Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisGenius demystified, the Dummies way! In 1905, Albert Einstein revolutionized modern physics with his theory of relativity. He went on to become a twentieth--century icon--a man whose name and face are synonymous with "genius. " Now, at last, ordinary readers can explore Einstein's life and work in this new For Dummies guide.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: A Genius Awakens 5 Chapter 1: Who Was Einstein? 7 Chapter 2: Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Man 17 Chapter 3: 1905: Einstein’s Miracle Year 37 Part II: On the Shoulders of Giants: What Einstein Learned in School 47 Chapter 4: A Clockwork Universe 49 Chapter 5: The Arrow of Time 69 Chapter 6: Einstein’s Most Fascinating Subject 81 Chapter 7: And There Was Light 97 Part III: The Special Theory of Relativity 111 Chapter 8: Relativity Before Einstein 113 Chapter 9: Riding on a Beam of Light 123 Chapter 10: Clocks, Trains, and Automobiles: Exploring Space and Time 135 Chapter 11: The Equation 147 Part IV: The General Theory of Relativity 161 Chapter 12: Einstein’s Second Theory of Relativity 163 Chapter 13: “Black Holes Ain’t So Black” 187 Chapter 14: Was Einstein Right about Relativity? 211 Part V: The Quantum and the Universe 229 Chapter 15: Atoms Before Einstein 231 Chapter 16: Quantum Leap: God Plays Dice 247 Chapter 17: Einstein and the Bomb 269 Chapter 18: Einstein’s Greatest Blunder 289 Chapter 19: Not a Blunder After All 303 Part VI: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 20: Ten Insights into Einstein’s Beliefs on Religion and Philosophy 321 Chapter 21: Ten Women Who Influenced Einstein 329 Appendix A: Glossary 339 Appendix B: Einstein Timeline 343 Index 349

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Book SynopsisOne bright February afternoon on a beach in Cornwall, GavinPretor-Pinney took a break from cloudspotting and started watching thewaves rolling into shore. Mesmerised, he wondered where they had comefrom, and decided to find out. He soon realised that waves don''t justappear on the ocean, they are everywhere around us, and our livesdepend on them.From the rippling beats of our hearts, to the movement of food throughour digestive tracts and of signals across our brains, waves are thetransport systems of our bodies. Everything we see and hear reaches usvia light and sound waves, and our information age is reliant on themicrowaves and infrared waves used by the telephone and internetinfrastructure. From shockwaves unleashed by explosions to torsionalwaves that cause suspension bridges to collapse, from sonar waves thatallow submarines to see'' with sound to Mexican waves that sweepthrough stadium crowds... there were waves, it seemed, wherever Gavinlooked. But what, he wondered, coTrade Review'Page after page is patient, open, rational and clear.... an eye opening experience' * Daily Mail *'Pretor-Pinney is clever, passionate, indomitable in his determination to share his knowledge.' * Daily Telegraph *‘He is an entertaining and informal teacher... a unique book' * Daily Mail *'Dotted with photos and diagrams, The Wavewatcher's Companion is a perfectly paced combination of whimsical, digressive wonder and in-depth knowledge that renders a potentially esoteric subject engaging to all' * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWe live in a world of waves. The Earth shakes to its foundations, the seas and oceans tremble incessantly, sounds reverberate through land, sea, and air. Beneath the skin, our brains and bodies are awash with waves of their own, and the Universe is filled by a vast spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, of which visible light is the narrowest sliver. Casting the net even wider, there are mechanical waves, quantum wave phenomena, and the now clearly detected gravitational waves. Look closer and deeper and more kinds of waves appear, down to the most fundamental level of reality. This Very Short Introduction looks at all the main kinds of wave, their sources, effects, and uses. Mike Goldsmith discusses how wave motion results in a range of phenomena, from reflection, diffraction, interference, and polarization in the case of light waves to beats and echoes for sound. All waves, however different, share many of the same features, and, as Goldsmith shows, for all their complexities many of their behaviours are fundamentally simple.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: Waves in essence2: Water waves3: Sound waves4: Seismic waves5: Biological waves6: Electromagnetic waves7: Gravitational waves8: Quantum wavesFurther readingIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDynamic explanations break down difficult topics, and DK's classic visual approach makes these subjects accessible to all inquisitive young minds. * City Kids *

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Book Synopsis''A fascinating celebration of the impact that structural engineering has on all our lives[an] eye-opening book'' The Sunday Times In BUILT, structural engineer Roma Agrawal takes a unique look at how construction has evolved from the mud huts of our ancestors to skyscrapers of steel that reach hundreds of metres into the sky. She unearths how engineers have tunnelled through kilometres of solid mountains; how they''ve bridged across the widest and deepest of rivers, and tamed Nature's precious and elusive water resources. She tells vivid tales of the visionaries who created the groundbreaking materials in the Pantheon''s record-holding concrete dome and the frame of the record-breaking Eiffel Tower. Through the lens of an engineer, Roma examines tragedies like the collapse of the Quebec Bridge, highlighting the precarious task of ensuring people''s safety they hold at every step. With colourful stories of her life-long fascination with buildings and her own hand-draTrade Review[Agrawal] weaves accessible explanations of scientific principles together with engaging historical stories and personal anecdotes…[a] timely and impassioned book * Guardian *Agrawal has a gift for rendering complex phenomena in simple terms...a real treat * Financial Times *Agrawal is a rarity: a female structural engineer in an adamantly male profession … She will inspire young women who are considering a career in engineering … [S]he shines when explaining the sorts of things people might be too shy to admit they find inherently fascinating * New York Times Book Review *Agrawal has just launched her first book, Built, the latest salvo in her crusade to get us to see the world “through different eyes, the eyes of an engineer” * i newspaper *A fascinating celebration of the impact that structural engineering has on all our lives…[an] eye-opening book * The Sunday Times *Roma makes the complex principles of structural engineering accessible to everyone with clear explanations and engaging illustrations. It has made me suddenly look at every building I pass in a new way * Ellen Stofan, former Chief Scientist at NASA *Roma Agrawal makes engineering thrilling, accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. Built is another great example of how women can write beautifully about so-called male subjects. Bring on the female engineers! -- Andrea Wulf, historian and author of The Invention of NatureA wonderfully absorbing book about an engineer and her passion for construction * Professor Mark Miodownik, materials engineer, broadcaster and author of Stuff Matters *A charming tribute to one woman’s love of engineering. Full of fascinating facts and personal stories * Angela Saini, author of Geek Nation *A necessary reminder of the wonderful human ingenuity behind the world’s greatest engineering projects, from Roman aqueducts to London’s magnificent Shard. Built will inspire readers of every stripe * Erica Wagner, author of Chief Engineer *A book about real engineering written by a real engineer who can really write * Henry Petroski, author of The Road Taken *A passionate, often personal love letter to the science of structure. Whether exploring Pompeii or assembling pineapple upside-down cake, Agrawal’s journey will change the way you look at the structures you take for granted * Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries *Roma Agrawal is a much-needed role model for the next generation of engineers. Most girls never give a thought to civil engineering as a career. The book will change that * Rob Eastaway, mathematician and author of Any Ideas? Tips and Techniques for Creative Problem Solving *Roma Agrawal makes engineering thrilling, accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. Built is another great example of how women can write brilliantly about so-called male subjects. Bring on the female engineers! * Andrea Wulf, historian and author of Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heavens *How come we have skyscrapers, bricks, bridges and tunnels? It’s down to structural engineers, but who are these awesome makers? Men in hard hats? Not necessarily! Roma Agrawal has helped to design some iconic structures that grace our cities. Here she gives an insider’s captivating account, so rich in history and so full of verve that she is bound to make others want to follow in her footsteps. Built reveals how human ingenuity keeps us safe from the raw forces of nature, all in a style that is down-to-earth as well as funny and personal * Uta Frith, psychologist and author of Autism: Explaining the Enigma *This fascination is communicated with flair and passion in a highly engaging debut book that will appeal to the engineer and the inquisitive layperson alike * E&T Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR Without our realising it, a single, slippery concept has become a secular deity throughout the modern industrial world. We make terrible sacrifices in its name: of our money, our health, and our planet. That deity is nature itself. From supermarket shoppers to evolutionary biologists, from atheists to pastors, from Alex Jones to Gwyneth Paltrow, we are all prone to the intuitive faith that life should be lived 'naturally'. But nature can't teach us how to live. If we try to stick to its imagined commands, eschewing human artifice in pursuit of Edenic purity, we jeopardise the environment, our health, and our society. (We also waste a lot of money on pots of weird slime). It is time to accept our profound responsibility to shape the world of which our technology and our selves are wholly a part.Trade ReviewAn indispensable read ... The romanticisation of the "natural" is, Levinovitz notes, rooted in privilege. Only those who enjoy a lifestyle sufficiently protected from the ravages of nature have the licence to romanticise it. -- Kenan Malik * Guardian *Remarkably wide-ranging ... Subtle and serious ... The section on Goop is almost painfully sharp -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Concise and imaginative ... A tour de force -- Daniel Akst * Wall Street Journal *Levinovitz's book is an important call for more nuance over simplicity, for compromise over dogmatism, and for embracing uncertainty over certainty. * Science *A useful corrective to lazy thinking * Guardian *Despite Levinovitz taking smart aim at the snake-oil salespeople of late capitalism - those selling expensive natural remedies, natural "cures" for cancer, or loudly advocating "wholly natural" childbirth, sex or sport - he concludes that there is something innately glorious about the non-human natural world. What Levinovitz critiques is what he sees as a religious attitude towards nature. An appeal to natural goodness - with "unnatural" as its evil twin - is among the most influential arguments in all human thought, ancient and modern, east and west. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *This is important stuff, as evidenced every time someone discusses the supposed naturalness and thus supposed inevitability of some appalling human behavior. [Natural] is a superb book­ - fascinating, accessible, elegantly written, and deeply thought-provoking. -- Robert M. Sapolsky * author of Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst *In a fascinating tour across time, cultures, and ideas, Alan Levinovitz shows us how the worship of an abstract idea of nature can lead us astray in everything from our health to the laws we pass and even how we structure our governments and our way of life. This book is required reading for anyone who wants to face the scientific and moral challenges of 21st century with a clear head. -- Tom Nichols * author of The Death of Expertise *Alan Levinovitz provides a bracing corrective to our often misplaced faith in all things derived from nature. Throughout its exploration of a fascinating range of issues, from vanilla to wolves, the book is both thoughtful and addictively readable. -- Deborah Blum * author of The Poison Squad *evocative, convincing ... this argument for removing "natural" from the altar of absolute good will certainly start conversations, particularly among naturalists and environmentalists. * Publisher's Weekly *

