Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBOOK OF THE MONTH: forces you to consider the unknown and try to come to terms with the unexplained. * Independent *From a less authoritative source, these stories could seem mawkish or flaky. Told here with calm precision, and with a conversational flair, they are both absorbing and convincing. With so much evidence available for further investigation, the most vexing question now is not whether life continues in some form after we die, but why mainstream science is so resistant to the idea. -- Christopher Stevens * Daily Mail *After is that rare thing, a scientific book that is also a page-turner. Greyson's meticulous research leaves little doubt that the human mind somehow survives beyond the point of death. * Nick Evans, bestselling author of The Horsewhisper *This very captivating book by Dr. Bruce Greyson chronicles his personal, spiritual and professional quest to understand the meaning of near-death experiences. His long-awaited and amazing book is a major contribution to the study of what happens when we die, and will quickly prove to be a classic in near-death studies. * Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, Author of Life After Life *Bruce Greyson is the most influential medical doctor-investigator over the last 40 years of this world-changing analysis. His work has done much to organize the scientific investigation of these experiences, to take them from fascinating anecdotes to systematic and objective study that will truly enable the world to benefit from these deep lessons. His work has the potential to completely change our fractured and confused world, offering insights that may lead to an explanation of the nature of consciousness. It will also help to nudge the entire scientific community towards realizations that can alter human history — bringing far more peace, harmony, and comfort to uncountable millions of souls both now and in future generations. * Eben Alexander, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Proof of Heaven *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of New Statesman's Books of the Year 2021""Just an amazing book. . . . The most amazing, and probably best, photographic guide there is to Britain’s insects."---Kate MacRae, Wildlife Kate"Wild Guides have come out with another gem. This time, there are 1,653 insects for you to enjoy with 1,476 illustrated in full colour. lt covers dragonflies, butterflies, moths, bees, beetles and wasps with everything in between. . . . There is even a section on helping you take photos of the species found, hoping that you will be able to match the incredible photos in this book."---John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine"Must-have . . . impressive Britain’s Insects, which really will help you identify almost every insect you are ever likely to come across in the UK."---Stephen Moss, Stephen Moss's 2021 Round-up of Nature Books"This guide is a marvellous book for both beginners and 'experts' and a complete bargain."---Erica McAlister, Bulletin of the Amateur Entomological Society"This book has immediately winged its way onto my ‘absolute favourites’ book list. It’s the only one I will need to take with me on holidays and insect-spotting trips and ganders in the countryside. It really is a superb book, and I must say, a tremendous achievement. Heartily recommended!"---Amanda Williams, Buzz About Bees"So cometh the hour, cometh the man. Paul Brock has possibly done more to change how we see, recognise, grasp, understand, and, therefore, care about insects than any one else in Britain. . . . What it does brilliantly . . . is to put at your disposal the most comprehensive single text yet produced for British insects, packed with key up-to-the-minute data and with 2,600 superb images of nearly 1500 species."---Mark Cocker, Through 360 Degrees"Indispensable."---John Badmin, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History"This, the latest in the WILDGuides series, is a masterful exercise in clarity, clear design and will get you to the right identification of the species you are looking at. . . . A great achievement."---Mark Avery, Mark Avery blog"A truly outstanding addition to the general naturalist's library . . . . Conservation cannot be driven by ideas alone. It needs people on the ground with knowledge and passion, who see the hidden worlds around them and fight for what they love. Books like this are how such passions begin. . . . The book comes highly recommended by this reviewer. If I lost my copy, I would immediately go out and buy a new one."---Guy Padfield, Dispar: The Online Journal of Lepidoptera"This is a delightful if demanding book, a major work in fact. . . . Britain's Insects will surely become an essential and everyday guide for entomologists, naturalists, gardeners, wildlife photographers and anyone else interested in insects, whatever their level of knowledge. Britain's Insects upholds the superb presentation and finish we have come to expect from the WildGuides series."---Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog"Every UK household should have this to satisfy their own curiosity and make sure the kids get to love insects, as they are essential to like on earth."---Bo Beolens, Fat Birder"It certainly is a very useful tool, and it has an excellent index. . . . All things to all people; it is crammed with snippets of information: life cycles, descriptions, maps, definitions, status, distribution, seasonality, habitat, food plants, behaviour, etc."---Mike Smith, Phasmid Study Group"[Brock’s] new guide to Britain and Ireland’s insects will surely become the definitive identification volume on the subject."---Eric Brown, News Shopper"A masterpiece field guide ‘tome’. . . . A ‘must have’ for everyone with a general interest in insects and I’m sure it will sneak into the libraries of quite a few seasoned experts too!"---Jim Almond, Shropshire Birder blog"A most wonderful book and must surely help to raise awareness towards protecting this precious insect biodiversity." * Bees for Development *"[An] engaging and must-have book. It really is one of those books th.at every time you dip in you feel as though you have learned something quite special." * Lapwing Magazine *"For each species described though there is a species distribution map, a seasonality chart and a description of size, morphology, and habitat. Where known and relevant food plants are given as well as their conservation status and protection. Importantly, similar species to those included are given - many folks are keen to ID without careful attention and this highlights the need to exhibit caution with species level identifications. I like having the images next to the text . . . . A fabulous photographic guide for both beginners and 'experts' and a complete bargain."---Erica McAlister, Bulletin of the Dipterists Forum"A comprehensive book packed with rich colour photos and infographics that explains all the main wasp families in detail . . . . A visit to the many wasp mimics and even a look at wasps in mythology and popular culture."---Paul Hetherington, The Buzz"This book is ideal for anyone interested in insects but not wanting to restrict themselves to a particular group. It has managed to pack in the information of several different guides. . . . Few people interested in insects wouldn’t want to have a copy, and it would be especially useful for budding entomologists and fascinated children."---Rob Jaques, British Trust for Ornithology"Another stunning edition to the WildGuides portfolio and for the beginner an essential purchase and an absolute bargain for the price. Highly recommended."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association"A fabulous resource."---Frances McKim, Pest Magazine"Paul Brock is to be congratulated on navigating the maze of possibilities to arrive at a balanced compromise between detail and breadth. . . . An excellent introduction to our island’s insects."---Peter Smithers, Antenna"A game-changer of a book, a truly significant contribution to the study of our insects . . . . Anyone interested in insects will find Britain’s Insects of value."---Dr S G Compton, Biologist"Beautiful to hold and to ponder . . . A glorious piece of political advocacy."---Mark Cocker, New Statesman"A superb guide for everyone from the entomological generalist to the interested with an enquiring mind. . . . Invaluable."---Paul Hetherington, Atropos Magazine

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Book SynopsisDaniel Newman is Principal Analyst of Futurum Research and the CEO of Broadsuite Media Group. Living his life at the intersection of people and technology, Newman works with large technology brands exploring digital transformation and how it influences our world. A five-times best-selling author, he is a Forbes, Entrepreneur and Huffington Post contributor.Olivier Blanchard draws from his extensive experience managing product innovation, technology adoption, digital integration and change management for industry leaders in a variety of sectors to help decision makers, and their organizations, understand the many risks and opportunities of technology-driven disruption and leverage innovation.Table of Contents Chapter - 01: A short history of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 02: The state of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 03: Framing expectations for the next age of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 04: How businesses should prepare for the next age of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 05: How workers should prepare for the next age of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 06: How educational institutions should prepare for the next age of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 07: How consumers should prepare for the next age of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 08: How technology companies should prepare for the next age of human–machine partnerships; Chapter - 09: The future of human–machine partnerships - putting it all together;

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Book SynopsisOne of the world's leading astrobiologists takes us on an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos to investigate some of humanity's most profound questions.

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

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Book SynopsisExam Board: EdexcelLevel: AS/A-levelSubject: ChemistryFirst Teaching: September 2015First Exam: June 2016Endorsed by Edexcel Develop and assess your students'' knowledge and mathematical skills throughout A Level with worked examples, practical assessment guidance and differentiated end of topic questions with this Edexcel Year 1 student book - Identifies the level of your students'' understanding with diagnostic questions and a summary of prior knowledge at the start of the Year 1 Student Book- Provides support for all 16 required practicals with various activities and questions, along with a ''Practical'' chapter covering procedural understanding and key ideas related to measurement- Mathematical skills are integrated throughout with plenty of worked examples, including notes on methods to help explain the strategies for solving each type of problem- Offers plenty of practice with Test YouTrade ReviewIts a great book, with enough explanations and solved practice problems. The exam style questions at the end of unit are organized in increasing order of difficulty. -- Mrs Sara George * Abigail Lambert *

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Book SynopsisThis practical pocket field guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, provides essential information on identifying and attracting eighty-eight species of garden bird.Each species account contains accurate artworks that show details to help readers differentiate between similar looking species, and male and female birds. A concise written account further outlines their size, plumage, voice, habitat, food and distribution in Britain and the near Continent. The book also includes general guidelines on food, feeders, nest boxes and other items that can greatly increase the presence of birds in your garden.The easy-to-follow layouts and illustrations aid quick identification, and make this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet filled with essential information for nature enthusiasts.Table of ContentsIntroduction Plants for Birds Drinking and Bathing Feeding Birds Birdfeeders Bird Tables Nest Boxes Birds Wildfowl Game Birds Herons Hawks & Allies Falcons Rails Gulls Pigeons Parrots Typical Owls Kingfishers Woodpeckers Swifts Swallows & Martins Larks Pipits & Wagtails Waxwings Wrens Accentors Thrushes Kinglets Warblers & Allies Flycatchers Chats Long-tailed Tits Typical Tits Nuthatches Treecreepers Crows Starlings Sparrows Finches Buntings Bird Topography

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling manifesto for a twenty-first century understanding of human evolution and variation - and a weapon against scientific racismTrade ReviewA fascinating and timely refutation of the casual racism on the rise around the world. The ultimate anti-racism guide for data-lovers everywhere -- CAROLINE CRIADO PEREZFor centuries science has been used and abused by racists. This book wrests it from their grubby hands by showing that race is biologically meaningless and that modern genetic science is a racist's worst enemy. Along the way Adam Rutherford reveals that you are related to royalty, that every Nazi had Jewish ancestors and that you share no DNA with half your ancestors. A critical book on a critical issue -- DAVID OLUSOGANobody deals with challenging subjects more interestingly and compellingly than Adam Rutherford, and this may be his best book yet. This is a seriously important work -- BILL BRYSONA book that could save lives -- Kathryn Paige Harden * SPECTATOR *A fascinating debunking of racial pseudoscience . . . engaging and enlightening . . . equip[s] the reader with the scientific tools necessary to tackle questions concerning race, genes and ancestry -- Manjit Kumar * GUARDIAN *Characteristically far-reaching, insightful and brilliant, Adam Rutherford casts his net wide in a book that is as timely as it is invigorating and important -- PETER FRANKOPANRutherford, a geneticist, debunks racist pseudoscience, showing that everyone's ancestry is cosmopolitan in a stylish, punchy, myth-busting study * DAILY TELEGRAPH *[An] enthralling, illuminating book -- Francis Wheen * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A counter-blast to those who would use science to justify prejudice * NEW STATESMAN *Adam Rutherford is the perfect writer to arm you with evidence -- CLAUDIA HAMMONDThis fascinating, illuminating and original book on human evolution and development is essential reading in an age of false science, resurgent racism and conspiracy theory - and the perfect antidote to racial bigotryOne of the most pleasing observations offered by Adam Rutherford, a great communicator who knows how to simplify difficult concepts, is that the racist you are arguing with will themself be far from racially pure -- Julian Cole * I NEWSPAPER *Elucidating, enabling, and powerful in its simplicity, everyone should have a copy of this book * SUNDAY POST *Stylish and punchy -- Steven Poole * DAILY TELEGRAPH, Books of the Year *HOW TO ARGUE WITH A RACIST smashes race myths that plague society -- Layal Liverpool * NEW SCIENTIST *Poignant . . . A timely weapon against the misuse of science to justify bigotry and casual racism * COSMOPOLITAN *Brilliant, succinct genetics for the uninitiatedAdam Rutherford is a master storytellerEnlightening and entertaining -- David Crawford * RADIO TIMES *Vital -- Ben East * OBSERVER *If teaching is what makes humans special, then Adam Rutherford is superhuman - a truly gifted transmitter of knowledge: lucid, enlightening, witty and delightfulDr Adam Rutherford has a gift for making complicated concepts simple -- Hannah Shaddock * RADIO TIMES *Admirable . . . The reader will be similarly enriched by the quick blood of this book * THE GLASGOW HERALD *Timely and accessible * THE BOOKSELLER, Editor's Choice *Not only shows what science really says about race, ancestry and genetics, but also helps us argue against the idea that certain people are biologically inferior and encourages informed conversations about race . . . This book's gift is to use science to talk about a pseudoscience -- Layal Liverpool * NEW SCIENTIST, Best Books of 2020 *How to Argue with a Racist is doubtlessly one of the most important reads of the year. But it's arguably the most interesting too . . . Engaging and thought-provoking throughout -- Thomas Ling * BBC SCIENCE FOCUS, Best Books of the Year *A remarkable telling of the shared ancestry of the human race. The book is a treasure trove filled with gems of knowledge from the field of genetics and what it knows about skin colour, intelligence, ancestry, athletic ability and racial superiority. The reader is provided the fascinating scientific weaponry to confidently take on questions about race, genes, ancestry. Ultimately, Rutherford's book is a challenge against the manipulation, misrepresentation, and abuse of science to justify hatred and prejudice * Big Think *

