Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisBB/BTO BIRD BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023This long-awaited update to the acclaimed first edition is the definitive guide to a complex and intriguing family. The species accounts and taxonomic treatments have been fully revised in line with recent studies, and the all-new plates and photos complete this remarkable work. Highly recommended.' Dominic MitchellBeautiful, colourful, often fearless hunters of large insects and small vertebrates, shrikes are among the most admired of all avian groups. The group is widespread (particularly in the Old World) with a large number of species, though many populations have plummeted in recent years, especially in Europe. This is a second edition of Norbert Lefranc's Shrikes, fully updated from its 1997 predecessor. The introductory texts have been significantly expanded and six new sections have been added in the species accounts: vagrancy, foraging behaviour, breeding success, population trends, conservation and taxonomic notes. Special attention has beeTrade ReviewNo doubt that this magnificent book will contribute to a better understanding of these wonderful birds and become an inspiration for the next generation of birders and professional ornithologists alike. -- Dries Van NieuwenhuyseTable of ContentsIntroduction Acknowledgements Style and layout of the book Taxonomy and relationships A brief historical approach True shrike systematics Overview of the genus Lanius Overview of the genus Eurocephalus Colour plates Species accounts Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA snorkeller's identification guide to the most frequently encountered marine species of the Mediterranean. Presented in an informative yet readable way, includes numerous tips on how to make the most of your snorkelling.

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Book SynopsisReveals the mind boggling neuroscience connecting brain, body, mind, and society, by examining a range of brain disorders, in the tradition of Oliver Sacks.

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Book SynopsisPlease note this title is suitable for any student studying: Exam Board: AQA Level: A Level Subject: Biology First teaching: September 2015 First exams: June 2017.Exactly matched to the specification, this Revision Guide is packed with revision and practice material to keep you focused as you revise for your AQA A Level Biology exams. You will find a large number of of exam-style questions to test your knowledge and practice your skills. As well as this hands on practice approach, there are a number of features that help you to take your learning further including: modelled examples, links between related content clearly marked, and Go further boxes. It is not only important that you prepare effectively for your exams; this revision guide will motivate you to carry on studying and retain your interest in biology.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Coppinger and Feinstein take a scientific look at dogs and other canids, such as wolves and coyotes. They explain why dogs do what they do--why they play, why they bark, how they forage--as well as how they have evolved into the animals they are."--Chicago Tribune "Almost everything you think you know about dogs is wrong. Forget the loyal companion stereotype, or the idea you've got to show you're the alpha of the pack. Ethologists Coppinger and Feinstein present this most familiar of animals in a new objective light, analyzing their anatomy and behavior with science rather than sentimentality."--Discover "In a complement to existing science-informed books on the subject, Coppinger and Feinstein bring the concept of dog behaviour neatly to the forefront. While we already have a fairly firm grasp on the physical inner workings of canines, How Dogs Work focuses more on the differences brought about by breed traits, and makes comparisons between dogs and an array of wild canid species, including jackals and dingoes. . . . Aimed at both lay and specialist reader, what really sets How Dogs Work apart is a host of anecdotes by Coppinger that provide compelling real-life context. Throughout the book, he draws on his experience of owning and competing with sled dogs as well as his expertise with a range of other working dogs." --Times Higher Education "Packed with fascinating and provocative insights, How Dogs Work throws down the gauntlet to those who believe that dogs possess humanlike feelings and cognitive capacities."--James Serpell, author of In the Company of Animals "Coppinger and Feinstein reveal how dog behavior has built-in biological origins and constraints and how it is influenced by genetics, the environment, and the consequences of that behavior. If you really want to know more about animal behavior, and dog behavior especially, then this is a book for you. Be prepared to be challenged and you will learn a lot." --Robert Bailey, animal trainer "How Dogs Work draws on the authors' extensive knowledge from years of experience and field experiments. They have done more serious, hands-on experiments with dogs, over a longer period of time, than almost any other researcher, which makes their research worth paying close attention to. While offering an integrated perspective for viewing and understanding the behaviors of dogs, the book is also entertaining and informative due to its frequent use of colorful examples."--Lynette Hart, author of The Perfect Puppy: How to Choose Your Dog by Its Behavior "Written by two of the most distinguished teachers and scientists ever to have studied dogs, Coppinger and Feinstein, this book explores the behavioral design of the dog most eloquently. The authors detail a modern perspective on our understanding of canine ethology that began with Charles Darwin and continued with Konrad Lorenz, as they build on the pedagogical approach of a course written by Ray for the UK's Centre of Applied Pet Ethology. How Dogs Work clearly describes why a dog behaves like a dog as result of being physically, physiologically, genetically, and developmentally shaped like a dog, and steadily shapes our understanding of just how and why dogs are such a special species. But this is no dry scientific tome; rather, it is delightfully and sensitively written and will surely strengthen your love of dogs by enhancing your appreciation of their evolution alongside man, their emotions, and their behavior. It is quite simply a 'must have' for all dog enthusiasts, dog behaviorists, and training professionals and is an illuminating joy to read for all dog owners."--Peter Neville, The Ohio State University and the Center of Applied Pet Ethology, Sheffield, UK

