Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisDocumenting the species that have emerged, disappeared and been reborn over the millennia since the Cambrian Explosion, Lost Animals is the story of life on Earth. Over 520 million years ago, all the major animal groups – molluscs, worms, crustaceans, vertebrates – appear in the fossil record in what is, geologically speaking, the blink of an eye. As well as the animals we're familiar with today, evolution also experimented with now-obsolete body forms. Once, the world was a blank slate, but as this slate filled up, some lines were erased while others carried on to this day. Beautifully illustrated with artist's interpretations, photographs of fossils and excavations and scientific drawings, Lost Animals brings back to life some of the most charismatic creatures to inhabit the planet, as well as those representing an important link or leap in evolutionary terms. Zoologist Dr John Whitfield discusses those species we have lost, are only just discovering and those thought extinct until rediscovered, and the attempts to conserve and resurrect others.

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Science communication is a rapidly expanding area, and a key component of many final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Authored by a highly regarded chemist and science communicator, this textbook pulls together all aspects of science communication. Complete Science Communication focusses on four major aspects of science communication: writing for non-technical audiences and science journalism; writing for technical audiences and peer-reviewed journal writing; public speaking of science; and public relations. It first showcases how writing in a journalistic style is done and provides a guide for colloquially communicating science. Then, the art of writing scientific papers is conjoined to this idea to make technical manuscripts more digestible, readable, and, hence, citable. These ideas are next taken into the spoken word so that the scientist can engage in telling their science like that natural human art of campfire stories. Finally, all of these communication concepts are wrapped together in a discussion of public relations, providing the scientist with an appreciation for the marketing directors and news disseminators with whom they will work. Written in an accessible way, this textbook will provide science students with an appreciative understanding of communication, marketing, journalism, and public relations. They can incorporate these aspects into their own practices as scientists, allowing them to liaise with practitioners in the communication field.