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Book SynopsisPhysics does not have to be daunting. This book, complete with practice questions and answers, forms a course which will take you from beginner or intermediate level to having a confident grasp of physics. The book includes: simple step-by-step explanations, to help you grasp new topics or those that have previously confused you; practice questions throughout, to help you embed your learning and improve your confidence; and end of chapter summaries to help you remember the key points you've learnt - all in one great-value book, so you don't need any separate workbooks or coursebooks. Chapters include: Starting physics, motion, forces in action, thermal physics, engines and thermodynamics, electricity, the nature of light, materials and molecules, quantum theory and relativity, the structure of matter, nuclear energy, space and the universe, and the frontiers of physics.ABOUT THE SERIESThe Complete Introduction series from Teach Yourself is the ultimate one-stop guide for anyone wanting a comprehensive and accessible entry point into subjects as diverse as philosophy, mathematics, psychology, economics and practical electronics. Loved by students and perfect for general readers who simply want to learn more about the world around them, these books are your first choice for discovering something new.Table of Contents : Preface : Acknowledgements : Introduction : About physics : The golden rule of science : Strange ideas 1: Starting physics : Physics in practice : Density tests 2: Science in motion : Measuring motion : Accelerated motion along a straight line 3: Forces in action : Newton's laws of motion : Stability 4: Machines at work : Work, energy and power : Efficiency and power 5: Thermal physics : Heat and temperature : Thermal properties of materials 6: Engines and thermodynamics : Heat engines : The Laws of Thermodynamics 7: Electricity : The nature of electricity : Electric circuits : Electricity at work : Electricity in the home 8: The nature of light : Properties of light : Theories of light 9: Materials and molecules : Atoms and molecules : More about bonds : Solids and structures : Molecules in fluids : Pressure 10: The age of new physics : Quantum theory : Relativity 11: The structure of matter : Inside the atom : Radioactivity : Quarks and leptons 12: Energy from the Nucleus : Nuclear fission : Nuclear reactors : Energy options for the future 13: Journey into space : About gravity : The expanding universe 14: A Challenging Future : The frontiers of physics : An unpredictable future : Answers to numerical questions : Glossary : Index

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Book Synopsis''Illuminating'' TIM MARSHALL''Refreshing'' THOMAS HALLIDAYA mind-expanding, revolutionary journey across time that shows how our biology has determined human history for the first time. This book will change how you see the world.We're a wonder of evolution, capable of incredible feats. But we're also deeply flawed. Our bodies and minds often break, fail, and hinder us. To be human is to live with this extraordinary contradiction. So, to understand the course humanity has taken from prehistoric times through the age of empire and into the modern era we must understand who, and what, we are.Being Human is history made flesh. From the epidemic that brought Europe's peasants freedom, to the health deficiency which gave rise to the world's largest criminal organisation, to the cognitive biases that led to military catastrophes in Crimea and Iraq, we see how our unique nature shaped our relationships, economies and societies and

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Book SynopsisGet ahead of the game in A-Level Chemistry with CGP''s unbeatable Head Start book! It goes over crucial topics you'll need to remember from GCSE, with crystal-clear study notes, examples, and practice questions - plus it's suitable for all exam boards. What's more, we've included detailed introductions to important A-Level topics, so you can see what you''re in for! Plus, this book comes with a free Online Edition, so you can take it on road too.You''re on a roll - make sure your Maths skills are up to the challenge with CGP''s marvellous guide to Essential Maths Skills for A-Level Chemistry (9781782944720)!

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Book SynopsisAlmost half of the developed population has an internet-based addiction. In some ways this is not surprising, as our world is filled with addictive experiences: from social media and messaging, to rolling news and video streaming. Attention spans are decreasing as our time spent glued to our screens are increasing, negatively affecting our ability to relax, sleep, develop relationships and achieve meaningful goals. Psychologist Adam Alter provides insight into why explains the science behind why we can't seem to stop such behaviour and offers practical advice for using technology differently, in order to lead a happier life, and to set yourself free. ‘This examination of today’s tech-zombie epidemic is worth putting your phone down for’ Guardian 'Essential reading... Regain control of your time, finances and relationships' Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of HabitTrade ReviewA truly addictive book ... a fascinating and much needed exploration of one of the most troubling phenomena of modern times -- MALCOLM GLADWELLBrilliant. Irresistible offers a crucial understanding of how we are psychologically tethered to our devices, along with much-needed solutions -- SUSAN CAIN author of QUIETEssential reading if you’ve ever wondered why some experiences are so addictive, and how to regain control of your time, finances, and relationships -- CHARLES DUHIGG, author of THE POWER OF HABITAn important, groundbreaking book about why we're addicted to technology, how we got here, and what we should do next -- ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, author of THRIVEThere could be no better guide than Adam Alter to a technological landscape that’s increasingly designed to turn us into addicts. Your sanity will thank you for reading it -- OLIVER BURKEMAN, author of THE ANTIDOTE

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Book SynopsisSelected from the books Sapiens and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah HarariHow did money come to be invented? Why does it now have such significance in our lives? Does it make us happier or unhappier? And what does the future hold for it? With brilliant clarity and insight, Yuval Noah Harari takes the reader on a journey from the very first coins through to 21st century economics and shows us how we are all on the brink of a revolution, whether we like it or not. VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS.A series of short books by the world’s greatest writers on the experiences that make us humanAlso in the Vintage Minis series:Home by Salman RushdieBabies by Anne EnrightEating by Nigella LawsonDrinking by John Cheever

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Book SynopsisHow to handle everything (and everyone) around you when all hell breaks loose, from the international bestselling author of Surrounded by Idiots.Not everything goes the way we want it to - the world or people around us sometimes just spin out of control. Just consider the Covid pandemic for starters. Or how about that mad neighbour you have living next-door to you? Or when work seems to be going down the toilet when the competition keep outsmarting you? So how do you handle everything life throws your way when you'd really prefer to tell everyone to get stuffed?Thomas Erikson will help you turn adversity into success with the help of the behavioural model made famous in Surrounded by Idiots. Starting by reminding us that life is as it is, Erikson helps you see that it is in fact useless to try to control everything happening around you. Instead of protesting when life throws you curveballs, focus instead on how to handle them. Just as you keep the weeds away from the garden to provide space and amazing flowers, you need to find an approach to adversity that works for you and will give you the chance to turn everything into success. Surrounded by Setbacks will help you pinpoint the approach that works for you and will entertain and empower you in equal measure.

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Book SynopsisFrom Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan ‘Beyond superb’ Bill Bryson ‘A wonderful book’ Ian McEwan Everyone knows about DNA, the essence of our being, the molecule where our genes reside. But DNA by itself is useless without a machine to decode the genetic information it contains. The ribosome is that machine. Venki Ramakrishnan tells the story of the race to uncover its enormously complex structure, a fundamental breakthrough that resolves an ancient mystery of life itself.Trade Review'Invitingly witty' * Nature *‘A must-read for anyone interested in a glimpse of the messy business – rivalries, failed experiments, the frustration of mistakes – of how science happens.’ * The Times *‘If someone had told me that one of the most witty and enthralling books I’d read this year would be on the quest to understand ribosomes, I believe I would have laughed in his face, but I would have been quite wrong. Gene Machine is beyond superb.’ -- Bill Bryson, author of A Short History of Nearly Everything‘An engaging and witty memoir…that highlights how science actually works… This profoundly human story is written with honesty and humility… Anyone who is captivated by an absorbing story well told will find much to appreciate in this fascinating book.’ * Forbes *‘This is not an objective history of the field, but a highly personal account. As such, anyone who wants to know how modern science really works should read it. It’s all here: the ambition, jealousy and factionalism — as well as the heroic late nights, crippling anxiety and disastrous mistakes — that underlie the apparently serene and objective surface represented by the published record.’ * Nature *‘Discovering the structure of the ribosome was a truly incredible moment in the history of humankind… For students of how science actually happens, this is a book to be treasured and pored over.’ -- Matt Ridley, author of Genome‘It is [Ramakrishnan’s] full embrace of the role of the antihero that makes Gene Machine so much fun to read and also serves as a reminder to us all of the beating human heart that lies at the center of every advance in science.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘The ribosome, a structure of astonishing complexity, “lies at the crossroads of life” and Venki Ramakrishnan played a key role in revealing its biological mysteries. His superb account lays out the science with great lucidity, but he also grants us the human face of science – the hard work and brilliant insights, of course, but also the role of luck, of personalities, jealousy, money, the roulette of major awards, and the further rewards heaped upon the fortunate. Science, in his glorious telling, becomes “a play, with good and bad characters”. Competition and collaboration can appear inseparable, crucial figures get overlooked. It’s a wonderful book and a great corrective to the notion of science as dispassionate, untainted objectivity.’ -- Ian McEwan‘[Ramakrishnan's] meticulously detailed and generous memoir has the same disarming frankness as The Double Helix. His personal honesty about the competitive ambition that drove him is tempered by his deeply thoughtful reflections on the potentially corrupting effect of big prizes. Gene Machine will be read and re-read as an important document in the history of science.’ -- Richard Dawkins‘An enchanting and invigorating work, Gene Machine casts a many-angled light on the world of science, the nature of discovery, and on one of the deepest mysteries of twentieth-century biology. Ramakrishnan, one of the key players in deciphering the molecular basis of protein translation, gives us both a rollicking scientific story and a profoundly human tale. In the tradition of The Double Helix, Gene Machine does not hesitate to highlight the process by which science advances: moving through fits and starts, often underscored by deep rivalries and contests, occasionally pitching towards error and misconception, but ultimately advancing towards profound and powerful truths. An outsider to the world of ribosome biology – an Indian immigrant, a physicist by training – Ramakrishnan retains his “outsider’s” vision throughout the text, reminding us about the corrosive nature of scientific prizes, and the intensity of competition that drives researchers (both ideas, I suspect, will have a munificent effect on our current scientific culture). Ramakrishnan’s writing is so honest, lucid and engaging that I could not put this book down until I had read to the very end.’ -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene‘Quite a ride. This is a riveting personal account of the race to decipher the structure of the ribosome, one of the most complex and fundamental machines in the cell… Ramakrishnan’s telling is laced with wisdom spun from a remarkable life story and the sharp lab anecdotes that are the lifeblood of everyday science.’ -- Nick Lane, author of The Vital Question‘This book is dynamite. Like no science book ever before, this is an honest, frank and simply jaw-dropping account of how a relative outsider ended up winning a Nobel Prize.’ -- Daniel M. Davis, author of The Beautiful Cure‘This exhilarating account of the race to understand the molecular machine that turns genes into flesh and blood is remarkable for its candid insights into the way science is really done, by human beings with all their talents and foibles. Venki Ramakrishnan, an outsider in the race, gives an insider’s view of the decades-long quest to map the million atoms in the machine to fathom the fundamentals of life, pave the way for new antibiotics, and share the glory of the Nobel Prize.’ -- Roger Highfield, Director of External Affairs, Science Museum Group‘In Gene Machine one of the world’s leading scientists reveals the reality of scientific discovery and the rivalry, collaboration and thrills that are involved. The result is a brilliant under-the-hood account of what it takes to win the Nobel Prize. Exciting and brutally honest, Venki’s book explains the dramatic turns in the race to describe the structure of the ribosome – an essential component of every cell that has ever lived. I laughed out loud, I shouted in disbelief, and I learned so much from reading this book.’ -- Matthew Cobb, author of Life’s Greatest Secret

