Science & Nature Books

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Book Synopsis'A dazzling, funny and elegantly angry demolition of our preconceptions about female behaviour and sex in the animal kingdom ... Bitch is a blast. I read it, my jaw sagging in astonishment, jotting down favourite parts to send to friends and reading out snippets gleefully...' Observer'A book that is tearing down the stereotypes and the biases. Absolutely fascinating.' BBC R4 Woman's Hour'From the heir to Attenborough. 5*' - Telegraph'Glorious ... A bold and gripping takedown of the sexist mythology baked into biology ... Full of marvellous surprises. Guardian'Colourful, committed and deeply informed.' Sunday Times'Gloriously original' Daily MirrorA 'sparkling attack on scientific sexism' Nature'Humorous, absorbing, sometimes shocking (for a variety of reasons), and bound to be a conversation starter' BBC Wildlife'Brilliant ... Cooke is a superb science writer' TLS'Zoologist Lucy Cooke's hilarious and enlightening book reclaims evolutionary biology for females of all species.' New Statesman'Introduces us to a marvelous zoetrope of animals.' The Atlantic'[An] effervescent exposé ... [A] playful, enlightening tour of the vanguard of evolutionary biology.' Scientific American Selected for the Telegraph's 'best books for summer 2022' and as one of the Guardian's '50 hottest new books for a great escape'._______________________________________________________________What does it mean to be female? Mother, carer, the weaker sex? Think again.In the last few decades a revolution has been brewing in zoology and evolutionary biology. Lucy Cooke introduces us to a riotous cast of animals, and the scientists studying them, that are redefining the female of the species.Meet the female lemurs of Madagascar, our ancient primate cousins that dominate the males of their species physically and politically.Or female albatross couples, hooking up together to raise their chicks in Hawaii.Or the meerkat mothers of the Kalahari Desert - the most murderous mammals on the planet.The bitches in BITCH overturn outdated binary expectations of bodies, brains, biology and behaviour. Lucy Cooke's brilliant new book will change how you think - about sex, sexual identity and sexuality in animals and also the very forces that shape evolution.__________Praise for Lucy's previous book THE UNEXPECTED TRUTH ABOUT ANIMALS'Endlessly fascinating' - Bill Bryson'I cannot remember when I enjoyed a non-fiction book so much' - Daily Express'A joy from beginning to end' - Guardian'Best science pick: deeply researched, sassily written' - NatureTrade ReviewLucy Cooke's Bitch shows just how far we have come in seeing nature's females for what they actually are.' -- Simon Ing * Telegraph *Surprising sex lives of the animal kingdom: From bondage-loving spiders to 'Scrooge-like' lobsters who save their sperm for a female who's 'worth it', BITCH lifts the lid on kinky creatures -- Claire Toureille * Daily Mail *Best books of 2022 so far: Zoologist Lucy Cooke's hilarious and enlightening book reclaims evolutionary biology for females of all species. * New Statesman *Mr Darwin, your time is up...This is the evolutionary reboot us bitches have been waiting for. -- Sue PerkinsBrilliant ... Cooke is a superb science writer -- Carol Tavris * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThree cheers for this splendid, surprising, inspiring book!Sy Montgomery, author ofThe Soul of an OctopusAlone in a vast wildlife refuge with little direction and no experience, an American ornithology student found herself responsible for a project of historical importance to bring the mighty Bald Eagle back from the brink of extinction.Tina Morris was one of the first women to spearhead a raptor reintroduction program, and in Return to the Sky, she shares her remarkable story that is as much about the human spirit as it is about birds of prey.In the spring of 1975, on the eve of America's Bicentennial, Tina was selected to reintroduce Bald Eagles into New York State in the hope that the species could eventually repopulate eastern North America. Young and female in a male-dominated field, Tina was handed an assignment to rehabilitate a population that had been devastated by the effects of DDT. The challenges

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Book SynopsisThe U.S. scientific community has long led the world in research on such areas as public health, environmental science, and issues affecting quality of life. Our scientists have produced landmark studies on the dangers of DDT, tobacco smoke, acid rain, and global warming. But at the same time, a small yet potent subset of this community leads the world in vehement denial of these dangers.Merchants of Doubt tells the story of how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists and scientific advisers, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedly - some of the same figures who have claimed that the science of global warming is not settled denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole. Doubt is our product, wrote one tobacco executive. These ''experts'' supTrade ReviewAnyone concerned about the state of democracy in America should read this book -- Al GoreBrilliantly reported and written with brutal clarity * Huffington Post *It is tempting to require that all those engaged in the business of conveying scientific information to the general public should read it * Science *A hard-hitting thriller ... also a meticulously researched history book and a portal into the world of real science ... A fascinating story * West Australian *Excellent, important * Choice *

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Book SynopsisAlex Riley is an award-winning science writer focusing on long-form features in evolutionary biology, conservation and health. His work has appeared in Aeon, Nautilus, New Scientist, BBC Earth and BBC Future. His first book, A Cure for Darkness, was published by Ebury in 2021.