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Book SynopsisMicrobiology For Dummies (9781119544425) was previously published as Microbiology For Dummies (9781118871188). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. Microbiology is the study of life itself, down to the smallest particle Microbiology is a fascinating field that explores life down to the tiniest level. Did you know that your body contains more bacteria cells than human cells? It's true. Microbes are essential to our everyday lives, from the food we eat to the very internal systems that keep us alive. These microbes include bacteria, algae, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. Without microbes, life on Earth would not survive. It's amazing to think that all life is so dependent on these microscopic creatures, but their impact on our future is even more astonishing. Microbes are the tools that allow us to engineer hardier crops, create better medicines, and fuel our technology in sustainable ways. Microbes may just help us save the world. Microbiology For Dummiesis your guide to understanding the fundamentals of this enormously-encompassing field. Whether your career plans include microbiology or another science or health specialty, you need to understand life at the cellular level before you can understand anything on the macro scale. Explore the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cellsUnderstand the basics of cell function and metabolismDiscover the differences between pathogenic and symbiotic relationshipsStudy the mechanisms that keep different organisms active and alive You need to know how cells work, how they get nutrients, and how they die. You need to know the effects different microbes have on different systems, and how certain microbes are integral to ecosystem health. Microbes are literally the foundation of all life, and they are everywhere.Microbiology For Dummieswill help you understand them, appreciate them, and use them.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started With Microbiology 5 Chapter 1: Microbiology and You 7 Why Microbiology? 7 Introducing the Microorganisms 8 Deconstructing Microbiology 10 Chapter 2: Microbiology: The Young Science 11 Before Microbiology: Misconceptions and Superstitions 12 Discovering Microorganisms 12 Debunking the myth of spontaneous generation 13 Improving medicine, from surgery to antibiotics and more 14 Looking at microbiology outside the human body 16 The Future of Microbiology 16 Exciting frontiers 17 Remaining challenges 18 Chapter 3: Microbes: They’re Everywhere and They Can Do Everything 21 Habitat Diversity 23 Metabolic Diversity 24 Getting energy 25 Capturing carbon 25 Making enzymes 26 Secondary metabolism 26 The Intersection of Microbes and Everyone Else 27 Part 2: Balancing the Dynamics Of Microbial Life 29 Chapter 4: Understanding Cell Structure and Function 31 Seeing the Shapes of Cells 31 Life on a Minute Scale: Considering the Size of Prokaryotes 33 The Cell: An Overview 34 Scaling the Outer Membrane and Cell Walls 35 Examining the outer membrane 35 Exploring the cell wall 37 Other Important Cell Structures 41 Divining Cell Division 43 Tackling Transport Systems 44 Coasting with the current: Passive transport 45 Upstream paddle: Active transport 46 Keeping things clean with efflux pumps 46 Getting Around with Locomotion 47 Chapter 5: Making Sense of Metabolism 49 Converting with Enzymes 49 In Charge of Energy: Oxidation and Reduction 51 Donating and accepting electrons 52 Bargaining with energy-rich compounds 54 Storing energy for later 55 Breaking Down Catabolism 56 Digesting glycolysis 56 Stepping along with respiration and electron carriers 57 Moving with the proton motive force 59 Turning the citric acid cycle 60 Stacking Up with Anabolism 61 Creating amino acids and nucleic acids 62 Making sugars and polysaccharides 63 Putting together fatty acids and lipids 65 Chapter 6: Getting the Gist of Microbial Genetics 67 Organizing Genetic Material 68 DNA: The recipe for life 68 Perfect plasmids 70 Doubling down with DNA replication 71 Assembling the Cellular Machinery 75 Making messenger RNA 75 Remembering other types of RNA 77 Synthesizing protein 78 Making the Right Amount: Regulation 80 Turning the tap on and off: DNA regulation 81 Regulating protein function 83 Changing the Genetic Code 83 Slight adjustments 83 Major rearrangements 85 Chapter 7: Measuring Microbial Growth 89 Getting Growth Requirements Right 89 Physical requirements 90 Chemical requirements 91 Culturing microbes in the lab 92 Observing Microbes 94 Counting small things 95 Seeing morphology 97 Calculating Cell Division and Population Growth 98 Dividing cells 99 Following growth phases 100 Inhibiting Microbial Growth 101 Physical methods 101 Disinfectants 102 Part 3: Sorting Out Microbial Diversity 103 Chapter 8: Appreciating Microbial Ancestry 105 Where Did Microbes Come From? 105 Tracing the origins of life 106 Diversifying early prokaryotes 107 The impact of prokaryotes on the early earth 107 Hitching a ride: Endosymbiosis 108 Understanding Evolution 111 Studying Evolution 113 Choosing marker genes 113 Seeing the direction of gene transfer in prokaryotes 114 Classifying and Naming Microbes 115 Climbing the Tree of Life 117 Chapter 9: Harnessing Energy, Fixing Carbon 119 Forging Ahead with Autotrophic Processes 120 Fixing carbon 120 Using the Energy in Light 124 Harvesting light: Chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls 125 Helping photosynthesis out: Carotenoids and phycobilins 127 Generating oxygen (or not): Oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis 128 Getting Energy from the Elements: Chemolithotrophy 133 Harnessing hydrogen 134 Securing electrons from sulfur 134 Pumping iron 135 Oxidizing nitrate and ammonia 136 Chapter 10: Comparing Respiration and Fermentation 139 Lifestyles of the Rich and Facultative 139 Seeing the Big Picture 141 Digging into Respiration 144 Spinning the citric acid cycle 144 Stepping down the electron transport chain 146 Respiring anaerobically 147 Figuring Out Fermentation 150 Chapter 11: Uncovering a Variety of Habitats 155 Defining a Habitat 156 Understanding Nutrient Cycles 157 Carbon cycling 157 Nitrogen cycling 160 Sulfur cycling 162 Phosphorous cycles in the ocean 162 Microbes Socializing in Communities 163 Using quorum sensing to communicate 163 Living in biofilms 163 Exploring microbial mats 165 Discovering Microbes in Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats 165 Thriving in water 166 Swarming soils 167 Getting Along with Plants and Animals 168 Living with plants 169 Living with animals 171 Living with insects 172 Living with ocean creatures 172 Tolerating Extreme Locations 173 Detecting Microbes in Unexpected Places 174 Part 4: Meeting the Microbes 175 Chapter 12: Meet the Prokaryotes 177 Getting to Know the Bacteria 178 The Gram-negative bacteria: Proteobacteria 178 More Gram-negative bacteria 182 The Gram-positive bacteria 186 Acquainting Yourself with the Archaea 188 Some like it scalding: Extreme thermophiles 190 Going beyond acidic: Extreme acidophiles 191 Super salty: Extreme halophiles 192 Not terribly extreme Archaea 193 Chapter 13: Say Hello to the Eukaryotes 195 Fun with Fungi 196 Figuring out fungal physiology 196 Itemizing fungal diversity 199 Interacting with plant roots 201 Ask us about the Ascomycetes 202 Mushrooms: Basidiomycetes 203 Perusing the Protists 204 Making us sick: Apicoplexans 205 Making plants sick: Oomycetes 207 Chasing amoeba and ciliates 207 Encountering the algae 210 Chapter 14: Examining the Vastness of Viruses 215 Hijacking Cells 215 Frugal viral structure 216 Simplifying viral function 217 Making Heads or Tails of Bacteriophage 219 Lytic phage 219 Temperate phage 220 Transposable phage 222 Discussing Viruses of Eukaryotes 224 Infecting animal cells 224 Following plant viruses 227 How Host Cells Fight Back 229 Restriction enzymes 229 CRISPR 230 Interfering with RNA viruses: RNAi 232 Part 5: Seeing the Impact Of Microbes 233 Chapter 15: Understanding Microbes in Human Health and Disease 235 Clarifying the Host Immune Response 236 Putting up barriers to infection 236 Raising a red flag with inflammation 237 Holding down the fort with innate immunity 237 Sending out the troops for adaptive immunity 238 Antibodies in action 240 Relying on Antimicrobials for Treating Disease 243 Fundamental features of antibiotics 244 Targets of destruction 245 Unraveling microbial drug resistance 247 Discovering new antibiotics 249 Searching Out Superbugs 250 Staying ahead of vancomycin-resistant enterococci 251 Battling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 251 Outcompeting Clostridium difficile 253 Pressure from extended-spectrum beta-lactamases 253 Knowing the Benefits of Prebiotics and Probiotics 254 Attacking Viruses with Antiviral Drugs 255 Chapter 16: Putting Microbes to Work: Biotechnology 257 Using Recombinant DNA Technology 258 Making the insert 258 Employing plasmids 261 Cutting with restriction enzymes 262 Getting microbes to take up DNA 264 Using promoters to drive expression 267 Making use of expression vectors 267 Properly folding proteins 268 Being mindful of metabolic load 269 Making long, multi-gene constructs 269 Providing Therapies 272 Improving antibiotics 272 Developing vaccines 272 Using Microbes Industrially 273 Protecting plants with microbial insecticides 274 Making biofuels 275 Bioleaching metals 276 Cleaning up with microbes 276 Chapter 17: Fighting Microbial Diseases 279 Protecting Public Health: Epidemiology 279 Tracking diseases 280 Investigating outbreaks 280 Identifying a Microbial Pathogen 283 Characterizing morphology 283 Using biochemical tests 284 Typing strains with phage 286 Using serology 287 Testing antibiotic susceptibility 288 Understanding Vaccines 289 Understanding how vaccines work 290 Ranking the types of vaccines 291 Part 6: New Frontiers in Microbiology 293 Chapter 18: Teasing Apart Communities 295 Studying Microbial Communities 295 Borrowing from ecology 296 Seeing what sets microbial communities apart from plants and animals 296 Observing Communities: Microbial Ecology Methods 297 Selecting something special with enrichment 297 Seeing cells through lenses 298 Measuring microbial activity 299 Identifying species using marker genes 300 Getting the Hang of Microbial Genetics and Systematics 301 Sequencing whole genomes 301 Using metagenomics to study microbial communities 302 Reading microbial transcriptomics 303 Figuring out proteomics and metabolomics 304 Looking for Microbial Dark Matter 306 Chapter 19: Synthesizing Life 307 Regulating Genes: The lac Operon 308 Using a good natural system 308 Improving a good system 310 Designing Genetic Networks 312 Switching from one state to another 313 Oscillating between states 314 Keeping signals short 315 The Synthetic Biologist’s Toolbox 315 Making it modular 315 Participating in the iGEM competition 316 Part 7: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 20: Ten (or So) Diseases Caused by Microbes 321 Ebola 322 Anthrax 322 Influenza 323 Tuberculosis 324 HIV 324 Cholera 325 Smallpox 325 Primary Amoebic Menigoencephalitis 326 The Unknown 327 Chapter 21: Ten Great Uses for Microbes 329 Making Delicious Foods 329 Growing Legumes 330 Brewing Beer, Liquor, and Wine 330 Killing Insect Pests 331 Treating Sewage 331 Contributing to Medicine 332 Setting Up Your Aquarium 332 Making and Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastics 333 Turning Over Compostable Waste 333 Maintaining a Balance 334 Chapter 22: Ten Great Uses for Microbiology 335 Medical Care: Keeping People Healthy 335 Dental Care: Keeping Those Pearly Whites Shining Bright 336 Veterinary Care: Helping Fido and Fluffy to Feel Their Best 337 Monitoring the Environment 338 Making Plants Happy 339 Keeping Fish Swimming Strong 339 Producing Food, Wine, and Beer 340 Science Hacking 341 Looking for Microbes in Clean Rooms 341 Producing Pharmaceuticals 342 Index 343

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Book SynopsisThe scientific and rational conclusion that intelligence and not chaos is the driving force behind the universe.

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Book SynopsisHow did we get here? All cultures have a creation story, but a little over 150 years ago Charles Darwin introduced a revolutionary new one. We, and all living things, exist because of the action of evolution on the first simple life form and its descendants.We now know that it has taken 3.8 billions of years of work by the forces of evolution to turn what was once a lump of barren rock into the rich diversity of into plants, animals and microbes that surround us. In the process, evolution has created all manner of useful adaptions, from biological computers (brains) to a system to capture energy from the sun (photosynthesis). But how does evolution actually work? In Evolution, leading biologists and New Scientist take you on a journey of a lifetime, exploring the question of whether life is inevitable or a one-off fluke, and how it got kick-started. Does evolution have a purpose or direction? Are selfish genes really the driving force of evolution? And is evolution itself evolving?ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

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Book SynopsisThe social calls of bats are an area about which relatively little is known, with more research still required to expand our understanding. However, these calls are increasingly recognised as a useful aid to identification: they appear to be species specific and are indicative of behaviour – as in territorial activity of males during the mating season. Because the gathering and interpretation of bat echolocation data are a matter of course during research, conservation and consultancy, it is a logical progression to build momentum behind the consideration of social calls in mainstream bat-related work. A better understanding of this subject could mean that non-intrusive survey methods are developed, ensuring that what is being observed is, as far as possible, purely natural behaviour. In turn this will contribute to better interpretation and more suitable mitigation, compensation and/or enhancement solutions. The book summarises what is understood so far about social calls of the bat species occurring in Britain and Ireland, and north-west Europe. This new edition has been updated and expanded throughout, now containing: foreword by the bat authority Michel Barataud, author of Acoustic Ecology of European Bats almost double the number of figures and tables as appeared in the first edition completely overhauled call library, all in full spectrum format, with new additional examples three entirely new chapters, covering bat-related acoustics, settings for social interaction, and survey guidelines The material will be useful to people carrying out bat studies, at whatever level and for whatever purpose, and will also encourage others to undertake further research. What's more, social calls are fascinating to listen to: they are, after all, produced with listeners in mind (other bats). In light of this, the book is accompanied by an extensive downloadable library of sound files which offer a unique gateway into the private life of bats. Trade ReviewThis much expanded 2nd edition provides a thorough overview of bat social calls and the current state of knowledge...I hope for continued expansions of this book in future, but in the meantime, there is plenty within this second edition to further illuminate some of the most fascinating yet often mysterious aspects of bat vocalisations. -- Philip Briggs, Bat Conservation TrustThe authors can be congratulated for their work and for opening up new insights and offering a better understanding of this complex area of research. -- Wiesław Bogdanowicz * Acta Chiropterologica *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgements About the Authors Important Notices 1 An Overview of Bats in Britain and Ireland 2 Bat-related Acoustics: An Introduction 3 Settings for Social Interaction 4 Classification of Social Calls 5 Analysis of Social Calls 6 Considerations in Survey Design 7 Survey Guidelines (Bat Social Calls) 8 Species Groups Appendix Bibliography References Index