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: BiologySuitable for the 2025 examsIdeal GCSE grade 9-1 practice in handy revision cardsFour different card types Revise, Memorise, Test and Practical cover everything you need to revise and test for each topic. Practise in short bursts and mix up the cards to familiarise yourself with the topics and different question types. 100 topic-based GCSE revision cards How to Use cards include revision tips and games Revise cards provide a recap of the key facts you need to know for each topic Memorise cards include the most important scientific terms, definitions and equations Test cards feature quick-fire questions to test your understanding and recall Practical cards allow you to review all required practicalsAlso available for GCSE Chemistry (9780008353902), Physics (9780008353919), Combined Science Trilogy (9780008353926) and KS3 Science (9780008398729)Trade Review“Generally excellent. Attractive layout, clear and easy to access. There is necessary focus on exam skills, but presented in an interesting, step-by-step format.” Susan Stirrup, King’s Ely “I like the clear layout, especially the spacing of the questions – it is very accessible.” Fiona Hall, Sheringham High School “Colourful and informative.” Jane Hamilton, Alsager School

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Book SynopsisNoriko is just getting started as a junior reporter for the Asagake Times. She wants to cover the hard-hitting issues, like world affairs and politics, but does she have the smarts for it? Thankfully, her overbearing and math-minded boss, Mr. Seki, is here to teach her how to analyze her stories with a mathematical eye. In The Manga Guide to Calculus, you'll follow along with Noriko as she learns that calculus is more than just a class designed to weed out would-be science majors. You'll see that calculus is a useful way to understand the patterns in physics, economics, and the world around us, with help from real-world examples like probability, supply and demand curves, the economics of pollution, and the density of Shochu (a Japanese liquor). Mr. Seki teaches Noriko how to: Use differentiation to understand a function's rate of change Apply the fundamental theorem of calculus, and grasp the relationship between a function's derivative and its integral Integrate and differentiateTrade Review"The Manga Guide to Calculus would make an excellent supplement for anyone seeking a firmer intuitive grasp of the subject. It is entertaining, and it does an excellent job of exploring the meaning and relevance of calculus to the physical world."—Mathematical Association of AmericaTable of ContentsPrologue: What is a Function?Chapter 1: Let's Differentiate a Function!Chapter 2: Let's Learn Differentiation Techniques!Chapter 3: Let's Integrate a Function!Chapter 4: Let's Learn Integration Techniques!Chapter 5: Let's Learn About Taylor Expansions!Chapter 6: Let's Learn About Partial Differentiation!Index

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Book SynopsisKumi loves to eat, but she's worried that her passion for junk food is affecting her health. Determined to unlock the secrets of dieting, she enlists the help of her brainy friend Nemoto and his beautiful biochemistry professor, Dr. Kurosaka. And so it begins... Follow along in The Manga Guide to Biochemistry as Kumi explores the mysteries of her body's inner workings. With the help of RoboCat, the professor's friendly endoscopic robot, you'll soar through the incredible chemical machinery that keeps us alive and get an up-close look at biopolymers like DNA and proteins, the metabolic processes that turn our food into energy, and the enzymes that fuel our bodies' chemical reactions. As you dive into the depths of plant and animal cells, you'll learn about: The metabolism of substances like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and alcohol How the energy powerhouses known as mitochondria produce ATP DNA transcription and the different types of RNA that work together to translate the geneTrade Review"Another manga guide that helps make the complex subject matter, in this case biochemistry, accessible and easy to learn thanks to its easy to digest format."—Active Anime"This might just be one of the most exciting products I have seen yet."—The Otaku's StudyThe Manga Guide to Biochemistry "will go a long way towards de-mystifying the subject and give you a lot of good tools to reason through."—Michael Larsen, TESTHEAD"An excellent introduction to biochemistry."—TCM Reviews"A great way to learn about how your body processes food and not be bored by a textbook."—Things To Do In LA"I appreciate this series' willingness to eschew traditional learning sequences in favour of intuition, learning in context, and developing ideas organically from previous knowledge. Another enjoyable entry to the series."—Sleeping Hedgehog, A Journal of An Untraditional Nature"Do you love manga? Do you love science? You’ll love this book!"—Jaime Herndon, BookRiotTable of ContentsPrologueChapter 1: What Happens Inside Your Body?Chapter 2: Photosynthesis and RespirationChapter 3: Biochemistry in Our Everyday LivesChapter 4: Enzymes are the Key to Chemical ReactionsChapter 5: Molecular Biology and the Biochemistry of Nucleic AcidsEpilogue

