Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisEND OF MILLENNIUM This final volume in Manuel Castells' trilogy studies the key defining processes taking place in the last decade of the twentieth century as an expression of the crises resulting from the transition between the old industrial society and the emerging global network society. Every now and then one reads a book of social science that is uplifting and mind expanding. These books are ambitious and lustrous, teaching us much about our world. Such is this work from the brilliant sociologist Manuel Castells. There is no other sociological work today that brings together in one panoramic expanse so many of the changes now occurring. This is a story not simply of global economic change, but of cultural upheavals. It is a tale not simply of the decline of sovereign states, but of the emergence of the new bases of power. And it is a narrative not merely about computer technology or the media, but of the very terms in which those agents work. Anthony M. Orum, Table of ContentsList of Tables xi List of Figures xii List of Charts xiii Preface to the 2010 Edition of End of Millennium xiv Acknowledgments 1997 xxvii A Time of Change 1 1 The Crisis of Industrial Statism and the Collapse of the Soviet Union 5 The Extensive Model of Economic Growth and the Limits of Hyperindustrialism 10 The Technology Question 26 The Abduction of Identity and the Crisis of Soviet Federalism 37 The Last Perestroika 46 Nationalism, Democracy, and the Disintegration of the Soviet State 56 The Scars of History, the Lessons for Theory, the Legacy for Society 62 2 The Rise of the Fourth World: Informational Capitalism, Poverty, and Social Exclusion 69 Toward a Polarized World? A Global Overview 74 The De-humanization of Africa 85 Marginalization and selective integration of Sub-Saharan Africa in the informational-global economy 85 Africa’s technological apartheid at the dawn of the Information Age 93 The predatory state 97 Zaïre: the personal appropriation of the state 100 Nigeria: oil, ethnicity, and military predation 103 Ethnic identity, economic globalization, and state formation in Africa 106 Africa’s plight 116 Africa’s hope? The South African connection 123 Out of Africa or back to Africa? The politics and economics of self-reliance 128 The New American Dilemma: Inequality, Urban Poverty, and Social Exclusion in the Information Age 130 Dual America 131 The inner-city ghetto as a system of social exclusion 142 When the underclass goes to hell 150 Globalization, Over-exploitation, and Social Exclusion: the View from the Children 154 The sexual exploitation of children 159 The killing of children: war massacres and child soldiers 162 Why children are wasted 164 Conclusion: the Black Holes of Informational Capitalism 166 3 The Perverse Connection: the Global Criminal Economy 171 Organizational Globalization of Crime, Cultural Identification of Criminals 173 The Pillage of Russia 185 The structural perspective 189 Identifying the actors 190 Mechanisms of Accumulation 193 Narcotrafico, Development, and Dependency in Latin America 198 What are the economic consequences of the drugs industry for Latin America? 202 Why Colombia? 204 The Impact of Global Crime on Economy, Politics, and Culture 209 4 Development and Crisis in the Asian Pacific: Globalization and the State 215 The Changing Fortunes of the Asian Pacific 215 Heisei’s Japan: Developmental State versus Information Society 223 A social model of the Japanese developmental process 225 Declining sun: the crisis of the Japanese model of development 236 The end of ‘‘Nagatacho politics’’ 248 Hatten Hokka and Johoka Shakai: a contradictory relationship 251 Japan and the Pacific 258 Beheading the Dragon? Four Asian Tigers with a Dragon Head, and their Civil Societies 259 Understanding Asian development 261 Singapore: state nation-building via multinational corporations 262 South Korea: the state production of oligopolistic capitalism 266 Taiwan: flexible capitalism under the guidance of an inflexible state 270 Hong Kong model versus Hong Kong reality: small business in a world economy, and the colonial version of the welfare state 274 The breeding of the tigers: commonalities and dissimilarities in their process of economic development 279 The developmental state in East Asian industrialization: on the concept of the developmental state 286 The rise of the developmental state: from the politics of survival to the process of nation-building 288 The state and civil society in the restructuring of East Asia: how the developmental state succeeded in the development process 293 Divergent paths: Asian ‘‘tigers’’ in the economic crisis 297 Democracy, identity, and development in East Asia in the 1990s 303 Chinese Developmental Nationalism with Socialist Characteristics 311 The new Chinese revolution 312 Guanxi capitalism? China in the global economy 317 China’s regional developmental states and the bureaucratic (capitalist) entrepreneurs 321 Weathering the storm? China in the Asian economic crisis 325 Democracy, development, and nationalism in the new China 328 Conclusion: Globalization and the State 337 5 The Unification of Europe: Globalization, Identity, and the Network State 342 European Unification as a Sequence of Defensive Reactions: a Half-century Perspective 344 Globalization and European Integration 352 Cultural Identity and European Unification 361 The Institutionalization of Europe: the Network State 365 European Identity or European Project? 368 Conclusion: Making Sense of our World 371 Genesis of a New World 372 A New Society 376 The New Avenues of Social Change 387 Beyond this Millennium 389 What is to be Done? 394 Finale 395 Summary of Contents of Volumes I and II 397 References 399 Index 433

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Stimulating reading" --New ScientistTable of ContentsFundamental principles of theoretical physics; The Gibbs distribution; Ideal gases; Solids; Non-ideal gases; Solutions; Chemical reactions; Fluctuations; Surfaces.

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Book SynopsisThroughout the ages, people have experienced the life-giving and healing forces in water. Water is integral to life, and surrounds us in nature and in our own bodies. But not all water is the same. Water can carry good energies, and bad energies. How can we understand water enough to know the difference?Theodor Schwenk, the renowned author of Sensitive Chaos, founded an institute for water research in the Black Forest in Germany. He developed the Drop Picture Method, which displays the characteristics of water clearly for the non-specialist. Today, the Institute continues his work and here presents momentous findings about the quality of our drinking water, groundwater, spring water and river water.Stunningly illustrated in colour, this book offers a unique insight into the world of water.Trade Review'Many of the photographs are beautiful...any book which brings a greater public awareness of the questions surrounding water and our relationship with it is to be welcomed.'--Robert Schuck, Light magazine, Winter 2006'This book makes a wonderful present! It presents in a clear way the nature of water and revealed out of the work of Theodor Schwenk. It is simply and richly laid out with colour, black and white photos and drawings of water phenomena. For me, the piece de resistance of the book are the wonderfully photographed images of time sequences stages of water dropping into still water.'-- Richard Swann, Star and Furrow, Winter 2005'A clear description of the drop picture method ... the book is beautifully illustrated throughout with fine photographs of water and studies of drop formations. It serves as a very valuable introduction to water's properties. For anyone who wants to understand water's life and formative power and something of its mysterious nature, the book is an excellent beginning.'-- Margaret Jonas, New View, December 2005'This book puts water and its patterns in perspective, concluding that we must understand the true nature of water as part of an effort to comprehend the cyclical workings of nature. In an age dominated by linear thinking and manipulation of nature, the significance of this lesson cannot be overstressed. This beautifully illustrated book will engage the reader both scientifically and aesthetically.'-- Scientific & Medical Network Review, December 2005Table of ContentsForeword 7Introduction 91. Water in Different Realms 112. Water Phenomena 253. The Drop Picture Method 454. Research Results Using the Drop Picture Method 635. Basic Research: Drop Phenomena 80Conclusion 93Appendix: The Institute of Flow Sciences, Herrischried 95Glossary 101Photograph acknowledgments 103References 103Bibliography 104Index 107