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Book Synopsis'A must-read for anyone moved by the power of song' - Lesley Garrett, CBESinging has always been there for us, at the root of what it is to be a human being. Through personal anecdote and scientific fact-finding, this book celebrates the way song inspires and heals us, from the cradle to the grave, and in the process does for singing what The Well-Gardened Mind did for nature, and what Why We Eat did for our diets.As a singing therapist, teacher and performer, Julia Hollander is in a unique position to consider singing's importance to our wellbeing, charting its extraordinary influence on all aspects of our spiritual, emotional and physical lives. Why do parents feel compelled to sing to their newborns, and how does it help their development? What is it about song that brings communities together in harmony but also in protest? How come an activity that helps to embed languages and maths formulae can also be used to rehabilitate Long Covid sufferers? And what magic is at work when people who have lost the power to speak are still able to sing? By delving into her own life experiences, and calling on those of her fellow singers, the author seeks to answer these questions, underpinning her findings with the latest scientific research.In so many walks of life, people of all ages and backgrounds are waking up to the joys of singing, its power to give hope and connection in a fragmented world. Song-making is available in an increasingly broad range of social and therapeutic contexts, prescribed by doctors and community services. This book offers explanations for why this should be, and inspiration to anyone who loves to sing.Trade ReviewI've always felt that breath turning into song is like water turning into wine. In this fascinating book, Julia Hollander explains why. [...] A must-read for anyone moved by the power of song. -- Lesley Garrett, CBE * Lesley Garrett, CBE *Hollander has gathered a wealth of scientific research and aligned it with her own personal experience to produce a truly illuminating, joyful and resonant book about why we sing. -- Dame Sarah Connolly, CBE * Dame Sarah Connolly, CBE *This book is a must for people who sing and for people who don't but should ... Hollander brings us memories, life's events, political dedication and the deep desire to communicate, as well as giving us the history, the physiology and the social value of singing. -- Peggy Seeger * Peggy Seeger *Julia's comprehensive, scientific approach to the question of why we sing is laid out gently, generously and genially ... It is fascinating to find a book so packed full of actual answers. -- Roderick Williams, OBE * Roderick Williams, OBE *A refreshing read that I recommend to all who are interested in our voice and how we use it. -- Brett Weymark, OAM, Artistic & Music Director, Sydney Philharmonia ChoirsWhy We Sing is fascinating, surprising, illuminating, heartwarming and absolutely unputdownable. [...] Why We Sing is not only an important book - full of revelations and encouragement to the vocally challenged, or out of practice - it is also a captivating book to read. Full of story, thoughts, ideas, surprises and delicious writing, much like an old-fashioned rich fruit cake: to be gobbled up or slowly savoured by turn. -- Diana Simmonds * Limelight Magazine *This enlightening exploration of the power of singing is written from the heart... Why We Sing captures her wisdom and experience not only as a researcher and practitioner but also as a mother... This is a moving and insightful celebration. * BBC Music Magazine *Table of Contentsi: Introduction 1: Birth 2: Baby Love 3: Childhood 4: Teens 5: Community 6: Healing 7: Home 8: Work 9: Heaven 10: Protest 11: Ageing 12: Health 13: Death 14: Postlude ii: Further Reading iii: Acknowledgements

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Book Synopsis'The one-woman backbone of menopause care in Ireland' IRISH INDEPENDENTSuddenly feeling hot? Tired? Irritable? Not yourself?Having our bodies and minds change rapidly as we approach mid-life can be bewildering and even upsetting. It may be hard to get a handle on what's happening and what we can do about it.The Menopause is the handbook of everything you need to know from Ireland's leading menopause expert, Dr Deirdre Lundy. Drawing on decades of experience and on the most up-to-date research Dr Lundy . . .-Explains what's going on in your body - the key hormones that run your life, how they are changing and the impact of that-Helps you figure out where you are on the menopause spectrum and empowers you to have informed conversations with your doctor-Sets out approaches to dealing with symptoms - from nutrition, exercise, counselling and medication, to using hormone replacement therapies (HRT)-Explores every aspect of HRT - debunking the myths and explaining why it is helpful for many women-Addresses key areas of concern - from early onset menopause, to preserving vaginal, heart, breast and bone health, to managing your menopause if you have pre-existing health challengesDr Lundy came to public prominence during a remarkable ten-day discussion of the menopause on RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline. Now, as leader of Ireland's first dedicated menopause clinic, she continues her passionate advocacy for Irish women. The Menopause is her essential guide to having the best menopause you can and being as healthy and energized as possible in your middle years and beyond.________'Superb - essential reading for women and doctors alike' DR CIARA KELLY 'Essential, empowering and enjoyable - life-changing and potentially life-saving!' SALLYANNE BRADY, THE IRISH MENOPAUSE Trade ReviewSuperb - essential reading for women and doctors alike -- Dr Ciara KellyEssential, empowering and enjoyable - life-changing and potentially life-saving! -- Sallyanne Brady * theirishmenopause.com *

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Book SynopsisAn inspirational and beautifully illustrated book that tells the stories of 80 plants from around the globe.In his follow-up to the bestselling Around the World in 80 Trees, Jonathan Drori takes another trip across the globe, bringing to life the science of plants by revealing how their worlds are intricately entwined with our own history, culture and folklore. From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and Spanish ''moss'' of Louisiana, each of these stories is full of surprises. Some have a troubling past, while others have ignited human creativity or enabled whole civilizations to flourish. With a colourful cast of characters all brought to life by illustrator Lucille Clerc, this is a botanical journey of beauty and brilliance.''A beautiful celebration of the plants and flowers that surround us and a quiet call to arms for change''The Herald''This charming and beautifully illustraTrade ReviewThis charming and beautifully illustrated book takes readers on a voyage of discovery, exploring the many ingenious and surprising uses for plants in modern science and throughout history * Kew magazine *Who knew that the milky sap from dandelions is similar to that of rubber trees, so much so that, in the 1930s, 260 square miles of Eastern Europe were dedicated to growing Russian dandelions successfully to produce rubber until the end of the Second World War? Or did you know that Cook pine trees tilt towards the equator? These are only two fascinating facts from a book packed with similar gems -- Tiffany Daneff * Country Life *A fun and fascinating read, combining science, culture, botany and travel writing * Flower Arranger *With beautiful illustrations from Lucille Clerc, this captivating book traverses the globe via plants: nettles in England, mangoes in India and tulips in the Netherlands -- Ciara Dossett * Daily Mail *A trustee of the Eden Project, his knowledge is encyclopaedic, but it is the combination of science and storytelling that makes his book stand out... With Drori's evocative prose and Lucille Clerc's exquisite illustrations, this is a book to treasure -- Juanita Coulson * The Lady *AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLANTS by Jonathan Drori is a brilliant and - thanks to Lucille Clerc - a beautiful book. It's an excellent companion to the same author's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TREES. Everybody who has the slightest interest in plants - and people - and wonders why we need to conserve botanical biodiversity should read this book -- Nigel Chaffey * Botany.one *The book is lively, entertaining and educational and the author's personal comments and witty asides, often made me laugh out loud. It is a credit to his skill and dedication that every fact-filled sentence is rich in information about each chosen plant, be it ethnobotanical, economic, folklore, myth, history, religion, culinary or etymology - not a word is wasted... Lucille Clerc's astonishingly beautiful, vibrantly coloured illustrations are an absolute delight, summing up the key points about each plant perfectly - you will find humour in these too... It would make a fabulous gift, yet contains enough facts to be of benefit to students of plant sciences, it is also a must have for anyone who guides at a public garden or has an interest in the relationship between plants and people in the past, present and future -- Matthew Biggs * Gardens Illustrated *A beautiful celebration of the plants and flowers that surround us and a quiet call to arms for change * The Herald, Portfolio *With its fascinating blend of the cultural, historic and scientific, Jonathan Drori's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TREES led readers on a global tour telling the stories of people and plants. Now, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLANTS (Laurence King £20) reprises the winning formula with a botanical travelogue ranging from the edible - tomato, vanilla, cacao, artichoke - to the religious - myrrh, lotus - and species such as the opium poppy or sugar cane which have dominated whole economies -- Bridget Galton * Ham & High *[Jonathan Drori] comes to this book with a lifetime of experience and a passion for talking about - and encouraging the preservation of - plants, trees, insects and birds. He brings with him a cheerfully wry sense of humour and a wonderful way of explaining to the previously ignorant the golden nuggets of fact, the "did you knows?" that make the book such fun to read -- Jenni Fraser * Jewish Chronicle *Packed with insights, this is a book to treasure * Saga magazine *Beautifully illustrated by Lucille Clerc, the book is crammed with great stories. It will appeal not just to gardeners, but to anyone interested in the natural world and the ingenious means by which our ancestors adapted the plants around them for food, clothing, shelter, recreation and artistry * The Herald *A terrifically opinionated guide to a selection of world plants and their place in culture. Our author travels the globe via plants, like a plantsman Phineas Fogg, from Nettle and Mistletoe here to Saffron crocus and mandrake in Southern Europe to damask rose in South Asia to vanilla in Africa. Each is illustrated with panache by Lucille Clere. It's one to browse, and a source of fun facts. Did you know that nutmeg in excess has hallucinogenic effects? Apparently Malcolm X used nutmeg in jail for a high; it was banned in prisons in the US to avoid misuse. Or that myrrh was used in Biblical times for an antiseptic mouthwash as well as for incense and that the body of Admiral Nelson was preserved in myrrh-infused brandy to bring back to England (which the crew is said to have drunk in his honour)? There's lots like this -- Melanie McDonagh * Evening Standard *Monty Don describes Around the World in 80 Plants as 'A delightful book that informs and charms in equal measure' - a brilliant way to sum up a book written by someone with deep scientific knowledge, rather than where information is simply lifted from websites. As you turn the pages, facts illuminate, titillate and inform. I kept saying to myself 'I didn't know that' and was thrilled by my new knowledge. Jonathan Drori writes with passion, gentle humour and command of the subject... anyone interested in the plant world would find it of great interest. The illustrations by Lucille Clerc completment the worlds beautifully * Flora magazine *If you read extensively on many subjects, then here's another fascinating book to add to your collection - you'll love this one. Not only is it beautifully written and superbly illustrated, but it's also informative and fun. And there's a lot to delve into, depending on your moods. Maybe you'll just want to read up on one of the 80 plants or at other times get stuck into a geographic section. Or perhaps you'll opt for the culinary tips, sometimes the medicinal uses or very often the history. In this, Jonathan Drori has written another remarkable book and distilled fascinating content into each two-page exposé... you'll both learn from and enjoy this colourful introduction to the world of wild plants. * Plant Life magazine *The stories from "the riotous and often bizarre plant world" have the power to "intertwine science with history and culture" and that's exactly what Jonathan Drori does in this world-tour cornucopia of growing things. His scientific knowledge of plants is extensive but he wears it lightly as he writes passionately about intoxicants such as absinthe and cannabis, flavourings such as the misunderstood vanilla, and the imaginative and constant search for aphrodisiacs. If you think you know about the humble potato (Drori's paragraph on our Great Famine is admirably balanced) or tomato or nettle or dandelion, you'll learn still more here, while also learning about exotica such as mandrake and carnivorous plants. The book is beautifully illustrated and a must for anyone interested in the world around them -- Brian Maye * Irish Times *It's fair to say that Jonathan Drori, who has spent his life involved with plants and is now a member of the Council of Ambassadors of WWF and The Woodland Trust, has a real place in his hear for the simple and overlooked... Drori describes plants almost lovingly, allowing space for their beauty and ingenuity. Take this particularly appealing description of the nutmeg plant: 'Girdling the shiny nut is a succulent, lacy layer, an utterly sensual blood-red aril, or seed covering, which is itself surrounded by a fleshy husk.' Such descriptions are complemented throughout by drawings of each plant from illustrator Lucille Clerc; combined, they make for a beautiful book that can easily be dipped in and out of as the fancy takes you -- Katie Burton * Geographical *Structured by continent, this book guides the reader around the world, dipping into the stories of the tiny, the towering, the parasitic and the submarine... Helping to paint the picture of not just what each plant looks like, but how it is used, where it sits in the landscape and how it interacts with wildlife, are Lucille Clerc's beautiful illustrations. From the unfurling leaves of the silver tree fern to the colours and impossible shapes of some unique and strange-looking orchids, these drawings add yet another layer of delight... As with much of the natural world, the more one learns about the individual plant species and the stories that tell of our interactions with them-whether positive or negative-the more intriguing they become. Around the World in 80 Plants makes me want to find out yet more about the plants that are so often overlooked as a green background, or seen merely as scenery to frame the animals, yet are vital for supporting life on Earth. As this book so wonderfully shows, they are more than life-support machines: they provide colour, flavour and magic to our everyday lives, and we need to learn to appreciate them * Oryx *

