Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisThe eighteenth-century naturalist Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles) argued that plants are animate, living beings and attributed them sensation, movement, and a certain degree of mental activity, emphasizing the continuity between humankind and plant existence. Two centuries later, the understanding of plants as active and communicative organisms has reemerged in such diverse fields as plant neurobiology, philosophical posthumanism, and ecocriticism. The Language of Plants brings together groundbreaking essays from across the disciplines to foster a dialogue between the biological sciences and the humanities and to reconsider our relation to the vegetal world in new ethical and political terms.Viewing plants as sophisticated information-processing organisms with complex communication strategies (they can sense and respond to environmental cues and play an active role in their own survival and reproduction through chemical languages) radically transforms our notion of plants as unresponsive beings, ready to be instrumentally appropriated. By providing multifaceted understandings of plants, informed by the latest developments in evolutionary ecology, the philosophy of biology, and ecocritical theory, The Language of Plants promotes the freedom of imagination necessary for a new ecological awareness and more sustainable interactions with diverse life forms.Contributors: Joni Adamson, Arizona State U; Nancy E. Baker, Sarah Lawrence College; Karen L. F. Houle, U of Guelph; Luce Irigaray, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris; Erin James, U of Idaho; Richard Karban, U of California at Davis; André Kessler, Cornell U; Isabel Kranz, U of Vienna; Michael Marder, U of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU); Timothy Morton, Rice U; Christian Nansen, U of California at Davis; Robert A. Raguso, Cornell U; Catriona Sandilands, York U.Trade Review"The Language of Plants boasts a consistent and compelling through-line: what kind of 'languages' plants use and how the plant languages themselves might change the languages humans use to talk about plants. A collection of high-quality essays like this one constitutes a very timely introduction and intervention in critical plant studies."—Jeffrey T. Nealon, author of Plant Theory: Biopower and Vegetable Life"The Language of Plants is an excellent and important collection of original essays that intervene in the exceptionally rapidly growing field of critical plant studies, contributing to a contemporary movement to de-center the human, overcome dualistic thinking, and grant agency, intelligence, and consciousness to matter."—Cheryll Glotfelty, co-editor of The Bioregional Imagination: Literature, Ecology, and Place"Any individuals concerned for plants and the environment will find this a worthwhile, thought-provoking book."—CHOICE"From notions of plant intelligence to decoding the lexicon of compounds that allows vegetal life to communicate with friends, foes and themselves, this mind-expanding work opens up new ways of apprehending the world."—The Sydney Morning Herald"The editors have gathered essays from the realms of science, literature and philosophy to make a provocative read in hopes of deepening the appreciation of the interdependence of humans and plants. "—The AgeTable of ContentsContentsIntroductionMonica Gagliano, John C. Ryan, and Patrícia Vieira Part I. Science1. The Language of Plant Communication (and How it Compares to Animal Communication)Richard Karban2. Speaking in Chemical Tongues: Decoding the Language of Plant VolatilesRobert A. Raguso and André Kessler3. Unravelling the “Radiometric Signals” from Green LeavesChristian Nansen4. Breaking the Silence: Green Mudras and the Faculty of Language in PlantsMonica GaglianoPart II. Philosophy5. To Hear Plants SpeakMichael Marder6. What the Vegetal World Says to UsLuce Irigaray7. The Intelligence of Plants and the Problem of Language: A Wittgensteinian ApproachNancy E. Baker8. A Tree By Any Other Name: Language-use and Linguistic ResponsibilityKaren L. F. Houle9. What Vegetables Are Saying about ThemselvesTimothy MortonPart III. Literature10. The Language of Flowers in Popular Culture and BotanyIsabel Kranz11. Phytographia: Literature as Plant WritingPatrícia Vieira12. Insinuations: Thinking Plant Politics with The Day of the TriffidsJoni Adamson and Catriona Sandilands13. What the Plant Says: Plant Narrators and the Ecosocial ImaginaryErin James14. In the Key of Green?: The Silent Voices of Plants in PoetryJohn C. RyanAcknowledgmentsContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""[Packer] demonstrates the incredible insights that a brilliant mind can reach based on half a century of multidisciplinary research. . . . I expect it will remain a must-read work for any scholar interested in carnivore ecology and conservation, for decades to come."---Miha Krofel, BioScience"For anyone concerned with the fate of the lion, indeed with the future of African wildlife in all its richness and diversity, this is an important book."---David M. Gascoigne, Travels With Birds

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Book SynopsisIn Code Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan reconstructs how Progressive Era technocracy as well as crises of industrial democracy and colonialism shaped early accounts of cybernetics and digital media by theorists including Norbert Wiener, Warren Weaver, Margaret Mead, Gregory Bateson, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Roman Jakobson, Jacques Lacan, Roland Barthes, and Luce Irigaray. His analysis casts light on how media-practical research forged common epistemic cause in programs that stretched from 1930s interwar computing at MIT and eugenics to the proliferation of seminars and laboratories in 1960s Paris. This mobilization ushered forth new fields of study such as structural anthropology, family therapy, and literary semiology while forming enduring intellectual affinities between the humanities and informatics. With Code, Geoghegan offers a new history of French theory and the digital humanities as transcontinental and political endeavors linking interwar colonial ethnography in Trade Review“Straying away from the familiar itineraries of intellectual history, Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan invites us to take a path less trodden: a detour that allows the reader to revisit famous milestones in the development of cybernetics and digital media, and to connect them to scholarly debates stemming from fields of study as distant as structural anthropology, family therapy, and literary semiology." * The Duke Reader *“Bernard Geoghegan’s Code presents a strong history of how the humanities of the 20th century worked in close connection with communication and information sciences … a rich and insightful analysis.” -- Jussi Parikka * Leonardo Reviews *"Anyone interested in the political and ethical dimensions of cybernetics and contemporary social networking will be fascinated by Geoghegan's rich historical and interpretive account of these important and timely subjects. Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty. Students in two-year technical programs." -- J. W. Dauben * Choice *"Geoghegan’s rich and surprising account of the common inheritance shared by information theory and French Theory in the era of liberal technocracy, industrial capitalism, and colonial crisis will change how we think about the nature, risks, and possibilities of data analytics, critical theory, and the digital humanities now and for years to come." -- Carolyn Pedwell * Theory, Culture & Society *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction. Codification 1 1. Foundations for Informatics: Technocracy, Philanthropy, and Communications Sciences 21 2. Pattern Recognition: Data Capture in Colonies, Clinics, and Suburbs 53 3. Poeticizing Cybernetics: An Informatic Infrastructure for Structural Linguistics 85 4. Theory for Administrators: The Ambivalent Technocracy of Claude Lévi-Strauss 107 5. Learning to Code: Cybernetics and French Theory 133 Conclusion. Coding Today: Toward an Analysis of Cultural Analytics 169 Notes 181 Bibliography 221 Index 245

