Science: general issues Books

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Book SynopsisThis work offers a sustained exploration of modules from developmental and evolutionary perspectives. Contributors discuss what modularity is, how it can be identified and modeled, how it originated and evolved, and why it matters.

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

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Book SynopsisDonald R. Prothero explores the most fascinating breakthroughs in piecing together the evidence for evolution. In twenty-five vignettes, he recounts the dramatic stories of the people who made crucial discoveries, placing each moment in the context of what it represented for the progress of science.Trade ReviewThis compelling presentation of the undeniable evidence for evolution offers stunning and engaging reading for the enormous explanatory power of Darwin’s great idea. Written by Donald R. Prothero, a leading paleontologist of our times, this book promises to enlighten even the staunchest skeptics of the theory of evolution. -- Don Johanson, discoverer of Lucy and founder of the Institute of Human OriginsA hallmark of a truly great scientific insight is its ability to make sense of wildly different kinds of evidence, even kinds undreamed of when the insight first originated. Evolution is such an insight, and Prothero's survey of the field, in 25 short and lively chapters, illustrates the many lines of evidence for evolution from Darwin's day to our own, debunking misconceptions galore along the way. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a fine introduction for any reader who wants to appreciate the evidence behind the science. -- Ann Reid, executive director, National Center for Science EducationThis is an informative and engaging work about the discovery process, mainly centered around evolution. Readers will be well informed about why biologists think evolution is not only real but also important for discovering who we are. Prothero provides a useful service in clearing up many misconceptions about evolution. -- Norman Johnson, author of Darwinian Detectives: Revealing the Natural History of Genes and GenomesDonald Prothero has emerged as our foremost defender of evolutionary theory against creationists and intelligent design theorists and our most articulate expositor of the theory to the general public since Stephen Jay Gould, his mentor. The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is the best single volume I have read that captures the reality and grandeur of this grand theory of who we are, where we came from, and how we know all this about our species. A tour de force of science and reason. -- Michael Shermer, publisher, Skeptic magazineAn outstanding update on evolution. * Kirkus [Starred Review] *Accessible overview of the history of the idea of evolution. Prothero is skilled at translating specialist material into entertaining stories. * Publishers Weekly *With 'The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries,' Donald Prothero provides a masterful, lively primer on the abundant evidence for evolution, including the latest fossil findings at digging sites and laboratories around the world—all furthering to close this case, once and for all. * Foreword Reviews *Don’t Miss ‘The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries.’ [It] is palaeontologist and geologist Donald Prothero’s entertaining guide to the past, present and future of living things – with nature’s more bizarre aspects to the fore. * New Scientist *This book accomplishes a nearly impossible double-task: it conveys enough information to serve as an introductory undergraduate text in evolution while also fascinating the general reader. In the light of Mr. Prothero’s fine book, the reading public is better equipped than ever before to make sense of evolution itself. * The Wall Street Journal *An engaging style that is accessible to anyone. * Choice *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I: In the Beginning: Everything Evolves, and Earth Is Very Old1. Everything Evolves and Changes: Discovery of the Evolving Universe2. The Abyss of Time: The Immense Age of the EarthPart II: Darwin’s Evidence for Evolution3. Evolution in Action: Transformation in Real Time4. Our Common Body Plan: Homology5. Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny: Evidence in Embryos6. The Sinking of Noah’s Ark: Biogeography7. The Branching Tree of Life: Phylogeny8. The Case of the Cruel Wasps: Nature Is Not Moral9. Jury-Rigged Contrivances: Nature Is Not Optimally DesignedPart III: Great Transitions in the History of Life10. A Whale of a Tale: Vestigial Organs and Walking Whales11. Invasion of the Land: Amphibians Crawl Out of the Water12. Missing Links Found: Macroevolution and Transitional Fossils13. Birds with Teeth: The Dinosaurs Among Us14. A Horse! A Horse! My Kingdom for a Horse! The Evolution of Equines15. How the Giraffe Got Its Neck: Lamarck, Darwin, and the Left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve16. How the Elephant Got Its Trunk: The Evolution of the ProboscideansPart IV: Eyes and Genes17. A Warm Little Pond: How Did Life Originate?18. Genetic Junkyard: Most of Our DNA Is Useless19. Legs on Their Heads: Homeotic Mutants and Evo-Devo20. The Eyes Have It: The Evolution of PhotoreceptionPart V: Humans and Evolution21. A Tinkerer, Not an Engineer: Are Humans Well Designed?22. The Third Chimpanzee: Are We Really 99 Percent the Same?23. The Ape’s Reflection: Are Humans Really That Different from Other Animals?24. Bones of Our Ancestors: The Human Fossil Record25. The Once and Future Human: Are Humans Still Evolving?Index

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Book SynopsisHow data surveillance, digital forensics, and generative AI pose new long-term threats and opportunities—and how we can use them to make better decisions in the face of technological uncertainty.In The Secret Life of Data, Aram Sinnreich and Jesse Gilbert explore the many unpredictable, and often surprising, ways in which data surveillance, AI, and the constant presence of algorithms impact our culture and society in the age of global networks. The authors build on this basic premise: no matter what form data takes, and what purpose we think it’s being used for, data will always have a secret life. How this data will be used, by other people in other times and places, has profound implications for every aspect of our lives—from our intimate relationships to our professional lives to our political systems.With the secret uses of data in mind, Sinnreich and Gilbert interview dozens of experts to explore a broad range of scenarios and contex

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Book SynopsisAn urgently needed exploration of global technology worship, and a measured case for skepticism and agnosticism as a way of life, from the New York Times bestselling author of Good without God.

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Book SynopsisAn unflinching look at the unique challenges posed by complex technologies we cannot afford to let fail—and why the remarkable achievements of civil aviation can help us understand those challenges.Nuclear reactors, deep-sea drilling platforms, deterrence infrastructures—these are all complex and formidable technologies with the potential to fail catastrophically. In Rational Accidents, John Downer outlines a new perspective on technological failure, arguing that undetectable errors can lurk in even the most rigorous and “rational” assessments of these systems due to the inherent limits of engineering tests and models. Downer finds that it should be impossible, from an epistemological viewpoint, to achieve the near-perfect reliability that we require of our most safety-critical technologies. There is, however, one such technology that demonstrably appears to achieve these “impossible” reliabilities: jetliners.Downer look

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Book SynopsisA deep look into the multifaceted landscape of artificial intelligence, considering AI?s ethical and societal implications and celebrating its diverse and innovative applications.In this edited collection Collaborative Intelligence, Mira Lane and Arathi Sethumadhavan embark on a captivating exploration of artificial intelligence. The book delves deeply into the dynamic interplay between theory and practice, shedding light on the transformative potential and complexities of AI. For practitioners deeply immersed in the world of AI, Lane and Sethumadhavan offer firsthand accounts and insights from technologists, academics, and thought leaders, as well as a series of compelling case studies, ranging from AI''s impact on artistry to its role in addressing societal challenges like modern slavery and wildlife conservation.As the global AI market burgeons, this book enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and interdisciplinary dialogue. It caters not only to the practitioners shaping the AI landscape but also to policymakers striving to navigate the intricate relationship between humans and machines, as well as academics. Divided into two parts, the first half of the book offers readers a comprehensive understanding of AI''s historical context, its influence on power dynamics, human-AI interaction, and the critical role of audits in governing AI systems. The second half unfolds a series of eight case studies, unraveling AI?s impact on fields as varied as healthcare, vehicular safety, conservation, human rights, and the metaverse. Each chapter in this book paints a vivid picture of AI?s triumphs and challenges, providing a panoramic view of how it is reshaping our world.