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Book SynopsisOur phones, computers, and appliances are made of hundreds of internal components, each precisely engineered, but none intended to be seen. Through painstakingly executed, vividly detailed cross-section photography, Open Circuits reveals the surprising beauty hiding inside the electronic components that drive our everyday devices. From resistors to LEDs, USB cables to headphone jacks, the book's arresting imagery transforms more than 130 components into delightful works of art. As you visually dissect the components' insides, you'll learn about how they work and how they were made.Trade Review"This book made me fall in love with electronics all over again . . . Part history book, part coffee-table book, and part journey into the inner lives of the electronics, [Open Circuits] is a fascinating journey through the history of electronics." —Haje Jan Kamps, TechCrunch"Its stunning cross-section photography unlocks a hidden world full of elegance, subtle complexity, and wonder. . . . Open Circuits has something for everyone to appreciate, whether you’re a seasoned electrical engineer, an amateur tinkerer, or simply a lover of art and photography."—Lee Goldberg, Electronic Design“Each page is both a dive into technological history and an ode to the evolution and aesthetics of electronics themselves.”—Grace Ebert, Colossal“An eye-catching and educational coffee table tome.”—Gareth Halfacree, Hackster.io"Every page is a new discovery."—New Screwdriver"A celebration of the electronic aesthetic . . . blur[s] the line between engineering and art."—Andrew "bunnie" Huang, Author of The Hardware Hacker and Hacking the Xbox"Excellent pictures of the world's most interesting objects with clear, accessible explanations."—Trevor Blackwell, Founder of Anybots"Anyone interested in electronics and/or macrophotography will enjoy this book from both an aesthetic and informational standpoint. . . . It’s truly a technological and photographic masterpiece."—Jeremy Cook, Embedded Computing Design"Stunningly beautiful . . . While the component images stand alone as works of art, authors Schlaepfer and Oskay pair the pictures with clear and informative text that adds to the reader's knowledge of the circuitry they are looking at. This book is sure to be a staple in many makers, educators, and engineers libraries."—Professor AnnMarie Thomas, University of St. Thomas, School of Engineering"While it will definitely be a 'geek coffee table book' for me, I would very much have appreciated it when I was 12 years old and first getting into electronics."—Mark Eichin, Senior Software Developer at RightHand Robotics"This is the coolest book I've seen in years. Fascinating look inside hundreds of circuits, switches, and mechanical electronic devices that I've never seen before."—Jeff Geerling, @geerlingguy, Author of Ansible for DevOps"What an awesome book! A rare breed of technical content that is appreciable by experts and novices alike."—Chris Lafky, @fluxotronlabs, Electrical Engineer"Without a doubt, the most beautiful electronics book!"—Ben Krasnow, @BenKrasnow, YouTuber at Applied ScienceTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Passive ComponentsChapter 2: SemiconductorsChapter 3: ElectromechanicsChapter 4: Cables and ConnectorsChapter 5: Retro TechChapter 6: Composite DevicesAfterword: Creating Cross SectionsGlossary

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Book SynopsisBringing his cosmic perspective to civilization on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson, bestselling author ofAstrophysics for People in a Hurry,shines new light on the crucial fault lines of our timewar, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, race, and tribalismin a way that stimulates a deeper sense of unity for us all.In a time when our political and cultural perspectives feel more divisive than ever, Tyson provides a much-needed antidote to so much of what divides us, while making a passionate case for the twin engines of enlightenmenta cosmic perspective and the rationality of science.After thinking deeply about how a scientist views the world and about what Earth looks like from space, Tyson has found that terrestrial thoughts change as our brain resets and recalibrates life''s priorities, along with the actions we might take in response. As a result, no outlook on culture, society, or civilisation remains untouched.InStarry Messenger, Tyson reveals just how human the enterprise of science is. Far from a cold, unfeeling undertaking, scientific methods, tools, and discoveries have shaped modern civilisation and created the landscape we''ve built for ourselves on which to live, work, and play. Tyson shows how an infusion of science and rational thinking renders worldviews deeper and more informed than ever beforeand exposes unfounded perspectives and unjustified emotions.With crystalline prose and an abundance of evidence,Starry Messengerwalks us through the scientific palette that sees and paints the world differently. From lessons on resolving global conflict to reminders of how precious it is to be alive, Tyson reveals, with warmth and eloquence, ten surprising, brilliant, and beautiful truths of human society, informed and enlightened by knowledge of our place in the universe.

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant, authoritative, surprising, captivating introduction to human genetics. You'll be spellbound' Brian CoxThis is a story about you. It is the history of who you are and how you came to be. It is unique to you, as it is to each of the 100 billion modern humans who have ever drawn breath. But it is also our collective story, because in every one of our genomes we each carry the history of our species - births, deaths, disease, war, famine, migration and a lot of sex. In this captivating journey through the expanding landscape of genetics, Adam Rutherford reveals what our genes now tell us about human history, and what history can now tell us about our genes. From Neanderthals to murder, from redheads to race, dead kings to plague, evolution to epigenetics, this is a demystifying and illuminating new portrait of who we are and how we came to be.***'A thoroughly entertaining history of Homo sapiens and its DNA in a manner that displays popular science writing at its best' Observer 'Magisterial, informative and delightful' Peter Frankopan'An extraordinary adventure...From the Neanderthals to the Vikings, from the Queen of Sheba to Richard III, Rutherford goes in search of our ancestors, tracing the genetic clues deep into the past' Alice RobertsTrade ReviewI very much enjoyed and admired . . . A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived -- Bill Bryson * OBSERVER Books of the Year 2016 *An effervescent work, brimming with tales and confounding ideas carried in the "epic poem in our cells". The myriad storylines will leave you swooning . . . Rutherford, a trained geneticist, is an enthusiastic guide -- Colin Grant * GUARDIAN *A thoroughly entertaining history of Homo sapiens and its DNA in a manner that displays popular science writing at its best -- Robin McKie * OBSERVER *A brilliant, authoritative, surprising, captivating introduction to human genetics. If you know little about the human story, you will be spellbound. If you know a lot about the human story, you'll be spellbound. It's that good -- Brian CoxAdam Rutherford's book is well-written, stimulating and entertaining. What's more important, he consistently gets it right -- Richard DawkinsIf you are ethnically British, one thing is certain: your ancestors definitely had sex with Neanderthals. On the other hand, they probably didn't have sex with Vikings, who, it turns out, did a fair bit more pillaging than raping. And, depending on the flakiness of your earwax, it is just conceivable that your relatives' unattractiveness to hairy and horned invaders was related to their body odour. DNA is fragile, confusing and contains a lot of pointless data. But unlike other accounts of human history it doesn't lie. Adam Rutherford's soaring book is an exposition of what this new science really tells us about who we are -- Tom Whipple * THE TIMES *One of the most extraordinary things about this book is its sheer breadth. Rutherford, a writer and geneticist, weaves from our genes a fascinating tapestry of human history from its most primitive origins to its sophisticated present, and beyond ... The writing is concise and often funny, and Rutherford never takes himself or his subject too seriously ... It is one of those rare books that you'll finish thinking you haven't wasted a single second -- Brad Davies * INDEPENDENT *Magisterial, informative and delightful -- Peter FrankopanRutherford takes off on an extraordinary adventure, following the wandering trail of DNA across the globe and back in time. And on the way, he reveals what DNA can - and can't - tell us about ourselves, our history and our deep evolutionary heritage. From the Neanderthals to the Vikings, from the Queen of Sheba to Richard III, Rutherford goes in search of our ancestors, tracing the genetic clues deep into the past . . . Wide-ranging, witty, full of surprises and studded with sparkling insights - Rutherford uncovers the epic history of the human species, written in DNA -- Alice RobertsA captivating delight. With witty, authoritative and profound prose, Adam Rutherford tackles the biggest of issues - where we came from, and what makes us who we are. He does more than any author to cut through the confusion around genetics, and to reveal what modern genetics has to say about our identity, history and future -- Ed YongGenetics is opening up the past as never before - Adam Rutherford puts the genes in genealogy brilliantly -- Matt Ridley

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Book SynopsisSo staggering you go whoa! every few seconds' GuardianReally impressive' Eamonn Holmes, ITV This MorningA companion book to the critically acclaimed BBC series.The bestselling authors of Wonders of the Universe are back with another blockbuster, a groundbreaking exploration of our Solar System as it has never been seen before.Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun's expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox take readers on a voyage of discovery, from the fiery heart of our Solar System, to its mysterious outer reaches. They touch on the latest discoveries that have expanded our knowledge of the planets, their moons and how they come to be.Trade ReviewPraise for The Planets: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ The Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Ten BestsellerHave you ever wondered if a severed head retains consciousness long enough to see what happened to it? Or whether your dog would run to fetch help, if you fell down a disused mineshaft? And what would happen if you were to give an elephant the largest ever single dose of LSD? The chances are that someone, somewhere has conducted a scientific experiment to find out... 'Excellent accounts of some of the most important and interesting experiments in biology and psychology' Simon Singh If left to their own devices, would babies instinctively choose a well-balanced diet? Discover the secret of how to sleep on planes Which really tastes better in a blind tasting - Coke or Pepsi?

