Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisAn illuminating account of animal migration and the stunning new science that reveals their infinite, untapped knowledge.“A loving ode to science itself, told with wit and wonder."—Thor Hanson, author of Hurricane Lizards and Plastic SquidWhat do animals know that we don’t? How do elephants detect tsunamis before they happen? How do birds predict hurricanes? In The Internet of Animals, renowned scientist Martin Wikelski convincingly argues that animals possess a unique “sixth sense” that humans are only beginning to grasp …All we need to do is give animals a voice and our perception of the world could change forever. That’s what author Martin Wikelski and his team of scientists believe, and this book shares their story for the first time. As they tag animals around the world with minuscule tracking devices, they link their movements to The International Space Station, which taps

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForewordAcknowledgementsPrologue1. Bloody Beasts2. Sea Change3. Blubber Choppers4. The Law of the Tongue5. War Zone6. A Turn for the Better7. The Whales in the Potato Field8. The Whales at the End of the World9. The Whale Jail10. Attack11. Family Matters12. Cut in StoneReferences

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction and A New York Times Notable Book of 2018.Our understanding of the tree of life', with powerful implications for human genetics, human health and our own human nature, has recently completely changed.This book is about a new method of telling the story of life on earth through molecular phylogenetics. It involves a fairly simple method the reading of the deep history of life by looking at the variation in protein molecules found in living organisms. For instance, we now know that roughly eight per cent of the human genome arrived not through traditional inheritance from directly ancestral forms, but sideways by viral infection.In The Tangled Tree, acclaimed science writer David Quammen chronicles these discoveries through the lives of the researchers who made them such as Carl Woese, the most important little-known biologist of the twentieth century; Lynn Margulis, the notorious maverick whose wild ideas about mosaic' creatures pTrade ReviewPraise for Tangled Tree: ‘[Quammen] is our greatest living chronicler of the natural world … There are vivacious descriptions on almost every page.’ New York Times ‘In The Tangled Tree, celebrated science writer David Quammen tells perhaps the grandest tale in biology … He presents the science – and the scientists involved – with patience, candour and flair.’ Nature ‘Quammen adds some intriguing new discoveries’ New Scientist Praise for David Quammen: ‘One of that rare breed of science journalists who blends exploration with a talent for synthesis and storytelling’ Nature ‘Mr. Quammen is, by trade, neither professional environmentalist nor scientist. He is a writer. And the book he has worked on for 10 years is intelligent, playful and refreshingly free of cant … In Mr. Quammen’s hands, the bad news of species extinction unaccountably uplifts. For it reminds us of nature’s sheer, ornery diversity, and why it needs to be preserved. We share in the excitement of a new scientific discipline aborning. By book’s end, we glean hints of hope that the future may not be entirely bleak … Here is what a book can be’The New York Times Book Review ‘Quammen is no ordinary writer. He is simply astonishing, one of that rare class of writer gifted with verve, ingenuity, humour, guts, and great heart’ Elle

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Book SynopsisIn A Brief History of Black Holes, the award-winning University of Oxford researcher Dr Becky Smethurst charts five hundred years of scientific breakthroughs in astronomy and astrophysics.'A jaunt through space history . . . with charming wit and many pop-culture references' – BBC Sky At Night MagazineRight now, you are orbiting a black hole.The Earth orbits the Sun, and the Sun orbits the centre of the Milky Way: a supermassive black hole, the strangest and most misunderstood phenomenon in the galaxy.In this cosmic tale of discovery, Dr Becky will take you from the earliest observations of the universe and the collapse of massive stars, to the iconic first photographs of a black hole and her own published findings.She explains why black holes aren’t really ‘black’, that you never ever want to be ‘spaghettified’, how black holes are more like sofa cushions than hoovers and why, beyond the event horizon, the future is a direction in space rather than in time.Told with humour and wisdom, this captivating book describes the secrets behind the most profound questions about our universe – all hidden inside black holes.Trade ReviewA jaunt through space history . . . with charming wit and many pop culture references * BBC Sky At Night Magazine *A fantastic read . . . there's certainly a lot to suck you in (unlike black holes, of course) * Popular Mechanics *A lot of astrophysics is packed into this neat little book -- Jim Al-Khalili on Space: 10 Things You Should Know Bite-sized, cutting edge science delivered with enormous enthusiasm -- Chris Lintott on Space: 10 Things You Should Know

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Book SynopsisGenetics: Analysis and Principles is a one-semester, introductory genetics textbook that takes an experimental approach to understanding genetics. By weaving one or two experiments into the narrative of each chapter, students can simultaneously explore the scientific method and understand the genetic principles that have been learned from these experiments. The pedagogy of Genetics: Analysis and Principles has been designed to foster student learning. Instead of being a collection of facts and figures, this text is intended to be an engaging and motivating textbook in which formative assessment allows students to move ahead and learn the material in a productive way.Table of ContentsPART I INTRODUCTION1 Overview of GeneticsPART II PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE2 Chromosome Transmission During Cell Division and Sexual Reproduction3 Mendelian Inheritance4 Extensions of Mendelian Inheritance5 Non-Mendelian Inheritance6 Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes7 Genetic Transfer and Mapping in Bacteria8 Variation in Chromosome Structure and NumberPART III MOLECULAR STRUCTURE REPLICATION OF THE GENETIC MATERIAL9 Molecular Structure of DNA and RNA10 Molecular Structure of Chromosomes and Transposable Elements11 DNA ReplicationPART IV MOLECULAR PROPERTIES OF GENES12 Gene Transcription and RNA Modification13 Translation of mRNA14 Gene Regulation in Bacteria15 Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes I: General Features of Transcriptional Regulation16 Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes II: Epigenetics17 Non-coding RNAs18 Genetics of Viruses19 Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and RecombinationPART V GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES20 Molecular Technologies21 Biotechnology22 Genomics I: Analysis of DNA23 Genomics II: Functional Genomics, Proteomics, and BioinformaticsPART VI GENETIC ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS24 Medical Genetics25 Genetics Basis of Cancer26 Developmental Genetics27 Population Genetics28 Complex and Quantitative Traits29 Evolutionary Genetics

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Book Synopsis The robin was hardly understood when David Lack - Britain's most influential ornithologist - started his scientific observations. This book is a landmark in natural history, not just for its discoveries, but because of the approachable style, sharpened with an acute wit. It reads as fascinatingly today as when it was written.

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Book SynopsisFor the first time, the complete collection of the Collins Field Guides' incredibly detailed, accurate and beautiful bird paintings has been brought together in one comprehensive volume.This all-encompassing new guide is an extraordinary addition to the world-renowned series the ultimate reference book for birdwatchers and bird lovers. It covers every species of the world's birds all 10,711 species are featured covering the complete International Ornithological Union Checklist of Birds of the World.With a total of 301 full-colour plates this is a visual feast, as well as an authoritative resource. It illustrates all male breeding plumages, and females if significantly different, for every species, alongside concise text covering defining identification characteristics, distribution and voice. Illustrated by the world's leading bird artists: Norman Arlott, Ber van Perlo, Gustavo Carrizo, Aldo A. Chiappe, Luis Huber and Jorge R. Rodriguez Mata.Trade Review‘A superb piece of work, packaged and produced with typically lofty Collins standards. It really does look the part, having been so thoughtfully put together, and it oozes authority and class. It is a hugely impressive book …The plates are a joy to behold. Little space is spared, with each packed to the rafters with depictions of every species covered – in many cases twice, where sexes differ sufficiently to merit recognition. They feel busy yet not chaotic; each has been carefully constructed so as not to inhibit identification of the species shown, nor detract from their overall impact ’ Josh Jones, Bird Guides ‘This is an amazing book … the images are amazing and contain a wealth of detail’ Bird Watching magazine Praise for Norman Arlott'[Arlott's paintings] are not only accurate (which is the most important thing), but I find them very attractive as well. . . . I would highly recommend'Grant McCreary, Birder's Library 'A real treasure. . . . Simple and simply beautiful.'Robert Mortenson, Idaho Birding blog 'A must for the travelling birder.'BBC Wildlife

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Book SynopsisReceive a detailed and comprehensive breakdown of the lab techniques all organic chemistry students need to know with Laboratory Techniques in Organic Chemistry.