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Book SynopsisWhen Prince-Bishop Johann Konrad von Gemmingen (1593/95–1612) undertook a radical renovation of the Willibaldsburg Castle, overlooking the Altmühl River in Eichstätt, Bavaria, he also created a surrounding palatial pleasure garden of magnificence and grandeur. To preserve the garden for future generations – and provide an ‘evergreen’ record of its contents, compiling plants from all four seasons and presenting them in that order – he commissioned the garden’s director, Nuremberg apothecary Basilius Besler (1561–1629), and a team of engravers to immortalize its treasures in print.The resulting Hortus Eystettensis, published in Nuremberg in 1613 and containing 367 hand-colored plates and detailed descriptions, was a work of meticulous execution and spectacular diversity, and remarkably expensive for its time. As the garden contained a variety of plants imported from exotic locales, the three volumes exhibited a remarkable range, covering a total of 90 families and 340 genera. Due to the decorative, stylized execution of these illustrations, which began to see plants in aesthetic, rather than merely practical or medicinal terms, the book is seen as a milestone in the art of botanical illustration. While published before a time of standardized classification systems, it was nonetheless later described by Carl Linnaeus as an “incomparable work”.Besler’s catalog long outlived the gardens, which were destroyed in 1634 by invading Swedish troops during the Thirty Years’ War. However, a lengthy redevelopment project at the historic site has culminated in the opening of the modern Bastion Garden in 1998, containing many of the plants shown in the Hortus Eystettensis.Offering high-quality reproductions of these arresting illustrations, based on the copy of the Hortus Eystettensis at the University Library of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, this facsimile edition is accompanied by detailed plate descriptions of each plant’s botanical, pharmaceutical, and symbolic significance and an appendix of further essays which place the garden and the book in their historical contexts.This edition presents a valuable piece of botanical literature which, on the rare occasions where a copy appears on the market, can fetch prices of over $1,000,000 at auction. In line with Besler’s original intentions, this facsimile unfurls the garden to a wider audience and captures it for posterity.Trade Review“This book should find its way to many a library and coffee table.” * Chicago Botanic Garden Book Review *

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Book Synopsis''An original, provocative and fascinating new theory by one of the world''s leading neuroscientists about why the mind wanders - and when and why it''s good for you'' Daniel Gilbert''A gentle and humane book that should be read by everyone interested in the human mind and the human brain'' Andy ClarkOur brains are noisy. Certain regions are always grinding away at involuntary activities like daydreaming, worrying about the future and self-chatter, taking up to forty-seven percent of our waking time. This is mindwandering and while it can tug your attention away from the present and contribute to anxiety, cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar reveals that there is a method behind this apparent madness. Mindwandering is the first popular book to explore the multi-faceted phenomenon of our wandering minds and the cutting-edge new research behind it. Bar combines his decades of research to explain the benefits and the possible cost of mindwandering wTrade ReviewAn original, provocative, and fascinating new theory by one of the world’s leading neuroscientists about why the mind wanders – and how we can change its trajectory to make ourselves happier and more creative -- Daniel Gilbert, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and bestselling author of STUMBLING ON HAPPINESSBrains constantly balance the two states of tracing known paths and setting off on new adventures. Bar's revelatory, pioneering studies on this are finally available for everyone to enjoy, so we can optimally direct our states of mind to better align with the moment. A fascinating read that will bring your mind back home -- David Eagleman, New York Times bestselling author of INCOGNITO and LIVEWIREDMindwandering is the best thing that can happen to anyone. What is it? Why is it good? Let Moshe Bar take you by the hand and show you the exciting ways it liberates us from the tedium of the known world into the world of possibilities’ -- Michael S. Gazzaniga, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of THE CONSCIOUSNESS INSTINCTHighly accessible and entertaining, alternately personal and analytic, this lovely and stimulating book will make you appreciate your mind, and Bar’s -- Susanna Siegel, Edgar Pierce Professor of Philosophy, Harvard UniversityIn this highly original, accessible, erudite, engaging and informative book, a distinguished neuroscientist highlights the role of mindwandering in solving problems, inducing happiness, and in teaching us to "bring the right mind to the right time" -- Nancy Etcoff, psychologist at Harvard University and author of SURVIVAL OF THE PRETTIESTMindwandering evinces the intimate relationship between curiosity and creativity, mindwandering and mindfulness, agency and association, sentience and selfhood. It does so using a compelling mixture of personal narratives and high-end cognitive (and clinical) neuroscience . . . An addictive and eclectic read, crafted with a gentle and telling humour -- Karl J. Friston, Scientific Director at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging and Professor at University College LondonIn this important, entertaining and instructive treatment, Moshe Bar takes us on a journey through contemporary neuroscience to show when, why, and exactly how a wandering mind can be good for us. Along the way, we learn why we should meditate, how to profit from imagined experiences and how we can make the most of our limited mental resources. A gentle and humane book that should be read by everyone interested in the human mind and the human brain -- Andy Clark, Professor of Cognitive Philosophy, University of Sussex, and author of SURFING UNCERTAINTY

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Book SynopsisDavid Austin Roses is one of the world's leading rose nurseries. The English Roses developed there have brought the rose to a new level of beauty and strength; their ability to flower continually throughout the summer and autumn makes them one of the most durable garden flowers.In this revised and updated edition, David Austin describes how he combines the beauty and fragrance of the Old Roses with the repeat-flowering and wide colour range of the Modern Roses. David presents seven groups of classification for his roses and advises how to grow and maintain them.Featuring more than 20 new rose varieties, all with detailed descriptions and updated photography throughout, this third revised edition of The English Roses is an essential reference for all rose lovers and gardeners.Trade ReviewThere are a couple of months to go before rose season, but this sumptuous updated edition showing off the long-flowering, highly scented varieties that Austin has been breeding for more than 60 years, will make you long for summer. * The Sunday Times *Iconic rose breeder David Austin wrote many regard as the definitive work on English roses, which has now been revised and updated. Sumptuously indulgent photography captures the delicate beauty and charm of different rose varieties, with fascinating details about their history, fragrances, cultivation and breeding. * The English Home *

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Book SynopsisThis revised and expanded edition of Candace Savage’s best-selling book about ravens and crows is enhanced by additional paintings, drawings, and photos, as well as a fascinating selection of first-person stories and poems about remarkable encounters with crows. In one story, a pack of crows brilliantly thwarts an attack by a Golden Eagle; in another, a mischievous crow rescues the author from grief. And in a third piece, after nursing a battered baby crow back to health until it flies off with other crows, Louise Erdrich hauntingly describes her altered awareness as she listens for the “dark laugh” of crows while she works.Based on two decades of audacious research by scientists around the world, the book also provides an unprecedented, evidence-based glimpse into corvids’ intellectual, social, and emotional lives. But whether viewed through the lens of science, myth, or everyday experience, the result is always the same. These birds are so smart—and so mysterious—they take your breath away.

