Science & Nature Books

19166 products


  • Dark Matter  Evidence Theory and Constraints

    Princeton University Press Dark Matter Evidence Theory and Constraints

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £46.75

  • The New Biology

    Harvard University Press The New Biology

    Book SynopsisThe New Biology argues that mechanical reductionism, though helpful in answering many biological questions, cannot on its own explain complex biological systems. Promoting a more holistic approach, the authors contend that both mechanistic and organicist views are invaluable frameworks for understanding life.Trade ReviewA feisty, engaging, and highly readable exploration of contemporary trends in biology. This book makes a compelling case for recovering organicist approaches to biology if we are to understand the complexity of life and biological systems. -- Alister McGrath, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford Since the time of Aristotle, the nature of living systems has been a topic of major philosophical and scientific debate, enhanced by the rise of molecular biology and the sciences of emergent complexity during the twentieth century. In lucid prose, Reiss and Ruse reveal how the debate is extremely relevant to our lives today. -- Bruce Weber, coauthor of Darwinism Evolving The mechanism-holism debate undergirds much of the history and philosophy of biology, but it is often cast as a stale topic fraught with abstractions about the properties of life. This book offers us a lively, engaging, and occasionally provocative rethink about an age-old topic that is very much alive and relevant to contemporary biology today. -- Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, University of Florida A fascinating exploration. Reiss and Ruse offer a clear roadmap for a better understanding of complexity and emergence across the life sciences, vital for evolution, behavioral science, science education, and science's conversation with faith. -- Joe Cain, Professor, University College London Science is often portrayed as an objective quest for truth, not influenced by the social, cultural, historical, and religious contexts in which it is practiced. In this splendid book, Michael Ruse and Michael Reiss show that science has always been, and will likely always be, in reciprocal influence, and in continuous interaction, with the many ways through which we perceive the world. Reading this book will make you see science in a brand new way. -- Kostas Kampourakis, coauthor of Uncertainty: How It Makes Science Advance This is an informative, clearly written, and timely exploration of the historical roots and the current uses and misuses of the notions of mechanism and organicism. The insights in this book could lead to richer methodologies and better coping mechanisms across health, gender, race, ecological sustainability, and religion. -- Eva Jablonka, author of Picturing the Mind: Consciousness through the Lens of Evolution

    £32.26

  • Observing our Solar System

    HarperCollins Publishers Observing our Solar System

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe ideal gift for aspiring astronomers.The sights in our Solar System are dynamic reminders of our planet''s position as part of a larger neighbourhood. Study the ever-changing face of the Moon, watch the steady march of the planets against the stars, witness the thrill of a meteor shower, or the memory of a once-in-a-generation comet.In a few short generations, scientists have taken us from wondering about the nature of the Solar System to exploring every corner of it with advanced robotic probes, and inexpensive but powerful telescopes have become ubiquitous, allowing all of us to follow in the footsteps of Galileo as explorers.In this guide, you will learn how the Solar System came to be understood from ancient theories of its mechanics to the modern age of remote sensing, We''ll then look at the significant targets for amateur astronomers the Moon, Sun and planets to see how they can be explored by eye and with telescopes. We''ll discuss some of the more obscure but fascinatingTrade Review“… such an informative and concise read that any beginner would be wise to grab a copy.” BBC Sky at Night Magazine “High praise must be given for the photographs and diagrams that appear on each page: beautifully clear, accompanied with simple but to-the-point text… How he has packed so much in I do not know, but whatever his secret, it works.” BBC Sky at Night Magazine

    1 in stock

    £8.54

  • Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisRichard Dawkins on how nature and humans have learned to overcome the pull of gravity and take to the skies. 'A masterly investigation of all aspects of flight, human and animal... A beautifully produced book that will appeal across age groups' Alexander McCall Smith 'Dawkins has always been an extraordinarily muscular, persuasive thinker. What feels new here is that he writes with such charm and warmth' The Times Have you ever dreamt you could fly? Or imagined what it would be like to glide and swoop through the sky like a bird? Do you let your mind soar to unknown, magical spaces? Richard Dawkins explores the wonder of flight: from the mythical Icarus, to the sadly extinct but spectacular bird Argentavis magnificens, from the Wright flyer and the 747, to the Tinkerbella fairyfly and the Peregrine falcon. But he also explores flights of the mind and escaping the everyday – through science, ideas and imagination. Fascinating and beautifully illustrated, this is a unique collaboration between one of the world's leading scientists and a talented artist.Trade ReviewRichard Dawkins writes with admirable clarity and Jana Lenzova illustrates in much the same way... A masterly investigation of all aspects of flight, human and animal. This is a beautifully produced book that will appeal across age groups' -- Alexander McCall-SmithDawkins writes with such an irresistible combination of mastery of the subject, delight in it, and vividness. A total pleasure -- Michael FraynDawkins's prose feels as if it were cut with a laser ... Dawkins has always been an extraordinarily muscular, persuasive thinker. What feels new here is that he writes with such charm and warmth. Genial Uncle Richard, for me, is the most likeable Dawkins yet * Sunday Times *He has made Darwinism cooler than it has any right to be * Sunday Times *PRAISE FOR RICHARD DAWKINS: 'Written with all the clarity and elegance of which Dawkins is a master. It should have a place in every school library – especially in the library of every 'faith' school' Philip Pullman, on The God Delusion. 'One of the best non-fiction writers alive today' -- Steven Pinker

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Membrane Technology and Applications

    John Wiley & Sons Inc Membrane Technology and Applications

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisMembrane Technology and Applications Internationally acknowledged text on separation membrane technology, presenting current theory and practice, plus manufacturing and applications The 4th Edition of Membrane Technology and Applications presents an authoritative, up-to-date overview of separation membranes, their theoretical underpinnings, manufacture, and use, beginning with a series of general chapters on membrane preparation, transport theory, and concentration polarization, then surveying the major areas of membrane application in separate chapters. Written in a readily accessible style, each chapter offers a thorough treatment of its subject, from historical and theoretical backgrounds through to current and potential applications. Topics include reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, gas separation, pervaporation, electrodialysis, coupled and facilitated transport, and medical applications of membranes. This new edition has been comprehensively updated, with substantial new material, figures, and references throughout to reflect the latest developments in the field. Major changes include: A new chapter on transport mechanisms in finely microporous membranes, with focus on gas transportA new chapter on membrane contactorsA substantially expanded section on hyperfiltration applications, including pharmaceutical applications, in the reverse osmosis chapterExpanded treatment of membrane bioreactors, plus a new section on biotechnology applications, in the ultrafiltration chapterA new section in the gas separation chapter devoted to carbon dioxide capture from industrial process emissions, including power plant emissionsResearch areas that the author would work on if he were, once again, a 21-year-old graduate student. Written by a leading expert with 50 years of experience, Membrane Technology and Applications provides balanced coverage of all aspects of the field, and is essential reading for all membrane enthusiasts, from neophyte graduate student to academic researcher to seasoned industry professional.Table of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xiii 1 Overview of Membrane Science and Technology 1 1.1 Introduction 2 1.2 Historical Development of Membranes 2 1.3 Membrane Transport Theory 4 1.4 Types of Membranes 6 1.4.1 Isotropic Membranes 8 1.4.2 Anisotropic Membranes 8 1.4.3 Membranes with Special Features 9 1.5 Membrane Processes 9 1.5.1 Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Microfiltration 10 1.5.2 Electrodialysis 11 1.5.3 Gas Separation 12 1.5.4 Pervaporation 13 1.5.5 Hyperfiltration 14 1.5.6 Membrane Contactors 14 1.5.7 Carrier Transport 15 1.5.8 Medical Applications 16 References 17 2 Membrane Transport Theory – Solution-Diffusion 18 2.1 Introduction 18 2.2 The Solution-Diffusion Model 21 2.2.1 Molecular Dynamics Simulations 21 2.2.2 Concentration and Pressure Gradients in Membranes 25 2.2.3 Application of the Solution-Diffusion Model to Specific Processes 31 2.2.4 A Unified View 52 2.3 Structure–Permeability Relationships in Solution-Diffusion Membranes 56 2.3.1 Diffusion Coefficients 59 2.3.2 Sorption Coefficients in Polymers 68 2.4 Conclusions 74 References 75 3 Microporous Membranes – Characteristics and Transport Mechanisms 79 3.1 Introduction 80 3.2 Gas Separation in Microporous Membranes 81 3.2.1 Membrane Categories 81 3.2.2 Crystalline Finely Microporous Membranes 82 3.2.3 Amorphous Microporous Membranes 90 3.3 Gas Separation: Transport Mechanisms 95 3.3.1 Surface Adsorption and Diffusion 95 3.3.2 Knudsen Diffusion 98 3.3.3 Molecular Sieving 100 3.3.4 Pore Blocking 101 3.3.5 Summary 104 3.4 Liquid Permeation in Microporous Membranes 105 3.4.1 Screen Filters 105 3.4.2 Depth Filters 109 3.5 Conclusions and Future Directions 110 References 111 4 Membranes and Modules 115 4.1 Introduction 116 4.2 Isotropic Membranes 116 4.2.1 Isotropic Nonporous Membranes 116 4.2.2 Isotropic Microporous Membranes 118 4.3 Anisotropic Membranes 122 4.3.1 Phase Separation Membranes 123 4.3.2 Interfacial Polymerization Membranes 138 4.3.3 Solution-Coated Composite Membranes 143 4.3.4 Repairing Membrane Defects 147 4.4 Ceramic and Glass Membranes 149 4.4.1 Ceramic Membranes 149 4.4.2 Microporous Glass Membranes 152 4.5 Other Membranes 152 4.6 Hollow Fiber Membranes 153 4.7 Membrane Modules 156 4.7.1 Plate-and-Frame Modules 158 4.7.2 Tubular Modules 159 4.7.3 Spiral-Wound Modules 162 4.7.4 Hollow Fiber Modules 165 4.7.5 Other Module Types 167 4.8 Module Selection 168 4.9 Conclusions and Future Directions 170 References 171 5 Concentration Polarization 177 5.1 Introduction 177 5.2 Boundary Layer Film Model 180 5.2.1 Determination of the Peclet Number 187 5.3 Concentration Polarization in Liquid Separation Processes 189 5.4 Concentration Polarization in Gas Separation Processes 193 5.5 Concentration Polarization in Membrane Contactors and Related Processes 194 5.6 Conclusions and Future Directions 196 References 196 6 Reverse Osmosis (Hyperfiltration) 198 6.1 Introduction and History 199 6.2 Theoretical Background 201 6.3 Membrane Materials 204 6.3.1 Cellulosic Membranes 204 6.3.2 Noncellulosic Loeb–Sourirajan Membranes 206 6.3.3 Interfacial Composite Membranes 207 6.4 Membrane Performance 210 6.5 Reverse Osmosis Membrane Categories 211 6.5.1 Seawater Desalination Membranes 211 6.5.2 Brackish Water Desalination Membranes 213 6.5.3 Nanofiltration Membranes 213 6.5.4 Organic Solvent Separating Membranes 215 6.6 Membrane Modules 218 6.7 Membrane Fouling and Control 219 6.7.1 Silt 220 6.7.2 Scale 220 6.7.3 Biofouling 223 6.7.4 Organic Fouling 223 6.7.5 Pretreatment 223 6.7.6 Membrane Cleaning 224 6.8 Applications 225 6.8.1 Seawater Desalination 226 6.8.2 Brackish Water Desalination 228 6.8.3 Industrial Applications 229 6.8.4 Organic Solvent Separations 232 6.8.5 Conclusions and Future Directions 236 References 238 7 Ultrafiltration 241 7.1 Introduction and History 242 7.2 Characterization of Ultrafiltration Membranes 244 7.3 Membrane Fouling 246 7.3.1 Constant Pressure and Constant Flux Operation 246 7.3.2 Concentration Polarization 251 7.3.3 Fouling Control 259 7.4 Membranes 260 7.5 Tangential-Flow Modules and Process Designs 261 7.5.1 Modules 262 7.5.2 Process Design 264 7.6 Applications 266 7.6.1 Industrial Applications 268 7.6.2 Municipal Water Treatment/Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) 274 7.6.3 Biotechnology 280 7.7 Conclusions and Future Directions 282 References 284 8 Microfiltration 287 8.1 Introduction and History 287 8.2 Background 288 8.2.1 Types of Membrane 288 8.2.2 Membrane Characterization 291 8.2.3 Microfiltration Membranes and Modules 297 8.2.4 Process Design 300 8.3 Applications 301 8.3.1 Sterile Filtration of Pharmaceuticals 302 8.3.2 Microfiltration in the Electronics Industry 303 8.3.3 Sterilization of Wine and Beer 304 8.4 Conclusions and Future Directions 304 References 304 9 Gas Separation 305 9.1 Introduction and History 306 9.2 Dense Polymeric Membranes 308 9.2.1 Theoretical Background 308 9.2.2 Structural Features and Considerations 315 9.3 Microporous Membranes 317 9.4 Membrane Modules 319 9.5 Process Design 320 9.5.1 Pressure Ratio 321 9.5.2 Stage-Cut 325 9.5.3 Multistep and Multistage System Designs 327 9.5.4 Recycle Designs 329 9.6 Applications 330 9.6.1 Hydrogen Separation 330 9.6.2 Air Separation 333 9.6.3 Natural Gas Separations 338 9.6.4 Organic Vapor/Gas Separations 347 9.6.5 To-Be-Developed Applications 348 9.7 Conclusions and Future Directions 353 References 355 10 Pervaporation/Vapor Permeation 359 10.1 Introduction and History 359 10.2 Theoretical Background 362 10.3 Membrane Materials and Modules 370 10.3.1 Membrane Characterization 370 10.3.2 Membrane Materials 370 10.3.3 Membrane Modules 375 10.4 Process Design 377 10.4.1 Basic Principles 377 10.4.2 Hybrid Distillation/Membrane Processes 380 10.5 Applications 382 10.5.1 Bioethanol and Solvent Dehydration 383 10.5.2 VOC/Water Separations 384 10.5.3 Separation of Organic Mixtures 385 10.6 Conclusions and Future Directions 390 References 390 11 Ion Exchange Membrane Processes 394 11.1 Introduction and History 395 11.2 Theoretical Background 396 11.2.1 Transport Through Ion Exchange Membranes 397 11.3 Chemistry of Ion Exchange Membranes 400 11.3.1 Homogeneous Membranes 402 11.3.2 Heterogeneous Membranes 404 11.4 Electrodialysis 405 11.4.1 Concentration Polarization and Limiting Current Density 405 11.4.2 Current Efficiency and Power Consumption 410 11.4.3 System Design 411 11.5 Electrodialysis Applications 414 11.5.1 Water Desalination 414 11.5.2 Continuous Electrodeionization and Ultrapure Water 414 11.5.3 Salt Recovery from Seawater 416 11.5.4 Other Electrodialysis Applications 416 11.6 Fuel Cells 417 11.7 Chlor-Alkali Processes 421 11.8 Other Electrochemical Processes 423 11.8.1 Water Splitting Using Bipolar Membranes 423 11.8.2 Redox Flow Batteries 424 11.8.3 Reverse Electrodialysis 427 11.9 Conclusions and Future Directions 428 References 428 12 Carrier Facilitated Transport 431 12.1 Introduction 431 12.2 Facilitated Transport 435 12.2.1 Membrane and Process Development 435 12.2.2 Theory 437 12.2.3 Membranes 440 12.2.4 Applications 442 12.3 Coupled Transport 446 12.3.1 Membrane and Process Development 446 12.3.2 Theory 451 12.3.3 Coupled Transport Membrane Characteristics 454 12.3.4 Applications 459 12.4 Conclusions and Future Directions 459 References 460 13 Membrane Contactors 464 13.1 Introduction 464 13.2 Contactor Modules 466 13.3 Applications of Membrane Contactors 468 13.3.1 Liquid/Liquid Contactor Applications 469 13.3.2 Liquid/Gas and Gas/Liquid Contactors 478 13.3.3 Gas/Gas Membrane Contactors 482 13.4 Conclusions and Future Directions 486 References 486 14 Medical Applications of Membranes 490 14.1 Introduction 490 14.2 Hemodialysis 491 14.3 Plasma Fractionation 495 14.4 Blood Oxygenators 496 14.5 Controlled Drug Delivery 497 14.5.1 Membrane Diffusion-Controlled Systems 499 14.5.2 Monolithic Systems 502 14.5.3 Biodegradable Systems 502 14.5.4 Osmotic Systems 503 References 509 15 Other Membrane Processes 512 15.1 Introduction 512 15.2 Metal Membranes 512 15.3 Ion-Conducting Membranes 516 15.4 Charge Mosaic Membranes and Piezodialysis 520 References 523 Appendix 525 Index 536