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Book SynopsisA recommended "bird-related book to give this season" by The Washington PostFrom our own backyards to the rim of the Arctic ice, countless birds have adapted to meet the challenges of the winter season. This is their remarkable story, told by award-winning birder and acclaimed writer Pete Dunne, accompanied by illustrations from renowned artist and birder David Sibley.Despite the seasonal life-sapping cold, birds have evolved strategies that meet winter?s vicissitudes head on, driven by the imperative to make it to spring and pass down their genes to the next generation. The drama of winter and the resilience and adaptability of birds witnessed in the harsher months of the calendar is both fascinating and astonishing.In The Courage of Birds, Pete Dunne?winner of the American Birding Association?s Roger Tory Peterson Award for lifetime achievement in promoting the cause of birding?chronicles the behavior of the birds of North America. He expertly explores widespread adaptations, such as feathers that protect against the cold, and unpacks the unique migration patterns and survival strategies of individual species. Dunne also addresses the impact of changing climatic conditions on avian longevity and recounts personal anecdotes that soar with a naturalist?s gimlet eye.Filled with unforgettable facts, wit, and moving observations on the natural world, Dunne?s book is for everyone; from the serious birder who tracks migration patterns, to the casual birder who logs daily reports on eBird, to the backyard observer who throws a handful of seed out for the Northern Cardinals and wonders how the birds magically appear in the garden when temperatures begin to fall.Praise for Pete Dunne?Dunne?s prose is lyrical, sensitive, and full of feeling.??Ted Floyd, editor, Birding ?Pete is arguably North America?s best and best-known birder?and he?s also a terrific writer.??Scott Shalaway, author and former syndicated nature columnistPraise for David Sibley?There are 47 million birdwatchers. But there is only one David Sibley. . . . He is a boon to both the birding world and the art world.??The National Audubon Society?[His] exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life.??Birdwatching

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Book SynopsisThe story of the most significant biological breakthrough of the century - the discovery of the structure of DNA.Trade ReviewThis timely reissue of Watso's feisty memoir gives a dramatic account of how the double helix was mapped. -- James Urquhart * FINANCIAL TIMES *An exhilarating memoir -- John Dugdale * GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisThis seminal book injects the topic of superintelligence into the academic and popular mainstream. What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? In a tour de force of analytic thinking, Bostrom lays a foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life.Trade ReviewWorth reading. * Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX and Tesla *I highly recommend this book * Bill Gates *very deep ... every paragraph has like six ideas embedded within it. * Nate Silver *Nick Bostrom makes a persuasive case that the future impact of AI is perhaps the most important issue the human race has ever faced. Instead of passively drifting, we need to steer a course. Superintelligence charts the submerged rocks of the future with unprecedented detail. It marks the beginning of a new era * Stuart Russell, Professor of Computer Science, University of California, Berkley *Those disposed to dismiss an 'AI takeover' as science fiction may think again after reading this original and well-argued book * Martin Rees, Past President, Royal Society *This superb analysis by one of the worlds clearest thinkers tackles one of humanitys greatest challenges: if future superhuman artificial intelligence becomes the biggest event in human history, then how can we ensure that it doesnt become the last? * Max Tegmark, Professor of Physics, MIT *Terribly important ... groundbreaking... extraordinary sagacity and clarity, enabling him to combine his wide-ranging knowledge over an impressively broad spectrum of disciplines - engineering, natural sciences, medicine, social sciences and philosophy - into a comprehensible whole... If this book gets the reception that it deserves, it may turn out the most important alarm bell since Rachel Carson's Silent Spring from 1962, or ever * Olle Haggstrom, Professor of Mathematical Statistics *Valuable. The implications of introducing a second intelligent species onto Earth are far-reaching enough to deserve hard thinking * The Economist *There is no doubting the force of [Bostrom's] arguments the problem is a research challenge worthy of the next generations best mathematical talent. Human civilisation is at stake * Financial Times *His book Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies became an improbable bestseller in 2014 * Alex Massie, Times (Scotland) *Ein Text so nüchtern und cool, so angstfrei und dadurch umso erregender, dass danach das, was bisher vor allem Filme durchgespielt haben, auf einmal höchst plausibel erscheint. A text so sober and cool, so fearless and thus all the more exciting that what has until now mostly been acted through in films, all of a sudden appears most plausible afterwards. (translated from German) * Georg Diez, DER SPIEGEL *Worth reading.... We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes * Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX and Tesla *A damn hard read * Sunday Telegraph *I recommend Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom as an excellent book on this topic * Jolyon Brown, Linux Format *Every intelligent person should read it. * Nils Nilsson, Artificial Intelligence Pioneer, Stanford University *An intriguing mix of analytic philosophy, computer science and cutting-edge science fiction, Nick Bostrom's Superintelligence is required reading for anyone seeking to make sense of the recent surge of interest in artificial intelligence (AI). * Colin Garvey, Icon *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Past Developments and Present Capabilities 2: Roads to Superintelligence 3: Forms of Superintelligence 4: Singularity Dynamics 5: Decisive Strategic Advantage 6: Intellectual Superpowers 7: The Superintelligent Will 8: Is the Default Outcome Doom? 9: The Control Problem 10: Oracles, Genies, Sovereigns, Tools 11: Multipolar Scenarios 12: Acquiring Values 13: Design Choices 14: The Strategic Picture 15: Nut-Cutting Time Afterword

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Book SynopsisIn the age of climate change and the ongoing battles around how we use land to grow food and rear livestock, can an emerging group of visionary farmers utilise new technology to help create a truly communal vision of regenerative agriculture that is networked, engaged, and transformative – and ultimately a force for good in the natural world? In The Great Regeneration, farmer-technologist Dorn Cox and author-activist Courtney White explore this unique, groundbreaking research which is aimed at reclaiming the ground where science and agriculture meet as a shared human endeavour. The Great Regeneration explores the critical function that open-source technology can have in promoting agroecological systems, through data-sharing and networking. If these systems are brought together, there is potential to revolutionise how we manage food production and natural systems around the world, decentralising and deindustrialising the structures of production and governance that have long dominated the agricultural landscape. In this important book, Dorn Cox and Courtney White present a simple choice: we can allow ourselves to be dominated by this new technology, or we can harness its potential and use it to understand and improve our shared environment. The choices made today will affect the generations to come, and The Great Regeneration shows how, together, we can create positive and lasting change.Trade Review“Cox reminds us [that] regenerative farming is not just a set of practices, but an entire world view. . . [and] open-source technology, data sharing, Ag Data wallets, and farmer-to-farmer education are among our most essential tools in this world-changing endeavor.”—Ronnie Cummins, international director of Organic Consumers Association and author of Grassroots Rising“This book is the blueprint for a new spatial practice to repair not only agriculture but community, politics, and the economy besides."—Jo Guldi, author of The Long Land War and The History Manifesto"Timely, The Great Regeneration is a valued contribution to our on-going national discussions concerning sustainable agriculture, food science, and environmental issues. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, The Great Regeneration is especially and unreservedly recommended."—Midwest Book Review