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Book SynopsisBrown''s Introduction to Organic Chemistry provides an introduction to organic chemistry for students who require the fundamentals of organic chemistry as a requirement for their major. It is most suited for a one semester organic chemistry course. In an attempt to highlight the relevance of the material to students, the authors place a strong emphasis on showing the interrelationship between organic chemistry and other areas of science, particularly the biological and health sciences. The text illustrates the use of organic chemistry as a tool in these sciences; it also stresses the organic compounds, both natural and synthetic, that surround us in everyday life: in pharmaceuticals, plastics, fibers, agrochemicals, surface coatings, toiletry preparations and cosmetics, food additives, adhesives, and elastomers.Table of Contents1 Covalent Bonding and Shapes of Molecules 1 1.1 How Do We Describe the Electronic Structure of Atoms? 2 1.2 What Is the Lewis Model of Bonding? 5 1.3 How Do We Predict Bond Angles and the Shapes of Molecules? 13 1.4 How Do We Predict If a Molecule Is Polar or Nonpolar? 17 1.5 What Is Resonance? 18 1.6 What Is the Orbital Overlap Model of Covalent Bonding? 21 1.7 What Are Functional Groups? 26 Summary of Key Questions 31 Quick Quiz 32 Problems 34 Real World Problems 37 Looking Ahead 38 Group Learning Activities 39 Chemical Connections 1A Buckyball: A New Form of Carbon 16 2 Acids and Bases 40 2.1 What Are Arrhenius Acids and Bases? 41 2.2 What Are Brønsted–Lowry Acids and Bases? 42 2.3 How Do We Measure the Strength of an Acid or Base? 44 2.4 How Do We Determine the Position of Equilibrium in an Acid–Base Reaction? 46 2.5 What Are the Relationships between Acidity and Molecular Structure? 48 2.6 What Are Lewis Acids and Bases? 52 Summary of Key Questions 55 Quick Quiz 56 Key Reactions 57 Problems 57 Real World Problems 59 Looking Ahead 59 Group Learning Activities 60 3 Alkanes and Cycloalkanes 61 3.1 What Are Alkanes? 62 3.2 What Is Constitutional Isomerism in Alkanes? 64 3.3 How Do We Name Alkanes? 66 3.4 What Are Cycloalkanes? 71 3.5 How Is the IUPAC System of Nomenclature Applied to Molecules that Contain Functional Groups? 72 3.6 What Are the Conformations of Alkanes and Cycloalkanes? 73 3.7 What Is Cis–Trans Isomerism in Cycloalkanes? 80 3.8 What Are the Physical Properties of Alkanes and Cycloalkanes? 84 3.9 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Alkanes? 87 3.10 What Are the Sources of Alkanes? 88 Summary of Key Questions 91 Quick Quiz 92 Key Reactions 93 Problems 93 Real World Problems 97 Looking Ahead 98 Group Learning Activities 99 Putting it Together 99 Chemical Connections 3A The Poisonous Puffer Fish 81 3B Octane Rating: What Those Numbers at the Pump Mean 90 4 Alkenes and Alkynes 103 4.1 What Are the Structures and Shapes of Alkenes and Alkynes? 105 4.2 How Do We Name Alkenes and Alkynes? 107 4.3 What Are the Physical Properties of Alkenes and Alkynes? 115 4.4 Why Are 1-Alkynes (Terminal Alkynes) Weak Acids? 116 Summary of Key Questions 117 Quick Quiz 118 Problems 118 Real World Problems 121 Looking Ahead 122 Group Learning Activities 122 Chemical Connections 4A Ethylene, a Plant Growth Regulator 104 4B Cis–Trans Isomerism in Vision 106 4C Why Plants Emit Isoprene 115 5 Reactions of Alkenes and Alkynes 123 5.1 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Alkenes? 123 5.2 What Is a Reaction Mechanism? 124 5.3 What Are the Mechanisms of Electrophilic Additions to Alkenes? 130 5.4 What Are Carbocation Rearrangements? 140 5.5 What Is Hydroboration–Oxidation of an Alkene? 143 5.6 How Can an Alkene Be Reduced to an Alkane? 145 5.7 How Can an Acetylide Anion Be Used to Create a New Carbon–Carbon Bond? 148 5.8 How Can Alkynes Be Reduced to Alkenes and Alkanes? 150 Summary of Key Questions 151 Quick Quiz 152 Key Reactions 153 Problems 154 Chemical Transformation 157 Real World Problems 158 Looking Ahead 158 Group Learning Activities 159 Chemical Connections 5A Catalytic Cracking and the Importance of Alkenes 127 6 Chirality: The Handedness of Molecules 160 6.1 What Are Stereoisomers? 161 6.2 What Are Enantiomers? 161 6.3 How Do We Designate the Configuration of a Stereocenter? 166 6.4 What Is the 2n Rule? 168 6.5 How Do We Describe the Chirality of Cyclic Molecules with Two Stereocenters? 172 6.6 How Do We Describe the Chirality of Molecules with Three or More Stereocenters? 174 6.7 What Are the Properties of Stereoisomers? 174 6.8 How Is Chirality Detected in the Laboratory? 175 6.9 What Is the Significance of Chirality in the Biological World? 176 6.10 How Can Enantiomers Be Resolved? 177 Summary of Key Questions 179 Quick Quiz 180 Problems 181 Chemical Transformations 184 Real World Problems 185 Looking Ahead 186 Group Learning Activities 187 Putting it Together 187 Chemical Connections 6A Chiral Drugs 178 7 Haloalkanes 190 7.1 How Are Haloalkanes Named? 191 7.2 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Haloalkanes? 193 7.3 What Are the Products of Nucleophilic Aliphatic Substitution Reactions? 195 7.4 What Are the SN2 and SN1 Mechanisms for Nucleophilic Substitution? 197 7.5 What Determines Whether SN1 or SN2 Predominates? 201 7.6 How Can SN1 and SN2 Be Predicted Based on Experimental Conditions? 206 7.7 What Are the Products of β‐Elimination? 208 7.8 What Are the E1 and E2 Mechanisms for β‐Elimination? 211 7.9 When Do Nucleophilic Substitution and β‐Elimination Compete? 214 Summary of Key Questions 217 Quick Quiz 218 Key Reactions 218 Problems 219 Chemical Transformations 223 Looking Ahead 224 Group Learning Activities 225 Chemical Connections 7A The Environmental Impact of Chlorofluorocarbons 193 7B The Effect of Chlorofluorocarbon Legislation on Asthma Sufferers 216 8 Alcohols, Ethers, and Thiols 226 8.1 What Are Alcohols? 227 8.2 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Alcohols? 232 8.3 What Are Ethers? 245 8.4 What Are Epoxides? 249 8.5 What Are Thiols? 253 8.6 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Thiols? 256 Summary of Key Questions 257 Quick Quiz 258 Key Reactions 259 Problems 260 Chemical Transformations 263 Real World Problems 264 Looking Ahead 264 Group Learning Activities 265 Chemical Connections 8A Nitroglycerin: An Explosive and a Drug 230 8B Blood Alcohol Screening 245 8C Ethylene Oxide: A Chemical Sterilant 253 9 Benzene and Its Derivatives 266 9.1 What Is the Structure of Benzene? 267 9.2 What Is Aromaticity? 270 9.3 How Are Benzene Compounds Named, and What Are Their Physical Properties? 273 9.4 What Is a Benzylic Position, and How Does It Contribute to Benzene Reactivity? 276 9.5 What Is Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution? 278 9.6 What Is the Mechanism of Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution? 279 9.7 How Do Existing Substituents on Benzene Affect Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution? 288 9.8 What Are Phenols? 296 Summary of Key Questions 303 Quick Quiz 304 Key Reactions 304 Problems 305 Chemical Transformations 309 Real World Problems 310 Looking Ahead 311 Group Learning Activities 312 Chemical Connections 9A Carcinogenic Polynuclear Aromatics and Cancer 277 9B Capsaicin, for Those Who Like It Hot 300 10 Amines 313 10.1 What Are Amines? 313 10.2 How Are Amines Named? 316 10.3 What Are the Characteristic Physical Properties of Amines? 319 10.4 What Are the Acid–Base Properties of Amines? 321 10.5 What Are the Reactions of Amines with Acids? 325 10.6 How Are Arylamines Synthesized? 327 10.7 How Do Amines Act as Nucleophiles? 328 Summary of Key Questions 330 Quick Quiz 331 Key Reactions 331 Problems 332 Chemical Transformations 334 Real World Problems 335 Looking Ahead 337 Group Learning Activities 337 Putting it Together 338 Chemical Connections 10A Morphine as a Clue in the Design and Discovery of Drugs 314 10B The Poison Dart Frogs of South America: Lethal Amines 319 11 Spectroscopy 341 11.1 What Is Electromagnetic Radiation? 342 11.2 What Is Molecular Spectroscopy? 344 11.3 What Is Infrared Spectroscopy? 344 11.4 How Do We Interpret Infrared Spectra? 347 11.5 What Is Nuclear Magnetic Resonance? 358 11.6 What Is Shielding? 360 11.7 What Is a 1H-NMR Spectrum? 360 11.8 How Many Resonance Signals Will a Compound Yield in Its 1H‐NMR Spectrum? 362 11.9 What Is Signal Integration? 365 11.10 What Is Chemical Shift? 366 11.11 What Is Signal Splitting? 368 11.12 What Is 13C‐NMR Spectroscopy, and How Does It Differ from 1H‐NMR Spectroscopy? 371 11.13 How Do We Solve an NMR Problem? 374 Summary of Key Questions 378 Quick Quiz 380 Problems 381 Real World Problems 393 Looking Ahead 394 Group Learning Activities 395 Chemical Connections 11A Infrared Spectroscopy: A Window on Brain Activity 348 11B Infrared Spectroscopy: A Window on Climate Change 354 11C Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 371 12 Aldehydes and Ketones 396 12.1 What Are Aldehydes and Ketones? 397 12.2 How Are Aldehydes and Ketones Named? 397 12.3 What Are the Physical Properties of Aldehydes and Ketones? 401 12.4 What Is the Most Common Reaction Theme of Aldehydes and Ketones? 402 12.5 What Are Grignard Reagents, and How Do They React with Aldehydes and Ketones? 402 12.6 What Are Hemiacetals and Acetals? 407 12.7 How Do Aldehydes and Ketones React with Ammonia and Amines? 413 12.8 What Is Keto‐Enol Tautomerism? 417 12.9 How Are Aldehydes and Ketones Oxidized? 420 12.10 How Are Aldehydes and Ketones Reduced? 423 Summary of Key Questions 425 Quick Quiz 426 Key Reactions 427 Problems 428 Chemical Transformations 431 Spectroscopy 432 Real World Problems 433 Looking Ahead 435 Group Learning Activities 436 Chemical Connections 12A A Green Synthesis of Adipic Acid 422 13 Carboxylic Acids 437 13.1 What Are Carboxylic Acids? 437 13.2 How Are Carboxylic Acids Named? 438 13.3 What Are the Physical Properties of Carboxylic Acids? 441 13.4 What Are the Acid–Base Properties of Carboxylic Acids? 442 13.5 How Are Carboxyl Groups Reduced? 446 13.6 What Is Fischer Esterification? 449 13.7 What Are Acid Chlorides? 453 13.8 What Is Decarboxylation? 455 Summary of Key Questions 459 Quick Quiz 459 Key Reactions 460 Problems 461 Chemical Transformations 464 Real World Problems 464 Looking Ahead 467 Group Learning Activities 467 Chemical Connections 13A From Willow Bark to Aspirin and Beyond 446 13B Esters as Flavoring Agents 451 13C Ketone Bodies and Diabetes 456 14 Functional Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids 468 14.1 What Are Some Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids, and How Are They Named? 469 14.2 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives? 474 14.3 What Is Hydrolysis? 475 14.4 How Do Carboxylic Acid Derivatives React with Alcohols? 480 14.5 How Do Carboxylic Acid Derivatives React with Ammonia and Amines? 483 14.6 How Can Functional Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids Be Interconverted? 485 14.7 How Do Esters React with Grignard Reagents? 486 14.8 How Are Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids Reduced? 488 Summary of Key Questions 492 Quick Quiz 493 Key Reactions 493 Problems 495 Chemical Transformations 498 Real World Problems 498 Looking Ahead 501 Group Learning Activities 501 Putting it Together 501 Chemical Connections 14A Ultraviolet Sunscreens and Sunblocks 470 14B From Moldy Clover to a Blood Thinner 471 14C The Penicillins and Cephalosporins: β‐Lactam Antibiotics 472 14D The Pyrethrins: Natural Insecticides of Plant Origin 482 14E Systematic Acquired Resistance in Plants 485 15 Enolate Anions 504 15.1 What Are Enolate Anions, and How Are They Formed? 505 15.2 What Is the Aldol Reaction? 508 15.3 What Are the Claisen and Dieckmann Condensations? 515 15.4 How Are Aldol Reactions and Claisen Condensations Involved in Biological Processes? 522 15.5 What Is the Michael Reaction? 524 Summary of Key Questions 531 Quick Quiz 531 Key Reactions 532 Problems 533 Chemical Transformations 536 Real World Problems 537 Looking Ahead 540 Group Learning Activities 541 Chemical Connections 15A Drugs That Lower Plasma Levels of Cholesterol 523 15B Antitumor Compounds: The Michael Reaction in Nature 530 16 Organic Polymer Chemistry 542 16.1 What Is the Architecture of Polymers? 543 16.2 How Do We Name and Show the Structure of a Polymer? 543 16.3 What Is Polymer Morphology? Crystalline versus Amorphous Materials 545 16.4 What Is Step‐Growth Polymerization? 546 16.5 What Are Chain‐Growth Polymers? 551 16.6 What Plastics Are Currently Recycled in Large Quantities? 557 Summary of Key Questions 558 Quick Quiz 559 Key Reactions 560 Problems 560 Real World Problem 562 Looking Ahead 562 Group Learning Activities 562 Chemical Connections 16A Stitches That Dissolve 551 16B Paper or Plastic? 553 17 Carbohydrates 563 17.1 What Are Carbohydrates? 563 17.2 What Are Monosaccharides? 564 17.3 What Are the Cyclic Structures of Monosaccharides? 568 17.4 What Are the Characteristic Reactions of Monosaccharides? 573 17.5 What Are Disaccharides and Oligosaccharides? 577 17.6 What Are Polysaccharides? 581 Summary of Key Questions 583 Quick Quiz 584 Key Reactions 585 Problems 586 Real World Problems 588 Looking Ahead 590 Group Learning Activities 591 Putting it Together 591 Chemical Connections 17A Relative Sweetness of Carbohydrate and Artificial Sweeteners 578 17B A, B, AB, and O Blood‐Group Substances 579 18 Amino Acids and Proteins 595 18.1 What Are the Many Functions of Proteins? 595 18.2 What Are Amino Acids? 596 18.3 What Are the Acid–Base Properties of Amino Acids? 599 18.4 What Are Polypeptides and Proteins? 606 18.5 What Is the Primary Structure of a Polypeptide or Protein? 607 18.6 What Are the Three‐Dimensional Shapes of Polypeptides and Proteins? 611 Summary of Key Questions 618 Quick Quiz 619 Key Reactions 620 Problems 620 Real World Problems 622 Looking Ahead 623 Group Learning Activities 623 Chemical Connections 18A Spider Silk: A Chemical and Engineering Wonder of Nature 616 19 Lipids (Online Chapter) 624 19.1 What Are Triglycerides? 624 19.2 What Are Soaps and Detergents? 628 19.3 What Are Phospholipids? 630 19.4 What Are Steroids? 632 19.5 What Are Prostaglandins? 637 19.6 What Are Fat‐Soluble Vitamins? 640 Summary of Key Questions 643 Quick Quiz 644 Problems 644 Real World Problems 646 Looking Ahead 646 Group Learning Activities 647 Chemical Connections 19A Snake Venom Phospholipases 632 19B Nonsteroidal Estrogen Antagonists 636 20 Nucleic Acids (Online Chapter) 648 20.1 What Are Nucleosides and Nucleotides? 648 20.2 What Is the Structure of DNA? 652 20.3 What Are Ribonucleic Acids (RNA)? 658 20.4 What Is the Genetic Code? 660 20.5 How Is DNA Sequenced? 662 Summary of Key Questions 667 Quick Quiz 668 Problems 669 Real World Problems 671 Group Learning Activities 671 Chemical Connections 20A The Search for Antiviral Drugs 650 20B DNA Fingerprinting 666 21 The Organic Chemistry of Metabolism (Online Chapter) 672 21.1 What Are the Key Participants in Glycolysis, the β‐Oxidation of Fatty Acids, and the Citric Acid Cycle? 673 21.2 What Is Glycolysis? 678 21.3 What Are the Ten Reactions of Glycolysis? 678 21.4 What Are the Fates of Pyruvate? 683 21.5 What Are the Reactions of the β‐Oxidation of Fatty Acids? 685 21.6 What Are the Reactions of the Citric Acid Cycle? 689 Summary of Key Questions 692 Quick Quiz 693 Key Reactions 693 Problems 694 Real World Problems 695 Group Learning Activities 696 Appendix 1 Acid Ionization Constants for the Major Classes of Organic Acids A.1 Characteristic 1H‐NMR Chemical Shifts A.1 Appendix 2 Characteristic 13C‐NMR Chemical Shifts A.2 Characteristic Infrared Absorption Frequencies A.2 Glossary G.1 Answers Section Ans.1 Index I.1