    1 in stock

    £95.00

  • Labours of Hercules An Astrological

    Lucis Press Ltd Labours of Hercules An Astrological

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £12.01

  • Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry

    Cengage Learning, Inc Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. The Nature of Analytical Chemistry Part 1: Quality of Analytical Measurements 2.Calculations Used In Analytical Chemistry 3.Precision and Accuracy of Chemical Analysis 4.Random Errors in Chemical Analysis 5.Statistical Data Treatment and Evaluation 6.Sampling, Standardization and Calibration Part II Chemical Equilibria 7.Aqueous Solutions and Chemical Equilibria 8.Effect of Electrolytes on Chemical Equilibria 9.Solving Equilibrium Problems for Complex Systems Part III Classical Methods of Analysis 10.Gravimetric Methods of Analysis 11.Titrations in Analytical Chemistry 12.Principles of Neutralization Titrations 13.Complex Acid/Base Systems 14.Applications of Neutralization Titrations 15.Complexation and Precipitation Reactions and Titrations Part IV Electrochemical Methods 16.Introduction to Electrochemistry 17.Applications of Standard Electrode Potentials 18.Applications of Oxidation/Reduction Titrations 19.Potentiometry 20.Bulk Electrolysis: Electrogravimetry and Coulometry 21.Voltammetry Part VSpectrochemical Analysis 22.Introduction to Spectrochemical Methods 23.Instruments for Optical Spectrometry 24.Molecular Absorption Spectroscopy 25.Molecular Fluorescence Spectroscopy 26.Atomic Spectroscopy 27.Mass Spectrometry Part VI Kinetics and Separations 28.Kinetic Methods of Analysis 29.Introduction to Analytical Separations 30.Gas Chromatography 31.High-Performance Liquid Chromatography 32.Miscellaneous Separation Methods Part VII Practical Aspects of Chemical Analysis Chapters 33-37 are available as pdf files on the Web 33.Analysis of Real Samples 34.Preparing Samples for Analysis 35.Decomposing and Desolving the Sample 36.Chemicals. Apparatus, and Unit Operations of Analytical Chemistry 37.Selected Methods of Analysis

    5 in stock

    £79.99

  • New Scientist The Origin of almost Everything

    John Murray Press New Scientist The Origin of almost Everything

    20 in stock

    Book SynopsisIntroduction by Professor Stephen Hawking.When Edwin Hubble looked into his telescope in the 1920s, he was shocked to find that nearly all of the galaxies he could see through it were flying away from one another. If these galaxies had always been travelling, he reasoned, then they must, at some point, have been on top of one another. This discovery transformed the debate about one of the most fundamental questions of human existence - how did the universe begin?Every society has stories about the origin of the cosmos and its inhabitants, but now, with the power to peer into the early universe and deploy the knowledge gleaned from archaeology, geology, evolutionary biology and cosmology, we are closer than ever to understanding where it all came from. In The Origin of (almost) Everything, New Scientist explores the modern origin stories of everything from the Big Bang, meteorites and dark energy, to dinosaurs, civilisation, timekeeping, belly-butTrade ReviewImportant... The Origin of (Almost) Everything doesn't look like a typical science book. It's friendly and colourful. Its blocks of text and ample images, makes it read more like a magazine than textbook. Unravelling dozens of life's biggest mysteries, Lawton and Daniel's irreverent storytelling approach answers nagging questions that have inspired centuries of scientific inquiry... Like The Origin of (Almost) Everything suggests, the best science writing and illustrations don't just answer your questions - they compel you to ask more. * WIRED *

    20 in stock

    £9.74

  • Harvard University Press Quantum Mechanics and Experience

    Book SynopsisThis lively account of the foundations of quantum mechanics is at once elementary and deeply challenging. It is an introduction accessible to anyone with high school mathematics and, at the same time, a rigorous discussion of the most important recent advances in our understanding of quantum physics, a number of them made by the author himself.Trade ReviewOver the past two decades, philosophers of physics have worked long and hard…to extract the philosophical pith from the theoretical physics. There are now a number of excellent books which explain the issues at a reasonably advanced level to non-physicists. Albert’s is among the best of the bunch. -- David Papineau * Times Literary Supplement *A lively, lucid, elementary, yet deeply challenging account. The layperson and seasoned philosopher and scientist alike could do no better in their attempts to get out of the quantum muddle than to read this book. -- Frank Arntzenius, University of Southern CaliforniaThis is a wholly original, engaging, and provocative work on the conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics, written in David Albert’s inimitable style. -- Jeffrey Bub, University of MarylandTable of ContentsPreface 1. Superposition 2. The Mathematical Formalism and the Standard Way of Thinking about It 3. Nonlocality 4. The Measurement Problem 5. The Collapse of the Wave Function 6. The Dynamics by Itself 7. Bohm's Theory 8. Self-Measurement Appendix: The Kochen-Healy-Dieks Interpretations Bibliography Index

    £26.06

  • Brainwashing

    Oxford University Press Brainwashing

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisBringing together cutting-edge research from psychology and neuroscience, Kathleen Taylor puts the brain back into brainwashing and shows why understanding this mysterious phenomenon is vitally relevant in the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition A magisterially detailed survey... Taylor is never less than direct and engaging. The subject may be difficult but the writing never is. With no hint at all of academic pretension, this is a model of how to make hard science accessible without rendering it impossibly watered down or patronising. This is an outstanding book. Academic researchers and human rights professionals will find it a goldmine of relevant research and information. And anyone else interested in psychology will find it a thrill. * Focus Magazine 12/2004 *The book is to be commended. Taylor writes engagingly. * THES *I can't remember when I last encountered such a thoroughly argued book which was also so accessible. A miracle of cogency. * Morning Star *An ambitious and well-written study * The Guardian *Table of ContentsPART 1: TORTURE AND SEDUCTION; PART 2: THE TRAITOR IN YOUR SKULL; PART 3: FREEDOM AND CONTROL

    2 in stock

    £12.34

  • Atlas of the Messier Objects

    Cambridge University Press Atlas of the Messier Objects

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisMessier''s catalog of 110 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies is the most popular list of deep sky gems. The first edition of this stunning reference atlas was hailed as the most comprehensive, detailed, and beautiful account of the Messier objects then available. The second edition continues this trend, with thoroughly investigated and updated astrophysical, historical, and observational information for every object. The main object photos have all been replaced with more than 150 new images from some of the world''s best amateurs displaying the objects'' splendor through large-scale color images. Historical sketches from classical observers from the nineteenth century are presented, alongside the author''s modern deep-sky drawings. Extensive information is given on visual observation from using the naked eye and binoculars through to large modern amateur telescopes. Astronomers of all abilities will delight in the Atlas''s return as your guide to the sky''s finest objects.

    3 in stock

    £56.99

  • Overview Timelapse

    Random House USA Inc Overview Timelapse

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £25.60

  • Wilson's Ornithology and Burds in Scots

    Scotland Street Press Wilson's Ornithology and Burds in Scots

    Book Synopsis‘The crossbill is a bonny bird An she sings wi a guid Scots tongue Jip-jip-jip A’ll gie ye gip Gin ye meddle wi me nor ma young’ As a result of his travels across the North American continent in the eighteenth century Alexander Wilson pioneered the science of ornithological writing and illustration, becoming an inspiration for most of the ornithological works which followed. This new book celebrates the artwork of Alexander Wilson by reproducing his illustrations alongside new poems in Scots by Hamish MacDonald, looking at the habits, habitats, and characteristics of birds.

    £9.49

  • Fundamentals of Physics II

    Yale University Press Fundamentals of Physics II

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £26.12

  • Third Thoughts

    Harvard University Press Third Thoughts

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of the 20th century’s greatest physicists, in this collection of essays, shares his strongly-held opinions on everything from the Higgs boson to the state of theoretical physics and the problems of science and society. If you’re a big Steven Weinberg fan, you won’t want to miss his latest. -- Ethan Siegel * Forbes *Weinberg has a knack for capturing a complex concept in a succinct, unforgettable image…[He’s] one of the smartest and most diligent scientists around. -- Robert Crease * Nature *This book should be read not only for its insightful and illuminating explanations of a wide range of physical phenomena but also for the opportunity it affords to follow the wanderings of a brilliant mind through topics ranging from high-energy physics and the makeup of the cosmos to poetry, and from the history and philosophy of science to the dangers of economic inequality…[A] captivating book. -- Mario Livio * Science *This collection is an easily digestible glimpse into the mind of a thoughtful scientific communicator and shows the truly all-encompassing nature of theoretical physics. -- Andrea Gawrylewski * Scientific American *A stimulating and admirable book. -- N. David Mermin * Physics Today *Weinberg’s finest collection yet—chock-full of informative content, wise opinion, and intelligent comment. He is an extreme rarity—a great physicist whose writings are entertaining and accessible for both experts and non-specialists. Superb. -- Graham Farmelo, author of The Strangest ManSteve Weinberg’s essays are fascinating and thought-provoking as always. Readers will find a lot to think about on a wide range of topics. -- Edward Witten, Institute for Advanced StudyThe phrase ‘public intellectual’ is much bandied about. Just a few real heavyweights in the world merit the title, and Steven Weinberg is preeminent among them. His collection ranges from deep science on the very frontier of human comprehension, through his trenchant views on public policy, to history and the arts. Compelling reading. -- Richard Dawkins