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Book SynopsisPerfume is part of the biblical text from Genesis through to Revelation, just as perfume pervades our modern life. Identifying the ingredients used in biblical times is difficult when information and meaning is lost in ancient languages. As expected, biblical perfumes were made from natural products but the range employed is surprisingly different from those of modern perfumes. The biblical ingredients are either defensive substances or products of decay, opening up an avenue of speculation as to why this is so. Charles Sell started his research into this area whilst working at Givaudan, the world’s leading manufacturer of perfumes and flavours. The introductory chapter of this book gives a brief outline of the history of the Bible lands, paving the way to understanding the difficulties in identifying exactly which plant sources the original authors meant. Other chapters discuss how plants make chemicals and how the sense of smell functions. The book explores the preparation, storage and uses of perfume, both sacred and secular, and compares and contrasts biblical perfumes with their modern equivalents. It recounts some interesting biblical events involving perfume ranging from courtship through seduction to prostitution and murder. The use of beautiful images from the windows of Canterbury Cathedral, where the author is a guide, illustrate some of the people and events in the biblical accounts and enable visualization of the historical uses of perfumes. The book is aimed at a broad audience and requires no prior specialised knowledge. The subject matter will be of interest to everyone, including chemists and general scientists, historians, those interested in perfumery, those interested in religious studies, and anyone interested in exploring chemistry in the world of art and the creative professions.Trade ReviewIt is a wide-ranging study in which, in addition to chemistry, Dr Sell examines geographical sources, botany, sensory science, medicine, and the arts. There is even a section on perfume storage. Bottles, interestingly, have survived from before 500 BC, and Isaiah mentions the ownership of perfume bottles as one of the trappings of wealth, along with bracelets, charms, and nose-rings. -- Ted Harrison * The Church Times *It's amazing how often the subject of smell comes up in the Bible, whether it be pleasing odours of sacrifice of Noah or the perfumes of the Song of Songs - and of course that expensive perfume used to anoint Jesus's feet, much to Judas's horror. Dr. Sell takes us on a fascinating journey through both Bible and science, laying bare the mechanism of smell and then seeking to explain how these perfumes (all natural ingredients in those days) were obtained. The evidence is often fragmentary (let's face it, the Bible was never meant to be an instruction in the art of perfume formulation), but Dr. Sell teases out many fascinating details, and augments them with beautiful illustrations using the stained glass windows, particularly those of Canterbury cathedral. A must for anyone interested in perfumery or chemistry. -- Teemacs * Amazon Review *Ted Harrison follows his nose through the Bible Christianity can be an olfactory faith. Low Church Protestantism might smell rather bland; but the further the worshipper moves towards the Catholic end of the spectrum, the more the nose is assaulted and delighted. Smell plays an important part in the biblical narrative, from the aromas of burnt offerings in the Old Testament through to the precious perfume used shortly before the Passion to anoint Christ. From Genesis 2 to Revelation 18 there are more than 200 references to perfume, odour, and smell. The old Temple in Jerusalem must have produced an over-powering stench of sweaty humans, frightened animals, burning flesh, and incense. The scene of the resurrection must have had a distinctive smell of embalming chemicals mixed with the early morning scents of garden plants. About 12 years ago, Dr Charles Sell, a chemist who was then working for an industrial fragrance company in Kent, started a research project into the history and chemistry of the biblical references. The results of his work have now been published as a book by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Perfumes in the Bible (pubs.rsc.org). It is a wide-ranging study in which, in addition to chemistry, Dr Sell examines geographical sources, botany, sensory science, medicine, and the arts. There is even a section on perfume storage. Bottles, interestingly, have survived from before 500 BC, and Isaiah mentions the ownership of perfume bottles as one of the trappings of wealth, along with bracelets, charms, and nose-rings. Some of the substances referred to in Perfumes in the Bible are familiar. Frankincense and myrrh are central to the nativity story as two of the gifts of the magi. Yet there were also many rare and exotic scents available to the people of the ancient world, with names that are no longer instantly recognised, such as onycha, galbanum, styrax, and nard. Matching the original Hebrew and Greek to modern names was not, Dr Sell found, always a matter of straightforward translation, and required additional linguistic research. The story starts with the mention of the river flowing from the Garden of Eden. One branch led to the land of Havilah, where, as well as gold and precious stones, bdellium was to be found, a fragrant gum resin and an early ingredient of perfume. For many centuries — until science devised ways of analysing the chemical make-up of smells — the perfumers’ practice was a secretive art. Formulae were rarely published. When Herodotus asked the perfumers of Arabia where they found labdanum, they told him a cock-and-bull story about how they combed it from the beards of goats. Given such reticence, it comes as a surprise to find two recipes set out in the book of Exodus. They were protected not by secrecy, but by threat of punishment: those who tried to recreate sacred tabernacle perfumes for their own use would be sent into exile. Measured out in shekels, the Lord told Moses to take portions of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and orris, and, having dissolved them in olive oil, to use the mixture to anoint all the holy vessels as sacred, and to anoint Aaron and his sons as priests. The sacred incense was to contain equal amounts of styrax, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, ground together into a fine powder. On the Day of Atonement, Aaron was to burn clouds of incense to obscure the Ark of the Covenant to protect him from seeing God. Strict instructions were given that only the priests were to use the special holy incense, and, when 250 men disobeyed the command, they were destroyed by divine fire, the book of Numbers relates. The ancient world of the Middle East was the centre of a network of trade routes that enabled aromatic ingredients to be sourced from many hundreds of miles away. Frankincense, according to Jeremiah, was brought from Sheba, and is today produced in the Horn of Africa and the south-west tip of the Arabian peninsula. Of all fragrances that get a mentionb only galbanum, a resin extracted from a flowering umbelliferous plant, is a true native of the Bible lands. Cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka, and cassia and agarwood are products of China. Frankincense is collected as “tears”: nuggets of a pale-yellow resin that oozes from wounds cut in the incense tree, one of the Burseraceae family. As with many types of tree, when the bark is damaged nature responds by producing a chemical to protect the tree from bacterial and fungal attack. The chemical solidifies to form a substance that exudes a fragrant smoke when burned. Myrrh is also sourced from Burseraceae trees, in the same regions of the world as frankincense. The antimicrobial chemicals produced by the trees to protect themselves have properties that can also be used in the embalming of bodies. Nard, or spikenard comes from much further afield. It is extracted from the roots of a shrub growing at high altitude in the Himalayas. It formed the highly expensive perfume used by the woman, probably Mary Magdalene, who anointed Christ’s feet and dried them with her hair, in St John’s account. The perfume’s cost can be attributed to both its rarity and the distance it had to travel. Exactly how valuable it was became a matter of some debate in the Gospels, and the quantity used by Mary was probably worth the equivalent of a year’s wages. What a waste, the disciples said — the perfume should have been sold, and the money given to the poor. But Jesus rebuked them, telling them: “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” Perfume in the Bible is found in prophecy, metaphor, and poetry. The gifts of the magi — gold, frankincense and myrrh — served a prophetic purpose as they foretold Christ’s kingship, priesthood and death. St Paul employs metaphorical references to perfume in his Epistles. In writing to the Corinthians, he talks of sharing the good news of Jesus as spreading the pleasing aroma of Christ. And the Ephesians are told that followers of Christ should be an offering whose fragrance is pleasing to God. Poetry, however, provides the richest vein of references. In the Song of Songs, the celebrated book of erotic love, the bride says of her bridegroom: “Fragrant is the scent of your perfume and your name like perfume poured out. While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.” Psalm 45 is one of several employing the language of fragrance (“All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia”). In Psalm 141, prayers are likened to incense. The sense of smell is one of the oldest in animal evolution. And, even if it is not the prime sense for humans, it remains one of great potency. As the Bible writers knew well, smell has a powerful effect on the emotions. Smell evokes memories and, in the right circumstances, can induce a sense of the sacred. Modern researchers have examined the chemistry of the vapours given off by burning incense and identified the chemical incensole acetate, which is known to induce a feeling of calm. Modern church incense, such as that used on special occasions at Canterbury Cathedral, where Dr Sell now works as a volunteer guide, might also contain rose oil, although the exact recipe of Rosa Mystica, as made by the monks at Alton Abbey, is a secret. Every individual responds to smell in his or her unique way. As Dr Sell points out, when St Paul wrote about the different responses to the gospel as being like different responses to the same odour, “he was touching on a profound truth about human individuality.” To understand smell in modern scientific language — to identify, for instance, that the curious smell encountered on entering an old church is the chemical geosmin — is not to diminish the mystery. “The more deeply I look into the mechanism of odour perception,” Dr Sell writes, “the more I agree with the psalmist who wrote: ‘We are fearfully and wonderfully made.’” -- Ted Harrison * The Church Times *Table of ContentsForeword by the Dean of Canterbury; Preface; Introduction; How the Sense of Smell Works; Perfume Ingredients in Nature; Sources of Perfume Ingredients; Identifying Perfume Ingredients in the Bible; The Ingredients of Biblical Perfumes; Perfumery; Perfume in the Bible; Perfume at Bethany; Appendix 1 Bible References to Perfume, Odour and the Sense of Smell; Appendix 2 The early medieval windows of Canterbury Cathedral; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAn Observer Book of the Year A Times Science Book of the Year A New Statesman Book of the Year A Financial Times Science Book of the Year 'Astonishingly bold' Daily Mail 'It is hard to imagine a more timely book ... much of the modern world will make more sense having read it.' The Times We live in a world that's more interconnected than ever before. Our lives are shaped by outbreaks - of disease, of misinformation, even of violence - that appear, spread and fade away with bewildering speed. To understand them, we need to learn the hidden laws that govern them. From 'superspreaders' who might spark a pandemic or bring down a financial system to the social dynamics that make loneliness catch on, The Rules of Contagion offers compelling insights into human behaviour and explains how we can get better at predicting what happens next. Along the way, Adam Kucharski explores how innovations spread through friendship networks, what links computer viruses with folk stories - and why the most useful predictions aren't necessarily the ones that come true. Now revised and updated with content on Covid-19.Trade ReviewAstonishingly bold * Daily Mail *Perfect timing * Financial Times *Popular science at its best ... sparkling and clear. The subject is deeply fascinating and highly relevant ... Once you have read it, you will want to make sure others read it too. -- Alex Bellos, author * Alex's Adventures in Numberland *An impressively fluent, fascinating and accessible introduction to how epidemics, trends, behaviours and ideas start, spread - and end ... a work of contemporary relevance that Malcolm Gladwell devotees would enjoy. * New Statesman *It is hard to imagine a more timely book ... much of the modern world will make more sense having read it. * The Times *Adam Kucharski [is] fast becoming a key voice of reason in the media circus surrounding the virus ... Here he gives a clear, calm, historical overview of the mathematical ideas at the forefront of our pandemic response, where they came from and how well they stand up when you put them to the test. -- Hannah Fry * Guardian *This is a hell of a moment for a book like this to come out ... the principles of contagion, which, Kucharski argues, can be applied to everything from folk stories and financial crises to itching and loneliness, are suddenly of pressing interest to all of us. * Sunday Times *Rich in stories, The Rules of Contagion is a down-to-earth account of how mathematical approaches can help us better understand and, in turn, better respond to contagion in all its dynamic forms. Tackling issues from pandemics and gun violence, to financial crises and misinformation, Adam Kucharski inspires us all to think like mathematicians. A must read for anybody interested in epidemics and other crises. -- Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineFor anyone wanting to know how diseases spread, Adam Kucharski's book, The Rules of Contagion is a timely introduction. * Irish Independent *For now Adam Kucharski's The Rules of Contagion is the book you want to reach for ... interesting and topical -- Laura Spinney * Guardian *Illuminating ... Coronavirus has prompted hot-headed public and media reaction; this book offers comfort in the form of cold, hard facts. * Prospect Magazine *One of the Economist's 'five books of science and history that cast light on covid-19': This book charts the history of this now-pivotal science, from its origins in understanding the spread of malaria at the turn of the 20th century, to its central role in predicting the dissemination of everything from diseases to fake news in the 21st. * Economist *The Rules of Contagion is a timely reminder of the importance of disease modelling. Without such models, we would be in far greater trouble battling COVID-19. * Lancet *Lively, intriguing and elegant * Spectator *A geeky but fascinating exploration of the mathematics of things that go viral-not least of them viruses ... Kucharski takes his readers down provocative detours, such as the use of public-health models of disease transmission to examine how social networks figure in urban gun violence, with algorithms that take into account such things as 'age, gang affiliations, and prior arrests.'... Utterly timely and readable. * Kirkus *Essential reading to truly process the pandemic -- Anjana Ahuja * New Statesman *Perhaps no commentator has been in greater demand this year than Adam Kucharski ... The Rules of Contagion is an accessible guide to the mathematical rules that govern the spread of infectious diseases in populations ... [which] makes a convincing case that just as mathematics can predict the arc of an epidemic, so it can also help us understand how social contagions, from financial panics to vaccine conspiracy theories, "go viral". -- Gaia Vince, winner of the Royal Society Prize and author of Adventures in the Anthropocene * Observer *

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Book SynopsisEvolution is a series of bets, and no animal gambles the way humans do. This has led us to unprecedented ecological dominance, via the steepest odds and unlikeliest of outcomes, but our winning streak cuts both ways: the secret to our success may yet be our downfall.The Gambling Animal offers a revelatory retelling of the human story. Drawing on their unique research into the management of risk by humans and other animals - including our most impressive compatriots, elephants - Glenn Harrison and Don Ross reveal the hidden logic of our rise. But with an ecological crisis on the horizon, how long can our winning streak continue?

