subtler threats in a globalized and digital world, Bond is with us still.In The Science of James Bond, we recognize the Bond franchise as a unique genre: spy-fi. A genre of film and fiction that fuses spy fiction with science fiction. We look at Bond’s obsessions with super-villains, the future, and world domination or destruction. And we take a peek under the hood of trends in science and tech, often in the form of gadgets and spy devices in chapters such as: Goldfinger: Man Has Achieved Miracles in All Fields but Crime! You Only Live Twice: The Race to Conquer Space Live and Let Die: Full Throttle: Bond and the Car Skyfall: The Science of Cyberterrorism And more! This is the only James Bond companion that looks at the film and fiction in such a spy-fi way, taking in weapon wizards, the chemistry of death, threads of nuclear paranoia, and Bond baddies’ obsession with the master race!Trade Review“A scholar and authority on how science fiction can influence the course of science and define our popular perceptions.” —Booklist Online "It is rare to find someone of Mark's universal talents in science." —Roy Davies, BAFTA-nominated editor of BBC's Timewatch "Entertaining and insightful. A joy for fans of both science and fiction." —Gareth L. Powell, award-winning author of Ack-Ack Macaque

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWhat sex is to interpersonal relationships, eating is to the human-environment relationship: a consummation of humans’ connection to the living biosphere. But while sticking one’s tongue into a new and exciting environment may be an act as old as the planet, it can also lead to some nasty surprises. In this lively look at foodborne illnesses, David Waltner-Toews discusses food-related problems caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, including death by puffer fish, rollicking tales of tapeworms, neurological problems brought on by ciguatera poison, and that old standby, botulism. He also examines the chemicals and antibiotics that have entered the food supply and the havoc they can wreak. And to help readers stop problems before they start, he offers common-sense solutions to confronting the complicated issue of foodborne disease. His witty approach makes a deadly serious subject accessible to all readers, while never minimizing the risk.

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