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Book SynopsisEver since we started huddling together in communities, the story of human history has been inextricably entwined with the story of microbes. They have evolved and spread amongst us, shaping our culture through infection, disease, and pandemic. At the same time, our changing human culture has itself influenced the evolutionary path of microbes. Dorothy H. Crawford here shows that one cannot be truly understood without the other. Beginning with a dramatic account of the SARS pandemic at the start of the 21st century, she takes us back in time to follow the interlinked history of microbes and man, taking an up-to-date look at ancient plagues and epidemics, and identifying key changes in the way humans have lived - such as our move from hunter-gatherer to farmer to city-dweller -- which made us vulnerable to microbe attack. Showing how we live our lives today -- with increasing crowding and air travel -- puts us once again at risk, Crawford asks whether we might ever conquer microbes completely, or whether we need to take a more microbe-centric view of the world. Among the possible answers, one thing becomes clear: that for generations to come, our deadly companions will continue to shape human history.Oxford Landmark Science books are ''must-read'' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.Trade ReviewAdmirably clear and engaging. * BBC History *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1: How It All Began 2: Our Microbial Inheritance 3: Microbes Jump Species 4: Crowds, Filth, and Poverty 5: Microbes Go Global 6: Famine and Devastation 7: Deadly Companions Revealed 8: The Fight Back Conclusion: Living Together Glossary Notes and References Index

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword from Jean-Marie Schaller, founder and creative director of Louis Moinet, this book introduces some of the most elegant watches the horological world has to offer, including several one-of-a-kind pieces that have never before appeared in print. Many of these ateliers handcraft both the watches and their complicated mechanical movements in-house. The level of expertise and craftsmanship involved is truly dazzling. Featuring such stunning timepieces as the 15.48 Driver Watch, the Andreas Strehler Time Shadow and the Antoine Preziuso Chronometer, Tourbillon of Tourbillons, this expertly curated collection of watch profiles will catch the eye of any true enthusiast. Steve Huyton looks beyond the price tag, featuring affordable options of particular artistic merit as well as pieces from the luxury end of the scale. Discover the hidden gems of the watchmaking business - 60 independent artisans counted among the finest makers in the world. Includes the work of: Hajime Asaoka, Felix Baumgartner (Urwerk), Aaron Becsei, Vincent Calabrese, Konstantin Chaykin, Bernhard Lederer (BLU), Masahiro Kikuno, Vianney Halter, Antoine Preziuso and Andreas Strehler, among others.Trade Review'The book... was drawn from an initial list of about 150 watchmakers that Mr. Huyton said were chosen for their originality and included his personal favorites. Of those who made it into the final volume, some follow family tradition, like Aaron Becsei of Bexei, a third-generation watchmaker based in Budapest who creates tourbillon designs. Others decided to go solo after working for large brands, like Remi Maillat, 35, who left Cartier and created his own Swiss brand, called Krayon.' Melanie Abrams, The New York Times

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA magnificent, definitive, and indefatigable tribute to an indefatigable man . . . Greene beautifully puts the record straight with a portrait of Wegener as a respected 'cosmic physicist.'—NatureIn this book Mott Greene has ably explained every detail of Wegener’s ideas and research and has created a well-deserved tribute to one of the most creative and energetic scientists of the twentieth century.—MetascienceA remarkably detailed and wonderfully well-written biography of Alfred Wegener . . . Includes insight into what makes a person such as Wegener a genius—what it was about him that led to an ability to create such a novel and correct view of nature. That is the true value of this exceptional book, to be able to feel as though one can literally experience the scientific genius that was Alfred Wegener.—ChoiceMott Greene's magnificent book reveals deep themes and connections to Wegener's many fruitful ideas and extraordinary scientific accomplishments, even as it examines the many distinct dimensions of thought and action that emanated from Wegener's apparently heedless embrace of all manner of risk-taking . . . Anglophone readers, especially, have never had such an opportunity to understand Alfred Wegener.—ScienceDirectThis biography is clearly a labor of love for its author. Greene worked on this book for more than twenty years, conducting archival research, visiting libraries and collections across Europe and in North America, and conducting interviews with key figures, including Wegener’s surviving family members . . . I came away with a renewed appreciation for Wegener as an engaged scientist who refused to let the boundaries of academic disciplines dampen his enthusiasm for scientific endeavor.—AAG Review of BooksMott Greene spent twenty years working on Alfred Wegener, a masterpiece in which he revolutionizes our understanding of Wegener, just as Wegener revolutionized our understanding of the Earth . . . a brilliant and compelling account of the life of one of the most talented, versatile, and remarkable scientists in history.—IsisGreene has created an important work that gives context to one of the most recent paradigm shifts in science . . . Greene tells the story with enough documentation to keep the story grounded in reality, yet uses his prose to maintain interest even after the 'eureka' moment, even after Wegener’s death on the ice.—Science & EducationTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. The Boy2. The Student3. The Astronomer4. The Aerologist5. The Polar Meteorologist6. The Arctic Explorer (1)7. The Atmospheric Physicist (1)8. The Atmospheric Physicist (2)9. At a Crossroads10. The Theorist of Continental Drift (1)11. The Theorist of Continental Drift (2)12. The Arctic Explorer (2)13. The Soldier14. The Meteorologist15. The Geophysicist16. From Geophysicist to Climatologist17. The Paleoclimatologist18. The Professor19. Theorist and Arctic Explorer20. The Expedition LeaderEpilogueNotesBibliographical EssayIndex

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Book SynopsisSidney Coleman (19372007) earned his doctorate at Caltech under Murray Gell-Mann. Before completing his thesis, he was hired by Harvard and remained there his entire career. A celebrated particle theorist, he is perhaps best known for his brilliant lectures, given at Harvard and in a series of summer school courses at Erice, Sicily. Three times in the 1960s he taught a graduate course on Special and General Relativity; this book is based on lecture notes taken by three of his students and compiled by the Editors.Trade Review'Sidney Coleman was one of the deepest thinkers and clearest teachers of modern physics. His Lectures on Relativity are a delight: brimming with insights, they invite us to survey Einstein's greatest scientific legacy with a modern theorist's toolkit.' David Kaiser, Professor of Physics and the History of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'One important lesson my esteemed mentor, Sidney Coleman, imparted to me was that if one were to claim that one understood something, one should mean it. Coleman is the undisputed master of clear understanding. Apparently, many theoretical physicists never got the memo. I hope that the reader of this, and other, Coleman books will eventually get the message by osmosis.' A. Zee, Theoretical Physicist at University of California, Santa Barbara and the author of several books on physics, including Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell'It is a pleasure to read Sidney Coleman's Lectures on Relativity, characterized as one would expect by exceptional clarity and insight. They are surprisingly modern, to boot, including discussions of black holes and cosmology. Any fan of relativity would benefit from reading them.' Sean M. Carroll, California Institute of Technology'In Sidney Coleman's Lectures on Relativity, we get the benefit of Sidney's questions. There are hundreds of question marks here, some leading the reader to the next topic and some highlighting confusing subtleties. It is not the Socratic method exactly because most of the questions are addressed to the smartest person in the room – Sidney himself. But his supremely logical answers lead the reader through this important subject.' Howard Georgi, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsPreface. Part I. Special Relativity: 1. The geometry of special relativity; 2. Relativistic mechanics; 3. Relativistic electrodynamics. Part II. General Relativity: 4. The principle of equivalence; 5. Differential geometry; 6. Gravity; 7. The Schwarzschild solution; 8. Conservation and cosmology; Afterword; Appendix A – Compendium of formulas; Appendix B – Final exams. Index.