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Book Synopsis“Accomplishes what few other books have—helping growers use mycorrhizae to improve the immune systems of plants. This natural union between plants and fungi is the foundation of our food web.” —Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the WorldTeaming with Fungi is an important guide to mycorrhizae and the role they play in agriculture, horticulture, and hydroponics. Almost every plant in a garden forms a relationship with fungi, and many plants would not exist without their fungal partners. By better understanding this relationship, home gardeners can take advantage of the benefits of fungi, which include an increased uptake in nutrients, resistance to drought, earlier fruiting, and more. This must-have guide will teach you how fungi interact with plants and how to best to employ them in your home garden.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"James Peebles, Co-Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics""Finalist for the PROSE Award in Cosmology and Astronomy, Association of American Publishers""It's hard to imagine anyone better placed to recount the inside story of modern cosmology. . . . For anyone seriously interested in the ways of science and how we came to understand our place in the Universe, this is essential reading."---Giles Sparrow, BBC Sky at Night Magazine"As expected, the quality is top-notch. . . . [Cosmology's Century] is also very well written. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the first hundred years of modern cosmology."---Phillip Helbig, The Observatory

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Book SynopsisBiogeography is the study of geographic variation in all characteristics of life - ranging from genetic, morphological and behavioural variation among regional populations of a species, to geographic trends in diversity of entire communities across our planet''s sufrace. From the ancient hunters and gatherers to the earliest naturalists, Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace, and scientists today, the search for patterns in life has provided insights that proved invaluable for understanding the natural world. And many, if not most, of the compelling kaleidoscope of patterns in biological diversity make little sense unless placed in an explicit geographic context. The Very Short Introduction explains the historical development of the field of biogeography, its fundamental tenets, principles and tools, and the invaluable insights it provides for understanding the diversity of life in the natural world. As Mark Lomolino shows, key questions such as where species occur, how they vary from place to place, where their ancestors occurred, and how they spread across the globe, are essential for us to develop effective strategies for conserving the great menagerie of life across our planet.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 ReviewThis is a good read on a fascinating discipline that Lomolino's holistic approach, which includes geology, paleontology, anthropology, ecology, evolution, and conservation science, serves well. * Society for Conservation Biology *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of illustrations 1: Biological diversity and the geography of nature 2: Dynamics maps of a dynamic planet 3: Geography of diversification 4: Retracing evolution across space and time 5: The geography of biological diversity 6: Macroecology and the geography of micro-evolution 7: The geographic and ecological advance of humanity Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisWith over fifty patents to his name and innumerable awards and accolades, James Lovelock was a distinguished and original thinker, widely recognized by the international scientific community. In this inspiring book, republished in the year of his 100th birthday, Lovelock tells his life story, from his first steps as a scientist to his work with organisations as diverse as NASA, Shell and the Marine Biological Association. Homage to Gaia describes the years of travel and work that led to his crucial scientific breakthroughs in environmental awareness, uncovering how CFCs impact on the ozone layer and creating the concept of Gaia, the theory that the Earth is a self-regulating system. Written in a sharp and energetic style, James Lovelock's book will entertain and inspire anyone interested in science or the creative spirit beyond his legacy.Trade ReviewThere is much more than science in this book ... This is ultimately an uplifting book about the way life ought to be, both at a personal and at a global level * Sunday Times *His 'Gaia hypothesis' is certainly heroic, with all the illusion-busting potential of Gallileo's or Einstein's theories * Independent *The scientist who, more than any other alive today, has changed the way we think of the earth and our place on it -- John Gray * New Statesman *Daring, exciting, original * Scientific American *Lovelock writes beautifully ... Only a genius thinks of the obvious, and Lovelock deserves to be described as a genius * New Scientist *The breath-taking sweep of his central idea - that the earth is a living, self-regulating organism - poses the most dramatic challenge to scientists, politicians, and environmentalists. -- Jonathon PorrittLovelock will go down in history as the scientist who changed our view of the Earth -- John Graya man as inventive and ingenious as he is lively and unorthodox * Scientific American *

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Book SynopsisSacred Geometry exists all around us in the natural world, from the unfurling of a rose bud to the pattern of a tortoise shell, the sub-atomic to the galactic. A pure expression of number and form, it is the language of creation and navigates the unseen dimensions beyond our three-dimensional reality.Since its discovery, humans have found many ways - stone circles, mandalas, labyrinths, temples- to call upon this universal law as a way of raising consciousness and communicating with a divine source. By becoming aware of the dots and lines that build the world around you, Sacred Geometry will teach you how to bring this mystical knowledge into your daily practice.

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Ducks and Geese is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.This is a detailed ''biography'' of ducks and geese that breed in or regularly visit the UK covering 30 species in all. It will include chapters on the evolution of ducks and geese, their place in the natural world, their anatomy and physiology, various feeding methods, spectacular courtship displays and diverse breeding behaviour. Marianne Taylor reveals their often epic migrations and examine their social interactions with their own and other species, including their unusual readiness to hybridise. She also details their relationships with humankind over the centuries, including their presence in folklore and literature and their role in our lives as both prey and pets.She explores their presence as feral and sometimes invasive species outside their natural ranges, and their current status within their nativeTable of ContentsMeet the Ducks and Geese Evolution and Adaptation Breeding Diet and Feeding Social Life Migration Threats and Conservation Wildfowl and People Watching Ducks and Geese Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThis book teaches you to solve physics problems using the functional programming paradigm. Ideal for first-time programmers and science aficionados alike, it introduces the Haskell programming language and encourages the writing of beautiful code to match the elegant ideas of theoretical physics. Haskell's powerful system of types is capable of encoding important mathematical structures like vectors, derivatives, integrals, scalar fields, and differential equations.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments IntroductionPart I: A Haskell Primer for PhysicistsChapter 1: Calculating with HaskellChapter 2: Writing Basic FunctionsChapter 3: Types and EntitiesChapter 4: Describing MotionChapter 5: Working with ListsChapter 6: Higher-Order FunctionsChapter 7: Graphing FunctionsChapter 8: Type ClassesChapter 9: Tuples and Type ConstructorsChapter 10: Describing Motion in Three DimensionsChapter 11: Creating GraphsChapter 12: Creating Stand-Alone ProgramsChapter 13: Creating 2D and 3D Animations Part II: Expressing Newtonian Mechanics and Solving ProblemsChapter 14: Newton’s Second Law and Differential EquationsChapter 15: Mechanics in One DimensionChapter 16: Mechanics in Three DimensionsChapter 17: Satellite, Projectile, and Proton MotionChapter 18: A Very Short Primer on Relativity Chapter 19: Interacting ParticlesChapter 20: Springs, Billiard Balls, and a Guitar StringPart III: Expressing Electromagnetic Theory and Solving ProblemsChapter 21: ElectricityChapter 22: Coordinate Systems and FieldsChapter 23: Curves, Surfaces, and VolumesChapter 24: Electric ChargeChapter 25: Electric FieldChapter 26: Electric CurrentChapter 27: Magnetic FieldChapter 28: The Lorentz Force LawChapter 29: The Maxwell EquationsAppendix: Installing HaskellBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe goal of the American Chemical Society's Chemistry in Context is to establish chemical principles on a need-to-know basis for non-science majors, enabling them to learn chemistry in the context of their own lives and significant issues facing science and the world. The non-traditional approach of Chemistry in Context reflects today''s technological issues and the chemistry principles within them. Climate change, renewable energy, alternate fuels, nutrition, and genetic engineering are examples of issues that are covered in Chemistry in Context.