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Book SynopsisRecommended by the New Scientist.'Brilliant.' Stylist'Thoughtful and thought-provoking - you need to read this book' Gina Rippon'An affecting and illuminating book for anyone who has feelings, and who wants to know why.' Katie MackEmotions can be a pain. After losing his dad to Covid-19, Dean Burnett found himself wondering what life would be like without them. And so, he decided to put his feelings under the microscope - for science.In Emotional Ignorance, Dean takes us on an incredible journey of discovery, stretching from the origins of life to the end of the universe. Along the way he reveals:- why we would ever follow our gut;- whether things really were better in the old days;- why doomscrolling is so addictive;- and how sad music can make us happier.Combining expert analysis, brilliant humour and powerful insights into the grieving process, Dean uncovers how, far from holding us back, our emotions make us who we are.Readers love Emotional Ignorance:'Intriguing, illuminating and thought-provoking.''A fascinating exploration of our emotions and how they enhance all of our lives (and why it doesn't always feel that way).''A scientific book about emotions that causes emotions. A wonder indeed.'

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated introduction to the evolution and early development of the brain, emotions, and personalityDesigned for psychologists, psychotherapists, and childcare professionals, this book is an accessible primer on developmental neuropsychology, combining easy-to-understand text with light-hearted illustrations. Covering topics such as the autonomic nervous system, neuroaffective development, the prefrontal cortex, and the zone of proximal development, The Neuroaffective Picture Book is a unique and useful tool for learning about emotions, social skills, and self-regulation.

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Book SynopsisDu Sautoy's discussion of computer creativity is fascinating' ObserverCAN MACHINES BE CREATIVE?In The Creativity Code, Marcus du Sautoy examines the nature of creativity, asking how much of our emotional response to art is a product of our brains reacting to pattern and structure, and exactly what it is to be creative in mathematics, art, language and music.Exploring how long it might be before machines compose a symphony or paint a masterpiece, and whether they might jolt us into being more imaginative in turn, The Creativity Code is a fascinating and very different exploration into the essence of what it means to be human.Trade Review‘What a wonderful, brilliant, joyous read! Marcus makes it seem so easy, and such fun, to begin to understand that which appears complex, frightening and beautiful, and the magic of being human’ Philippe Sands ‘The Creativity Code is only partly a book about AI art. It is as much about how AI thinks and how it does mathematics — du Sautoy’s own special subject. And on these topics, he is thoughtful and illuminating’ The Times ‘Du Sautoy is […] the light-bearer, illuminating not only the work of coders and creators, but the mathematics of chaos that underpin art and our emotional responses to it’ Hans Ulrich Obrist ‘Why could a machine one day not create a truly original work of art, write a moving poem, compose an opera or even discover a mathematical theorem? The answers, in this compelling and thought-provoking book by mathematician and musician, Marcus du Sautoy, can be found by breaking down what it actually means to be creative’ Jim Al-Khalili ‘Fact-packed and funny, questioning what we mean by creative and unsettling the script about what it means to be human, The Creativity Code is a brilliant travel guide to the coming world of AI’ Jeanette Winterson ‘Fascinating book … if all the experiences, hopes, dreams, visions, lusts, loves and hatreds that shape the human imagination amount to nothing more than a “code”, then sooner or later a machine will crack it. Indeed, Du Sautoy assembles an eclectic array of evidence to show how that’s happening even now’ The Times ‘Absorbing study … eloquent and illuminating’ Nature Magazine

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface ix List of Tables xiii List of Figures xv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 General Principles of Absorption Spectroscopy 1 1.2 Chromophores 2 1.3 Degree of Unsaturation 3 1.4 Connectivity 4 1.5 Sensitivity 4 1.6 Practical Considerations 5 2 Ultraviolet (UV) Spectroscopy 6 2.1 The Nature of Ultraviolet Spectroscopy 6 2.2 Basic Instrumentation 6 2.3 Quantitative Aspects of Ultraviolet Spectroscopy 8 2.4 Classification of UV Absorption Bands 8 2.5 Special Terms in Ultraviolet Spectroscopy 9 2.6 Important UV Chromophores 10 2.6.1 Dienes and Polyenes 10 2.6.2 Carbonyl Compounds 11 2.6.3 Benzene Derivatives 11 2.7 The Effect of Solvents 13 3 Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy 14 3.1 Absorption Range and the Nature of IR Absorption 14 3.2 Experimental Aspects of Infrared Spectroscopy 15 3.3 General Features of Infrared Spectra 16 3.4 Important IR Chromophores 18 3.4.1 –O–H and –N–H Stretching Vibrations 18 3.4.2 C–H Stretching Vibrations 18 3.4.3 –C≡N and –C≡C– Stretching Vibrations 19 3.4.4 Carbonyl Groups 19 3.4.5 Other Polar Functional Groups 21 3.4.6 The Fingerprint Region 21 4 Mass Spectrometry 23 4.1 Ionisation Processes 23 4.2 Instrumentation 25 4.3 Mass Spectral Data 26 4.3.1 High Resolution Mass Spectra 26 4.3.2 Molecular Fragmentation 28 4.3.3 Isotope Ratios 29 4.3.4 Chromatography Coupled With Mass Spectrometry 31 4.3.5 Metastable Peaks 31 4.4 Representation of Fragmentation Processes 31 4.5 Factors Governing Fragmentation Processes 32 4.6 Examples of Common Types of Fragmentation 32 4.6.1 Cleavage at Branch Points 32 4.6.2 Β-Cleavage 33 4.6.3 Cleavage Α to Carbonyl Groups 33 4.6.4 Cleavage Α to Heteroatoms 34 4.6.5 Retro Diels–Alder Reaction 34 4.6.6 The Mclafferty Rearrangement 34 5 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy 36 5.1 The Physics of Nuclear Spins and NMR Instruments 36 5.1.1 The Larmor Equation and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 36 5.2 Basic NMR Instrumentation 39 5.2.1 CW and Pulsed NMR Spectrometers 39 5.2.2 Nuclear Relaxation 42 5.2.3 Magnets for NMR Spectroscopy 43 5.2.4 The NMR Spectrum 44 5.3 Chemical Shift in 1H NMR Spectroscopy 45 5.4 Spin–Spin Coupling in 1H NMR Spectroscopy 52 5.4.1 Signal Multiplicity – The N+1 Rule 54 5.5 Analysis of 1H NMR Spectra 55 5.5.1 Spin Systems 56 5.5.2 Strongly and Weakly Coupled Spin Systems 56 5.5.3 Magnetic Equivalence 58 5.5.4 Conventions for Naming Spin Systems 59 5.5.5 Spectral Analysis of First-Order NMR Spectra 60 5.5.6 Splitting Diagrams 61 5.5.7 Spin Decoupling 64 5.6 Correlation of 1H–1H Coupling With Structure 65 5.6.1 Non-Aromatic Spin Systems 65 5.6.2 Aromatic Spin Systems 66 5.7 The Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE) 69 5.8 Labile and Exchangeable Protons 70 6 13c NMR Spectroscopy 72 6.1 Coupling and Decoupling in 13c NMR Spectra 72 6.2 The Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE) in 13c NMR Spectroscopy 73 6.3 Determining 13c Signal Multiplicity Using Dept 73 6.4 Shielding and Characteristic Chemical Shifts in 13c NMR Spectra 76 7 2-Dimensional NMR Spectroscopy 82 7.1 Proton–Proton Interactions By 2D NMR 85 7.1.1 COSY (Correlation Spectroscopy) 85 7.1.2 TOCSY (Total Correlation Spectroscopy) 86 7.1.3 NOESY (Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy) 88 7.2 Proton–Carbon Interactions By 2D NMR 89 7.2.1 The HSQC (Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation) or HSC (Heteronuclear Shift Correlation) Spectrum 89 7.2.2 HMBC (Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation) 91 8 Miscellaneous Topics 96 8.1 Solvents for NMR Spectroscopy 96 8.2 Solvent-Induced Shifts 97 8.3 Dynamic Processes in NMR – The NMR Time-Scale 98 8.3.1 Conformational Exchange Processes 99 8.3.2 Intermolecular Exchange of Labile Protons 99 8.3.3 Rotation About Partial Double Bonds 100 8.4 The Effect of Chirality 100 8.5 The NMR Spectra of “Other Nuclei” 101 9 Determining the Structure of Organic Compounds From Spectra 102 9.1 Solving Problems 103 9.2 Worked Examples 104 10 Problems 115 Index 538

