Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisCombined into one volume for the first time, the updated and clarified Exercises for the Feynman Lectures on Physics provides comprehensive, hands-on practice in all the most important areas of physicsâ??from Newtonian mechanics through the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.A perfect complement to The Feynman Lectures on Physics, these exercises have all been assigned in Caltech's mandatory two-year introductory physics course, either when Richard Feynman was teaching it, or during the nearly two decades that followed when The Feynman Lectures on Physics was used as the textbook. With this modern, easy-to-use volume, students of physics will have a chance to apply what they have learned in the Lectures and to enhance and reinforce the concepts taught by the inimitable Richard Feynman.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating account of Darwin's groundbreaking work on fossils, richly illustrated with special photography and accurate reconstructions.Trade Review'A deft, beautifully illustrated account.' Nature 'This thoroughly researched and well-written volume provides a comprehensive overview of Darwin's work with fossils of all kinds... with a very interesting chapter on Darwin's influential theory of coral reef formation, the subject of his first scientific monograph in 1842. The book is beautifully and abundantly illustrated, including dozens of colour photographs of many of Darwin's specimens some still affixed with the renowned English naturalist's original field numbers. There is also an assortment of useful maps and sidebars explaining various geological phenomena, including geological time, plate tectonics, and extinction, among others. The volume seems to be intended for general readers, yet it also has much to offer to professional palaeobiologists or historians of science.' Quarterly Review of Biology 'This is an absolutely gorgeous book. Highly recommended... Every double-page spread contains at least one wonderful illustration, many of which were specially commissioned for the book.' Friends of Darwin 'This is a must-read for those interested in fossils, nature, and evolution' Argentinian Association of Paleontology

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Book SynopsisThe Cosmos Explained is an exciting and beautifully designed book that charts the life of our universe from the Big Bang to the present day and beyond. Starting with the moment of the Big Bang—at exactly one ten-millionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second—this book charts a history of space and time all the way through the evolution of our solar system, the birth of stars and the formation of life on Earth, to the future of our galaxy and beyond. With deeply insightful and fascinating text by Hayden Planetarium Associate Professor Charles Liu, who also hosts the immensely popular StarTalk podcast, this book is an accessible and enthralling gateway into the mysteries of space, time and the universe.Pinpoint exactly where you are in space and time using the timeline at the bottom of every page, and explore the history of the cosmos and the science behind it through Trade ReviewWho would have thought learning about the evolution of the Universe could be so fun and easy to follow? It doesn’t sound possible when you’re tackling a subject as overarching as this, but Charles Liu has managed to turn complex scientific prose and mathematics into an accessible and beautifully presented retelling of its origins...Whether you’re a budding cosmologist or simply someone with a deep fascination for the Universe and how it came to be, this book is a great introduction to the subject. ★★★★★ * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *

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Book SynopsisSpace Race 2.0 is the only authoritative photographic history of the efforts of private companies—often alongside NASA—to accelerate humankind’s exploration and understanding of the final frontier. The private space sector is growing tremendously. The industry’s consensus leader, SpaceX, headed by outspoken billionaire Elon Musk, is today worth an estimated $74 billion. And SpaceX and its chief competitors, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, are taking on more roles—flying cargo, supplies, and astronauts to outer space. Space Race 2.0 tells their story with expertly written text by science journalist Brad Bergan and stunning photography of the spacecraft, key players, and facilities in California, Texas, and Florida. In the 1950s and ’60s, the first Space Race pitted two political ideologies against one another: either Communism or Capitalism would prove superior. UlTable of ContentsIntroduction Elon Musk, Deep Time, and the Idealized Legacy Richard Branson. Space Knight Jeff Bezos and the Empire of Dreams The Long Road to Reusability Sustainability on Cosmic Scales The Race Itself Trouble on the Moon and Mars- and Earth The Future: Conflicting Realities

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Book SynopsisDominoes includes everything you need to enjoy one of the world’s oldest and most versatile games, including a 28-tile dominoes set, velvet storage bag, instruction book, and game wheel.

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Book SynopsisJean-Marie Denoix is the worldâs leading equine musculoskesletal system anatomist and has become one of the foremost equine diagnostic ultrasonographers. There is therefore nobody better to compile a reference atlas of the clinical anatomy of the foot, pastern and fetlock, correlated with images obtained by radiography, diagnostic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Advanced imaging techniques require in-depth knowledge of anatomy for accurate interpretation and, especially when using magnetic resonance imaging, this must be a three-dimensional concept of anatomy.This new edition replaces ultrasound images and most of the radiographic and MRI images with new, updated versions and adds brand new images of extraordinarily high quality. The multiple views of each area of the distal limb provide an extremely detailed evaluation, while every part opens with an anatomical drawing by the author. Each double-page spread deals with a single dissection viewed by means of co

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Book SynopsisDesign, Analysis, and Manufacturing of Lightweight Composite Structures provides a thorough guide to composite materials and their applications, suitable for students of all levels, as well as those in the industry. Covering established theory as well as cutting-edge developments in the field, this book is an essential companion to anyone interested in composite materials.Discussing the mechanical properties of advanced composites and their materials, this book describes testing and evaluation, focusing on sustainability in manufacturing. Looking at how composite materials can form structural components, this book is centered around how to design and analyze these materials as appropriate to different applications. It discusses micromechanics, stiffness matrices, and numerical calculations using MATLABR, Excel, and Python. It also covers failure, applied forces, strain, and stress, alongside finite element analysis of composites.This book is suitable for studeTable of ContentsChapter 1 Micromechanical Behavior of LaminaChapter 2 Introduction to ABD MatrixChapter 3 Rectangular Composite Beams Being Bended and Loaded AxiallyChapter 4 Composite BeamsChapter 5 Stiffened Panels and PlatesChapter 6 Effects on the Environment, Fatigue, and Performance of Fiber CompositesChapter 7 Discontinuous Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Hybrid CompositesChapter 8 Natural Fiber CompositesChapter 9 Vibration and NoiseChapter 10 Additive Manufacturing in Composites: Fundamentals of ProcessesChapter 11 Additive Manufacturing in Composite: CharacteristicsChapter 12 Additive Manufacturing in Composite: Applications and Models

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Book SynopsisThe definitive site guide to a surprisingly bird-rich corner of England Kent, Essex and the Greater London area.From the deep forests of Kent to the low-lying mudflats, beaches and saltmarshes of the Greater Thames Estuary, this ecologically rich area of England attracts vast numbers of wildfowl and waders. The region boasts many internationally and nationally important reserves including Rainham Marshes and Cliffe Pools, while Dungeness in Kent is one of Britain's best known birding hotspots for vagrant species such as Penduline Tit and Kentish Plover. London itself contains numerous birdwatching sites including Barnes and Woodberry Wetlands, along with some of the best spots in Britain for scarcities such as Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Black Redstart. From Marsh Harrier and Firecrest to Curlew and Lapwing, there is plenty for birdwatchers to enjoy while exploring the parks, wetlands, woodlands and coast of southeast England.Written by life-long birdwatche

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Book SynopsisA clear introduction for the novice naturalist to all things ant.Ants are everywhere, though they are small, secretive, easily overlooked and usually misunderstood. But these seemingly puny insects have a superpower that makes them amongst the most important organisms on the planet what they lack in size and individual strength, they more than make up for in sheer numbers and sophisticated, coordinated activity.In this book, impassioned entomologist Richard Jones reveals the bizarre and sometimes poorly studied behaviours of ants. Their aggregation in large (often mind-bogglingly huge) nests is a complex mix of genetics, chemistry, geography and higher social interaction. Their forage trails, usually to aphid colonies but occasionally into the larder, are maintained by a wondrous alchemy of molecular scents and markers. Their social colony structure confused natural philosophers of old and still taxes the modern biologist today. And flying ant days regularly Trade ReviewI didn’t think I wanted to know much about ants but I was drawn into this book by the tales that the author tells and the way he tells them. It’s a treat. * Mark Avery *Readable, popular and amusing. -- Adrian Knowles * British Wildlife *Entomologist and author Richard Jones brings his expertise and accessible writing to the latest book in the British Wildlife Collection series. This time the focus is on the “easily overlooked and usually misunderstood” ants, and why they are so extraordinary. * BBC Wildlife *Full of the passion, depth and excitement that only a genuine ant expert and enthusiast could convey … Jones has poured a lot of his life and a good dollop of soul into this book. -- Seirian Sumner * Royal Entomological Society *There is something here to suit all exponents of natural history, from the curious beginner to the seasoned entomologist. The author easily captures the attention of the most casual ant-watcher. -- Adrian Knowles * British Wildlife *The latest from the excellent Bloomsbury Wildlife Collection. -- Stephen MossJones covers a good deal of territory, and the book is an amalgam of many parts...all are enhanced through the excellent use of illustrations, including many colour photographs of ants and other arthropods; reproductions from historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural sources; and line drawings of physical characters...The writing is lively and accessible...and the inevitable technical aspects (haplodiploidy, for example) are lucidly presented. The book is a fine addition to the libraries of myrmecophiles at any level, and especially those engaged in field observations and citizen science. -- Barry Cottam * The Canadian Field-Naturalist *Table of ContentsPreface 1 What’s so special about ants? 2 What is an ant? 3 The ants of Britain and Ireland 4 Evolution of ants 5 Being an everyday ant 6 The rise of the colony 7 Human interactions with ants 8 Ant interactions with other species 9 Ants in the landscape 10 How to study ants Appendix: Identification key Glossary References Illustration credits Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisBirds of Bangladesh is the definitive field guide to the rich avifauna of this fascinating and beautiful country.Despite being one of the most densely populated countries on Earth, Bangladesh boasts a diverse range of natural habitats, including forests, wetlands and grasslands, and supports a wide range of species including a number of sought after regional specialities.This book covers all 705 species that occur in Bangladesh, including vagrants. It includes 103 superb colour plates, with text on facing pages for quick and easy reference, as well as concise species accounts describe key identification features, voice, habitats, distribution and status.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Taxonomy and Nomenclature Plates and Species Accounts Plumage Terminology Geographical Settings Climate Main Habitats, Threats and Bird Species Importance for Birds Birdwatching Areas Conservation Measures National Organisations Glossary Family Summaries Plates and Species Accounts (1-103) Appendices References Index Quick Index