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Detailed and covers so much. . . . All in all, a very nice book."---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature Newsletter"An excellent guide for the bird-interested ecotourist."---James Lowen, Neotropical Birding

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Book SynopsisThis is a uniquely comprehensive and detailed treatment of the theoretical and observational foundations of modern cosmology, by a Nobel Laureate in Physics. It gives up-to-date and self contained accounts of the theories and observations that have made the past few decades a golden age of cosmology.Trade ReviewA stimulating source of intellectual excitement. [...] While the relevant technical aspects of the presentation can only be fully appreciated after a careful reading, a clear message emerges with vigour after the first reading: atomic physics, nuclear physics, field theory, high-energy physics and general relativity all come together in the description of our universe. In other words, Cosmology provides a vivid example of the basic unity of physics, which is something to bear in mind during the decades to come. * CERN Courier *A technical tour de force for the intrepid graduate student, Weinberg's new book will greatly appeal to particle physicists tooling up in cosmology and be an indispensable source for the practitioner. * Physics Today *With his unsurpassed ability to explain even the most difficult mathematical and conceptual steps with a few strokes of his pen, Weinberg takes the reader from the basics of cosmological kinematics and dynamics (space-time geometry, cosmological expansion, the Friedmann equation, thermal history) to advanced topics, such as the growth of structures, inflation and gravitational lenses. * Mathematical Reviews *A tour de force that even established cosmologists will learn from. Any scientist interested in cosmology should read it.Steven Weinberg's "Cosmology" is a thorough, graduate-level introduction to the field, which incorporates the frenzied developments since his 1972 classic, "Gravitation and Cosmology". This is sure to be another hit. * New Scientist *Table of Contents1. The Expansion of the Universe ; 2. The Cosmic Microwave Radiation Background ; 3. The Early Universe ; 4. Inflation ; 5. General Theory of Cosmological Fluctuations ; 6. Evolution of Cosmological Fluctuations ; 7. Anisotropies in the Microwave Sky ; 8. The Growth of Structure ; 9. Gravitational Lensing ; 10. Fluctuations from Inflation ; Appendices ; A. Some Useful Numbers ; B. Review of General Relativity ; C. Energy Transfer Between Radiation and Electrons ; D. The Ergodic Theorem ; E. Gaussian Distributions ; F. Newtonian Cosmology ; G. Photon Polarization ; H. The Relativistic Boltzmann Equation ; Notation ; Glossary of Symbols ; Assorted Problems

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Book SynopsisAccess to accurate, evidence-based, and clinically relevant information is essential to anyone who uses or recommends herbal products. With input from some of the most respected experts in herbal and integrative medicine, this completely revised edition of the American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook reviews both traditional knowledge and contemporary research on herbs to provide an authoritative resource on botanical safety. The book covers more than 500 species of herbs and provides a holistic understanding of safety through data compiled from clinical trials, pharmacological and toxicological studies, medical case reports, and historical texts. For each species, a brief safety summary is provided for quick reference, along with a detailed review of the literature. Easily understood classification systems are used to indicate the safety of each listed species and the potential for the species to interact with drugs. Enhancements to Trade Review"AHPA’s Botanical Safety Handbook is, without a doubt, an extremely valuable reference book that is highly recommended to product manufacturers, healthcare practitioners, regulatory agencies, industrial and academic researchers, and herbal product consumers."—Charles J. Knill and John F. Kennedy, Chembiotech Laboratories, in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules"Whenever there are questions or compositional uncertainties about a material, the toxicologist’s brow becomes populated with beads of perspiration. However, in the case of quantifying toxicity and making a human health risk assessment for a botanical product or component the toxicologists can get help from the American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition (BSH).The BSH is hefty by any objective measure such as dimensions, weight and content; it will likely be judged by its users as comprehensive. BSH covers over 500 herbs within almost 1,100 pages.BSH is a valuable resource for a toxicologist to understand the arena in which he or she is practicing their profession … using BSH gives valuable background information located in one place, reducing the literature searching time for obtaining background information on a botanical.… the BSH is a necessary reference in the personal library of toxicologists that routinely conduct hazard analyses and human health risk assessments of botanicals. Those toxicologists that assess the human health risks of botanicals will find a vast amount of generic background information that will supplement their activities. In addition, toxicologists will discover clear and valuable guidance and directions for making their human health risk assessments of botanicals."—John A. Budny in the International Journal of Toxicology, 2013 32: 466"… Although this edition covers approximately the same number of herbs as the first, expanded entries quadruple the number of pages. Records for medicinal herbs include summaries and reference lists, safety and interaction classifications, name variants, and plant partes) used. Inaccurate/unsubstantiated information often appears in publications providing safety evaluations of natural products. To increase the validity of this handbook, attempts were made to identify questionable reports as well as studies lacking sufficient details about formulations used; when included, limitations of such studies are noted. … This reference work will appeal to health care professionals, members of the public, and industry personnel interested in the safety and potential interactions of herbal products. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and above; general readers.—J. Saxton, Bastyr University, in CHOICE Magazine"I have long anticipated examining an upgraded second edition. I was pleased to find that the revised content included input from a highly qualified expert advisory council … The vastly expanded content provides safety information on more than 550 species of herbs and includes new herbs, many from the Ayurvedic tradition. … overall this book fills an essential niche by intelligently addressing specific practical issues in the broad context of botanical safety concerns. I certainly will be referring to it regularly."—Francis Brinker, ND, HerbalGram, Issue 99, 2013"Now, thanks to the recent publication of the new edition of the American Herbal Products Association’s (AHPA) Botanical Safety Handbook, no health professional needs to make an uninformed decision [on drug interactions with herbs] ever again. … The most exhaustive reference of its kind ever assembled, the AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook distills in one place hundreds of thousands of pages of scientific and medical information on herbs – the most widely employed class of health remedies in the world. Without question, the handbook answers the question, "Is it safe?" … With the AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook on hand, now every doctor, nurse, pharmacist, clinic and hospital can have readily on hand the definitive guide to recurring herbal questions."—Chris Kilham, Foxnews.com, May 8, 2013"...a very valuable reference for anyone selling, manufacturing or using medicinal herbs and perhaps will help clear the way for setting better legal and labeling standards of herbs."—American Herb Association "A basic reference text which should be on every herbalist's shelf! . . . It is very complete and includes many Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs as well. Congratulations to AHPA on an excellent and much needed text. Thank you!"—Robyn's Recommended Reading"An absolutely necessary reference book, this book gives cautions and contraindications for more than 600 plants. Don't expect fun reading-it is strictly a reference book. BUY IT!"—The Herbal Connection"The Handbook is a very readable and authoritative reference for herbal products, their usage, toxicity, and contraindications."—The Microscope"This book represents a significant revision and expansion of the first edition… [it is] a very important, extraordinarily detailed compilation of safety data on botanicals used in human health products. It will be an excellent resource for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, academicians, researchers, regulators, consumers, and even marketers and advertisers. Every school of pharmacy, medicine, and nursing should have a copy in its library."—John H. Cardellina, II, ReevesGroup Virginia Beach, Virginia, United StatesTable of ContentsPreface to the First Edition. Preface. Acknowledgments. Editors. Expert Advisory Council. Introduction. A to Z Listing of Herbs. Appendix I: Herbal Constituent Profiles. Appendix 2: Herbal Action Profiles. Appendix 3: Herbal Interaction. Appendix 4: Safety of Botanicals in Pregnancy and Lactation. Appendix 5: Herb Listings by Classification.