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate reference book for bird enthusiasts – now in its third edition.Trade ReviewReviews of the previous editions: ‘The best just got better’ Birdwatch ‘The richest, most comprehensive of the current guides.’The Times ‘This book will surely become our standard guide for many years to come.’ BBC Wildlife ‘…buy this book, read it in the bath, keep it in the car boot and use it.’ Bird Watching

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Book SynopsisWe have long attributed man's violent, aggressive, competitive nature to his animal ancestry. But what if we are just as given to cooperation, empathy and morality by virtue of our genes? From a scientist and writer whom E. O. Wilson has called 'the world authority on primate social behavior' comes a lively look at the most provocative aspects of human nature - power, sex, violence, kindness, and morality - through our two closest cousins in the ape family. For nearly twenty years, Frans de Waal has worked with both the famously aggressive chimpanzee and the lesser-known egalitarian, erotic, matriarchal bonobo, two species whose DNA is nearly identical to that of humans. He brings these apes to life on every page, revealing their personalities, relationships and power struggles, creating an engrossing narrative that explores what their behaviour can teach us about ourselves and each other.Trade ReviewAn eagerly awaited publishing event... a revealing picture of the inner ape- what lies inside each and every one of us' Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape 'A profoundly illuminating book on humans by a great primatologist' John Gray 'De Waal's prose is as elegant and engrossing as ever' BBC Wildlife magazine 'De Waal's love for the apes comes through strongly in his warm, well written description... De Waal tells a captivating and fascinating tale' Popular Science Review 'De Waal has, accordingly, put new life into a debate that appeared to be running out of steam' Sunday Times Including photographs by the author For further information go to www.ourinnerape.com; author interview on Granta website

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Book SynopsisWhat is time? The Janus Point offers a ground-breaking solution to one of the greatest mysteries in physics.For over a century, the greatest minds have sought to understand why time seems to flow in one direction, ever forward. In The Janus Point, Julian Barbour offers a radically new answer: it doesn't.At the heart of this book, Barbour provides a new vision of the Big Bang - the Janus Point - from which time flows in two directions, its currents driven by the expansion of the universe and the growth of order in the galaxies, planets and life itself. What emerges is not just a revolutionary new theory of time, but a hopeful argument about the destiny of our universe.'Both a work of literature and a masterpiece of scientific thought' Lee Smolin, author of The Trouble with Physics'Profound...original...accessible to anyone who has pondered the mysteries of space and time' Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal 'Takes on fundamental questions, offering a new perspective on how the Universe started and where it may be headed' Science MagazineTrade ReviewJulian Barbour is a profound and original thinker with the boldness to tackle some of nature's deepest problems. He is also a fine writer, and this renders his book - despite its conceptual depth - accessible to anyone who has pondered the mysteries of space and time -- Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and former President of the Royal SocietyWith a rare humanity and a perspective based on a lifetime of study, Barbour writes a book that is both a work of literature and a masterpiece of scientific thought -- Lee Smolin, author of The Trouble with PhysicsThe origin of the arrow of time is arguably the most important conceptual problem in cosmology, and the prospect that it can be solved in a universe where time flows "backward" in the far past is as exciting as it is provocative. In this engaging book, Julian Barbour conveys this excitement admirably -- Sean Carroll, author of From Eternity to HereThe Janus Point shows history-in-the-making: a project to recast the foundations of all of cosmology, gravity, thermodynamics and the arrow of time. The book has given me a lot to ponder. As Gauss said of Riemann's habilitation lecture, '[it] exceeded my expectations' -- Bill Unruh, Professor of Physics at University of British ColumbiaJulian Barbour has no peer when it comes to explaining scientific ideas in a way that is accessible without being simplistic -- Neal Stephenson, author of Snow CrashJulian Barbour has discovered an unexpected and remarkably simple feature of Newtonian dynamics that is the basis of his seductive and eloquently presented explanation of the history of the universe, even time itself -- Michael Victor Berry, Professor of Physics (Emeritus) at Bristol UniversityThis delightful, provocative book is a cosmic physics adventure, enlivened with history and poetry -- Theodore A. Jacobson, Professor of Physics at University of MarylandJulian Barbour has a complete mastery of the history of ideas yet a remarkable lightness and clarity in explaining what are profound concepts. The Janus Point is controversial and gripping, an extraordinary introduction to his view of the universe -- Pedro G. Ferreira, author of The Perfect TheoryBarbour takes on fundamental questions, offering a new perspective - illustrated with lucid examples and poetically constructed prose - on how the Universe started (or more precisely, how it did not start) and where it may be headed. This book is an engaging read, which both taught me something new about meat-and-potatoes physics and reminded me why asking fundamental questions can be so fun -- Matthew Johnson * Science *A closely argued, substantive take on one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of physics, written by someone who has wrestled with not only the physics, but also the history and philosophy relevant to his subject. What's more, Barbour's approach, unlike many in the popular science game, is to publish only when he thinks he has something worth saying. That alone is enough to make him worth listening to -- Michael Brooks * Nautilus *Julian Barbour is one that rare breed, an optimistic scientist, and his engrossing The Janus Point not only turns accepted thinking about the universe on its head...but also suggests our very understanding of the nature of time needs to be reappraised * Choice *Any reader willing to engage with Barbour's ideas will come away enlightened -- Sidney Perkowitz * Physics World *

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Book SynopsisThe perfect pocket-friendly guide to the amazing avifauna of Thailand. Boasting a fantastic diversity of habitats, ranging from high mountain peaks to extensive mudflats, Thailand is one of the top birding destinations in South-east Asia. The perfect companion for any wildlife-friendly visitor, Birds of Thailand provides photographic coverage of 400 species that regularly occur in the region, from the Siamese Fireback to the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Concise text for each species includes information on identification, songs and calls, behaviour, distribution and habitat, with each photo carefully selected to guide identification. A guide to the best birdwatching sites in Thailand is also included.Portable yet authoritative, this is the perfect guide for travellers and birdwatchers visiting this spectacular area.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Waterstones Best Science Book of the Year""A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Engaging and illuminating, al-Khalili argues that a scientific approach is 'one of humankind’s great riches and the birthright of everyone.'"---Hannah Beckerman, The Observer"A little book of calm that is very welcome in these strange times."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"An easily digestible, pocket-sized guide in how to think more scientifically, and how this can benefit us in everyday life."---Sara Rigby, BBC Science Focus"Professor Jim Al-Khalili of Surrey University is a distinguished theoretical physicist who has also worked wonders in making science accessible and engaging. This short book encapsulates his achievement in its combination of concision (under 200 pages), lucidity and rigour. . . . In practice, this is not just a book about science but a short guide to how we live now."---Matthew D’Ancona, Tortoise Media"Al-Khalili aims to empower readers to use critical thinking to evaluate the news, as well as their own knowledge and beliefs. He succeeds easily, with each chapter dedicated to a lesson readers can apply to their lives. . . . Readers overwhelmed by information overload will find this a balm." * Publishers Weekly *"An extremely readable account. . . .a good basic primer to the scientific way of thinking."---Gautam Gangopadhyay, Contemporary Physics