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Book SynopsisExam Board: EdexcelLevel: IGCSESubject: ScienceFirst Teaching: September 2017First Exam: June 2019Build students' knowledge with in-depth yet accessible scientific content.- Test understanding with study questions throughout the book- Prepare students for the exam with sample answers and expert comments plus exam-style questions for every section- Build practical skills with coverage of all required practicals plus further suggested experiments- Develop mathematical skills with helpful tips throughout - Challenge higher ability students with extension 'extend and challenge' activities - Answers to all activities freely available online

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Book Synopsis'A really beautiful book about obsession, longing and science' RAVEN LEILANI ‘Wise, funny, suspenseful’ JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER 'Sardonic and strange ... With its dark humour and loopy lyricism, it bewitches’ DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Reads like a botanist’s cross-breeding of The Secret History and Department of Speculation' EMMA STRAUB Nell Barber, an expelled PhD candidate in Biological Science, is exploring the fine line between poison and antidote, working alone to set a speed record for the detoxification of poisonous plants. Her mentor, Dr. Joan Kallas, is the hero of Nell’s heart. Nell frequently finds herself standing in the doorway to Joan’s office despite herself, mesmerized by Joan’s elegance, success, and spiritual force. Surrounded by Nell’s ex, her best friend, her best friend’s boyfriend, and Joan’s buffoonish husband, the two scientists are tangled together at the center of a web of illicit relationships, grudges, and obsessions. All six are burdened by desire and ambition, and as they collide on the university campus, their attractions set in motion a domino effect of affairs and heartbreak. Meanwhile, Nell slowly fills her empty apartment with poisonous plants to study, and she begins to keep a series of notebooks, all dedicated to Joan. She logs her research and how she spends her days, but the notebooks ultimately become a painstaking map of love. In a dazzling and unforgettable voice, Rebecca Dinerstein Knight has written a spellbinding novel of emotional and intellectual intensity.Trade ReviewSardonic and strange ... With its dark humour and loopy lyricism, it bewitches * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A really beautiful book about obsession, longing and science … It’s really beautiful and it does something I love, and can never say no to in books, which is a really complex relationship between two women … it’s just gorgeous, really gorgeous on a sentence level … It’s just extremely cool … that’s the book that I’m reading and really love -- RAVEN LEILANICannily explores both the poisons and the antidotes of love, ambition, mentorship, and yearning, in prose so lively that I often found myself laughing with pleasure. Hex is some dark and joyous witchery -- LAUREN GROFFNell is an expelled Ph.D. candidate in biological science who is trying to set a speed record for the detoxification of poisonous plants. She’s mesmerized by her mentor, Joan, and the woman’s elegance and success. Surrounded by Nell’s ex, her best friend, her best friend’s boyfriend and Joan’s husband, the two scientists are tangled together at the centre of a web of illicit relationships, grudges and obsessions * PUREWOW, 44 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2020 *Strange and delightful … How could a reader - or a botany professor - not be charmed? * NPR.org *Academics tie themselves up into a pretzel of betrayal and desire in Rebecca Dinerstein Knight’s propulsive second book, which reads a tiny bit like AS Byatt after dark … This is a bold and highly charged book that makes entertainment seem like not such a bad word * LITHUB, Most Anticipated Books of 2020 *Hex is the sort of novel that almost has its own smell – humid and loamy, like a body after a morning spent bent over a garden patch. It’s about Nell Barber, a recently expelled Ph.D. student secretly running her own experiments on poisonous botanicals in her apartment and vigorously lusting after her buttoned-up adviser and mentor. Sex practically pulses out of Nell as she fails her way into adulthood in this botanically entwined work of early-adult dissatisfaction * VULTURE, 32 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2020 *Swift-moving, sardonic … Dinerstein Knight paints a withering portrait of this web of toxic romances, and of the excesses of academia, while illustrating how both the heart and the mind can be broken and reshaped by changing circumstances * NEW YORKER *As precise as any scientific observation and far more tantalizing * VOGUE *Hex reads like a botanist's cross-breeding of The Secret History and Department of Speculation, full of brilliant and bodily obsession. Rebecca Dinerstein Knight is both a scientist and a magician, and she conjures this beautiful spell of a novel with total control -- EMMA STRAUBHex is a book for those who feel adrift and solitary, for those who feel overwhelmed by themselves. Ultimately, it’s a story about harnessing what is out of control - and learning that perhaps the only way to control a poisonous thing is to first embrace it * CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS *A book that examines our natural and absolutely astounding reactions to each other. The language of this novel is so finely tailored, so elegant yet organic, so absorbing that it takes the reader a moment to realize that this is not just a deliciously engaging tale of what it is like to be social and sexual, but that this writing is an actual incantation in itself. It is a beautiful, spooky spell that divides and processes our innate potential for poison or pleasure -- JENNY SLATEHex is sexy, unhinged, revelatory, so smart it gives the reader whiplash. It works on you like the poisonous plants that wind through the storyline, until you’re as obsessed and intoxicated as the vivid characters that make up this love hexagon gone fascinatingly and beautifully wrong. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book or was so impressed by the wizardry of the language -- JULIE BUNTIN, author of MarlenaHex is a gem of a book: sharp and exquisite. Dinerstein Knight writes about women’s obsession with devastating wisdom, insight, and humor. It is pure pleasure to be under her spell -- JULIA PIERPONT, author of Among the Ten Thousand ThingsHex is neon-bright and guided by a fierce, scintillating interest in the innermost chambers of the human heart, where melancholic and bright humors mingle together. In every line you hear the voice of a writer who knows how to lead you expertly into the place where the story is most alive: spooky, shifty, darkly funny, and delectable in every way -- ALEXANDRA KLEEMANOffbeat yet entirely precise; original and universal. Hex is a nut with sweet meat and a poison shell, at once disarming and quietly devastating. This is a book for anyone who’s ever felt adrift, or felt alone, or loved someone out of reach, or all the above -- RACHEL KHONGNell’s intensity and the hypnotic, second-person prose convincingly render the protagonist’s bewitched, self-destructive state. Readers who liked I Love Dick and want something more lurid will appreciate this * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *A joyfully deranged pleasure * KIRKUS *A spellbinding novel of emotional and intellectual intensity * FANTASTIC FICTION *

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Book SynopsisIn electrical and electronic systems, a ground noise is a sound interference, a stray noise considered as disturbance. Like a flying insect trapped in a lamp, it is a continuous rustle, a vibration that seeks to escape. Its presence is considered annoying, therefore one usually seeks to get rid of it. Insects and arthropods trigger atavistic reactions in us. Even dead and pinned under glass, a spider will be able to frighten, even for a moment, an adult human being. Admittedly, we have somehow tamed our fears towards them, through admiration (“the incredible work of ants”, “the beauty of butterflies”) or recognition (“the bees, our so useful nurturers”), but this teeming fauna remains nonetheless mysterious, obscure, even unsettling. This work is extended by a conversation between Céline Clanet and eco-acoustician Jérôme Sueur, a specialist of the “melody of insects”.