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Biochemistry and the Organization of Cells. 2. Water: The Solvent for Biochemical Reactions. 3. Amino Acids and Peptides. 4. The Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins. 5. Protein Purification and Characterization Techniques. 6. The Behavior of Proteins: Enzymes. 7. The Behavior of Proteins: Enzymes, Mechanisms, and Control. 8. Lipids and Proteins Are Associated in Biological Membranes. 9. Nucleic Acids: How Structure Conveys Information. 10. Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids: Replication. 11. Transcription of the Genetic Code: The Biosynthesis of RNA. 12. Protein Synthesis: Translation of the Genetic Message. 13. Nucleic Acid Biotechnology Techniques. 14. Viruses, Cancer and Immunology. 15. The Importance of Energy Changes and Electron Transfer in Metabolism. 16. Carbohydrates. 17. Glycolysis. 18. Storage Mechanisms and Control in Carbohydrate Metabolism. 19. The Citric Acid Cycle. 20. Electron Transport and Oxidative Phosphorylation. 21. Lipid Metabolism. 22. Photosynthesis. 23. The Metabolism of Nitrogen. 24. Integration of Metabolism: Cellular Signaling. Answers. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisNow in its second edition, this book has been thoroughly updated to provide a current overview of the theoretical and experimental concepts needed to understand and work in nano-optics. This is an invaluable reference for graduate students entering the field, as well as for researchers and course teachers.Trade Review'The reader will appreciate its scope and depth, as it covers topics ranging from resolution and microscopy to metamaterials and optical antennas. This book provides an integrated approach to the entire field, and the format breaks the material into accessible sub-units. The physical and mathematical rigor is high, and approximations and limitations of the theory and the experimental devices are clearly stated. The material is highly recommended for a graduate course.' Barry R. Masters, Optics and Photonics News'This text responds to the growing importance of nanoscience, and presents a rare collection of topics across optics and microscopy at the nanoscale. A major goal of nano-optics is to extend the use of optical techniques to length scales beyond the diffraction limit. Notably, the book features a valuable discussion of resolution, localization and position accuracy in microscopy. A non-exhaustive list of subjects covered in later chapters includes near- and far-field microscopy techniques, quantum emitters and surface plasmons in nanostructures.' Lukas Novotny and Bert Hecht, 'All-Time Favourites', Nature PhotonicsTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Introduction; 2. Theoretical foundations; 3. Propagation and focusing of optical fields; 4. Resolution and localization; 5. Nanoscale optical microscopy; 6. Near-field optical probes; 7. Probe-sample distance control; 8. Optical interactions; 9. Quantum emitters; 10. Dipole emission near planar interfaces; 11. Photonic crystals, resonators, and cavity optomechanics; 12. Surface plasmons; 13. Optical antennas; 14. Forces in confined fields; 15. Fluctuation-induced interactions; 16. Theoretical methods in nano-optics; Appendices; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis visual guide to the structure and anatomy of birds contains more than 200 specially prepared accurate drawings. The text is written for undergraduate students and to bird lovers in general, and discusses why birds look and act the way they do.Trade Review"As this book demonstrates in excellently clear drawings and text, a bird is a superbly evolved match of structure with function."—Brian Bertram, Times Literary Supplement"The book provides an accurate, up-to-date, self-contained course in ornithology for the advanced lay reader."—Library Journal"For anyone who wants to learn more about what lies under the feathers, The Manual of Ornithology has the answers. . . . As a reference work, the manual has few modern rivals."—David Tomlinson, New Scientist "Excellent. . . . a mine of information to anyone interested in birds at any level."—Jonathan Coatley, Journal of Biological EducationReceived an honorable mention in the Biological Science category, Association of American Publishers’ 1993 Professional/Scholarly Publishing Division Award (AAP/PSP)"A superb contribution to ornithology. It clearly represents the most attractive and accessible contribution to form and function in birds. This book will be of tremendous appeal to academic and lay ornithologists alike."—Steve Zack, Yale University"Students, their instructors, and other interested readers will welcome availability of the well illustrated Manual of Ornithology now in a paperback edition."—George A. Clark, University of Connecticut"This is a tremendous book; to say that it has no rival among laboratory manuals for ornithology is a dramatic understatement. It is clear, comprehensive, and has the most beautiful as well as useful illustrations possibly ever seen in an ornithology textbook."—Margaret Rubega, University of Connecticut"A gold mine of facts. . . . Every library and biology department, as well as every birder, should have a copy close at hand."—Roger Tory Peterson, from the foreword

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Book SynopsisGerd Gigerenzer''s Reckoning with Risk: Learning to Live with Uncertainty illustrates how we can learn to make sense of statistics and turn ignorance into insight. However much we want certainty in our lives, it feels as if we live in an uncertain and dangerous world. But are we guilty of wildly exaggerating the chances of some unwanted event happening to us? Are we misled by our ignorance of the reality of risk? Far too many of us, argues Gerd Gigerenzer, are hampered by our own innumeracy, while statistics are often presented to us in highly confusing ways. With real world examples, such as the incidence of errors in tests for breast cancer or HIV, or in DNA fingerprinting, and the manipulation of statistics for evidence in court, he shows that our difficulty in thinking about numbers can easily be overcome. ''Indispensable ... The book will change the attentive reader''s way of looking at the world''  Sunday TelegraphTrade Review"This is an important book, full of relevant examples and worrying case histories. By the end of it, the reader has been presented with a powerful set of tools for understanding statistics...anyone who wants to take responsibly for their own medical choices should read it" - New ScientistTable of ContentsPart I Dare to know: uncertainty; the illusion of certainty; innumeracy; insight. Part II Understanding uncertainties in the real world: breast cancer screening; (un)informed consent; AIDS counselling; wife battering; experts on trial; DNA fingerprinting; violent people. Part III From innumeracy to insight: how innumeracy can be exploited; fun problems; teaching clear thinking.