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Book Synopsis'Mind-inflating' Wired 'A grand vision of the marvels we've discovered, and the immensity of what we still don't understand' Sunday Times What if the ancient Greeks were right, and the universe really did spring into being out of chaos and the void? How could we know? And what must its first moments have been like? To answer these questions, scientists are delving into all the hidden crevices of creation. Armed with giant telescopes and powerful particle accelerators, they probe the subtle mechanisms by which our familiar world came to be, and try to foretell the manner in which it will end. The result of all this collective effort is a complex tale, stranger at times than even our most ancient creation myths. Yet its building blocks give us the power to work marvels our predecessors could scarcely comprehend. In Genesis, the CERN physicist and bestselling author Guido Tonelli does poetic justice to that great story, the accomplishment of countless minds working together across the ages.Trade ReviewMost of us are familiar with the bare bones of the story - a moment of explosive expansion; then stars and planets form; finally, up we pop - but the detail is much richer and stranger ... Tonelli leaps - often in one paragraph - from minutiae to cosmic grandeur ... [This] hugely impressive book gives a grand vision of the marvels we've discovered, and the immensity of what we still don't understand. Maybe he should have called it Revelations instead -- Stephen Bleach * Sunday Times *Mind-inflating ... Genesis is suffused with the language and lessons of myth, so much of which we're only now catching up to. In a way, that's what science is for: to prove the stories true * Wired *Accessible and highly engaging ... Takes us on a journey from the big bang to the evolution of humans, blending Greek mythology with scientific exploration in a narrative that's lyrical and exhilarating in equal measure -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *Einstein meets Ovid ... Grounded in theoretical science but sustained by artistic fervor, this account not only illuminates the precepts of modern cosmology for nonspecialists, but also endows those precepts with rare imaginative power ... Others have told this story, of course, but no one has so enriched the science of this cosmic drama with such meaningful forays into mythology, scripture, music, and history ... A science book that will matter deeply to nonscientists * Booklist starred review *Elegant, accessible ... Tonelli's storytelling successfully weaves curiosity, Greek mythology, and scientific discovery * Publishers Weekly starred review *Lush and inviting, offering countless points of entry even for those readers unfamiliar with fundamental concepts of physics ... An exhilarating exploration of the cosmos that is both poetic and cutting-edge * Kirkus starred review *Tonelli takes the reader on the most thrilling roller-coaster ride, starting with the void and ending 13.8 billion years later with the complex multiverse we currently inhabit. Neatly divided into seven chapters corresponding to different cosmological epochs, this is the modern-day Genesis narrative told by a master story teller. -- Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, author * The Creativity Code *The scientific story of the origin and evolution of our universe is much like a collection of the brittle scrolls of some ancient philosopher. We have mere fragments, enough to be sure that this is the one great poem of the universe, but tantalisingly incomplete. In Genesis, Guido Tonelli guides us expertly through what we know, what we don't know, and what we can only guess. You will find poetry here, and a strong sense of wonder and awe -- Jim Baggott, author * The Quantum Story *Guido Tonelli tells the compelling, astonishing and profoundly beautiful story of creation according to modern science; but just like the Book of Genesis itself, this is also a story of the future - for it is science that enables our modern world and ensures the future of our species -- Ian Shipsey, head of particle physics at the University of OxfordA wonderful scientific narrative * Corriere della Sera *An exquisite tale * La Repubblica *Spellbinding ... For Tonelli, everything in the evolution of the Universe, culture and the human condition follows from the need to understand our origins. Stories allow us to make sense of the void from which all things began. It is fitting that his own story is complex, mysterious and, at times, even messy ? a bit like the Universe itself -- Andrea Taroni * Nature *

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Book SynopsisFrom the origins of life to the structure of modern ecosystems, this beautifully illustrated and full-colour book follows the story of life on Earth, stopping along the way to relate how key developments have influenced events in history. It is indispensable both for students of biology and anyone curious about how life works.Trade ReviewA truly wonderful and important book that fizzes with excitement at the extraordinary forces that shape us and all living things. A triumph * Sir Tim Smit KBE, Co-founder of the Eden Project *The best biology text I've ever read . . . I wish I'd had this book as a student, but I am delighted to get my hands on it as an adult * Rowan Hooper, New Scientist *

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Book Synopsis***BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2021 SHORTLISTED TITLE***Attention! is a practical guide for reclaiming the power of our time and attention. In a world of endless distraction, we have given away two of our most valuable assets: time and attention. Technology has given us the incredible gift of access to an ever-increasing amount of information and has opened the door to a vast array of choices and opportunities. However, having more options doesn’t correlate to an increase in our success. Research shows that having more to choose from causes anxiety and decreases our likelihood of taking action. We have become paralyzed and polarized, reacting instead of acting and ceding control of our decisions to a continuous onslaught of information, marketing, and interruption. We live in an age where we struggle to decide which information is real or fake. We find it challenging to make even the most straightforward decisions for our happiness and success in our lives and business. This book will help you reframe your relationship with the demands on your time, overcome decision fatigue, and understand the value of creating space. Rob Hatch sets out a powerful framework and flexible approach that gives you the space to focus your attention on what is important, the power to make decisions aligned with your goals, and the ability to take action with confidence.Trade ReviewAnd yet, another book about not being distracted so you can focus (which, really, is just a distraction!). It's a good book though. If you need some motivation, if you feel overwhelmed, it's an easy read with some good to great tips. * NetGalley *Table of ContentsAbout the author ....................................................................... ix Foreword by Robert Brooks, PhD ............................................. xi Introduction ............................................................................ xvii Part one: The state of things ................................................1 Chapter 1: The problem: our distracted world .........................3 Chapter 2: This isn’t working: we weren’t prepared for this ...... 23 Part two: The power of simple decisions ...........................45 Chapter 3: Put success in your way ......................................... 47 Chapter 4: You are the architect of your system .................... 79 Part three: Systems that serve .........................................125 Chapter 5: Small – Big – Small .............................................. 127 Chapter 6: The value of emotional decisions ....................... 175 Chapter 7: Decide before you have to ................................... 201 Chapter 8: One number .......................................................... 229 Conclusion: what does that look like? .................................... 237 What’s next?............................................................................ 257

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling creator of Lost in Translation, A Small Illustrated Guide to the Universe is a delicately existential and welcoming exploration of the cosmos - one that examines and marvels at the astonishing principles, laws, and phenomena that we exist alongside, that surround us.Have you ever found yourself wondering what we might have in common with stars or why the Moon never leaves us? Thinking about the precise dancing of planets, the passing of time or the nature of natural things? Our world is full of unshakeable mystery, and although we live in a civilisation more complicated than ever, there is beauty and reassurance to be found in knowing how and why.

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Book SynopsisFROM THE TEAM BEHIND BBC RADIO 4'S AWARD-WINNING NATURE AND COMEDY SERIES NATURE TABLEDid You Know That...A housefly buzzes in the key of F?A cockroach can live for a week without its head, before dying of starvation?Slugs have four noses? So, if you thought that couldn't get slimier, now imagine them with a cold ...The fingerprints of a koala are so indistinguishable from humans that they've been confused at a crime scene?During its lifetime, a cow can produce nearly 200,000 glasses of milk? Which is extraordinary, because where is it getting all those glasses?The natural world is an amazing, compelling and funny place: a place where fact is always more staggering - and often funnier - than fiction. Based on BBC Radio 4's hit science and comedy series Nature Table, and with a foreword from the show's presenter, Sue Perkins, A Housefly Buzzes in the Key of F is a celebration of the astonishing everyday occurrences that happen right under our noses. With fascinating facts from the programme's expert guests along with big jokes, witty anecdotes and fun games, this bumper collection showcases our planet's flora and fauna in all its remarkable and surprising glory.