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Book Synopsis*Fully revised and updated for the 21st century*The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry takes readers on an entertaining and edifying tour of the universe.In Neil deGrasse Tyson's delightful journey through the cosmos, his fictional character Merlin responds to popular questions asked by adults and children alike. Merlin, a timeless visitor from Planet Omniscia in the Andromeda Galaxy, has observed first-hand many of the major scientific events of Earth's history. Merlin's friends include the most important scientific figures and explorers of all time - da Vinci, Magellan, Newton, Einstein and Hubble. While Merlin occasionally recounts playful conversations with these luminaries, all questions are answered with authentic science, infused with wit, wisdom, and an occasional rhyme. With the help of intermittent humorous cartoons, Merlin clarifies the details of familiar phenomena like gravit

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Book Synopsis‘A vaulting triumph of a book’ Isabella Tree, author of Wilding'A master storyteller, Weidensaul communicates so much joy in the sheer act of witnessing and such exhilaration in the advances of the science behind what he sees that we are slow to grasp the extent of the ecological crisis that he outlines.' ObserverBird migration remains perhaps the most singularly compelling natural phenomenon in the world. Nothing else combines its global sweep with its inherent ability to engender wonder and excitement.The past two decades have seen an explosion in our understanding of the almost unfathomable feats of endurance and complexity involved in bird migration – yet the science that informs these majestic journeys is still in its infancy.Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted writer-ornithologist Scott Weidensaul is at the forefront of this research, and A World on the Wing sees him track some of the most remarkable flights undertaken by birds. His own voyage of discovery sees him sail through the storm-wracked waters of the Bering Sea; encounter gunners and trappers in the Mediterranean; and visit a forgotten corner of north-east India, where former headhunters have turned one of the grimmest stories of migratory crisis into an unprecedented conservation success.As our world comes increasingly under threat from the effects of climate change, these ecological miracles may provide an invaluable guide to a more sustainable future for all species, including us. This is the rousing and reverent story of the billions of birds that, despite the numerous obstacles we have placed in their path, continue to head with hope to the far horizon.Trade ReviewA vaulting triumph of a book. Scott Weidensaul unravels the miracles and mysteries of bird migration like an ace detective. Compelling and often deeply moving, this is a summons for international co-operation and global conservation like no other. -- Isabella Tree, author of WildingAs much as the book is upbeat and celebratory, Weidensaul is fearless in describing the acute challenges that face the birds he loves . . . a superb globetrotting survey of avian restlessness that reaches one core conclusion. Migrants may seem like here-today-gone-tomorrow nomads but they are really inhabitants of a single place and one living system, on which they and humans depend equally: the entire Earth. -- Mark Cocker * Spectator *A master storyteller who is also profoundly involved in scientific ornithology . . . Weidensaul communicates so much joy in the sheer act of witnessing and such exhilaration in the advances of the science behind what he sees, that we are slow to grasp the extent of the ecological crisis that he outlines * Observer *In vivid prose that conjures up the rich spell of each landscape, Scott Weidensaul takes us on exhilarating expeditions that crisscross the globe and travel deep into the heart of nature. For lifelong experts and backyard birders alike, he’s a superb guide to the winged marvels that share our planet and our lives. -- Diane Ackerman, author of The Zookeeper’s WifeWeidensaul’s dispatches are fascinating. Chapter by chapter, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened. The science of bird migration has reached a golden age, and we’re lucky to have such a graceful guide. This book is instantly among my all-time favorites, and one I’ll keep to re-read. -- Noah Strycker, author of Birding Without BordersThe miracle of birds meets the miracle of technology in Scott Weidensaul’s wondrous new book A World on the Wing. While there are huge gaps in our knowledge of migration, and despair in our race to save species, advances in technology from microscopic transmitters to agile drones are changing the equation and making the future look hopeful. This is a book you won’t want to put down. -- Jane Alexander, actress, writer and wildlife conservationistScott Weidensaul, one of our finest nature writers, has produced another instant classic. In A World on the Wing he takes a pair of highly complex subjects—global patterns of bird migration, and the research into those patterns—and brings them to life with his own amazing adventures around the world. Here is proof that a book of solid science can also be a page-turner. Highly recommended for anyone curious about the natural world. -- Kenn Kaufman, author of the Kaufman Field GuidesA World on the Wing brims with spectacle . . . As the birds flit through these pages, but with ever less frequency through our lives, we can only hope that birders and non-birders alike take inspiration and a call to action from A World on the Wing. This is the kind of book we’ve been waiting for. * New York Times *Mr. Weidensaul takes us to places we’ll likely never go, then deftly steps back to let us experience the scene. In an era when travel, for most, has sputtered to a stop, A World on the Wing is a bracing tonic. The author slips in facts and figures so painlessly, so richly embedded in emotional context, that you can absorb and truly appreciate their import * Wall Street Journal *Many mysteries of bird life and migration are revealed in this compelling and illuminating in-the-field narrative complete with maps and photographs. * Booklist *Based on recent scientific research and his own research and bird observations . . . Each chapter on the different bird species and migration experiences will vibrantly inform readers about the habits of migratory birds * Library Journal *As in many of his previous books, Weidensaul is a peerless guide, sharing his intoxicating passion and decadeslong experience with countless bird species all over the world . . . Another winner from Weidensaul that belongs in every birder’s library * Kirkus Reviews *Remarkable . . . Bird enthusiasts and fans of nature writing shouldn’t miss this * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisNeoliberalism isn't working. Austerity is forcing millions into poverty and many more into precarious work, while the left remains trapped in stagnant political practices that offer no respite.Inventing the Future is a bold new manifesto for life after capitalism. Against the confused understanding of our high-tech world by both the right and the left, this book claims that the emancipatory and future-oriented possibilities of our society can be reclaimed. Instead of running from a complex future, Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams demand a postcapitalist economy capable of advancing standards, liberating humanity from work and developing technologies that expand our freedoms.This new edition includes a new chapter where they respond to their various critics.Trade ReviewA powerful book: it not only shows us how the postcapitalist world of rapidly improving technology could make us free, but it also shows us how we can organise to get there. This is a must-read. * Paul Mason, author of Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future *Inventing the Future is exactly what we need right now. With immense patience and care, it sets out a clear and compelling vision of a postcapitalist society. Equally importantly, it lays out a plausible programme which can take us from 24/7 capitalist immiseration to a world free of work. -- Mark Fisher, author of Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?Neoliberalism and austerity seem to reign supreme - the idea of a society not run for profit seems impossible. Or does it? The fascinating Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work by Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams argues for a radical transformation of society. -- Owen Jones * New Statesman *Inventing the Future is unapologetically a manifesto, and a much-overdue clarion call to a seriously disorganized metropolitan left to get its shit together, to start thinking - and arguing - seriously about what is to be done.It is hard to deny the persuasiveness with which the book puts forward the positive contents of a new and vigorous populism; in demanding full automation and universal basic income from the world system, they also demand the return of utopian thinking and serious organization from the left. * Los Angeles Review of Books *Srnicek and Williams demonstrate how a sustainable economic future is less a question of means than of imagination. The postcapitalist world they envision is utterly attainable, if we can remember that we have been inventing the economy all along. -- Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock: When Everything Happens NowNick Srnicek and Alex Williams' project dares to propose a different way of thinking and acting. Given the fizzling of the Occupy moment, a radical rethinking of the anarchic approach is badly needed but just not happening. This book could do a lot of work in getting that rethink going. -- Doug Henwood, author of Wall StreetA conceptual launch pad for a new socialist imagination. -- Mike Davis, author of Planet of SlumsThe most important book of 2015. -- Aaron Bastani, co-founder of Novara MediaThey argue that, in the future, the workplace won't exist in anything like the form we have now, and in any case it will have very few permanent workers. Assuming this position, they ask: What would be the social vision appropriate to a jobless future? * n+1 *Inventing the Future may be the shrewdest, sanest pipe dream of a book published since the recession. -- Nathan Heller * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The History of the World in 100 Animals, a BBC Radio Four Book of the Week, comes an inspirational new book that looks at the 100 plants that have had the greatest impact on humanity, stunningly illustrated throughout. As humans, we hold the planet in the palms of ours hands. But we still consume the energy of the sun in the form of food. The sun is available for consumption because of plants. Plants make food from the sun by the process of photosynthesis; nothing else in the world can do this. We eat plants, or we do so at second hand, by eating the eaters of plants.   Plants give us food. Plants take in carbon dioxide and push out oxygen: they give us the air we breathe, direct the rain that falls and moderate the climate. Plants also give us shelter, beauty, comfort, meaning, buildings, boats, containers, musical instruments, medicines and religious symbols. We use flowers for love, we use flowers for death. The foss

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Book Synopsis'It's rare for a book to make you see the world differently, but this ... does exactly that on almost every page' Guardian Standard histories of technology give tired accounts of the usual inventions, inventors, and dates, framing technology as the inevitable march of progress. They split history into ages - electrification, motorisation, and computerisation - and rarely ask whether anyone bothered to use these inventions at the time. Shock of the Old is not one of those histories. I Letters exist alongside emails and outlasted telegrams; we still make physical books and magazines despite the rise of the Internet - a belated rise considering that the technologies that made it possible was invented in 1965, and bookshops thrive despite Amazon. More horses were used in the Second World War than any other war in history and propeller planes continue to take off from the same runways as jets. Shock of the Old forces us to reassess the significance of old inventions such as corrugated iron and sewing machines and rethink the relative importance we place on the invention of something new, its application, and its widespread adoption. It challenges the idea that we live in an era of ever increasing change and, interweaving political, economic and cultural history, teaches us to think critically about technology.Trade Reviewhe eviscerates our obsession with novelty... * The Sunday Times *newfangled things are sexy, but how significant are they?...Edgerton provides a corrective by emphasising some of the overlooked technologies that affect the lives of many. * Newsweek *David Edgerton's The Shock of the Old is a book I can use. I can take it in two hands and bash it over the heads of every techno-nerd, computer geek and neophiliac futurologist I meet. -- Simon Jenkins * Guardian *...iconoclastic and thought-provoking book...he makes a strong case that accords with what Virgil identified around 25BC as a definitive human characteristic. Our lives consist of semper cedentia retro: always going forwards backwards. * The Times *It's rare for a book to make you see the world differently, but this alternative history does exactly that on almost every page. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisUnderstanding how our living environment works is essentially a study of ecological systems. Ecology is the science of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment, and how such interactions create self-organising communities and ecosystems. This science touches us all. The food we eat, the water we drink, the natural resources we use, our physical and mental health, and much of our cultural heritage are to a large degree products of ecological interactions of organisms and their environment. This Very Short Introduction celebrates the centrality of ecology in our lives. Jaboury Ghazoul explores how ecology has evolved rapidly from natural history to become a predictive science that explains how the natural world works, and which guides environmental policy and management decisions. Drawing on a range of examples, he shows how ecological science can be applied to management and conservation, including the extent to which theory has shaped practice. Ecological science has also shaped social and cultural perspectives on the environment, a process that influences politics of the environment. Ghazoul concludes by considering the future of ecology, particularly in the light of current and future environmental challenges. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewOverall, this is a good starting point to get acquainted with ecology by being synthetic and easy to read; it would be a good resource also for undergraduate students. * Conservation Biology *This is a good starting point to get acquainted with ecology by being synthetic and easy to read. * Society for Conservation Biology *Table of ContentsPreface List of illustrations 1: What is ecology? 2: History of ecology 3: Principles and theories 4: The big questions 5: Applied ecology 6: Ecology in culture and politics 7: The future of ecology Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisTracks & Signs of the Birds of Britain and Europe contains a wealth of fascinating material for any field naturalist. This unique guide enables the reader to find, interpret and understand field marks left by a variety of birds throughout Britain and Europe, and to use these to identify the species in question. It covers subjects including tracks and trails, feeding and other behavioural signs, nests, pellets, droppings, feathers and skulls, habitat types and field analysis methods. All European bird families are featured, with numerous individual species being described in detail.Fully revised and updated, this third edition contains a great deal of new material, including 19 new colour plates and hundreds of new photographs, line drawings and diagrams. Tracks & Signs of the Birds of Britain and Europe is an indispensable addition to any feather-finder or track-watcher's backpack the ultimate resource for anyone wanting to identify a bird species from the sometimTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Habitat Chapter 2: Tracks and Trails Chapter 3: Nests and Roosts Chapter 4: Feeding Signs, Pellets and Droppings Chapter 5: Skulls Chapter 6: Feathers European Bird Protection and Study Organisations Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBestselling author and worst-drawing artist Ben Orlin expands his oeuvre with this interactive collection of mathematical games. With 70-plus games, each taking a minute to learn and a lifetime to master, this treasure trove will delight, educate, and entertain.From beloved math popularizer Ben Orlin comes a masterfully compiled collection of dozens of playable mathematical games. This ultimate game chest draws on mathematical curios, childhood classics, and soon-to-be classics, each hand-chosen to be (1) fun, (2) thought-provoking, and (3) easy to play. With just paper, pens, and the occasional handful of coins, you and a partner can enjoy hours of fun-and hours of challenge.Orlin''s sly humor, expansive knowledge, and so-bad-they''re-good drawings show us how simple rules summon our best thinking.Games include:* Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe* Sprouts* Battleship* Quantum Go Fish* Dots and Boxes* Black Hole* Order and Chaos* Sequencium* Paper Boxing* Prophecies* Arpeggios* Banker* Francoprussian Labyrinth* Cats and Dogs* And many more.