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Book Synopsis"As every amateur toxicologist knows, the difference between a poison and medicine is often simply the dose."There is no weapon as insidious, as seductive or as mysterious as poison. In this terrifying account of history's silent assassin, discover the gripping tales of users, abusers and victims of these mysterious substances, from Cleopatra and Catherine de' Medici to contemporary secret service agents and terrorists.Documenting royal scandal, political upheaval and personal tragedies, Poison details a gruesome thread that runs often undetected through human history.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Poison - a Recurring Story • Poisons of the Ancient World • Medieval and Renaissance Poisons • 17th and 18th Century Poisons • 19th Century Poisons • 20th Century Poisons • 21st Century Poisons.

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Book SynopsisColin Tudge''s The Secret Life of Trees: How they Live and Why they Matter explores the hidden role of trees in our everyday lives - and how our future survival depends on them. What is a tree? As this celebration of the trees shows, they are our countryside; our ancestors descended from them; they gave us air to breathe. Yet while the stories of trees are as plentiful as leaves in a forest, they are rarely told. Here, Colin Tudge travels from his own back garden round the world to explore the beauty, variety and ingenuity of trees everywhere: from how they live so long to how they talk to each other and why they came to exist in the first place. Lyrical and evocative, this book will make everyone fall in love with the trees around them. ''A love-letter to trees''  Financial Times ''One of those books you want everyone to have already read''  Sunday Telegraph ''Wonderful, invaluable and timely. Tudge is as illuminating a guide as one could wish for''  Daily Mail ''Everyone interested in the natural world will enjoy The Secret Life of Trees. I found myself reading out whole chunks to friends''  The Times Books of the Year Colin Tudge started his first tree nursery in his garden aged 11, marking his life-long interest in trees. Always interested in plants and animals, he studied zoology at Cambridge and then began writing about science, first as features editor at the New Scientist and then as a documentary maker for the BBC. Now a full-time writer, he is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and visiting Research Fellow at the Centre of Philosophy at the London School of Economics. His books include The Variety of Life and So Shall We Reap.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA global superstar... Professor Rovelli is making the grammar of the universe accessible to a new generation * Channel 4 News *The most fun physicist to be with -- as well as the greatest explainer of physics -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *Surely Rovelli deserves the title 'world's most inspiring physics teacher' * Daily Telegraph *The physicist transforming how we see the universe * Financial Times *The new Hawking... His writing is luminous. By the time I had finished reading I was in serious awe of the author -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *This is a really, really good book about science. It's like a tonic for the mind. Carlo Rovelli is a physicist so of course this book is about physics. But it's much more than that. It's about thinking clearly... He gives beautifully clear explanations of the ideas of the cleverest people in history, from Democritus, via Newton, to Einstein and beyond. * Evening Standard *Rather brilliant... for fans of cutting-edge physics made accessible -- Mark HaddonThe latest thinking in physics is distilled in this primer... Why do you need yet another popularisation of theoretical physics? Because Rovelli writes with crystalline simplicity. And because he turns quantum physics into a coherent story, shaping it as a quest for a single, underlying "substratum" of reality - from Democritus's finite, indivisible atoms to Einstein -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *A comprehensive guide to the bewitching adventure of physics * Daily Telegraph *Rovelli writes with elegance, clarity and charm... A joy to read, as well as being an intellectual feast -- Michael Brooks * New Statesman *Be prepared for your intellectual foundations to be vaporised... Carlo Rovelli will melt your synapses with this exploration of physical reality and what the universe is formed of at the very deepest level... Quantum gravity is so new that there aren't many popular books about it. You couldn't be in better hands than Rovelli, a world expert -- Tara Shears * The Times Higher Education *Like all great thinkers, Rovelli has a talent for simplicity. His prose is lucid and poetic... It's not a scientific treatise. It's a paean to the wonder of the natural world... I scraped a C in my Physics O-level and haven't been near a physics textbook since. If I can understand - and even enjoy - Rovelli's book, then anyone can -- William Cook * Spectator *A marvel... In exquisitely written pages Rovelli seeks to bridge the divide between what CP Snow called the "Two Cultures" of science and the arts -- Ian Thomson * Guardian *May genuinely alter how you see the world -- Tom Whipple * The Times *If your desire to be awestruck by the universe we inhabit needs refreshing, theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli is up to the task * Elle *

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Book SynopsisUnderstand the applications of ionic liquid catalysis with this cutting-edge overview Ionic liquids have distinctive properties that have made them the subject of vigorous research in recent decades. They have primarily been seen as potential green alternatives to volatile organic solvents, and therefore as a vital tool in the development of sustainable industry. In fact, however, ionic liquids can also serve as catalysts, catalyst immobilizers, and initiators, with the result that they have been applied in over 100 known types of chemical reactions. Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Reactions offers a detailed overview of these reactions and the catalytic mechanism of ionic liquids. It surveys cutting-edge research into ionic liquid catalysis and the concepts, perspectives, and skills needed for scientists to incorporate it into a range of experimental fields. It is a must-own for anyone looking to understand the range and variety of uses for ionic liquid catalysis Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Reactions readers will also find: Case studies throughout showing ionic liquid catalysis applicationsInformation for scientists working in organic chemistry, electrochemistry, biotechnology, and many moreDetailed coverage of reactions including CO2 conversion, biomass transformation, organic synthesis, and many others Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Reactions is ideal for catalytic chemists, organic chemists, environmental chemists, electrochemists, and anyone else working with chemical catalysis in need of new experimental methods.