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Book SynopsisAnswers to the mysteries of the cosmos for inquiring minds.Explore the entire cosmos in 101 fascinating topics from mind-blowing numbers, astonishing sights, to strange-but-true discoveries and everything in between.Feed your cosmic curiosity with this comprehensive guide to the Universe, featuring 101 out-of-this-world astronomical facts, discoveries and innovations. From gravitational curls to strange new worlds; the night sky to the end of time you're sure to find something you never knew before in this mind-expanding book, and with stunning images from the latest and greatest observatories, every turn of the page offers a visual treat. It's the perfect gift for earthlings who love to learn.Trade Review“Kerss’ writing is engaging as always and his science rock-solid, accompanied by stunning images from telescopes around the world, including the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, which are always especially breathtaking when seen in print.” BBC Sky at Night “A compendium of the most exciting topics in space—from tantalizing exomoons to mysterious dark matter—Kerss’ authoritative and entertaining style helps make this a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in space and astronomy.” Forbes Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe market-leader in medicinal chemistry: clear, supportive, and practical. It helps students to effortlessly make the link from theory to real-life applications using practical and focused coverage alongside a package of supportive online resources.Trade ReviewThe best general undergraduate textbook on medicinal chemistry. This new edition retains the accessible style of writing, but provides important updates on the topics. * Dr Mark Ashton, School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, UK *I read this masterpiece to build a strong knowledge of medicinal chemistry and it has helped me a lot. I would definitely recommend it to others. Detailed explanations of enzyme-substrate interactions and much more are very useful. * Jinkal Gondaria, MChem student, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK *A very useful medical chemistry book and teaching tool. Great learning resources and easy to digest content. * Dr Silvia M.M.A. Pereira-Lima, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Portugal *Table of Contents1: Drugs and Drug Targets 2: Protein Structure and Function 3: Enzymes: Structure and Function 4: Receptors: Structure and Function 5: Receptors and Signal Transduction 6: Nucleic Acids: Structure and Function 7: Enzymes as Drug Targets 8: Receptors as Drug Targets 9: Nucleic Acids as Drug Targets 10: Miscellaneous Drug Targets 11: Pharmacokinetics and Related Topics Case Study 1: Statins 12: Drug Discovery: Finding a Lead 13: Drug Design: Optimizing Target Interactions 14: Drug Design: Optimizing Access to the Target 15: Getting the Drug to Market Case Study 2: The Design of ACE Inhibitors Case Study 3: Artemisinin and Related Antimalarial Drugs Case Study 4: The Design of Oxamni Case Study 5: Fosfidomycin as an Antimalarial Agent 16: Combinatorial and Parallel Synthesis 17: In Silico Drug Design 18: Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships Case Study 6: De Novo Design of a Thymidylate Synthase Inhibitor 19: Antibacterial Agents 20: Antiviral Agents 21: Anticancer Agents 22: Protein Kinase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents 23: Antibodies and Other Biologics 24: Cholinergics, Anticholinergics, and Anticholinestarases 25: Drugs Acting on the Adrenergic Nervous System 26: The Opioid Analgesics 27: Anti-Ulcer Agents 28: Cardiovascular Drugs Case Study 7: Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents Case Study 8: Design of a Novel Antidepressant Case Study 9: The Design and Development Of Aliskiren Case Study 10: Factor Xa Inhibitors Case Study 11: Reversible Inhibitors of HCV NS-34A Protease

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Book SynopsisImagine a bird as small as a sparrow, which lives most of its life on the open ocean yet can survive for decades. It walks on the water, and migrates half way around the world, returning to remote islands to breed underground, often in exactly the same rock crevice each year. To attract a mate it sings like a fairy and smells aromatic, but it vomits oil onto its enemies. It visits its nest by night, lays a single enormous egg, and feeds its chick until the nestling weighs more than both parents put together. It seems to have little fear of humans, but was itself feared by ancient seafarers. This might sound like the stuff of legend, but is actually the description of the European Storm-petrel, a member of the Hydrobatidae family. The latest in the Poyser series, with comprehensive text and beautiful illustrations, this follows the remarkable life of the storm-petrel. Focusing on the European species, it tracks their lives from the remote North Atlantic islands, where they br

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Book SynopsisUnderstanding the human mind and how it relates to the world that we experience has challenged philosophers for centuries. How then do we even begin to think about ‘minds’ that are not human?Taking a uniquely broad view of minds and where they might be found – including in plants, aliens, and God – prize-winning science writer Philip Ball pulls these multidisciplinary pieces together to explore what sorts of minds we might expect to find in the universe.He offers for the first time a unified way of thinking about what minds are and what they can do, arguing that in order to understand our own minds and imagine those of others, we need to move on from considering the human mind as a standard against which all others should be measured, and to think about the ‘space of possible minds’.Ball sheds new light on a host of fascinating questions. What moral rights should we afford animals, and can we understand their thoughts? Should we worry that AI is going to take over society? If there are intelligent aliens out there, how could we communicate with them? Should we? Ball’s thrillingly ambitious The Book of Minds about the nature and existence of minds is more mind-expanding than we could imagine. In this fascinating panorama of other minds, we come to better know our own.

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Forensic Anthropology provides comprehensive coverage of key methods and issues in forensic anthropology. Using terminology and best practices recommended by the Scientific Working Group for Forensic Anthropology (SWGANTH) and the Anthropology Consensus Body of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI/ACB), it introduces students to all the major topics in the field, with material ranging from the attribution of ancestry and sex, to various forms of bone trauma, to identification through radiography.This fully updated, sixth edition incorporates new and improved methods, new data and worked examples from North America and across the globe. It also includes a new discussion on probabilities and centiles, increased emphasis on quantification of error rates of both old and new methods, an updated ancestry chapter, and updated URLs with free software to calculate various characteristics.This is a self-contained textbook that is ideal for a lower-division college-level class for non-majors and majors alike. This accessible and engaging text offers an array of features to support teaching and learning, including: boxed case studies extensive figures and photographs chapter summaries and student exercises a glossary of terms additional reading lists critical resources hands-on application for students when used with accompanying lab manual further instructor and student resources via a companion website: https://routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/9781032255590/. Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Bones, Teeth, Measurements, and Methods 3. Establishing Medicolegal Significance 4. Recovery Scene Methods 5. Estimating Postmortem Interval 6. Initial Treatment and Examination 7. Attribution of Population Affinity 8. Attribution of Sex 9. Estimation of Age at Death 10. Calculation of Stature 11. Death, Trauma, and the Skeleton 12. Projectile Trauma 13. Blunt Trauma 14. Sharp and Miscellaneous Trauma 15. Antemortem Skeletal Conditions 16. Postmortem Changes to Bone 17. Additional Aspects of Individualization 18. Obtaining an Identification 19. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisNew concise edition with a new introduction, abridged for the modern reader. The Principia. Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy is one of the most important scientific works ever to have been written and has had a profound impact on modern science. Consisting of three separate books, the Principia states Newton’s laws of motion and Newton’s law of universal gravitation. Understanding and acceptance of these theories was not immediate, however by the end of the seventeenth century no one could deny that Newton had far exceeded all previous works and revolutionised scientific thinking. The FLAME TREE Foundations series features core publications which together have shaped the cultural landscape of the modern world, with cutting-edge research distilled into pocket guides designed to be both accessible and informative.