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Book SynopsisThe dramatic, globe-spanning and meticulously-researched story of two scientific rivals and their race to survey all life.In the 18th century, two men dedicated their lives to the same daunting task: identifying and describing all life on Earth. Their approaches could not have been more different. Carl Linnaeus, a pious Swedish doctor with a huckster''s flair, believed that life belonged in tidy, static categories. Georges-Louis de Buffon, an aristocratic polymath and keeper of France''s royal garden, viewed life as a dynamic, ever-changing swirl of complexities. Both began believing their work to be difficult, but not impossible--how could the planet possibly hold more than a few thousand species? Stunned by life''s diversity, both fell far short of their goal. But in the process they articulated starkly divergent views on nature, on humanity''s role in shaping the fate of our planet, and on humanity itself. The rivalry between these two unique, driven indiv

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Book Synopsis'Beautifully written and filled with mind-boggling wonders' - Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale'Thrilling, compellingly readable and paradigm-shattering' - Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast'Both expert and entertaining' - David Barrie, author of Incredible JourneysAnts have been walking the Earth since the age of the dinosaurs. Today there are one million ants for every one of us. The closer you get to ants, the more human they look: they build megacities, grow crops, raise livestock, tend their young and infirm, and even make vaccines. They also have a darker side: they wage war, enslave rivals and rebel against their oppressors. From fearsome army ants, who stage twelve-hour hunting raids where they devour thousands, to gentle leaf-cutters gardening in their peaceful underground kingdoms, every ant is engineered by nature to fulfil their particular role.Acclaimed biologist Susanne Foitzik has travelled the globe to study these master architects of Earth. Joined by journalist Olaf Fritsche, Foitzik invites readers deep into her world - in the field and in the lab - and will inspire new respect for ants as a global superpower.Fascinating and action-packed, Empire of Ants will open your eyes to the secret societies thriving right beneath your feet.Trade ReviewBeautifully written and filled with mind-boggling wonders, Empire of Ants is a delightful tribute to the minuscule but extraordinary world of creatures that live right beneath our feet. -- Dave Goulson, author of A STING IN THE TALEThrilling, compellingly readable, and paradigm-shattering. A gateway to a strange but strangely familiar society - a complex international community, ruled by stern, exotic, resonant and repercussive stories. -- Charles Foster, author of BEING A BEASTBoth expert and entertaining, Empire of Ants will leave you in no doubt that these wonderfully strange little animals are among the most impressive of all our fellow creatures. -- David Barrie, author of INCREDIBLE JOURNEYSAre we the sole rulers of this world? This wonderful book brings our tiny co-rulers alive via an engaging description of ants' cities, hard work, warfare, royalty, diversity, and ecological impact. These insects may be quite different from us, but their societies are eerily similar. -- Frans de Waal, author of MAMA'S LAST HUGIf you ever wanted to travel to an exotic planet filled with strange life forms - you've arrived. Every page of Empire of Ants brims with astonishing stories and facts that could never have been invented by a human mind. -- Carl Safina, author of BECOMING WILDThis is a charming tribute to the 'little creatures that run the world.' A very personal selection of the many wonders discovered in the world of ants that introduces readers to their fascinating lives. -- Bert Hölldobler, co-author of THE SUPERORGANISM and Pulitzer Prize–winning THE ANTSSusanne Foitzik and Olaf Fritsche have you enter a whole new universe worthy of a science fiction novel, yet it exists right at your feet. -- Mark W. Moffett, author of THE HUMAN SWARM and ADVENTURES AMONG ANTSThis highly entertaining book makes it clear that Mother Nature has been having a wildly fun time moulding these social insects into an abundance of behavioural and physical expression. -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of WHAT A FISH KNOWS and SUPER FLY

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Book SynopsisThe essential photographic guide to Ireland''s wildlife.Collins Complete Irish Wildlife describes almost all the mammals, birds, fish and butterflies of Ireland likely to be encountered by the keen amateur naturalist, as well as all the common and widespread flowers, trees and shrubs. With over 1,000 colour photographs, this comprehensive guide illustrates every species described. The introduction by Ireland''s best known wildlife expert, Derek Mooney, sets out where you can find the best of Irish wildlife.Reptiles and amphibians, insects and spiders, molluscs and other invertebrates are also featured, and species are organised taxonomically. Each section is coded with a symbol for quick reference and species are grouped according to natural relationships and similarities. Collins Complete Irish Wildlife is a book no nature lover should travel without.Trade ReviewPraise for the Collins Complete series: 'Wonderfully descriptive photographs'BBC Wildlife 'Packs in lots of well-chosen detail in compact form'British Wildlife ‘A bookshelf essential’The Field

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1 FoundationSubject: Combined ScienceSuitable for the 2025 examsComplete revision and practice to fully prepare for the GCSE grade 9-1 examsRevision that Sticks! Collins AQA GCSE 9-1 Combined Science Foundation Complete All-in-One Revision and Practice uses a revision method that really works: repeated practice throughout.A revision guide, workbook and practice paper in one book!With clear and concise revision for every topic, plus seven practice opportunities, Collins offers the best revision at the best price.For even more practice QR codes link directly from the topics in the revision guide to online interactive quick recall quizzes and to worked solution videos in the workbook.Includes: grading guidance on the page to indicate different levels quick tests as you go end-of-topic practice questions topic review questions later in the book mixed practice questions at the end of the book more topic-by-topic practice in the workbook a complete exam-styTrade Review“Generally excellent. Attractive layout, clear and easy to access. There is necessary focus on exam skills, but presented in an interesting, step-by-step format.” Susan Stirrup, King’s Ely “I like the clear layout, especially the spacing of the questions – it is very accessible.” Fiona Hall, Sheringham High School “Colourful and informative.” Jane Hamilton, Alsager School

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Book SynopsisCollecting legendary lectures from freewheeling scientific genius Richard P. Feynman, The Character of Physical Law is the perfect example of his gift for making complex subjects accessible and entertainingA series of classic lectures, delivered in 1960 and recorded for the BBC. This is Feynman''s unique take on the problems and puzzles that lie at the heart of physical theory - with Newton''s Law of Gravitation; on whether time can ever go backwards; on maths as the supreme language of nature. Demonstrates Feynman''s knack of finding the right everyday illustration to bring out the essence of a complicated principle - eg brilliant analogy between the law of conservation energy and the problem of drying yourself with wet towels.''Feynman''s style inspired a generation of scientists. This volume remains the best record I know of his exhilarating vision'' Paul DaviesTable of ContentsThe law of gravitation, an example of physical law; the relation of mathematics to physics; the great conservation principles; symmetry in physical law; the distinction of past and future; probability and uncertainty - the quantum mechanical view of nature; seeking new laws.

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Book SynopsisEverything we think, do and refrain from doing is determined by our brain. From religion to sexuality, it shapes our potential, our desires and our characters. Taking us through every stage in our lives, from the womb to falling in love to old age, Dick Swaab shows that we don''t just have brains: we are our brains. ''A blockbuster about the brain ... provocative, fascinating, remarkable'' Clive Cookson, Financial Times ''A giant in the field'' Zoe Williams, Guardian ''Engrossing, intriguing and enlightening'' Robin Ince ''Enchantingly written'' The Times Higher Education ''Wide-ranging, fun and informative ... as an ice-breaker at parties, it is unmatched'' Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisIn To Explain the World, pre-eminent theoretical physicist Steven Weinberg offers a rich and irreverent history of science from a unique perspective - that of a scientist. Moving from ancient Miletus to medieval Baghdad to Oxford, and from the Museum of Alexandria to the Royal Society of London, he shows that the scientists of the past not only did not understand what we understand about the world - they did not understand what there is to understand. Yet eventually, through the struggle to solve such mysteries as the backward movement of the planets and the rise and fall of tides, the modern discipline of science emerged.Trade ReviewA great book, a necessary book for our time * Independent *In Steven Weinberg's To Explain the World: The Discovery of Modern Science and Frank Wilczek's A Beautiful Question: Finding Nature's Deep Design, two Nobel physicists give two astonishingly different accounts of the history of science, from antiquity to their own discoveries. Weinberg takes an unapologetically hard-headed stance, where philosophy, beauty and so forth are denounced as misleading. Wilczek sketches a dreamy vision, where beauty and harmony are essential ingredients of the quest for knowledge. Who is right? Both: this is the magic of science, which coherently combines wildly diverse skills. Weinberg is a father of electroweak theory, Wilczek of strong interaction. Still unsolved is gravity: what are the skills we need to solve it? We do not know yet -- Carlo Rovelli, Financial Times 'Books of the Year'I read To Explain the World completely enthralled. It transmutes the base metal of a mere history of science into pure gold-into a magisterial celebration of a long and heroic struggle, still incomplete, to understand nature. Only a committed scientist of Steven Weinberg's brilliance, experience and breadth of insight could have accomplished this. I ended the book exhilarated * Ian McEwan *In this masterful, entertainingly 'irreverent' book, Weinberg explains the rise of science from ancient Greeks to modern geeks in terms that his students and the rest of us will understand -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *It would be putting it mildly to say that Weinberg triumphantly lives up to what it says on the Nobel tin: a true intellectual as well as a brilliant theoretical physicist -- Richard DawkinsRegarded as the pre-eminent theoretical physicist alive today... Weinberg is also a fine writer and communicator about ideas beyond his own field... Weinberg has clearly carried out extensive scholarly investigation for To Explain the World, and the book works as history. But what makes it tand out is his perspective as a top scientist working today -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *Weinberg has reached the pinnacle of scientific success - the Nobel Prize - he writes clearly and with confidence, imbuing the reader with an irresistible sense that one is in the hands of a master physicist at play * Sunday Times *There have been many accounts of the historical progression of our understanding of the world around us, but few have had the unique selling point of Steven Weinberg's To Explain the World... Weinberg's chronicle of the long development of physics leading up to the role he has personally played in it is akin to Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples -- Lewis Dartnell * Telegraph *An absolute delight * Times Higher Education *A refreshing contrast to other tomes on the topic... Weinberg reminds us to be humble not only about what we know, but how we know it * The Guardian *An enlightening read that does not demand specialist knowledge to enjoy -- Robert Kingston * Sunday Times *The book is a magnificent contribution to the history and philosophy of science...Weinberg writes with great verve and clarity * Times Literary Supplement *A salacious insight into the careers and super-stardom that eventually drove both to emotional and artistic breakdown -- Julia Richardson, 'Must reads' * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling French graphic novel about the mind-bending world of quantum physicsTake an incredible journey through the quantum universe with explorer Bob and his dog Rick, as they travel through a world of wonders, talk to Einstein about atoms, hang out with Heisenberg on Heligoland and eat crepes with Max Planck. Along the way, we find out that a dog - much like a cat - can be both dead and alive, the gaze of a mouse can change the universe, and a comic book can actually make quantum physics fun, easy to understand and downright enchanting.''Billed as Tintin meets Brian Cox, the book was created by theoretical physicist Thibault Damour and illustrator Mathieu Burniat so it''s as scientifically accurate as it is beautiful'' BBC Focus