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Book SynopsisDynamics and Transport in Macromolecular Networks Comprehensive knowledge on concepts and experimental advancement, as well as state-of-the-art computational tools and techniques for simulation and theory Dynamics and Transport in Macromolecular Networks: Theory, Modeling, and Experiments provides a unique introduction to the currently emerging, highly interdisciplinary field of those transport processes that exhibit various dynamic patterns and even anomalous behaviors of dynamics, investigating concepts and experimental advancement, as well as state-of-the-art computational tools and techniques for the simulation of macromolecular networks and the transport behavior in them. The detailed text begins with discussions on the structural organization of various macromolecular networks, then moves on to review and consolidate the latest research advances and state-of-the-art tools and techniques for the experimental and theoretical studies of the transport in macromolecular networks. In so doing, the text extracts and emphasizes common principles and research advancement from many different disciplines while providing up-to-date coverage of this new field of research. Written by highly experienced and internationally renowned specialists in various disciplines, such as polymer, soft matter, chemistry, biophysics, and more, Dynamics and Transport in Macromolecular Networks covers sample topics such as: Modeling (visco)elasticity macromolecular and biomacromolecular networks, covering statistical and elastic models and permanent biomacromolecular networks Focus on controlled degradation in modeling reactive hydrogels, covering mesoscale modeling of reactive polymer networks and modeling crosslinking due to hydrosilylation reaction Dynamic bonds in associating polymer networks, covering segmental and chain dynamics and phase-separated aggregate dynamics Direct observation of polymer reptation in entangled solutions and junction fluctuations in crosslinked networks, covering tube width fluctuations and dynamic fluctuations of crosslinks A much-needed overview of developments and scientific findings in the transport behaviors in macromolecular networks, Dynamics and Transport in Macromolecular Networks is a highly valuable resource for chemists, physicists, and other scientists and engineers working in fields related to macromolecular network systems, both theoretically and experimentally.Table of ContentsPreface xi 1 Modeling (Visco)elasticity of Macromolecular and Biomacromolecular Networks 1 Fanlong Meng 1.1 Permanent Macromolecular Networks 2 1.1.1 Mechanic Properties of a Single Polymer Chain 2 1.1.2 Statistical Models 3 1.1.3 Phenomenological Models 6 1.2 Permanent Biomacromolecular Networks 7 1.2.1 Elastic Models 8 1.2.2 Nonlinear Elasticity, Stability, and Normal Stress 9 1.3 Transient Macromolecular/Biomacromolecular Networks 12 1.3.1 Theoretical Framework 13 1.3.2 Applications 14 1.4 Outlooks 19 References 19 2 Modeling Reactive Hydrogels: Focus on Controlled Degradation 25 Vaibhav Palkar and Olga Kuksenok 2.1 Introduction 25 2.2 Mesoscale Modeling of Reactive Polymer Networks 26 2.2.1 Introducing Dissipative Particle Dynamics Approach for Reactive Polymer Networks 26 2.2.2 Addressing Unphysical Crossing of Polymer Bonds in DPD Along with Reactions 28 2.2.3 Modeling Cross-linking Due to Hydrosilylation Reaction 29 2.2.4 Mesoscale Modeling of Degradation and Erosion 32 2.3 Continuum Modeling of Reactive Hydrogels 39 2.3.1 Modeling Chemo- and Photo-Responsive Reactive Hydrogels 39 2.3.2 Continuum Modeling of Degradation of Polymer Network 40 2.4 Conclusions 42 Acknowledgments 43 References 43 3 Dynamic Bonds in Associating Polymer Networks 53 Jiayao Chen, Xiao Zhao, and Peng-Fei Cao 3.1 Introduction of Dynamic Bonds 53 3.1.1 Dynamic Covalent Bonds 53 3.1.2 Dynamic Noncovalent Bonds 55 3.2 Physical Insight of Dynamic Bonds 57 3.2.1 Segmental and Chain Dynamics 57 3.2.2 Phase-Separated Aggregate Dynamics 60 3.3 Properties and Applications 65 3.3.1 Gas Separation 66 3.3.2 Adhesives and Additives 70 3.3.3 3D Printing 73 3.3.4 Polymer Electrolytes 74 3.4 Conclusion 78 References 78 4 Direct Observation of Polymer Reptation in Entangled Solutions and Junction Fluctuations in Cross-linked Networks 83 Fengxiang Zhou and Lingxiang Jiang 4.1 Introduction 83 4.2 Reptation in Entangled Solutions 84 4.2.1 Direct Confirmation of the Reptation Model 86 4.2.2 Tube Width Fluctuations 88 4.2.3 Dependence of Tube Width on Chain Position 89 4.2.4 Tube Width under Shear 89 4.2.5 Interactions Between Reptating Polymer Chains 90 4.3 Dynamic Fluctuations of Cross-links 92 4.3.1 Dynamics Probed by Neutron Scattering 93 4.3.2 Dynamics Probed by Direct Imaging 94 4.4 Conclusion 98 Acknowledgments 98 Conflict of Interest 98 References 98 5 Recent Progress of Hydrogels in Fabrication of Meniscus Scaffolds 101 Chuanchuan Fan, Ziyang Xu, and Wenguang Liu 5.1 Introduction 101 5.2 Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Meniscus 102 5.2.1 Meniscus Anatomy, Biochemical Content, and Cells 102 5.2.2 Biomechanical Properties of the Meniscus 104 5.3 Biomaterial Requirements for Constructing Meniscal Scaffolds 105 5.4 Hydrogel-Based Meniscus Scaffolds 106 5.4.1 Providing Matrix for Cell Growth and Biomacromolecules Delivery 106 5.4.1.1 Injectable Hydrogel-Based Meniscus Tissue-Engineering Scaffolds 107 5.4.1.2 High Strength and Biodegradable Hydrogel-Based Meniscus Scaffolds 109 5.4.1.3 3D-Printed Polymer/Hydrogel Composite Tissue-Engineering Scaffolds 109 5.4.2 Providing Load-Bearing Capability 114 5.4.2.1 Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Hydrogel-Based Meniscus Scaffolds 115 5.4.2.2 Poly(N-acryloyl glycinamide) (PNAGA) Hydrogel-Based Meniscus Scaffolds 117 5.4.2.3 Poly(N-acryloylsemicarbazide) (PNASC) Hydrogel-Based Meniscus Scaffold 119 5.4.2.4 Other Systems 120 5.5 Mimicking Microstructure: The Key to Constructing the Next-Generation Meniscus Scaffolds 122 5.6 Conclusion 123 References 124 6 Strong, Tough, and Fast-Recovery Hydrogels 133 BinXueandYiCao 6.1 Current Progress on Strong and Tough Hydrogels 133 6.2 Polymer-Supramolecular Double-Network Hydrogels 136 6.3 Hybrid Networks with Peptide-Metal Complexes 137 6.4 Hydrogels Cross-Linked with Hierarchically Assembled Peptide Structures 139 6.5 Outlook 140 References 141 7 Diffusio-Mechanical Theory of Polymer Network Swelling 149 Zhaoyu Ding, Peihan Lyu, and Xingkun Man 7.1 Introduction 149 7.2 Swelling Model 153 7.2.1 General Theoretical Framework 156 7.2.1.1 Spherical Gel 156 7.2.1.2 Cylindrical Gel 157 7.2.1.3 Disk-Shaped Gel 157 7.2.2 Diffusio-Mechanical Model for Small Deformation 158 7.2.2.1 Spherical Gel 158 7.2.2.2 Cylindrical Gel 162 7.2.2.3 Disk-Shaped Gel 164 7.3 Results 166 7.4 Perspective 169 7.5 Conclusion 171 Acknowledgments 172 References 172 8 Theoretical and Computational Perspective on Hopping Diffusion of Nanoparticles in Cross-linked Polymer Networks 175 Ting Ge 8.1 Introduction 175 8.2 2010s’ Theories of Nanoparticle Hopping Diffusion 176 8.2.1 Scaling Theory by Cai, Paniukov, and Rubinstein 176 8.2.1.1 Confinement by Network as Attachment to Virtual Chains 177 8.2.1.2 Hopping Diffusion as Successive Individual Hopping Events 178 8.2.1.3 Beyond Homogeneous, Entanglement-Free, and Dry Cross-linked Networks 180 8.2.2 Microscopic Theory by Dell and Schweizer 182 8.3 Recent Computational and Theoretical Work 183 8.3.1 Evaluating Cai–Paniukov–Rubinstein and Dell–Schweizer Theories by Simulations 183 8.3.2 Exploring New Aspects of Cross-linked Networks – Stiffness and Geometry 185 8.4 Open Questions and Future Research Directions 189 8.4.1 Network Strands with Nonlinear Architectures 189 8.4.2 Sticky and Polymer-Tethered Nanoparticles 191 8.4.3 Nanoparticles with Anisotropic Shape 191 8.4.4 Active Nanoparticles – Nonequilibrium Effects 192 8.5 Concluding Remarks 193 Acknowledgments 193 References 194 9 Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Network Strand Dynamics and Nanoparticle Diffusion in Elastomers 199 Yulong Chen and Jun Liu 9.1 Introduction 199 9.2 Structures and Dynamics of Model Elastomer Networks 200 9.2.1 Randomly Cross-linked Elastomer Networks 200 9.2.1.1 Network Models and Simulation Methodology 201 9.2.1.2 Network Topology 202 9.2.1.3 Effect of Cross-link Density on Network Dynamics 204 9.2.1.4 Effect of Cross-link Distribution on Network Dynamics 206 9.2.1.5 Effect of Temperature on Network Dynamics 208 9.2.2 End-linked Elastomer Networks 210 9.2.2.1 Network Models and Simulation Methodology 210 9.2.2.2 Network Topology 211 9.2.2.3 Network Dynamics 212 9.3 Diffusion Dynamics of Nanoparticles in Elastomers: Melts and Networks 214 9.3.1 Diffusion of Nanoparticles in Elastomer Melts 215 9.3.1.1 Models and Simulation Methodology 215 9.3.1.2 Size Effect on Nanoparticle Diffusion 216 9.3.1.3 Effect of Surface Grating on Nanoparticle Diffusion 218 9.3.1.4 Nanoparticle Diffusion in Bottlebrush Elastomers 223 9.3.2 Diffusion of Nanoparticles in Elastomer Networks 227 9.3.2.1 Models and Simulation Methodology 227 9.3.2.2 Size Effect on Nanoparticle Diffusion 228 9.3.2.3 Nanoparticle Diffusion in Attractive Networks 232 9.4 Conclusions 236 Acknowledgments 238 References 239 10 Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Transport of Nanoparticles in Mucosal Tissues 245 Falin Tian and Xinghua Shi 10.1 Introduction 245 10.2 Enhancing Diffusivity of Deformable Particles to Overcome Mucus Barriers Via Adjusting Their Rigidity 248 10.2.1 The Preparation of the Hybrid NPs with Various Rigidities 249 10.2.2 The Diffusivity of Hybrid NPs with Different Rigidity in Mucus 250 10.2.3 The Interaction Between NPs with Different Rigidity and Mucus Network 252 10.2.4 The Theoretical Model to Describe the Diffusion Behavior of Deformable Nanoparticles in Adhesion Network 255 10.2.4.1 Shape Distribution of NPs 256 10.2.4.2 Diffusion Model 258 10.2.5 Summary 260 10.3 The Effect of the Shape on the Diffusivity of NPs in Mucus 261 10.3.1 The Diffusion Behaviors of NPs with Various Shapes in Mucus 261 10.3.2 The Diffusion Mechanisms of NPs with Different Shape in Biological Hydrogels 263 10.3.3 Theoretical Model of Diffusion of Rod-Like Nanoparticles in Polymer Networks 265 10.3.3.1 Nonadhesive Diffusion Model 265 10.3.3.2 Adhesive Diffusion Model 268 10.3.4 The Effect of the Surface Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) Distribution on the Diffusivity of Rod-Like NPs 269 10.3.5 Summary 272 10.4 Conclusion and Outlook 272 References 274 11 Physical Attributes of Nanoparticle Transport in Macromolecular Networks: Flexibility, Topology, and Entropy 281 Xiaobin Dai, Xuanyu Zhang, Lijuan Gao, Yuming Wang, and Li-Tang Yan 11.1 Introduction 281 11.2 Effects of the Chain Flexibility of Strands 282 11.2.1 Dynamical Heterogeneity of a Semiflexible Network 283 11.2.2 Nonmonotonic Feature 284 11.2.3 Validation by MC Simulations and Experimental Data 287 11.3 Effects of Network Topology 288 11.3.1 Analytical Model for Free Energy Landscape 289 11.3.2 Network Topology and Free Energy Landscape 289 11.3.3 Topology-Dictated Scaling Regimes of Free Energy Change 291 11.3.4 Topology-Mediated Dynamical Regimes 294 11.4 Summary and Outlook 295 Acknowledgments 296 References 296 Index 299