    1 in stock

    £16.10

  • The Book of Humans: A Brief History of Culture,

    Orion Publishing Co The Book of Humans: A Brief History of Culture,

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis*FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVERYONE WHO EVER LIVED and HOW TO ARGUE WITH A RACIST* WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?Waging war?Sex for pleasure?Creating art?Mastery of fire?In this thrilling tour of the animal kingdom, Adam Rutherford tells the story of how we became the unique creatures we are today. Illuminated by the latest scientific discoveries, THE BOOK OF HUMANS is a dazzling compendium of what unequivocally fixes us as animals, and reveals how we are extraordinary among them. ***'Adam Rutherford is a superb communicator, who eruditely explores the borderlands of history, archaeology, genetics and anthropology in this fascinating tour of our species' DAN SNOW'This superbly accessible discussion about who we humans really are is important and necessary' CHRIS PACKHAM'Charming, compelling and packed with information. I learned more about biology from this short book than I did from years of science lessons' PETER FRANKOPAN'An outstandingly clear and witty account that shows beyond doubt how much we are part of the animal world, and yet at the same time how different we have become' HENRY MARSHTrade ReviewAn excellent book that I definitely recommend. I referred to it a lot in my own research. * BILL BRYSON writing in BBC SCIENCE FOCUS MAGAZINE *Adam Rutherford is a superb communicator, who eruditely explores the borderlands of history, archaeology, genetics and anthropology in this fascinating tour of our species -- DAN SNOWThis superbly accessible discussion about who we humans really are is important and necessary -- CHRIS PACKHAMCharming, compelling and packed with information. I learned more about biology from this short book than I did from years of science lessons. Adam Rutherford has a knack of making complex ideas understandable - and also fun. Our species is a lot stranger than I'd ever realised, but a lot more normal too. A weird and wonderful read -- PETER FRANKOPANAn outstandingly clear and witty account that shows beyond doubt how much we are part of the animal world, and yet at the same time how different we have become -- HENRY MARSHIn Adam Rutherford's splendid The Book of Humans, we learn how giraffes enjoy homosexual assignations, how dolphins use sponges to protect their noses, and how birds of the raptor class have been observed picking up smouldering twigs from forest fires, flying away and dropping them to start new fires, at which point they swoop and gobble up the panicked mammals and lizards rushing away -- Steven Poole * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Adam Rutherford is a master storyteller. THE BOOK OF HUMANS is packed to the brim with intriguing tales, clever twists and up-to-the-minute scientific discoveries, offering a completely new perspective on who we are and how we came to be -- HANNAH FRYAdam Rutherford is a delightful, eclectic, hilarious and often filthy guide to what we know about human genetics. But even more than that, there are parts of this book I wish were graven into the walls of public buildings and above the desk of anyone who writes about science. Next time someone tells you that men "evolved" to behave in one way while women "evolved" to behave differently, pull out your copy of THE BOOK OF HUMANS and set them right -- NAOMI ALDERMANThis delightful and charming book will change the way you see yourself, and your place in the natural world -- ED YONGA book that is deftly outlined, concisely constructed and filled with intriguing observations and anecdotes. Rutherford is an engaging, witty writer ... An entertaining and blessedly succinct read -- Robin McKie * THE OBSERVER *I've learned more about myself and my species than I thought possible. A beautiful, compassionate book exploring not just human nature but also the human condition. I'm more in love with Adam Rutherford's writing than ever -- ANGELA SAINIA kind of intellectual enema, exposing the popular myths about human exceptionalism ... [Rutherford] makes a charming guide, giving the impression that, like us, he finds it all rather mysterious, though he clearly knows what he is talking about -- Michael Bond * NEW SCIENTIST *Did you know that bottlenose dolphins deliberately protect their beaks with sea sponges when they are foraging on the seabed? Or that New Caledonian crows will strip twigs down into spears to search inside logs for wheedlegrubs? With these and many other examples of intelligence, geneticist Dr Adam Rutherford explores to what extent other animal species ('Humans are animals,' he says pointedly at the very start of the book) display characteristics we would normally classify as exclusively human -- Chris Fitch * GEOGRAPHICAL *[Rutherford] is well able to explicate scientific complexities, including the origin and development of man. He writes with intellectual authority and also, as a popular lecturer and broadcaster, expresses himself in a clear and persuasive manner with natural charm -- Patrick Skene Catling * THE SPECTATOR *Turns out we're not the only species that makes tools or uses fire - so what does that mean for humanity? Adam Rutherford takes us on a myth-busting tour of human history, exploring whether we really are as exceptional as we think * BBC FOCUS MAGAZINE *In his entertaining The Book of Humans, Adam Rutherford assails the notion of human exceptionalism while simultaneously detailing why it is that humans are, nevertheless, a highly distinctive species -- Adrian Woolfson * LITERARY REVIEW *Adam Rutherford's entertaining and pithy The Book of Humans focuses on the features that make Homo sapiens so special - language, tool-making, and war-mongering - and finds startling parallels for each attribute in manyother animals -- Robin McKie * THE OBSERVER *If teaching is what makes humans special, then Adam Rutherford is superhuman - the paragon of teachers, a truly gifted transmitter of knowledge: lucid, enlightening, witty and delightful -- KATE FOXThis is a beautiful compendium of sketches about the wonders of evolution, which also takes in genetics, the origins of language and much else -- Steven Poole * THE GUARDIAN *An ideal read for a family history enthusiast who's keen to learn more ... The story entertainingly weaves through the long view of history, taking in our key developments that together we see as making us human (tools, fire, language, for instance), and comparing us to our fellow creatures, with some surprising results ... I'd recommend this book to anyone wishing to feed their curiosity about the human story and how we've evolved -- Helen Tovey * FAMILY TREE MAGAZINE *A sensational tour of life on Earth and an illustration of the things we consider unique to us humans but are, quite simply, not -- Lucy Fisher * BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH *An entertaining exploration of human evolution, showing that, amidst the teeming multitudes of lifeforms surrounding us, we are really not that special. And yet we are ... Wonderfully crafted, this is a readable, fun exploration of human evolution and how we compare to the animals surrounding us -- Leon Vlieger * THE INQUISITIVE BIOLOGIST *[A] fascinating, well-researched, and at times both funny and disturbing book -- Bianca Nogrady * CANBERRA TIMES (Australia) *It is his story-writing that makes the book a page-turner, and we challenge anyone not to learn something astonishing along the way. -- Rachel Pells * THE I PAPER *

    2 in stock

    £9.49

  • Genius at Play

    Princeton University Press Genius at Play

    7 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    7 in stock

    £22.50

  • Arctic Ecology

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Arctic Ecology

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface xiii List of Contributors xv 1 What Is the Arctic? 1Kjell Danell 1.1 Setting the Scene 1 1.2 In Which Ways Is the Arctic Different? 2 1.3 How Was the Arctic Discovered? 3 1.4 How Large Is the Arctic? 4 1.5 What Is in the Arctic? 4 1.5.1 Arctic Haze and Ice Fog 4 1.5.2 Aurora Borealis 5 1.6 Climate and Weather 5 1.7 Ice and Snow 6 1.8 Permafrost, Polygons, Pingos, and Palsas 6 1.9 Animals, Plants, and Fungi 7 1.10 Arctic Ecosystems 9 1.10.1 Terrestrial Ecosystems 10 1.10.2 Freshwater Ecosystems 12 1.10.3 Marine Ecosystems 14 1.10.4 Humans 15 1.11 Which Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services does the Arctic Offer? 17 1.12 Biotic Changes in the Arctic 19 References 22 2 Arctic Ecology – A Paleoenvironmental Perspective 23Michael Pisaric and John P. Smol 2.1 Introduction 23 2.2 The Distant Past 25 2.2.1 Bones, DNA, and Megafauna 26 2.2.2 Beringian Biota 27 2.2.3 Ancient DNA 29 2.3 Rings and Things: Examining Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimatic Change Using Dendrochronology 30 2.3.1 Dendrochronology in Action: Examples from the Field 32 2.4 Lake Sediments: Continuous Archives of Environmental Change 33 2.5 Paleolimnology and Arctic Climate Change 37 2.5.1 Subfossil Pollen, Stomata, and Macrofossils for Tracking Vegetation Change 38 2.5.2 Charcoal and Past Wildfires 39 2.5.3 Using Past Assemblage Changes in Lake Biota to Reconstruct Past Climatic Trends 39 2.5.4 Using Paleolimnology to Study the Source and Fate of Contaminants 43 2.5.5 Linking Paleolimnology and Archeology: Tracking the Limnological Effects of Early Peoples in the Arctic 48 2.6 Concluding Remarks 49 References 50 3 Climate Change in the Arctic 57Edward Hanna, Joseph E. Nolan, James E. Overland, and Richard J. Hall 3.1 Introduction to Arctic Climates – Datasets Available for Analyzing Climate Change 57 3.2 Atmospheric Aspects of Arctic Climate Change: Arctic Amplification and Global Warming, Changes in Air Temperature and Precipitation, and Changes in Atmospheric Circulation 59 3.3 Oceanic Aspects of Arctic Climate Change, Including Surface and Deep Ocean Circulation Changes 61 3.4 Climate Change Impacts on Arctic Sea Ice and Greenland Ice Sheet – The Unprecedented Recent Decline in Late Summer Sea-Ice Cover and Record Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Melt and Mass Loss 65 3.5 Feedbacks in the Arctic Climate System and Global Impacts – the Ice/Albedo Feedback and Ice Insulation Feedbacks – the “Warm Arctic, Cold Continents” Hypothesis 71 3.6 Concluding Remarks 73 References 75 4 Arctic Permafrost and Ecosystem Functioning 81Torben R. Christensen 4.1 Permafrost and Ecosystems in the Arctic 81 4.2 Permafrost Shapes the Landscape 83 4.2.1 Permafrost Specific Landforms and Their Importance for Ecosystems 83 4.2.2 Permafrost Specific Landforms and Effects of a Changing Climate 86 4.3 The Biology of Permafrost 87 4.3.1 Microbes 87 4.3.2 Vegetation 88 4.4 Ecosystem Function – Carbon Cycling in Permafrost Environments 91 4.4.1 General Carbon Cycling 91 4.4.2 Methane Emissions 92 4.5 Concluding Remarks 94 References 95 5 Arctic Tundra 103John Hobbie, Gaius Shaver, Toke Thomas Høye, and Joseph Bowden 5.1 Distribution and Description of Arctic Tundra 103 5.2 Tundra Organisms: A Typical Food Web 105 5.3 Flora and Fauna: Diversity and Communities 106 5.4 Primary Production and Organic Matter Stocks in the Low and High Arctic 110 5.5 Primary Production and Organic Matter Stocks 112 5.6 Adaptations to the Arctic Tundra 112 5.6.1 Plant Adaptations 112 5.6.2 Microbial Activity and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen 115 5.6.3 Invertebrates: Diversity, Freeze-Tolerance, and Freeze-Avoidance 116 5.6.4 Vertebrates of the Tundra: Wintertime Survival Strategies 117 5.7 Reproductive Strategies 118 5.8 Populations and Communities of the Tundra 120 5.8.1 Diversity and Interactions: The Case of Beringia 120 5.8.2 Development of Arctic Tundra Food Webs: Complexity, Insects 121 5.8.3 Belowground Arctic Food Web: Bacteria, Mycorrhizal Fungi, Nitrogen, and Carbon Cycling 122 5.9 Tundra Ecosystem Analysis 123 5.9.1 Why Nutrient Limitation? 123 5.9.2 Nitrogen Budget: Pools of Nitrogen, Rates of Transport, and Transformations 124 5.9.3 Carbon Budget: Pools, Gross Photosynthesis and Respiration, Accumulation and Feedbacks 126 5.9.4 Insights from Manipulation Experiments: Control of Net Primary Production and Herbivory by Nutrients, Light, and Heat 126 5.10 Expected Future Changes and Responses in Arctic Tundra 128 5.10.1 Effects of Increased Shrubs 128 5.10.2 Pest Outbreaks, Changes in Phenology and Species Interactions 129 References 130 6 Ecology of Arctic Glaciers 133Alexandre M. Anesio and Johanna Laybourn-Parry 6.1 Introduction 133 6.2 The Biodiversity and Food Webs of Glacial Habitats 136 6.2.1 Ice Shelves 136 6.2.2 Supraglacial or Cryolakes 138 6.2.3 Cryoconite Material, Cryoconite Holes, and Wet Ice Surfaces 139 6.2.4 Snow on the Surface of Ice 141 6.2.5 Life Within Ice 141 6.2.6 Life in Subglacial Environments 143 6.3 Quantification of Microbial Processes in Glaciers and Export of Material to Adjacent Ecosystems 144 6.3.1 Supraglacial Habitats: Ice Shelf Lakes, Ponds, Cryoconites 144 6.3.2 Subglacial Habitats 149 6.4 Anthropogenic Impacts 151 References 152 7 Ecology of Arctic Lakes and Ponds 159Erik Jeppesen, Kirsten S. Christoffersen, Milla Rautio, and Torben L. Lauridsen 7.1 Introduction 159 7.2 Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Arctic Lakes and Ponds 160 7.3 Biological Communities and Production 162 7.3.1 Phytoplankton and Phytobenthos 162 7.3.2 Macrophytes 164 7.3.3 Microbial Loop 165 7.3.4 Zooplankton and Zoobenthos 165 7.3.5 Fish 168 7.3.6 Food Webs 169 7.4 Global Climate Change and Arctic Lakes 171 References 174 8 Ecology of Arctic Streams and Rivers 181Alexander D. Huryn 8.1 Introduction 181 8.1.1 What Is an Arctic River? 181 8.2 A Primer on Stream Ecology: General and Arctic Perspectives 183 8.2.1 The Longitudinal Dimension 184 8.2.2 The Vertical Dimension 202 8.2.3 The Lateral Dimension 207 8.3 Concluding Remarks 209 References 211 9 Ecology of Arctic Pelagic Communities 219Malin Daase, Jørgen Berge, Janne E. Søreide, and Stig Falk-Petersen 9.1 Introduction 219 9.2 The Arctic Marine Highways: The Transpolar Drift and the Interconnected Current Systems 220 9.3 Members and Key Players of Arctic Pelagic Communities 224 9.3.1 At the Base – Primary Producers and Microbial Communities 224 9.3.2 In the Middle – Resident Consumers and Life Strategies of Arctic Zooplankton 229 9.3.3 At the Top – Pelagic Predators 239 9.4 A Lipid-Driven Food Chain 241 9.5 Effects of Climate Change 242 9.5.1 Timing 243 9.5.2 Changes in Species Distribution 243 References 246 10 Ecology of Arctic Sea Ice 261C. J. Mundy and Klaus M. Meiners 10.1 Introduction to Sea Ice 261 10.2 Types of Habitats 262 10.3 Food Webs and Carbon Flow 264 10.4 Physical Environment 268 10.5 Colonization of Sea Ice and Winter Survival 270 10.6 Adaptations to and Relationships with Environmental Conditions 272 10.6.1 Temperature and Salinity 272 10.6.2 Space and Permeability 275 10.6.3 Light 276 10.7 Climate Change and the Ice-Associated Ecosystem 278 References 279 11 Ecology of Arctic Shallow Subtidal and Intertidal Benthos 289Paul E. Renaud, Jan Marcin Węsławski, and Kathleen Conlan 11.1 Introduction 289 11.2 The Physical Environment 290 11.2.1 Temperature 290 11.2.2 Light 290 11.2.3 Waves 291 11.2.4 Ice Cover 291 11.2.5 Freshwater Discharge and Salinity 293 11.3 Biomes 294 11.3.1 Origins and Distribution of Sediments 294 11.3.2 Soft-Sediment Communities 295 11.3.3 Hard Substrate 297 11.3.4 Vegetated Substrate 300 11.4 Disturbance Regimes and Succession 302 11.4.1 Ice Scour 302 11.4.2 Strudel Scour 304 11.4.3 Natural Gas Seepage and Petroleum Extraction 305 11.4.4 Large-Mammal Feeding Pits 305 11.4.5 Recolonization of Arctic Benthos 306 11.4.6 Human Impacts 307 11.5 Trophic Interactions 308 11.5.1 Feeding Strategies in Arctic Shallow Benthos 308 11.5.2 Food Sources for Benthic Fauna 309 11.5.3 Benthos as a Food for Top Predators in the Arctic 310 11.5.4 Carbon and Nutrient Cycling 314 11.6 Reproduction in Coastal Benthos 315 11.7 Effects of Global Climate Change on Shallow Arctic Benthos 316 11.7.1 Reduced Ice Cover 319 11.7.2 Documented Effects on Natural Systems in the Intertidal Zone 319 11.7.3 Coastal Erosion 319 References 320 12 Ecology of Arctic Shelf and Deep Ocean Benthos 325Monika Kędra and Jacqueline M. Grebmeier 12.1 Introduction 325 12.2 The Physical Environment 326 12.2.1 Light 327 12.2.2 Temperature 327 12.2.3 Sea Ice 328 12.2.4 Sediment Characteristics 328 12.3 Biodiversity, Community Structure, and Functioning of Shelf and Deep Sea Benthos 330 12.3.1 Benthic Definitions 330 12.3.2 Brief Overview of Major Taxa in Benthic Communities 331 12.3.3 Biodiversity 335 12.3.4 Functional Diversity 337 12.3.5 Arctic Commercial Benthic Species 338 12.4 Productivity and Food Webs of Shelf and Deep Sea Benthos 339 12.4.1 Primary Production and Food Sources 339 12.4.2 Pelagic–Benthic Coupling 341 12.4.3 Benthic Community Structure and Food Webs 343 12.4.4 Benthic Communities as a Food Source for Benthic-Feeding Upper Trophic Levels 346 12.5 Impact of Global Climate Change on Shelf and Deep Sea Benthic Communities 348 References 349 13 Fat, Furry, Flexible, and Functionally Important: Characteristics of Mammals Living in the Arctic 357Niels M. Schmidt, Olivier Gilg, Jon Aars, and Rolf A. Ims 13.1 Introduction 357 13.2 The Mammal Assemblage in the Arctic Today 358 13.2.1 Terrestrial Mammals 358 13.2.2 Herbivores 358 13.2.3 Predators 359 13.2.4 Marine Mammals 360 13.3 Arctic Mammals and Adaptations to Life in the Arctic 366 13.3.1 Fur, Fat and Extremities 367 13.3.2 Behavioral Adaptations to Life in the Arctic 368 13.4 The Role of Mammals in Arctic Ecosystems 369 13.4.1 Removal of Plant Material by Terrestrial Herbivores 371 13.4.2 Transport of Nutrients and Seeds by Arctic Mammals 372 13.4.3 Mammal Predator–Prey Dynamics 374 13.5 The Future for Arctic Mammals in a Changing Climate 374 13.6 Concluding Remarks 377 References 377 14 Ecology of Arctic Birds 385Anthony D. Fox 14.1 Introduction: The Bird Species and Their Feeding Ecology 385 14.2 Traveling to Breed 386 14.3 Long Distance Migrations 388 14.4 Reproduction 389 14.5 Survival 394 14.6 Population Change 396 14.7 Climate Change 397 14.8 Endangered Species 399 14.9 Concluding Remarks 402 References 403 15 Arctic Ecology, Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Governance 409Mark Nuttall 15.1 Introduction 409 15.2 The Impacts of Social and Environmental Change 410 15.3 Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Wildlife Management 413 15.4 Arctic Ecology and Community-Based Monitoring 415 15.5 Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Policy: The Case of the Inuit Circumpolar Council 418 15.6 Concluding Remarks 419 References 420 Index 423