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Book SynopsisIn a fascinating story of discovery and science, we meet a remote population of wolves unafraid of humans. For parts of twenty-four summers, wolf biologist L. David Mech lived with a group of wolves on Ellesmere Island, some six hundred miles from the North Pole. Elsewhere, most wolves flee from even the scent of humans, but these animals, evolving relatively free from human persecution, are unafraid. Having already spent twenty-eight years studying other populations of wolves more remotely by aircraft, snow-tracking, live-trapping, and radio-tracking, Mech was primed to join their activities up close and record their interactions with each other. This book tells the remarkable story of what Mechand the researchers who followed himhave learned while living among the wolves. The Ellesmere wolves were so unconcerned with Mech's presence that they allowed him to camp near their den and to sit on his all-terrain vehicle as he observed them, watching packs as large as seven adults a

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Book SynopsisWhat is a mathematical function? Why are they so important? How does plotting the graph of a function help us understand it? And where do gradients, differentials and calculus fit in? In this unique little book, packed with equations and their graphs, mathematics teacher Oliver Linton reveals the secrets of polynomial functions, polar functions, inverse functions, complex functions, vector functions and many more. Lines will never look the same again!Trade ReviewWooden Books are: "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.

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Book SynopsisEveryone has heard of the term pseudoscience, typically used to describe something that looks like science, but is somehow false, misleading, or unproven. Many would be able to agree on a list of things that fall under its umbrella - astrology, phrenology, UFOlogy, creationism, and eugenics might come to mind. But defining what makes these fields pseudo is a far more complex issue. It has proved impossible to come up with a simple criterion that enables us to differentiate pseudoscience from genuine science. Given the virulence of contemporary disputes over the denial of climate change and anti-vaccination movements - both of which display allegations of pseudoscience on all sides - there is a clear need to better understand issues of scientific demarcation.Pseudoscience: A Very Short Introduction explores the philosophical and historical attempts to address this problem of demarcation. This book argues that by understanding doctrines that are often seen as antithetical to science, we can learn a great deal about how science operated in the past and does today. This exploration raises several questions: How does a doctrine become demonized as pseudoscientific? Who has the authority to make these pronouncements? How is the status of science shaped by political or cultural contexts? How does pseudoscience differ from scientific fraud?Michael D. Gordin both answers these questions and guides readers along a bewildering array of marginalized doctrines, looking at parapsychology (ESP), Lysenkoism, scientific racism, and alchemy, among others, to better understand the struggle to define what science is and is not, and how the controversies have shifted over the centuries. Pseudoscience: A Very Short Introduction provides a historical tour through many of these fringe fields in order to provide tools to think deeply about scientific controversies both in the past and in our present.Trade ReviewThe book excels as an introduction to the topic....It has the potential to appeal to a wider audience... and help readers within and beyond academia to conceptualize and engage with pseudoscience in its full complexity-to think about it beyond the abstract, the moralistic, and the anecdotal. That indeed would be an exceptional achievement. * Vedran Duančić, Isis *Table of ContentsChapter 1: The demarcation problem Chapter 2: Vestigial sciences Chapter 3: Hyperpoliticized sciences Chapter 4: Fighting "establishment" science Chapter 5: Mind over matter Chapter 6: Controversy is inevitable Chapter 7: The russian questions References Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisA concise, uncluttered edition for the modern reader, with a new introduction. Quantum Theory contains two foundational works of quantum research from the early years of the 20th Century, representing breakthroughs in science that radically altered the landscape of modern knowledge: Quantum Theory of Line-Spectra by Niels Bohr and The Origin and Development of the Quantum Theory by Max Planck. The FLAME TREE Foundations series features core publications which together have shaped the cultural landscape of the modern world, with cutting-edge research distilled into pocket guides designed to be both accessible and informative.

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Book SynopsisThis book describes the natural and cultural history of an iconic and unusual woodpecker – a species that nests in tree cavities but which forages mostly on the ground. The Green Woodpecker, known in folk English as the Yaffle, is afforded comprehensive coverage in this work, with information on its origins, taxonomy, anatomy, appearance, moult, calls, distribution, conservation status, habitats, movements, breeding, diet and relationships with other wildlife and humans all presented. The text is richly illustrated throughout with quality photographs as well as sound spectrograms. Many eye-opening observations of Green Woodpecker behaviour are detailed. This all-encompassing and engaging account has been written for a wide audience, whether professional ornithologist, citizen scientist, amateur birder, woodpecker aficionado or simply someone who wishes to learn more about this curious and remarkable bird.Trade ReviewThe Green Woodpecker is extensively illustrated with captivating photographs and artwork which support Gorman’s narrative which is always authoritative, entertaining and fast-paced. -- James Wright, The Wryneck blogIf you want to know what we currently know about this species then this, undoubtedly, is the book for you. -- Mark Avery, author and environmental campaignerThis book is a must have for anyone with an interest in this species or with woodpeckers in general. -- Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker ReportThis is a well-written book that brings together a wealth of information. Nobody has done more on a European scale to promote woodpecker issues than Gerard Gorman. -- Keith Betton, British BirdsWritten with a blend of scientific rigour and a narrative style, The Green Woodpecker invites both nature enthusiasts and curious minds to embark on a journey that deeps down into the species taxonomy, behaviours and conservation by highlighting the links between the bird and its surroundings. -- Letizia Campioni, AvocettaTable of ContentsAbout the author Acknowledgements Preface 1. Origins and Taxonomy 2. Anatomy and Morphology 3. Description and Identification 4. Moult, Ageing and Sexing 5. Relatives 6. Communication 7. Distribution, Population and Trends 8. Challenges and Conservation 9. Habitats 10. Behaviour 11. Movements and Flight 12. Breeding 13. Cavities 14. Tracks and Signs 15. Foraging and Food 16. Relationships 17. Folklore, Mythology and Symbolism References Index

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Book SynopsisAn essential field guide companion covering species pairs or groups that are difficult to identify. This book covers difficult identification issues by looking at tricky species pairs or groups of birds, and comparing and contrasting their respective features. Designed as a field companion, it supplements the standard field guides and provides much additional information. As well as detailed texts, the books include extensive illustrations of all relevant ages and plummages of the species concerned.Trade Review...a godsend to anyone wanting to tell a bar-tailed from a black-tailed godwit, a firecrest from a goldcrest or a greenfinch from a siskin. * Daily Express *...a helpful new book. ...It is carefully detailed but it is also agreeably written. * The Times *It does exactly as it says on the cover...a fine book * Sunday Express *...this is an indispensable addition to your library. * Scottish Birds *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction How to Use this Book Short Cuts to Identification Glossary Topographical Tips Moult and Ageing Species (22-375) General bibliography Specific bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMan-made global warming is advancing inexorably. Are there ways to halt it?In this invaluable, one-stop guide Bianca Nogrady analyses the science of climate change and offers a concise overview of the ways in which our carbon emissions might be reduced. She examines the challenges posed by food and energy production and the cutting-edge technologies that could mitigate their polluting effects. She looks at initiatives to create green industry and transport. She explains the economics of emissions trading schemes and the practicalities of geoengineering plans to trap greenhouse gases. And she addresses the fundamental question: is it possible to safeguard our future before it's too late?Trade ReviewThis is a short, punchy, effective book . . . We'd recommend reading it, and then passing it on, and hopefully getting as many people as possible to read it too! . . . In this invaluable, one-stop guide Bianca Nogrady analyses the science of climate change and offers a concise overview of the ways in which our carbon emissions might be reduced . . . she addresses the fundamental question: is it possible to safeguard our future before it's too late? * Irish Tech News *