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Book SynopsisEvery fossil tells a story. Best-selling paleontology author Donald R. Prothero describes twenty-five famous fossils in a gripping scientific history. Recounting the adventures behind the discovery of these objects and interpreting their significance within the larger fossil record, Prothero creates a riveting history of life on our planet.Trade ReviewDonald R. Prothero is one of the most talented science writers of his generation-as a paleontological writer, he has no peer. This is an engaging, attractive book! -- David J. Bottjer, University of Southern California There is no other book that brings together such diverse fossils and tells their unique stories in a way that is both accurate and approachable. -- Xiaoming Wang, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County The Story of Life in 25 Fossils shows the reader the joys of paleontological discovery as well as the stories behind some of the most important fossils. I loved reading it, and I suspect that most paleontologists, and many members of the general public, will feel the same way-the text is lucid, extremely easy to read, and highly informative. Anyone interested in ancient life-forms and the fossil record would be well served to buy this book. -- Bruce S. Lieberman, University of Kansas Prothero, an outstanding paleontologist and skilled communicator, has written the best up-to-date account of the history of life as revealed by the fossil record that I have ever had the pleasure to read. His lucid prose brings these long-dead organisms back to life, while painting a picture of how all life has been interconnected through evolution. I was especially struck by the inclusion of field outcrops, as well as museums, where one can go to see these fossils. I will keep Prothero's book handy as a core reference for years to come! -- Niles Eldredge, author of Eternal Ephemera: Adaptation and the Origin of Species from the Nineteenth Century Through Punctuated Equilibria and Beyond A guide to museums where the original fossils or high-quality reproductions are housed and more than 150 illustrations accompany Prothero's lively account of the science and politics that shaped the rich history of these discoveries. Kirkus Reviews Engaging and accessible... Ideal for anyone interested in the origins of life on earth. Library Journal (starred review) An accessible, well-done book that will better enable general readers to understand the fossil record and how paleontologists interpret it. Publishers Weekly Prothero's careful description of 25 fossils... offer[s] an overview of the progression of plants and animals in the last 3.5 billion years. -- Ashley Yeager Sciece News [Prothero] pays attention not just to the fossils themselves but to the continuing quest to uncover and understand how life has been changing since it first came into existence on Earth. Sure, The Story of Life in 25 Fossils includes snakes with legs, giant dinosaurs, walking whales and extinct primates whose existence confirms that our own species is a variety of modified ape. But most chapters also introduce us to the researchers who labored to pull back the curtain on lost worlds. -- Brian Switek Wall Street Journal Ideal for all who love prehistoric landscapes and delight in the history of science, this book makes a treasured addition to any bookshelf, stoking curiosity in the evolution of life on Earth. -- Ian Paulsen The Birdbooker Report Prothero brings erudition and expert perspective to the material, but animates it in an entertaining and accessible manner. It reads like a fun conversation with a learned friend. -- Nathan H. Lents The Human Evolution Blog Written with bright enthusiasm... [The Story of Life in 25 Fossils] is a wonderful primer. -- Rob Hardy The Commercial Dispatch Chock full of excellent and interesting illustrations... [Prothero] writes excellent, readable prose, and vigorously makes connections between evolutionary questions and evolutionary data. Greg Laden's Blog A thoroughly enjoyable, highly readable, and entertaining book. Prothero is a masterful communicator of science and a lover of paleontology, and these traits have combined to produce one of the best books on the history of life I have read. If you want an introduction to the history of life on Earth, get this book. -- Jason S. Anderson BioScience A great introduction to the history of life on the planet Earth... A solid primer on why evolution is true... A fun read with lots of tales of paleontological adventure and derring-do... I recommend this book without hesitation. -- John Dupuis Confessions of a Science Librarian A magnificent journey through life's story told in such loving detail... Highly recommended. Choice [The book], written with bright enthusiasm and describing clearly how the fossil record shows evolution to have occured, is a wonderful primer about what paleontologists do. The DispatchTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1. Planet of the Scum: The First Fossils (Cryptozoon) 2. Garden of Ediacara: The First Multicellular Life (Charnia) 3. "Little Shellies": The First Shells (Cloudina) 4. Oh, Give Me a Home, When the Trilobites Roamed: The First Large Shelled Animals (Olenellus) 5. Is It a Worm or an Arthropod? The Origin of Arthropods (Hallucigenia) 6. Is It a Worm or a Mollusc? The Origin of Molluscs (Pilina) 7. Growing from the Sea: The Origin of Land Plants (Cooksonia) 8. A Fishy Tale: The Origin of Vertebrates (Haikouichthys) 9. Mega-Jaws: The Largest Fish (Carcharocles) 10. Fish out of Water: The Origin of Amphibians (Tiktaalik) 11. "Frogamander": The Origin of Frogs (Gerobatrachus) 12. Turtle on the Half-Shell: The Origin of Turtles (Odontochelys) 13. Walking Serpents: The Origin of Snakes (Haasiophis) 14. King of the Fish-Lizards: The Largest Marine Reptile (Shonisaurus) 15. Terror of the Seas: The Largest Sea Monster (Kronosaurus) 16. Monster Flesh-Eater: The Largest Predator (Giganotosaurus) 17. Land of the Giants: The Largest Land Animal (Argentinosaurus) 18. A Feather in Stone: The First Bird (Archaeopteryx) 19. Not Quite a Mammal: The Origin of Mammals (Thrinaxodon) 20. Walking Into the Water: The Origin of Whales (Ambulocetus) 21. Walking Manatees: The Origin of Sirenians (Pezosiren) 22. Dawn Horses: The Origin of Horses (Eohippus) 23. Rhinoceros Giants: The Largest Land Mammal (Paraceratherium) 24. The Ape's Reflection? The Oldest Human Fossil (Sahelanthropus) 25. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds: The Oldest Human Skeleton (Australopithecus afarensis) Appendix: The Best Natural History Museums Index