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Book SynopsisAnimal Eyes provides a comparative account of all known types of eye in the animal kingdom, outlining their structure and function with an emphasis on the nature of the optical systems and the physical principles involved in image formation. A universal theme throughout the book is the evolution and taxonomic distribution of each type of eye, and the roles of different eye types in the behaviour and ecology of the animals that possess them. In comparing the specific capabilities of eyes, it considers the factors that lead to good resolution of detail and the ability to function under a wide range of light conditions. This new edition is fully updated throughout, incorporating more than a decade of new discoveries and research.Trade ReviewAnimal Eyes is written in a vivid and clear style which will be understandable to both physicists and biologists. I highly recommend it to anyone, including amateurs, students and experienced researchers. * Optics & Photonics News *... fascinating and useful. * Pat Morris, Zoological Journal *Table of Contents1. The origin of vision ; 2. Light and vision ; 3. What makes a good eye? ; 4. Aquatic eyes: the evolution of the lens ; 5. Lens eyes on land ; 6. Mirrors in animals ; 7. Apposition compound eyes ; 8. Superposition eyes ; 9. Movements of the eyes

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Book SynopsisAll living things on Earth are composed of cells. A cell is the simplest unit of a self-contained living organism, and the vast majority of life on Earth consists of single-celled microbes, mostly bacteria. These consist of a simple ''prokaryotic'' cell, with no nucleus. The bodies of more complex plants and animals consist of billions of ''eukaryotic'' cells, of varying kinds, adapted to fill different roles - red blood cells, muscle cells, branched neurons. Each cell is an astonishingly complex chemical factory, the activities of which we have only begun to unravel in the past fifty years or so through modern techniques of microscopy, biochemistry, and molecular biology.In this Very Short Introduction, Terence Allen and Graham Cowling describe the nature of cells - their basic structure, their varying forms, their division, their differentiation from initially highly flexible stem cells, their signalling, and programmed death. Cells are the basic constituent of life, and understanding cells and how they work is central to all biology and medicine.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. Recognising the cell ; 2. The structure of the cell ; 3. Cell division, differentiation, and death ; 4. Special cells for special jobs ; 5. Stem cells ; 6. Ethics, politics, and regulation ; 7. Celluar therapy ; 8. The future is now

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Book SynopsisLinear algebra is a fundamental area of mathematics, and is arguably the most powerful mathematical tool ever developed. It is a core topic of study within fields as diverse as: business, economics, engineering, physics, computer science, ecology, sociology, demography and genetics. For an example of linear algebra at work, one needs to look no further than the Google search engine, which relies upon linear algebra to rank the results of a search with respect to relevance. The strength of the text is in the large number of examples and the step-by-step explanation of each topic as it is introduced. It is compiled in a way that allows distance learning, with explicit solutions to set problems freely available online. The miscellaneous exercises at the end of each chapter comprise questions from past exam papers from various universities, helping to reinforce the reader''s confidence. Also included, generally at the beginning of sections, are short historical biographies of the leading pTrade ReviewThis book gives an introduction to linear algebra for students with limited mathematical preparation. ... The steady pace of the book is so gentle that no student need be left behind. * Peter Macgregor, Mathematical Gazette *Table of Contents1. Linear Equations and Matrices ; 2. Euclidean Space ; 3. General Vector Spaces ; 4. Inner Product Spaces ; 5. Linear Transformation ; 6. Determinants ; 7. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

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Book SynopsisDonald R. Prothero’s Evolution is an entertaining and rigorous history of the transitional forms and series found in the fossil record. In this second edition, Prothero describes new transitional fossils from various periods, and reframes creationism as a case study in denialism and pseudoscience.Trade ReviewIf you're one of these people who likes to read Dawkins, Gould and Darwin, I would highly recommend this book. If you doubted that evolution was true before, and then you looked at this book, I don't see how you could possibly continue to question it. -- Jerry Coyne, author of Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are IncompatibleTable of ContentsForeword: Why People Do Not Accept EvolutionTo the Reader: Is Evolution a Threat to Your Religious Beliefs?Prologue: Fossils and EvolutionPreface to the Second EditionAcknowledgmentsPart I: Evolution and the Fossil Record1. The Nature of Science2. Science and Creationism3. The Fossil Record4. The Evolution of Evolution5. Systematics and EvolutionPart II: Evolution? The Fossils say YES!6. Life’s Origins7. Cambrian “Explosion”—or Slow Fuse?8. Spineless Wonders of Evolution9. Fish Tales10. Fish Out of Water11. Onto the Land and Back to the Sea: The Amniotes12. Dinosaurs Evolve—and Fly13. Mammalian Explosion14. Bossies and Blowholes15. The Ape’s Reflection?16. Why Does It Matter?BibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis''Astonishing ... beautiful, compelling and terrifying'' Observer''Wadhams'' writing sparkles ... a lyrical sense of wonder at the natural world ... essential reading ... may be the best reader-friendly account of the greenhouse effect available to date'' John Burnside, New StatesmanIce is beautiful and complex. It regulates our planet''s temperature. And it is vanishing - fast. Peter Wadhams, the world''s leading expert on sea ice, draws on his lifetime''s research in the Arctic region to illuminate what is happening, what it means for the future, and what can be done.''This most experienced and rational scientist states what so many other researchers privately fear but cannot publicly say'' John Vidal, Guardian''Wadhams brings huge expertise to his subject - and he is an excellent writer'' Martin Rees''Utterly extraordinary'' Jonathon PorrittTrade ReviewWadhams's particular combination - of scientific passion, a lyrical sense of wonder at the natural world, an ability to pluck clear analogies from the air, and outspoken analysis of consumer-capitalist politics - marks out A Farewell to Ice as essential reading. -- John Burnside * New Statesman *A passionate, authoritative overview of the role of ice in our climate system, past, present and, scarily, the future. -- Carl Wunsch, Professor Emeritus of Physical Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThis is the seventh title in the Fiendish series the latest volume of quality previously unpublished puzzles from the puzzle providers to the Times.You don't need to be a mathematical genius to solve the puzzles in this collection of Fiendishly difficult puzzles, it is simply a question of logic.Since the first Su Doku puzzle appeared in The Times in November 2004 they have become a phenomenon, with over 5 million copies of the Times Su Doku series sold worldwide.The puzzles in the collection are of the highest quality from the puzzle suppliers to The Times. Perfect for the advanced solver in need of a constant supply of ultra-difficult puzzles, and guaranteed to provide hours of mind-stretching entertainment.