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Book SynopsisA new edition to Arcturus''s growing list of non-fiction classics, On Happiness contains the Greek philosopher''s teachings about life and death, religion and science, happiness, friendship and morality. His views were influential on later scientists and philosophers, such as Isaac Newton, Thomas Hobbes and Karl Marx, given his thoughts on the value of scientific observation as the only way to prove theories and also his promotion of the idea that living a simple, modest life was the way to happiness.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

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Book SynopsisWe live in disruptive times. The world is changing faster than ever before, leaving people dazed, businesses struggling, economies floundering and societies fracturing. But why? Transition Point is the result of over five years of research to establish the answer; a breathtaking tale of freedom, unintended consequences and disruptive technologies that starts 1000 years ago and ends up in the second half of the 21st Century. Starting with an examination into the drivers of technological change and the social, economic and political factors that both enable or suppress it, Transition Point explains why industrialisation happened where and when it did, why progress comes in waves, and why the technologies in the current wave, such as robotics, blockchain and AI, are likely to be the most disruptive of all. It then addresses the million-dollar question: what’s next? What impact will this wave have on our businesses, our economies and most importantly, on our society? Culey explores how our current trajectory could result in a new golden age, but also how it is just as likely to result in a digital dictatorship of compliance and constant surveillance. Finally, he explains why we may soon see Homo sapiens’ role as the dominant species come to an end. As Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, stated; "We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before." Transition Point explains why this is happening, what it means, and why the decisions we make now will prove to be critical.

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Book SynopsisElegant and beautiful, rich in history and supremely useful, birches have played an extraordinary yet largely unrecognized part in shaping both our natural environment and the material culture and beliefs of millions of people around the world. For thousands of years they have given people of the northern forests and beyond raw materials in the form of leaves, twigs, branches and bark, as well as wood and sap, not simply to survive but to flourish and express their identity in practical and spiritual ways. Tough, waterproof and flexible, birch bark has been used for everything from basketry and clothing to housing and transport, musical instruments and medicines, as well as a means to communicate and record sacred beliefs: some of our most ancient Buddhist texts and other historic documents are written on birch bark. Birches have not only shaped regional cultures – creating, for example, the Native American wigwam and the birch bark canoe – but continue to supply raw materials of global economic importance today. Birch explores the multiple uses of these versatile trees as well as the ancient beliefs and folklore with which they are associated. Richly illustrated, this book presents a fascinating overview of their cultural and ecological significance, from botany to literature and art, as Anna Lewington looks both at the history of birches and what the future may hold in store for them.

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Book SynopsisJellyfish are, like the mythical Medusa, both beautiful and potentially dangerous. Found from pole to tropic, these mesmeric creatures form an important part of the sea’s plankton and vary in size from the gigantic to the minute. Perceived as alien creatures and seen as best avoided, jellyfish nevertheless have the power to fascinate: with the sheer beauty of their translucent bells and long, trailing tentacles; with a mouth that doubles as an anus; and without a head or brain. Drawing upon myth and historical sources as well as modern scientific advances, this book examines our ambiguous relationship with these ancient and yet ill-understood animals, describing their surprisingly complex anatomy, weaponry and habits, and their vital contribution to the ocean’s ecosystem.Trade Review“Engaging and handsomely illustrated. . . . Enduring they may be; endearing they are not. Toy jellyfish, after all, are few and far between. ‘Octopuses, yes,’ Williams ruefully acknowledges, but ‘very, very few jellyfish.’ They are too toxic and they look too weird. But, he argues persuasively, if they are ineligible for affection, they at least deserve humanity’s respect.” * Economist *"Combing through history, art, and science, Williams tells stories proving that these graceful watery creatures deserve our appreciation even while they elude our understanding." -- Mary P. Winsor, IHPST, University of TorontoTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 A Lineage of Uncertainty 2 Toxic but Fascinating 3 Floats, Eyes and Combs 4 The Illustrator's Nightmare 5 Jellyfish Culture 6 Light, Death and Immortality 7 World Domination Timeline Appendix 1: A Brief Description of Individual Species of Jellyfish Mentioned in the Text Appendix 2: Where to see Jellyfish in Captivity References Select Bibliography Associations, Websites and Apps Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the sea and its meanings from ancient myths to contemporary geopolitics, from Atlantis to the Mediterranean migrant crisis. Richard Hamblyn traces a cultural and geographical journey from estuary to abyss, beginning with the topographies of the shoreline and ending with the likely futures of our maritime environments. Along the way, the sea becomes a site of work and endurance, of story and song, of language, leisure and longing. By considering the sea as both a physical and a cultural presence, this book shines new light upon it, and its indelible place in the human imagination.Trade Review“A whirlwind tour of the world’s seas and oceans . . . from oceanography and marine biology to the specialist language of seafarers to the sea as it is represented in art, music, film, and literature, to a dire warning of the sea’s vulnerability to anthropogenic global warming, overfishing, and the eternal life of plastics tossed unthinkingly into the sea. . . . What makes The Sea rare is Hamblyn’s intellectual agility, his capacity to write freshly (and with extraordinary economy) about everything he touches on. He holds my interest and admiration throughout this gorgeously illustrated book.” -- Jonathan Raban, author of "Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings" and editor of "The Oxford Book of the Sea"

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a readable account of butterfly behaviour, based on field observations, great photographs and the latest research. The main focus is on courtship and mating - including perching, searching and territorial behaviour - but to understand these subjects it is necessary to explain how mates are chosen and this requires sections on wing colours and patterns. A chapter on butterfly vision is also essential in terms of how butterflies see the world and each other. There have been exciting discoveries in all of these fields in recent years, including: butterfly vision (butterfly photoreceptors), wing patterns (molecular biology), wing colouration (structural colours and nano-architecture), mating strategies and female choice (ecology and behaviour).Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Sexual selection and mate choice 3: Strategies for locating a mate 4: Seeing and being seen 5: Courtship behaviour 6: Body language 7: The Mating Game 8: The inside story 9: Scents – chemical communications 10: Wing colours and iridescence 11: Glossary 12: Summing Up 13: Annex 1. 14: References

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Book SynopsisKey Questions in Environmental Toxicology is designed as a self-study tool for undergraduate students. Questions review the origin, characterization and environmental distribution of major pollutants, followed by their absorption and metabolic disposition in living organisms. They address implications for the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary dysfunction and neurological conditions in relation to gaseous pollutants, particulates, persistent organic compounds and radioactive emissions, then cover the impact of pollutants on biodiversity, food safety, and water contamination. This book: - Covers toxicology from human morbidity, ecological impact and biodiversity perspectives, and emphasises the impact of diverse organic pollutants in worsening these interconnected phenomena, leading to wider environmental emergencies; - Provides a selection of fill-in-the-gap, multiple choice and short answer question types for students to vary their learning and enhance motivation; - Includes full answer rationales, allowing students to gain true insight into the subject. Providing support to programmes across environmental science, ecology and human health, and covering all the major biological toxins and pollutants as well as unintended consequences of actions designed to improve outcomes, this book may be used in conjunction with the companion volume Introduction to Environmental Toxicology.

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Book SynopsisA revealing and entertaining guide through some of the biggest misconceptions in science that many of us still believe.You may well be familiar with the fact that lightning, contrary to the popular saying, often strikes the same place twice. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what many of us wrongly believe about the way the world works. Whether it’s word of mouth, myths you’ve read about online, or misremembered facts from school, we’re bombarded by misconceptions about the science we come into contact with every day – this book will uncover the most popular myths to help you avoid contributing to the perpetuation of these misunderstandings.Breaking it down into fifty of the most popular misconceptions in science, each chapter of this book will be headed up with a ‘fact’, followed by the real story, providing the science and theory that debunks the myth. From fears about the exponential growth of the human population to the embarrassment of always pointing out the north star as the brightest in the sky, this is the book to read if you want to separate the science fact from fiction.