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Book Synopsis300 million years ago, dog-sized scorpions and millipedes walked the earth and tropical rainforests towered into the sky. George R. McGhee Jr. explores that ancient world, explaining its origins, its downfall in the end-Permian mass extinction, and its legacies, to offer insight into past and present extinction events and climate change.Trade ReviewCarboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction is a superb and unique synthesis of the current knowledge of processes and conditions during the Late Paleozoic, incorporating the results from all subdisciplines of the earth and life sciences. McGhee demonstrates his expertise and knowledge in all the subdisciplines in a magnificent way. The book is a pleasure to read and at the same time erudite. -- Hermann Pfefferkorn, University of PennsylvaniaCarboniferous Giants and Mass Extinction is comprehensive and well researched, and provides fascinating insights into the complex Carboniferous world. It has amazing presentation, including depth, perception, and interpretation, and the writing style is readable and captivating. This work will be a valuable reference for geology students and others interested in past earth climates. -- Peter E. Isaacson, University of IdahoA valuable contribution to our understanding of ancient environments and the incredible plants and animals that once inhabited the Earth. * Everything Dinosaur *Highly recommended. * Everything Dinosaur *Table of ContentsPreface1. Harbingers of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age2. The Big Chill3. The Late Carboniferous Ice World4. Giants in the Earth . . .5. The End of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age6. The End of the Paleozoic World7. The Legacy of the Late Paleozoic Ice AgeNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisEvery rock is a tangible trace of the earth’s past. This book tells the fascinating stories behind the discoveries that shook the foundations of geology. In twenty-five chapters—each about a particular rock, outcrop, or geologic phenomenon—Donald R. Prothero recounts the scientific detective work that shaped our understanding of geology.Trade ReviewA natural follow-up to the author’s The Story of Life in 25 Fossils . . . [A] useful introduction to geology. * Kirkus Reviews *In 25 short and enjoyable chapters, [Prothero] explores issues that have been at the center of geology since long before geology was a science... Prothero provides thought-provoking historical context for each subject and presents information about the individuals responsible for advancing geological knowledge—including James Hutton, Charles Lyell, and Alfred Wegener—while explaining the underlying science in an accessible manner. * Publishers Weekly *Geologist Donald Prothero has crafted a rock-solid premise for this delightful book. -- Barbara Kiser * Nature *I learned something and gained a deeper appreciation for the history of Earth science from reading The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks. I recommend it to anyone interested in tales of scientific discovery and natural marvels. * Physics Today *Skillfully presents a vast array of facts that should appeal to readers newly acquainted with Earth science who are interested in learning a bit more. * Choice *The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks provides twenty-five well-lit doorways into the sometimes dark and imposing edifice of the geologic past. Colorful characters welcome the reader in, revealing the very human nature of scientific inquiry and our long and complicated relationship with rocks. -- Marcia Bjornerud, author of Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of EarthTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments 1. Volcanic Tuff: Vulcan’s Wrath: The Eruption of Vesuvius2. Native Copper: The Iceman and the Island of Copper3. Cassiterite: The “Isles of Tin” and the Bronze Age4. Angular Unconformity: “No Vestige of a Beginning”: The Immensity of Geologic Time5. Igneous Dikes: The “Earth’s Great Heat Engine”: The Origin of Magmas6. Coal: The Rock That Burns Fires the Industrial Revolution7. Jurassic World: The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Rocks of Britain8. Radioactive Uranium: Clocks in Rocks: Arthur Holmes and the Age of the Earth9. Chondritic Meteorites: Messengers From Space: The Origin of the Solar System10. Iron-Nickel Meteorites: The Cores of Other Planets 11. Moon Rocks: Green Cheese or Anorthosite: The Origin of the Moon12. Zircons: Early Oceans and Life? Evidence in a Grain of Sand13. Stromatolites: Microbial Condos: Cyanobacteria and the Oldest Life14. Banded Iron Formation: Mountains of Iron: The Earth’s Early Atmosphere15. Turbidites: Archean Sediments and Submarine Landslides16. Diamictites: Tropical Glaciers and the Snowball Earth17. Exotic Terranes: Paradox in Rocks: Wandering Fossils and Traveling Landmasses18. Jigsaw-Puzzle Bedrock: Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift19. Chalk: The Cretaceous Seaway and Greenhouse Planet20. The Iridium Layer: The Death of the Dinosaurs21. Lodestones: How Paleomagic Launched Plate Tectonics22. Blueschists: The Puzzle of Subduction Zones23. Transform Faults: Earthquake! The San Andreas Fault24. Messinian Evaporites: The Mediterranean Was a Desert25. Glacial Erraticts: A Poet, a Professor, a Politician, a Janitor, and the Discovery of the Ice AgesIndex

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe three environmental policy positions and their exemplary representatives would be enough to turn the study into a cutting edge look at the recent past and present of one of the world's most controversial and at the same time most vulnerable ecosystems. Blavascunas can and wants to do more, namely not only to write ethnographically, but also to convince. It expressly does not absolutize the Kossaks, Szumarskis and Korbels, as would contemporary historical approaches, whose narratives cannot do without heroes and a simple conclusion: for or against the jungle and its preservation or deforestation. But it sets other accents; it is about a mapping of what would be possible outside of this pro-contra dichotomy. . . . Foresters, Borders, and Bark Beetles . . . dares a partisan intervention for the not so human actors in an ancient forest. -- Bruno Arich-Gerz * TEXTEM *Table of Contents1. Puszcza: Of Forests and Time 2. The Forester 3. Scientists and the Communist Past: Syndromes, Disorders, and a Proper Elite 4. Post-peasant Cosmopolitics: Man of the Forest 5. Borderline Engagements: Relict Forest, Relict Communism 6. Resurgence: Outbreaks of Bark Beetle and Right-wing Nationalism 7. Temporal Dimensions: The Past is not Safe at all

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Book SynopsisIn this lively and illuminating discussion of his landmark research, esteemed primatologist Frans de Waal argues that human morality is not imposed from above but instead comes from within. Moral behavior does not begin and end with religion but is in fact a product of evolution.Trade Review"A tour de force." -- Christopher Boehm - Nature"A writer marshaling the evidence of his life, particularly his life as a scientist, to express a passionately held belief in the possibility of a more compassionate society." -- Meehan Crist - New Republic"A primatologist who has spent his career studying chimpanzees and bonobos, two of humanity’s closest living relatives, Mr. de Waal draws on a lifetime of empirical research. His data provides plenty of evidence that religion is not necessary in order for animals to display something that looks strikingly like human morality." -- The Economist"The perpetual challenge to atheists is that moral behavior requires religion—all that prevents tsunamis of depravity is a deity or two, some nice hymns, and the threat of hellfire and damnation. De Waal shows that human morality is deeply rooted in our primate legacy, long predating the invention of that cultural gizmo called religion. This is an immensely important book by one of our most distinguished thinkers." -- Robert Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers and Monkeyluv"Frans de Waal’s new book carries the important message that human kindness is a biological feature of our species and not something that has to be imposed on us by religious teaching." -- Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring vision for restoring the soil that feeds us all and turns agriculture into a solution for environmental crises.Trade Review"How can humanity feed its burgeoning billions when one-third of agricultural soil is degraded? Pondering that question propelled geologist David Montgomery on a three-decade, six-continent survey of farmland. The insights gleaned add nuance to his pointed critiques of agrotechnology and organic farming, but it's the findings on rapid soil restoration that compel." -- Nature"Brilliant, well researched, eloquent, and deeply hopeful." -- Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day"David Montgomery... is one of our most eloquent and precise earth science communicators... [He] has a knack for opening our minds to large, critically important questions." -- New Scientist"A wise and grounded book — restored soils are the solution." -- Jules N. Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society, University of Essex, UK"Growing a Revolution presents a clear-eyed examination of a solution to the challenges we face in feeding the world. A joy to read with the bounce and flow of a great biography. I couldn’t recommend it more." -- Jerry Harrison, keyboardist and guitarist, Talking Heads"Montgomery has written another classic. Growing a Revolution is one of the most important books ever written—an engaging and revealing service to human society and our planet." -- Amir Kassam, professor of agriculture, policy and development, University of Reading, UK"This is a such an important book... thanks to those who told me to read it... Everyone interested in what we should eat and how we should farm should read it." -- James Rebanks