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Johnny Ball tells one of the most important stories in world history the story of mathematics. By introducing us to the major characters and leading us through many historical twists and turns, Johnny slowly unravels the tale of how humanity built up a knowledge and understanding of shapes, numbers and patterns from ancient times, a story that leads directly to the technological wonderland we live in today. As Galileo said, Everything in the universe is written in the language of mathematics', and Wonders Beyond Numbers is your guide to this language. Mathematics is only one part of this rich and varied tale; we meet many fascinating personalities along the way, such as a mathematician who everyone has heard of but who may not have existed; a Greek philosopher who made so many mistakes that many wanted his books destroyed; a mathematical artist who built the largest masonry dome on earth, which builders had previously declared impossible; a world-renowned pTrade ReviewThe great strength of this book is probably its wide coverage of practical applications of mathematics, especially in engineering and architecture. * The Mathematical Gazette *Johnny Ball's trademark enthusiasm for mathematics bubbles off every page. Clear, simple, readable, and informative – just as I expected. It's a winner! -- Ian Stewart, author of Significant FiguresI became an instant Johnny Ball fan when his TV series Think of a Number first aired in the UK, and I saw how he engaged and delighted my two young daughters in a way I, their maths professor dad, could not. With this new book, his passion for, and sheer enjoyment of, mathematics will surely entice yet more generations to the subject we both love. -- Keith Devlin, Stanford University mathematician, award-winning author and the 'Math Guy' on America's radio.I always found maths intriguing and baffling in equal measure - and the latter triumphed. If only I'd had Wonders Beyond Numbers when growing up. But I now have it and it is a re-awaking into a world of delight and wonder. It is a wonderful book. -- Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of BuckinghamTable of ContentsPreface: Mathematics means everything to me... Wow Factor Mathematical Index Explained Introduction: Russian Sums in an English Pub, Circa 1946 Chapter 1: The Most Ancient Mathematical Legend Chapter 2: The First Two Great Mathematicians Chapter 3: The Great Age of Grecian Geeks Chapter 4: Archimedes – the Greatest Greek of Them All Chapter 5: The Glory That Was Alexandria Chapter 6: Total Eclipse of the Greeks Chapter 7: Maths Origins, Far and Wide Chapter 8: Mathematics Was Never a Religion Chapter 9: Discovering the Unknown World Chapter 10: The Huge Awakening and a New Age of Learning Chapter 11: The New Age of Mathematical Discovery Chapter 12: How to Calculate Anything and Everything Chapter 13: A Mathematician With Gravitas Chapter 14: The Simple Mathematics That Underpins Science Chapter 15: The Many Tentacles of Mathematics Wow Factor Mathematical Index Bibliography Image credits Index

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Book Synopsis A fascinating book, from a leading maths educator and demystifier, that shows how maths is relevant to our everyday lives. Have you ever wondered how the meter in a taxi works? Or why a lift takes so long to respond to your call? Is there a mathematical secret to making a hit single? And how long is a piece of string? In this fascinating book you will find the answers to these and many other intriguing questions of everyday life. Discover the astonishing '37% rule' for blind dates, how to avoid the gentleman's urinal, and some extraordinary scams that people have devised to get rich quick. Here you will also find the origins of the seven-day week and the seven-note scale, an explanation of why underdogs sometimes win, some clever techniques for detecting fraud, and the reason why epidemics sweep across a nation and disappear just as quickly. How Long is a Piece of String? is the perfect book for anyone who is curious about the way in which maths underlies so much in our everyday lives. Whatever your mathematical ability level, you will find this book informative, thought-provoking and, most of all, fun. Word count: 35,000