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Book SynopsisA portable yet authoritative guide to more than 300 of the most commonly seen birds of the Lesser Antilles.The Lesser Antilles incorporating the nations of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, along with numerous dependencies are rich in birdlife. It is a magical region for a naturalist to explore, with endemic parrots, orioles, thrushes, warblers and more.The perfect companion for any wildlife-savvy visitor to the islands, Birds of the Lesser Antilles includes superb photography of more than 200 commonly encountered species across the islands, including all endemics and many subspecies.Concise text for each species includes information on identification, songs and calls, behaviour, distribution and habitat, with each photo having been carefully selected to guide identification.Portable yet authoritative, this is the ideal guide for birdwatchers visiting these spTrade ReviewIf you are planning a trip to any of these remarkable small islands, whether for a holiday or any other reason, you just have to pack this highly portable guide in your bag! * BirdsCaribbean *It covers a mix of residents and regular migrants, and the focus is rightly on commoner birds more likely to be encountered, but this is enhanced by an understandable celebration of a few regional stars .... For holidaymakers with an interest in birds, for birdwatching holidaymakers, and for more serious birders who might fancy a photographic complement to artwork-based field guides, this book represents a good buy. * Neotropical Birding *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Birdlife on the Lesser Antilles Bird Conservation Maps of the Region Key Birdwatching Habitats Key Birdwatching Sites on Each Island Species Accounts Glossary of Terms Bibliography Photo Credits Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the same author as the popular first edition, the second edition of this trusted, accessible physics textbook breaks down content into manageable chunks to help students with the transition from GCSE to A Level study. It has been fully revised and updated for the new A Level specifications for first teaching from September 2015, and is suitable for AQA, OCR, WJEC and Edexcel. The textbook provides plenty of examples and practice questions for consolidation of learning. Additional sections in the textbook provide help with revision and exam technique, practical skills and maths skills.

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Book SynopsisNikola Tesla was a major contributor to the electrical revolution that transformed daily life at the turn of the twentieth century. His inventions, patents, and theoretical work formed the basis of modern AC electricity, and contributed to the development of radio and television. Like his competitor Thomas Edison, Tesla was one of America's first cTrade ReviewWinner of the 2015 Sally Hacker Prize, Society for the History of Technology Winner of the 2015 IEEE William and Joyce Middleton Electrical Engineering History Award, History Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers One of Amazon.com's 2013 Best Science Books One of Booklist Online's Top 10 Science & Health Books for 2013 One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013 One of The Guardian's Best Popular Physical Science Books of 2014, chosen by GrrlScientist Honorable Mention for the 2013 PROSE Award in Biography & Autobiography, Association of American Publishers Longlisted for the 2014 Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books "[An] assiduous, endlessly patient biography... In Carlson's eyes, Tesla's relationship with modernity in all its forms--its fixation with progress and explanation, capital and connection, but also its fragmentation of narrative and self--is more complex and revealing than even the conspiracy nuts have imagined."--Richard Barnett, London Review of Books "Carlson sheds light on the man and plenty of his inventions... [An] electric portrait."--Publishers Weekly "Superb... Carlson brings to life Tesla's extravagant self-promotion, as well as his eccentricity and innate talents, revealing him as a celebrity-inventor of the 'second industrial revolution' to rival Thomas Alva Edison."--W. Patrick McCray, Nature "Soundly footnoted, yet eminently readable, it provides a balanced examination of the man and his work, focusing particularly on Tesla's distinctive style of invention."--Natural History "Carefully researched and thoughtfully written... Clearly surpassing earlier accounts, [this] will be the gold standard for Tesla biography."--Thomas J. Misa, Science "A scholarly, critical, mostly illuminating study of the life and work of the great Serbian inventor."--Kirkus Reviews "Carlson even has something to teach readers familiar with Seifer's dissection of Tesla's tortured psyche in Wizard (2001) and O'Neill's much earlier chronicle of Tesla's childhood and early career in Prodigal Genius (1944). Carlson provides not only a more detailed explanation of Tesla's science but also a more focused psychological account of Tesla's inventive process than do his predecessors. Carlson also surpasses his predecessors in showing how Tesla promoted his inventions by creating luminous illusions of progress, prosperity, and peace, illusions so strong that they finally unhinge their creator. An exceptional fusion of technical analysis of revolutionary devices and imaginative sympathy for a lacerated ego."--Bryce Christensen, Booklist starred review "This is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a monumental inventor whose impact on our contemporary world is all too unfamiliar to the general public. Carlson relates the science behind Tesla's inventions with a judicial balance that will engage both the novice and the academic alike. Highly recommended to serious biography buffs and to readers of scientific subjects."--Brian Odom, Library Journal "Carlson deftly weaves the many threads of Tesla's story."--Nicola Davis, Times "Splendid."--Jon Turney, Times Higher Education "Run, don't walk, to buy this book for the Nikola Tesla cultist in your life... [Carlson] is the first trained academic historian of technology to approach this topic, and he snaps the intense, romantic Serb back into his proper context."--Colby Cosh, Maclean's Magazine "Carlson takes a historian's approach to piecing together Tesla's life. He resists the temptation to focus only on Tesla's persona as an eccentric genius with a flair for drama... Instead, Carlson sets out to answer three questions: 'How did Tesla invent? How did his inventions work? And what happened as he introduced his inventions?'"--Maggie Fazeli Fard, Washington Post "Required reading for any would-be innovator."--Christine Evans-Pughe, Engineering and Technology "An impressive piece of scholarship."--Graham Farmelo, Daily Telegraph "Carlson has written an exhaustive biography of Tesla, remarkable for its breadth and thoroughness. He explores and details all his major inventions, providing illustrations and in some cases even reproductions of the patent applications. This is as fair and balanced a biography of Tesla as one could hope for, no mean feat for a man so full of contradictions."--Gino Segre, Physics in Perspective "Historian Carlson ... has at last written a balanced and nuanced scholarly treatment of Tesla in the technical and social contexts of his time... Carlson's easy-to-read style and almost flawless exposition of technical matters will make this book attractive for everyone from general readers to engineers and historians. It is well illustrated and indexed with extensive footnotes. This book is likely to become the standard scholarly biography of Tesla for decades to come."--Choice "Since the death of Nikola Tesla in 1943, his life has deserved a worthy biography. Bernard Carlson has delivered that in Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age, which portrays Tesla as intensely human... Anyone, whether simply an interested reader or a professional historian, engineer, or physicist, will finish Tesla with a deepened understanding of his world, character, and accomplishments."--Robert Rosenberg, Physics Today "This major biography sheds new light on Tesla's visionary approach to invention and the business strategies behind his most important technological breakthroughs."--World Book Industry "The author Bernard Carlson has put a herculean effort in presenting a detailed biographical study of one of the greatest engineer-scientists of human history, Nikola Tesla... The book may be treated as a benchmark by future biographers of inventors and scientists."--Mainak Sengupta, Current Science "It is a very readable work and presents the whole picture of Tesla both as an electrical wizard and as a human being with all the associated foibles. I particularly liked the way Carlson interspersed the narrative with commentary on the inventive process, the role of illusion, and the social implications of his technologies on bringing about positive changes in society as a whole. If you wish to read a factual book about Tesla, this is the one."--Eric P. Wenaas, IEEE Technology and Society Magazine "[Readers] will certainly see this volume as an indispensable guide to one of the most fascinating yet controversial and misunderstood innovators of the modern era."--Graeme Gooday, Metascience "[A] masterly study of the man and his work, explaining how business interests as well as scientific curiosity drove Tesla. Carlson shows how engineers, just as much as artists, benefit from creativity, imagination and idealism."--Roger Backhouse, Journal of the Society of Model & Experimental Engineers "[T]his is an enjoyable biography of Tesla, concentrating in detail on his engineering achievements and business arrangements, even though it could have been firmer on the unscientific nature of some of Tesla's ideas."--Brian Clegg, Popular Science "The most objective and balanced Tesla biography to date."--Tibi Puiu, ZME Science "Tesla is a tour de force of sound scholarship and cogent analysis that brings to life one of the most eccentric and enigmatic characters in the history of technology."--Michael Brian Schiffer, Register of The Kentucky Historical Society "An eminently readable history that, while avoiding hagiography, reconstructs the intellectual development of one of history's great electrical inventors and the social contexts in which he worked."--Benjamin Gross, Chemical Heritage "Carlson's book is likely the definitive biography of Tesla. It is a challenging read, but a rewarding one. It also contributes in the wider context to the reinvention of scientific biography as a prism of cultural history."--Guillaume de Syon, Canadian Journal of History "Carlson's book stands out compared with previous Tesla biographies... The result is an eminently readable history that, while avoiding hagiography, reconstructs the intellectual development of one of history's great electrical inventors and the social contexts in which he worked."--Benjamin Gross, Chemical Heritage "Dr. Carlson has written an outstanding work, exhibiting a true understanding of the complex person who was Nikola Tesla. The book is alternatively uplifting--as it reveals how Tesla's mind worked, creating prototypes of inventions which have changed the world--and heartbreaking... The book is much more than a biography, as Carlson examines the art of invention as it applied to Tesla. He skillfully weaves into the narrative insights as to why Tesla approached his work in the way he did."--John Bowditch, Technology and Culture "Only the bravest of historians elects to take on the challenge of writing a scholarly biography of Tesla that examines and critiques such fondly cherished myths. And Bernie Carlson is certainly up to this challenge... [A]n indispensable guide to one of the most fascinating yet controversial and misunderstood innovators of the modern era."--Graeme Gooday, Metascience "[Carlson's] extensive notes on his sources are invaluable for Tesla researchers, and his book sheds light on many misconceptions perpetuated in some popular Tesla biographies."--Nexus Magazine "The problem for any biographer is that there are really two distinctly different Nikola Teslas. One is the towering genius shunned by the ignorant establishment, whose greatest works are still suppressed; this is the Tesla adored by the alternative science community and the popular media... The other Tesla is the miserable failed inventor whose great plans and endless boasts came to nothing... Carlson manages the impressive feat of steering a middle course between these two."--David Hambling, Fortean TimesTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix CHAPTER ONE An Ideal Childhood (1856-1878) 12 CHAPTER TWO Dreaming of Motors (1878-1882) 34 CHAPTER THREE Learning by Doing (1882-1886) 60 CHAPTER FOUR Mastering Alternating Current (1886-1888) 76 CHAPTER FIVE Selling the Motor (1888-1889) 100 CHAPTER SIX Searching for a New Ideal (1889-1891) 117 CHAPTER SEVEN A Veritable Magician (1891) 129 CHAPTER EIGHT Taking the Show to Europe (1891-1892) 143 CHAPTER NINE Pushing Alternating Current in America (1892-1893) 158 CHAPTER TEN Wireless Lighting and the Oscillator (1893-1894) 176 CHAPTER ELEVEN Efforts at Promotion (1894-1895) 193 CHAPTER TWELVE Looking for Alternatives (1895-1898) 214 CHAPTER THIRTEEN Stationary Waves (1899-1900) 262 CHAPTER FOURTEEN Wardenclyffe (1900-1901) 302 CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Dark Tower (1901-1905) 331 CHAPTER SIXTEEN Visionary to the End (1905-1943) 368 EPILOGUE 396 Note on Sources 415 Abbreviations and Sources 421 Notes 423 Acknowledgments 473 Index 477