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 800-CEO-READ BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2015In the vein of Susan Cain's QUIET and Malcolm Gladwell's DAVID AND GOLIATH, HOW TO FLY A HORSE is a smart, empowering book that dispels the myths around genius and creativity.There is a myth about how something new comes to be;Trade ReviewAshton is persuasive … His well chosen examples reinforce the idea that there is no magic or myth to creation or discovery, making this an approachable, thought-provoking book that encourages everyone to be as good as they can be. * Observer *An inspiring vision of creativity that’s littered with practical advice, and is a cracking read to boot. * BBC Focus *Many of these anecdotes are rather lovely – a chapter on the credit denied female scientists is fascinating * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisBestselling author Marcus Chown explores some of the most profound and important science about us, our world and the universe with fifty fascinating and mind-bending facts.Our adventures in space, our deepening understanding of the quantum world and huge leaps in technology over the last century have revealed a universe far stranger than we could ever have imagined. With brilliant clarity and wit, bestselling author Marcus Chown examines the profound science behind fifty remarkable scientific facts that help explain the vast complexities of our existence. Did you know that you could fit the whole human race in the volume of a sugar cube? Or that the electrical energy in a single mosquito is enough to cause a global mass extinction? Or that, out there in the universe, there are an infinite number of copies of you reading an infinite number of copies of this? Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand is a mind-bending journey through some of the most weird and wonderful facts about our universe, vividly illuminating the hidden truths that govern our everyday lives.Trade ReviewAn ideal book for those who might not normally consider reading about science, making a great present for a teenager or adult. Excellent stuff. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *Mind-expanding stuff. * The Sun *This accessible book addresses all your questions about the Big Bang * Science Focus *A genial tour of the universe and its mysteries... Heavy stuff lightly spun - just the thing for the science buff in the house. * Kirkus Reviews *A thought-provoking and funny guide to the universe * John Simpson *

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Book SynopsisSaturn is the showcase of the Solar System. It may not be the largest of the planets, nor the smallest, nor even the only planet with rings. But it is among the most stunningly beautiful objects in the sky, and is always breathtaking when seen in a telescope. This is a beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of the entire history of humankind’s fascination with the ringed planet, from the first low-resolution views of Galileo, Huygens and other early observers with telescopes to the most recent discoveries by the spacecraft Cassini, which studied the planet at close range between 2004 and 2017. The book describes the planet from inside out, details the complicated system of rings and their interaction with Saturn’s bevy of satellites, and considers how Saturn formed and the role it played in the early history of the Solar System. Featuring the latest research and a spectacular array of images, it will appeal to the wide audience for astronomy and popular science.

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Book SynopsisWe like to think of ourselves as highly evolved. But if we are evolution''s greatest creation, why are we so badly designed? We have retinas that face backward, we must find vitamins and nutrients in our diets that other animals simply make for themselves and millions of us can''t reproduce successfully without help from modern science. And that''s just the beginning of the story. Biologist Nathan H. Lents takes us on an entertaining and illuminating tour of our four-billion-year-long evolutionary saga, and shows us how each of our flaws tells us a story about our species'' history.Trade ReviewHUMAN ERRORS is outstanding, scholarly yet entertaining. Perhaps inadvertently, this funny book argues that if there is an intelligent designer, he is comically hopeless -- ADAM RUTHERFORDAn entertaining and enlightening guide to human imperfections -- Clive Cookson * FINANCIAL TIMES *Spry, plausible, free from jargon and much better than the usual run of popular science and medical books, which are destined to be shelved in the den of geek, Human Errors is the most enjoyable anatomical study since Jonathan Miller's The Body in Question -- Roger Lewis * THE TIMES *Chatty and humorous... After reading Human Errors, nobody will see their body in the same way again -- William Hartston * DAILY EXPRESS *Like any theme park horror house, it's a thoroughly entertaining ride, crammed full of the bizarre and enlightening and ripe with facts with which to wow dinner party guests -- Katie Burton * GEOGRAPHICAL *In Human Errors, Nathan Lents explores our biological imperfections with style, wit and life-affirming insight. You'll finish it with new appreciation for those human failings that, in so many surprising ways, helped shape our remarkable species -- DEBORAH BLUM, author of The Poisoner's HandbookAn insightful and entertaining romp through the myriad ways in which the human body falls short of an engineering ideal - and the often surprising reasons why -- IAN TATTERSALL, author of Masters of the PlanetAnyone who has aged without perfect grace can attest to the laundry list of imperfections so thoroughly and engagingly considered in Human Errors. This is the best book I've read on how poorly designed our bodies are. I learned something new on every page -- MICHAEL SHERMER, author of Why People Believe Weird Things and The Believing Brain

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Book SynopsisA 2025 Nautilus Book Awards Silver WinnerThe James Webb Space Telescope is transforming the universe right before our eyes—and here, for the first time, is the inside account of how the mission originated, how it performs its miracles of science, and what its revolutionary images are revealing.Pillars of Creation tells the story of one of the greatest scientific achievements in the history of civilization, a $10 billion instrument with a staggeringly ambitious goal: unlocking the secrets of the cosmos. Award-winning science writer Richard Panek stands us shoulder to shoulder with senior scientists as they conceive the mission, meet decades-long challenges to bring it to fruition, and, now, use its unprecedented technology to yield new discoveries about the origins of our solar system, to search for life on planets around other suns, and to trace the growth of hundreds of billions of galaxies all the way back to the birth of the first stars. The Webb telescope has captured the world’s imagination, and Pillars of Creation shows how and why—including through sixteen pages of awe-inspiring, full-color photos. At once a testament to human ingenuity and a celebration of mankind’s biggest leap yet into the cosmos, Panek’s eye-opening book reveals our universe as we’ve never seen it before—through the lens of the James Webb Space Telescope, a marvel that is itself a pillar of creation.