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Book SynopsisWhat is matter? Matter is the stuff from which we and all the things in the world are made. Everything around us, from desks, to books, to our own bodies are made of atoms, which are small enough that a million of them can fit across the breadth of a human hair. Inside every atom is a tiny nucleus and orbiting the nucleus is a cloud of electrons. The nucleus is made out of protons and neutrons, and by zooming in further you would find that inside each there are even smaller particles, quarks. Together with electrons, the quarks are the smallest particles that have been seen, and are the indivisible fundamental particles of nature that have existed since the Big Bang, almost 14 billion years ago. The 92 different chemical elements that all normal matter is made from were forged billions of years ago in the Big Bang, inside stars, and in violent stellar explosions. This Very Short Introduction takes us on a journey from the human scale of matter in the familiar everyday forms of solids, liquids, and gases to plasmas, exotic forms of quantum matter, and antimatter. On the largest scales matter is sculpted by gravity into planets, stars, galaxies, and vast clusters of galaxies. All the matter that that we normally encounter however constitutes only 5% of the matter that exists. The remaining 95% comes in two mysterious forms: dark matter, and dark energy. Dark matter is necessary to stop the galaxies from flying apart, and dark energy is needed to explain the observed acceleration of the expansion of the universe. Geoff Cottrell explores the latest research into matter, and shows that there is still a lot we don''t know about the stuff our universe is made of.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 ContentsIntroduction 1: What is matter? 2: Atoms 3: Forms of matter 4: Energy, mass, and light 5: The quantum world of the atom 6: Quantum matter 7: The smallest particles 8: The origin of the elements 9: Dark matter and dark energy Further reading Index

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Book Synopsis"Meshing deft scientific text with Tuttle’s sumptuous images, it’s a superb introduction to the baroque morphologies and flying prowess of these beguiling beasts."- NatureBats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species looks in detail at the more than 1,300 species known today. Nocturnal, fast-flying and secretive, they are endlessly fascinating, yet extremely difficult to observe and catalogue. The diversity of bats is both rich and underestimated and the threats they face from humans are very real. This guide illuminates the world of bats and reveals their true nature as intelligent, social and deeply misunderstood creatures.This extravagantly illustrated handbook features the work of famed nature photographer Merlin D. Tuttle and in-depth profiles of 288 bats, from the Large Flying Fox, which has a wingspan of more than five feet, to the Bumblebee Bat, contender for the world’s smallest mammal. Bats includes close-up images of these animals’ delicate and intricate forms and faces, each shaped by evolution to meet the demands of an extraordinarily specialized life, and a thorough introduction which explores their natural history and unique adaptations to life on the wing. If you like this you might also be interested in Owls by Marianne Taylor . . .Table of ContentsForeword 6 Introduction 8Bat Research 10 What is a Bat? 12 Evolution 16 Diversity 19 Biology 22 Behavior 30 Ecology 44 Bats & People 48 About this Book 57 Yangochiroptera accounts 58 Myzopodidae • Emballonuridae • Nycteridae • Furipteridae • Mormoopidae • Mystacinidae • Natalidae • Noctilionidae • Phyllostomidae • Thyropteridae • Cistugidae • Miniopteridae • Molossidae • Vespertilionidae Yinpterochiroptera accounts 298 Pteropodidae • Craseonycteridae • Hipposideridae • Megadermatidae • Rhinolophidae • Rhinonycteridae • Rhinopomatidae Index of Scientific Names 388 Index of Common Names 397 Acknowledgments & Biographies 400

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the mysterious Scottish Wildcat--Britain''s rarest mammal, and one of the most endangered carnivores in the world.These cats are fierce and very wild--completely untameable. Just like domestic cats prowling in the garden, wildcats hunt for a wide range of prey, from mice and voles to grouse, rabbits and red squirrels. Their kittens are born in March, and quickly begin to learn key hunting skills. Wildcats have endured centuries of habitat loss; they have been hunted for fur and been killed as vermin, and are threatened by inbreeding with domestic moggies, along with other issues such as disease and vehicle collisions.In this book, Marianne Taylor--author of the award-winning Way of the Hare-- seeks out the beautiful and enigmatic Scottish Wildcat in a rich narrative interwoven with what we know about the cat''s biology and history in Britain. The Highland Tiger is a great read for anyone with an interest in BritaiTrade ReviewThere is some intriguing material about the folklore around the Scottish wildcat... The material on the difference between cats and dogs [...] is fascinating. -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *In part, Taylor's book charts a journey across Scotland tracking "the Highland tiger" and in part it's a reflection on the wildcat's cultural significance and what needs to be done to save it. -- Patrick Galbraith * The Times *Table of ContentsPrologue - gatita fiera 1. A Cat in Context - evolution, relationship 2. Wild Tales - myth and legend Trip 1: Speyside, 2013 3. Born to Kill - biology of cats and wildcats Trip 2: Ardnamurchan, 2013 4. Life Unseen - how wildcats live Trip 3: Speyside, 2014 5. A Bloody History - humans and wildcats in conflict Trip 4: Speyside and Beyond, 2015 6. Of Cats Tame and Wild - wildcats and domestic cats Trip 5: Ardanmurchan, 2016 7. Salvage Operation - conservation efforts to date Trip 6: Speyside, 2018 8. An Uncertain Future - population, projects Acknowledgements Further Information Index

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesA collection of 200 previously unpublished Fiendish Su Doku puzzles. Perfect for the expert solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles. Guaranteed to provide hours of absorbing, brain-stretching entertainment.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in November 2004, they have become a phenomenon, with over 4 million copies of The Times Su Doku books sold worldwide. You don''t need to be a mathematical genius to solve these puzzles; it is simply a question of logic. Each puzzle has a unique solution and there''s no guesswork required.The Times Su Doku remains the original, the best and the market leader. The puzzles are provided by Wayne Gould, the man who started it all.

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Book SynopsisA beautiful, richly illustrated book on Europe's wild orchids perhaps the most enigmatic and popular group in the botanical world.The orchid family (Orchidaceae), numbering some 25,000 species, is one of the world's two largest families of flowering plants. Whilst the vast majority of orchids are found in the wet tropics, Europe accommodates c.130 native orchid species which are equally arranged in dense inflorescences of great beauty. Furthermore, the adaptations encountered in some of the European species are just as fascinating as those of their tropical relatives.This book provides an introduction to the native orchids of Europe. It features four sections: Structure and systematics', Orchids and the environment', Orchid portraits' and How to learn more'. This part constitutes the bulk of the book, presenting individual genera in a sequence which reflects their most likely evolutionary relationships. Each genus is introduced by one page of text and illustrated by one or more colour