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Book SynopsisThe laws governing the very small and the very swift defy common sense and stretch our minds to the limit. Drawing on a deep familiarity with the discoveries of the twentieth century, Ford gives an appealing account of quantum physics that will help the serious reader make sense of a science that, for all its successes, remains mysterious.Trade ReviewAn excellent book--one of the best popular accounts of quantum theory I have read. Ford has a deep understanding of his demanding subject and he leavens his account with color and anecdote -- Elizabeth Sourbut * New Scientist *Ford deals with topics as difficult as granularity, quantum numbers, superposition, entanglement, and the uncertainty principle, but he uses explanations and examples that make these concepts easy to understand and quantum weirdness far less daunting. * Science News *

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Book SynopsisThis substantially revised and expanded new edition of the bestselling textbook, addresses the difficulties that can arise with the mathematics that underpins the study of symmetry, and acknowledges that group theory can be a complex concept for students to grasp.Trade Review"the best introduction to the subject, especially for those whose mathematics is weak." (Chemistry and Industry, 2nd April 2001) ".I recommend this book..." (Education in Chemistry, September 2002)Table of ContentsPreface to the Second Edition vii How to use the Programmes ix Programme 1: Symmetry Elements and Operations 1 Programme 2: Point Groups 22 Programme 3: Non-degenerate Representations 46 Programme 4: Matrices 65 Programme 5: Degenerate Representations 85 Programme 6: Applications to Chemical Bonding 102 Programme 7: Applications to Molecular Vibration 122 Programme 8: Linear Combinations 139 Bibliography 173 Mathematical Data for use with Character Tables 174 Character Tables for Chemically Important Symmetry Groups 176 Index 186

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Book SynopsisProvides the mathematical methods that aspiring scientists and engineers are likely to encounter as students and beginning researchers. This book also provides mathematical relations and their proofs essential to the study of physics and related fields. It focuses on problem-solving skills and active learning, offering numerous chapter problems.Trade Review"...a thorough handbook about mathematics that is useful in physics."--MAA.org "This volume is a great collection of essential mathematical tools and techniques used to solve problems in physics, very useful to any student of physics or research professional in the field. It is concentrated to problem-solving art and offers a large amount of problems and exercises."--Zentralblatt MATH 1239Table of Contents1. Mathematical Preliminaries 2. Determinants and Matrices 3. Vector Analysis 4. Tensors and Differential Forms 5. Vector Spaces 6. Eigenvalue Problems 7. Ordinary Differential Equations 8. Partial Differential Equations 9. Green's Functions 10. Complex Variable Theory 11. Further Topics in Analysis 12. Gamma Function 13. Bessel Functions 14. Legendre Functions 15. Angular Momentum 16. Group Theory 17. More Special Functions 18. Fourier Series 19. Integral Transforms 20. Periodic Systems 21. Integral Equations 22. Mathieu Functions 23. Calculus of Variations 24. Probability and Statistics