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Book SynopsisIf you want to remember why you once fell in love with the idea of the cosmos, or want to fall in love with it for the first time, then this book is for you' ObserverFrom Carlo Rovelli, the bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, this is a story of wonder, new worlds and why the end is just the beginningLet us journey into the heart of a black hole. Let us slip beyond its boundary, the horizon, and tumble - on and on - down this crack in the universe. As we plunge, we''ll see geometry fold, we''ll feel the equations draw tight around us. Eventually, we''ll pass it: the remains of a star, deep and dense and falling further far. And then - the bottom. Where time and space end, and the white hole is born . . .With lightness and magic, here Carlo Rovelli traces the ongoing adventure of his own cutting-edge research, of the uncertainty and joy of going where we''ve not yet been. Guiding us to the edge of theory and experiment, he invites us to go beyond, to experience the fever and the disquiet of science. Here is the extraordinary life of a white hole.A BOOK OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO THE FINANCIAL TIMES * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH * NEW STATESMAN * NEW SCIENTIST

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Book SynopsisThe physiologist Benjamin Libet famously demonstrated that activity in the brain''s motor regions can be detected some 300 milliseconds before a person feels that he has decided to move. Another lab recently used fMRI data to show that some conscious decisions can be predicted up to 10 seconds before they enter awareness (long before the preparatory motor activity detected by Libet). Clearly, findings of this kind are difficult to reconcile with the sense that one is the conscious source of one''s actions. The question of free will is no mere curio of philosophy seminars. A belief in free will underwrites both the religious notion of sin and our enduring commitment to retributive justice. The Supreme Court has called free will a universal and persistent foundation for our system of law. Any scientific developments that threatened our notion of free will would seem to put the ethics of punishing people for their bad behaviour in question.In Free Will Harris debates these ideas aTrade Review"In this elegant and provocative book, Sam Harris demonstrates—with great intellectual ferocity and panache—that free will is an inherently flawed and incoherent concept, even in subjective terms. If he is right, the book will radically change the way we view ourselves as human beings." —V. S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition, UCSD, and author of The Tell-Tale Brain"Brilliant and witty—and never less than incisive—Free Will shows that Sam Harris can say more in 13,000 words than most people do in 100,000." —Oliver Sacks"Free will is an illusion so convincing that people simply refuse to believe that we don’t have it. In Free Will, Sam Harris combines neuroscience and psychology to lay this illusion to rest at last. Like all of Harris’s books, this one will not only unsettle you but make you think deeply. Read it: you have no choice."—Jerry A. Coyne, Professor of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, and author of Why Evolution Is True"Many say that believing that there is no free will is impossible—or, if possible, will cause nihilism and despair. In this feisty and personal essay, Harris offers himself as an example of a heart made less self-absorbed, and more morally sensitive and creative, because this particular wicked witch is dead." —Owen Flanagan, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University, and author of The Really Hard Problem"If you believe in free will, or know someone who does, here is the perfect antidote. In this smart, engaging, and extremely readable little book, Sam Harris argues that free will doesn’t exist, that we’re better off knowing that it doesn’t exist, and that—once we think about it in the right way—we can appreciate from our own experience that it doesn’t exist. This is a delightful discussion by one of the sharpest scholars around.” —Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology, Yale University, and author of How Pleasure Works

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Book Synopsis Learn how to think like a physicist from a Nobel laureate and 'one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century' (New York Review of Books) with these six classic and beloved lessons  It was Richard Feynman's outrageous and scintillating method of teaching that earned him legendary status among students and professors of physics. From 1961 to 1963, Feynman delivered a series of lectures at the California Institute of Technology that revolutionized the teaching of physics around the world. Six Easy Pieces, taken from these famous Lectures on Physics, represent the most accessible material from the series.   In these classic lessons, Feynman introduces the general reader to the following topics: atoms, basic physics, energy, gravitation, quantum mechanics, and the relationship of physics to other topics. With his dazzling and inimitable wit, Feynman presents each discussion with a minimum of jargon. Filled with wonderful examples and clever illustrations, Six Easy Pieces is the ideal introduction to the fundamentals of physics by one of the most admired and accessible physicists of modern times.   'If one book was all that could be passed on to the next generation of scientists it would undoubtedly have to be Six Easy Pieces.'- John Gribbin, New Scientist

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Book SynopsisSPECIAL UPDATED 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE MILLION-SELLING POP SCIENCE CLASSICWHAT IF... one man decided to answer all the unanswerable questions, using science. ''Randall Munroe is nerd royalty'' BEN GOLDACRE ''Brilliant'' ROLLING STONE''Smart answers to silly questions: Munroe reveals all'' GUARDIAN''Required reading'' NEW YORK TIMESRandall Munroe is the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com. His readers ask him a lot of strange questions: What would happen if absolutely everyone jumped at the same time? How could we build a Lego bridge between London and New York?What if my DNA vanished?How long could a submarine last in space?What are the odds of meeting my soulmate?In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations and consults everyone from a