    2 in stock

    £46.50

  • Ecology of Coastal Marine Sediments Form Function

    Oxford University Press Ecology of Coastal Marine Sediments Form Function

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis accessible textbook provides an ideal point of entry into the field, providing basic information on the nature of soft-sediment ecosystems, examples of how and why we research them, the new questions these studies inspire, and the applications that ultimately benefit society.Table of ContentsPart I: The Environment 1: The sedimentary environment 2: Benthic animals and plants and what they do to sediments 3: Disturbance, patches, and mosaics Part II: Doing Research 4: Design and the philosophy of sampling 5: Data collection methods and statistical analyses Part III: Communities 6: Describing assemblages and biodiversity of sediment-living organisms 7: Biotic interactions 8: Temporal variations in benthic assemblages and processes Part IV: Functioning 9: EF Ecosystem function 10: BEF Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning Part V: Anthropocene 11: Human Impacts 12: Climate change and seafloor ecology 13: Restoration of soft-sediment habitats Glossary

    1 in stock

    £32.49

  • The Handbook of Acoustic Bat Detection

    Pelagic Publishing The Handbook of Acoustic Bat Detection

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn accessible and comprehensive guide to all things acoustic bat detection. This highly illustrated handbook provides an in-depth understanding of acoustic detection principles, study planning, data handling, properties of bat calls, manual identification of species, automatic species recognition, analysis of results, quality assurance and the background physics of sound. No other method of detecting bats is so popular and widespread in the context of environmental assessment and voluntary work as acoustic detection, and its increased use has driven the development of a large number of sophisticated devices and analytical methods. Acoustic detection has become a standard approach for establishing the presence of bats, carrying out species identification and monitoring levels of activity. The resolution, accuracy and scale with which these tasks can be done has risen dramatically with the availability of automated real-time recording. But anyone interested in acoustic recording will quickly recognise that there are still quite a few open questions about the limits and possibilities of acoustic detection. Clear definitions of how to handle the data are usually missing, for example, and there are no clearly described activity indices. In response to the lack of thorough information on the underlying science of acoustic detection, the authors present this handbook.Trade ReviewAcoustic detection has become a standard method for determining the presence of bats, and for species identification and monitoring. The resolution, accuracy and scale with which these surveys can be carried out has risen dramatically with the availability of automated real-time recording. Acoustic monitoring does have its limitations, however, and The Handbook of Acoustic Bat Detection addresses these by providing an in-depth understanding of the properties of bat calls, manual species identification, analysis of results and the background physics of sound. First published in German in 2018, this English translation includes new content that was not included in the original. * Conservation Land Management *This well-written and ably translated volume presents a thorough but accessible compendium on a timely subject. Runkel et al. give excellent coverage of highly technical systems applied to the biology of the animals. They explain methods with direct application to large-scale industrial developments, but never lose sight of the fundamental importance of the experienced observer who understands the animals and the environment. -- Winston C. Lancaster * The Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of Contents1 - Acoustic recording 2 - Examples of acoustic studies 3 - The planning of acoustic studies 4 - Manual and automatic acoustic recording 5 - Manual identification of species 6 - Automatic species recognition 7 - A comparison of identification methods 8 - The complexities of call analysis 9 - Criteria for detector systems 10 - Interpretation of the results 11 - Quality assurance of reports 12 - Nacelle monitoring – its benefits and its limitations 13 - Bat calls 14 - The physics of sound

    1 in stock

    £47.75

  • The Eurasian Beaver Handbook: Ecology and

    Pelagic Publishing The Eurasian Beaver Handbook: Ecology and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBeavers are widely recognised as a keystone species which play a pivotal role in riparian ecology. Their tree felling and dam building behaviours coupled with a suite of other activities create a wealth of living opportunities that are exploited by a range of other species. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate that beaver-generated living environments that are much richer in terms of both biodiversity and biomass than wetland environments from which they are absent. Emerging contemporary studies indicate clearly that the landscapes they create can afford sustainable, cost-effective remedies for water retention, flood alleviation, silt and chemical capture. Beaver activities, especially in highly modified environments, may be challenging to certain land use activities and landowners. Many trialled and tested methods to mitigate against these impacts, including a wide range of non-lethal management techniques, are regularly implemented across Europe and North America. Many of these techniques will be new to people, especially in areas where beavers are newly re-establishing. This handbook serves to discuss both the benefits and challenges in living with this species, and collates the wide range of techniques that can be implemented to mitigate any negative impacts. The authors of this handbook are all beaver experts and together they have a broad range of scientific knowledge and practical experience regarding the ecology, captive husbandry, veterinary science, pathology, reintroduction and management of beavers in both continental Europe and Britain.Trade ReviewThe authors of this handbook include many of the most significant names in beaver conservation in Europe, drawing on a wide range of experiences and perspectives, which gives this book great depth and insight.... For me, working on the River Otter Beaver Trial here in Devon, this book is already providing a quick reference guide which I’m finding easy to use and full of valuable information. It is well organised and referenced and will become vital for those managing land which beavers recolonise in the decades ahead. -- Mark Elliott * ECOS *... I recommend Eurasian Beaver Handbook for land managers, policy writers, and landowners interested in managing European landscapes that include, or may potentially include, beavers. ... Although this book focuses on the European beaver, practitioners in North America also could benefit from reading this book to compare management styles, tools, and techniques. -- Jimmy D. Taylor, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Wildlife Research Center * Journal of Wildlife Management *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The history of beavers in Britain 3. Beaver biology and ecology 4. Legislation 5. Effects of beavers 6. Managing beaver impacts 7. Survey and monitoring 8. Learning to live with beavers Appendices References Index

    1 in stock

    £40.82

  • The YearRound Solar Greenhouse

    New Society Publishers The YearRound Solar Greenhouse

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBuild your own passive solar greenhouse for year-round food production in any climateTable of Contents Introduction Section I: The Big Picture 1. What Is a Solar Greenhouse? 2. Growing Indoors: History and Future Trends 3. Planning for the Greenhouse Section II: Designing and Building a Solar Greenhouse 4. Siting and Orientation 5. Controlling Light and Heat Gain: Glazing 6. Controlling Heat Loss: Insulation 7. Ventilation 8. Greenhouse Geometries 9. Greenhouse Construction Basics 10. Attached Greenhouses 11. Earth-sheltered Greenhouses Section III: Heating and Cooling Methods 12. Passive Thermal Mass 13. Using the Earth for Heat Storage 14. Solar Hot Water 15. Rocket Mass Stoves and Compost Heaters 16. Powering the Greenhouse Section IV: Growing in the Greenhouse 17. Creating the Greenhouse Environment 18. Aquaponics and Hydroponics Appendix 1: Temperature Ranges of Common Greenhouse Crops Appendix 2: Optimizing Glazing Angles Appendix 3: Supplemental Lighting Index About the Authors A Note About the Publisher

    1 in stock

    £22.49

  • Of Popes and Unicorns Science Christianity and

    Oxford University Press Inc Of Popes and Unicorns Science Christianity and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is the story of John Draper, Andrew White, and the conflict thesis: a centuries-old misconception that religion and science are at odds with one another.Renowned scientist John William Draper (1811-1882) and celebrated historian-politician Andrew Dickson White (1832-1918) were certain that Enlightened Science and Dogmatic Christianity were mortal enemies--and they said as much to anyone who would listen. More than a century later, their grand and sweeping version of history dominates our landscape; Draper and White''s conflict thesis is still found in countless textbooks, lecture series, movies, novels, and more. Yet, as it would later be discovered, they were mistaken. Their work has been torn to shreds by the experts, who have declared it totally at odds with reality. So how, if this is the case, does their wrongheaded narrative still live on? Who were these two men, and what, exactly, did they say? What is it about their God-versus-Science conflict thesis that convinced so many? And what--since both claimed to love Science and love Christ--were they actually trying to achieve in the first place? In this book, physicist David Hutchings and historian of science and religion James C. Ungureanu dissect the work of Draper and White. They take readers on a journey through time, diving into the formation and fallacy of the conflict thesis and its polarizing impact on society.The result is a tale of Flat Earths, of anesthetic, and of autopsies; of Creation and Evolution; of laser-eyed lizards and infinite worlds. It is a story of miracles and mathematicians; souls and Great Libraries; the Greeks, the scientific method, the Not-So-Dark-After-All Ages... and, of course, of popes and unicorns.Trade ReviewThe book is an important contribution to the study of the warfare thesis. This book is a comprehensive story, and not discrete chapters. As a result, its content will likely be utilized in many different contexts and read for many years to come. * Brent Purkaple, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith *In Of Popes and Unicorns David Hutching and James Ungureanu give us brief biographies of Draper and White before diving into their books to test their assertions. They do a thorough, readable, and at times very witty, job of dismantling the conflict thesis, showing that many of Draper and White's historical arguments are not just muddle headed or over-simplifications but rather are based on falsehoods and evidence that simply isn't there. The 'conflict thesis' has long been discarded as inadequate scholarship. In some historical instances it is just plain false, in others it does not do justice to the complexity of the history involved. This is all well known among academic historians of science, but David Hutchings and James Ungureanu have done a very good job of making the facts page-turningly-accessible to a wider audience. * Mark McCartney, Solas *The book's engaging tone and adept use of anecdote and metaphor recommends it for a popular audience. * Victoria Lorrimar, Trinity College Queensland, Australian College of Theology, Brisbane, Australia, Metascience *The real strength of this book is in its accessibility. It's a fun read and written in a fairly light-hearted and even conversational style, punctuated by quirky historical episodes and interesting analogies. I had never heard of the fictional (and then, oddly, non-fictional) hamlet of Agloe, New York, but the authors tell the strange story of an invented town that then came - to - be, before putting it to use to illustrate a point. There are also enough topical references and jokes to make what could be a dull exposition on historiography a lively tour of science through history. * Tim O'Neill, History for Atheists, Goodreads *Enjoyable and light-hearted ... an extremely useful jumping-off point for further reading. * Paul Dicken, The American Conservative *Extremely informative and highly entertaining. The authors have not only dispelled the myths that support the conflict thesis, theyve also explained where those myths came from and how they became so pervasive. * James Hannam, author of The Genesis of Science *Our understanding of history and what it passes down to us, at least from our frame of reference, is vested in our cultural context and the voices of those who reinforce it. The book sets to challenge this—or perhaps, one might say, to set the record straight. As its authors lift the lid on the historical narrative of the relationship between science and the church, they tell a story of those who have influenced this and laid out a conflict between the two—a conflict which Hutchings and Ungureanu argue is false. Science and faith, they show, can sit more comfortably together in our collective search for truth than one might first think, and we are much worse off when they do not. Itâs important that we look back and reflect from time to time; Of Popes and Unicorns helps us do this in a thought-provoking way. But, above all, it's simply a good, enjoyable read. * Paul Hardaker FInstP, FRMetS, Cmet, CEO of the Institute of Physics and Chair of the Board for Sense About Science *In this robust critique, Hutchings and Ungureanu provide many fascinating insights into the historical roots of the idea that there is some intrinsic conflict between science and religion. What is truly startling is the way that this false narrative continues to permeate popular culture. In an engaging style, the book demonstrates that fake news is nothing new and shows how the creative conspiracy theories of the 19th century continue to exert their long tentacles into present-day thinking. * Denis Alexander, Emeritus Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion and Emeritus Fellow, University of Cambridge *This is a gripping, powerful, and vital story of the most successful and damaging conspiracy theory ever conceived. The sleuthing of Hutchings and Ungureanu is as engaging as the best detective writing and as meticulously researched. This is a book that every teacher, scientist, historian, and pastor needs to read. And, students: I wish I had this given to me when I was 14. Read it now. It really matters. * Tom McLeish, FRS, Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of York *In this highly entertaining account of one of the greatest intellectual deceptions ever inflicted upon the public, Hutchings and Ungureanu describe the main characters (with all their attendant eccentricities) who created and/or promulgated the conflict thesis. Despite the best efforts of historians of science to overturn it, this conflict remains stubbornly embedded in our collective consciousness, harming both religion and science. I can only hope that this book is widely read and that it plays its part in undoing that damage. * Ard A. Louis, Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford *The book's engaging tone and adept use of anecdote and metaphor recommends it for a popular audience. It contains the appropriate level of detail- Draper and White are presented in a nuanced way without defaulting to the strawman argumentation with which these figures have so often been charged....ideally this book would be read by scientists or general readers who have accepted the conflict thesis as a matter of fact. * Victoria Lorrimar, Metascience *The book's engaging tone and adept use of anecdote and metaphor recommends it for a popular audience. * Victoria Lorrimar, Metascience *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Fooling the World Chapter 2: Lone Voices? Chapter 3: Flat Wrong Chapter 4: Walnuts for Brains Chapter 5: Tales from the Gap Chapter 6: Myths, Myths, Everywhere Chapter 7: Bridges Badly Built Chapter 8: Old Dogma, New Tricks Chapter 9: Agloe and How to Get Rid of It Bibliography Index