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Book SynopsisToday the Upper Thames Valley is a region of green pastures and well-managed farmland, interspersed with pretty villages and intersected by a meandering river. The discovery in 1989 of a mammoth tusk in river gravels at Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, revealed the very different ancient past of this landscape. Here, some 200,000 years ago, mammoths, straight-tusked elephants, lions, and other animals roamed across grasslands with scattered trees, occasionally disturbed by small bands of Neanderthals. The pit where the tusk was discovered, destined to become a waste disposal site, provided a rare opportunity to conduct intensive excavations that extended over a period of 10 years. This work resulted in the recording and recovery of more than 1500 vertebrate fossils and an abundance of other biological material, including insects, molluscs, and plant remains, together with 36 stone artefacts attributable to Neanderthals. The well-preserved plant remains include leaves, nuts, twigs and large oak logs. Vertebrate remains notably include the most comprehensive known assemblage of a distinctive small form of the steppe mammoth, Mammuthus trogontherii, that is characteristic of an interglacial period equated with marine isotope stage 7 (MIS 7). Richly illustrated throughout, Mammoths and Neanderthals in the Thames Valley offers a detailed account of all these finds and will be of interest to Quaternary specialists and students alike.Table of ContentsList of Figures ; List of Tables ; Preface ; Introduction ; The excavations ; Geological context of the Stanton Harcourt Channel ; Evidence for the Contemporaneity of Bones, Wood, Molluscs and Artefacts ; Stratigraphy and sedimentology ; Bones assemblages at their death sites ; The context of wood, fresh-water molluscs and other environmental material at the excavation site ; The presence of hominins ; Dating The Stanton Harcourt Channel Deposits ; Absolute dating ; Biostratigraphy ; The Mammoths ; The compostion of the mammoth assemblage ; The sex of the Stanton Harcourt mammoths ; Interpreting the mammoth remains: death, carcass dispersal and the effect of the river ; Population structure of the Stanton Harcourt mammoth assemblage ; Large Vertebrates other than Mammoths at Stanton Harcourt ; The carnivores ; The herbivores ; Small vertebrates ; The Climatic and Environmental Evidence ; Wood and other vegetation as climatic indicators ; Climatic interpretation of the molluscs ; Large vertebrates as climatic indicators ; The local environment - wood and other vegetation ; Insects and the environment ; Molluscs and the local environment ; Vertebrates and the environment ; The Artefacts ; Descriptions of the artefacts ; Artefacts from the wider context near Stanton Harcourt ; The Stanton Harcourt artefacts and other British assemblages ; Neanderthals in the Thames Valley ; References

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Book SynopsisThe rise of artificial intelligence and its countless branches have caused many professional industries to rethink their traditional methods of practice and develop new techniques to keep pace with technological advancement. The continued use of intelligent technologies in the professional world has propelled researchers to contemplate future opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence may withhold. Significant research is a necessity for understanding future trends of artificial intelligence and the preparation of prospective issues. Analyzing Future Applications of AI, Sensors, and Robotics in Society provides emerging research exploring the potential uses and future challenges of intelligent technological advancements and their impact in education, finance, politics, business, healthcare, and engineering. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as neuronal networks, cognitive computing, and e-health, this book is ideally designed for practitioners, researchers, scientists, executives, strategists, policymakers, academicians, government officials, developers, and students seeking current research on future societal uses of intelligent technology.

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Book SynopsisElectromagnetism is one of the four fundamental forces in nature, and underlies almost everything we experience in our daily lives, whether we realise it or not. The complete theory was first written down in the late 19th century, and remains an essential part of a scientific education. The mathematics behind the theory, however, can be intimidatingly complex. Furthermore, it is not always clear to beginners why the theory is either useful or interesting, nor how it relates to modern research in theoretical physics.The aim of this book is to guide students towards a detailed understanding of the full theory of electromagnetism, including its practical applications. Later chapters introduce more modern formulations of the theory than are found in traditional undergraduate courses, thus bridging the gap between a first course in electromagnetism, and the advanced concepts needed for further study in physics. The final chapter reviews exciting current research stating that possible theories of (quantum) gravity may be much more closely related to electromagnetism than previously thought.Throughout the book, an informal conversational style is used to demystify intimidating concepts. Relevant mathematical ideas are introduced in a self-contained manner, and exercises are provided with full solutions to aid understanding. This book is essential reading for anyone undertaking a physics degree, but will also be of interest to engineers and chemists.

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Book SynopsisEvery living thing has a life cycle a beginning, a middle and an end to their lives. Learn about the unique life cycles of different living things and what they have in common with each other.

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Book SynopsisFrom the animal world to the forces that make things go, young minds have big questions about how the world works. The answers to these questions wait in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Unlock the world around you with STEM and Me.

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Book SynopsisWhat lies beneath the surface of the ocean has mystified humankind for millennia.We have explored more of the surface of the Moon than we have of the deep sea. From vampire squid to giant spider crabs, and from hydrothermal vents to bioluminescence, its watery depths are both fascinating and terrifying.Deep Water explores, through spectacular images and expert text, how this unique habitat came into being, what lives there and why, how it has evolved and what the future will bring for this dark and mysterious environment.Table of ContentsTimeline of Discovery • Introduction • Zones of the Ocean • How Much of the Deep Sea is Unexplored? • Nutrient Cycling • Bioluminescence • Biogenic Sediment • Megamouth Shark • Coelacanths • Azoic Hypothesis • Cambrian Creatures • Giant Spider Crab • Ophthalmosaurus • Vampire Squid • Nautilus • Stromatolites • Bathysphere • Diel Vertical Migration • Goblin Shark • Giant Squid • Cookie-Cutter Shark • Giant Oarfish • Lanternfish • Big Red Jelly • Viperfish • Whalefalls • Hagfish • Gulper Eels • Orange Roughy • Brachiopods • Anglerfish • Hydrothermal Vents • Yeti Crabs • Methanogenic Bacteria • Giant Tube Worms • Chimaeras • Blubber • Cuvier’s Beaked Whale • Paleodictyon • Foraminiferans • DSV Alvin • Abyssal Plain • Sea Squirts • Sea Spiders • Dumbo Octopus • Giant Isopods • HMS Challenger • Crinoids • Trieste • Mariana Trench • Glossary • Index • Credits

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Book SynopsisInsects conquered the Earth long before we did and will remain here long after we're gone.They outnumber us in the billions and are essential to many of the natural processes that keep us alive and that we take for granted.Yet, despite this, very few of us know much about the hidden world of insects.In this fascinating new book, entomologist and broadcaster George McGavin takes a deep dive to reveal the unknown truths about the most successful and enduring animal group the world has ever seen, and to show the unseen effects this vast population has on our planet, if only we care to look.McGavin explores not only the incredible traits that insects have evolved to possess, such as dragonflies that can fly across oceans without resting or beetles that lay their eggs exclusively in corpses, but also the vital lessons we have learnt from them, including how therapy using maggots can save lives and how bees can help grow rich tomato yields.The Hidden World reveals the wonderful complexity of our relationship with insects, how they have changed the course of our history and how, if we continue to learn from them, they could even be the key to our future and survival.Trade Review'Every page drips with details to dissuade readers of the notion that insects are unsightly pests ... A compelling and very readable argument that we should all appreciate the hidden world of six-legged creatures far more' * The Biologist *