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Book Synopsis''A gripping new drama in science ... if you want to understand how the concept of life is changing, read this'' Professor Andrew Briggs, University of OxfordWhen Darwin set out to explain the origin of species, he made no attempt to answer the deeper question: what is life? For generations, scientists have struggled to make sense of this fundamental question. Life really does look like magic: even a humble bacterium accomplishes things so dazzling that no human engineer can match it. And yet, huge advances in molecular biology over the past few decades have served only to deepen the mystery. So can life be explained by known physics and chemistry, or do we need something fundamentally new?In this penetrating and wide-ranging new analysis, world-renowned physicist and science communicator Paul Davies searches for answers in a field so new and fast-moving that it lacks a name, a domain where computing, chemistry, quantum physics and nanotechnology intersect. At the heart of these diverse fields, Davies explains, is the concept of information: a quantity with the power to unify biology with physics, transform technology and medicine, and even to illuminate the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe. From life''s murky origins to the microscopic engines that run the cells of our bodies, The Demon in the Machine is a breath-taking journey across the landscape of physics, biology, logic and computing. Weaving together cancer and consciousness, two-headed worms and bird navigation, Davies reveals how biological organisms garner and process information to conjure order out of chaos, opening a window on the secret of life itself.Trade ReviewBrilliantly vivid ... The big idea is that understanding the information flow in organisms might be the missing part of our scientific jigsaw puzzle. The informational approach [to life], in David's elegant and lucid exposition, is highly promising -- Steven Poole * Guardian *Important and imaginative -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *Boundary-transcending ... Davies claims that life's defining characteristics are better understood in terms of information ... there is grandeur in this view of life * Nature *Paul Davies is a courageous explorer of the boundaries of what we can know about our world. This book makes his explorations available to all who enjoy pushing those boundaries. Written with a light entertaining touch, even the most abstruse science acquires the clarity of exposition for which the author is justly renowned -- Denis Noble, University of Oxford, author of Dance to the Tune of Life: Biological RelativityThis is one of the most exciting books I have read in years. Paul Davies celebrates a significant anniversary with a demonically brilliant investigation of a fundamental question that only the very latest science and philosophy can deal with. Now we have a view from the master that's as thrilling as it is satisfying. Superb. -- Robyn WilliamsThe molecular biology revolution has led to extraordinary understandings of how life emerges from physical processes. But comprehension of the nuts and bolts of these processes omits a key feature of what is going on: what separates life from non-life is information. In this characteristically clearly written and engaging book, ranging from physics to biology and evolutionary theory to neuroscience, Paul Davies strongly makes the case that at its core, life is about information flows. There is much food for thought here. Highly recommended. -- George F.R. Ellis, University of Cape Town, co-author of The Large Scale Structure of Space-TimePaul Davies always probes the deepest questions in science. Here, addressing the deepest of all -- Schrödinger's What is Life? -- he tells us what life is: matter plus information - beyond the laws of physics, but compatible with them. To elaborate this thesis, he deploys his trademark talent: getting to the heart of the most abstruse and technical aspects of science (biology as well as physics), without jargon and with down-to-earth analogies -- Michael Berry, HH Wills Physics LaboratoryThis creative demon shadows DNA and the promise of quantum computing, answering some basic questions. What is consciousness, why is life so good at predicting where it might go next? The bridge connecting fundamental physics, biology and the most advanced labs of computation is what Davies calls information patterns. He shows how it organizes for top-down creativity, and thereby holds off the grim reaper of entropy. With striking insight, and metaphors that illuminate the landscape of science today, Davies once again becomes a guide to the near future. -- Charles Jencks, The Garden of Cosmic SpeculationThe Demon in the Machine encompasses some of the most intriguing and unsolved mysteries of the universe: the existence of an arrow of time imprinted on the cosmos, and the emergence of life itself. Davies' crisp but rich narrative succeeds in untangling various highly complex ideas and processes, while fluently and intelligently setting out its own arrow of argument. -- Mikhail Prokopenko, The University of SydneyPaul Davies narrates a gripping new drama in science, in which the plot is the story of life and the leading actor is information. With his characteristic blend of erudition and clarity, he brings together some of the most rapidly advancing knowledge in physics and technology to show how information controls biology. If you want to understand how the concept of life is changing, read this. -- Professor Andrew Briggs, University of Oxford, author of The Penultimate Curiosity and It Keeps Me Seeking.A tour-de-force of a fascinating and frontier topic: information as a distinguishing, central aspect of those physical systems known as living ones. The Demon in the Machine is simultaneously rigorous, state-of-the-art, and highly readable - very hard to put down -- Michael Levin, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts UniversityPaul Davies takes us on a fascinating tour of what is known about what life is. Along the way he speculates interestingly about what may become known. His theme, drawn from Darwin, Schrödinger, Turing, Gödel, Shannon and von Neumann, is that what separates life from non-life is information. But how? Exploring that question illuminates biology by revealing its deep roots in physics, mathematics and computer science. -- David DeutschWhat is life? Questions don't come much bigger than that. It's asked regularly by biologists, philosophers, lawyers, law-makers, astrobiologists and, occasionally, wide-eyed children. It's not so often asked by physicists, which makes Paul Davies' new book, The Demon In The Machine, that much more fascinating. * Sydney Morning Herald *a vivid exposition of the new mathematics of biology, in which information flows play a central part * The Telegraph, best new science books to buy for Christmas 2019 *Davies - one of the most imaginative scientists working today - urges biologists studying the origins and evolution of life to pay more attention to flows of information and energy on top of traditional chemistry and physics. He is a clear guide to the emergence of information science as a key factor in biology research. * The Financial Times, Best books of 2019: Science *