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Book SynopsisEMPHASIZES CONCEPTS. Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, Third Edition, uses broad organizing concepts to provide a framework for understanding the science of animal behavior. In an engaging, question-driven style, Shawn E. Nordell and Thomas J. Valone offer readers a clear learning progression for understanding and evaluating empirical research examples.FOCUSES ON METHODOLOGY AND THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE. Featured studies illustrate each concept and emphasize the experimental designs and the hypothesis testing methods scientists use to address research questions. HIGHLIGHTS REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS. Concepts are related to real life to help students understand the broader significance of animal behavior research, including applications to human behavior and conservation.Trade Review<"I'd describe this book as an innovative and thoughtful treatment of animal behavior with a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry to a level that is uncommon in most biology textbooks. Each experiment is described with enough detail that the students can really connect the science with the concept.>" -Bryan Arnold, Illinois CollegeGreat at leading students through the scientific process, from experimental design to data interpretation. All concepts are anchored to real examples from the literature." Damien I. Elis, University of California - BerkeleyIt's a completely different way of presenting material to students - makes them see "science in action: and thus the concepts come alive, rather than appear as dull facts to be memorized. It's very well-written and engaging - students with even the slightest interest in teh field will enjoy reading it! The focus on applications and current research is especially appealing and unique" Miles Engell, North Carolina State UniversityNordell & Valone's Animal Behavior highlights major concepts in teh field in an easy to follow, organized manner The details of contemporary research studies are used to emphasize the scientific process and to encourage students to make critical connections between empirical data and broader theoreticla concepts" Dr. Christy Wolovich, Florida Southern CollegeTable of ContentsPreface Chapter 1. The Science of Animal Behavior 1.1 Animals and their behavior are an integral part of human society Recognizing and defining behavior Measuring behavior in elephant ethograms 1.2 The scientific method is a formalized way of knowing about the natural world The importance of hypotheses The scientific method Negative results and directional hypotheses Correlation and causality Hypotheses and theories Social sciences and the natural sciences 1.3 Scientists study both the proximate mechanisms that generate behavior and the ultimate reasons why the behavior evolved Tinbergen's four questions Implications of Tinbergen's work 1.4 Researchers have examined animal behavior from a variety of perspectives over time Darwin and adaptation Early comparative psychology Comparative psychology in North America Behaviorism Classical ethology Interdisciplinary approaches 1.5 Anthropomorphic explanations of behavior assign human emotions to animals and can be difficult to test Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 1.1 Robin abundance and food availability Scientific Process 1.2 Robin abundance and predators Applying the Concepts 1.1 Human infant crying Applying the Concepts 1.2 What is behind the "guilty look" in dogs? Toolbox 1.1 Describing and summarizing data Toolbox 1.2 Interpreting graphical data Quantitative Reasoning 1.1 Nesting success and breeding habitats Chapter 2. Methods for Studying Animal Behavior 2.1 Animal behavior scientists generate and test hypotheses to answer research questions about behavior Hypothesis testing in wolf spiders Generating hypotheses Hypotheses and predictions from mathematical models 2.2 Researchers use observational, experimental, and comparative methods to study behavior The observational method The observational method and male mating tactics in bighorn sheep The experimental method The experimental method and jumping tadpoles The comparative method The comparative method and the evolution of burrowing behavior in mice 2.3 Animal behavior research requires ethical animal use How research can affect animals Sources of ethical standards The three Rs 2.4 Scientific knowledge is generated and communicated to the scientific community via peer-reviewed research Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 2.1 Jumping tadpoles Applying the Concepts 2.1 Project Seahorse Toolbox 2.1 Animal sampling techniques Toolbox 2.2 Scientific literacy Quantitative Reasoning 2.1 Sampling methods Chapter 3. Evolution and the Study of Animal Behavior 3.1 Evolution by natural selection favors behavioral adaptations that enhance fitness Measures of heritability Maternal defense behavior in mice Variation within a population Frequency-dependent selection Fitness and adaptation 3.2 Modes of natural selection describe population changes Directional selection in juvenile ornate tree lizards Disruptive selection in spadefoot toad tadpoles Stabilizing selection in juvenile convict cichlids Studying adaptation: the cost-benefit approach 3.3 Individual and group selection have been used to explain cooperation 3.4 Sexual selection is a form of natural selection that focuses on the reproductive fitness of individuals Sexual selection in widowbirds Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 3.1 Stabilizing selection on territory size in cichlids Applying the Concepts 3.1 Do lemmings commit suicide? Toolbox 3.1 Genetics primer Quantitative Reasoning 3.1 Presence and absence of predator cues Chapter 4. Behavioral Genetics 4.1 Behaviors vary in their heritability 4.2 Behavioral variation is associated with genetic variation Behavioral differences between wild-type and mutant-type fruit flies Major and minor genes Fire ant genotype and social organization Experimental manipulation of gene function: knockout studies Anxiety-related behavior and knockout of a hormone receptor in mice QTL mapping to identify genes associated with behavior QTL mapping for aphid feeding behavior 4.3 The environment influences behavior via gene expression Environmental effects on zebrafish aggression Social environment and gene expression in fruit flies Social environment and birdsong development Social environment and gene expression in birds Gene-environment interactions Rover and sitter foraging behavior in fruit flies 4.4 Genomic approaches correlate gene expression with behavioral phenotypes Scouting behavior in bees Genomics and alternative mating tactics in fish 4.5 Genes can limit behavioral flexibility Bold and shy personalities in streamside salamanders Aggressive personalities in funnel-web spiders Animal personalities model with fitness trade-offs Environmental effects on jumping spider personalities Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 4.1 Environmental effects on zebrafish aggression Scientific Process 4.2 Heritability of great tit exploratory behavior Scientific Process 4.3 Salamander personalities Applying the Concepts 4.1 Dog behavior heritability Toolbox 4.1 Molecular techniques Quantitative Reasoning 4.1 Female body size and sexual cannibalism Chapter 5. Sensory Systems and Behavior 5.1 Animals acquire environmental information from their sensory systems 5.2 Chemosensory systems detect chemicals that are perceived as tastes and odors Sweet and umami taste perception in rodents Cuttlefish physiological response to odors 5.3 Photoreception allows animals to detect light and perceive objects as images Color vision in monarch butterflies Ultraviolet plumage reflectance in birds Infrared detection in snakes 5.4 Mechanoreceptors detect vibrations that travel through air, water, or substrates Ultrasonic song detection in moths Long-distance communication in elephants Catfish track the wake of their prey Substrate-borne vibrations Antlions detect substrate-borne vibrations 5.5 Some animals can detect electric or magnetic fields Electroreception Sharks detect electric fields Magnetoreception 5.6 Predator and prey sensory systems co-evolve Insect tympanal organs: an evolved antipredator adaptation Predator-prey sensory system co-evolution in bats and moths Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 5.1 Antlion mechanoreception Applying the Concepts 5.1 How do mosquitoes find their victims? Quantitative Reasoning 5.1 Hummingbird hawkmoths and sugar preference Chapter 6. Communication 6.1 Communication occurs when a specialized signal from one individual influences the behavior of another Honeybees and the waggle dance Odor or the waggle dance in bees Auditory signals: alarm calls Titmouse alarm calls Information or influence? 6.2 The environment influences the evolution of signals Temperature affects ant chemical signals Habitat light environment affects fish visual signals Habitat structure affects bowerbird auditory signals 6.3 Signals often accurately indicate signaler phenotype and environmental conditions Signals as accurate indicators: theory Aposematic coloration in frogs Courtship signaling in spiders Aggressive display and male condition in fighting fish 6.4 Signals can be inaccurate indicators when the fitness interests of signaler and receiver differ Batesian mimicry and Enstaina salamanders Aggressive mimicry in fangblenny fish Intraspecific deception: false alarm calls Topi antelope false alarm calls Capuchin monkeys and inaccurate signals 6.5 Communication can involve extended phenotype signals Bowerbirds construct and decorate bowers Sticklebacks decorate their nests 6.6 Communication networks affect signaler and receiver behavior Squirrel eavesdropping Audience effects in fighting fish Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 6.1 Signaling in male wolf spiders Scientific Process 6.2 Fighting fish opercular display Applying the Concepts 6.1 Pheromones and pest control Applying the Concepts 6.2 Urban sounds affect signal production Applying the Concepts 6.3 Human luxury brands as costly signals Quantitative Reasoning 6.1 Sand hoods as extended phenotype signals Chapter 7. Learning, Neuroethology, and Cognition 7.1 Learning allows animals to adapt to their environment Improved foraging efficiency in salamanders Evolution of learning Fiddler crab habituation 7.2 Learning is associated with neurological changes Neurotransmitters and learning in chicks Dendritic spines and learning in mice Avian memory of stored food 7.3 Animals learn associations between stimuli and responses Classical conditioning Pavlovian conditioning for mating opportunities in Japanese quail Fish learn novel predators Operant conditioning Learning curves in macaques Trial-and-error learning in bees 7.4 Social interactions facilitate learning Learned anti-predator behaviors in prairie dogs Learning about food patches Social information use in sticklebacks Teaching Ptarmigan hens teach chicks their diet Tandem running in ants 7.5 Social learning can lead to the development of animal traditions and culture Foraging behavioral traditions in great tits 7.6 Animals vary in their cognitive abilities Tool use in capuchin monkeys Problem solving and insight learning Insight learning in keas Numerical competency in New Zealand robins Cognition and brain architecture in birds Brain size and cognition in guppies Cognitive performance and fitness in bowerbirds Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 7.1 Brain structure and food hoarding Scientific Process 7.2 Fish learn predators Applying the Concepts 7.1 Operation Migration and imprinting Applying the Concepts 7.2 Dog training Applying the Concepts 7.3 Human social learning about dangerous animals Quantitative Reasoning 7.1 Aggressiveness and learning ability Chapter 8. Foraging Behavior 8.1 Animals find food using a variety of sensory modalities Bees use multiple senses to enhance foraging efficiency Gray mouse lemurs use multiple senses to find food 8.2 Visual predators find cryptic prey more effectively by learning a search image Trout and search images 8.3 The optimal diet model predicts the food types an animal should include in its diet The diet model A graphical solution Diet choice in northwestern crows Ant foraging and the effect of nutrients 8.4 The optimal patch-use model predicts how long a forager should exploit a food patch The optimal patch-use model Patch use by ruddy ducks Optimal patch model with multiple costs Fruit bats foraging on heterogeneous patches Kangaroo rat foraging with variable predation costs Incomplete information and food patch estimation Bayesian foraging bumblebees 8.5 Some animals