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Book SynopsisPeople hunting monkeys in the jungle once devised a simple yet effective trap: When the creature found a banana in a large jar with a narrow neck, it would plunge its paw in to retrieve it. But it couldn’t let go. And unless the monkey released the banana, it was stuck. We are, of course, the stuck monkey, paralysed by our modern lifestyles and consumer habits: our constant stream of online shopping deliveries, our compulsive dependence on digital devices, our obsession with our pets. These addictions, as small and harmless as they may seem, are quietly destroying the planet. And the eco-friendly alternatives that alleviate our guilt are often not much better. In Stuck Monkey, James Hamilton-Paterson uncovers the truth behind the everyday habits fuelling the climate crisis. Drawing on eye-opening research and shocking statistics, he mercilessly dissects a wide spectrum of modern life: pets, gardening, sports, vehicles, fashion, wellness, holidays, and more. Ferociously unflinching and intelligent, this book will make you think twice about the ‘innocent’ habits we often take for granted.Trade ReviewA marvellous, anecdote-packed mix of head-on and sideways takes on how corporate, personal and collective actions are trashing the planet and bringing about a climate and ecological emergency ... I would defy anyone to read this excellent book and not be forced into taking a long, hard look at how they live their life, and then take urgent steps to change it. * Professor Bill McGuire *A highly original and lucid portrayal of the eco-catastrophe we face ... throughout, Hamilton-Paterson's mordant humour offers some solace * Literary Review *Not an easy read, but a timely one, which cuts through a lot of nonsense * Saga Magazine *PRAISE FOR JAMES HAMILTON-PATERSON: 'A superb book, not only meticulously researched but also supremely readable' - Daily Mail 'A terrific story, told with tremendous relish, elegance and attention to detail' * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisResearch impact is increasingly expected within academia, but does the pressure to ‘do impact’ risk an unhealthy focus on what can be counted rather than what counts? Creating Meaningful Impact: The Essential Guide to Developing an Impact-Literate Mindset looks at impact from inside the research sector, celebrating the opportunity to make a difference whilst recognising the challenges this brings. Taking you from basic concepts through to principles of practice, impact expert Julie Bayley demystifies impact and guides you on the path to understanding the why, what, who and how of research-led change. What do unicorns tell us about what matters? Or strip clubs tell us about failure? And what can Murder She Wrote teach us about assembling evidence? Whether you’re a researcher, research lead or research manager, Creating Meaningful Impact will help you realign your impact sat-nav and develop an authentic, critical and healthy approach within the wider pressures of academia.Trade ReviewJulie Bayley’s book, Creating Meaningful Impact, is an enlightening romp through the excitement, the pressures, the demands of doing impact well, both in terms of institutional success and in terms of a researcher’s personal and professional development. As book blurbs often suggest, the book is a rollercoaster, but one very much aimed at the fainthearted, who stand to learn a lot from Julie’s immense expertise, warmth, wit and superlative use of imagery. So, if you are tickled by the idea of becoming a more mindfully impactful researcher, swipe right on ‘Impact Tinder’ and read this book! -- Professor Ele Belfiore, Professor in Cultural Policy & Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity, University of Aberdeen, UKJulie Bayley never fails to achieve impact on impact. If you are already on your journey to impact literacy this book will help you grow roots into impact healthy practices. And if you are just starting out, this book will help you sow the seeds that will grow into those roots to sustain your career of research with an impact on society. 'Creating meaningful impact' isn’t just the title, it is the goal that Julie achieves in this important book. -- Dr David Phipps, Assistant VP Research Strategy & Impact, York University, Canada, and Director of Research Impact CanadaThere are many books available to advise researchers how to ‘do’ impact but none as accessible as this. The sheer joy and enthusiasm that Julie brings to the field shines through every word which, along with insights from other researchers and partners in the field, ensures that every reader will emerge from this book enlightened, and excited about the prospect of pursuing their own ‘societal impact’. -- Dr Gemma Derrick, Associate Professor, Research Policy & Culture, University of Bristol, UKAbsolutely brilliant. Cuts through the impact BS incisively but with wit, focusing on the (social) purpose throughout. Should be a must read for all PhD students and frankly all academics. -- Jonathan Grant, Founding Director of Different Angles Ltd, a consultancy that focuses on the social impact of universities and researchI adored this book and will give it to every young academic on my Christmas present list [...] As the author intended, I found my 'impact mojo' in this book. -- Christopher Walker, Communications Strategist, Thought Leadership Columnist & WriterTable of ContentsChapter 1. What is research impact? Chapter 2. Impact literacy Chapter 3. Impact, values and power Principle 1. Chase meaning not unicorns Principle 2. Work out what your research powers up Principle 3. Think directionally not linearly Principle 4. Evidence? Think ‘What would Jessica Fletcher do?’ Principle 5. Create a healthy space Principle 6. Own your expertise but don’t be a jerk Principle 7. Be an impact lighthouse Principle 8. Be you Final words

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Book Synopsis''Tracy King''s memoir is heartbreaking and hopeful...An incredible true story of survival and forgiveness.'' TIM MINCHIN''Raw and unflinching.'' CAROLINE CRIADO PEREZ''A brilliant writer.'' ADAM KAY''What would you do if you began to suspect the events of your childhood didn''t happen as you remembered them? In this evocative memoir, Tracy King confronts the stories we all tell ourselves in order to live.'' HELEN LEWIS........................................................................................................................When you have nothing, you cling to whatever gives you hope.Put yourself in Tracy King''s shoes. Growing up in an ordinary council estate outside Birmingham; a house filled with creativity, curiosity and love, but marked by her father''s alcoholism and her mother''s agoraphobia.By the time she turns twelve her father has been killed, her sister taken into care and her mother ensnared by the promises of born-again Christianity.This isn''t the stuff of cult documentaries; this is the story of an ordinary family trapped in a broken system. It''s a story that could happen to anyone without the tools to transform their circumstances. And it''s the story of how Tracy found her way out.A shocking, inspiring and ultimately hopeful memoir that holds up a mirror to the everyday realities of living in poverty, it is also a testament to the power of books and to learning to question our world.

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Book Synopsis''Big Meg is big fun! It''s packed to the gills with gobsmacking facts, insightful conjecture, and personal obs from two world-class scientists and explorers ... a megaladon of delight for any shark-lover!'' - Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus''Tim Flannery scores again, diving into the murky myth-filled waters surrounding the world''s biggest predator, and surfacing with a breathless true story stuffed with astounding facts and personal experience.'' - Lucy Cooke, author of Bitch and The Unexpected Truth about Animals''If you are not already addicted to Tim Flannery''s writing, discover him now.'' - Jared Diamond, author of Collapse and Guns, Germs and Steel''Engagingly written and a real labour of love (down to the tiny fin at the bottom of each right hand page). Give this book to the wannabe palaeontologist in your life'' - MAIL ON SUNDAY---------------------------------------

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Book SynopsisDiscover the fascinating underwater world of sharks in the Shark Files. The tiger shark is known for eating just about anything it can find. Discover more interesting facts about the tiger shark inside.

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Book Synopsis'[An] insightful analysis of 19th-century futurism ... Morus's account is as much a cautionary tale as a flag-waving celebration.' - DUNCAN BELL, NEW STATESMAN'[How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon] rattles thrillingly through such developments as the Transatlantic telegraph cable, the steam locomotive and electric power and recalls the excitable predictions of the fiction of the time.' KATY GUEST, THE GUARDIAN'Excellent ... A terrific insight into why the Victorian era was a golden age of engineering.' - NICK SMITH, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINEBy the end of the Victorian era, the world had changed irrevocably. The speed of the technological development brought about between 1800 and 1900 was completely unprecedented in human history. And as the Victorians looked to the skies and beyond as the next frontier to be explored and conquered, they were inventing, shaping and moulding the very idea of the future. To get us to this future, the Victorians created a new way of ordering and transforming nature, built on grand designs and the mass-mobilisation of the resources of Empire - and they revolutionised science in the process. In this rich and absorbing book, distinguished historian of science Iwan Rhys Morus tells the story of how this future was made. From Charles Babbage's dream of mechanising mathematics to Isambard Kingdom Brunel's tunnel beneath the Thames, from George Cayley's fantasies of powered flight to Nikola Tesla's visions of an electrical world, this is a story of towering personalities, clashing ambitions, furious rivalries and conflicting cultures - a vibrant tapestry of remarkable lives that transformed the world and ultimately took us to the Moon.Trade ReviewExcellent ... A terrific insight into why the Victorian era was a golden age of engineering. -- Nick Smith * Engineering and Technology magazine *It rattles thrillingly through such developments as the Transatlantic telegraph cable, the steam locomotive and electric power and recalls the excitable predictions of the fiction of the time. -- Katy Guest * The Guardian *In his excellent new book How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon, the distinguished historian of science Iwan Rhys Morus argues that we are heirs to an ideology bequeathed by the Victorians, a broadly progressive vision that insists social improvement depends on constant technoscientific innovation ... [An] insightful analysis of 19th-century futurism ... Morus's account is as much a cautionary tale as a flag-waving celebration. -- Duncan Bell * New Statesman *The detail of How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon is truly fascinating. Morus gives a deep insight into Victorian subcultures we never knew existed and the direction that the scientific winds were blowing across 70 years of history ... Compelling. * How It Works *How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon takes us through the story of the emergence of science and technology as we know it today ... a fascinating read ... expertly woven together by Morus. * Nature Astronomy *Wonderfully written ... a brilliant history of Victorian innovation. -- Melissa Brobby * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *[Morus's] elegant and accessible writing style will appeal to a variety of audiences, including historians of science, scientists, and casual readers. His ability to synthesize recent scholarship to present a novel, coherent story is truly impressive. * Science *