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Book SynopsisMarvel at the wonders of the miniature world and its complex lifeforms in this fascinating hardback guide, illustrated throughout with spectacular full-colour photography. With the latest developments in scanning electron microscopy, the miniature world has now been revealed to us in never-before-seen detail. With accomplished science writer Marianne Taylor as your guide, you will learn about the microbes that are at the heart of the world''s ecosystems, the composition of minerals, the structure of cells in the human body, and much more besides.Includes:• Microorganisms • Mineral structures• NanotechnologyThe text is brought to life by superb full-colour photos, charts, maps and infographics to reveal the miniature world in all its splendor. A fascinating guide to the world which can be enjoyed by the whole family.ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus'' Discovering... series brings together spectacular

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Book SynopsisGood Nature is a groundbreaking exploration from Dr Kathy Willis exposing the causal relationship between nature and our health - making you experience the world in a new light.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating introduction to the different habitats and creatures to be found along the coastline. With over 240 colour photographs, this is the ideal guide to take on seashore rambles.Divided into different coastline habitats for ease of use, Collins Gem Seashore is the ideal guide for families and children.Featured habitats include cliffs, rocky shores, sand dunes, saltmarsh, shingle and the strandline.The book includes full details of the many species to be found within each habitat.Introductions to seaweeds, worms, molluscs, arthopods, fish, birds and mammals, and many other shore-line inhabitants are presented in a clear, accessible manner.This portable, informative book is perfect for any excursion to the shore.

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Book Synopsis''Quantum mechanics for real. This is the good stuff, the most mysterious aspects of how reality works, set out with crystalline clarity. The place to start'' Sean Carroll, physicist, California Institute of Technology, author of The Particle at the End of the UniverseThis is the ultimate practical introduction to quantum mechanics. World-renowned physicist Leonard Susskind and data engineer Art Friedman give you the basic skills you need to tackle this famously difficult topic yourself.They provide clear, lively explanations of basic concepts, introduce the key fields of quantum mechanics and include step-by-step exercises. Making a complex subject ''as simple as possible, but no simpler'', this is a practical toolkit for amateur scientists that you won''t find anywhere else.Trade ReviewThe writing is fresh and immediate, crisp and satisfying .... A persuasive overview * Nature *

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Book SynopsisMedical doctor turned food scientist and author of DK bestsellers The Science of Cooking (2017), The Science of Spice (2018) and The Science of Living (2020), "Dr Stu" is a science and medical writer, presenter and educator. He makes regular appearances on TV, radio, and at public events, and his writing appears in national and international publications. Stuart is also the founder and editor of online lifestyle-science magazine Guru.Trade Review"If you want to know more abou the natural phenomena that control the world of garden plants, then this book is for you." -- Ian Hodgson * Garden News *

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Book SynopsisThe third volume in Leonard Susskind's one-of-a-kind physics series cracks open Einstein's special relativity and field theory In the first two books in his wildly popular The Theoretical Minimum series, world-class physicist Leonard Susskind provided a brilliant first course in classical and quantum mechanics, offering readers not an oversimplified introduction, but the real thing - everything you need to start doing physics, and nothing more. Now, thankfully, Susskind and his former student Art Friedman are back, this time to introduce readers to special relativity and classical field theory. At last, waves, forces and particles will be demystified. Using their typical brand of relatively simple maths, enlightening sketches and the same fictional counterparts, Art and Lenny, Special Relativity and Classical Field Theory takes us on an enlightening journey through a world now governed by the laws of special relativity. Starting in their new watering hole,Trade ReviewWitty and insightful ... I found it thrilling -- Robert P. Crease * Nature *This is quantum mechanics for real. This is the good stuff, the most mysterious aspects of how reality works, set out with crystalline clarity. If you want to know how physicists really think about the world, this book is the place to start -- Sean Carroll, physicist, California Institute of Technology * author of The Particle at the End of the Universe *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Those who feel doomed to be fat would be well advised to digest every word of Taubes's cogently argued, agenda-shifting book. It could be a life-changer for some' Book of the Week, Observer A revelatory expose of the bad science behind conventional weight loss advice, arguing for low-carb high-fat diets, from the bestselling author of The Case Against Sugar. While government and nutritional organisations spout the failed mantra of calorie reduction, doctors treating diabetes and obesity are experiencing extraordinary results among patients cutting out carbs. This diet has the essential benefit of allowing you to lose weight without ever feeling hungry. World authority Gary Taubes analyses the bad science behind our nutritional dogma. He shows that weight gain is driven by genetic, hormonal factors - and not overeating or 'gluttony' as is commonly the underlying suggestion - citing compelling evidence that people with the propensity to fatten easily can be helped best by a low carbohydrate high fat diet. This groundbreaking read offers hope to anyone wishing to prevent or reverse diabetes or obesity - as well as anyone wanting to eat more healthily - and will fundamentally change our habits around food forever. 'Gary Taubes deserves a national science medal for helping to raise the critical question of why the food we eat is killing us ... offers new hope to people suffering from obesity.' Kevin Schulman, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Stanford UniversityTrade ReviewCogently argued, agenda-shifting... a life changer * Observer *What should we eat? Gary Taubes provides the answer. His work has changed everything about the way I eat. -- Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness ProjectGary Taubes's book violates everything leading medical societies and governmental agencies espouse -- but Taubes is right and they are wrong. Medicine, like life, is about risk and benefit. This book provides the best path for most people who are overweight or obese to restore health -- Orrin Devinsky, M.D., Professor of Neurology & Neuroscience, New York University, School of Medicine

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Book SynopsisPor primera vez tienes a tu alcance todos los mamíferos del mundo ilustrados en único y práctico libro. Creado para un público amplio, esta obra fascinará tanto a naturalistas principiantes como a expertos mastozoólogos, investigadores, conservacionistas y cualquier persona interesada en la espectacular diversidad de los mamíferos.