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Why is it that Tony Blair always wore the same pair of shoes when answering Prime Minister's Questions? That John McEnroe notoriously refused to step on the white lines of a tennis court between points? And that President-elect Barack Obama played a game of basketball the morning of his victory in the Iowa primary, and continued the tradition the day of every following primary? Superstitious habits are common. Do you ever cross your fingers, knock on wood, avoid walking under ladders, or step around black cats? Sentimental value often supersedes material worth. If someone offered to replace your childhood teddy bear or wedding ring with a brand new, exact replica, would you do it? How about £20 for trying on a jumper owned by Fred West? Where do such feelings come from and why do most of us have them? Humans are born with brains designed to make sense of the world and that need for an explanation can lead to beliefs that go beyond reason. To be true they would have to be supernatural. With scientific education we learn that such beliefs are irrational but at an intuitive level they can be resistant to reason or lie dormant in otherwise sensible adults.It now seems unlikely that any effort to get rid of supernatural beliefs or superstitious behaviours will be completely successful. This is not all bad news - such beliefs are a useful glue that binds us together as a society. Combining brilliant insight with witty example Hood weaves a page-turning account of our 'supersense' that navigates a path through brain science, child development, popular culture, mental illness and the paranormal. After reading SuperSense, you will realize why you are not as reasonable as you might like to think - and why that might be no bad thing.

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Book SynopsisAre all evolutionary changes due to natural selection? Do we inherit behaviour? How can we regrow damaged body parts? Are all living things part of a super-organism? This book provides succinct answers to these questions - and many more - in 50 lucid and engaging essays. From mass extinction to immunity, and from sociobiology to swarm behaviour, 50 Biology Ideas You Really Need to Know will open you eyes to the fundamental biological processes that are essential to all life on earth. Beginning with innovations unique to animals - such as the development of muscles and importance of circulation - and moving through to genetics, cells, tissues and, finally, the nature of groups of organisms, this book will give you a complete overview ofthis fascinating subject. Featuring short biographies of iconic biologists, explanatory diagrams and timelines showing discoveries within their historical context, this is the perfect guide to the fundamental concepts of biology, m

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Book SynopsisCats are the world's most popular domestic pet, as well as being wild animals. This comprehensive book on feline behaviour explores both the familiar domesticated animal and wild relatives such as the leopard, tiger and lynx to examine the Felidae family as a whole, allowing for fascinating comparisons between wild and domestic species and explanations of behaviour in pet cats with evolutionary origins. Fraser's work helps increase readers' understanding of cat behaviour - why they behave as they do, for what purpose and why. The focus is on identifying normal behaviour from the cat's perspective, with a welfare theme running throughout; as exhibitions of normal behaviour provide evidence of good welfare, and abnormal behaviour can be an indicator of poor welfare. Providing a veterinary perspective - by including coverage of feline physiology, life stages and reproduction - as well as an ethological one, this is an important read for veterinarians, shelter workers, animal behaviourists and students of veterinary medicine and animal welfare, while also being of interest to pet owners.Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Well-being and Its Roots 3: Feline Neuroethology 4: Play and the Steps Through Life 5: Basic Activities 6: Association and Reproduction 7: Giant Wild Cats 8: Principal Species of Wild Cats 9: Minor Wild Cat Species 10: Common and Comparative Feline Features 11: Abnormal Behaviour and Training 12: Health Monitoring 13: Points of Welfare 14: Review of Well-being

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Book SynopsisWeaves the evolutionary theory of sexual selection and the study of rhetoric together with the science and literature of psychedelic drugsTrade Review". . . offer[s] unique insights into the pleasures and desires that animate our relationships . . . The diverse source material Doyle uses serves as a model for the kind of commons he celebrates. He offers wonderfully attentive readings of trip reports from famous users . . ." -- Jenna Supp-Montgomerie * Women's Studies Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction | Glimpsing the Peacock Angel 1. The Flowers of Perception: Trip Reports, Stigmergy, and the Nth Person Plural 2. Rhetorical Mycelium: Psychedelics as Eloquence Adjuncts? 3. Rhetorical Adjuncts and the Evolution of Rhetoric: Darwin’s Impassioned Speech 4. LSDNA : Creative Problem Solving, Consciousness Expansion, and the Emergence of Biotechnology 5. Hyperbolic: Divining Ayahuasca 6. The Transgenic Involution 7. From Zero to One: Metaprogramming Noise, with Special Reference to Plant Intelligence Epilogue: In Darwin’s Dreams Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisRepresents the first articulation of an integrative "science of the earth," encompassing most of today's environmental sciences. This title introduces the treatise and explains its enduring significance.