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Book SynopsisIn this rare personal investigation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama discusses his vision of science and faith working hand in hand to alleviate human suffering. Drawing on a lifetime of scientific study and religious practice, he explores the great debates and makes astonishing connections between seemingly disparate topics - such as evolution and karma - that will change the way we look at the world.While he sees science and faith as ''complementary but different investigative approaches with the same goal of seeking the truth,'' the fact is that the two have often been at the root of human conflict for centuries. The Dalai Lama challenges us to see that the benefits of opening our hearts and minds to the connections between science and faith are far preferable to perpetuating the divisive rhetoric that often surrounds them. Now, as we face such troubled and uncertain times, the need has never been greater for this extraordinary man''s compassion and wisdom.Trade ReviewWith immense charm and lucidity, [the Dalai Lama] riffs on possible congruences between quantum physics or relativity and the Buddhist concept of impermanence and nothingness Steven Poole, GUARDIAN Wise and compassionate DAILY EXPRESS Some fascinating fresh insights ... Those who confuse the Dalai Lama's affability and simple-heartedness for a lack of intellectual rigour will be confounded by the strength of his reasoning, and no one can deny his argument that science should serve us all ... a fascinating account of an intellectual journey from the rooftops of Lhasa to the modern world SCOTSMAN The lucidity of the writing is a joy, and conveys with simple elegance profound truths from both traditions. For those wishing to understand the nature of reality, this is an excellent work THE MIDDLE WAY: JOURNAL OF THE BUDDHIST SOCIETY

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Book SynopsisUpdated with the latest data and research, Cohen/Strong's THE MARRIAGE & FAMILY EXPERIENCE: INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS IN A CHANGING SOCIETY offers a realistic look at modern relationships, helping you understand the underlying issues at work in marriages, families and other relationships. It explores adoptive parenting, childbearing patterns, gay and lesbian families, the transgender experience, virginity, gender roles, communication and conflict resolution, the influence of popular culture, working families and more. Thorough coverage reflects the diversity of families and relationships, illustrating how racial, cultural, economic and sexual differences shape relationships and families. Real-life examples and self-assessment features encourage you to reflect on your own life, while a straightforward overview of key topics helps you maximize your course success. Also available: MindTap.Table of Contents1. The Meaning of Marriage and the Family. 2. Studying Marriages and Families. 3. Variations in American Family Life. 4. Gender and Family. 5. Intimacy, Friendship, and Love. 6. Understanding Sex and Sexualities. 7. Communication, Power, and Conflict. 8. Marriages in Societal and Individual Perspective. 9. Unmarried Lives: Singlehood and Cohabitation. 10. Becoming and Being Parents. 11. Marriage, Work, and Economics. 12. Intimate Violence and Sexual Abuse. 13. Coming Apart: Separation and Divorce. 14. New Beginnings: Single-Parent Families, Remarriages, and Blended Families.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsContents. PREFACE ix. ABOUT THE EDITOR xvii. ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS xix. part I. Why Race, Class, and Gender Still Matter. Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins. 1 Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference. Audre Lorde. 2 Label Us Angry. Jeremiah Torres. 3 ���It Looks Like a Demon���: Black Masculinity and Spirituality in the Age of Ferguson. Jamie D. Hawley and Staycie L. Flint. 4 The Persistence of White Nationalism in America. Joe Feagin. part II Systems of Power and Inequality. Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins. A. RACE. 5. Racial Formation. Michael Omi and Howard Winant. 6 What Makes Systemic Racism Systemic? Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. 7 Inventing Latinos. Laura Gomez. 8 The First Americans: American Indians. C. Matthew Snipp. 9 White Privilege. Peggy McIntosh. B. ETHNICITY. 10 Is This a White Country, or What? Lillian B. Rubin. 11 What White Supremacists Taught a Jewish Scholar about Identity. Abby Ferber. 12 Optional Ethnicities: For Whites Only? Mary C. Waters. 13 Are Asian Americans Becoming ���White���? Min Zhou. C. CLASS, COLONIALISM, AND CAPITALISM. 14 Is Capitalism Gendered and Racialized? Joan Acker. 15 Race as Class. Herbert J. Gans. 16 Settler Colonialism and Sociological Knowledge: Insights and Directions Forward. Erich W. Steinman. 17 Toxic Inequality. Thomas M. Shapiro. D. GENDER. 18 Asian American Women and Racialized Femininities: ���Doing Gender��� across Cultural Worlds. Karen D. Pyke and Denise L. Johnson. 19 Black Trans Women Have Always Been Integral in the Fight for Women���s Rights. Ashlee Marie Preston. 20 More than Men: Latino Feminist Masculinities and Intersectionality. Aida Hurtado and Mrinal Sinha. 21 Keep Your ���N��� in Check: African American Women and the Interactive Effects of Etiquette and Emotional Labor. Marlese Durr and Adia M. Harvey Wingfield. E. SEXUALITY. 22. Race, Sexuality, and Power. Margaret L. Andersen. 23 The Invention of Heterosexuality. Jonathan Ned Katz. 24 ���Good Girls���: Gender, Social Class, and Slut Discourse on Campus.��� Elizabeth A, Armstrong, Laura T. Hamilton, Elizabeth M. Armstrong, and J. Lotus Seeley. part III Social Institutions. Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins. A. JOBS, WORK, and THE LABOR MARKET. 25 Precarious Work during Precarious Times: Addressing the Compounding Effects of Race, Gender, and Immigration Status. Marc Cubrich and J��ren Tengesdal. 26 Working Class Growing Pains. Jennifer M. Silva. 27 Are Emily and Greg More Emplyable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination. Marianne Bertrand and Sendhil Mullainathan. 28 Documenting the Routine Burden of Devalued Difference in the Professional Workplace. Cecilia L. Ridgeway, Rachel M. Korn, and Joan C. Williams. B. FAMILIES AND RELATIONSHIPS. 29 Our Mothers' Grief: Racial-Ethnic Women and the Maintenance of Families. Bonnie Thornton Dill. 30 LGBT Sexuality and Families at the Start of the Twenty-First Century. Mignon R. Moore and Michael Stambolis-Ruhstorfher. 31 The Good Daughter Dilemma: Latinas Managing Family and School Demands. Roberta Espinoza. 32 Loving across Racial Divides. Amy Steinbugler. D. EDUCATION. 33 School as a Hostile Institution: How Black and Immigrant Girls of Color Experience the Classroom. Ranita Ray. 34. From the Achievement Gap to the Education Debt: Understanding Achievement in U.S. Schools. Gloria Ladson-Billings. 35 Academic Resilience among Undocumented Latino Students. William Perez, Roberta Espinoza, Karina Ramos, Heidi M. Coronado, and Richard Cortes. 36 The Compounded Burden of Being a Black and Disabled Student During the Age of COVID-19. Syreeta L. Nolan. PART IV. ANALYZING SOCIAL ISSUES. A. CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION, AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: WHO BELONGS? 37 Feeling Like a Citizen, Living as a Denizen: Deportees Sense of Belonging. Tonya Golash-Boza. 38 Refugees, Race, and Gender: The Multiple Discrimination against Refugee Women. Eileen Pittaway and Linda Bartolomei. 39 Immigrant Rights are Civil Rights. Hana Brown and Jennifer A. Jones. 40 ���People Show Up in Different Ways���: DACA Recipients��� Everyday Activism in a Time of Heightened Immigration-Related Insecurity.��� Christina M. Getrich. B. HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. 41 Health Inequities, Social Determinants, and Intersectionality. Nancy L��pez and Vivian L. Gadsden. 42 Structural Gendered Racism Revealed in Pandemic Times: Intersectional Approaches to Understanding Race and Gender Health Inequities in COVID-19. Whitney N. Laster Pirtle and Tashelle Wright. 43. Why We Need Intersectionality to Understand Climate Change. Elizabeth Walsh. C. VIOLENCE. 44 Policed, Punished, Dehumanized: The Reality for Young Men of Color Living in America. Victor M. Rios. 45 Killing the Black Body. Dorothy E. Roberts. 46 On the Limits of Globalizing Black Feminist Commitments: ���MeToo��� and its White Detours. Shireen Roshanravan. 47 Ignoring the Intersectionality of Gun Violence. Annamarie Forestiere. PART V: SOCIAL CHANGE, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, AND GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM. Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins. A. MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURE. 48 Race, Gender, and Virtual Inequality: Exploring the Liberatory Potential of Black Cyberfeminist Theory. Kishonna L. Gray. 49 Must See TV: South Asian Characterization in American Popular TV. Bhoomi K. Thakore. 50 ���This is for the Brown Kids!��� Racialization and the Formation of ���Muslim��� Punk Rock. Amy D. McDowell. 51 Frozen in Time: The Impact of Native American Media Representations. Stephanie A. Fryberg. B. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND ACTIVISM. 52 Intersectional Mobilization, Social Movement Spillover, and Queer Youth Leadership in the Immigrant Rights Movement. Veronica Terr��quez. 53 The Role of Social Justice Frameworks in an Era of Neoliberalism: Lessons from Youth Activism. Barbara Ferman. 54 Feminist Food Justice: Crafting a New Vision. Carolyn Sachs and Anouk Patel-Campillo. 55 (Re)Imagining Intersectional Democracy from Black Feminism to Hashtag Activism. Sarah J. Jackson."