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Book SynopsisAn enchanting biography of the most resonant and most necessary chemical element on Earth.Carbon. It is the building block of every cell that makes up every living thing. It is the essential component of the food we eat, the fuel we burn, the wood we use and the air we breathe. It is worth billions as a luxury and half a trillion as a necessity, but there are still mysteries to be solved about the element that can be both diamond and coal. Where does it come from, what does it do, and why, above all, does life need it?In Symphony in C, leading carbon scientist Robert M. Hazen takes us on a vibrant journey through the origin and evolution of life's most widespread element. The story unfolds in four movements Earth, Air, Fire and Water and transports us through nearly 14 billion years of cosmic history, explaining how carbon is formed in the hearts of stars and why all life forms earthbound or alien use it as the basis of their biology. Symphony in C is a sweeping chronicle of carbTrade ReviewPraise for Symphony in C ‘A valuable and welcome explanation of why we would do well to pay more attention to the sixth element – and of how much more remains to be discovered about its planetary role through time’ Nature ‘Covering topics from carbon’s ancient origins to the threats that carbon compounds pose to our future climate, Hazen’s book is a fascinating read. Symphony in C chronicles cutting-edge science that’s helping researchers make better sense of the carbon-rich world around us’ Science News ‘From the Big Bang to coal, carbohydrates, and ultra-strong high-tech nanofibers, Robert M. Hazen provides an illuminating and enjoyable guide to the remarkable odyssey of carbon, the element of life. Enjoy the trip!’ Andrew Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University ‘C is the element carbon. C is a musical note. Scientist-musician Hazen uses the element and the note to compose a symphonic masterpiece that reveals how the primitive life that began on our planet four billion years ago has evolved into Darwin’s “endless forms most beautiful“’ David W. Deamer, author of Assembling Life ‘Hazen’s virtuoso performance captures the wonder of the sixth element – from volcanic gases to al dente pasta to life’s very beginnings – while telling the wonderful stories about the people behind the discoveries’ Terry Plank, Arthur D. Storke Memorial Professor of Geochemistry, Columbia University ‘This book is an incredibly rich story of carbon and its role in of life. Hazen has outdone himself in delivering an engaging, edifying, great read. If you don’t know why carbon is important in your life, or even if you think you do, you should put down whatever you’re reading and get this book’ Paul G. Falkowski, author of Life’s Engines``

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Book SynopsisAugust, 1755. Newcastle, on the north bank of the Tyne.In the fields, men and women are getting the harvest in. Sunlight, or rain. Scudding clouds and backbreaking labour. Three hundred feet underground, young Charles Hutton is at the coalface. Cramped, dust-choked, wielding a five-pound pick by candlelight. Eighteen years old, he's been down the pits on and off for more than a decade, and now it looks like a life sentence. No unusual story, although Charles is a clever lad gifted at maths and languages and for a time he hoped for a different life. Many hoped.Charles Hutton, astonishingly, would actually live the life he dreamed of. Twenty years later you'd have found him in Slaughter's coffee house in London, eating a few oysters with the President of the Royal Society.By the time he died, in 1823, he was a fellow of scientific academies in four countries, while the Lord Chancellor of England counted himself fortunate to have known him. Hard work, talent, and no small share of luck Trade ReviewPraise for Gunpowder and Geometry ‘Benjamin Wardhaugh tells an almost incredible story of a boy working down the put hewing coal who went on to become a great mathmatician and national celebrity. He brings both the coal industry and Georgian London to life with style and wit.’ Matt Ridley Praise for Benjamin Wardhaugh: ‘Wardhaugh has done a brilliant job in revealing a most curious period in British life’ Steve Craggs, Northern Echo ‘Mathematics remains a bedrock of our society. This wonderful book goes a long way in highlighting why.’ Jamie Condliffe, New Scientist ‘Wardhaugh's fascinating account of Poor Robin's Almanac persuasively reveals the power of the almanac to give mathematics a human face.’ Marcus du Sautoy ‘Wardhaugh's book should be readily available and kept with your personal reference books. It should also be in your school library.’ Donald Cook, Mathematical Review

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 Marsh Book of the Year AwardA long-awaited volume in the New Naturalist series examining the trees of Britain.Trees are immensely valuable. They give shape to our lives with wood, the material that makes our homes, our books, our belongings; they nourish us with the air we breathe and the fruits we eat; and they sustain us, with their shade and the comfort of their presence. They are also fascinating they are the biggest and oldest living organisms on the planet and are essential components of many of the landscapes of Britain. Trees have been vital in determining the ecology of our planet as well as the development of human cultures and communities, yet how much do we really understand about them?How do trees live? How do they fit into their environments? Why are they so important to ecosystems on earth, and to us? And what does the future hold for trees? Can they solve the problems of climate change by absorbing enough carbon dioxide, and would we run out of oxygen if all the world's trees disappeared? Do trees really talk to each other? There is much to learn about these silent giants.Ecologist Peter Thomas explores all these questions and many more, delving into the often hidden life of trees, using examples from around the world, from common trees to the unusual and bizarre. This comprehensive introduction to all aspects of tree biology and ecology presents the latest scientific and botanical discoveries and explores the wonders and mysteries of trees.Trade Review‘Wow, what a book. Perfect or almost perfect.’ Mark Cocker ‘It was a pleasure to look through the pages and find a wide range of informative and legible photographs, diagrams and graphs, all of which scored highly in terms of conveying information and looking attractive … I recommend this book as a good read and a valuable addition to your bookshelves. It does just what New Naturalists should do and it is very clearly written.’ Mark Avery ‘It is so full of pertinent and useful information that it has taken days to get through its comprehensive, well-written and informative text. With so much emphasis now given to woods, forests and forestry, it is astonishing how little most ecologists and foresters actually know about trees as individuals – we are nearly all, I suspect, cheerfully ignorant of the biology of trees! With the publication of Peter Thomas’s excellent New Naturalist edition, however, there is no longer any excuse to remain unaware of these organisms and their complex life histories … Trees is very well illustrated, with both diagrams and photographs presented in an engaging and useful fashion … An excellent and comprehensive book, and highly recommended for all those professionally involved in trees, concerned about trees, or wishing simply to understand more about trees.’ Jonathan Spencer, British Wildlife magazine ‘Anyone with the slightest interest in trees should buy and read this book. But be warned; you will find it impossible to put down. In fact even if you think you have no interest in trees, read it anyway, and you may discover that you do.’ Ken Thompson, The Niche magazine ‘The New Naturalist Series has the stated aim “to interest the general reader in the wildlife of Britain by recapturing the inquiring spirit of the old naturalists”, and here they have produced a book of great beauty and tangible quality.’ The Linnean

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Book SynopsisA completely up-to-date introduction to the most common group of bees in Britain.Bees, for most people, mean honey or bumble bees, but in fact these social species make up only a small proportion of the species that live in Britain. Open your eyes to the so-called solitary' bees, and discover a wonderfully diverse population miners, leafcutters, carpenters and masons many of which can be found in your own back garden.Solitary bees come in a variety of colours and sizes, with some as large as bumblebees and some only a few millimetres long, and many are key pollinators for our crops and wildflowers. This comprehensive book will tell the story of how these bees live, reproduce and thrive: discover the numerous strategies used by male bees to find females and persuade them to mate; follow the females as they build their nests or in the case of cuckoo' species, sneak into the nests of their neighbours and watch as the new generation appears. Explore the interactions between flowering pTrade ReviewPraise for New Naturalist Solitary Bees:‘This stands out as my book of the year, and if you are only going to have one New Naturalist book on your shelves or you are an avid collector of the series, this book is a must have and I thoroughly recommend it.’ Steven Rutherford FBNA, Honorary Chairman, British Naturalists Association Reviews of Ted Benton’s previous volumes in the New Naturalist Series – Bumblebees and Grasshoppers & Crickets: ‘The most authoritative work on British bumblebees ever published.’Independent ‘This book is an inspiration. It will fascinate and arm you with everything you need to know to help you save our bumblebees. Buy it, enjoy it, and keep it safe.’BBC Wildlife ‘Ted Benton's entomological opus [New Naturalist] Grasshoppers & Crickets led me into the weird world of British orthoptera, with their edible nuptial gifts, "mate-guarding", harems and extraordinarily complex songs. No field or meadow will seem or sound the same again’ Robert Macfarlane, ‘Books of the Year 2012’, Guardian