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Book SynopsisA glorious wedding of science and art that celebrates the remarkable diversity of the life of the not-so-distant past.Trade ReviewThis book provides a unique review of the many unusual and nearly worldwide occurrences of sabertooths and their relatives over more than 50 million years. Though geared to the general public, it is also useful for professional paleontologists. . . . In sum, a useful survey of the literature and introduction to the overall biology of these dynamic animals. * Choice *Mauricio Antón is well known in the paleontological community for his amazing artwork, and his new book Sabertooth certainly doesn't disappoint. . . . This book not only features awe-inspiring paleoart, it is also a scholarly review of the primary literature that can be used as a professional reference. However, this should not dissuade the amateur paleontologist from reading this book, because Antón does a great job of explaining difficult concepts and making this material accessible to a broad audience.Table of ContentsPreface1. What is a Sabertooth?2. The Ecology of Sabertooths3. A "Who's Who" of Sabertooths4. Sabertooths as Living Predators5. ExtinctionsSuggested ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisReviews of the 1st Edition:"....This book is a welcome addition to the sociology of technology, a field whose importance is increasingly recognised." - Sociology"....sets a remarkably high standard in breadth of coverage, in scholarship, and in readability and can be recommended to the general reader and to the specialist alike." - Science and Society"....This remarkably readable and well-edited anthology focuses, in a wide variety of concrete examples, not on the impacts of technologies on societies but in the reverse: how different social contexts shaped the emergence of particular technologies." - Technology and Culture How does social context affect the development of technology? What is the relationship between technology and gender Is production technology shaped by efficiency or by social control? Technological change is often seen as something that follows its own logic - something we may welcome, or about whicTrade Review"Delanty has written a fluent and succinct overview of social theory, including informed commentary and critique...The book presents some very good potted accounts of the various theoretical positions in the social sciences and sets out issues that are not yet resolved. It should be added to the reading lists of theory and methodology courses in the social sciences." - The Times HigherTable of ContentsNotes on ContributorsAcknowledgementsEditors' notePreface to the Second Edition/f002Part 1: Introductory essay and general issuesIntroductory essay: the social shaping of technologyDo artifacts have politics?Modest_Witness@Second_MilleniumEdison and electric lightInventing personal computingConstructing a bridgeCompeting technologies and economic predictionThe social construction of technologyRedefining the social linkfrom baboons to humansCaught in the wheelsthe high cost of being a female cog in the male machinery of engineeringMaking 'white' people white/f002Part 2: The technology of productionIntroductionThe watermill and feudal authorityThe machine versus the workerTechnology and capitalist controlSocial choice in machine designthe case of automatically controlled machine toolsThe material of male powerWhat machines can't dopolitics and technology in the industrial enterpriseWriters, texts and writing actsgendered user images in word processing softwareLearning by tryingthe implementation of configurational technologyWorking relations of technology production and use/f002Part 3: Reproductive technologyIntroductionThe industrial revolution in the homeA gendered socio-technical constructionthe smart houseA woman's placeDolores Hayden on the 'grand domestic revolution'Inserting Grafenberg's IUD into the sex reformThe decline of the one-size-fits-all paradigm, or, how reproductive scientists try to cope with post-modernity/f002Part 4: Military technologyIntroductionCold war and white heatthe origins and meanings of packet switchingManufacturing gender in military cockpit designThe American army and the M-16 rifleThe Thor-Jupiter controversyThe weapons succession processTheories of technology and the abolition of nuclear weaponsBibliographyIndex.

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Book SynopsisThis book is about mathematical ideas, about what mathematics means-and why. Abstract ideas, for the most part, arise via conceptual metaphor-metaphorical ideas projecting from the way we function in the everyday physical world. Where Mathematics Comes From argues that conceptual metaphor plays a central role in mathematical ideas within the cognitive unconscious-from arithmetic and algebra to sets and logic to infinity in all of its forms.