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Book SynopsisA guide to the best science writing, which tells the centuries-long story of our striving to understand the world.Trade Review"...if her [Susan Wise Bauer's] mission was to make an often out-of-reach subject accessible and—while science arguably is always relevant—feel more relevant, because you've gained an appreciation for the motivation, challenges and significance behind it, as well as its joys and quirks and brilliance, she's done a great job." -- The Herald"...a masterly account of the great minds who have helped expand human knowledge, from the earliest philosophers onwards." -- Sky at Night

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Book SynopsisGoodbye, genetic blueprint. . . . The first book for general readers on the game-changing field of epigenetics.Trade Review"Epigenetics explains all this in clear, no-nonsense prose. . . . One particularly excellent chapter explains epigenetic change through the body of steroid-addled baseball player José Canseco, from his brain to his testicles." -- Josh Rothman - Boston Globe"Francis’s primer introduces a new field. It’s a thorough guide to the many ways in which personality and health can play out through our genes but not be coded for in DNA." -- Christine Kenneally - Slate

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring vision for restoring the soil that feeds us all and turns agriculture into a solution for environmental crises.Trade Review"How can humanity feed its burgeoning billions when one-third of agricultural soil is degraded? Pondering that question propelled geologist David Montgomery on a three-decade, six-continent survey of farmland. The insights gleaned add nuance to his pointed critiques of agrotechnology and organic farming, but it's the findings on rapid soil restoration that compel." -- Nature"Brilliant, well researched, eloquent, and deeply hopeful." -- Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day"David Montgomery... is one of our most eloquent and precise earth science communicators... [He] has a knack for opening our minds to large, critically important questions." -- New Scientist"A wise and grounded book — restored soils are the solution." -- Jules N. Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society, University of Essex, UK"Growing a Revolution presents a clear-eyed examination of a solution to the challenges we face in feeding the world. A joy to read with the bounce and flow of a great biography. I couldn’t recommend it more." -- Jerry Harrison, keyboardist and guitarist, Talking Heads"Montgomery has written another classic. Growing a Revolution is one of the most important books ever written—an engaging and revealing service to human society and our planet." -- Amir Kassam, professor of agriculture, policy and development, University of Reading, UK"This is a such an important book... thanks to those who told me to read it... Everyone interested in what we should eat and how we should farm should read it." -- James Rebanks

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Book SynopsisA guided tour through the strange science of hormones and the age-old quest to control them.Trade Review"A rollicking history certain to get your intellectual and physiologic juices flowing. Adrenaline-tinged tales and hot flashes of history—just what the doctor ordered." -- Lisa Sanders, Diagnosis columnist - New York Times Magazine"A sweeping, glorious story of hormones, threaded through with sex, suffering, neurology, biology, medicine and self-discovery, Randi Hutter Epstein’s book manages to excite the imagination as well as calm it. The story is grippingly told, and Epstein manages to bring a whole system of science alive to her reading public." -- Siddhartha Mukherjee"Hormones may be ringmasters of the bodily circus, controlling everything from sex to metabolic function, but in this invigorating history they become stars of the show." -- Nature"Congratulations to my friend @randihepstein on the publication of her book! I loved reading it and highly recommend it to anyone interested in public health or your own health!" -- Chelsea Clinton"I’m hitting up the public library for two. The first is Randi Hutter Epstein’s Aroused: The history of hormones and how they control just about everything (Norton), which I hope will answer the most banal of questions as I continue my reluctant march through midlife: What the hell is happening to me?" -- Jennie Erin Smith, Summer Books 2018 - Times Literary Supplement"The field of endocrinology, as this compelling history shows, has manifested extremes of ingenuity and hubristic error." -- The New Yorker"A well-written and informative book on the history of hormone research." -- The New York Times Book Review"Here, a leading medical writer and professor at Yale University uncovers the true science of hormones and looks back into the basements, labs and back rooms where the study of endocrinology began." -- What to Read - Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisFrom the former president of MIT, the story of the next technology revolution, and how it will change our lives.Trade Review"... entertaining and prescient…" -- Science"Your amazing guide to the future of biology is the former president of the Aladdin's cave that is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology." -- Summer Reading 2019 - New Scientist

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Book SynopsisA nuts-and-bolts explanation of cryptography from a leading expert in information security.