obtain food from the discoveries of others Spice finch producer-scrounger game Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 8.1 Prey detection by gray mouse lemurs Scientific Process 8.2 Cryptic prey reduces predator efficiency Scientific Process 8.3 Patch use by fruit bats Applying the Concepts 8.1 Human patch-leaving decisions Applying the Concepts 8.2 GUDs and conservation Toolbox 8.1 Mathematical solution to the optimal diet model Quantitative Reasoning 8.1 Foraging in different habitats Chapter 9. Antipredator Behavior 9.1 Animals reduce predation risk by avoiding detection Predator avoidance by cryptic coloration in crabs Predators and reduced activity in lizards Prey take evasive or aggressive action when detected Startle display in butterflies 9.2 Many behaviors represent adaptive trade-offs involving predation risk Increased vigilance decreases feeding time Vigilance and predation risk in elk Rich but risky Environmental conditions and predation risk in foraging redshanks Mating and refuge use in fiddler crabs Perceived predation risk affects reproductive behavior in sparrows 9.3 Living in groups can reduce predation risk The dilution effect and killifish The selfish herd and vigilance behavior Group size effect and the selfish herd hypothesis in doves 9.4 Some animals interact with predators to deter attack Predator harassment in ground squirrels Pursuit deterrence and alarm signal hypotheses Tail-flagging behavior in deer Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 9.1 Feeding trade-off in redshanks Scientific Process 9.2 Predator harassment by California ground squirrels Applying the Concepts 9.1 Human fear of predators Applying the Concepts 9.2 Mitigating crop damage by manipulating predation risk Quantitative Reasoning 9.1 Anti-predator vigilance in yellow-bellied marmots Chapter 10. Dispersal and Migration 10.1 Dispersal reduces resource competition and inbreeding Density-dependent dispersal in earthworms Food-related dispersal in water boatmen Inbreeding avoidance in great tits 10.2 Reproductive success and public information affect breeding dispersal behavior Reproductive success and breeding dispersal in dragonflies Public information and breeding dispersal in kittiwakes 10.3 Individuals migrate in response to changes in the environment Migration and changing resources Resource variation and migration in neotropical birds Heritability of migration behavior in Eurasian blackcaps A model of the evolution of migration Competition and migratory behavior of newts Maintenance of polymorphism in migratory behavior Alternative migratory behaviors in dippers 10.4 Environmental cues and compass systems are used for orientation when migrating Compass systems Antennae and the sun compass system in monarchs The magnetic compass in sea turtles Multimodal orientation 10.5 Bicoordinate navigation allows individuals to identify their location relative to a goal Bicoordinate navigation and magnetic maps in sea turtles Bicoordinate navigation in birds Homing migration in salmon Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 10.1 Breeding dispersal in dragonflies Scientific Process 10.2 The role of the antennae in the monarch butterfly sun compass Applying the Concepts 10.1 Bird migration and global climate change Applying the Concepts 10.2 Citizen scientists track fall migration flyways of monarch butterflies Applying the Concepts 10.3 Human magnetic orientation Toolbox 10.1 Emlen funnels Quantitative Reasoning 10.1 Dispersing cane toads Chapter 11. Habitat Selection, Territoriality, and Aggression 11.1 Resource availability and the presence of others can influence habitat selection The ideal free distribution model The ideal free distribution model and guppies The ideal free distribution model and pike Cuckoos assess habitat quality Conspecific attraction Conspecific attraction and Allee effects in grasshoppers Conspecific cueing in American redstarts 11.2 Individual condition and environmental factors affect territoriality Body condition and territoriality in damselflies Environmental factors and territory size in parrotfish 11.3 Hormones influence aggression Winner-challenge effect in the California mouse Challenge hypothesis and bystanders in fish Juvenile hormone and wasp aggression 11.4 Game theory models explain how the decisions of opponents and resource value affect fighting behavior The hawk-dove model Wrestling behavior in red-spotted newts Game theory assessment models Fiddler crab contests over burrows Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 11.1 Ideal free guppies Scientific Process 11.2 Conspecific attraction in grasshoppers Applying the Concepts 11.1 Conspecific attraction and conservation Applying the Concepts 11.2 Human aggression, testosterone, and sports Applying the Concepts 11.3 Reducing duration and intensity of piglet fights Toolbox 11.1 The hawk-dove model Quantitative Reasoning 11.1 Trout territoriality Chapter 12. Mating Behavior 12.1 Sexual selection favors characteristics that enhance reproductive success Why two sexes? Bateman's hypothesis and parental investment Weapon size and mating success in dung beetles Ornaments and mate choice in peafowl Male mate choice in pipefish The sensory bias hypothesis in guppies 12.2 Females select males to obtain direct material benefits Female choice and nuptial gifts in butterflies Female choice and territory quality in lizards 12.3 Female mate choice can evolve via indirect benefits to offspring Fisherian runaway and good genes Mate choice for good genes in tree frogs Good genes and the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis Mate choice fitness benefits in spiders 12.4 Sexual selection can also occur after mating Mate guarding in warblers Sperm competition in tree swallows Cryptic female choice Inbreeding avoidance via cryptic female choice in spiders 12.5 Mate choice by females favors alternative reproductive tactics in males The evolution of alternative reproductive tactics Conditional satellite males in tree frogs ESS and sunfish sneaker males 12.6 Mate choice is affected by the mating decisions of others Mate copying in guppies Mate copying in fruit flies The benefit of mate copying Nonindependent mate choice by male mosquitofish Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 12.1 Male mate choice in pipefish Scientific Process 12.2 Mate copying in fruit flies Applying the Concepts 12.1 Mate choice in conservation breeding programs Applying the Concepts 12.2 Human mate choice copying Quantitative Reasoning 12.1 Sneaking behavior in New Zealand giraffe weevils Chapter 13. Mating Systems 13.1 Sexual conflict and environmental conditions affect the evolution of mating systems The evolution of mating systems Mating systems in reed warblers 13.2 Biparental care favors the evolution of monogamy California mouse monogamy Monogamy and biparental care in poison frogs Monogamy without biparental care in snapping shrimp 13.3 Polygyny and polyandry evolve when one sex can defend multiple mates or the resources they seek Female defense polygyny in horses Resource defense polygyny in blackbirds Resource defense polygyny in carrion beetles Male dominance polygyny: the evolution of leks-hotspots or hotshots? Lekking behavior in the great snipe Peafowl leks Polyandry and sex-role reversal 13.4 The presence of social associations distinguishes polygynandry from promiscuity Polygynandry in European badgers Promiscuity and scramble competition in seaweed flies and red squirrels 13.5 Social and genetic mating systems differ when extra-pair mating occurs Extra-pair mating in juncos Marmot extra-pair mating Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 13.1 Biparental care and monogamy in poison frogs Scientific Process 13.2 Monogamy in snapping shrimp Applying the Concepts 13.1 Mating systems and conservation translocation programs Applying the Concepts 13.2 Human mating systems Toolbox 13.1 DNA fingerprinting Quantitative Reasoning 13.1 Mating success of male red-backed fairy-wrens Chapter 14. Parental Care 14.1 Parental care varies among species and reflects life history trade-offs Life history variation in fish 14.2 Sexual conflict is the basis for sex-biased parental care Female-biased parental care Paternity uncertainty and parental care in boobies The evolution of male-only care Paternity uncertainty and male-only care in sunfish Paternity assurance and male care in water bugs 14.3 Parental care involves fitness trade-offs between current and future reproduction Parent-offspring conflict theory Predation risk and parental care in songbirds Egg guarding and opportunity costs of parental care in frogs Current versus future reproduction in treehoppers Incubation of eider eggs as a trade-off Brood reduction and parent-offspring conflict Hatch asynchrony and brood reduction in blackbirds Brood reduction in fur seals 14.4 Brood parasitism reduces the cost of parental care and can result in a co-evolutionary arms race Conspecific brood parasitism in ducks Interspecific brood parasitism and co-evolution Acceptance or rejection of brown-headed cowbird eggs by hosts 14.5 Hormones regulate parental care Prolactin and maternal care in rats Prolactin and incubation in penguins Juvenile hormones and parental care in earwigs Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 14.1 Paternity certainty and parental care in bluegill sunfish Scientific Process 14.2 Parental care costs in eiders Scientific Process 14.3 Brood reduction in blackbirds Applying the Concepts 14.1 Human life history trade-off Applying the Concepts 14.2 Smallmouth bass defend their nest from exotic predators Applying the Concepts 14.3 Food supplementation reduces brood reduction in endangered eagles Quantitative Reasoning 14.1 Prey provisioning rates of American kestrals Chapter 15. Sociality 15.1 Sociality can evolve when the fitness advantages of close associations exceed the costs Reduced search times for food Foraging benefit: Information about distant food locations Antipredator benefit of sociality in birds Movement benefits: Efficient aerodynamics and hydrodynamics Hydrodynamics in schools of juvenile grey mullet Social heterosis in ants The costs of sociality Group size and food competition in red colobus and red-tailed guenons Sociality and disease transmission in guppies 15.2 Dominance hierarchies reduce the social costs of aggression Dominance hierarchies and crayfish Stable dominance hierarchies in baboons 15.3 Ecology and phylogeny influence the evolution of sociality Evolution of rodent sociality and habitat use Body size, diet, and habitat influence sociality in antelope 15.4 Hormones regulate social behavior Social approach behavior and neuropeptides in goldfish Mesotocin and pro-social behavior in finches Social behavior in seals Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 15.1 Mesotocin and sociality in zebra finches Applying the Concepts 15.1 Group aerodynamic advantages in cyclists Applying the Concepts 15.2 Group size of social species in captivity Quantitative Reasoning 15.1 Benefits of group foraging Chapter 16. Cooperative Behavior 16.1 Inclusive fitness theory explains the evolution of cooperation among related individuals Hamilton's rule Belding's ground squirrel alarm calls Altruism in turkeys 16.2 Individuals can discriminate kin from non-kin Kin discrimination Direct familiarization and kin discrimination in sticklebacks Indirect familiarization and kin discrimination in cockroaches 16.3 Cooperative behavior among unrelated individuals involves byproduct mutualisms or reciprocity Direct reciprocity The prisoner's dilemma Tit-for-tat strategy Food sharing in vampire bats Allogrooming in Japanese macaques Tit-for-tat in red-winged blackbirds The snowdrift game Migrating bald ibis and the snowdrift game Indirect reciprocity Reputations and cleaner fish Reputation formation in great apes 16.4 Kinship and ecological constraints favor cooperative reproduction The evolution of cooperative breeding in vertebrates Cooperative breeding in meerkats Cooperative reproduction in long-tailed tits Helping behavior in Seychelles warblers Social queuing in clownfish Invertebrate castes The evolution of sterile castes Haplodiploidy hypothesis Kin selection and ecological constraint hypothesis Eusociality in sweat bees Chapter Summary and Beyond Chapter Review Critical Thinking and Discussion Features Scientific Process 16.1 Reputation formation in great apes Applying the Concepts 16.1 Human altruism and reputations Quantitative Reasoning 16.1 Food sharing in killer whales Glossary Bibliography Answers to Selected Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions Answers to Scientific Process Box "Evaluate" Questions Credits Index

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