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Book SynopsisA FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK TO READ _______________ ‘One of the foremost thinkers on the transformative impact of the technology revolution’ - TONY BLAIR ‘Original and hopeful . . . a unique guide to the great challenges of the digital age’ - ANNE APPLEBAUM ‘Lucid and persuasive’ - NIALL FERGUSON _______________ The Digital Republic is the definitive guide to the great political question of our time: how can freedom and democracy survive in a world of powerful digital technologies? Not long ago, the tech industry was widely admired and the internet was regarded as a tonic for freedom and democracy. Not anymore. Every day, the headlines blaze with reports of racist algorithms, data leaks, and social media platforms festering with falsehood and hate. In The Digital Republic, acclaimed author Jamie Susskind argues that these problems are not the fault of a few bad apples at the top of the industry. They are the result of our failure to govern technology properly, a failure derived from decades of muddled ideas and wishful thinking. The Digital Republic charts a new course, with new legal standards, new public bodies and institutions, new duties on platforms, new rights and regulators, and new codes of conduct for people in the tech industry. Inspired by the great political essays of the past, and steeped in the traditions of republican thought, it offers a vision of a different type of society: a digital republic in which human and technological flourishing go hand in hand.Trade ReviewJamie Susskind’s big book is a welcome arrival on the scene . . . The most refreshing thing about this fine book is its ideological stance . . . It’s time for a change, and The Digital Republic is a good place to start * Observer *Jamie Susskind has established himself as one of the foremost thinkers on the transformative impact of the technology revolution. The Digital Republic is as innovative in its ideas as it is sharp with its analysis, offering an important contribution to the future of technology regulation while bridging the gap between changemakers and policymakers -- Tony BlairA deeply engaging and thought-provoking book which should be read by everyone (including those with no technical knowledge) who wants to understand how AI can affect our lives, and how we could rise to the challenges this presents -- Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, President of the UK Supreme Court (2012-2017)In the shadow of algorithmic discrimination, Big Tech's overarching power, and menacing cyberwarfare, Susskind offers an alternative, enticing and convincing in equal parts: digital republicanism. I am sold. Read this book -- Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, co-author of BIG DATA and FRAMERSThe sprawling power of tech giants is one of the biggest, most complex and urgent challenges facing modern democracy. It takes rare clarity, focus and intellectual discipline to address the issue as lucidly and practically as Jamie Susskind has done in The Digital Republic -- Rafael BehrWhat to do with Big Tech is one of the enduring questions of today. In The Digital Republic, Jamie Susskind argues that it is time to deal with ‘the unaccountable power of digital technology’ and offers a primer of how law and governance could be harnessed to reshape Big Tech * Financial Times *This is the book America needs now. Susskind thinks deeply, and writes with powerful clarity, about how technology is reshaping society and what we should do about it -- Bruce Schneier, author of CLICK HERE TO KILL EVERYBODYThe Digital Republic highlights what is at stake amidst digital disruption: the very foundations of our open, rules-based democracies. By focusing back on core principles such as legitimacy, accountability and countervailing powers, Susskind finds inspiration to secure what should not be disrupted, and reimagines the role of laws in a digitized, global context -- Marietje Schaake, international policy director at Stanford University's Cyber Policy CenterThe digital revolution threatens to overturn democracy. But we can still do something about it. This book is the blueprint, philosophical and practical, on how to remake our online society to make sure democracy prevails -- Peter Pomerantsev, author of THIS IS NOT PROPAGANDAAn important, well-written and well-timed book. The extraordinary power held by a handful of vast digital companies affects everything from the dynamics of markets to the health of democracy. But political theorists have struggled to understand the technologies while the technologists have often been blind to the implications of their own actions. After a flood of books offering diagnosis and hand-wringing, we badly needed ideas about what to do: here Jamie Susskind does just that, linking vivid examples, thoughtful principles and, crucially, practical prescriptions to guide us in ensuring that powerful technologies really do serve us well -- Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE, CBE is Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College LondonSusskind does a sophisticated job diagnosing the core problem of how many technologies affect our lives today: unaccountable power. And while there is no magical solution, he provides a compelling roadmap for taking that power back so we can reshape our digital world to better serve the public -- Yael Eisenstat, Future of Democracy Fellow at the Berggruen InstituteIn focussing on the potential solutions available to govern and regulate the digital realm, [Susskind's] book makes a truly novel contribution to the existing body of literature on the now well-documented harms and pitfalls of the existing data economy. This readable primer will appeal to policymakers, law students and lawyers, and technologists alike, and act as a roadmap for anyone wondering how law and governance can reshape Big Tech, harness platform power, end extractive data practices, and ground an ecosystem of new technologies that empowers, rather than exploits, people -- Carly Kind, director of the Ada Lovelace InstituteMore valuable and more attractive than a mere invitation to emulate the plans of foreign bureaucrats . . . This visionary yet practical book conveys its message with clarity and panache. Active and intellectually curious citizens everywhere should read it * The Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisThe Malay Archipelago is a vivid, momentous and far-reaching account of Alfred Russel Wallace's eight-year exploration of South East Asia in the 1850s and 60s.Trade Review"There is no more admirable character in the history of science" Sir David Attenborough

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Book SynopsisSynthetic biology is the technique that enables us not just to read and edit but also write DNA to program living biological structures as though they were tiny computers. Unlike cloning Dolly the sheep-which cut and copied existing genetic material-the future of synthetic biology might be something like an app store, where you could download and add new capabilities into any cell, microbe, plant, or animal.This breakthrough science has the potential to mitigate, perhaps solve, humanity's immediate and longer-term existential challenges: climate change; the feeding, clothing, housing, and caring for billions of humans; fighting the next viral outbreak before it becomes a global pandemic; old age as a treatable pathology; bringing back extinct animals.It could also be anarchic and socially destructive. With our governing structures created in an era before startling advances in technology, we are not prepared for a future in which life could be manipulated or programmed.As futurist Amy Webb and synthetic biologist Andrew Hessel show in this book, within the next decade, we will need to make important decisions: whether to program novel viruses to fight diseases, what genetic privacy will look like, who will "own" living organisms, how companies should earn revenue from engineered cells, and how to contain a synthetic organism in a lab. The Genesis Machine? provides the background for us to understand and grapple with these issues, and think through the religious, philosophical, and ethical implications for the future.

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Book Synopsis'An excellent, brisk guide to what is likely to happen as opposed to the fantastically remote.' - Los Angeles Review of BooksIn 2018 the world woke up to gene editing with a storm of controversy over twin girls born in China with genetic changes deliberately introduced by scientists - changes they will pass on to their own offspring. Genetic modification (GM) has been with us for 45 years now, but the new system known as CRISPR or gene editing can manipulate the genes of almost any organism with a degree of precision, ease and speed that we could only dream of ten years ago. But is it ethical to change the genetic material of organisms in a way that might be passed on to future generations? If a person is suffering from a lethal genetic disease, is it unethical to deny them this option? Who controls the application of this technology, when it makes 'biohacking' - perhaps of one's own genome - a real possibility?Nessa Carey's book is a thrilling and timely snapshot of a cutting-edge technology that will radically alter our futures and the way we prevent disease.'A focused snapshot of a brave new world.' - Nature 'A brisk, accessible primer on the fast-moving field, a clear-eyed look at a technology that is already driving major scientific advances - and raising complex ethical questions.' - Emily Anthes, UndarkTrade ReviewCarey's trawl of potential applications - such as high-yield rice varieties, therapies for sickle-cell disease and germline gene editing - is edifying. A focused snapshot of a brave new world. * Nature *[A]n excellent, brisk guide to what is likely to happen as opposed to the fantastically remote. * Los Angeles Review of Books *A brisk, accessible primer on the fast-moving field, a clear-eyed look at a technology that is already driving major scientific advances - and raising complex ethical questions. -- Emily Anthes * Undark *

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Book SynopsisUsually observed as a flash of blue and orange from a riverbank, most people are aware of Kingfishers, but few of us are familiar with the intricacies of their day-to-day lives.With their long, dagger-like bills, bright blue plumage and characteristic fast, low flight over water, Common Kingfishers are instantly recognisable. The 90 or so species that belong to this colourful family have a cosmopolitan distribution and, in Spotlight Kingfishers, David Chandler celebrates their remarkable existence, studying their unique adaptations and their courtship, breeding and feeding habits. He also investigates historical threats to Kingfishers, considers their future, and offers practical advice on how to find and see these glorious birds.Table of Contents1. Meet the Kingfisher 2. The Kingfisher family 3. Home and away: habitat and movements 4. Catching fish... and more 5. Finding and keeping a territory 6. A mate and a tunnel 7. From egg to adult 8. Life and death on the riverbank 9. Past imperfect: future tense? 10. How to see a Kingfisher Glossary Resources Image credits Index

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Book SynopsisOn 14 September 2015, after 50 years of searching, gravitational waves were detected for the first time and astronomy changed for ever.Until then, investigation of the universe had depended on electromagnetic radiation: visible light, radio, X-rays and the rest. But gravitational waves - ripples in the fabric of space and time - are unrelenting, passing through barriers that stop light dead.At the two 4-kilometre long LIGO observatories in the US, scientists developed incredibly sensitive detectors, capable of spotting a movement 100 times smaller than the nucleus of an atom. In 2015 they spotted the ripples produced by two black holes spiralling into each other, setting spacetime quivering.This was the first time black holes had ever been directly detected - and it promises far more for the future of astronomy. Brian Clegg presents a compelling story of human technical endeavour and a new, powerful path to understand the workings of the universe.