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Book SynopsisThe Lobotomist explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. Drawing on Freeman's documents and interviews with Freeman''s family, Jack El-Hai takes a penetrating look at the life and work of this complex scientific genius. The Lobotomist explores one of the darkest chapters of American medicine: the desperate attempt to treat the hundreds of thousands of psychiatric patients in need of help during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Into this crisis stepped Walter Freeman, M.D., who saw a solution in lobotomy, a brain operation intended to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. Although many patients did not benefit from the thousands of lobotomiTrade ReviewWalter Freeman believed that "the despair of psychiatric illness demanded a decisive, drastic remedy." And that remedy was lobotomy, "cutting the neural connections in the prefrontal regions of the brain," a practice that these days, writes Jack El-Hai in The Lobotomist, "seems so obviously wrong." Freeman performed nearly 3,500 lobotomies and "aside from the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele . . . ranks as the most scorned physician of the twentieth century." And yet, "many of the era's most important medical figures . . . lent support to Freeman's work." Nor did he intend to cause harm. "I had to recognize," writes El-Hai, "the persuasive evidence that at times he acted in the best interests of his lobotomy patients, given the limitation of the medical environment in which he worked and the perilous nature of scientific innovation." (Washington Post Book World, March 18, 2007)Table of ContentsPrologue 1 1 September 1936 7 2 Rittenhouse Square 16 3 The Education of a Lobotomist 33 4 In the Hospital Wards 56 5 A Perfect Partner 83 6 Refining Lobotomy 111 7 The Lines of Battle 134 8 Advance and Retreat 157 9 Waterfall 178 10 Fame 207 11 Road Warrior 236 12 Leaving Home 257 13 Decline 284 14 Ghost 305 Acknowledgments 313 Notes 316 Bibliography 349 Index 355

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Book SynopsisEnables anyone with basic math and science skills to estimate virtually anything - quickly - using plausible assumptions and elementary arithmetic. This book presents an array of estimation problems that range from devilishly simple to quite sophisticated and from real-world concerns to silly ones.Trade Review"Dr. Adam and his colleague Lawrence Weinstein, a professor of physics, offer a wide and often amusing assortment of Fermi flexes in a book that just caught my eye, Guesstimation: Solving the World's Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin."--Natalie Angier, New York Times "An important skill of great use ... is the ability to derive an approximate result from insufficient data. Guesstimation is a collection of [problems] gathered from everyday life and various fields. Working out questions ... is both entertaining and enlightening. It may also help foster your career ... because making correct guesses quickly establishes your reputation as an expert."--Stephan Mertens, Science "This book is a stimulating collection that will help the reader to reach informed judgments and will be a useful source of inspiration for mathematics and physics teachers: my only concern is that if my students have read it before they arrive at university, I may have to find a new approach to my first day's teaching."--Tony Mann, Times Higher Education "While few can hope to emulate the brilliance of a Nobel Prize winner like [Enrico] Fermi, coming up with pretty good guesstimates is a skill that can be taught. And that's the aim of Guesstimation. After a quick tutorial, the authors get down to business with a host of wide-ranging worked examples, from estimating the numbers of piano tuners in Los Angeles to figuring out the impact of deforestation on greenhouse gas levels. The results are sometimes surprising."--Robert Matthews, BBC Focus Magazine "[Guesstimation is] a left-brain book that helps you approximate answers to the types of questions actually asked in some job interviews today."--Peter Coy, BusinessWeek "[A] delightful account of mathematical approximation, which instills the beauty and power of the back-of-the-envelope calculation. The puzzles make addictive confidence builders by breaking down tricky questions into manageable parts. Never again will you take a newspaper figure at face value without feeling the need, and confidence, to guesstimate your own figure."--Matthew Killeya, New Scientist "Guesstimation is both enlightening and entertaining. I recommend it to my fellow journalists both as a tool of our trade and as a mind stretcher."--Rony V. Diaz, Manila Times "Any idea what fraction of land in the US is covered by either a roof or pavement? Known as a Fermi problem, this type of question requires the use of reasonable estimation, which is the focus of the book at hand. In the initial chapters, Weinstein and Adam briefly review good 'guesstimation' techniques involving numbers and explain why the use of the geometric mean is preferred over the arithmetic mean."--J. Johnson, Choice "How many people in the world are picking their nose right now? Weinstein and Adam 'guesstimate' the answer to this problem and 79 others, covering chemistry, physics, biology and history. The book is a step-by-step guide to problem-solving using rough-and-ready maths, the kind done on the back of a cocktail napkin. And the authors have kindly left additional questions at the end to get readers started on their own problem-solving expedition."--Cosmos "Physics educators can use this book as a guide to including the important skill of estimation in their courses. Students may find the power of estimation to be a valuable skill and will want to work their way through this book."--Arthur Eisenkrafr, American Journal of Physics "A source of imaginative problems, this book would make a nice addition to a mathematics department library."--Diane Resek, Mathematics Teacher "[I]t's quite obvious that the authors intend their book to be fun, nonthreatening, and user-friendly. There's very little not to like... [T]he book can be for everybody, 'higher-up professionals' who might know math but not physics, as well as students wrestling with 'word problems.' Teachers could very well recommend it to math majors and nonmajors alike, or even use it in the classroom, in some cases as supplementary reading for the course."--Marion Deutsche Cohen, Mathematical Intelligencer "The cumulative effect of fairly simple paths to estimating solutions to a dizzying array of difficult problems is fascinating."--Ray Bert, Civil Engineering "This book will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in estimation, but is also targeted at those applying for jobs at companies like Google, where the kind of questions considered in the book are often used in the interview process."--Paul Taylor, Mathematics TodayTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Preface xiii Chapter 1: How to Solve Problems 1 Chapter 2: Dealing with Large Numbers 11 2.1 Scientific Notation 11 2.2 Accuracy 14 2.3 A Note on Units 16 2.4 Unit Conversion 17 Chapter 3: General Questions 19 3.1 One big family 21 3.2 Fore! 25 3.3 This is a fine pickle you've got us into, Patty 29 3.4 Throwing in the towel 31 3.5 Hey buddy, can you fill a dome? 35 3.6 A mole of cats 39 3.7 Massive MongaMillions 41 3.8 Tons of trash 43 3.9 Mt. Trashmore 47 3.10 Juggling people 51 3.11 Shelving the problem 53 Chapter 4: Animals and People 55 4.1 More numerous than the stars in the sky 57 4.2 Laboring in vein 61 4.3 Unzipping your skin 65 4.4 Hair today, gone tomorrow 69 4.5 Hot dawg! 73 4.6 Playing the field 75 4.7 Ewww... gross! 77 4.8 Going potty 79 4.9 Let's get one thing straight! 83 Chapter 5: Transportation 87 5.1 Driving past Saturn 89 5.2 Drowning in gasoline 91 5.3 Slowly on the highway 95 5.4 Rickshaws and automobiles 99 5.5 Horse exhaust 103 5.6 Tire tracks 107 5.7 Working for the car 109 Chapter 6: Energy and Work 113 6.1 Energy of height 114 6.1.1 Mountain climbing 115 6.1.2 Flattening the Alps 119 6.1.3 Raising a building 123 6.2 Energy of motion 126 6.2.1 At your service 127 6.2.2 Kinetic trucking 129 6.2.3 Racing continents 131 6.2.4 "To boldly go... " 135 6.3 Work 138 6.3.1 Crash! 139 6.3.2 Spider-Man and the subway car 143 Chapter 7: Hydrocarbons and Carbohydrates 145 7.1 Chemical energy 145 7.1.1 Energy in gasoline 147 7.1.2 Battery energy 151 7.1.3 Battery energy density 155 7.1.4 Batteries vs. gas tanks 159 7.2 Food is energy 162 7.2.1 Eat here, get gas 163 7.2.2 Farmland for ethanol 167 7.3 Power! 170 7.3.1 Hot humans 171 7.3.2 Fill 'er up with gasoline 173 7.3.3 Fill 'er up with electricity 175 Chapter 8: The Earth, the Moon, and Lots of Gerbils 179 8.1 "And yet it moves" (e pur si muove) 181 8.2 Duck! 185 8.3 Super-sized Sun 189 8.4 Sun power 193 8.5 Gerbils 1, Sun 0 197 8.6 Chemical Sun 201 8.7 Nearby supernova 205 8.8 Melting ice caps 209 Chapter 9: Energy and the Environment 213 9.1 Power to the people 215 9.2 Continental power 219 9.3 Solar energy 223 9.4 Land for solar energy 225 9.5 Tilting at windmills 229 9.6 The power of coal 233 9.7 The power of nuclei 237 9.8 Hard surfaces 239 Chapter 10: The Atmosphere 243 10.1 Into thin air 245 10.2 Ancient air 247 10.3 Suck it up 251 10.4 CO2 from coal 255 10.5 A healthy glow 259 10.6 CO2 from cars 261 10.7 Turning gas into trees 265 10.8 Turning trees into gas 269 Chapter 11: Risk 273 11.1 Gambling on the road 275 11.2 The plane truth 277 11.3 Life's a beach 279 11.4 Up in smoke 281 Chapter 12: Unanswered Questions 285 Appendix: Needed Numbers and Formulas 289 A.1 Useful Numbers 289 A.2 Handy Formulas 289 A.3 Metric Prefixes 290 B Pegs to Hang Things On 291 Bibliography 295 Index 299