    1 in stock

    £31.49

  • Conscious Mind Resonant Brain

    Oxford University Press Inc Conscious Mind Resonant Brain

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow does your mind work? How does your brain give rise to your mind? These are questions that all of us have wondered about at some point in our lives, if only because everything that we know is experienced in our minds. They are also very hard questions to answer. After all, how can a mind understand itself? How can you understand something as complex as the tool that is being used to understand it? This book provides an introductory and self-contained description of some of the exciting answers to these questions that modern theories of mind and brain have recently proposed. Stephen Grossberg is broadly acknowledged to be the most important pioneer and current research leader who has, for the past 50 years, modelled how brains give rise to minds, notably how neural circuits in multiple brain regions interact together to generate psychological functions. This research has led to a unified understanding of how, where, and why our brains can consciously see, hear, feel, and know about the world, and effectively plan and act within it. The work embodies revolutionary Principia of Mind that clarify how autonomous adaptive intelligence is achieved. It provides mechanistic explanations of multiple mental disorders, including symptoms of Alzheimer''s disease, autism, amnesia, and sleep disorders; biological bases of morality and religion, including why our brains are biased towards the good so that values are not purely relative; perplexing aspects of the human condition, including why many decisions are irrational and self-defeating despite evolution''s selection of adaptive behaviors; and solutions to large-scale problems in machine learning, technology, and Artificial Intelligence that provide a blueprint for autonomously intelligent algorithms and robots. Because brains embody a universal developmental code, unifying insights also emerge about shared laws that are found in all living cellular tissues, from the most primitive to the most advanced, notably how the laws governing networks of interacting cells support developmental and learning processes in all species. The fundamental brain design principles of complementarity, uncertainty, and resonance that Grossberg has discovered also reflect laws of the physical world with which our brains ceaselessly interact, and which enable our brains to incrementally learn to understand those laws, thereby enabling humans to understand the world scientifically. Accessibly written, and lavishly illustrated, Conscious Mind/Resonant Brain is the magnum opus of one of the most influential scientists of the past 50 years, and will appeal to a broad readership across the sciences and humanities.Trade ReviewCan humans create technology that will mimic, or even surpass, biological intelligence? Questions such as these underlie the career of author Stephen Grossberg, a founder of the field of neural networks and creator of this magnum opus covering 60 years of research in neuroscience, psychology, and mathematics. * C. L. Iwema, CHOICE *The polymath Freeman Dyson once likened mathematicians to birds and frogs: 'Birds fly high in the air and survey broad vistas of mathematics out to the far horizon. They delight in concepts that unify our thinking and bring together diverse problems from different parts of the landscape. Frogs live in the mud below and see only the flowers that grow nearby. They delight in the details of particular objects, and they solve problems one at a time.' Grossberg's genius lies in embodying both, and in recognizing that "obvious hypotheses, with which no one would disagree, together imply conclusions about deep properties of brain organization." Can a deep understanding of boundaries and surfaces of simple, toy objects lead to the most profound insights into the nature of learning and attention? Can an understanding of how silence flows across time and alters the perception of words uttered before it, help explain consciousness itself? Grossberg shows how. * Sai Gaddam, Boston University *Conscious MIND and Resonant BRAIN is a tour de force on How the Brain Works. It's a masterpiece on brain science and neuro-computing that could only be created by Grossberg. * Leon Chua, University of California at Berkeley *After reading many papers by the author, I always wished that he would present them in a coherent whole. And here it is. A magnificent volume of great science from mind to brain and back, a condensed ars poetica of a great scientist. * György Buzsáki, New York University *Stephen Grossberg is one of the most original and influential theorists in contemporary cognitive science and computational neuroscience. In Conscious MIND Resonant BRAIN, he takes the reader on an eye-opening tour in which he addresses fundamental problems of mind and brain from his unique theoretical perspective. This is an important book that should be of interest to anyone who wonders how a brain can give rise to a mind. * Daniel L. Schacter, Harvard University *In this book Stephen Grossberg shares the wisdom and encyclopedic knowledge that he acquired over 50 years of research devoted to unravel the mysteries of the human brain. Stephen pioneered the field of theoretical neuroscience... It is the essence of overarching principles to be abstract and to sometimes defy intuition, but Stephen succeeds to convey the essential in a language that is readily accessible to the non- expert. He embeds the discussion of neuronal mechanisms in the rich framework of cognitive psychology and elegantly bridges the gap between scientific evidence and subjective experience. He takes the readers by the hand and lets them discover the often surprising philosophical, ethical and societal implications of neurobiological discoveries. For those who enjoy intellectual adventures and wish to explore the boundaries of the known this scholarly written book is a real treasure. * Wolf Singer, Max Plank Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt *How often do we have the chance to hold a true masterpiece? Grossberg's monumental accomplishments developed over multiple decades now written at an accessible level to a broader audience. What a true privilege! * Luis Pessoa, University of Maryland *Steve Grossberg is one of the most insightful and prolific writers on biological intelligence. This book is a masterful presentation of fundamental methods of modeling minds, brains and their interactions with the world, many of which are due to the author and his collaborators. The models are presented as mathematical systems, including computing and neural networks. The variables, parameters and functions represent biological and environmental concepts; mathematical conclusions are interpreted as predictions of biological behavior. In many cases these have been verified experimentally. There are illuminating and surprising connections to other disciplines, including art, music and economics. Highly recommended to a general audience. * Morris W. Hirsch, University of California at Berkeley *This comprehensive overview of Grossberg's contributions to our understanding of the mind and brain shows exactly how prescient he, and his colleagues, have been.Whatever one's specific interest, from visual illusions to mental illness, this book provides a principled treatment of it.The principles flow from Grossberg's early framing of many of the questions that have come to define computational neuroscience – including his early understanding of the centrality of expectations.Kudos to him for pulling it all together here. * Lynn Nadel, University of Arizona *What an ambitious, lucid, eye-opening and engaging book! By using the computational theories he developed, Grossberg attempts nothing less than to integrate our knowledge of how our mind works with our knowledge of how the brain works. The topics he covers range from perception to action, from emotion to memory, and from decision making to love, with consciousness and the mind-body problem figuring prominently throughout. The story he weaves, with many incisive, delightful illustrations, is compelling and accessible. The reader is rewarded with a novel appreciation of the human psyche and artificial intelligence, and is left with admiration for Grossberg's achievement. * Morris Moscovitch, University of Toronto *This book is not for the faint of heart. Stephen Grossberg has been a giant in the field of computational neuroscience for 60 years. In this book he presents his carefully developed, integrative neurobiological theory on how the nervous system generates our conscious lives. It is bold yet self-reflective and therein challenging to all students trying to figure out how the brain does its tricks. A must read. * Michael Gazzaniga, University of California at Santa Barbara *This book is first and foremost an account of a personal odyssey of one of the great and most prolific scientific minds of our time trying to understand itself. What we have here at last is a genuine attempt by the author to make his ideas accessible to most readers as "a simple story, without mathematics" (or at least with minimal math). The foundation of this story is the concept of "resonance" in neural systems. When resonance fails, this triggers adaptation. This book is largely a treatise on how the resonance concept can help us understand almost all aspects of sensation, perception, and higher cognition. Even without all the math, this book of 600 plus pages will take considerable dedication to assimilate, but I believe that any student of neuroscience interested in the brain as the basis of mind will find it well worth the effort. * Bruce McNaughton, University of California at Irvine *How a brain makes its mind is one of the most perplexing questions in science. In this book, you will find the most comprehensive account to date by a towering pioneer of brain theory of our time. * Deliang Wang, Ohio State University *Don't read Grossberg in the original—unless you are an adept. Start with this exceptional overview of the lifework of a brilliant cognitive neuroscientist; then, organized and inspired, turn to the journals. Grossberg identifies key phenomena that open windows into the functioning of the brain; identifies the key problems that the brain needs to solve relevant to them; constructs elegant modules that might both solve those problems and give rise to the phenomena noted, and finally assembles them into systems and makes new predictions. This is textbook scientific inquiry, executed by a virtuoso. The book would be a fine component of a seminar, with students selecting the problems and modules for a deeper dive, then explicating them to the class. * Peter Killeen, Arizona State University *An excellent and wide-ranging view of how the brain perceives the world for us by a pioneering brain theoretician. * Wolfram Schultz, University of Cambridge *Whenever you claim to be "the first to do" this or that in artificial intelligence, it is customary - and correct - to add "with the exception of Stephen Grossberg". Quite simply, Stephen is a living giant and foundational architect of the field. * Karl J. Friston, University College London *This is a breath-taking book authored by a giant pioneer of the brain and mind. * Shun-Ichi Amari, RIKEN Brain Science Institute *Professor Grossberg is a rara avis. In an age of increasing specialization, he has a remarkable, unparalleled, gift of seeing connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. And he writes about these with passion, but without compromising accuracy. * V. S. Ramachandran, University of California San Diego *Stephen Grossberg is a true genius, who has discovered and developed many of the most important concepts and theories about how our brains make our minds. His fundamental contributions to science for over 50 years are richly worthy of a Nobel Prize. * Leonid Perlovsky, Harvard University *Stephen Grossberg is a "big picture" thinker who has had a remarkably deep influence on many aspects of several fields. It's difficult to overstate the range of his vision and the depth of his thinking, and I expect this book to be required reading in many courses for years to come. * Stephen Kosslyn, Foundry College *Although a behavioral modeler and not a neuroscientist, I have followed Stephen Grossberg's research closely for many years, because I regard him as one of the very most creative and insightful neuroscience theorists that the field has seen. His book should be a must read for those wanting to understand how the brain produces mind. * Richard Shiffrin, Indiana University *The current volume charts the remarkable developments that have led Dr. Grossberg to a principled, unified theory of the link between brain and mind. Dr. Grossberg's insights are unparalleled in their breadth and detail, leading us to a scientific understanding of the most remarkable aspect of the mind, consciousness. * Michael Mozer, Google Brain, Mountain View, CA *Conscious Mind, Resonant Brain is the magnum opus of one of the giants of neural networks. The soaring ambition of this book reflects the career achievements of Grossberg's insatiable appetite for understanding how brains work. It is a must-read for those interested in all aspects of how the mind and brain function in health and disease. * Donald C. Wunsch II, University of Science and Technology *Grossberg has single-handedly elevated the psychophysics and psychology pioneered by Herman von Helmholtz and William James into a comprehensive mathematical theory of brain and behavior with profound implications and strong empirical support. * David Hestenes, Arizona State University *Table of ContentsPREFACE Biological intelligence in sickness, health, and technology Chapter 1. OVERVIEW From Complementary Computing and Adaptive Resonance to conscious awareness Chapter 2. HOW A BRAIN MAKES A MIND Physics and psychology split as brain theories were born Chapter 3. HOW A BRAIN SEES: CONSTRUCTING REALITY Visual reality as illusions that explain how we see art Chapter 4. HOW A BRAIN SEES: NEURAL MECHANISMS From boundary completion and surface filling-in to figure-ground perception Chapter 5. LEARNING TO ATTEND, RECOGNIZE, AND PREDICT THE WORLD From vigilant conscious awareness to autism, amnesia, and Alzheimer's disease Chapter 6. CONSCIOUS SEEING AND INVARIANT RECOGNITION Complementary cortical streams coordinate attention for seeing and recognition Chapter 7. HOW WE SEE A CHANGING WORLD How vision regulates object and scene persistence Chapter 8. HOW WE SEE AND RECOGNIZE OBJECT MOTION Visual form and motion perception obey complementary laws Chapter 9. TARGET TRACKING, NAVIGATION, AND DECISION-MAKING Visual tracking and navigation obey complementary laws Chapter 10. LAMINAR COMPUTING BY CEREBRAL CORTEX Towards a unified theory of biological and artificial intelligence Chapter 11. HOW WE SEE THE WORLD IN DEPTH From 3D vision to how 2D pictures induce 3D percepts Chapter 12. FROM SEEING AND REACHING TO HEARING AND SPEAKING Circular reaction, streaming, working memory, chunking, and number Chapter 13. FROM KNOWING TO FEELING How emotion regulates motivation, attention, decision, and action Chapter 14. HOW PREFRONTAL CORTEX WORKS Cognitive working memory, planning, and emotion conjointly achieve valued goals Chapter 15. ADAPTIVELY TIMED LEARNING How timed motivation regulates conscious learning and memory consolidation Chapter 16. LEARNING MAPS TO NAVIGATE SPACE From grid, place, and time cells to autonomous mobile agents Chapter 17. A UNIVERSAL DEVELOPMENTAL CODE Mental measurements embody universal laws of cell biology and physics