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Book Synopsis'I loved it. She is in my view the best science writer around - a true descendant of Oliver Sacks' Sathnam Sanghera, author of The Boy with the TopknotThe brain is the most complex structure in the universe. In Brainstorm the Wellcome Prize-winning author of It’s All in Your Head uncovers the most eye-opening symptoms medicine has to offer.‘Powerfully life-affirming... Brainstorm is testament to O'Sullivan's unshowy clarity of thought and her continued marvelling at the mysteries of the brain’ GuardianBrainstorm examines the stories of people whose symptoms are so strange even their doctor struggles to know how to solve them. A man who sees cartoon characters running across the room; a teenager who one day arrives home with inexplicably torn clothes; a girl whose world turns all Alice in Wonderland; another who transforms into a ragdoll whenever she even thinks about moving. The brain is the most complex structure in the universe, and neurologists must puzzle out life-changing diagnoses from the tiniest of clues – it’s the ultimate in medical detective work. In this riveting book, one of the UK’s leading neurologists takes you with her as she follows the trail of her patients’ symptoms: feelings of déjà vu lead us to a damaged hippocampus; spitting and fidgeting to the right temporal lobe; fear of movement to a brain tumour; a missed heart beat to the limbic system.It’s a journey that will open your eyes to the unfathomable intricacies of the brain, and the infinite variety of human capacity and experience.Trade ReviewPowerfully life-affirming... Brainstorm is testament to O'Sullivan's unshowy clarity of thought and her continued marvelling at the mysteries of the brain -- Colin Grant * Guardian *A fascinating attempt to draw the lay reader into understanding more about the function and malfunction of the brain by using real-life stories... O'Sullivan is a good, clear writer, lacks pomposity and avoids cliché -- her first book, It's All in Your Head, won the Wellcome Prize -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *O'Sullivan writes beautifully and is full of wonder... a pleasure -- John Preston * Mail on Sunday *A tremendously interesting work of medical humanity... The main effect of this fascinating collection of clinical stories, by the end, is to make any reader without brain dysfunction exceedingly grateful for the fragile miracle going in inside their own skull every second -- Steven Poole * Daily Telegraph *I loved it. She is in my view the best science writer around - a true descendant of Oliver Sacks * Sathnam Sanghera, author of The Boy with the Topknot *

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Book SynopsisThe Physics is a foundational work of western philosophy, and the crucial one for understanding Aristotle's views on matter, form, essence, causation, movement, space, and time. This richly annotated, scrupulously accurate, and consistent translation makes it available to a contemporary English reader as no other does—in part because it fits together seamlessly with other closely associated works in the New Hackett Aristotle series, such as the Metaphysics, De Anima, and forthcoming De Caelo and On Coming to Be and Passing Away. Eventually the series will include all of Aristotle's works. Sequentially numbered endnotes provide the information most needed at each juncture, while a detailed Index of Terms indicates places where focused discussion of key notions occurs. An illuminating general Introduction describes the book that lies ahead, explaining what sort of work it is and what sorts of evidence it relies on.

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Book Synopsis1856. Eighteen-year-old chemistry student William Perkin's experiment has gone horribly wrong. But the deep brown sludge his botched project has produced has an unexpected power: the power to dye everything it touches a brilliant purple. Perkin has discovered mauve, the world's first synthetic dye, bridging a gap between pure chemistry and industry which will change the world forever.From the fetching ribbons tying back the hair of every fashionable head in London to the laboratories in which scientists developed modern vaccines against cancer and malaria, Simon Garfield tells the story of how the colour purple became a sensation.Trade ReviewA book about science which also happens to be a miniature work of art * * Daily Telegraph * *Intriguing and elegant * * Guardian * *Thoroughly researched and beautifully written * * New Scientist * *By bringing Perkin into the open and documenting his life and work, Garfield has done a service to history * * Chicago Tribune * *Simon Garfield's history of the synthetic dye industry mixes chemistry and social history into quite a colourful tale * * Observer * *A one-man Blue Peter team for intelligent adults, a great British explainer * * Observer * *Witty, erudite and entertaining * * Esquire * *Garfield has a talent for being sparked to life by esoteric enthusiasm and charming readers with his delight * * The Times * *A sort of museum between hard covers . . . as good as pop history gets * * Sunday Express * *Simon Garfield has made his name as an author who can spin fascinating narratives out of subjects that seem, on the face of it, narrow to the point of being dull * * Financial Times * *

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Book SynopsisVolume 3 of three-volume set containing complete English text of all 13 books of the Elements plus critical apparatus analyzing each definition, postulate, and proposition in great detail. Covers textual and linguistic matters; mathematical analyses of Euclid''s ideas; classical, medieval, Renaissance and modern commentators; refutations, supports, extrapolations, reinterpretations and historical notes. Vol. 3 includes Books X-XIII: Commensurable magnitudes, solids, cones, cylinders.

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER I wanted to know what they were experiencing, and why to us they feel so compelling, and so close. This time I allowed myself to ask them the question that for a scientist was forbidden fruit: Who are you? Weaving decades of field observations with exciting new discoveries about the brain, Carl Safina's landmark book offers an intimate view of animal behavior to challenge the fixed boundary between humans and animals. Travelling to the threatened landscape of Kenya to witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then on to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack's personal tragedy, the book finally plunges into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest. Beyond Words brings forth powerful and illuminating insight into the unique personalities of animals through extraordinary stories of animal joy, grief, jealousy, anger, and love. The similarity between human and nonhuman consciousness, self-awareness and empathy calls us to re-evaluate how we interact with animals. Wise, passionate, and eye-opening at every turn, Beyond Words is ultimately a graceful examination of humanity's place in the world.Trade ReviewDr. Safina is a terrific writer, with a contagious enthusiasm ... draws out haunting resonances between animal lives and our own ... Captivating * New York Times *At once moving and surprising, Beyond Words asks us to reexamine our relationship to other species-and to ourselves -- Elizabeth Kolbert, author of * The Sixth Extinction *This book breathes love of and respect for animals and is rich with observations and extraordinary travel experiences. It is a delightful and enlightening account of both how we relate to them and how they relate to each other -- Frans de WaalCombines lambent writing with dazzling facts, while also illuminating our knowledge of significant and engaging subjects ... Exemplary * Washington Post *Wise, passionate, and eye-opening at every turn, Beyond Words is ultimately a graceful examination of humanity's place in the world * Psychology Today *Safina's engaging writing takes readers along on his journey ... The result is a meandering, entertaining tour of the animal kingdom, with pit stops for both amusing anecdotes and the latest scientific studies of animal behavior ... entertaining and informative * Slate *Brilliant ... makes intimate these wild animals in vivid family portraits ... Safina is a font of research, his wonder contagious * Elle *Safina offers a rich and often heart-touching account of his journeys with scientists exploring the minds and emotions of elephants, wolves, and dolphins. His compassion and empathy for animals shines throughout, and he uses both to illuminate the booming field of animal cognition. A beautifully written, accessible, and compelling read -- Virginia Morrell, author of * Animal Wise: How We Know Animals Think and Feel *

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Book SynopsisAwaken your DNA for personal healing and spiritual transformation