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Book SynopsisOffers important lessons about the opportunities for quantitative, physics-style experiments on diverse biological phenomena. This title emphasizes the unifying power of abstract physical principles to motivate advanced experiments on biological systems. It covers a range of biological phenomena from the physicist's perspective.Trade ReviewWilliam Bialek, Winner of the 2013 Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience "[T]he book goes beyond being a structured material for readers to learn about biophysics; it takes readers on an incredible journey in discovering fascinating ways in which biological phenomena can be viewed and studied. The technical adroitness and more importantly, the unique way of thinking about biological problems, in the reviewer's opinion, makes the book a must-read for any aspiring biophysicists."--Angie Ma, Contemporary Physics "[P]hysicists who are seeking an exciting intellectual path through the complexity of biology will deeply appreciate Bialek's clear vision of the big ideas and his expert guidance through their many applications."--Stephen J. Hagen, Physics Today "The book is well crafted, linking the historic work of the 'giants', e.g. Helmholtz with his seminal view of vision and hearing, with latest and trendy research, exemplified by the use of information theory in biology."--Robert Endres, Biological Physics Group NewsletterTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix PART I EXPLORING THE PHENOMENA 1. Introduction 3 *1.1 About Our Subject 3 *1.2 About This Book 11 2. Photon Counting in Vision 17 *2.1 A First Look 17 *2.2 Dynamics of Single Molecules 51 *2.3 Biochemical Amplification 68 *2.4 The First Synapse and Beyond 97 *2.5 Coda 115 3. Lessons, Problems, Principles 117 PART II CANDIDATE PRINCIPLES 4. Noise Is Not Negligible 127 *4.1 Fluctuations and Chemical Reactions 127 *4.2 Motility and Chemotaxis in Bacteria 149 *4.3 Molecule Counting, More Generally 172 *4.4 More about Noise in Perception 192 *4.5 Proofreading and Active Noise Reduction 218 *4.6 Perspectives 245 5. No Fine Tuning 247 *5.1 Sequence Ensembles 248 *5.2 Ion Channels and Neuronal Dynamics 279 *5.3 The States of Cells 299 *5.4 Long Time Scales in Neural Networks 329 *5.5 Perspectives 349 6. Efficient Representation 353 *6.1 Entropy and Information 354 *6.2 Noise and Information Flow 369 *6.3 Does Biology Care about Bits? 395 *6.4 Optimizing Information Flow 421 *6.5 Gathering Information and Making Models 449 *6.6 Perspectives 467 7. Outlook 469 Appendix Some Further Topics 473 * A.1 Poisson Processes 473 * A.2 Correlations, Power Spectra, and All That 484 * A.3 Diffraction and Biomolecular Structure 495 * A.4 Electronic Transitions in Large Molecules 503 * A.5 The Kramers Problem 512 * A.6 Berg and Purcell, Revisited 521 * A.7 Maximum Entropy 533 * A.8 Measuring Information Transmission 545 Annotated Bibliography 557 Index 625

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for the previous edition:“What sets this book apart from other recent and older texts on string theory is that, while providing the level of detail in the derivation of all central results that is necessary for an introductory textbook, Kiritsis maintains a brisk and steady pace, and also includes a colloquial discussion of new concepts at the beginning of every section.”—Johannes Walcher, Mathematical Reviews“This textbook on string theory presents the state of the art of this quickly developing topic.”—Hans-Jürgen Schmidt, Zentralblatt MATH“An excellent reference for any graduate student interested in string theory. Kiritsis succinctly describes many of the recent developments that are necessary background to current research.”—Juan Maldacena, Institute for Advanced Study “There is a definite need for a short, speedy introduction to modern string theory. Kiritsis beautifully fills this gap—including all essential areas, but remaining relatively concise, so that a beginning student can work through the entire text.”—Andrew Strominger, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisSince the publication of the first edition in 1966, Eye and Brain has established itself worldwide as an essential introduction to the basic phenomena of visual perception. Richard Gregory offers clear explanations of how we see brightness, movement, color, and objects, and he explores the phenomena of visual illusions to establish principles aboutTrade Review"[A] hugely influential book... It stands as the essential guide to Gregory's framework for perception, but also to a whole range of visual demonstrations, illusions, and puzzles that will have you captivated long after you have finished."--Iain D. Gilchrist, Perception "An excellent introduction to the psychology of vision. It presents what we know, what we don't know, and what we think. Gregory accomplishes this in an astonishingly succinct and successful book."--Steven M. Kastenbaum, Science Books & FilmsTable of ContentsPretext 1 Visions of vision 1 2 Light 14 3 Eye 24 4 Brain 67 5 Seeing brightness 84 6 Seeing movement 98 7 Seeing colours 121 8 Learning how to see 136 9 Realities of art 170 10 Illusions 194 11 Speculations 244 Bibliography and notes 256 Index 269

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the PROSE Award in Popular Science and Popular Mathematics, Association of American Publishers""Cornell University biologist Seeley is one of the most beloved authors in the beekeeping community, and with good reason: his writing elucidates the lives of honeybees with clear science and a sense of joyous discovery. Seeley employs that approach here; even non-keepers will appreciate his bee’s-eye view of life outside managed apiaries."---Gemma Tarlach, Discover"I was really drawn to Tom Seeley’s The Lives of Bees. He IS the bee keeper’s bee keeper."---Ira Flatow, Science Friday"Elegantly simple in design, the research is expertly synthesized by Seeley to give us a vivid glimpse of how honeybees live when left to their own devices. . . . It is the most complete picture yet of the honeybee’s natural history. . . . As the biblical Prov­erbs 6:6 notes of the ant, we need to go to the bee, 'consider its ways and be wise'. Seeley has done that better than anyone."---Gene Robinson, Nature"Seeley brings us dispatches from the cutting-edge scientific hive-mind exploring the complex behavioral, social, and survival dynamics of bee colonies."---Olivia Rutigliano, LitHub"A wealth of information about honeybees based on decades of scientific research." * Kirkus *"[The Lives of Bees] both celebrates and chronicles the natural history of the honey bee."---Barry Silverstein, Foreword Reviews"This book is a surprise and one heck of a good read."---Scott Shalaway, WV News"This is a first class work that should be read by anyone concerned with the alarming decline in pollinators of all taxa, but is especially important for bee keepers and their future as honey producers, and for biologists and landowners anxious to preserve habitat for wild honey bees."---David M. Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"Written for experts, beekeepers and biology buffs alike. Seeley’s fifth book on bees illuminates why wild honeybees across the planet are thriving while managed colonies are under threat."---Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle"William Hope narrates this highly informed work with a sharp focus on its scientific language. His clear, frank style helps the listener follow the author's deep dive into the lives of wild honey bees in their natural colonies, as opposed to those raised and kept by beekeepers. . . . This intriguing scientific study . . . elucidates the distinctive methodology of the entomologist and has much to teach." * AudioFile Magazine *"This gorgeous and noteworthy book provides a very different view of honey bees and how they live in the wild and offers important lessons for saving the world’s managed bee colonies. . . . The Lives of Bees will be highly-prized and often referenced by scientists, beekeepers and students of bees, and will fascinate anyone who wishes to learn more about the lives of these amazing insects."---GrrlScientist, Forbes"An impassioned account of honey bees by one of the most respected ecological bee researchers who is also a master storyteller. This charming, informative, and profusely illustrated book is one to curl up with in an easy chair while sipping honey-laced hot tea."---Stephen L. Buchmann, The Quarterly Review of Biology"Seeley who has been enraptured by bees since 1963, presents an authoritative and engaging account of why bees still fascinate him. The book should be of interests to students, educators, and professional biologists."---Norman A. Johnson, Evolution: Education and Outreach"A detailed and well-illustrated work that will fascinate both curious scientists and those with a passion for bee keeping. . . . Seeley’s book offers great opportunities to learn about honey bees in the wild . . . a source of inspiration for sustainable beekeeping practices."---Fabrice Requier & Robin M Crewe, Trends in Ecology and Evolution"Tells you everything about honeybees that has not been told . . . . The Lives of Bees is well-researched and one of the most authentic works on honeybees." * The Washington Book Review *"Engagingly written and deeply personal, it's the best bee book in print!"---Nicola Bradbear, Bee Craft"As one of the great communicators of honey bee science, Tom Seeley has written a superb account . . . This is a book for every beekeeper and anyone interested in the natural world."---Stephen Fleming, Bee Craft"A remarkable book. It is an essential read for every beekeeper who wishes to understand more fully the natural biology of the bees living in his or her hives."---Ann Chilcott, The Beelistener"This is a wonderful and original book about honey bees, unlike the numerous 'hand books' which are the staple fare of beekeepers. Professor Seeley has turned the idea of keeping bees on its head, pointing out the many indications that our current methods of exploiting honey bees may be quite harmful to them, or at best, not helpful. . . . so well-researched and presented that I feel it should be basic and essential reading for all beekeepers" * An Beachaire *"Both the layman and general entomologist will enjoy this scientific detective story that is so engagingly and entertainingly told by a preeminent expert in the field."---Angus McCullough, Entomologist's Monthly Magazine"[A] beautifully written exposition of the fascinating details of honey bee behaviour, physiology, genetics and interplay with the environment."---Peter Neerup Buhl, International Journal of Environment Studies"Seeley is truly a wonderful science writer, and one of the best at synthesizing information from honey bee studies conducted across the globe . . . His ability to communicate his science, and the science of others into common themes makes his books a pleasure to read for both academics and general readers alike."---Cory S. Sheffield, Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Canada"This is an excellent book, and one I would recommend to all beekeepers, not to mention anyone with a fascination for this amazing little insect."---Amanda Williams, Buzz About Bees