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling RSPB Handbook of British Birds is the most comprehensive reference for birdwatchers of all levels of interest and experience. Now in its fifth edition, it remains the most accessible field guide to more than 300 bird species likely to be encountered in Britain and Ireland.Alongside artworks depicting all common plumages, the detailed text describes each bird''s behaviour, habitat, voice, breeding biology, longevity and seasonal movements, as well as other useful information. The guide also includes UK population trends and up-to-date distribution maps.Completely revised and updated, this fifth edition also features new artwork and comparison spreads, additional rarities and the most recent taxonomic order, as well as each species'' conservation status, a summary of the threats UK species are currently facing and details of what conservationists are doing to help.A new lay-flat binding has also been used, creating easier access to the species accounts at hTrade ReviewAn indispensable guide to the UK's most familiar birds and the perfect companion to exploring what nature has to offer. * Choice Magazine *It does a job as a field guide but is more than that. It's an easy way to find out more about the birds between its covers – with sections on behaviour, habitat, voice, breeding biology, longevity and movements, population trends and conservation status. -- David Chandler * Bird Watching *The ideal field guide for anybody who's just getting started in birdwatching. -- John Miles * Bird Watching *Of all the various reference guides out there – and there are plenty to choose from – this authoritative book with its detailed text and useful drawings is in my opinion the most useful for birdwatchers in Britain. -- Charlie Elder, journalist and author of Few And Far BetweenTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Population Trends of British Birds Using this Book Bird Topography Species Accounts Rarities Further Reading and Resources Index

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER'Refreshingly clear'Sunday Times'A hugely enjoyable slice of popular science'Daily Mail__________ A journey from the farthest reaches of the globe to the most cutting-edge research to explore everything the natural world and science have to offer on the mystery of ageing.From the backwards-ageing jellyfish to the woman who successfully edited her own DNA, biologist Nicklas Brendborg follows the thread of every experiment, story and myth in search of immortality. With mind-bending discoveries and physiological gifts that feel closer to magic than reality, Jelly­fish Age Backwards will reshape everything you thought you knew about ageing - and reveal nature's secrets to unlocking your own longevity.Trade ReviewIn a field characterised by overclaiming and wishful thinking, it is judicious, sensible and refreshingly clear. And fascinating. * Sunday Times *Nicklas Brendborg takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the science of ageing... he navigates this bustling discipline with graceful clarity, dispelling common myths along the way. * New Scientist *A hugely enjoyable slice of popular science, full of memorable facts and sound advice. * Daily Mail *Some species are effectively immortal, others induce suspended animation, others age backwards. And all humans do is senesce, so that everything from our minds down to each cell becomes more fragile and less resilient. Nicklas Brendborg accessibly guides the non-scientist through the science of aging and what's known about making it slower and gentler (along with judiciously debunking the ample pseudo-science). All written with a fun, appealing voice, making for a surprisingly upbeat read. -- Dr Robert Sapolsky, bestselling author of BEHAVEThis book will make readers marvel at the possibilities held by scientific discovery, and most of all at nature * Nature Aging *I loved it. Bursting with insight and fabulous facts. The brain boost it gives you is enough to make you feel ten years younger on its own! -- Matt Warren, editor of The ConversationBrendborg explores what could be a complicated and heavy subject so intriguingly, funnily and in such an accessible manner, that the end result is something that even traditionally fiction readers would enjoy. * Publishing Post *Clear and fascinating * The Sunday Times, Best Summer Reads *A highly-entertaining journey through the science of longevity. Why we age, and what we can do about it, explained in a clear and captivating way. A wonderful book * Dr Kris Verbugh, Author of The Longevity Code *Aging can be delayed, prevented, and even reversed in several examples. Brendborg's book is storytelling that spans history and science, goes from nature to the laboratories, and discusses how we got here, what the future is and where we are going. Nicklas is young enough to grasp the details and connectivity yet mature enough to practice wisdom and manage expectations like a true geroscientist * Dr Nir Barzilai, author of Age Later *

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Book SynopsisReef Life is the story of how Callum Roberts, Britain's pre-eminent marine conservation scientist, fell in love with coral reefs and embarked on a thirty-year career. He began as a young university student who had never been abroad, spending a summer helping to map the unknown reefs of Saudi Arabia. And from that moment, when Callum first cleared his mask, he's never looked back, moving on to survey Sharm El Sheikh, and from there diving and researching all over the world, including Australia's imperilled Great Barrier Reef and the more resilient reefs of the Caribbean. His stories are astonishing, lyrical and laced with a wonderful wry humour - and they allow us privileged access to, and understanding of, the science of our oceans and reefs. Reading this book will also commit readers to support Callum's goal to get marine reserve status for ten percent of the world's ocean.Trade ReviewCompulsory reading for scuba divers and armchair divers alike, Roberts tells at times hilarious stories of the ups and downs of reef research * Discover Wildlife *A ravishing, alarming account of these underwater palaces of wonder, and the existential threat they face from humanity and our warming climate...The chief pleasure of this book is Roberts's rich descriptive power. He was an adviser for Blue Planet 2, and his writing does more than justice to those stunning films. Nature's throne rooms are thrown open by Roberts's prose. -- Colin Greenwood * The Spectator *Part odyssey, part 'Reef Ecology 101', Roberts' witty and vivid descriptions of the underwater world are meshed with the most up-to-date findings, which suggest that "reefs cannot be climate-proofed and they can't hide from climate change" -- Boris Worm * Nature *Reef Life is a vibrant memoir of the joys, as well as the grind, of a research career beginning in the 1980s that has spanned a golden age of coral reef science. It is also a fine introduction to the ecology of reefs and the existential threats they now face. -- Caspar Henderson * The Guardian *Compulsory reading for scuba divers and armchair divers alike * BBC Wildlife *Praise for Ocean of Life: 'Roberts is that precious pearl: a practising scientist who not only knows his field inside out, but also understands how to write compelling, persuasive non-fiction ... he has trawled and plundered these experiences to craft the nearest thing we are ever likely to get to an all-encompassing manifesto for sustainable marine management' -- Leo Hickman * Guardian *I know of no other volume that treats such divergent ocean issues with this much accuracy and acumen ... At the heart of this book is a deep love of the ocean and a profound concern for its viability as a resource for us all. -- Stephen Palumbi * Nature *