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Book SynopsisThis informative pocketbook of essential gardening tips and tricks will help any aspiring gardener brush up on their knowledge and become a green-fingered fanaticNowadays, we are gardening more than ever. As an antidote to the stresses of modern life, more and more people are picking up their trowel in pursuit of happiness, better health and a blossoming backyard.But sometimes it''s tricky to know where to start with your garden and which direction to take. Not to mention the puzzling terminology and plant names that can leave novice and expert gardeners alike scratching their heads in confusion.Whether you''re a complete beginner or wanting to hone your existing skills, taking on a large-scale project or getting started in a small space, this book will help you:- Learn the gardening lingo and choose the correct equipment for the relevant job- Manage common garden challenges, including pests and diseases- Discover a range of plants and flowers and where they thrive best- Plan a garden, from choosing a theme to executing the finer detailsThe Little Book of Gardening is the ideal companion on your gardening journey, and will show you how to garden at your own pace, in your own time, in your own way.

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Book SynopsisIsaac is a Department for Education project at the University of Cambridge that develops understanding and confidence through problem solving in the physical sciences, by combining accessible and concise print resources with a state of the art online study tool. This book is a co-publication between Periphyseos Press/Isaac and Cambridge University Press. 2 books in 1: ESSENTIAL PRE-UNIVERSITY PHYSICS helps you master the concepts of physics in pre-university courses (including A Level, IAL, IB and the AICE Diploma). Use the skill sheets to practise applying fundamental principles of physics to a range of situations, beginning with manipulating the essential equations. DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS builds the problem solving fluency needed for physics and engineering at university. All problems can be answered on the Isaac online platform. Registration is free and gives both students and teachers personalised support through a sophisticated online marking system for all problems and a section-by-section archive of video lessons.

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Book SynopsisExtremely open in its honesty and meticulously researched, (M)otherhood probes themes of infertility, childbirth and reproductive justice, and makes a powerful and urgent argument for the need to tackle society's obsession with women's bodies and fertility.Trade ReviewAn exhilarating, genre-defying read . . . seamlessly interwoven with statistics, quotes and scientific evidence to clever narrative effect . . . reminiscent of Olivia Laing's writing on loneliness or the body . . . The whole thing adds up to the most thoughtful, empathic and inspiring science of the self -- VIV GROSKOP * * Observer * *Absolutely sensational. Revelatory and of its time, challenging myths and ingrained perceptions. I could not put it down. Everyone should read this -- MICHAEL CASHMAN, CBE, co-founder of StonewallBrilliant, brave, beautiful . . . such an inspiring book -- ELIF SHAFAKRiveting. Agarwal writes with searing honesty and tenderness about the joys and agonies of becoming a mother, of trying and failing to conceive again, and then of pursuing a route to motherhood that's widely seen as taboo . . . Agarwal writes beautifully about her own complicated experience * * Guardian * *Intimate and insightful, Pragya Agarwal expands the meaning of the word motherhood in this brilliant book. This is urgent, essential reading for everyone -- AVNI DOSHIA wide-ranging, searingly honest and timely intervention into the framing of a fundamental and fraught choice, as well as an impassioned defence of ambivalence as part of the human condition -- OLIVIA SUDJIC(M)otherhood is a valuable step towards a literature that acknowledges the breadth and variety of the parenting experience and its cultural meanings. It is touchingly personal and brave -- ANGELA SAINI, author of Superior: The Return of Race SciencePowerful and compelling . . . Agarwal is a precise, elegant writer who seeks answers by embracing complexity * * New Statesman * *A book about the disparate forces of duty, stereotypes, pressure, double standards and expectations forced upon women, Agarwal cuts through all of it to examine the multiplicity and complexity of motherhood in all its myriad forms. A moving, urgent and necessary read, ultimately it is a book about love -- LAURA BATESCourageous, tender, painfully resonant and beautifully written - this is such a wise and generous exploration of womanhood and identity, and deserves to be read as widely as possible -- DAISY BUCHANAN

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Book SynopsisFeaturing more than 200 intriguing images taken by space probes travelling billions of kilometres from Earth, The Solar System is an exhilarating exploration of the mysteries of our local planetary space. Within the span of a human lifetime, our spacecraft have visited all eight planets of the Solar System, together with several dwarf planets, asteroids and comets. We have mapped the surface of Mercury and Venus in exquisite detail, landed rovers on Mars, placed orbiters around Jupiter and Saturn, and parachuted to the surface of Titan. Our emissaries have visited icy worlds five billion kilometres from home and continued onwards to reach interstellar space. The pictures and science returned by these intrepid travellers have transformed our understanding of the Solar System in which we live.Table of ContentsContents includes: Introduction THE SUN Contains most of the Solar System’s mass MERCURY AND VENUS Closest planets to the Sun Impact craters and ridges on Mercury’s surface Venus is hottest planet, with numerous volcanoes EARTH AND MOON The only planet where life is know to exist Only planet with plate tectonics Asteroids MARS Iron oxide in the soil gives it a red appearance Atmosphere mainly carbon dioxide Surface volcanoes Rift valleys Two satellites: Deimos and Phobos JUPITER AND ITS MOONS 2.5 times the mass of all other planets combined 79 satellites, including: Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa Great Red Spot Cloud bands SATURN AND ITS MOONS Ring system 82 confirmed satellites, including Titan (second-largest moon in Solar System) and Enceladus URANUS AND NEPTUNE Uranus has 27 known satellites, including: Titania, Oberon, Umbriel, Ariel, and Miranda Neptune has 14 satellites: The largest, Triton, is geologically active, with geysers of liquid nitrogen Neptune trojans MINOR PLANETS, ASTEROIDS AND COMETS Dwarf planets – Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake and Haumea Asteriod belt Kuiper belt Centaurs Comets Scattered disc Index

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Book SynopsisInsects are the most successful group of animals ever to have lived: they comprise a million species and perhaps 10 quintillion individuals. Much of life on earth depends on the activities of these busy, teeming arthropods, from pollination to the breaking down of waste matter. Each chapter of Planet Insect centres on one or more of the traits of insect life that have allowed them to hold dominion over the earth's terrestrial and freshwater environments for so long, from their staggering reproductive ability to their complex partnership with flowering plants. Planet Insect offers a winning fusion of glorious imagery and fine biological writing by an entomological specialist who writes both entertainingly and with authentic scientific rigour and who also happens to be a very gifted nature photographer.