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Book SynopsisThe full story of how our relationship with light shapes our health, productivity and mood. 'A sparkling and illuminating study, one of those rare books that could genuinely improve your life' Sunday Times 'Life changing' Daily Mail 'Fascinating and readable ... Geddes's lovely book will fill you with longing!' The Times Since the dawn of time, humans have worshipped the sun. And with good reason. Our biology is set up to work in partnership with it. From our sleep cycles to our immune systems and our mental health, access to sunlight is crucial for living a happy and fulfilling life. New research suggests that our sun exposure over a lifetime - even before we were born - may shape our risk of developing a range of different illnesses, from depression to diabetes. Bursting with cutting-edge science and eye-opening advice, Chasing the Sun explores the extraordinary significance of sunlight, from ancient solstice celebrations to modern sleep labs, and from the unexpected health benefits of sun exposure to what the Amish know about sleep that the rest of us don't. As more of us move into light-polluted cities, spending our days in dim offices and our evenings watching brightly lit screens, we are in danger of losing something vital: our connection to the star that gave us life. It's a loss that could have far-reaching consequences that we're only just beginning to grasp.Trade ReviewLife-changing * Daily Mail *Readable and frequently fascinating ... Geddes's lovely book will fill you with longing for bright summer days, blue skies and a baking hot sun dispensing vitamin D and happiness to all who bask in its glow. Roll on, summer! -- James Marriott * The Times *A fascinating and deeply researched study into the surprising importance of sunlight for our health and wellbeing. Geddes will convince even the most committed sofa sloths to step outside into the sun. -- Gaia VinceWhat a BRILLIANT book! The antidote to anecdote, a great survey of current evidence. Just what the midwife ordered! -- Professor Alice RobertsThis sparkling study explains how sunlight is vital to our physical and mental health: a book that could genuinely improve your life. * Sunday Times *Illuminating -- Sam Kean * The Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisCovering diverse species from garter snakes to Komodo dragons, this book delves into the evolutionary origins and fascinating details of the mysterious social lives of reptiles. Reptiles have been too often dismissed as dull animals with tiny brains and simple, asocial lives. In reality, reptiles engage in a remarkable diversity of complex social behavior. They can live in families; communicate with one another while still in the egg; and hunt, feed, migrate, court, mate, nest, and hatch in groups. In The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles, J. Sean Doody, Vladimir Dinets, and Gordon M. Burghardtthree of the world's leading experts on reptilesbring together a wave of new research with a synthesis of classic studies to produce the only authoritative look at the social behaviors of the most provocative animals on the planet. The book covers turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodilians, and the enigmatic tuatara. Enhanced with dozens of images, it takes readers through a myriad of social interactTrade ReviewThe authors show that many ideas about reptile behavior are based more on folklore and bias than science. They review the research and present findings in highly readable accounts, demonstrating that reptiles interact with each other in surprising and intricate ways. The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles reveals, once again, that life on this planet is far more stunning than we can imagine.—Matthew Miller, Nature - Cool Green ScienceScience writing about family lives in turtles, snakes and crocodilians promises a much needed corrective to our assumptions about 'lowly' reptiles.—Times Literary SupplementThis is an excellent book on an underappreciated topic. The coverage is thorough and the insights are sharp, as is to be expected from a group of authors with tremendous expertise in the social behavior of diverse groups of reptiles.—Herpetological ReviewTable of ContentsForeword, by Gordon W. SchuettPrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Social Behavior Research: Its History and a Role for ReptilesChapter 2. Reptile Evolution and BiologyChapter 3. Mating Systems, Social Structure, and Social OrganizationChapter 4. CommunicationChapter 5. Courtship and MatingChapter 6. Communal Egg-Laying: Habitat Saturation or Conspecific Attraction?Chapter 7. Parental CareChapter 8. Hatching and Emergence: A Perspective from the Underworld Chapter 9. Behavioral Development in Reptiles: Too Little Known but Not Too LateChapter 10. The Reach of Sociality: Feeding, Thermoregulation, Predator Avoidance, and Habitat ChoiceChapter 11. Looking toward the FutureReferencesIndex

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Book Synopsis''A personal, fun and positive book encouraging dietary diversity and NOT calorie counting'' Professor Tim Spector, author of The Diet Myth and Spoon-Fed''Empowering'' Hello! magazineWhy stress causes weight gainHow fasting makes you less hungryWhy sunflower oil is unhealthyHow cold showers can cut your carb cravings''If I could give you one bit of advice right now, it would be to take all the energy you''re putting into fad diets and put it into becoming the most genuinely healthy version of you. If you''ve got a plan, you''re already halfway there. And now you''ve got this book, you''ve got one.''Davinia Taylor was overweight, depressed and unmotivated. She couldn''t walk around the block, let alone go for a run or do an exercise class, and she struggled to keep up with her four young sons. In desperation she turned to biohacking to sort her head out - the unexpTrade ReviewTaylor draws on her own journey to share top tips on how to improve your physical health and mental wellness in this empowering read * Hello! *

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Book SynopsisA classic in the literature of herbal medicine, this book explains in simple terms the commonly occurring chemical constituents of medicinal plants, and how these react with the human body. The major classes of plant constituents, such as phenols, terpenes and polysaccharides, are described both in terms of their chemical structures and their pharmacological activities. The last 20 years has seen huge growth in research output in phytochemistry, and this edition has been thoroughly revised to incorporate up-to-date research. It contains a new chapter on resins and cannabinoids, and additional content on macrocarpals, essential oil chemotypes, mushroom polysaccharides, phytochemical synergy, and toxicology of phytochemicals. Features include: · Over 200 diagrams of chemical structures · Coverage of energetics, synergism and the emerging field of network pharmacology · New content on seaweeds and fungi, and polyphenol-rich foods · References to primary research literature in pharmacy, pharmacology, chemistry, plant biology, molecular biology, integrative medicine and many other disciplines Written by an experienced herbal practitioner, The Constituents of Medicinal Plants has become a standard textbook for courses on plant-based medicine. It is also an essential desktop reference for health practitioners, lecturers, researchers, producers, and anyone with an interest in how medicinal herbs work.Table of Contents1: Introduction to Phytochemistry 2: Phenols 3: Polyphenols – tannins and flavonoids 4: Glycosides 5: Terpenes 6: Triterpenoids and saponins 7: Resins and cannabinoids 8: Essential oils 9: Polysaccharides 10: Alkaloids 11: Plant lipids and alklylamides

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Book SynopsisSardinia is in the middle of the western Mediterranean between Europe and Africa. Its location on the Mediterranean flyway makes it an important refuelling stop for migrating birds – especially on its extensive wetlands. A popular destination for birders and naturalists, Sardinia has a great diversity of fauna and flora, along with rich cultural and historical attractions. Where to Watch Birds in Sardinia, written by two ornithologists with extensive experience of Sardinian birding, provides detailed information on the 43 key birding sites in Sardinia. For each site the target species are highlighted, along with information on habitat, when to visit, other wildlife, facilities, access, how long you'll need, the photographic opportunities and recommendations for your visit. A map of each site helps with planning and navigation to the site. Often described as a micro-continent for the variety of its ecosystems, Sardinia has mountains, forests, lowlands, gorges, wetlands, long sandy beaches and rocky shores. It is home to around 300 bird species, 41 mammals, 18 reptiles and 8 amphibians as well as a hugely diverse invertebrate fauna. Owing to its geographical isolation, altitudinal variation and limited human presence, Sardinia has retained many habitats that are favourable for the development and preservation of a large number of endemic plants, accounting for 10 per cent of the island's flora and including several orchid species. Sardinia's 'must-see' birds include Greater Flamingo, Eleonora's Falcon, Purple Swamphen, Little Bustard, Audouin's Gull, Marmora's Warbler, Corsican Finch, Griffon Vulture and Barbary Partridge. In spring, April and May are the best months for migration, while for the autumn migration the best period stretches from the end of August to the end of October. Wetlands are the most important sites in springtime, with many species stopping for some days before going north. During the breeding season these areas are very important for Greater Flamingo, Audouin's Gull, Little Tern and several other species of waders, gulls and terns. The breeding season is also a good time to see 'special' resident species like the Little Bustard in display or to hear the flight call of the Corsican Finch. In winter, large concentrations of ducks and gulls are found on the island, with the occasional vagrant from Siberia or North America.Trade ReviewThis is a well written and well produced publication, ideal for field use. ... I recommend that you buy this book and visit this wonderful, thinly populated and still rather wild island. There is much to discover there. -- Andrea Corso * Ardeola *...this book provides all that you will need to plan a successful trip. -- Keith Betton * British Birds *I recommend all birders to have this book in the library, ready to be used in one of the next trips. -- Bruno Massa * Avocetta (Italian Journal of Ornithology) *Table of ContentsArchaeology Architecture Celebrations and country festivals Sport and outdoor activities Practical information Transport Accommodation Food How to use this book Regions and sites covered Site accounts Maps Itineraries Birdwatching in Sardinia Hotspots Other areas Vagrants Birding ethics Sardinia must-see species Region 1: Northwest Sardinia NW1 Asinara National Park NW2 Stintino salt marshes and Casaraccio lagoon NW3 Lake Pilo NW4 Porto Torres harbour NW5 Platamona wetland NW6 Capo Caccia NW7 Calich lagoon NW8 Campeda plateauNW9 Goceano woods NW10 Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio cathedral and Lake Coghinas Region 2: Northeast Sardinia NE1 Coghinas river mouth NE2 Monte Limbara NE3 Capo Testa NE4 La Maddalena National Park NE5 Saloni wetland NE6 Capo Figari and Figarolo NE7 Olbia wetland NE8 Island of Tavolara NE9 San Teodoro lagoon Region 3: Central West Sardinia CW1 Bosa CW2 Capo Mannu CW3 Sale 'e Porcus wetland CW4 Cabras and satellite wetlands CW5 Mistras lagoon CW6 Santa Giusta lagoon and surrounding wetlands CW7 S'Ena Arrubia wetland CW8 Marceddì lagoon CW9 Giara di Gesturi Region 4: Central East Sardinia CE1 Monte Albo CE2 Orosei Gulf CE3 Supramonte of Oliena CE4 Gennargentu massif Region 5: Southwest Sardinia SW1 San Pietro island SW2 Bau Cerbus SW3 Santa Caterina wetland and Sant'Antioco lagoon SW4 Mulargia, Porto Botte and Baiocco wetlands SW5 Porto Pino wetlands SW6 Chia basin SW7 Nora lagoon SW8 Monte Arcosu WWF reserve Region 6 Southeast Sardinia SE1 Cagliari wetlands SE2 Molentargius wetland and Poetto salt marshes SE3 Colostrai and Feraxi wetlands Suggested itineraries Itinerary 1: coast to coast in the north of Sardinia - from Olbia to Stintino Itinerary 2: from north to south along the west coast - from Stintino to Cagliari Selected bibliography About the authors Index of sites Index of species: Birds; Plants; Molluscs; Foraminifera; Corals; Arthropods; Fish; Amphibians