    1 in stock

    £27.99

  • Everyday Physics: Unusual insights into familiar

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Everyday Physics: Unusual insights into familiar

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisFascinating, fun and friendly, this physics book is perfect for anyone with a healthy dose of curiosity. How can you tell where a sound is coming from? What is the human energy equivalent of a vacuum cleaner? How does GPS work? Why do eggs explode in the microwave? Is there a vacuum inside double-glazed windows? Can you get less wet by cycling faster? With clear explanations and hundreds of colourful photos and diagrams, Everyday Physics is an engaging physics book accessible for all ages. You can read this brilliant book in whatever order you want, dipping in and out of the different sections. Based on Hermans' Everyday physics lecture series, it combines deep physical insights with back-of-the-envelope calculations, relating abstract physics concepts to the real world, often in a surprising way. Everyday Physics also features lots of intriguing home experiments to further demonstrate the explanations. Most of these can be done using simple items from the kitchen, such as using a glass of water, a torch, and a few drops of milk to understand why the sky is blue and the setting sun red. If you want to dig a bit deeper, there are extra resources in the shaded boxes throughout. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, college student or just have a healthy interest in the world around you, this book will bring the magic of physics to your everyday life. Once you discover the beauty of science, ordinary things will become extraordinary.Trade ReviewEveryday Physics is written in a very accessible style with fantastic use of pictures. It provides satisfyingly clear explanations and it covers a lot of ground. A lovely book to have. * Prof Jeff Forshaw, Professor of Physics at the University of Manchester and author of 'Why Does E=mc2?' *A gold mine of physics in the world around us, ranging from light to sound and from indoors to outdoors, written in a friendly style with beautiful diagrams, photos, and explanations. Each chapter is a joy to read. * Prof Sanjoy Mahajan, Associate Professor of Applied Science and Engineering at Olin College of Engineering *Everyday phenomena explained simply and clearly for all to understand. * Prof Mete Atature, Professor of Physics at Cambridge University *This is an interesting collection of explanations & discussions of the physics of everyday situations. The range of topics and the number of situations is extensive. By providing clear information, it encourages further thought. * Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine *Do try this at home. Satisfaction guaranteed for every inquisitive soul. * Dr Eppo Bruins, politician and physicist *Table of ContentsPart A - Outdoor Life How does GPS navigation work? (With a nod to Albert Einstein) Why are some mountain winds so warm? What is wind chill? Why is ice so slippery? Waves at the beach How fast do raindrops fall? Why don’t fog drops fall? Skydiving: how fast can you fall? How high will the sun rise today? How hot does the sun feel? Parallel light beams from the sun Summer and winter, why such a big difference? Why do you walk the way you do? Part B - Bicycle and Car The human engine The human energy equivalent of a vacuum cleaner How do you keep your temperature constant? How efficient is cycling? What forces affect a cyclist? Can you cycle at 100 km/ h? How fast can you cycle on the moon? Is cycling really harder with a side wind? Minimizing your journey time The cyclist’s soggy back Can you get less wet by cycling faster? Rolling resistance, air resistance and fuel consumption How many cars per hour can a road take? Part C - Light and Colour Cosy candlelight Why are incandescent bulbs so inefficient? Luminous ideas: fluorescent lights and LEDs Why is the sky blue and the setting sun is red? Two kinds of smoke from the same cigarette? Swimming pools are deeper than they look Sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees How sharply can you see? Your eye is more sensitive than a camera Puddles on a dry road Seeing the sun after sunset Transparent windowpanes and opaque lace curtains Seeing clearly underwater What makes rainbows? Why are soap bubbles so colourful? Why are CDs so colourful? How does a hologram work? Why does the sea look so blue? What’s special about Polaroid glasses? Part D - Sound and Hearing What do your ears hear? Why isn’t there more noise pollution? The energy-cost of talking How can you tell where a sound is coming from? Discriminating between different voices: the cocktail party effect Do you hear better at night? Can the wind blow sound to you? Do noise barriers work? Can you hear whether the curtains are closed? Doh-re-mi: the physics of musical scales Why orchestras go out of tune Part E - In and Around the House Why do eggs explode in the microwave? Can you cool your home with your fridge? Curve balls, backspin and top spin How much power can you get from solar energy? The mystery of the wandering carpets Common misconceptions about the radiometer Is thick glass a better insulator than thin glass? Is there a vacuum inside double glazing windows? Can you feel energy consumption? Is a black central heating radiator better than a white one? Does black paint get hotter than white? Does Baby really need a hot water bottle? The lid on the saucepan Why does the air get so dry in winter? Why don’t you die of heat in the sauna? The wine-mixing problem The wandering tea leaves

    5 in stock

    £14.24

  • Ecotoxicology

    Cambridge University Press Ecotoxicology

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisEcotoxicology offers a comprehensive overview of the science underpinning the recognition and management of environmental contamination. It describes the toxicology of environmental contaminants, the methods used for assessing their toxicity and ecological impacts, and approaches employed to mitigate pollution and ecological health risks globally. Chapters cover the latest advances in research, including genomics, natural toxins, endocrine disruption and the toxicology of radioactive substances. The second half of the book focuses on applications, such as cradle-to-grave effects of selected industries, legal and economic approaches to environmental regulation, ecological risk assessment, and contaminated site remediation. With short capsules written by invited experts, numerous case studies from around the world and further reading lists, this textbook is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate one-semester courses. It is also a valuable reference for graduate students and professionals. Online resources for instructors and students are also available.Table of ContentsPreamble; Preface; Part I. Approaches and Methods: 1. The history and emergence of ecotoxicology as a science Pamela Welbourn and Peter V. Hodson; 2. Measuring toxicity Peter V. Hodson and David A. Wright; 3. Contaminant uptake and bioaccumulation: mechanisms, kinetics and modelling Peter G. C. Campbell, Peter V. Hodson, Pamela M. Welbourn, David A. Wright; 4. Methods in ecotoxicology Peter. V. Hodson and David W. Wright; 5 Ecotoxicogenomics Valérie S. Langlois and Christopher J. Martyniuk; Part II. Toxicology of Individual Substances: 6. Metals and metalloids Peter G. C. Campbell, Pamela M. Welbourn and Christopher D. Metcalfe; 7. Organic compounds Christopher D. Metcalfe, David A. Wright, Peter V. Hodson; 8. Endocrine disrupting chemicals Christopher D. Metcalfe, Christopher J. Martyniuk, Valérie S. Langlois, and David A. Wright; 9. Natural toxins David A. Wright and Pamela M. Welbourn; 10. Ionising radiation Louise Winn; Part III. Complex Issues: 11. Complex issues, multiple stressors and lessons learned Pamela M. Welbourn, Peter G. C. Campbell, Peter V. Hodson and Christopher D. Metcalfe) 12. Regulatory toxicology and ecological risk assessment Peter V. Hodson, Pamela Welbourn and Peter G. C. Campbell; 13. Recovery of contaminated sites Pamela M. Welbourn and Peter V. Hodson; 14. Emerging concerns and future visions David A. Wright and Peter G. C. Campbell; Index.

    1 in stock

    £42.74

  • Physics of Binary Star Evolution

    Princeton University Press Physics of Binary Star Evolution

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £64.00

  • Shaping Science

    The University of Chicago Press Shaping Science

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review"Vertesi has lifted the curtain for all to see. Embedded with various NASA projects for years, she takes readers into the heart of two of them. . . . [She] does not simply describe the nuts and bolts of how these missions operate. Rather, she draws sweeping conclusions about the very nature of scientific discovery—what gets found—and how it depends on the ways in which scientists collaborate. That has implications for just about any group of researchers in any field. . . . In the end, science from both missions flowed directly from the people involved. No matter how the lakes on Titan shimmer, or what the mineralogy of a particular Martian rock turns out to be, it was the people behind the spacecraft, keyboards and endless tele-conferences that drove what these interplanetary robots discovered. I’m glad to have come to know them even better through this book." * Nature *"A highly intelligent and well-structured book. . . . Vertesi provides some brilliant explanations, which are so masterful that they alone would make taking up the book worth the price. . . . It ofers a plethora of new information which enriches the discourse of organization science. It will likely serve as a blueprint for similar research programs in ethnographic studies of space science in the future." * Metascience *"Vertesi masterfully, and with intricate detail, shows how spacecraft take on a life nurtured by scientists and engineers who, by their very actions and approaches, embody them with sociological characteristics. . . . This work by Vertesi, with its enunciation of organized science, stands out as one of the most detailed studies on the sociology of scientific organizations, and their impact on the resulting science. It will be of great interest to all historians of science." * Technology and Culture *"Based on years of ethnographic observations, in Shaping Science: Organizations, Decisions, and Culture on NASA’s Teams Janet Vertesi tells the story of how this unruly combination of grand-scale missions to know more about space through robots, photos, and particles by multi-national distanced collaborations are made to work. . . . Shaping Science shows that science is an art—a collective act that organizes scientists, engineers, politics, robots, data, and the public. All these elements interact to create the output that then becomes our shared knowledge about the space beyond us." * Symbolic Interaction *"This carefully referenced work often cites how characteristics of these missions parallel other areas of STS. Among the many topics included are the role of 'personalities' on a mission, the value of the data to career success and mobility, and reflections on her own methodology. . . . Recommended." * Choice *"A fascinating, inside look at NASA missions to Saturn (Helen) andMars (Paris). . . . Vertesi has produced a compelling exploration of organizations’ influence on the production of scientific knowledge. The book makes a bold argument, supported by rich ethnographic detail. It is a fun, illuminating read, and scholars of science, technology, work, and organizations will find much to appreciate in its pages." * American Journal of Sociology *“In this important work, Princeton University sociologist Janet Vertesi amalgamates science and technology studies (STS) and more traditional sociology and anthropology to explore the manner in which science teams working on NASA planetary probes go about their work, create knowledge, and disseminate understanding about the evolution of the cosmos. . . . A path-breaking work and recommended for all seeking to understand the manner in which science teams operate in the modern era.” * Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly *"In this fascinating book focused on planetary science, the sociologist Janet Vertesi directs our attention to the organizational structure of scientific teams . . . Vertesi’s book is a fascinating intervention into questions about the relationship between organizational order and knowledge production." * Isis *"Vertesi takes us on a mission. Based on extraordinary access among the research teams of interplanetary spacecraft, she makes a convincing case that organizational differences make a difference in the types of knowledge produced by these scientists. The analysis is solid, the argument bold, and the writing lively." -- David Stark, Columbia University"Shaping Science is a masterful ethnography of work and organization. Vertesi shows us what ethnomethodological fieldwork can and should be. On top of that, the book transports us to one of the most significant and consequential space missions ever attempted by NASA. If you study science, technology, work, or organizations, this book is a must read." -- Stephen R. Barley, Christian A. Felipe Professor of Technology Management, University of California, Santa Barbara"What could be more fascinating than the social life of planetary science? Vertesi's book is among the very first to make legible and compare scientific collaborations in Big Science—while also showing how they affect knowledge work and epistemic outcomes. It shines important light on the people involved, the robots they create, and the way scientists and robots have intimate relationships in a highly organized science. The book is a must read in several fields, from organizational sociology and STS to human-machine interaction." -- Karin Knorr Cetina, University of Chicago"In this magnificent book, Vertesi reveals how even planetary science, the science of other worlds, is shaped by organizational dynamics here on earth. Drawing on a decade of rich ethnography with NASA's robotic spacecraft teams, she vividly illuminates the social life of these projects and how different organizational models produce different kinds of knowledge about planets. Anyone interested in how science is made in practice will be riveted, as I was." -- Judy Wajcman, Anthony Giddens Professor of Sociology, London School of EconomicsTable of ContentsPreface IntroductionPart 1: Orders Chapter 1: The Context Chapter 2: The Integrators Chapter 3: The Resolutions Chapter 4: The Collective Chapter 5: The EnvironmentPart 2: Outcomes Chapter 6: The Science Chapter 7: The Spacecraft Chapter 8: The Data Chapter 9: The Personalities Chapter 10: The Iterative Loop Conclusion Postscript: Methodological Reflections Acknowledgments Appendix: Acronym and Technical Dictionary Notes References Index