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Book Synopsis110 times wider than Earth; 15 million degrees at its core; an atmosphere so huge that Earth is actually within it: come and meet the star of our solar systemLight takes eight minutes to reach Earth from the surface of the Sun. But its journey within the Sun takes hundreds of thousands of years. What is going on in there? What are light and heat? How does the Sun produce them and how on earth did scientists discover this? In this astonishing and enlightening adventure, you''ll travel millions of miles from inside the Sun to its surface and to Earth, where the light at the end of its journey is allowing you to read right now. You''ll discover how the Sun works (including what it sounds like), the latest research in solar physics and how a solar storm could threaten everything we know. And you''ll meet the groundbreaking scientists, including the author, who pieced this extraordinary story together.Trade ReviewThis is a fabulous introduction to our home star, written with an insight and an enthusiasm that makes it very approachable... there's far more to the Sun than you might suspect -- Helen Czerski, author of 'The Storm in a Teacup'Wonderful...makes you simply gaze out of the window pondering for a while. The future of solar science is bright, and Lucie Green an inspiring guide -- Lewis Dartnell * Daily Telegraph *This book takes a fascinating look at a literally brilliant subject... one of the most enjoyable books about science you could hope to find -- Paul Sutherland * Book of the Month - BBC Sky at Night Magazine *Thrilling ... Lucie Green's huge enthusiasm for the Sun is apparent throughout -- Pippa Goldschmidt * Spectator *Green, a solar physicist at University College London, is an engaging and careful companion. She is clearly enamoured of her subject and keen to acknowledge those who have gone before her ... Reading this book confirms what I felt as a student: that truly understanding the Sun is as much about philosophy as it is about physics -- Anjana Ahuja * Financial Times *Green's enthusiasm for her subject is infectious ... [a] fine book -- Marcus Chown * Times Higher Education *The author's passionate enthusiasm for her subject shines through on every page ... an outstanding and eminently readable book which conveys a remarkably comprehensive and wide-ranging account of our nearest star -- Iain Nicholson * Astronomy Now *Professor Green has been studying the sun for 20 years and her passion for her 'favourite star' burns from every page -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisHorses were domesticated about 6000 years ago on the vast Eurasian steppe. Michel-Antoine Leblanc presents an encyclopedic synthesis of scientific knowledge about equine behavior and cognition, providing experts and enthusiasts alike with an up-to-date understanding of how horses perceive, think about, and adapt to their physical and social worlds.Trade ReviewThe Mind of the Horse provides an extensive review of all the physiological studies on horse perception. It is an essential reference work for researchers of horse behavior. -- Temple Grandin, editor of Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals

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Book SynopsisWhat Do You Care What Other People Think? Further Adventures of a Curious Character is a captivating collection of reminiscences from freewheeling scientific genius Richard P. Feynman. Richard Feynman - Nobel Laureate, teacher and iconic intellect - possessed an unquenchable thirst for an adventure and an unparalleled gift for telling the extraordinary stories of his life. In this collection of short pieces Feynman describes everything from his love of beauty to college pranks to how his father taught him to think. He takes us behind the scenes of the space shuttle Challenger investigation, where he dramatically revealed the cause of the disaster with a simple experiment. And he tells us of how he met his beloved first wife Arlene, and their brief time together before her death. Sometimes intensely moving, sometimes funny, these writings are infused with Feynman''s curiosity and passion for life. ''Feynman''s voice echoes raw an

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Book SynopsisYou cannot hide from radioactivity. Even the book you are holding is slightly radioactive, but there are more serious risks. Radioactivity - the breakdown of unstable atomic nuclei, releasing radiation - is a fundamental process in nature. It is a process that has been harnessed to provide wide and important applications in science, medicine, industry, and energy production. But it remains much misunderstood - and feared, perhaps because nuclear radiation cannot be detected by human senses, and can undoubtedly do great harm if appropriate precautions are not taken. In recent times there have been increasing concerns about nuclear terrorism.The traces of radioactive atoms in rocks have allowed us to understand the nature and history of the Earth, in particular to date events in that history. Radioactive dating has been used for a variety of purposes, from determining the age of the first hominids to the dating of the Turin Shroud. The discovery of radioactivity has improved our survival kit, but also gave us the chance to reach a new level of awareness on the history of our species and its environmental impacts. In this Very Short Introduction, Claudio Tuniz explains the nature of radioactivity and discuss its role in nature. Describing radioactivity in the stars and in the Earth, he also looks at its wide range of applications in biomedicine and in science, as well as the mechanisms of nuclear fission and fusion, and the harnessing of nuclear power. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewan enjoyable discussion of the light and dark side of radioactivity. * Times Higher Education Supplement *Table of ContentsPROLOGUE; EPILOGUE; REFERENCES; FURTHER READING

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Book SynopsisWe are living in a world full of games.More than 31 million people in the UK are gamers. The average young person will spend 10,000 hours gaming by the age of twenty-one. The future belongs to those who play games.In this ground-breaking book, visionary game designer Jane McGonigaI challenges conventional thinking and shows that games - far from being simply escapist entertainment - have the potential not only to radically improve our own lives but to change the world.Trade ReviewInspiring and engaging * Daily Telegraph *An intriguing and thought-provoking book * New Statesman *Despite her expertise, McGonigal's book is never overly technical, and as with a good computer game, anyone, regardless of gaming experience, is likely to get sucked in * New Scientist *McGonigal is persuasive and precise in explaining how games can transform our approach to those things we know we should do. McGonigal is also adept at showing how good games expose the alarming insubstantiality of much everyday experience. McGonigal is a passionate advocate... Given the power and the darker potentials of the tools she describes, we must hope that the world is listening -- Tom Chatfield * Observer *McGonigal brilliantly deconstructs the components of good game design before parlaying them into a recipe for changing the offline, 'real' world' * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisThe only series for MYP 4 and 5 developed in cooperation with the International Baccalaureate (IB)Develop your skills to become an inquiring learner; ensure you navigate the MYP framework with confidence using a concept-driven and assessment-focused approach presented in global contexts.- Develop conceptual understanding with key MYP concepts and related concepts at the heart of each chapter.- Learn by asking questions with a statement of inquiry in each chapter. - Prepare for every aspect of assessment using support and tasks designed by experienced educators.- Understand how to extend your learning through research projects and interdisciplinary opportunities.This title is also available in two digital formats via Dynamic Learning. Find out more by clicking on the links at the top of the page.Trade ReviewExcellent Book -- Nicholas Brookes * Nick Brookes *