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Book SynopsisThe fast growing field of synthetic biology, which involves the novel design or redesign of living matter, has opened a vista of technological opportunities, from drug manufacture to producing biofuels. Jamie Davies considers the possibilities and controversies surrounding this exciting new science.Trade ReviewA stimulating exposition of the intriguing and exciting field of synthetic biology. The coverage is both broad and well-balanced. An excellent book, accessible to all. * Professor Huabing Yin, Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Biology: from analysis to synthesis 2: How synthetic biology is done 3: Synthetic biology and the environment 4: Synthetic biology and healthcare 5: Synthetic biology for engineering 6: Synthetic biology for basic research 7: Creating life 8: Cultural impact Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisA re-issued edition of this well-known modern astrophysics textbook. Designed for astronomy and physics majors, the Second Edition covers every major area of modern astrophysics, from the solar system and stellar astronomy to galactic and extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology, in one comprehensive and engaging volume.Table of ContentsPreface; Part I. The Tools of Astronomy: 1. The celestial sphere; 2. Celestial mechanics; 3. The continuous spectrum of light; 4. The theory of special relativity; 5. The interaction of light and matter; 6. Telescopes; Part II. The Nature of Stars: 7. Binary systems and stellar parameters; 8. The classification of stellar spectra; 9. Stellar atmospheres; 10. The interiors of stars; 11. The Sun; 12. The interstellar medium and star formation; 13. Main sequence and post-main-sequence stellar evolution; 14. Stellar pulsation; 15. The fate of massive stars; 16. The degenerate remnants of stars; 17. General relativity and black holes; 18. Close binary star systems; Part III. The Solar System: 19. Physical processes in the solar system; 20. The terrestrial planets; 21. The realms of the giant planets; 22. Minor bodies of the solar system; 23. Formation of planetary systems; Part IV. Galaxies and the Universe: 24. The Milky Way Galaxy; 25. The nature of galaxies; 26. Galactic evolution; 27. The structure of the Universe; 28. Active galaxies; 29. Cosmology; 30. The early Universe; Appendix A. Astronomical and physical constants; Appendix B. Unit conversions; Appendix C. Solar system data; Appendix D. The constellations; Appendix E. The brightest stars; Appendix F. The nearest stars; Appendix G. Stellar data; Appendix H. The Messier catalog; Appendix I. Constants, a programming module; Appendix J. Orbit, a planetary orbit code; Appendix K. TwoStars, a binary star code; Appendix L. StatStar, a stellar structure code; Appendix M. Galaxy, a tidal interaction code; Appendix N. WMAP Data; Suggested reading; Index.

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Book SynopsisWhat should a vet do when a client can’t pay for their animal’s treatment? Or when asked their opinion on the killing of wildlife for disease control? Or when observing an animal welfare problem whilst off duty? Ethical problems are an everyday part of life for veterinarians but it can be difficult to combine personal values with professional conduct. Veterinary Ethics presents a range of ethical scenarios that veterinarians and other allied animal health professionals may face in practice. The scenarios discussed are not only exceptional cases with potentially significant consequences, but often less dramatic everyday situations. The responses to these ethical problems are from practising veterinarians and acknowledged world experts in animal welfare and ethics. The advice given is thorough and detailed, covering different eventualities, the ethical knots and dilemmas, the personal feelings of those involved as well as objective recommendations on ethical decision making and, where relevant, guidance from veterinary governing bodies and the law. The advice is framed in the form of veterinary life in the real world, not necessarily an ideal world. As well as practical guidance the book takes a step back and explores the different philosophical arguments and standpoints and the resultant solutions and problems of each approach, examining the background and relationship between different philosophical schools of thought, ethics and veterinary care. The book strives to present decision making in response to ethical problems as transparently as possible, employing a range of ethical frameworks. The book also challenges the reader about their own decision making in given situations, what factors to consider and how they would achieve certain outcomes.

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Book SynopsisScientific literacy is an essential aspect of any undergraduate education. Recipes for Science responds to this need by providing an accessible introduction to the nature of science and scientific methods appropriate for any beginning college student. The book is adaptable to a wide variety of different courses, such as introductions to scientific reasoning, methods courses in scientific disciplines, science education, and philosophy of science.Special features of Recipes for Science include contemporary and historical case studies from many fields of physical, life, and social sciences; visual aids to clarify and illustrate ideas; text boxes to explore related topics; plenty of exercises to support student recall and application of concepts; suggestions for further readings at the end of each chapter; a glossary with helpful definitions of key terms; and a companion website with course syllabi, internet resources, PowerPoint presentations, lecture notes, addi

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Book SynopsisIs science the only path to knowledge?In this sparkling and provocative book, Jonah Lehrer explains that when it comes to understanding the brain, art got there first. Taking a group of celebrated writers, painters and composers, Lehrer shows us how artists have discovered truths about the human mind - real, tangible truths - that science is only now rediscovering. We learn, for example, how Proust first revealed the fallibility of memory; how George Eliot understood the brain''s malleability; how the French chef Escoffier intuited umami (the fifth taste); how Cézanne worked out the subtleties of vision; and how Virginia Woolf pierced the mysteries of consciousness. It''s a riveting tale of art trumping science again and again.Trade ReviewIf all science books were as successful in bridging the divide between art and science as this one is, there would no longer be a divide to bridge. -- Christopher Potter * * Sunday Times * *In this amazing first book [Lehrer] bridges 'the two cultures' with ease and grace. His clear and vivid writing - incisive and thoughtful, yet sensitive and modest - is a special pleasure. * * Oliver Sacks * *Still only in his mid-twenties, Lehrer is a dazzlingly clever young man whose writing bears witness to both the clarity of his scientific training and the humanity of his literary studies. The Whitmanesque electricity of all the thought and heart he has put into this book fizzes from each sentence. * * Telegraph Review * *There is more content here than in many books three times as long . . . I've heard it said that we live in a golden age as far as science writing is concerned. I've no idea, but I do know a golden book when one bumps into me, and this is one. * * Irish Times * *A slim, brainy book about the brain, modernist art, and literature . . . Lehrer writes skillfully and coherently about both art and science - no small feat. * * Entertainment Weekly * *Lehrer is gifted with the ability to find philosophy in science and stray bits of science buried amid the rubble of literary history. He is less critic than armchair philosopher, searching for meaning anywhere great thinkers have left their footprints. * * San Francisco Chronicle * *A precocious and engaging book that tries to mend the century-old tear between literary and scientific cultures . . . Lehrer is smart, and there are some fun moments in these pages. * * New York Times Book Review * *In this fascinating and unusual book, Lehrer makes an insightful case for Art triumphing over Science . . . Lehrer takes the modern-day reader into the archives of literary history, pondering over the musings of poets, writers, artists and composers in order to prove his theory. * * The Skinny * *The self-help book to end all self-help books . . . A sort of one-man third culture, healing the rift between the sciences and humanities by communicating and contrasting their values in a way that renders them comprehensible to partisans of either camp . . . Not everything that is true can be proved. Lehrer's quotation from Escoffier is well chosen: "No theory, no formula, and no recipe can take the place of experience." * * Guardian * *In 1959, C P Snow asserted that there were two cultures in the educated world, the scientific and the artistic, separated by "mutual incomprehension". Books such as Lehrer's show that the border between the two - though still real - is wearing amazingly thin. * * Scotsman * *Unlike many popularisers of science, Lehrer finds equal and complementary value in our available ways of considering the universe. * * Financial Times * *Perceptive and skilfully persuasive. * * Times * *Jonah Lehrer's new book confirms what his fans have known all along - that he knows more about science than a lot of scientists and more about writing than a lot of writers. -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of THE TIPPING POINT and OUTLIERS

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction xvii Acknowledgements xxv About the Companion Website xxvii Part I Decay and the Discovery and Recovery of Human Remains 1 1 The Decay of Human Bodies 3 2 The Discovery, Recovery, and Study of Human Bodies 29 Part II DNA Analysis 41 3 Molecular Biology 43 Part III Body Tissues and Fluids and Wound Analysis 81 4 Blood 83 5 Saliva, Semen, Vitreous Humour, Urine, and Faeces 109 6 Human Tissues 123 7 Wounds 157 Part IV Invertebrates 205 8 Invertebrates 1: Biological Aspects 207 9 Invertebrates 2: Practical Aspects 239 Part V Vertebrates and Wildlife Crime 271 10 Vertebrates 273 11 Wildlife Forensics 301 Part VI Plants, Protists, Fungi, and Microbes 327 12 Protists, Fungi, and Plants 329 13 Microbes and Viruses 365 References 397 Index 435

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThese are previously unpublished quality Su Doku grids from the puzzle providers to The Times, and help to develop you to take on Extreme Su Doku.The 200 puzzles in this collection of treacherously difficult puzzles will stretch even the most advanced Su Doku enthusiast. You will need to use all of your best solving techniques to get to the end of this testing challenge.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality and are perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles.Guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Book SynopsisEasily find stars and constellations in the night sky every day of the year.A starfinder that allows visible stars to be identified for any date and time for locations in the Northern Hemisphere. Compiled by astronomical experts, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion and approved by the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich.An easy-to-use practical tool to help any astronomer identify the constellations and stars every day of the year. Just dial in the date and time by rotating the inner disk showing the time until it lines up with the relevant day of the year on the outer ring. The part of the sky appearing on the planisphere shows the arrangement of the stars above you.This star chart is suitable for use anywhere in Britain and Ireland, Northern Europe, Canada and Northern USA. Best viewed as near to latitude 50 degrees north as possible.The moveable disk also comes in a wallet which contains further information about stargazing.Trade Review"This twin set of Guide and Planisphere is ideal for novices to learn their way around the sky visible to observers around latitude 50 degrees North." The Observatory magazine