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Book SynopsisThere are three men whose contributions helped free science from the straitjacket of theology. Two of the three-Nicolaus Copernicus and Charles Darwin-are widely known and heralded for their breakthroughs. The third, James Hutton, never received the same recognition, yet he profoundly changed our understanding of the earth and its dynamic forces. Hutton proved that the earth was likely millions of years old rather than the biblically determined six thousand, and that it was continuously being shaped and re-shaped by myriad everyday forces rather than one cataclysmic event. In this expertly crafted narrative, Jack Repcheck tells the remarkable story of this Scottish gentleman farmer and how his simple observations on his small tract of land led him to a theory that was in direct confrontation with the Bible and that also provided the scientific proof that would spark Darwin''s theory of evolution. It is also the story of Scotland and the Scottish Enlightenment, which brought together some of the greatest thinkers of the age, from David Hume and Adam Smith to James Watt and Erasmus Darwin. Finally, it is a story about the power of the written word. Repcheck argues that Hutton''s work was lost to history because he could not describe his findings in graceful and readable prose. (Unlike Darwin''s Origin of the Species, Hutton''s one and only book was impenetrable.) A marvelous narrative about a little-known man and the science he founded, The Man Who Found Time is also a parable about the power of books to shape the history of ideas.Trade Review"This is an informative and revealing book." Times Higher Education Supplement"

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Book SynopsisWhen neuroscientist Susan Barry was fifty years old, she took an unforgettable trip to Manhattan. As she emerged from the dim light of the subway into the sunshine, she saw a view of the city that she had witnessed many times in the past but now saw in an astonishingly new way. Skyscrapers on street corners appeared to loom out toward her like the bows of giant ships. Tree branches projected upward and outward, enclosing and commanding palpable volumes of space. Leaves created intricate mosaics in 3D. With each glance, she experienced the deliriously novel sense of immersion in a three dimensional world. Barry had been cross-eyed and stereoblind since early infancy. After half a century of perceiving her surroundings as flat and compressed, on that day she was seeing Manhattan in stereo depth for first time in her life. As a neuroscientist, she understood just how extraordinary this transformation was, not only for herself but for the scientific understanding of the human brain. Scientists have long believed that the brain is malleable only during acritical period&rdquo in early childhood. According to this theory, Barry''s brain had organized itself when she was a baby to avoid double vision-and there was no way to rewire it as an adult. But Barry found an optometrist who prescribed a little-known program of vision therapy after intensive training, Barry was ultimately able to accomplish what other scientists and even she herself had once considered impossible. A revelatory account of the brain''s capacity for change, Fixing My Gaze describes Barry''s remarkable journey and celebrates the joyous pleasure of our senses.

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Book SynopsisThey say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But this 'witty and clear thinking' (New York Times) book wonders, what about relativity? Physics professor Chad Orzel and his inquisitive canine companion, Emmy, tackle the concepts of general relativity in this irresistible introduction to Einstein's physics. Through armchair- and sometimes passenger-seat-conversations with Emmy about the relative speeds of dog and cat motion or the logistics of squirrel-chasing, Orzel translates complex Einsteinian ideas -- the slowing of time for a moving observer, the shrinking of moving objects, the effects of gravity on light and time, black holes, the Big Bang, and of course, E=mc2 -- into examples simple enough for a dog to understand. A lively romp through one of the great theories of modern physics, How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about space, time, and anything else you might have slept through in high school physics class.Trade ReviewSteve Nadis, coauthor of The Shape of Inner Space "Emmy may be one smart dog, but her owner also happens to be an uncommonly gifted communicator. Chad Orzel's treatment of special and general relativity is comprehensive, informative, and amazingly accessible, yet it's funny too. This is, by far, the most entertaining discussion of the subject that I've ever had the pleasure of reading." Frank Close, author of The Infinity Puzzle "With Nero, the egocentric cat who believes it is the centre of the universe, and Emmy, the student dog whose questions and misunderstandings would drive any teacher to distraction, and whose interest in relativity is how E=mc^2 can turn squirrels into energy, Chad Orzel has created a delightful cast of characters to make his introduction to relativity relatively painless. A cleverly crafted and beautifully explained narrative that guides readers carefully into the depths of relativity. Whether you are a hare or a tortoise, or even a dog, you will enjoy this." Louisa Gilder, author of The Age of Entanglement "For the price of a book, Orzel delivers the heady, joyful experience of taking a small college class with a brilliant and funny professor who really knows how to teach. A thoroughly winning romp through a rock-solid presentation of a beautiful subject." Booklist "With canine humor and math- or physics-related jokes, Orzel keeps readers interested, while teaching the elements of physics that we promptly forgot after we took the test." Library Journal "Readers who enjoy Michio Kaku, Brian Greene, or Neil deGrasse Tyson will love this book. Full of quotes, math jokes, and silly canines, the book strives to make its audience amazed by, not frightened of, physics. With exuberant Emmy at the lead, readers can't help but be dragged (willingly!) toward a better understanding of special and general relativity." Washington Post "Rather than barking or growling, Emmy leavens the mood with requests for walks; and when the academics get heavy, she interjects to beg for clarification. Obviously, real-life dogs will not walk away from the book with a grasp of the universe's mechanics, but the human sort of non-scientist can get some benefit." Nature Physics "[E]ngaging and readable for a general audience... I suggest people who baulk at the idea of a talking dog but are nevertheless interested in the broad sweep of one of the two great theories of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries should give this book a chance. After all, every dog has its day." Publishers Weekly "[A] compact and instructive walk through Einstein's theory of relativit... [T]he prose is breezy and straightforward, and the material well organized... Relativity constantly amazes, and the glimpses of understanding provide rewarding and satisfying moments." Kirkus Reviews "Unlike quantum physics, which remains bizarre even to experts, much of relativity makes sense. Thus, Einstein's special relativity merely states that the laws of physics and the speed of light are identical for all observers in smooth motion. This sounds trivial but leads to weird if delightfully comprehensible phenomena, provided someone like Orzel delivers a clear explanation of why." Science News "A clever introduction to the often intimidating concepts of special and general relativity, couched as a series of conversations between the author and his dog, Emmy. It may sound like a strange setup, but the somewhat kooky concept works well for explaining a field of physics that can sound, well, kooky to the uninitiated... While keeping the math to a minimum, Orzel provides a clear and thorough primer. It might take some practice to start equating subatomic particles to running bunnies, but the reader will find that puzzling through the details is worth the effort." James Kakalios, Professor of Physics, University of Minnesota, and author of The Physics of Superheroes and The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics "Move over, Krypto--there's a new superdog in town! Chad Orzel's dog Emmy, having mastered quantum physics, now helps us understand Einstein's theories of relativity in a deep and accessible way. Get this dog a cape!" Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries "Everyone's favorite physics-loving canine is back, this time giving us a dog's eye view of Einstein and relativity. Physics professor Chad Orzel leads Emmy (and us) through an engaging tour of light speed, time dilation, and amazing shrinking bunnies (length contraction)--not to mention what all this means for the search for the elusive 'bacon boson.'" Sean Carroll, author of From Eternity to Here "Dogs are a practical species. They aren't interested in speculation and conjecture; they like food, walks, and proven physics like Einstein's relativity. If you really want to further your dog's education (and learn something yourself in the process), Chad Orzel's book is the first place you should turn."