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Book SynopsisOrganic chemistry plays a vital role in the pharmaceutical industry. Knowledge of organic compounds is used to inform research and further the discovery and development of new medicines. Likewise, organic chemistry is fundamental to understanding biological reactions, mechanisms and all life sciences in general. Basic Chemistry for Life Science Students and Professionals is an ideal introduction to organic chemistry in the context of the life sciences and pharmacy related disciplines; utilising drug molecules to illustrate the chemical basis of their efficacy and interaction with biological targets. This book builds upon the basic concepts of organic chemistry to develop the reader’s understanding of the importance of organic chemistry to the life sciences from natural product sources, their synthesis, and approaches to drug discovery. Ideal for undergraduate students in the natural sciences, this book is also an excellent primer for postgraduates in a variety of disciplines including forensic science and allied-health programmes as well as professionals working in related fields seeking a comprehensive introduction to organic chemistry in the context of pharmaceuticals.Table of ContentsIntroduction to Organic Compounds and Covalent Bonding; Polarity of Bonds, Electronegativity, and Intermolecular Forces; Types of Organic Compounds, Nomenclature, and Basic Reactions: Alkanes and Cycloalkanes; Types of Organic Compounds, Nomenclature, and Basic Reactions: Alkenes, Cycloalkenes and Other Unsaturated Hydrocarbons; 5 Types of Organic Compounds, Nomenclature, and Basic Reactions: Functional Groups; Isomerism in Organic Compounds and Drug Molecules: Chemistry and Significance in Biology; Organic Macromolecules in Cellular Structures, Metabolism, and as Drugs: From Amino Acids to Proteins; Organic Macromolecules in Cellular Structures, Metabolism, and as Drugs: From Monosaccharides to Complex Carbohydrates; Organic Macromolecules in Cellular Structures, Metabolism, and as Drugs: From Fatty Acids to Complex Lipids and Fat; Organic Macromolecules in Cellular Structures, Metabolism, and as Drugs: From Nucleotides to Nucleic Acids; Physicochemical Properties of Organic Compounds and Drug Molecules; Drug-Target Interactions; Structural Diversity and Sources of Drugs: From Nature to Synthetic and Recombinant DNA Technology

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Book SynopsisWith devastating logic and clarity, Dr Pandora Pound, Research Director at Safer Medicines Trust, comprehensively dismantles the case for animal research, bringing to an end the 150-year-old debate about its value once and for all. Focusing on the science rather than animal suffering – and including no distressing details – she provides a riveting account of how the practice became so well established, before proceeding to painstakingly reveal the futility and shockingly poor quality of most animal studies. Medical progress is being thwarted by an obsolete and harmful practice, but Pound showcases the awe-inspiring technologies, both old and new, that would revolutionise medicine if only it could escape the stranglehold of animal research. Rat Trap slays the many myths about animal research and shows that, far from being a necessary evil, it is one of the most important and urgent scientific issues of our time. ‘What a corker of a book! A superb analysis of the promises and pitfalls limiting the use of animals in medical research. Lucid and elegantly written. Highly recommended.’ -- Dr James Le Fanu, doctor, columnist for the Daily Telegraph and author of Too Many Pills and The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine. ‘Beautifully written, her arguments hum with clarity. Destined to be a classic and to make a difference in the world.’ -- Dr Ricardo Blaug, political scientist and author of How Power Corrupts. ‘Dr Pandora Pound transformed the debate on animal experiments in 2004 as lead author of the landmark study ‘Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?’. Published in the prestigious British Medical Journal, it provoked a storm of controversy – and a series of scientific studies revealing the startling unreliability of animals as surrogates for humans in medical research. As a result, reports of ‘breakthroughs’ based on animal studies now routinely carry disclaimers about the implications for patients. In Rat Trap, Dr Pound brings us up to date with this deeply controversial issue. She sets out the evidence for animal models being abandoned as a matter of urgency, and shows how resistance from some elements of the scientific community poses a grave threat to medical progress.’ -- Robert Matthews, visiting professor in statistical science, Aston University, Birmingham, UK, and author of Chancing It and 25 Big Ideas

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Book SynopsisThe idea of a missing link between humanity and our animal ancestors predates evolution and popular science. The author takes aim at this misleading notion, arguing that it reflects a profound misunderstanding of how evolution works and, when applied to the evolution of our own species, supports mistaken ideas about our own place in the universe.Trade Review"If you only read one book on evolution this year, make it this one. You will be dethroned. But you won't be disappointed." (Geoscientist) "A persuasive book.... Gee is good at explaining how fossil evidence has been (mis)interpreted to fit that famous picture of man rising from the ape, growing taller and wiser with each step before culminating in us. The reality, he points out, is very different: until recently (no later than 50,000 years ago) there were many species of humans across the world. Some, such as the Neanderthals, had brains at least as big as ours; while others, such as the diminutive 'hobbit' found on the Indonesian island of Flores, were more closely akin to the apes." (Financial Times)

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Book SynopsisA Short History of the World in 50 Animals provides a new perspective on the grand sweep of our planet’s making, taking readers from the time of the dinosaurs to the time of Dolly, the first cloned mammal. This book will include a great variety of beasts from across the animal kingdom, some well known and others far more surprising, from every continent in the world. Each entry will show the creature’s influence on world development, economy, health, culture, religion and society. The size of the animals range from hulking elephants to tiny bees but each one has made a significant impact on history.A Short History of the World in 50 Animals details the impact, legacy and role of fifty animals that determined the world’s history and shows how many of them are essential for our future survival. Featuring charming black and white illustrations throughout, which celebrate these extraordinary animals.In the same series: A Short History of the World in 50 Places.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of BookAuthority’s Three Best New Robotics Audiobooks To Read in 2019"

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Book SynopsisThe master cosmologist and astrophysicist unlocks the secrets of the universe in a clear and accessible way for children.

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Book SynopsisThe avifauna of the region includes representatives from both the Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with a wide range of Arctic, Temperate and sub-Tropical species, and quite a number of endemics. All birds recorded in the region are included making this the first single volume guide ever devoted to the eastern Asian avifauna.Trade Review"So, what of the illustrations? I think this is the finest collection of plates I have ever seen for Asian birds." Bird Guides (17th April 2009) "It is a magnificent achievement, one that should stand the test of time, and well worth buying by every keen birder." Bird Guides (17th April 2009) "Highly recommended!" Birdwatch (May 2009) "...an excellent, in some respects ground-breaking guide to this region" BirdWarching.co.uk (May 2009) 'It is a magnificent achievement, one that should stand the test of time, and well worth buying by every keen birder.' www.birdguides.com (August 2009)Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Introduction How to Use this Book Avian Topography and Terminology Key to Families References Plates and Species Accounts Appendix 1: Status Appendix 2: Potential Vagrants

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Book SynopsisDon''t You Have Time to Think? collects the witty, eccentric and moving letters letters of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman. Richard Feynman was no ordinary genius. Brilliant, free-spirited and irreverent, he upset those in authority, gave captivating lectures, wrote equations on napkins in strip joints and touched countless lives everywhere. He also wrote hundreds of letters to friends, family, critics, colleagues and devoted fans around the world. Now these letters have been brought together for the first time. From down-to-earth advice to eager students to discussions of time travel and the atom bomb, and from blunt rebuttals to journalists to poignant exchanges with his first wife as she lay dying, they will introduce you to a unique person whose wisdom and lust for life inspired all those who came into his orbit. ''Nobel-winning physicist, expert bongo-player, safe-cracker and all-round genius, Feynman was, as thi