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Book SynopsisIan Stewart (Author) Professor Ian Stewart is the author of many popular science books. He is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick. He was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize for furthering the public understanding of science, and in 2001 became a Fellow of the Royal Society.Terry Pratchett (Author) Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any. www.terrypratchettbooks.comJack Cohen (Author) Dr Jack Cohen is an internationally-known reproductive biologist, and lives in Newent, Gloucestershire. Jack has a laboratory in his kitchen, helps couples get pregnant by referring them to colleagues, invents biologically realistic aliens for science fiction writers and, in his spare time, throws boomerangs. Jack, who has more letters to his name than can be repeated here, writes, lectures, talks and campaigns to promote public awareness of science, particularly biology. He is mostly retired.Trade ReviewSuperb, neatly fulfilling its goal of introducing science without being boring or didactic. This is a genuinely mind-expanding and very funny book. * Good Book Guide *Entertaining, instructive and illuminating * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisA shocking look at the ways governments and organisations track and control us and the ways we can fight back.Trade Review"In "Data and Goliath" Bruce Schneier, a computer-security expert, does a fine job of laying out the problems caused by this compulsive collection of personal data...Some recent books on digital privacy have been written by journalists, with an emphasis on sugary narrative instead of original analysis. This one comes from a practitioner, and offers a deep but accessible look at surveillance in the post-Snowden, big-data era." -- The Economist"Bruce Schneier...grasps this revolution's true dimensions...Schneier paints a picture of the big-data revolution that is dark, but compelling; one in which the conveniences of our digitized world have devalued privacy." -- Nature"He [Schneier] is passionate about the subject—and he shows exactly why and how it matters. The combination of qualitative analysis and detailed examples is compelling and the conclusions are stark. Surveillance matters, and not just at a theoretical level. Schneier shows how it causes damage even when it's used "properly", and also offers examples of how it can be and is abused. And he is at his best when demolishing the case for mass surveillance from a security perspective: it's here that his expertise really kicks in. His understanding of encryption, cyberattacks and vulnerabilities, and his ability to explain them in a relatively accessible way, is impressive and admirable." -- Times Higher Education"...excellent new book…" -- The Observer"...important book..." -- New Internationalist

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Book SynopsisAs a fundamental aspect of our knowledge of the physical world, quantum mechanics remains a vital subject in physics. This is a collection of the late Richard P Feynman's lectures. It is suitable for students of physics and those seeking an introduction to the field from the inimitable Richard Feynman.

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Book SynopsisThe whole thing was basically an experiment, Richard Feynman said late in his career, looking back on the origins of his lectures. The experiment turned out to be hugely successful, spawning publications that have remained definitive and introductory to physics for decades. Ranging from the basic principles of Newtonian physics through such formidable theories as general relativity and quantum mechanics, Feynman''s lectures stand as a monument of clear exposition and deep insight.Timeless and collectible, the lectures are essential reading, not just for students of physics but for anyone seeking an introduction to the field from the inimitable Feynman.

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Book SynopsisSupplementary textbook for all levels of undergraduate physics courses in classical mechanics.Trade Review'This textbook serves as an introduction to standard undergraduate classical mechanics topics, including Newton's laws, energy, momentum, oscillators, rotational dynamics and angular momentum. … The real value of this book, however, lies in the extensive set of problems and worked solutions that many students tend to crave and as such is sure to be warmly welcomed.' Contemporary PhysicsTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Strategies for solving problems; 2. Statics; 3. Using F=ma; 4. Oscillations; 5. Conservation of energy and momentum; 6. The Lagrangian model; 7. Central forces; 8. Angular momentum, Part I (constant L); 9. Angular momentum, Part II (general L); 10. Accelerating frames of reference; 11. Relativity (kinematics); 12. Relativity (dynamics); 13. 4-vectors; 14. General relativity; Appendices; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisPlants first colonized the land over 430 million years ago, having evolved from some of the most primitive forms of life. Since then, plants have played a major role in supplying the atmospheric oxygen we all need to survive. But how did plants evolve, how has their distribution and diversity been affected by changes in climate over millions of years - and how can these processes be studied?The Evolution of Plants blends evidence from the fossil record and data from biomolecular studies to tell the story of plant evolution from the earliest forms of life to the present day. Focusing on the key events during the evolution of plants - from the colonization of land to the first forests, the emergence of seed plants to the evolution of flowering plants - its straightforward explanations and clear illustrations provide the reader with the most accessible introduction to plant evolution available.With stunning biome maps illustrating the global distribution of plants during the different periods of life on Earth, the book explains how the diversity of vegetation has changed in response to climate, reinforcing the close link between climate change and the process of biological evolution. It is a contemporary account of a dynamic field, which is perfect for any student looking for a broad, balanced introduction to the subject.Online ResourcesThe online resources to accompany The Evolution of Plants feature - figures from the book in electronic format, for use by registered adopters;- Journal Clubs, which encourage students to critically evaluate and engage with published research related to topics explored in the bookTrade ReviewReview from previous edition This is one of those rare books that one can honestly label 'outstanding' * Amazon *Table of Contents1. The evolutionary record and methods of reconstruction ; 2. Earliest forms of plant life ; 3. The colonization of land ; 4. The first forests ; 5. Major emergence of the seed plants ; 6. Flowering plant origins ; 7. The past 65 million years ; 8. Mass extinctions and persistent populations ; 9. Ancient DNA and the biomolecular record ; 10. Evolutionary theories and the plant fossil record

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Book SynopsisGames are played everywhere: from economics and online auctions to social interactions, and game theory is about how to play such games in a rational way, and how to maximize their outcomes. This VSI reveals, without mathematical equations, the insights the theory can bring to everything from how to play poker optimally to the sex ratio among bees.Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. The Name of the Game ; 2. Chance ; 3. Time ; 4. Convention ; 5. Reciprocity ; 6. Information ; 7. Auctions ; 8. Biology ; 9. Bargaining and Coalitions ; 10. Puzzles and Paradoxes

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Book SynopsisA Scientific American Top Ten Book of 2023If forests are the lungs of the planet, then animals migrating across oceans, streams, and mountains-eating, pooping, and dying along the way-are its heart and arteries, pumping nitrogen and phosphorus from deep-sea gorges up to mountain peaks, from the Arctic to the Caribbean. Without this conveyor belt of crucial, life-sustaining nutrients, the world would look very different. The dynamics that shape our physical world-atmospheric chemistry, geothermal forces, plate tectonics, and erosion through wind and rain-have been explored for decades. But the effects on local ecosystems of less glamorous forces-rotting carcasses and deposited feces-as well as their impact on the global climate cycle, have been largely overlooked. The simple truth is that pooping and peeing are daily rituals for almost all animals, the ellipses of ecology that flow through life. We eat, we poop, and we die. From the volcanoes of Iceland to the tropical waters of Hawaii, the great plains of the American heartland, and beyond, Eat, Poop, Die takes readers on an exhilarating and enlightening global adventure, revealing the remarkable ways in which the most basic biological activities of animals make and remake the world-and how a deeper understanding of these cycles provides us with opportunities to undo the environmental damage humanity has wrought on the planet we call home.

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Book SynopsisThe study of the Quaternary ice age has revolutionized ideas about Earth system change and the pace of landscape and ecosystem dynamics. The Ice Age: A Very Short Introduction looks at evidence from the continents, the oceans, and the ice core records, and the human stories behind it all. Jamie Woodward examines the remarkable environmental shifts that took place during the Great Ice Age of the Quaternary Period. He explores the evolution of ideas, evaluates the contributions of the leading players in the great debates, and presents some of the ingenious methods that have been used to retrieve information about the recent geological past.In an era of warming climate, the study of the ice age past is now more important than ever. This book examines the wonders of the Quaternary ice age - to show how ice age landscapes and ecosystems were repeatedly and rapidly transformed as plants, animals, and humans reorganized their worlds. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Trade ReviewWoodward's book tells a remarkable story in a succinct yet comprehensive way... The historical development of ideas relating to Ice Ages has always fascinated me and will no doubt enthral the general readership for which it is intended. * John A Matthews, The Holocene *I very much enjoy delving into the A Very Short Introduction series for a short, but not too short, summary of a subject. The Ice Age is another in this extensive series published by Oxford University Press. There are more than 350 volumes in the series and they aim to provide a 'stimulating and accessible' way into a new subject. * Weather *For me, this is just the right approach. Science is not just facts, but it is also people, blind alleys, prejudices... and egos. Taken together, this is a heady mixture which has been expertly stirred together. * Geological Journal *This is a quite delightful book, in every way. It is well written. It is stacked with new research, something that is not easy for such a 'well-worn' topic, and not a word is wasted. It also includes a large number of cameos that enhance our understanding of Quaternary Science. * Proceedings of the Geologists's Association *Well written, engaging, and accessible. * Geographical Journal *The idea of the Ice Age is now entirely conventional, but it's an idea that took centuries to extract from the evidence around us. As Jamie Woodward's book shows, there was plenty of physics involved in developing the story. * IOPscience *This is a truly comprehensive, highly accessible, and entertaining biography of Ice Age research. * Climatica *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The Quaternary Ice Age ; 2. Erratic Boulders and the Diluvium ; 3. Monster Glaciers ; 4. Die Eiszeit ; 5. 1840 ; 6. Ice sheets or icebergs ; 7. Glacials, interglacials, and celestial cycles ; 8. Deep ocean sediments and dating the past ; 9. Ice cores, abrupt climate shifts, and ecosystem change ; Epilogue ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisAsimov tells the stories behind the science: the men and women who made the important discoveries and how they did it. Ranging from Galilei, Achimedes, Newton and Einstein, he takes the most complex concepts and explains it in such a way that a first-time reader on the subject feels confident on his/her understanding.

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