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Book SynopsisAs staff writer for Scientific American, John Horgan has a window on contemporary science unsurpassed in all the world. Who else routinely interviews the likes of Lynn Margulis, Roger Penrose, Francis Crick, Richard Dawkins, Freeman Dyson, Murray Gell-Mann, Stephen Jay Gould, Stephen Hawking, Thomas Kuhn, Chris Langton, Karl Popper, Stephen Weinberg, and E.O. Wilson, with the freedom to probe their innermost thoughts? In The End Of Science, Horgan displays his genius for getting these larger-than-life figures to be simply human, and scientists, he writes, are rarely so human . . . so at there mercy of their fears and desires, as when they are confronting the limits of knowledge.This is the secret fear that Horgan pursues throughout this remarkable book: Have the big questions all been answered? Has all the knowledge worth pursuing become known? Will there be a final theory of everything that signals the end? Is the age of great discoverers behind us? Is science todTrade ReviewE. O. Wilson, Harvard University "Hugely entertaining." Washington Post Book World "In this wonderful, provocative book... Horgan's approach is to take us along while he buttonholes several dozen of earth's crankiest, most opinionated, most exasperating scientists to get their views on where science is and where it's going... They all come to life in Horgan's narrative." Associated Press "An unauthorized biography of science." Business Week "A deft wordsmith and keen observer, Horgan offers lucid expositions of everything from superstring theory and Thomas Kuhn's analysis of scientific revolutions to the origin of life and sociobiology."Table of ContentsPreface to the 2015 Edition: Rebooting The End of Science Introduction: Searching for The Answer 1. The End of Progress 2. The End of Philosophy 3. The End of Physics 4. The End of Cosmology 5. The End of Evolutionary Biology 6. The End of Social Science 7. The End of Neuroscience 8. The End of Chaoplexity 9. The End of Limitology 10. Scientific Theology, or The End of Machine Science Epilogue: The Terror of God Afterword: Loose Ends

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Book SynopsisFascinating, accessible introduction to enormously important intellectual system with numerous applications to social, economic, political problems. Newly revised edition offers overview of game theory, then lucid coverage of the two-person zero-sum game with equilibrium points; the general, two-person zero-sum game; utility theory; other topics. Problems at start of each chapter.

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Book SynopsisClassic text leads from elementary calculus into more theoretic problems. Precise approach with definitions, theorems, proofs, examples and exercises. Topics include partial differentiation, vectors, differential geometry, Stieltjes integral, infinite series, gamma function, Fourier series, Laplace transform, much more. Numerous graded exercises with selected answers. 1961 edition.

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Book SynopsisBrings together the various discoveries of microbiology. Of interest to general readers, this book provides a view of evolution as a process based on interdependency and their interconnectedness of life on the planet.Trade Review"A luminous prose style. . . . Clear, evocative, and, at its best, dense with realities rather than concepts or opinions, [Microcosmos] grips the serious reader in a way that transcends both science and science journalism." * New York Times Book Review *"Microcosmos is a book for all to read. Although the ideas expressed with such clarity and enthusiasm in this enthralling volume are soundly based on current scientific research they are couched in a language that anyone with a smattering of biology can easily grasp. . . . Microcosmos is a book packed with information and fascinating detail, but all of it to the purpose of demonstrating how life forms are interwoven with each other." * The Ecologist *"A fascinating, engrossing, superbly written account. . . . Makes the story of evolution—including very recent findings—accessible." * Los Angeles Times *"A stunning, complex chronicle . . . proposing that only an understanding of the microcosm from which life sprang can make possible our ultimate leap beyond Earth into a human-devised supercosm." * Publishers Weekly *"First published in 1986, Microcosmos is already regarded as a seminal book in its field." * Hartford Courant *Table of ContentsForeword by Lewis Thomas (1986) Preface (1997) Acknowledgments Introduction: The Microcosm 1. Out of the Cosmos 2. The Animation of Matter 3. The Language of Nature 4. Entering the Microcosm 5. Sex and Worldwide Genetic Exchange 6. The Oxygen Holocaust 7. New Cells 8. Living Together 9. The Symbiotic Brain 10. The Riddle of Sex 11. Late Bloomers: Animals and Plants 12. Egocentric Man 13. The Future Supercosm Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn The Medea Hypothesis, renowned paleontologist Peter Ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of life's relationship with the Earth's biosphere--one that has frightening implications for our future, yet also offers hope. Using the latest discoveries from the geological record, he argues that life might be its own worst enemy. This staTrade ReviewOne of the 2009 New York Times Magazine's 9th Annual Featured Books in Ideas "Ward holds the Gaia Hypothesis, and the thinking behind it, responsible for encouraging a set of fairy-tale assumptions about the earth, and he'd like his new book, due out this spring, to help puncture them. He hopes not only to shake the philosophical underpinnings of environmentalism, but to reshape our understanding of our relationship with nature, and of life's ultimate sustainability on this planet and beyond."--Drake Bennett, Boston Globe "Author and Earth Sciences professor Ward has authored numerous books for non-specialists; this latest is a critical response to James Lovelock's Gaia concept, which argues that homeostatic physical and chemical interactions work to maintain Earth's habitability. Ward argue, passionately, that the opposite is true--that living organisms decrease Earth's habitability, hastening its end by perhaps a billion years."--PublishersWeekly.com "When avid science readers browse the shelves for new titles, the books that grab their attention are best described by a single adjective: thought-provoking. And no scientist/author is more provocative in his approach and innovative in his thinking than University of Washington astrobiologist Peter Ward ... [R]eaders looking for solace will not find it in Ward's latest effort, The Medea Hypothesis. This time Ward goes after motherhood itself--or at least the central idea of the Gaia ('good mother') hypothesis that has evolved to describe the relationship between life and the planet as a whole."--Fred Bortz, Seattle Times "Reading the book will widen your field of vision about life on earth, which is still there after about 4 billion years."--Dr. Hein van Bohemen, Ecological Engineering "The point of The Medea Hypothesis is that life, rather than helping to regulate the Earth 'System' by negative feedbacks, does all it can to consume the resources available--sowing the seeds of its own extinction."--Dr. Henry Gee, BBC Focus Magazine "[Ward] makes his points succinctly and supports them well."--Rebecca Wigood, Vancouver Sun "[The Medea Hypothesis] is an interesting intellectual exercise on the history of life."--Choice "Ward ... adopts the tone of a planetary mortician gruesomely interested in his subject's decease. Ward is an expert on mass extinctions, and the subject seems to have infected his general outlook. He does not come across a happy camper."--Roger Gathman, Austin American-Statesman "The Medea Hypothesis is a valuable and well-needed challenge to the hegemony of Gaian thought, and this is a very clearly presented and thought provoking book... Ward's book is a crucial step in opening this debate and I would certainly recommend reading it, but with a critical eye open for chinks in the argument."--Lewis Dartnell, Astrobiology Society of BritainTable of ContentsIntroduction ix Chapter 1: Darwinian Life 1 Chapter 2: What Is Evolutionary "Success"? 14 Chapter 3: Two Hypotheses about the Nature of Life on Earth 24 Chapter 4: Medean Feedbacks and Global Processes 55 Chapter 5: Medean Events in the History of Life 72 Chapter 6: Humans as Medeans 91 Chapter 7: Biomass through Time as a Test 98 Chapter 8: Predicted Future Trends of Biomass 114 Chapter 9: Summation 126 Chapter 10: Environmental Implications and Courses of Action 128 Chapter 11: What Must Be Done 141 References 157 Index 173