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[Provides] an excellent overview of Einstein’s major discoveries, from his early work on quantum theory to general relativity, the new law of gravity that overturned Newton. It is a welcome addition to any collection of books on modern physics."---Marcia Bartusiak, Wall Street Journal"In The Einsteinian Revolution, two eminent experts on Einstein’s life and his theory of relativity . . . offer an original and penetrating analysis of Einstein’s revolutionary contributions to physics and our view of the physical world. . . . The Einsteinian Revolution is an important and thought-provoking contribution to the scholarly literature on Einstein and his astounding scientific creativity between 1905 and 1925. Gutfreund and Renn might not have given the final answer as to why Einstein, of all people, revolutionized physics in the way that he did. But they argue in fascinating detail that, to understand his genius, one must take into account not just the earlier history of physics but also the history of knowledge more broadly.” – Helge Kragh, Nature"---Helge Kragh, Nature

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Compelling. . . . Morange simultaneously manages to present the facts with authority and to challenge the reader to think more deeply about what he writes."---Andrew Saintsing, Integrative and Comparative Biology

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An Economist Book of the Year""A thought-provoking read."---Jerry Coyne, Washington Post"The ultimate claim of The Genetic Lottery is an extraordinarily ambitious act of moral entrepreneurialism. Harden argues that an appreciation of the role of simple genetic luck—alongside all the other arbitrary lotteries of birth—will make us, as a society, more inclined to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy lives of dignity and comfort."---Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker"A book that is closely argued and packed with compelling scientific and statistical evidence. . . . This is a fascinating and detailed discussion of how genetic and environmental factors are braided together in all of us, shaping our destinies for good or ill. Harden’s ideas challenge existing orthodoxies, and she is also aware that complex research such as this is often misused. But her passionate commitment to tackling inequality and changing society is not to be doubted."---P. D. Smith, The Guardian"The Genetic Lottery is one of the most thought-provoking books I've read this year."---Dan Falk, CBC Radio"The Genetic Lottery is a good read, peppered with relatable stories and examples. Harden pulls off the trick of simultaneously introducing a technical field to newcomers; addressing deep, specialist debates; and taking seriously the intersection of scientific and philosophical analyses of inequality."---Aaron Panofsky, Science"Harden diligently fights a desperate battle to enlist science to serve progressive social reform." * Kirkus Reviews *"[An] outstanding new book. . . . It’s scientifically spot on, historically adroit, and excellently written. Required reading."---Adam Rutherford"While acknowledging the roles our environment and experiences play in shaping our lives, Harden makes the case that social scientists who want to address the roots of inequality must reckon with genetics. . . . The more researchers understand about the myriad factors that influence how our lives turn out, the more they can help improve outcomes for everyone. Genetics is one of those factors, Harden argues: when we ignore it, the most vulnerable suffer."---Jennifer Latson, Texas Monthly"A welcome resource for scholars and policy makers who want to advocate for and initiate equitable social changes with the help of reliable, expert knowledge."---J. F. Heberle, Choice"An engagingly written and highly accessible account of how genes shape our lives. . . . [The Genetic Lottery] richly merits the widespread attention it has received."---Robert H. Frank, Administrative Science Quarterly"[Harden] is a beautiful writer, weaving together personal narrative and complex technical concepts skillfully. Her writing is accessible to nonexperts, and the argument she makes—that it is both valuable and politically progressive for researchers of social outcomes to study DNA—is provocative. With this argument, The Genetic Lottery invites a necessary debate."---Daphne Oluwaseun Martschenko, Hastings Center Report"One of the most impressive things about [The Genetic Lottery] is Harden’s crystal-clear exposition of complex scientific research and methods. This alone is a gift to the public and every scientist should be grateful to her for helping the public understand genomic research and causal inference."---Jonathan T. Rothwell, Rothwell's Newsletter"Kathryn Paige Harden's The Genetic Lottery is both a novel contribution to this set and a novel kind of contribution, in that she does something much of the rest of this work does not: take a definite position on the political and social implications of behavioral genetics. . . . The book is a masterly tour of the state of the art of behavioral genetics and its relevance for pressing social questions."---Bryan Cwik, Bioethics"In creating a new synthesis that neither ignores the role of genetics nor misappropriates it, Harden acknowledges the importance the genetic lottery plays in shaping our life outcomes, while cautioning against misinterpreting the genetically laden differences among people as implying inborn, societal superiority. Harden examines the nascent field of behavioral genetics in an intellectually humble way, by detailing in lay terms the science of genetics and its applicability to differential life outcomes among people, and by incorporating this knowledge to advance social policies and social considerations that limit inequities."---Mark Rapala, International Social Science Review"Harden has illuminated a path forward free of racial bias and 'superior-inferior' dichotomies to build on seeking applications for greater social equality."---E. B. Boatner, Lavender Magazine"Kathryn Paige Harden has been waging a noble battle to liberate genetic science from its reactionary connotations, and especially the foul practice of eugenics. Her point, pithily made in this important book, is that knowledge of genetics is essential to any progressive politics and can be harnessed to advance the cause of equality."---Matt d’Ancona, Tortoise ​​​​​​​

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Book SynopsisIn this stunningly illustrated volume, Fuller provides a rich and moving portrait of elephants, exploring their natural history, the legends that have grown up around them, their unique place in art and literature, and their urgent need for protection today.Trade Review"Elephant truly is a remarkable work, replete with deeply moving and highly informative images and text."---Marc Bekoff, Animal Emotions"A beautifully illustrated tribute to one of the world's most persecuted species."---Brian Jackman, Travel Africa"Fuller's concise text, giving biological and historical background, is lively and informative."---Laurence A. Marshall, Natural History"[Fuller] has a gift of using simple and succinct language when conveying the most important points about elephants."---Lucy Brett-Crowther, International Journal of Environment Studies

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of New Scientist's best science books to read in 2021""A New Scientist Book of the Year""A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Engrossing and novel. . . . [A] fascinating and fact-filled book."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"An eye-opening and mouth-watering new book."---Bill Thompson, Post and Courier"An engaging trip through time, science, and food."---Amy Halloran, Times Union"Dunn and Sanchez are indeed the perfect hosts, guiding readers, with humor and expertise, through a feast of entertaining anecdotes in fields such as ecology, agriculture, psychology, art and chemistry."---Grace Rajendran, Shelf Awareness"Our hosts at this empirical dinner party envision a new future for the study of flavor, with seats for the curious of every stripe. . . . A persuasive, entertaining argument about how our avid pursuit of deliciousness helped shape our evolutionary path." * Kirkus Reviews *"Fascinating, unusual and truly ‘delicious’ (in more than one sense)"---Vitali Vitaliev, Engineering and Technology"Dunn and Sanchez are scrupulous in the way they present their evidence and arguments. . . . a charming book."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"[Dunn and Sanchez] draw from anthropology, ecology, food science, chemistry, biology, and other fields to create a compelling perspective on how flavor has driven diets and food choices in the past and continues to do so now. . . . An insightful narrative spiced with witty asides and relatable notes."---M. H. Albro, Choice"Written with an entertaining mix of anecdotes from the authors’ culinary travels as well as findings from the latest research, Dunn and Sanchez stir together a rich variety of ingredients to create a highly satisfying and indeed flavoursome narrative."---P.D. Smith, The Guardian

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