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Book SynopsisIf there is one dominant myth about the world, one huge mistake we all make it is that we all go around assuming the world is much more of a planned place than it is.'From the industrial revolution and the rise of China, to urbanisation and the birth of bitcoin, Matt Ridley demolishes conventional assumptions that the great events and trends of our day are dictated by those on high. On the contrary, our most important achievements develop from the ground up. In this wide-ranging and erudite book, Matt Ridley brilliantly makes the case for evolution as the force that has shaped much of our culture, our minds, and that even now is shaping our future.As compelling as it is controversial, as authoritative as it is ambitious, Ridley's deeply thought-provoking book will change the way we think about the world and how it works.Trade Review‘He argues we live in a bottom-up world…a compelling argument and in this fascinating work, an evolution from Ridley’s other books, such as The Rational Optimist of The Origins of Virtue, he takes it to all realms of knowledge and how new ideas emerge… Ridley has amassed such a weight of fascinating evidence and anecdote that the pages fly by’ Ed Conway, The Times ‘Intriguing and artfully argued’ Ian Critchly, The Sunday Times ‘This is a book of remarkable scope (when Ridley says everything, he isn’t exaggerating), clearly written by a polymath who reads whatever is interesting, old and new. What’s more, it does not have the feel of a book written on commission so much as one that has been slowly assembling its own emergent thesis over time, tentatively testing and sometimes rejecting ideas along the way. As so often in nature, something wonderful has thereby come about’ Literary Review ‘The book displays his wide and deep knowledge of many different fields. It is fast paced and elegantly written. Few readers will come away without fresh information and a challenge to their preconceptions’ Prospect ‘Readable, provocative and infuriating’ New Statesman Praise for Matt Ridley: ‘What a superb writer he is, and he seems to get better and better.' Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The Selfish Gene’ Praise for ‘The Rational Optimist’: ‘A triumphant blast on the vuvuzela of common sense’ Boris Johnson ‘A glorious defence of our species… a devastating rebuke to humanity's self-haters’ Sunday Times ‘No other book has argued with such brilliance against the automatic pessimism that prevails’ Ian McEwan ‘His theory is, in a way, the glorious offspring that would result if Charles Darwin’s ideas were mated with those of Adam Smith’ The Economist ‘As a work of bold historical positivity it is to be welcomed. At every point cheerfulness keeps breaking through’ The Times

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Book SynopsisThere are ingredients, and then there are Ingredients. An ingredient is what we're used to thinking about in the kitchen things like tomatoes, tofu or thyme. An Ingredient is what those things are made of. There are millions of ingredients, but only eight Ingredients: Waters, Sugars, Carbs, Lipids, Proteins, Minerals, Gases and Heat.Ingredient isn't a book of recipes instead, it's about learning to see beneath the surface of food, exposing the moving parts that cause every failure and every triumph in every kitchen. You can apply the mindset laid out in Ingredient to any recipe or technique, regardless of your skill level or how you like to cook. Home cooks will feel ready to take on any recipe, and restaurant cooks will feel prepared for anything that comes out of the fire. Beginners will have a lifeline if something goes wrong, and masters will improve dishes they've been cooking for years. Fans of old-school cuisine will understand classic preparations like never before and the in

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Book SynopsisWhat is our place in the 14-billion-year history of the universe? This book tells the epic story of the universe from an new perspective, weaving the findings of modern science together with enduring wisdom found in the humanistic traditions of the West, China, India, and indigenous peoples.Trade Review"The book is simply written and easy to read—more like Kipling's Just So Stories than Being and Time—and you may or may not be convinced by Swimme and Tucker's interpretations of modern cosmology and evolutionary history. But it's a fascinating game to play. More theology of physics, please!"—Josh Rothman, Boston Globe (Brainiac blog)". . . captivating in its narrative and imagery. . . . Brian Swimme is a great storyteller who uses down to earth illustrations such as the comparison between an egg and the crust of the Earth in order to convey his understanding."—David Lorimer, The Scientific and Medical Network"The authors never left me confused, or feeling like an outsider even in unfamiliar intellectual territory, but they stoked my curiosity. Readers . . . will find treatments of an interdisciplinary range of concepts readily accessible, including dark matter, quarks and leptons, coevolution and female choice, religious ideas about the sun, and ideas of famous thinkers such as Pythagoras."—Julianne Lutz Warren, SpringerJourney of the Universe (the film) has been nominated for an Emmy for the West Coast (winner will be announced 9 June) "For those of us enmeshed in symbolic consciousness, this is just the story we need to hear, loud and clear. It helps us understand how we happened to be here, and, more important, why."—Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet and The End of Nature"This is a wonderful, highly readable account of the history of the universe from the Big Bang through the present moment. . . . There is blockbuster potential in Journey of the Universe, and I recommend it with great enthusiasm."—Thomas Lovejoy, University Professor in Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University"Journey of the Universe is eloquent, accessible, and powerful, and conveys a sense of wonder ranging from the cosmos to the microcosm—in itself a considerable achievement. This is one of the most compelling and inspiring works I've read in a long time."—David W. Orr, Oberlin College"This cosmic saga offers a compelling vision of the grand adventure in which we humans are taking part."—Scott Russell Sanders, author of A Conservationist Manifesto"The sense of deep time and space that Journey of the Universe establishes is the greatly needed context for students, who do not always appreciate the present predicament and the role of humanity in the world. It puts us in perspective—and conveys wonder that Earth and life are here in the first place and how amazing it is to be in what is apparently one of the most creative nooks in the universe. Also wonderful is the scientific narrative spine and to ask over and over—ok, what does it mean for us?"—Julianne Lutz Warren, author of Aldo Leopold’s Odyssey

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Book SynopsisJust 28,000 years ago, the blink of an eye in geological time, the last of Neanderthals died out in their last outpost, in caves near Gibraltar. Thanks to cartoons and folk accounts we have a distorted view of these other humans - for that is what they were. We think of them as crude and clumsy and not very bright, easily driven to extinction by the lithe, smart modern humans that came out of Africa some 100,000 years ago. But was it really as simple as that? Clive Finlayson reminds us that the Neanderthals were another kind of human, and their culture was not so very different from that of our own ancestors. In this book, he presents a wider view of the events that led to the migration of the moderns into Europe, what might have happened during the contact of the two populations, and what finally drove the Neanderthals to extinction. It is a view that considers climate, ecology, and migrations of populations, as well as culture and interaction. His conclusion is that the destiny of thTrade ReviewA refreshing new perspective on this old debate....should be essential reading for everyone interested in human origins. * Fortean Times, Mark Greener *Lively, revelatory, and salutary book. * The Independent *Table of Contents1. The road to extinction is paved with good intentions ; 2. Once we were not alone ; 3. Failed experiments ; 4. Stick to what you know best ; 5. Being in the right place at the right time ; 6. If only... ; 7. Africa in Europe - a Mediterranean Serengeti ; 8. One small step for man... ; 9. Forever opportunists ; 10. The pawn turned player ; Epilogue: Children of chance ; Endnotes