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"As he explores why humans evolved to be so habit-driven, Poldrack considers dopamine, which is crucial in forming habits for its impacts on brain plasticity; questions the efficacy of mindfulness (now a 'billion-dollar industry'); and covers the formation of addictions, which he calls 'habits gone bad.' Poldrack's study is strongest when he describes experiments on interrupting habit formation on a cellular level, which can potentially help one shed such undesirable behaviors as smoking and overeating. . . . This is a worthy intellectual adventure, one that’s well articulated for readers looking for rigorous study." * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThis volume is a comprehensive review of current scientific knowledge about the world’s largest and most famous living reptiles.Trade ReviewBiology and Evolution of Crocodyliansis an expensive book, but it is one that will serve any paleontologist seeking a detailed review of all aspects of modern crocodylian biology. The photographs and illustrations also make it a very attractive book for any natural history enthusiast. -- Adam Pritchard * Palaeontologica Electronica *The author, Gordon Grigg, and illustrator, David Kirshner, have written a wonderful, beautifully illustrated, all-inclusive treatise on the Crocodylia that has already become (and will remain for the foreseeable future) the most important compilation of information and references yet attempted. It will be invaluable to both current researchers and future generations of crocodylian biologists.... [D]espite working in the area of crocodylian evolutionary biology for over 35 years, I learned more about these animals than I ever imagined by reading this volume.... Overall, this is a most remarkable publication, one that surely will stand the test of time and be remembered as one of the most important contributions ever in the history of crocodylian research. -- Llewellyn D. Densmore * The Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgements1. INTRODUCTION Introducing crocodylians The living species of crocodylians The growth of scientific knowledge about crocodylians Body size and age2. THE CROCODYLIAN FAMILY TREE The modern crocodylians and their relationships Extinct Crocodylia and other crocodile-like reptiles; crocs in 'deep time' Summary3. CROCODYLIANS CLOSER UP The external features of crocodylians Skull and musculoskeletal system4. LOCOMOTION, BUOYANCY, AND TRAVEL Crocodylians on land Crocodylians in the water Buoyancy Stomach stones (gastroliths) Capacity for long distance travel5. SENSORY SKILLS AND BRAIN Vision Hearing, movement and balance Brain and cranial nerves Olfaction and gustation (chemosensation) Sense organs of the skin Cognitive capacities and learning6. FEEDING, DIGESTION, AND NUTRITION What do crocodylians eat? Prey capture and handling Digestion Nutrition7. ENERGY SUPPLY AND DELIVERY The metabolic engines: crocodylian biochemistry and metabolism Whole body metabolism (anaerobic and aerobic) The respiratory system The circulatory system8. THE WORLD'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY HEART A tour of the crocodylian heart Non-shunting and shunting patterns of blood flow What is the significance of pulmonary by-pass shunting in crocodylians?9. DIVING AND SUBMERGENCE BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSIOLOGY When? Why? How deep? How, and how for so long? Diving behaviour of crocodylians in the wild Physiological support for crocodylian diving What are the longest submergences by crocodylians that can be supported aerobically?10. THERMAL RELATIONS Introduction: crocodylians are not like other reptiles Daily and seasonal patterns of body temperature Behaviours that modify body temperature Physiological mechanisms of thermoregulation Thermal acclimatization Crocodylians may have endothermic ancestry Could even the basal archosaurs have been endothermic?11. SALT AND WATER BALANCE Salt and water balance in Crocodylus porosus: an introduction to crocodylian osmoregulation Salt and water balance in other crocodylians Living out of water, 'aestivation' Salt glands and implications for crocodylian evolutionary history12. REPRODUCTION Introduction: they’re more like birds Oviducts, ovulation, fertilisation and the gravid stage13. POPULATIONS AND POPULATION ECOLOGY Populations (and species) Population dynamics: changes through time Case Histories14. CONSERVATION, COMMERCIALISATION, AND CONFLICT Introduction Historical perspective The future for crocodylians?INDEX