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Book SynopsisSelected by Forbes.Trade Review"This wonderful handbook provides a crystal-clear introduction to every fascinating aspect of bird biology. It will now be my own first reference source about birds, and it should be yours, too - regardless of whether you are a backyard bird watcher, a hard-core birder, or a professional ornithologist."—Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography at the University of California-Los Angeles, specialist on New Guinea birds, and Pulitzer-Prize winning author "This new edition of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Handbook of Bird Biology is a stunning resource for professionals and amateurs alike. It is graced by color photos spilling off nearly every page and filled with clear yet detailed interpretations of the latest ornithological discoveries. One can't achieve a better mix of technical accuracy and a pleasing, accessible format. It's all here - bird evolution, ecology, physiology, conservation, and much more."—Scott V. Edwards, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Curator of Ornithology at Harvard University "With the range of topics covered, the quality of both the writing and design, and the depth of information included, the authors have produced a book that will be of interest to a wide range of readers from those just starting to learn about birds to ornithologists who have been studying birds for decades. Whether you are a researcher, teacher, or just interested in birds, this book is a must-have for your ornithological library and, for those teaching a college-level course and looking for a textbook, the Handbook of Bird Biology is an excellent resource that should be given serious consideration"—Margaret Brittingham, wiley online library, Sept 2017 "This third version is largely enriched by the progress of ornithology. It is difficult to account for such a large body of knowledge, with the different chapters covering most areas: bird classification and diversity, evolution, plumage, flight, anatomy, physiology, feeding, social behavior, vocalizations, reproduction , migration, population ecology, communities, conservation. There is a summary at the top of each chapter and a good list of bibliographic references at the end. All are very well illustrated with photos, figures and also many colored boxes that detail particular points, concepts and regularly clear definitions of terms or scientific concepts. In addition, 76 pages of glossary and indexes (names of species, countries, subjects, etc.) at the end allow the reader to find almost everything that has been treated or mentioned.... It is the best condensed work currently available on birds and ornithology developments. It is also the most readable and easy to consult thanks to its very airy texts with multiple illustrations and subtitles ... it's really the basic work that one can refer to for any questions that one might have about birds."—Ornithos, 24:5 (2017) "Intellectually and visually inspiring.... I can't imagine a better textbook or general reference for aspiring or established ornithologists and naturalists."—Craig W. Benkman, Robert B. Berry Distinguished Chair in Ecology, University of Wyoming "... provides readers... a vast but digestible set of general evolutionary, behavioral, and physiological concepts, rigorous scientific appraisals, and diverse, data-driven examples."—Mark E. Hauber, Editor of The Auk and Interim University Vice Provost for Research, City University of New York "Serve[s] equally well as an introduction to bird biology for the interested layperson or a text[book].... Truly remarkable and comprehensive."—Richard T. Holmes, Harris Professor of Environmental Biology Emeritus, Dartmouth College "[A] deeply informative and visually stunning book,... written in a straightforward and engaging style. The visual layout is superb."—Darren E. Irwin, Professor of Zoology and Curator of Birds at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, University of British Columbia "Provides so many up-to-date and inspiring examples, beautifully illustrated and professionally described (with direct links to audio-visual media)."—Arnon Lotem, Professor, Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University "[The] subject matter experts have done a wonderful job assembling [an] enormous amount of information into 15 succinct... chapters."—Peter Marra, Director, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center "An unrivaled resource. Drawing upon classic literature [and] the latest peer-reviewed data sets, the Handbook will take you on a journey."—Rebecca Safran, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder "Written and edited by some of the leading experts in the field... with a clear style and well-chosen examples."—Pablo Luis Tubaro, Curator of Ornithology and Director, Museo Argentino de Ciencias NaturalesTable of ContentsEditorial Team and Contributors vii Preface ix Bird Academy Web Resources xiii 1 Why Study Birds? 1Irby J. Lovette and John W. Fitzpatrick 2 Avian Diversity and Classification 7Irby J. Lovette 3 How Birds Evolve 63Irby J. Lovette 4 Feathers and Plumages 101Kimberly Bostwick 5 Avian Flight 149Bret W. Tobalske 6 Avian Anatomy 169Howard E. Evans 7 Bird Physiology 215Scott McWilliams, Elizabeth Adkins‐Regan, and Carol Vleck 8 Avian Food and Foraging 265Thomas W. Sherry 9 Avian Mating and Social Behavior 313John Alcock 10 Avian Vocal Behavior 355Bruce E. Byers and Donald E. Kroodsma 11 Breeding Biology of Birds 407David W. Winkler 12 Avian Migration and Dispersal 453David W. Winkler, Judy Shamoun‐Baranes, and Theunis Piersma 13 Ecology of Bird Populations 495Walter D. Koenig 14 Bird Communities 537Russell S. Greenberg 15 Bird Conservation 579John W. Fitzpatrick and Amanda D. Rodewald Glossary 641 Index 657

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Book SynopsisPrudent Practices in the Laboratorythe book that has served for decades as the standard for chemical laboratory safety practicenow features updates and new topics. This revised edition has an expanded chapter on chemical management and delves into new areas, such as nanotechnology, laboratory security, and emergency planning. Developed by experts from academia and industry, with specialties in such areas as chemical sciences, pollution prevention, and laboratory safety, Prudent Practices in the Laboratory provides guidance on planning procedures for the handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals. The book offers prudent practices designed to promote safety and includes practical information on assessing hazards, managing chemicals, disposing of wastes, and more. Prudent Practices in the Laboratory will continue to serve as the leading source of chemical safety guidelines for people working with laboratory chemicals: research chemists, technicians, safety officers, educators, and Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 1 The Culture of Laboratory Safety; 3 2 Environmental Health and Safety Management System; 4 3 Emergency Planning; 5 4 Evaluating Hazards and Assessing Risks in the Laboratory; 6 5 Management of Chemicals; 7 6 Working with Chemicals; 8 7 Working with Laboratory Equipment; 9 8 Management of Waste; 10 9 Laboratory Facilities; 11 10 Laboratory Security; 12 11 Safety Laws and Standards Pertinent to Laboratories; 13 Bibliography; 14 APPENDIXES; 15 Appendix A: OSHA Laboratory Standard; 16 Appendix B: Statement of Task; 17 Appendix C: Committee Member Biographies; 18 Index