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Book SynopsisOur fascination with the vampire myth has scarcely diminished since Bram Stoker’s publication of the classic Dracula tale in 1897, but how much of the lore is based in fact and can science explain the origins of horror’s most famous fiend? Vampirology charts the murky waters of the vampire myth – from stories found in many cultures across the globe to our sympathetic pop-culture renditions today – to investigate how a scientific interpretation may shed light on the fears and phenomena of the vampire myth.Trade ReviewFascinating, compelling and informative, Vampirology is a must-read for fans of vampire media, regardless of the form! -- A. P. Sylvia * Journal of Vampire Studies *I simply couldn't get enough of Katheryn Harkup’s fascinating, sparkling and erudite account of the history of the vampire. Using actual accounts she demonstrates how the vampire myth spread like a contagion - gossip and rumour mixed with a very modern taste for sensation. How every country and region has its own particularly variety of the blood-sucker, from the upior and the vrykolas to the Romanian Striogi. And how this area of the world became a melting pot for the superstitions that would give birth to Dracula. She takes us through the endlessly shifting criteria - the Rules of the Beast, as it were - which govern the existence of the vampire: shape-shifting, sunlight and the primary importance of blood itself. She also examines in detail the physical processes of decay and how their misinterpretation could lead the credulous to believe their dear-departed were not so departed after all… As compulsively readable as a bloated undead feasting on a fresh corpse, this is an absolute must for all children of the night out there. The blood is the life! -- Mark Gatiss, writer, actor, director and co-creator of BBC’s DraculaTable of ContentsPrologue; Evolution; Vampirology; Undead; Blood; Sunlight; Supernatural; Shapeshifting; Disease; Species; Vampiroids; Prevention; Slaying; Epilogue

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Book SynopsisSince 1984 this book, now in its 7th edition and thoroughly updated, has introduced the crucial interface between our diet and the essentially chemical nature of what we eat and drink. The contributions of the various classes of natural food components, as well as additives and contaminants, to the nutritional value of foods are considered. These include the nutrients required in large amounts like carbohydrates, proteins, fat, minerals and water as well as the less bulky nutrients such as vitamins, flavours, colours and preservatives. Undesirable food components, including allergens, pesticide residues and toxins are also dealt with. Not just the nature of food components are described, but also how they behave in storage, processing and cooking and accompanying changes in a food’s nutritional value. The book features a ‘Special Topics’ section at the end of each chapter for specialist readers and advanced students, comprehensive listings of up-to-date review articles and recommended books for further reading, an exhaustive index and the structural formulae of over 500 food components. Frequent reference is also made to wider food and health issues, e.g. lactose intolerance, polyunsaturated fatty acids, wheat and gluten evolution, salt and hypertension, flavonoids in tea and fruit, and the increasing replacement of artificial with natural food colours. Food: The Chemistry of its Components will be of particular interest to students and teachers of food science, nutrition and applied chemistry in universities, colleges and schools. Its accessible style ensures that it will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in food issues. Extracts from reviews of previous editions: “A superb book to have by your side when you read your daily newspaper.” New Scientist. “… filled me with delight, curiosity and wonder. All the chemistry is very clear and I thoroughly recommend it.” The Chemical Educator. “This is a lively and thorough treatment of the subject. I can recommend it to anyone interested in food, as an excellent reference or just to pick up and browse.” School Science Review. “Especially noteworthy are the author’s simple observations on foods that are familiar to us all …” Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Safety.Table of ContentsSugars;Polysaccharides;Lipids;Proteins;Colours;Flavours;Vitamins;Preservatives;Undesirables;Minerals;Enzymes;Water

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Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive listing of the known useful plants for this country. Compiled by a team of Colombian and international botanists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Humboldt Institute and numerous partner institutions, it consolidates expert-generated information linked and accessible through an online portal (ColPlantA). The checklist is accompanied by 11 chapters written by specialists, providing perspectives on the state of knowledge on the useful plants of Colombia, covering a range of topics, from taxonomic, geographic and conservation aspects, to their use in sustainable value chains and contributions to the bioeconomy, specific topics such as medicinal, edible and insecticide plants, and their representation in the Amazon region, and in Kew’s economic botany collection. The catalogue is further enriched by diverse supplementary material.

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Book SynopsisThe essential field guide to the Western Alps region

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Book SynopsisIn the 1980s and 1990s John Fisher revolutionised dog training, first in England, then in the US. With his self-deprecating manner and 'Oh! So British' sense of humour, he taught us to 'Think Dog'. In this seminal pet psychology book, he examines the mind of the dog with examples taken from his practical experience, explaining to owners how the world appears from a dog's point of view. The first section of the book traces the ancestry and inherent behaviour of dogs, from their origins as pack animals related to the wolf or the jackal. The second part examines what most people describe as problem behaviour, which is just normal canine behaviour exhibited in the wrong place. The book concludes with an A-Z of common problems, their causes and cures.Trade ReviewA true pioneer of dog behaviour therapy, John Fisher was at the forefront of a new understanding of dogs and positive methods to train and educate them.Think Dog is my mentor's legacy. John's ideals of kind, fair and effective training stand the test of time. A must-read for dog owners everywhere.

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Book SynopsisHere are the stories of the ten most popular equations of all time as voted for by readers of Physics World, including - accessibly described here for the first time - the favourite equation of all, Euler's equation.Each is an equation that captures with beautiful simplicity what can only be described clumsily in words. Euler's equation [eip + 1 = 0] was described by respondents as 'the most profound mathematic statement ever written', 'uncanny and sublime', 'filled with cosmic beauty' and 'mind-blowing'. Collectively these equations also amount to the world's most concise and reliable body of knowledge.Many scientists and those with a mathematical bent have a soft spot for equations. This book explains both why these ten equations are so beautiful and significant, and the human stories behind them.

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Book SynopsisRaspberry production and consumption is increasing steadily worldwide, and the potential health benefits of the fruit are becoming more widely known. Providing an international overview of the modern raspberry industry, this book covers North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It discusses all aspects of raspberry growing, including plant growth and development, cultivar description and selection, site selection and preparation (including soil and drainage), climate, pest control, irrigation, shipping, economics, harvesting and the marketing of the final product. Much of this publication covers research based information, including hundreds of references and nearly eighty full colour plates. Taking a global perspective, this book provides a comprehensive yet concise reference for all horticulture students, raspberry growers, producers and fruit industry personnel looking for the latest information in raspberry production.Table of Contents1: Raspberries 2: Growth and Development 3: Climatic Requirements 4: Site Selection 5: Cultivar Development and Selection 6: Nursery Production of Plants 7: Propagation 8: Site Preparation, Soil Management and Planting 9: Soil and Water Management 10: Pruning and Training 11: Pest and Disease Management 12: Crop Production 13: Post Harvest Physiology and Storage of Raspberries 14: Marketing 15: Raspberry Farm Management and Economics 16: World Raspberry Production and Marketing: Industry Changes from 1960-2010

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Book SynopsisIn Mind Change, Susan Greenfield discusses the all-pervading technologies that now surround us, and from which we derive instant information, connected identity, diminished privacy and exceptionally vivid here-and-now experiences. In her view they are creating a new environment, with vast implications, because our minds are physically adapting: being rewired. What could this mean, and how can we harness, rather than be harnessed by, our new technological milieu to create better alternatives and more meaningful lives? Using the very latest research, Mind Change is intended to incite debate as well as yield the way forward. There is no better person to explain the situation in a way we can understand, and to offer new insights on how to improve our mental capacities and well being.Trade ReviewGreenfield asks key questions…important…should be read by technologists in particular * Nature *Greenfield is not just an engaging communicator but a thoughtful, responsible scientist, and the arguments she makes are well supported and persuasive * Mail on Sunday *Greenfield’s admirable goal to provide an empirical basis for discussion is…an important one * Financial Times *Fascinating...highly accessible...Greenfield is a lucid and thorough communicator * Independent on Sunday *Greenfield has a point, however unfashionable it may be...an interesting polemic and a starting point for further debate -- Frank Dillon * Irish Times *

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