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Book SynopsisQuantum Theory is the most revolutionary discovery in physics since Newton. This book gives a lucid, exciting, and accessible account of the surprising and counterintuitive ideas that shape our understanding of the sub-atomic world. It does not disguise the problems of interpretation that still remain unsettled 75 years after the initial discoveries. The main text makes no use of equations, but there is a Mathematical Appendix for those desiring stronger fare. Uncertainty, probabilistic physics, complementarity, the problematic character of measurement, and decoherence are among the many topics discussed.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 ReviewJohn Polkinghorne has brought to life that most mysterious and perplexing of revolutions in understanding and has made its mysteries accessible. * Peter Atkins, University of Oxford *John Polkinghorne has produced an excellent piece of work. ... Many authors of "popular" books on modern physics have the regrettable habit of mixing science fact with science fiction. Polkinghorne never does that: he always allows the truth to stand by itself and show its own fascination. ... I think that this is an excellent contribution to the literature on quantum theory for a general audience. * Chris Isham, Imperial College, London *This splendid book explains both the triumph and the mystery that is quantum theory. It is a triumph because of its towering mathematical structure, and amazing empirical accuracy. It is a mystery because of the conundrums about how to interpret it. John Polkinghorne, himself a distinguished quantum physicist, is a sure guide to all of this: he celebrates the successes of the theory, and shows unfailingly good judgement about the conundrums. * Jeremy Butterfield, University of Oxford *Table of Contents1. Classical cracks ; 2. The light dawns ; 3. Darkening Perplexities ; 4. Further developments ; 5. Togetherness ; 6. Lessons and meanings

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Book SynopsisA brilliant introductory guide to exploring the night sky, from the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich.Offering complete advice from the ground up, Stargazing is the perfect manual for beginners to astronomy introducing the world of telescopes, planets, stars, dark skies and celestial maps.Discover how to tackle light pollution, how to stargaze with just your eyes, and what equipment is best for beginners.Astronomy experts Radmila Topalovic and Tom Kerss explain the best ways to plan your stargazing experience and the key things to look out for on specific dates throughout the year.With seasonal star charts, constellation charts and facts about our Solar System, Stargazing is packed of useful information and guidance for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.Bridging the gap between human curiosity and the need for scientific expertise, Stargazing allows a complete novice to understand our place in the cosmos and enjoy the beautiful and extraordinary wonders of the niTrade Review‘A perfect book for anyone looking to start a new hobby or simply have a better understanding of our Universe.’- Firetrench ‘This accessible and well-presented book would make an ideal gift for any beginner to astronomy – recommended.’ Journal of the British Astronomical Association

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Book Synopsis''A necessary book for our times. But also just great fun'' Saul Perlmutter, Nobel LaureateThe world is awash in bullshit, and we''re drowning in it. Politicians are unconstrained by facts. Science is conducted by press release. Start-up culture elevates hype to high art. These days, calling bullshit is a noble act.Based on a popular course at the University of Washington, Calling Bullshit gives us the tools to see through the obfuscations, deliberate and careless, that dominate every realm of our lives. In this lively guide, biologist Carl Bergstrom and statistician Jevin West show that calling bullshit is crucial to a properly functioning social group, whether it be a circle of friends, a community of researchers, or the citizens of a nation. Through six rules of thumb, they help us recognize bullshit whenever and wherever we encounter it - even within ourselves - and explain it to a crystal-loving aunt or casually racist grandfather.Trade ReviewEssential reading. Even if you feel you can trudge through verbal bullsh!t easily enough, this book will give you the tools to swim through numerical snake-oil. . . -- Simon Ings * The Telegraph *A modern classic that is troubling in some places, sobering in others, and enlightening from beginning to end. . . Bergstrom and West leave the reader feeling a very particular kind of smarter: the empowered kind. . . It works anywhere, for anyone: the academic, the citizen-scientist, citizen-skeptic, and citizen-curious * Wired *A helpful guide to navigating a world full of doubtful claims based on spurious data. Using clever anecdotes, nods to online culture and allusions to ancient philosophy, the book tells ordinary readers how to spot nonsense-even if they are not numerical whizzes * The Economist *Each of us now swims through deception so pervasive that we no longer realize it's there. Calling Bullshit presents a master class in how to spot it, how to resist it, and how to keep it from succeeding -- Paul Romer, Nobel LaureateIf I could make this critical handbook's contents required curriculum for every high school student (thus replacing trigonometry), then I would do so. I highly recommend Calling Bullshit for our modern existence in the age of misinformation -- Cathy O’Neil, author of Weapons of Math DestructionThe information landscape is strewn with quantitative cowflop; read this book if you want to know where not to step -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to be WrongI laughed, I cried -- to read Bergstrom and West's great examples of 'bullshit.' This is a gripping read for anybody who cares about how we are fooled (and how not to be), and the connection to numeracy and science. But it's also just great fun. This is a necessary book for our times -- Saul Perlmutter, Nobel Laureate

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