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Book SynopsisEssentials of Computational Chemistry, Second Edition provides a balanced introduction to this dynamic subject. Suitable for both experimentalists and theorists, a wide range of examples and applications are included drawn from all key areas.Table of ContentsPreface to the First Edition xv Preface to the Second Edition xix Acknowledgments xxi 1 What are Theory, Computation, and Modeling? 1 1.1 Definition of Terms 1 1.2 Quantum Mechanics 4 1.3 Computable Quantities 5 1.3.1 Structure 5 1.3.2 Potential Energy Surfaces 6 1.3.3 Chemical Properties 10 1.4 Cost and Efficiency 11 1.4.1 Intrinsic Value 11 1.4.2 Hardware and Software 12 1.4.3 Algorithms 14 1.5 Note on Units 15 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 15 References 16 2 Molecular Mechanics 17 2.1 History and Fundamental Assumptions 17 2.2 Potential Energy Functional Forms 19 2.2.1 Bond Stretching 19 2.2.2 Valence Angle Bending 21 2.2.3 Torsions 22 2.2.4 van der Waals Interactions 27 2.2.5 Electrostatic Interactions 30 2.2.6 Cross Terms and Additional Non-bonded Terms 34 2.2.7 Parameterization Strategies 36 2.3 Force-field Energies and Thermodynamics 39 2.4 Geometry Optimization 40 2.4.1 Optimization Algorithms 41 2.4.2 Optimization Aspects Specific to Force Fields 46 2.5 Menagerie of Modern Force Fields 50 2.5.1 Available Force Fields 50 2.5.2 Validation 59 2.6 Force Fields and Docking 62 2.7 Case Study: (2R∗,4S∗)-1-Hydroxy-2,4-dimethylhex-5-ene 64 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 66 References 67 3 Simulations of Molecular Ensembles 69 3.1 Relationship Between MM Optima and Real Systems 69 3.2 Phase Space and Trajectories 70 3.2.1 Properties as Ensemble Averages 70 3.2.2 Properties as Time Averages of Trajectories 71 3.3 Molecular Dynamics 72 3.3.1 Harmonic Oscillator Trajectories 72 3.3.2 Non-analytical Systems 74 3.3.3 Practical Issues in Propagation 77 3.3.4 Stochastic Dynamics 79 3.4 Monte Carlo 80 3.4.1 Manipulation of Phase-space Integrals 80 3.4.2 Metropolis Sampling 81 3.5 Ensemble and Dynamical Property Examples 82 3.6 Key Details in Formalism 88 3.6.1 Cutoffs and Boundary Conditions 88 3.6.2 Polarization 90 3.6.3 Control of System Variables 91 3.6.4 Simulation Convergence 93 3.6.5 The Multiple Minima Problem 96 3.7 Force Field Performance in Simulations 98 3.8 Case Study: Silica Sodalite 99 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 101 References 102 4 Foundations of Molecular Orbital Theory 105 4.1 Quantum Mechanics and the Wave Function 105 4.2 The Hamiltonian Operator 106 4.2.1 General Features 106 4.2.2 The Variational Principle 108 4.2.3 The Born–Oppenheimer Approximation 110 4.3 Construction of Trial Wave Functions 111 4.3.1 The LCAO Basis Set Approach 111 4.3.2 The Secular Equation 113 4.4 H¨uckel Theory 115 4.4.1 Fundamental Principles 115 4.4.2 Application to the Allyl System 116 4.5 Many-electron Wave Functions 119 4.5.1 Hartree-product Wave Functions 120 4.5.2 The Hartree Hamiltonian 121 4.5.3 Electron Spin and Antisymmetry 122 4.5.4 Slater Determinants 124 4.5.5 The Hartree-Fock Self-consistent Field Method 126 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 129 References 130 5 Semiempirical Implementations of Molecular Orbital Theory 131 5.1 Semiempirical Philosophy 131 5.1.1 Chemically Virtuous Approximations 131 5.1.2 Analytic Derivatives 133 5.2 Extended H¨uckel Theory 134 5.3 CNDO Formalism 136 5.4 INDO Formalism 139 5.4.1 INDO and INDO/S 139 5.4.2 MINDO/3 and SINDO1 141 5.5 Basic NDDO Formalism 143 5.5.1 MNDO 143 5.5.2 AM1 145 5.5.3 PM3 146 5.6 General Performance Overview of Basic NDDO Models 147 5.6.1 Energetics 147 5.6.2 Geometries 150 5.6.3 Charge Distributions 151 5.7 Ongoing Developments in Semiempirical MO Theory 152 5.7.1 Use of Semiempirical Properties in SAR 152 5.7.2 d Orbitals in NDDO Models 153 5.7.3 SRP Models 155 5.7.4 Linear Scaling 157 5.7.5 Other Changes in Functional Form 157 5.8 Case Study: Asymmetric Alkylation of Benzaldehyde 159 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 162 References 163 6 Ab Initio Implementations of Hartree–Fock Molecular Orbital Theory 165 6.1 Ab Initio Philosophy 165 6.2 Basis Sets 166 6.2.1 Functional Forms 167 6.2.2 Contracted Gaussian Functions 168 6.2.3 Single-ζ , Multiple-ζ , and Split-Valence 170 6.2.4 Polarization Functions 173 6.2.5 Diffuse Functions 176 6.2.6 The HF Limit 176 6.2.7 Effective Core Potentials 178 6.2.8 Sources 180 6.3 Key Technical and Practical Points of Hartree–Fock Theory 180 6.3.1 SCF Convergence 181 6.3.2 Symmetry 182 6.3.3 Open-shell Systems 188 6.3.4 Efficiency of Implementation and Use 190 6.4 General Performance Overview of Ab Initio HF Theory 192 6.4.1 Energetics 192 6.4.2 Geometries 196 6.4.3 Charge Distributions 198 6.5 Case Study: Polymerization of 4-Substituted Aromatic Enynes 199 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 201 References 201 7 Including Electron Correlation in Molecular Orbital Theory 203 7.1 Dynamical vs. Non-dynamical Electron Correlation 203 7.2 Multiconfiguration Self-Consistent Field Theory 205 7.2.1 Conceptual Basis 205 7.2.2 Active Space Specification 207 7.2.3 Full Configuration Interaction 211 7.3 Configuration Interaction 211 7.3.1 Single-determinant Reference 211 7.3.2 Multireference 216 7.4 Perturbation Theory 216 7.4.1 General Principles 216 7.4.2 Single-reference 219 7.4.3 Multireference 223 7.4.4 First-order Perturbation Theory for Some Relativistic Effects 223 7.5 Coupled-cluster Theory 224 7.6 Practical Issues in Application 227 7.6.1 Basis Set Convergence 227 7.6.2 Sensitivity to Reference Wave Function 230 7.6.3 Price/Performance Summary 235 7.7 Parameterized Methods 237 7.7.1 Scaling Correlation Energies 238 7.7.2 Extrapolation 239 7.7.3 Multilevel Methods 239 7.8 Case Study: Ethylenedione Radical Anion 244 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 246 References 247 8 Density Functional Theory 249 8.1 Theoretical Motivation 249 8.1.1 Philosophy 249 8.1.2 Early Approximations 250 8.2 Rigorous Foundation 252 8.2.1 The Hohenberg–Kohn Existence Theorem 252 8.2.2 The Hohenberg–Kohn Variational Theorem 254 8.3 Kohn–Sham Self-consistent Field Methodology 255 8.4 Exchange-correlation Functionals 257 8.4.1 Local Density Approximation 258 8.4.2 Density Gradient and Kinetic Energy Density Corrections 263 8.4.3 Adiabatic Connection Methods 264 8.4.4 Semiempirical DFT 268 8.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of DFT Compared to MO Theory 271 8.5.1 Densities vs. Wave Functions 271 8.5.2 Computational Efficiency 273 8.5.3 Limitations of the KS Formalism 274 8.5.4 Systematic Improvability 278 8.5.5 Worst-case Scenarios 278 8.6 General Performance Overview of DFT 280 8.6.1 Energetics 280 8.6.2 Geometries 291 8.6.3 Charge Distributions 294 8.7 Case Study: Transition-Metal Catalyzed Carbonylation of Methanol 299 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 300 References 301 9 Charge Distribution and Spectroscopic Properties 305 9.1 Properties Related to Charge Distribution 305 9.1.1 Electric Multipole Moments 305 9.1.2 Molecular Electrostatic Potential 308 9.1.3 Partial Atomic Charges 309 9.1.4 Total Spin 324 9.1.5 Polarizability and Hyperpolarizability 325 9.1.6 ESR Hyperfine Coupling Constants 327 9.2 Ionization Potentials and Electron Affinities 330 9.3 Spectroscopy of Nuclear Motion 331 9.3.1 Rotational 332 9.3.2 Vibrational 334 9.4 NMR Spectral Properties 344 9.4.1 Technical Issues 344 9.4.2 Chemical Shifts and Spin–spin Coupling Constants 345 9.5 Case Study: Matrix Isolation of Perfluorinated p-Benzyne 349 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 351 References 351 10 Thermodynamic Properties 355 10.1 Microscopic–macroscopic Connection 355 10.2 Zero-point Vibrational Energy 356 10.3 Ensemble Properties and Basic Statistical Mechanics 357 10.3.1 Ideal Gas Assumption 358 10.3.2 Separability of Energy Components 359 10.3.3 Molecular Electronic Partition Function 360 10.3.4 Molecular Translational Partition Function 361 10.3.5 Molecular Rotational Partition Function 362 10.3.6 Molecular Vibrational Partition Function 364 10.4 Standard-state Heats and Free Energies of Formation and Reaction 366 10.4.1 Direct Computation 367 10.4.2 Parametric Improvement 370 10.4.3 Isodesmic Equations 372 10.5 Technical Caveats 375 10.5.1 Semiempirical Heats of Formation 375 10.5.2 Low-frequency Motions 375 10.5.3 Equilibrium Populations over Multiple Minima 377 10.5.4 Standard-state Conversions 378 10.5.5 Standard-state Free Energies, Equilibrium Constants, and Concentrations 379 10.6 Case Study: Heat of Formation of H2NOH 381 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 383 References 383 11 Implicit Models for Condensed Phases 385 11.1 Condensed-phase Effects on Structure and Reactivity 385 11.1.1 Free Energy of Transfer and Its Physical Components 386 11.1.2 Solvation as It Affects Potential Energy Surfaces 389 11.2 Electrostatic Interactions with a Continuum 393 11.2.1 The Poisson Equation 394 11.2.2 Generalized Born 402 11.2.3 Conductor-like Screening Model 404 11.3 Continuum Models for Non-electrostatic Interactions 406 11.3.1 Specific Component Models 406 11.3.2 Atomic Surface Tensions 407 11.4 Strengths and Weaknesses of Continuum Solvation Models 410 11.4.1 General Performance for Solvation Free Energies 410 11.4.2 Partitioning 416 11.4.3 Non-isotropic Media 416 11.4.4 Potentials of Mean Force and Solvent Structure 419 11.4.5 Molecular Dynamics with Implicit Solvent 420 11.4.6 Equilibrium vs. Non-equilibrium Solvation 421 11.5 Case Study: Aqueous Reductive Dechlorination of Hexachloroethane 422 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 424 References 425 12 Explicit Models for Condensed Phases 429 12.1 Motivation 429 12.2 Computing Free-energy Differences 429 12.2.1 Raw Differences 430 12.2.2 Free-energy Perturbation 432 12.2.3 Slow Growth and Thermodynamic Integration 435 12.2.4 Free-energy Cycles 437 12.2.5 Potentials of Mean Force 439 12.2.6 Technical Issues and Error Analysis 443 12.3 Other Thermodynamic Properties 444 12.4 Solvent Models 445 12.4.1 Classical Models 445 12.4.2 Quantal Models 447 12.5 Relative Merits of Explicit and Implicit Solvent Models 448 12.5.1 Analysis of Solvation Shell Structure and Energetics 448 12.5.2 Speed/Efficiency 450 12.5.3 Non-equilibrium Solvation 450 12.5.4 Mixed Explicit/Implicit Models 451 12.6 Case Study: Binding of Biotin Analogs to Avidin 452 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 454 References 455 13 Hybrid Quantal/Classical Models 457 13.1 Motivation 457 13.2 Boundaries Through Space 458 13.2.1 Unpolarized Interactions 459 13.2.2 Polarized QM/Unpolarized MM 461 13.2.3 Fully Polarized Interactions 466 13.3 Boundaries Through Bonds 467 13.3.1 Linear Combinations of Model Compounds 467 13.3.2 Link Atoms 473 13.3.3 Frozen Orbitals 475 13.4 Empirical Valence Bond Methods 477 13.4.1 Potential Energy Surfaces 478 13.4.2 Following Reaction Paths 480 13.4.3 Generalization to QM/MM 481 13.5 Case Study: Catalytic Mechanism of Yeast Enolase 482 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 484 References 485 14 Excited Electronic States 487 14.1 Determinantal/Configurational Representation of Excited States 487 14.2 Singly Excited States 492 14.2.1 SCF Applicability 493 14.2.2 CI Singles 496 14.2.3 Rydberg States 498 14.3 General Excited State Methods 499 14.3.1 Higher Roots in MCSCF and CI Calculations 499 14.3.2 Propagator Methods and Time-dependent DFT 501 14.4 Sum and Projection Methods 504 14.5 Transition Probabilities 507 14.6 Solvatochromism 511 14.7 Case Study: Organic Light Emitting Diode Alq3 513 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 515 References 516 15 Adiabatic Reaction Dynamics 519 15.1 Reaction Kinetics and Rate Constants 519 15.1.1 Unimolecular Reactions 520 15.1.2 Bimolecular Reactions 521 15.2 Reaction Paths and Transition States 522 15.3 Transition-state Theory 524 15.3.1 Canonical Equation 524 15.3.2 Variational Transition-state Theory 531 15.3.3 Quantum Effects on the Rate Constant 533 15.4 Condensed-phase Dynamics 538 15.5 Non-adiabatic Dynamics 539 15.5.1 General Surface Crossings 539 15.5.2 Marcus Theory 541 15.6 Case Study: Isomerization of Propylene Oxide 544 Bibliography and Suggested Additional Reading 546 References 546 Appendix A Acronym Glossary 549 Appendix B Symmetry and Group Theory 557 B.1 Symmetry Elements 557 B.2 Molecular Point Groups and Irreducible Representations 559 B.3 Assigning Electronic State Symmetries 561 B.4 Symmetry in the Evaluation of Integrals and Partition Functions 562 Appendix C Spin Algebra 565 C.1 Spin Operators 565 C.2 Pure- and Mixed-spin Wave Functions 566 C.3 UHF Wave Functions 571 C.4 Spin Projection/Annihilation 571 Reference 574 Appendix D Orbital Localization 575 D.1 Orbitals as Empirical Constructs 575 D.2 Natural Bond Orbital Analysis 578 References 579 Index 581