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Book SynopsisReveals the roots of our biodiversity crisis, why we failed to meet targets set over a decade ago, and what we must do now to protect and preserve nature’s wondersTrade Review‘If you have any doubts about the meaning of the term biodiversity or its importance to the world, here is a book that explains it in an interesting and accessible way and challenges us to protect it better.’ -- Professor Sir Ghillean Prance FRS, FLS, FRSB, botanist and former director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew‘A stimulating, authoritative and deeply rewarding read that makes you think about the natural world in a novel way.’ -- Dr Ahmed Djoghlaf, former executive secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity‘Spicer spells out the chilling message…the findings of which have been backed by respected scientists from the United Nations, Yale University and the Eden Project.’ * Herald *‘Will appeal to intelligent non-specialists and may provide the incentive to study the subject in greater depth.’ * Journal of Biological Education *‘This is science for the general reader at its very best – clear, committed, fascinating and laser-focused on the crisis we face.’ -- Randal Keynes, great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin and author of Creation: The True Story of Charles Darwin‘His gift for the telling analogy and his clear, lively writing make Biodiversity a pleasure to read.’ -- Stephen C. Stearns, Edward P. Bass Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale UniversityTable of Contents1 The pandemic of wounded biodiversity Biodiversity – what was that again? A long, leisurely trip to La Jolla Directions 2 Teeming boisterous life The big picture The volleyball on Mission Beach ‘A rose by any other name’…what’s a species? Morphological species Identifying species without ever seeing them Biological species Evolutionary species Naming species How many living species…and what are they? 1) To the nearest approximation (almost) every organism is an arthropod…? 2) Greenery: The Plantae 3) Fungi: Mushrooms, moulds and yeasts – The Fungi 4) Mollusca: Shell life 5) Chordata: Animals with backbones…mostly 6) Protozoa or Protista? 7) Nematoda: The roundworm that’s the fly in the ointment? 8) Bacteria and Archaea: Microbial life Remaining animal groupings Viruses: All the world’s a phage… or nearly New species Planting and growing the ‘tree of life’ The great chain of being Linnaeus’s hierarchical classification Influence of evolutionary ideas Chatton’s two-domain idea Whittaker’s five-kingdom approach Woese and the three-domain model A new twist to the three-domain model …and when is a tree a bush? Designs on life The phylum and the Bauplan Most phyla are not very species rich An unequal distribution of life 3 Where on Earth is biodiversity? From Berkeley, south to the Sea of Cortez More is more Back to Bird Rock The species–area relationship Those who go down to the sea in ships Hotspots: A tale of two definitions Big-scale biodiversity: Biogeographical and political regions On land Sea Biodiversity by country Latitude for life? The land The sea Genetic diversity and latitude Why is there a latitudinal gradient? Altitude Lessons from the tops of Scottish mountains Biodiversity takes the hump with altitude Mountains as islands? Aerial plankton and organisms in flight Depth The short-lived azoic theory Out of our depth A journey to the centre of the Earth Staying close to home Congruence: The holy grail of diversity? 4 A world that was old when we came into it: Diversity, deep time and extinction One every twenty minutes? A life in the year of… Precambrian – before life? A schoolgirl changes our understanding of life before life – but no one believes her The garden of Ediacara A world of chemical energy, not driven by sunlight? How familiar is the Ediacaran fauna? Explosive Cambrian Cambrian forms Archaeocyatha: The only extinct phylum? Why diversify now? Cambrian explosion or short fuse? Cambrian biodiversity: Good designs… or just lucky? How a small quarry in British Columbia changed our understanding of biodiversity ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ To conclude Post-Cambrian: Tinkering with successful designs? Palaeozoic – ‘first life’ Middle and modern life The present – not set in stone Beginnings of evolution: The origin of species End of evolution: Extinction The ‘big five’ Causes of extinction Extinctions as routine events in the history of life Early humans and biodiversity Extinctions post-1600s Proving extinction? The Red Data Book Other takes on extinction To conclude 5 Swept away and changed Threatening behaviour Living beyond our means Top five direct (or proximate) causes of biodiversity loss 1) Habitat loss and degradation 2) Direct exploitation Home economics Food, glorious food Industrial materials Medicine sans frontiers Ecotourism Controlling the natural world 3) Climate change 4) Introduced species The domino effect: Extinction cascades Some light relief: Complete elimination of biodiversity by extraterrestrial means The ultimate cause of biodiversity loss: You and me Once upon a time there were two people…now look how many Not just population size but where people live Not just population size but what people do It’s the poor that do the suffering To conclude 6 Are the most beautiful things the most useless? ‘…and for everything else there’s Mastercard’ Costing a small planet Use now, pay when? What bees do for free is expensive Costing the Earth – literally How Biosphere 1 works – as one Earth, the Goldilocks planet – just right Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis Critiques of Gaia How bits of Biosphere 1 work Build your own biosphere: Not-so-silent running The home marine aquarium Mysteries and hazards Valuable for what, and to whom? Keeping options open Bequest and bequeathal Full-on philosophers and laid-back religion? Value bestowed, not intrinsic Intrinsic value Valued as an object of worship or through kinship A creator gives biodiversity value To conclude 7 Our greatest hazard and our only hope? Saving private land Antecedents Oh, Rio Large brushstrokes Louder than words Arks in parks Out of place – but alive Buzzword for the twenty-first century Responses to Rio Millennium Assessment Aichi (2010) and ‘Pathway for Humanity’ (2015) Strategic plan for biodiversity and Aichi biodiversity targets ‘Pathway for Humanity’: UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015) Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019) Aichi Target 11: Increasing protected areas Goal 16: Nagoya protocol in force Sustainability goals No room for the individual? Epilogue 8 No one is too small to make a difference Going further: Suggestions for wider reading Index

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a comprehensive review of the biophysics and nanotechnology of ion channels. It details the biological and physiological entities of ion channels in cells and addresses various physical perspectives of ion channel structures and functions. Naturally inbuilt and artificial applicable nanotechnologies of ion channels are modelled and explored. It discusses various methods that can be utilized toward understanding ion channel-based cellular diseases. Physical, biochemical, biomedical, and bioinformatics techniques are taken into consideration to enable the development of strategies to address therapeutic drug discovery and delivery.This book will be of interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in biophysics and related biomedical sciences in addition to researchers in the field and industry.Features: Provides a stimulating introduction to the structures and functions of ion channels of biological cell meTable of Contents Chapter 1 Ion Channels - Physical Structures and Gating Mechanisms Chapter 2 Mitochondrial Membrane Channels - Physical Structures and Gating Mechanisms Chapter 3 Ion Channels of the Nuclear Membrane - Physical Structures and Gating Mechanisms Chapter 4 Artificial Ion Channels Chapter 5 Nonchannel Membrane Gating Chapter 6 Ion Channel Energetics Chapter 7 Nanotechnology of Ion Channels Chapter 8 Channelopathies and Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets Chapter 9 Bioinformatics of Ion channels: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning Chapter 10 Quantum Mechanics of Ion Channels

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Book SynopsisIn recent decades, there has been enormous growth in biologics research and development, with the accompanying development of biological assays for emerging products. In parallel, there have been substantial advances in statistical methodology, as well as technological advances in computer power, enabling new techniques to be implemented via statistical software. Biostatistics for Bioassay presents an overview of the statistical analysis techniques that are needed in order to report the results of biological assays. These assays are needed for testing all biological medicines, such as vaccines and cell therapies, to allow them to be released for use. Beginning with consideration of the performance characteristics required of a bioassay, including accuracy, precision, and combinations of these two attributes, the book builds a framework for statistical bioassay design.Features: Explains the statistical methods needed at each stage of the lifecycle of a bioassay Describes the demonstration of the bioassayâs performance, known as validation Covers the statistical techniques for monitoring the bioassayâs performance over time Details how to transfer the bioassay to another laboratory or replace critical reagents Provides examples at every stage, to allow the reader to work through the techniques and consolidate their understanding The book provides a resource for interested bioassay analysts, and statisticians working with bioassays. In bringing together best practices in statistics across the bioassay lifecycle into a single volume, it aims to provide a comprehensive and useful textbook for statistical analysis in bioassay.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive, eye-opening exploration of what dreams are, where they come from, what they mean and why we have them.Trade Review"Where do we go in our dreams at night? And why do we dream in the first place? Are we the only species that dreams? When Brains Dream provides a truly comprehensive, scientifically rigorous and utterly fascinating account of when, how, and why we dream. Put simply, When Brains Dream is the essential guide to dreaming." -- Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep"Every night, we turn out the light and go to the movies. For as long as humans have been conscious of our world, we’ve wondered what’s going on in that other world in which we spend a third of our lives. Some of my strangest dreams have been while I was asleep in Bob Stickgold’s lab. Finally, in When Brains Dream, I have a way to understand them. There’s more here than you ever dreamed of." -- Alan Alda, New York Times–bestselling author of If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?"When Brains Dream unveils a novel neuroscientific model comprising an elegant and surprising piece of the puzzle of why we dream the way we do. If you are curious about the curiouser and curiouser qualia of dreams, read this book!" -- Stephen LaBerge, author of Lucid Dreaming"Drawing on decades of research, sleep scientists Antonio Zadra and Robert Stickgold detail their new model of how and why we dream – a model that they call NEXTUP, the Network Exploration to Understand Possibilities." -- The best popular science books to read in January 2021 - Science Focus"Fascinating. . . When Brains Dream steers a reasonable and broad-minded course between the many interpretive whirlpools that have swallowed previous explorers of dreams." -- The Washington Post"... Bob and Tony have an answer to a problem that’s been puzzling people for 200 years: why do we dream? They explain why we daydream too; why it’s vital for sanity, so for me When Brains Dream has acted as an intervention." -- The Spectator"Reports of bizarre night-time visions have surged during the pandemic… Dreams are vivid and memorable, [Stickgold] points out, and we have a sense that they are telling us something. But what? Since Covid-19 struck, a lot of us are asking that question… The pandemic has caused people to feel more anxious about everything from health to finance. The brain tags such concerns for processing during sleep, according to Stickgold and Zadra in When Brains Dream..." -- Hilary Rose - The Times"A remarkable account of what we know and don’t know about this mysterious thing that happens during the night… When Brains Dream is a rarity among popular science books, one that neither dumbs down the research nor steps outside of what we know, and yet is still a page-turner." -- Daniel Levitin, author of The Changing Mind

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Book SynopsisA call to action that underscores why the roots of good health start with how we farm

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Book SynopsisAn urgent and illuminating portrait of forest migration, and of the people studying the forests of the past, protecting the forests of the present and planting the forests of the future.