    1 in stock

    £23.75

  • Wild Air In Search of Birdsong

    HarperCollins Publishers Wild Air In Search of Birdsong

    Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2023 Highland Book PrizeJoyful and mindful, a powerful argument for being still and listening' Sunday TimesA book about birds, birdsong and the countryside they inhabit, from the critically acclaimed author of Raptor.In Wild Air, James Macdonald Lockhart sets out to write about a series of birds as though he has his granny's role of listening to birds' songs and calls and relaying what she heard to her aged and by then quite deaf father the famous naturalist Seton Gordon. From a nightjar's strange churring song on a heath in the south of England, to a lapwing displaying over the machair in the Outer Hebrides, he writes about eight different birds who he has spent most time with, returned to most often and relays what he hears.The eight species are all representative of a different habitat. Nightjars on a lowland heath; shearwaters on a mountain overlooking the sea; dippers on a river; skylarks in farmland; ravens in woodland; divers on a loch; lapwings on the coastTrade Review'My oh my this is a beautiful book. My favourite kind of nature writing: quiet, subtle, watchful, immanent.' Helen Jukes, author of A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings ‘Lockhart is committed to understanding each (bird) in its habitat, and to capturing that sense of place in the song… It is both joyful and mindful, a powerful argument for being still and listening.Lockhart doesn’t make the point explicitly, but I think he would say that these songs, and these creatures, are beautiful in themselves, and that beauty alone justifies protecting them and enjoying them — and writing about them. At the close of the book, he passes a fellow enthusiast in the dark out listening for nightingales. It’s “just extraordinary”, the man says. The book is pretty extraordinary too.’Sunday Times ‘As I see it, Lockhart is really attempting to enter into the realm of these creatures, and to convey a feeling of what their lives are like… He writes beautifully, using words to paint exquisite portraits of his subjects… Poetry, folklore and natural history are woven into the mix. But what I particularly liked about this book is that Lockhart treats the birds and their surroundings as inextricably linked. A dipper’s stream is painted as vividly as the animal itself, giving a sense of clear, cold, running water, small pools, mossy banks.’ Financial Times ‘(A) fascinating insight into the lives of the twittering, fluttering creatures that share our world.’ The Herald ‘Lockhart’s skills as a naturalist are second to none, his observations of skylarks especially fresh and sharp.’ Countryfile ‘Enchanting’ Nature

    £14.24

  • Frustrating Flowers and Puzzling Plants:

    Pelagic Publishing Frustrating Flowers and Puzzling Plants:

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIf you have tried to identify wildflowers, you'll already know exactly what is meant by the title of this book. Although a lot of plants are relatively straightforward to recognise, many others are not. Standard wildflower guides tend to provide as much guidance with identifying the easy and distinctive as they do with complex, tricky species. This ingenious book is designed to come to the rescue of the exasperated novice botanist and to help those more experienced who might be stuck on unfamiliar and complex groups. From willows to water-crowfoots, from eyebrights to dandelion look-a-likes, all of us have struggled with baffling specimens or the seemingly cryptic. Presented here is a fresh new approach to identifying difficult plants by giving an understanding of the biology behind their complexity. In simple language, you will be directed to the particular parts of the plant that you need to look at most closely. The tabular keys are more user friendly and evolutionarily valid than conventional dichotomous keys, which are often confusing and unwieldy. Each chapter contains illustrations of key diagnostic features, rather than of entire plants. Other novel aspects include coverage of the historical recognition of complexity within each group, which is used to inform debate about the level of resolution that may be most appropriate for your needs. This accessible guide is the perfect chance to get to grips with that challenging group you keep saving for 'next year' or for untangling a botanical mystery which keeps repeating itself.Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgments SECTION I. APOMICTIC SPECIES: SPECIES THAT PRODUCE SEEDS WITHOUT SEX 1 Brambles 2 Dandelions 3 Lady’s-mantles 4 Sea-lavenders 5 Whitebeams, rowans and service trees 6 Yellow composites – things that look a bit like a dandelion SECTION II. HYBRIDS: SPECIES THAT HAVE SEX WITH OTHER SPECIES 7 Docks and sorrels 8 Pondweeds 9 Roses 10 Marsh-orchids and spotted-orchids 11 Water-crowfoots 12 Willows SECTION III. INBREEDERS: SPECIES THAT HAVE SEX WITH THEMSELVES 13 Eyebrights 14 Fumitories 15 Violets and pansies 16 Short white-flowered crucifers: cresses 17 Tall yellow-flowered cabbages, mustards, rapes and rockets SECTION IV. POLYPLOIDS AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING SPECIES 18 Broomrapes 19 Forget-me-nots 20 Speedwells SECTION V. SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES WITH LOTS OF SPECIES 21 Dead-nettles, mints and woundworts 22 Blue and purple vetches and peas 23 Umbellifers: carrots, parsnips, Hemlock etc Glossary Index

    1 in stock

    £40.82

  • Fossil Legends of the First Americans

    Princeton University Press Fossil Legends of the First Americans

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisBeginning in the East, with its Ice Age monsters, and ending in the West, where dinosaurs lived and died, this richly illustrated and elegantly written book examines the discoveries of enormous bones in North America and uses of fossils for medicine, hunting magic, and spells.Trade Review"Mayor’s book is a fascinating exploration of how Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island held, and still hold, knowledge of fossils. Indigenous peoples observed the remains of enormous creatures found embedded in our land—from dinosaurs to giant buffalo—and integrated these findings into our ways of knowing. Mayor’s coupling of Indigenous stories of legendary beings to specific fossils, bone beds, and species makes this a must-read for anyone who thinks that the wisdom held in Indigenous oral traditions is anything less than science."---Kent Monkman, award-winning Cree visual artist"Mayor the storyteller relishes the opportunity to provide fascinating insights, but she shines most in her ability to stitch together a rich and varied body of oral history grounded in natural history. . . . Mayor clearly thrives at the intersection of science and folklore."---Bryn Nelson, Newsday"Marshaling the array of evidence available from scholarly and popular works, and contributing her own research, Mayor shows that far from ignoring fossils, many Native American groups took great notice of them and developed elaborate myths to explain their origin. . . . Though Mayor is careful not to homogenize native myths, she does note that virtually all of them exhibit a sense of 'deep time,' as geologists call it: an awareness that the world has existed for far longer than humans have walked it."---Eric A. Powell, Archaeology"Fossil Legends of the First Americans presents an interesting, intriguing and informative text, written in a fun, accessible way that will appeal to a wide audience, without scaring off the scientific community. The manner in which fossils legends and Native American tales are dealt with, is as original. . . . Adrienne Mayor has based her book on a substantial amount of relevant, up-to-date and to-the-point research data, and as such commands the reader's indulgence."---C. van Kooten, PaleoArchaeology"Through remarkably wide-ranging research, Mayor has recovered the fascinating story of how various tribes encountered and interpreted dinosaur bones and other remains of early life. . . . [She] illuminates the surprisingly relevant views of early peoples confronting evidence of prehistoric life. . . . This pioneering work replaces cultural estrangement with belated understanding." * Booklist *"Few books have had such an influence on my thinking as Adrienne Mayor’s book on fossil legends of the New World. For one thing, it invites one to ask how anyone can make old stories about old bones both so interesting and so worthwhile. . . . What Mayor has done is astonishing. She has been so thorough that it’s difficult to imagine anyone ever writing a more definitive book on her subject. . . . A hundred years from now, this book will surely continue to be read, consulted, and mined for data. I would not want to be a piece of data seeking to escape her attention. . . . Mayor not only shows how these stories cast light on cultural history but also demonstrates repeatedly that they anticipated many of the views of modern scientists."---Paul Barber, Journal of American Folklore

    2 in stock

    £15.29

  • Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Cell and

    Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Cell and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisUp to date, easy to use, and rich with vibrant illustrations, Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews: Cell and Molecular Biology, 3rd Edition, provides a highly visual presentation of essential cell and molecular biology with a focus on topics related to human health and disease. This engaging approach incorporates all of the most popular features of the bestselling Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews series, including abundant full-color illustrations, chapter summaries, and review questions that link basic science to real-life clinical situations. The updated, versatile 3rd Edition can be used for a standalone cell biology course in medical, health professions, or other graduate and upper-level undergraduate programs; as a review for course and board exams; or in conjunction with other Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews for a seamless integrated course. UPDATED! Revised content throughout—including updated unit overviews and chapter summaries—helps students master the latest cell and molecular biology knowledge. UPDATED! Clinical Application boxes reinforce key concepts and enrich students’ understanding and clinical application capability. More than 250 full-color, annotated illustrations clarify complex processes and simplify study. Online animations and interactive review questions strengthen comprehension and retention.

    1 in stock

    £38.94

  • Worlds within Worlds: An Introduction to

    Pelagic Publishing Worlds within Worlds: An Introduction to

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA microscope is a gateway to another dimension, allowing us to explore the fascinating realm of microorganisms. From the colonies of green algae that grace the cover of this book, to bacteria, cellular structures and protozoa – an entire world of life, almost limitless and yet invisible to the naked eye, awaits through the lens of a microscope. Until now there has been no book that offers easy access to the exciting and mind-expanding world of microscopy. Practical, compact and accessible, this guide is written especially for beginners. It provides help in learning the correct use of a microscope and the production of preparations. Structured clearly in 25 short chapters, it allows the reader to progress in manageable stages. Each step focuses on a particular theme, introducing the relevant techniques. From illumination to observation, from slide preparation to staining, this book supplies all the building blocks needed for skilled use of microscopes. With this step-by-step approach, the way into the wonderful visual universe of the miniature becomes very simple, even if your first microscope is only a budget model: most of the activities suggested here work using a basic instrument without the more sophisticated accessories. Indeed, the history of microscopy shows that discoveries of great significance have been possible even with rather modest equipment. And this is just as true today. Illustrated throughout with photographs and diagrams, this book is the perfect companion as you discover the richness of microscopic life.Table of ContentsForeword Preface Introduction: Why use a microscope? Creating your own micro-laboratory 1. Structure of the microscope 2. How to use your microscope 3. Light – transmitter of information 4. Orders of magnitude 5. Three-dimensional images 6. Brownian movement 7. Simple wet mounts 8. Preparation by squashing 9. Tissue under the lens 10. Animal cells 11. Plasma flows and oblique lighting 12. Osmotic processes 13. Documentation 14. Tiny aquatic creatures 15. Cocci and bacilli 16. Preparing sections 17. Plant organs 18. Woody tissues 19. Distinctive animal tissues 20. Making permanent specimens 21. Surface examination 22. Investigating polarised light 23. Thin sections 24. Dusts and Rheinberg illumination 25. Microscopic photographs Index

    1 in stock

    £30.92

  • An Infinity of Worlds

    MIT Press Ltd An Infinity of Worlds

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhat happened before the primordial fire of the Big Bang: a theory about the ultimate origin of the universe.In the beginning was the Big Bang: an unimaginably hot fire almost fourteen billion years ago in which the first elements were forged. The physical theory of the hot nascent universe—the Big Bang—was one of the most consequential developments in twentieth-century science. And yet it leaves many questions unanswered: Why is the universe so big? Why is it so old? What is the origin of structure in the cosmos? In An Infinity of Worlds, physicist Will Kinney explains a more recent theory that may hold the answers to these questions and even explain the ultimate origins of the universe: cosmic inflation, before the primordial fire of the Big Bang.Kinney argues that cosmic inflation is a transformational idea in cosmology, changing our picture of the basic structure of the cosmos and raising unavoidable questions about what we mean by a scientific theory. He explains that inflation is a remarkable unification of inner space and outer space, in which the physics of the very large (the cosmos) meets the physics of the very small (elementary particles and fields), closing in a full circle at the first moment of time. With quantum uncertainty its fundamental feature, this new picture of cosmic origins introduces the possibility that the origin of the universe was of a quantum nature. Kinney considers the consequences of eternal cosmic inflation. Can we come to terms with the possibility that our entire observable universe is one of infinitely many, forever hidden from our view?

    5 in stock

    £17.85

  • The Second Law: Resolving the Mystery of the

    Wolfram Media Inc The Second Law: Resolving the Mystery of the

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £35.19

  • Science of Ice Cream

    RSC Publishing Science of Ice Cream

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisWritten in an accessible style, the fully revised third edition of this bestseller aims to show how much science there is in ice cream.

    Out of stock

    £999.99

  • Medical Writings from Early Medieval England: Volume I

    Harvard University Press Medical Writings from Early Medieval England: Volume I

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisMedical Writings from Early Medieval England presents vernacular texts on health and healing—unique local remedies and translations of late antique Latin treatises—and offers insights into the history of science and medicine, scribal practices, and culture. This is first comprehensive edition and translation from Old English in more than 150 years.

    5 in stock

    £26.96

  • A Guess at the Riddle

    Harvard University Press A Guess at the Riddle

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisRenowned philosopher of science David Z Albert offers an innovative approach to understanding the fundamental physical underpinnings of quantum mechanics. Albert shows how we can discern all the baffling features of quantum theory in a simple picture of the pushings and pullings of concrete and high-dimensional, fundamental physical “stuff.”Trade ReviewThe physical interpretation of quantum mechanics has been a controversial riddle since the 1920s, when Niels Bohr argued that the atom’s inner workings could not be described in physical terms. Today, many philosophers and physicists disagree, but there’s no consensus on an alternative. Philosopher David Albert’s provocative book argues, in three essays, that Bohr’s quantum-measurement problem starts to make sense if the wave function is understood as the fundamental physical ‘stuff’ of the Universe. -- Andrew Robinson * Nature *An enormously significant contribution to the philosophy of physics and to metaphysics more generally. In his usual charming and deceptively easy-to-follow style, Albert proposes a novel account of the relation between the fundamental and the non-fundamental—one of the central issues in metaphysics. This is sure to generate a great deal of discussion in the field. -- Barry Loewer, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Rutgers UniversityA must-read for anyone interested in the philosophy of physics or adjacent portions of metaphysics. Wave-function realism’s offensive is advanced, its defenses bolstered, its intuitive core reimagined. Insightful and deep and challenging and (of course) fun—vintage Albert. -- Theodore Sider, author of The Tools of Metaphysics and the Metaphysics of ScienceAlbert presents a strikingly original picture of the structure of quantum mechanics and how it describes the world. He shows, by construction, what it is that unifies approaches like the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber theory, Bohmian mechanics, and the many-worlds formulations. For those who understand the quantum measurement problem and have begun to think carefully about how to solve it, this is an essential read. -- Jeffrey Barrett, author of The Conceptual Foundations of Quantum MechanicsFor a quarter of a century, David Albert has been one of the chief advocates of the wave-function-realist interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this beautifully written and provocative new book, Albert presents the case, as he sees it, for wave-function realism and its surprising higher-dimensional metaphysical framework. -- Alyssa Ney, author of The World in the Wave Function: A Metaphysics for Quantum PhysicsQuantum-mechanical phenomena prove that somehow or other classical physics—and even ‘common sense’—have led us massively astray about the fundamental structure of the world. Albert, in his inimitable conversational style, digs deeply into the argument that our intuitive notion of the structure of physical space lies at the root of the problem. -- Tim Maudlin, author of Philosophy of Physics: Quantum Theory