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller. An astonishing account of the sailors, scientists and inventors who sought to understand the weather.**Book of the Week on Radio 4**''Gripping'' The Times''Exhilarating'' Sunday TimesIn an age when a storm was evidence of God's wrath, pioneering meteorologists had to fight against convention and religious dogma to realise their ambitions. But buoyed by the achievements of the Enlightenment, a generation of mavericks set out to unlock the secrets of the atmosphere. Meet Luke Howard, the first to classify the clouds, Francis Beaufort, quantifier of the winds, James Glaisher, explorer of the upper atmosphere by way of a hot air balloon, Samuel Morse, whose electric telegraph gave scientists the means by which to transmit weather warnings, and at the centre of it all Admiral Robert FitzRoy: master sailor, scientific pioneer and founder of the Met Office. Peter MoTrade ReviewRichly researched, exciting... It is both scientific and cultural history, of prizewinning potential and as fresh and exhilarating throughout as a strong sea breeze. -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Superbly researched and grippingly written... Moore is at least as interested in the personalities and their rivalries, and the sheer spendour and catastrophies of weather itself - storms and shipwrecks, heatwaves and floods (all vividly described) - as by the science. And he weaves it together, deftly picking up threads left dangling in earlier chapters, darting across continents, embracing swashbuckling sea captains and fastidious bureaucrats, penny-pinching politians and mad inventors, with as sharp an eye for eccentricity, absurdity and tragedy as for genius. The result is a panorama of the entire Victorian era. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *The Weather Experiment is a genuinely gripping read and demonstrates how scientific ideas can come ahead of the time -- Gavin Pretor, 4 stars * Mail on Sunday *Moore is the rare science writer who can describe dew point so poetically you feel you’re with him in a twinkling field of white clover on a cool summer morning… Evocative and full of wisdom for modern times. -- New York Times Book ReviewThe Weather Experiment is not the first book to have been written about FitzRoy…but Moore’s achievement is to imbue him and his work with palpable narrative life, while surrounding him with a large supporting cast of contemporaries * The Times Literary Supplement *A skilful, detailed account of a complex story, in which scientific advances are far from inevitable in a world of flawed humans and bad luck... Moore's engaging, often surprising work of storytelling, written with such care and pleasure, is a fine tribute -- Daniel Hahn * Spectator *Impressive -- Ben East * Guardian Weekly *Thought-provoking… Rich and informative … Arnold Toynbee once railed against the view that ‘History is just one damned thing after another’. Recording weather data day in, day out must feel like one damn temperature reading after another. Yet Moore has skilfully converted decades of routine monotony into a gripping tale of derring-do. -- Patricia Fara * Literary Review, Book of the Month *Elegantly constructed … The Weather Experiment surprises constantly, often by weaving together the famous and the obscure -- Mike Jay * Wall St Journal *Prepare for turbulence in this history of Britain’s seminal contribution to weather forecasting * Nature *This biography is an impressive achievement -- 4 stars * BBC Focus *Moore’s enthusiasm for his subject and the astonishing audacity of those long ago storm chasers make the book a deeply enjoyable read. * Daily Beast *Moore writes about this band of ad hoc scientists with brio, and it’s hard not to be awed and charmed by their united quest to prove that earth’s atmosphere was not chaotic beyond comprehension, that it could be studied, understood and, ultimately, predicted … Detailed and insightful, this book is as relevant as ever in this era of rapid climate change. * Kirkus Reviews *Rich and enlightening, I’ll never look at a dewy morning in the same way again. -- Sarah BakewellFor illuminating a byway of scientific history that many scarcely knew existed we must thank Peter Moore, whose superbly researched an grippingly written book is more than a dusty account of early meteorologists -- Richard Morrison * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe greatest mass extinction in Earths history happened some 251 million years ago. In this cataclysm at least 90 per cent of life was killed, both on land and in the sea, almost bringing evolution to a halt. What caused destruction on such an unimaginable scale? Was it the impact of a huge meteorite, or prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia?Trade Review'A superb book that tells a gripping tale … a dénouement worthy of Hercule Poirot' - The Times Higher Education Supplement'Brings back to Earth Science a sense of adventure ... it is both a wonderfully good read and a valued reference' - James Lovelock, author of GaiaTable of ContentsPrologue: The Geological Time-scale • Chapter 1: Antediluvian Sauria • Chapter 2: Murchison Names the Permian • Chapter 3: The Death of Catastrophism • Chapter 4: The Concept that Dared Not Speak Its Name • Chapter 5: Impact! • Chapter 6: Diversity, Extinction and Mass Extinction • Chapter 7: Homing in on the Event • Chapter 8: Life’s Biggest Challenge • Chapter 9: A Tale of Two Continents • Chapter 10: On the River Sakmara • Chapter 11: What Caused the Biggest Catastrophe of all Time? • Chapter 12: Recovery from the Bring • Chapter 13: The Sixth Mass Extinction?

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Book SynopsisCivil engineering produces the structures of all human settlements worldwide and is a vital discipline for many aspects modern life, underlying housing, transport, and our major areas and buildings related to work, study, and leisure.In this Very Short Introduction, David Muir Wood demonstrates the nature and importance of civil engineering not only in the history of civilization and urbanization, but its range of facets today, and its challenges for the future. Beginning with the challenge of creating a settlement on a deserted island, which sets out the problems that civil engineers need to solve, he looks at the social and environmental considerations as well as the science, technology, and craft of building bridges, tunnels, houses, and areas of recreation.He highlights the lives of some major civil engineers, including Brunel and Bazalgette, considers the challenges of managing water and energy, and looks at our increasing sensitivity to building and the environment. 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.Table of Contents1. Civil engineering ; 2. Materials of civil engineering ; 3. Water and waste ; 4. 'Directing the great sources of power in nature' ; 5. Concept - technology - realisation ; 6. Robustness ; 7. The future ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisDaniel C. Dennett''s Freedom Evolves tackles the most important question of human existence - is there really such a thing as free will? How can humans make genuinely independent choices if we are just a cluster of cells and genes in a world determined by scientific laws? Here, Daniel Dennett provides an impassioned defense of free will. But rather than freedom being an eternal, unchanging condition of our existence, in reality, he reveals, it has evolved: just like life on the planet and the air we breathe. Evolution is the key to resolving this greatest of philosophical questions - and to understanding our place in the world as uniquely free agents. Dennett shows that far from there being an incompatibility between contemporary science and the traditional vision of freedom and morality, it is only recently that science has advanced to the point where we can see how we came to have our unique kind of freedom. ''A serious book with a

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Book SynopsisThe authorised biography of the great naturalist and conservationist Gerald Durrell, who died aged seventy in January 1995 in Jersey, where he founded the zoo he'd dreamed of as a small boy and pioneered the captive breeding of animals for conservation.Gerald Durrell was a world-famous naturalist and popular author who wrote, in all, some thirty-seven immensely readable yarns, including the bestselling My Family and Other Animals'. His other books include Birds, Beasts and Relatives', The Bafut Beagles' and A Zoo in My Luggage'.Above all, he paved the way in print for the popular presentation of the natural world on television and presented twelve series himself the early ones, of his own expeditions. Sir David Attenborough has said: He was responsible for changing people's attitudes to zoology and changing their agenda. He showed them small animals could be as interesting as apes and elephantsHe was a pioneer with a marvellous sense of humour.'His brother was the famous writer Lawren

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Book SynopsisIn Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science, Jim al-Khalili celebrates the forgotten pioneers who helped shape our understanding of the world. For over 700 years the international language of science was Arabic. Surveying the golden age of Arabic science, Jim Al-Khalili reintroduces such figures as the Iraqi physicist Ibn al-Haytham, who practised the modern scientific method over half a century before Bacon; al-Khwarizmi, the greatest mathematician of the medieval world; and Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, a Persian polymath to rival Leonardo da Vinci. ''Jim Al-Khalili has a passion for bringing to a wider audience not just the facts of science but its history ... Just as the legacy of Copernicus and Darwin belongs to all of us, so does that of Ibn Sina and Ibn al-Haytham''  Independent ''He has brought a great story out of the shadows''   Literary Review ''His command of Arabic and mathemaTrade ReviewBrings alive the bubbling invention and delighted curiosity of the Islamic world ... his command of Arabic mathematical physics invests his story with sympathy as well as authority -- Tim Radford * Guardian *A fascinating and user-friendly guide to this whole scientific movement -- Noel Malcolm * Seven, Sunday Telegraph *Jim Al-Khalili has a passion for bringing to a wider audience not just the facts of science but its history ... Just as the legacy of Copernicus and Darwin belongs to all of us, so does that of Ibn Sina and Ibn al-Haytham. To think otherwise, as this book so powerfully reveals, is to do disservice to the tradition to which they belong -- Kenan Malik * Independent *Spry, informative and timely ... Al-Khalili takes the reader through a brisk survey of the highlights of the period -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *A fascinating introduction to a neglected area. His approachable style and ability to distil extensive knowledge into simple narrative makes Pathfinders an absorbing read -- Siobhan Murphy * Metro *Enjoyable and informative ... provides ample evidence for the compatibility of Islam and science -- Sameer Rahim * Daily Telegraph *He has brought a great story out of the shadows * Literary Review *This captivating book is a timely reminder of the debt owed by the West to the intellectual achievements of Arab, Persian and Muslim scholars * The Times *

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