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Book SynopsisA lyrical journey through four moments in Earth's past and their lessons for our future.

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Book SynopsisFlorence Williams explores the fascinating, cutting-edge science of heartbreak while seeking creative ways to mend her ownTrade Review"In Heartbreak [Williams] reprises [the] determined, deep-dive reporting [of The Nature Fix], this time seeking the same healing for her shattered self... This is one of the joys of reading a gifted science journalist: You learn so much stuff without having to study it yourself... [A] wise and brave book." -- Marianne Szegedy-Maszak - The Washington Post"[Readers] will learn as much from Williams’s intellectual rigor as from her fearlessness in surviving a broken heart." -- Sebastian Modak - The New York Times Book Review"What a powerful book. Williams captures the heartache of divorce and the crooked road back to living. Colorful, imaginative and poignant—Heartbreak tells a gripping story of courage, sex, and adventure packed with all the newest hard science on romance and attachment. I’ve studied love for over 40 years and I was taking notes. It’s a magnificent, wise, and remarkable read!" -- Helen Fisher, author of The Anatomy of Love"A masterful blend of investigative reporting and personal narrative, chock-full of fascinating insights, gorgeous nature writing and an ample helping of compassion (some of which Williams deservedly reserves for herself)." -- Alexis Burling - The San Francisco Chronicle"Williams, by investigating the science behind a broken heart, turns her personal experiences into something universal and, in the end, useful." -- Prospect

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction A New York Times Editors' Choice A Science Friday Best Science Book to Read This Summer A myth-busting voyage into the female bodyTrade Review"Vagina Obscura should cause a revolution in how we think about the vagina." -- Rosamund Urwin - The Sunday Times"This book is what we've been waiting for." -- Francesca Brown - Stylist"This is something about our own bodies that are so often treated as mysterious and unknown when they’re not unknown. We actually know quite a bit. The topic of this book is relevant to everybody." -- Riley Black - Science Friday"Rachel E. Gross’s mesmerizing and often humorous Vagina Obscura vividly uncovers the scientific and popular biases that have colluded to stem our knowledge about 'down there.' Gross brilliantly investigates questions regarding sex, sexuality, and r" -- Elizabeth Reis, author of Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary story of the Nazi-era scientific genius who discovered how cancer cells eat—and what it means for how we should.Trade Review"While millions of other Europeans with Jewish heritage were being rounded up and sent to their deaths, Otto Warburg enjoyed Nazi protection and a comfortable life in Berlin. Sam Apple, author of a new book, Ravenous, explores his remarkable tale of survival." -- BBC History Revealed"The research that Warburg is best known for today, and the work that forms the backbone of Ravenous, is his discovery that cancer cells behave differently from healthy cells in two very specific ways: They consume massive amounts of glucose — Apple compares them to ravenous shipwrecked sailors — and they eschew aerobic respiration in favor of fermentation... Apple covers everything from Hitler’s obsessive preoccupation with cancer to how the German Empire’s transformation into an industrial powerhouse led to a Romanticism-fueled movement that emphasized both environmental and racial purity. The fact that Apple can make these stories... feel so immediate is a testament to his canny knack for choosing apposite details." -- Seth Mnookin - The New York Times"Ravenous tells the story of an extraordinary life, and of the visionary work that sustained it... Apple has a gift for elegant analogies and illuminating similes… [An] exceptionally interesting and well-written book..." -- Thomas Morris - Times Literary Supplement"Eye-opening... filled with... outrageous and entertaining stories... I walked away from Ravenous thinking of Otto Warburg as a sort of Sigmund Freud of cancer research." -- Sam Kean - The Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisWhat does the science of animal intelligence mean for how we understand and live with the wild creatures around us?

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Book SynopsisA short but engaging exploration of the brain. In Brains, scientist Leif Ostergaard explores our most complicated and mysterious organ. From the dissection of Einstein's brain to research on how to map networks of neurons, Ostergaard deconstructs the different parts of the brain and provides an engaging overview of its essential functions. He explains how we store information in the synapses of neural networks and how these networks carry commands to our muscles and internal organs and receive sensory input from our skin, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Delving into the subconscious, we learn what our brains are doing while we daydream and how neurotransmitters play a role in addiction. In this fascinating book, Ostergaard reveals how this enigmatic organ is even more complex than we thought it was. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of toTable of ContentsThe Mind of a GeniusThe Subconscious BrainMapping the CerebrumThe Learning BrainLet Your Mind Soar

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Book Synopsis''If we hope to meet the moral test of our times, then I think we''re going to have to talk more about the empathy deficit. The ability to put ourselves in somebody else''s shoes, to see the world through somebody else''s eyes . . .'' Barack ObamaEmpathy is the power of understanding others, imaginatively entering into their feelings. It is a fundamental human attribute, without which mutually co-operative societies cannot function. In a revolutionary development, we now know who has it, who lacks it and why. Via the MRI scanner we are mapping the human brain. This is a new frontier that reveals a host of beneficial ideas for childcare, teens challenged by the internet, the justice system, decent healthcare, tackling racism and resolving conflicts. In this wide-ranging and accessible book full of entertaining stories that are underlined by the latest scientific research, Peter Bazalgette also mounts a passionate defence of arts and popular culture as a means of bridgTrade ReviewThe Empathy Instinct should be required reading * Irish Examiner *Sir Peter argues that politicians and the public must also be made to see that there are certain human aptitudes that can best be nurtured by an engagement with the arts and humanities * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWhat the f*ck is the Dark Web, and how does it even work?Whether it's from dodgy acronym-titled crime shows to news stories designed to terrify you down to your socks we've all heard about sites like Silk Road and the ways criminals use cryptocurrency online. But did you know that among the various shady corners of the dark web you can also find portals to the BBC and Facebook?The thing is even the way the everyday internet works is a mystery to us and its darkest corners are, of course, more deeply shrouded. So, let's go on a journey from the birth of the Net through the strangest dark services - need a hitman to bump off your superfluous...er...beloved spouse? - to the surprisingly positive uses of dark technology, including dodging the watchful eye of oppressive censors.Over half of us can't remember a time before the internet - and for the rest it's increasingly difficult to imagine life without the damn thing! It's about time we understood more about it and we can start with the question: What The Fuck is The Dark Web?

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