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE 9-1Subject: Combined Science: Trilogy HigherSuitable for the 2024 examsTargeted practice questions covering the GCSE grade 9-1 curriculumThis Collins AQA Combined Science Trilogy GCSE 9-1 Higher Workbook contains topic-based questions as well as a full practice paper and answers, with lots of realistic practice opportunities.With a workbook and practice exam paper in one book, it contains plenty of practice opportunities to ensure the best results.For even more practice QR codes link directly from the topics in the workbook to online worked solution videos.Includes: grading guidance on the page to indicate different levels selection of questions covering each topic topic-by-topic practice complete exam-style paper online video solutions for every topic

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Book SynopsisA cutting-edge examination of what it means to be human and to have a ''self'' in the face of new scientific developments in genetic editing, cloning and neural downloading.After seeing his own cells used to grow clumps of new neurons essentially mini-brains Philip Ball begins to examine the concepts of identity and consciousness. Delving into humanity''s deep evolutionary past to look at how complex creatures like us emerged from single-celled life, he offers a new perspective on how humans think about ourselves.In an age when we are increasingly encouraged to regard the ''self'' as an abstract sequence of genetic information, or as a pattern of neural activity that might be ''downloaded'' to a computer, he return us to the body to flesh and blood and anchors a conception of personhood in this unique and ephemeral mortal coil. How to Build a Human brings us back to ourselves but in doing so, it challenges old preconceptions and values. It asks us to rethink how we exist in the woTrade ReviewPraise for How to Grow a Human‘This is a deeply engaging crash course. Ball’s description of cellular organelles and their functions, in particular, is an impressive feat. And his sense of wonder at biological processes is palpable: passages on the intricacies of cell plasticity had me (with my doctorate in molecular biology) exclaiming, “That is incredible!”’Nature ‘Philip Ball weaves a compelling story of bodily creation … Highly readable and impeccably informed by research, How to Grow a Human revels in scientific possibility and confronts the social and ethical implications, while intelligently acknowledging what is as yet unknown’ The Lancet ‘[This] winding romp through advances in cell biology pushes readers to ponder the boundaries of life … The book offers a provocative, meandering take on the progression of groundbreaking biotechnological capabilities … absorbing ambitious and expansive … Ball’s look at the state of human-facing cutting edge bioscience is a thought-provoking read’ Science Praise for Philip Ball'Ball's book towers above the competition with its erudition, balance, and attention to detail… This is the most accessible, comprehensive, and provocative investigation of the science of music – and its limits – yet to be written.'Globe and Mail 'Excellent, smartly written'Financial Times ‘Ball is an exceptionally talented writer who manages to combine accessibility and thoroughness in razor-sharp prose’ Physics World 'Lucid and impressive'Prospect

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Book SynopsisA Waterstones Best Book of 2020The theory of evolution by natural selection did not spring fully formed and unprecedented from the brain of Charles Darwin. Rather it has been examined and debated by philosophers the world over for thousands of years.This lively history traces the evolution of the idea of evolution, showing how it has changed and been changed by different societies over time. It will put ''Darwin's Dangerous Idea'' into its proper context, showing how it built on what went before and how it was developed in the twentieth century, through an understanding of genetics and the biochemical basis evolution. None of this diminishes the achievement of Darwin himself in perceiving the way evolution works at the level of individuals and species, but his contribution was one link in a chain that extends back into antiquity, and is still being forged today.Trade ReviewPraise for John and Mary Gribbin: ‘Elegant and meticulously researched … this is a most enjoyable book’ The Observatory ‘Mary and John Gribbin write with great clarity’ Guardian ‘Precise yet mysterious … as beautiful as a poem and as exciting as a novel’ Sunday Times ‘Immensely readable’ The Times

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Book SynopsisAn eagerly anticipated addition to the New Naturalist series.The shieldbug is an amazing and beautiful species, rich with diversity in shape, form, size, life history, ecology, physiology and behaviour. But they are not commonly known, outside of specialist circles.Richard Jones' groundbreaking New Naturalist volume on shieldbugs encourages those enthusiasts who would otherwise be put off by the, to date, rather technical literature that has dominated the field, providing a comprehensive natural history of this fascinating and beautiful group of insects.Trade ReviewPraise for New Naturalist Shieldbugs:‘Informative and excellent … Very readable and will appeal to all amateur naturalists as well as scientists. I would recommend anyone with an interest in Shieldbugs or insects in general, to get a copy. This one will be added to my book shelf, and is already “well-thumbed”!’ Pauline Rutherford FBNA, British Naturalists Association Praise for Richard Jones’ previous New Naturalist, Beetles: ‘Highly recommended for the bookshelf of anyone wishing to be better acquainted with these remarkable insects.’ British Wildlife Praise for the New Naturalist series: ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisAn eagerly anticipated addition to the New Naturalist series.The shieldbug is an amazing and beautiful species, rich with diversity in shape, form, size, life history, ecology, physiology and behaviour. But they are not commonly known, outside of specialist circles.Richard Jones' groundbreaking New Naturalist volume on shieldbugs encourages those enthusiasts who would otherwise be put off by the, to date, rather technical literature that has dominated the field, providing a comprehensive natural history of this fascinating and beautiful group of insects.Trade ReviewPraise for New Naturalist Shieldbugs:‘Informative and excellent … Very readable and will appeal to all amateur naturalists as well as scientists. I would recommend anyone with an interest in Shieldbugs or insects in general, to get a copy. This one will be added to my book shelf, and is already “well-thumbed”!’ Pauline Rutherford FBNA, British Naturalists Association Praise for Richard Jones’ previous New Naturalist, Beetles: ‘Highly recommended for the bookshelf of anyone wishing to be better acquainted with these remarkable insects.’ British Wildlife Praise for the New Naturalist series: ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisA New Scientist Best Book of 2020How is it that a baboon and a blob of slime mould instinctively know what to eat for optimal health, balancing their protein, fat and carb intake in perfect proportions?In new, groundbreaking research that is transforming our understanding of nutrition, animals from locusts to lions and yes, humans too, demonstrate the remarkable science behind appetite.Appetite communicates the body''s nutritional needs to the brain, and eating in accordance with your body''s demands, like the animals, should ensure optimal health, but the modern fast food world wreaks havoc on this evolutionarily honed system.In several landmark studies, Raubenheimer and Simpson prove that appetite can be hacked we can eat for optimal health, for increased fertility or for a longer lifespan. Understanding the science of the appetite offers tremendous power in shaping our bodies and controlling our lives.** Previously published as Eat Like the Animals **Trade ReviewPraise for The Five Appetites‘Raubenheimer and Simpson are known for their deep knowledge of biology and its application to areas of nutrition that are of exceptional interest these days: evolution, feeding behavior, proteins, and insects. These, they weave together into a compelling narrative that should fascinate readers concerned about the science of what we eat as well as the influence of our food environment on our biology.’ Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat Praise for David Raubenheimer and Stephen J. Simpson‘This outstanding book provides the first comprehensive theoretical framework for analyzing the roles of nutrition across a huge swath of fields, from ecology and evolution to conservation and human health. The Nature of Nutrition is creative and scholarly yet approachable. I know of no other book like it.’ Bernard J. Crespi, Simon Fraser University ‘Strikingly well-written … The clear language and enlightening examples allow for the educated layman interested in biology to be astonished by the enormous implications of the nature of nutrition.’ American Journal of Human Biology ‘A really good read.’ Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

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