    15 in stock

    £22.46

  • Birds of Alaska Field Guide

    Adventure Publications, Incorporated Birds of Alaska Field Guide

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIdentify Alaska birds with this easy-to-use field guide, organized by color and featuring full-color photographs and helpful information. Make bird-watching in Alaska even more enjoyable. With Stan Tekiela’s famous bird guide, field identification is simple and informative. There’s no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don’t live in your area. This handy book features 156 species of Alaska birds organized by color for ease of use. Full-page photographs present the species as you’ll see them in nature, and a “compare” feature helps you to decide between look-alikes. Inside you’ll find: 156 species: Only Alaska birds! Simple color guide: See a yellow bird? Go to the yellow section Stan’s Notes: Naturalist tidbits and facts Professional photos: Crisp, stunning images This second edition includes new species, updated photographs and range maps, expanded information, and even more of Stan’s expert insights. So grab the Birds of Alaska Field Guide for your next birding adventure—to help ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.Table of ContentsIntroduction What’s New? Why Watch Birds in Alaska? Observe with a Strategy: Tips for Identifying Birds Bird Basics Bird Color Variables Bird Nests Who Builds the Nest? Fledging Why Birds Migrate How Do Birds Migrate? How to Use This Guide Range Maps Sample Pages The Birds Black Black and White Blue Brown Gray Green Orange Red White Yellow Birding on the Internet Checklist/Index by Species More for Alaska by Stan Tekiela About the Author

    1 in stock

    £13.29

  • The Animal Mind

    Abrams The Animal Mind

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis Nature author Marianne Taylor’s The Animal Mind is a fascinating exploration of animal intelligence and emotion, with thought-provoking essays, surprising insights, and breathtaking images by leading photographers Joel Sartore, Melissa Groo, Peter Delaney, and others. We are only beginning to understand the ways in which the animal mind is as complex as our own. A prairie dog’s vocal language is now the most sophisticated ever decoded, but their unique jump-yip poses as many questions as answers. Gorillas use sign language to describe past events to researchers, so does this mean they ruminate and relive their lives? When an ant looks in a mirror to see a dab of blue paint on its head, they try to clean it off, proving the ant is self-aware like us.The Animal Mind profiles 60 animals as it explores instances of remarkable cognition, communication, consciousness, and culture in the animal kingdom. Full of beautiful portraits

    2 in stock

    £24.64

  • Little, Brown Book Group Its Not Rocket Science

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisTHE EXPLOSIVE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERBlack holes.Dinosaurs.Exploding particles.Ever had the feeling that you are missing out on some truly mind-blowing science but never had the time to do something about it?Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a very successful comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots to share his favourite bits of science in the simplest way possible. What does the behaviour of molecules have to do with baking a Victoria Sponge for Gordon Ramsay? You''ll have to read this book to find out.Boring, complicated science - be gone! This is the stuff that you really need to know. Not just because it matters, but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.''Books like these should act as gateway drugs for the incurably curious'' Observer''Miller has a gift for making complex ideas seem comprehensible . . . enj

    Out of stock

    £10.44

  • Astronomy in Minutes: 200 Key Concepts Explained

    Quercus Publishing Astronomy in Minutes: 200 Key Concepts Explained

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhat happens when a star dies? How many asteroids are in our solar system? Can galaxies collide? What is dark energy? Astronomy in Minutes answers all these questions and more as it condenses 200 key concepts into easily digestible essays. From Trojan asteroids to stellar black holes, and from superclusters to cosmic microwave background, this book will take you on an essential tour around the universe. Beginning with the specks and constellations that we see in the night sky, and then zooming in on the objects and 'matter' beyond the naked eye, Astronomy in Minutes draws on established theories and recent research. Each essay is accompanied by an image or a clear diagram to help unravel complex ideas. Beginning with the constellations and finishing with the latest cosmological theories, this is the perfect reference guide to this fascinating subject. Contents include: The celestial sphere, Piscis Austrinus, the Earth-Moon system, Io and Ganymede, Kuiper Belt Objects, Measuring stellar properties, Nuclear fusion, Red and orange dwarfs, Open star clusters, Planetary nebulae, Supernova remnants, Cosmic expansion, Quasars and blazars, Nature of spacetime, Nucleosynthesis and the Anthropic Principle.

    2 in stock

    £9.99

  • Psychology of Yoga and Meditation

    Princeton University Press Psychology of Yoga and Meditation

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £19.80

  • Overloaded

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Overloaded

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA NEW SCIENTIST BOOK OF THE YEAROur lives are ruled by one particular group of chemicals. These are the hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate and drive our brains. Overloaded looks at the roles these chemicals play in all aspects of our life experiences, from how we make decisions, who we love and what we remember to basic survival drives such as hunger, fear and sleep. Author Ginny Smith explores what these tiny molecules do, meeting scientists at the cutting-edge of brain chemistry research who are uncovering unexpected connections between these crucial chemicals. What roles do cortisol and adrenaline play in memory formation? What does dopamine do? And how do hormones affect the trajectory of our romantic relationships? In this eye-opening exploration of the remarkable world of neurotransmitters, Overloaded unveils the chemicals inside each of us that touch every facet of our lives.Trade ReviewGinny Smith brings clarity with aplomb, revealing the chemistry behind how we sleep, what we fear, who we love and even what we remember. * New Scientist *This mind-bending, eye-opening book looks at the role played by hormones and neurotransmitters in every aspect of our lives, from what we remember, how we make decisions and who we love to basic survival drives such as hunger, fear and sleep. * Your Healthy Living *A mind-blowing exploration into how brain chemical affect every area of your life. * Women's Health *There's so much more to the way our brains work than we can be aware of on a day-to-day basis, and it's fascinating to discover more about it ... the writing is engaging, so you don't need a science degree to understand it. * Top Santé *A delightfully fascinating and useful guide suitable for anyone who has been wondering what their brain is up to. * Robin Ince *Overloaded explains the breathtaking complexity and versatility of the chemicals that make us what we are, in a warm, engaging, and informative way. An impressive feat indeed. * Dean Burnett, neuroscientist and author of The Happy Brain *Table of Contents1: The Chemical Brain 2: Thanks for the Memories 3: Getting Motivated 4: Mood Swings and Scary Things 5: Sleep, the Brain's Greatest Mystery? 6: Food for Thought 7: Logic, Emotion or Chemicals? 8: You've Got the Love 9: A Pain in the Brain Conclusion Glossary Diagram of the brain Acknowledgements Index

    2 in stock

    £11.39

  • Chemistry AllinOne For Dummies  Chapter Quizzes

    John Wiley & Sons Inc Chemistry AllinOne For Dummies Chapter Quizzes

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisEverything you need to crush chemistry with confidence Chemistry All-in-One For Dummies arms you with all the no-nonsense, how-to content you'll need to pass your chemistry class with flying colors. You'll find tons of practical examples and practice problems, and you'll get access to an online quiz for every chapter. Reinforce the concepts you learn in the classroom and beef up your understanding of all the chemistry topics covered in the standard curriculum. Prepping for the AP Chemistry exam? Dummies has your back, with plenty of review before test day. With clear definitions, concise explanations, and plenty of helpful information on everything from matter and molecules to moles and measurements, Chemistry All-in-One For Dummies is a one-stop resource for chem students of all valences. Review all the topics covered in a full-year high school chemistry course or one semester of college chemistryUnderstand atoms, molecules, and the periodic table of elementsMaster chemical equations, solutions, and states of matterComplete practice problems and end-of-chapter quizzes (online!)Chemistry All-In-One For Dummies is perfect for students who need help with coursework or want to cram extra hard to ace that chem test.Table of ContentsUnit 1: Getting Started with Chemistry 5 Chapter 1: Looking at Numbers Scientifically 7 Chapter 2: Using and Converting Units 29 Chapter 3: The Basic Properties of Matter 49 Chapter 4: Breaking Down Atoms into Their Subatomic Particles 59 Unit 2: The Periodic Table 77 Chapter 5: Surveying the Periodic Table of the Elements 79 Chapter 6: The Electron 91 Chapter 7: Periodic Trends 111 Chapter 8: Doing Chemistry with Atomic Nuclei 125 Unit 3: Making and Breaking Bonds 143 Chapter 9: Building Bonds 145 Chapter 10: The Shape of Molecules 165 Chapter 11: Naming Compounds and Writing Formulas 197 Unit 4: Working with Reactions 223 Chapter 12: Understanding the Many Uses of the Mole 225 Chapter 13: Getting a Grip on Chemical Equations 249 Chapter 14: Putting Stoichiometry to Work 277 Unit 5: Examining Changes in Energy 301 Chapter 15: Understanding States of Matter in Terms of Energy 303 Chapter 16: Warming Up to Thermochemistry 319 Chapter 17: Obeying Gas Laws 345 Unit 6: Studying Solutions 377 Chapter 18: Dissolving into Solutions 379 Chapter 19: Playing Hot and Cold: Colligative Properties 401 Chapter 20: Working with Acids and Bases 419 Chapter 21: Achieving Neutrality with Titrations and Buffers 445 Glossary 461 Index 471

    1 in stock

    £22.39

  • The Fertile Earth: Nature's Energies in

    Gill The Fertile Earth: Nature's Energies in

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow does Nature work? When one looks closely at the enormously complex web of life, it is impossible not to be caught by the wonder of how all living things - including rocks and crystals - are interconnected. Just as there is thought behind action, so there is energy behind matter. Schauberger is able to demonstrate how Nature works because he has been able to observe and describe how its energies manifest and produce the material world.

    2 in stock

    £22.09

  • The Chemists' War: 1914-1918

    Royal Society of Chemistry The Chemists' War: 1914-1918

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWithin months of the start of the First World War, Germany began to run out of the raw materials it needed to make explosives. As Germany faced imminent defeat, chemists such as Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch came to the rescue with Nobel Prize winning discoveries that overcame the shortages and enabled the country to continue in the war. Similarly, Britain could not have sustained its war effort for four years had it not been for chemists like Chaim Weizmann who was later to become the first president of the State of Israel. Michael Freemantle tells the stories of these and many other chemists and explains how their work underpinned and shaped what became known as The Chemists’ War. He reveals: • how chemistry contributed to the care of the sick and wounded and to the health and safety of troops; • how coal not only powered the war but was also an important source of the chemicals needed for the manufacture of explosives, dyes, medicines and antiseptics; • how Britain’s production of propellants relied on the slaughter of tens of thousands of whales; • how a precious metal played a critical role in the war; • how poisonous chemicals were used as weapons of mass destruction for the first time in the history of warfare and how chemists developed gas masks for protection against these weapons; • how the British naval blockade of Germany imperilled agricultural production in the United States. The book will appeal to the general reader as well as the many scientists and historians interested in the Great War.Trade ReviewThis is an interesting book offering a different view from the large number that have been written on the politics and strategies of the war. It is well written, extensively referenced and includes a useful last chapter on the top 50 chemicals of the Great War. There is a lot of interesting chemistry but the human story is also strong. -- School Science Review - Alex Chaplin"this is a highly professional account" "he explains - in approachable, layman's terms - the basic ingredients of wartime gas chemistry" "the book's most original contribution lies in drawing attention to the "metals of war", such as nickel, tin, tungsten, chromium, manganese, and zinc" "such metals took a "starring role" on the battlefield" "well worth including in any working library" "Like its predecessor, The Chemists’ War is a good introduction to the subject in its widest dimensions." -- Roy MacLeod * Bulletin for the History of Chemistry *"...a remarkably diverse collection of essays..." "The book will appeal to the general reader as well as the many scientists and historians interested in the Great War" -- Brian Clegg * Popular Science *Table of ContentsMore than Chemical Warfare; The Neglected Face of the War; A Single Round of Firearm Ammunition; Whaling for World War One; Acetone and the Birth of a State; An Element of War; The Synthesis of War; Khaki and Indigo; Chemistry and the Zepellins; Chemistry and the Sinking of the Lusitania; The Potash Problem; Bacilli Killed More than Bullets; The Chemists of War; War, the Mother of Invention?; Images of War; Periodic Table of War; The Scientific Legacy of the War; Subject Index

    1 in stock

    £18.99

  • British Bat Calls: A Guide to Species

    Pelagic Publishing British Bat Calls: A Guide to Species

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisKnowledge of bat echolocation and social calls, and identification using ultrasonic ‘bat detectors’ and sound analysis software, has grown significantly in the last decade. In this practical guide Jon Russ and contributors (Kate Barlow, Philip Briggs & Sandie Sowler) present the latest information in a clear and concise manner. The book covers topics including the properties of sound, how bats use sound, bat detectors and recording devices, analysis software, and call analysis. For each species found in the British Isles, information is given on distribution, emergence times, flight and foraging behaviour, habitat, echolocation calls including parameters for common measurements, and social calls. Calls are described in the context of the different technologies employed to record them (heterodyne, frequency division and time expansion). Various sonograms for each species are displayed in BatSound and AnaLookW. A species echolocation guide is included.Trade ReviewIt's safe to say, that I own many books on the subject of Bats. ... I can state here and now, (with certainty) that this book surpasses the others on its overall (up-to-date) content, and execution. In conclusion, the book is very well laid-out. It's very informative, and a fantastic reference, to re-visit again and again! ...Now if only a bat expert from the US (of Jon Russ' caliber) would publish a book similar to it (for North American species)...And soon! I'd be very happy! -- Al Milano * Bat Detector Reviews *Armed with this practical little book, researchers, surveyors and amateurs can go out into the night with the benefit of the knowledge and experience built up over the years by Russ and his colleagues. -- Andrew Branson * British Wildlife *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Bats and sound: Properties of sound; Signal acquisition; Representing and describing sound; How bats use sound 3. Equipment: Bat detectors; Recording sound 4. Call analysis: Sound analysis software; Automatic recognition software; Using sound analysis software; Measuring call parameters; AnalookW; Common analysis problems 5. Species echolocation guide 6. Species identification Bibliography Index

    1 in stock

    £42.80

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