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Book SynopsisThis self-contained astrophysics textbook for advanced undergraduates explores how stars form, what happens to them as they age, and what becomes of them when they die. Students can investigate the physical processes sustaining the energy output of stars during each stage of their evolution and which drive the progression from one stage to the next, and examine the relationship between different stages of stellar evolution and the production of the chemical elements. The textbook contains a wealth of worked examples and exercises with full solutions. Summaries, key facts and equations are clearly identified, and there are full colour illustrations throughout. Drawing on decades of experience in supported learning and independent study, this textbook is an ideal bridging text for astrophysics and physics majors looking to move on from the introductory texts. Accompanying resources to this textbook are available at: http://www.cambridge.org/features/astrophysics.Trade Review'Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis provides a fine, insightful, and remarkably complete introduction to modern astrophysics that is both well written and illustrated. A logical flow, attention to detail, worked examples, and end-of-chapter summaries are especially good in creating an effective learning environment.' Jim Kaler, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, University of Illinois'This book tackles the complex life-cycles of stars with rigour and economy, putting the astronomy on a firm physical basis. A clear layout and extensive worked problem set make this an ideal starting point for physics students learning about stellar structure and evolution.' Graham Woan, University of Glasgow'… sets a high standard for what I hope will be a series of books for distance learners in the UK and elsewhere pursuing a passion for astronomy.' The Observatory'… an excellently presented pedagogic work written for self-study under the auspices of The Open University … Both authors have wide-ranging experience with OU as offering high-quality instruction in a remote-learning environment … There is a beauty in its subject that is sensitively brought out by the careful preparation, admirable composition and meticulous presentation of its subject matter that reflects most commendably upon the authors and publishers alike. … I can only express my enthusiasm and admiration for a splendid work - on a glorious, enthralling subject.' Contemporary PhysicsTable of Contents1. Main sequence stars; 2. Gravitational contraction; 3. Nuclear fusion; 4. From main-sequence to giant branch; 5. Helium-burning stars; 6. Late stages of stellar evolution; 7. Supernovae, neutron stars and black holes; 8. Star formation; Index.

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Book SynopsisFor generations, the ground beneath the feet of our ancestors seemed solid and unchanging. Around 30 years ago, two things happened that were to revolutionize the understanding of our home planet. First, geologists realized that the continents themselves were drifting across the surface of the globe and that oceans were being created and destroyed. Secondly, pictures of the entire planet were returned from space. As the astronomer Fred Hoyle had predicted, this ''let loose an idea as powerful as any in history''. Suddenly, the Earth began to be viewed as a single entity; a dynamic, interacting whole, controlled by complex processes we scarcely understood. It began to seem less solid. As one astronaut put it, ''a blue jewel on black velvet; small, fragile and touchingly alone''. Geologists at last were able to see the whole as well as the detail; the wood as well as the trees. This book brings their account up to date with the latest understanding of the processes that govern our planet. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Dynamic Planet ; 2. Deep Time ; 3. Deep Earth ; 4. Under the Sea ; 5. Drifting Continents ; 6. Volcanoes ; 7. When the Ground Shakes ; Epilogue

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Book SynopsisPlease note this title is suitable for any student studying:Exam Board: AQALevel: A Level Subject: Chemistry First teaching: September 2015 First exams: June 2017Exactly matched to the specification, this Revision Guide provides comprehensive, specification-linked content, so you can be sure you are covering everything you need to know for the exams. It is packed with engaging revision and practice material to keep you focused and contains a wealth of exam-style questions to test your knowledge and skills to help you fully prepare for the exams.

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Book SynopsisAn encounter with a spider will never be the same again …This warm-hearted book offers fascinating science and captivating storytelling to persuade readers to fall in love with—or at least tolerate—these eight-legged wonders.Eight-Legged Wonders unveils the remarkable lives of one of the most misunderstood and maligned creatures on the planet: the spider. With over 50,000 species, spiders play vital roles in our ecosystems and the vast majority are harmless to humans. With this in mind, shouldn’t we at least try to set aside our creepy-crawly associations, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for these truly wonderful beings?Eight-Legged Wonders helps us do just that. In this affectionate and surprisingly giddy ode to spiders, James O’Hanlon, a scientist and spider expert, introduces spiders that we may never have noticed before, including spiders that cosplay as ants, balloon through the air, and scub

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Book SynopsisCan we do better in space than we ve done here on Earth?

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Book SynopsisOn this blue planet, long before pterodactyls took to the skies and tyrannosaurs prowled the continents, tiny green organisms populated the ancient oceans. The author traces the history of these verdant organisms, which many would call plants, from their ancient beginnings to the diversity of green life that inhabits the Earth today.

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Book SynopsisWhat sets the practice of rigorously tested, sound science apart from pseudoscience? This title seeks to answer this question, known to philosophers of science as the demarcation problem.

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Book SynopsisTough Test Questions? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time?Fortunately for you, there's Schaum's Outlines. More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's to help them succeed in the classroom and on exams. Schaum's is the key to faster learning and higher grades in every subject. Each Outline presents all the essential course information in an easy-to-follow, topic-by-topic format. You also get hundreds of examples, solved problems, and practice exercises to test your skills. This Schaum's Outline gives you: Practice problems with full explanations that reinforce knowledge Coverage of the most up-to-date developments in your course field In-depth review of practices and applications Fully compatible with your classroom text, Schaum's highlights all the important facts you need to know. Use Schaum's to shorten your study time-and get your best test scores!Schaum's Outlines-Problem Solved.Table of Contents1. Introduction to Microbiology2. The Chemical Basis of Microbiology3. Microbial Size and Microscopy4. Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes5. Microbial Growth and Cultivation6. Metabolism of Microorganisms7. DNA and Gene Expression8. Microbial Genetics9. Control of Microorganisms10. The Major Groups of Bacteria11. The Fungi12. The Protozoa13. The Unicellular Algae14. The Viruses15. The Host-Parasite Relationship16. Host Resistance and the Immune System17. Immune Tests and Disorders18. Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes19. Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System20. Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System21. Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System22. Microbial Diseases of the Blood and Viscera23. Microbial Diseases of the Urogenital System24. Food and Industrial Microbiology25. Environmental MicrobiologyAnswers to Questions

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Book SynopsisPublisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.Understanding PHYSICS just got a whole lot EASIER!Stumped trying to make sense of physics? Here's your solution. Physics Demystified, Second Edition helps you grasp the essential concepts with ease.Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide begins by covering classical physics, including mass, force, motion, momentum, work, energy, and power, as well as the temperature and states of matter. Electricity, magnetism, and electronics are discussed as are waves, particles, space, and time. Detailed examples, concise explanations, and worked problems make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learning.It's a no-brainer! You'll learn about:Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; How to Use This Book; Part I: Classical Physics; Chapter 0. Review of Scientific Notation; Chapter 1. Units and Constants; Chapter 2. Mass, Force, and Motion; Chapter 3. Momentum, Work, Energy, and Power; Chapter 4. Particles of Matter; Chapter 5. Basic States of Matter; Chapter 6. Temperature, Pressure, and Changes of State;Test: Part I; Part II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Electronics; Chapter 7. Direct Current; Chapter 8. Alternating Current; Chapter 9. Magnetism; Chapter 10. More About Alternating Current; Chapter 11. Semiconductors; Test: Part II; Part III: Waves, Particles, Space, and Time; Chapter 12. Wave Phenomena; Chapter 13. Forms of Radiation; Chapter 14. Optics; Chapter 15. Relativity Theory; Test: Part III; Final Exam; Answers to Quizzes, Tests, and Final Exam; Suggested Additional Reading; Index

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