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Book SynopsisIf you are about to study for a degree in the life or medical sciences, you will need to understand some core facts and concepts in chemistry. You do not need to be a budding chemist but you do need to be comfortable with chemical terms and principles. Catch up Chemistry, second edition, will bring you up to speed with the subject and will lay the foundations of chemistry in those topics that will underpin your studies, such as: the nature of atomic structure and molecular bonding the properties of biological molecules and macromolecules the gas laws the special properties of water thermodynamic concepts in biology biological transport mechanisms and transporters understanding reaction mechanisms and kinetics deriving energy from molecules At every stage the authors remind you of the relevance of this chemistry to your life or medical sciences course - this is not just chemistry for the sake of it. The book also contains a lot of questions (and answers), so that you can test your understanding at any time - it really does get easier with practice!Trade ReviewFive-star reviews: Great! "Excellent introduction / revision of chemistry essentials for the biological sciences student – presented in a very clear and understandable format." Useful "Perfect for university student" Five stars "Great to get me up to scratch for uni." A great boook as a refresher or to understand biological applications of chemistry "As a mature student studying the biological/biomedical sciences, it's been a long time since I studied chemistry. My university recommended this book and I'm so glad they did. One of the biggest things I struggle with is applying chemistry to biology. I can understand chemistry concepts in a bubble, but when figuring out how they apply to biology I struggle, this book helpfully applies all the chemistry to the life sciences in an easy to understand way. It's not a text book, I think if you're struggling with chemistry as a whole you will need other books alongside this as a reference, but if you are looking for ways to apply chemistry knowledge to biology or an overview of chemistry already learnt for revision purposes it's great. It's a really easy to read book." Just what I expected " I am really pleased with this book, thank you – this book is just as good as expected, if not better." Five stars "Really helped me with my course!" -- Amazon reviewersTable of Contents1. Elements, atoms and electrons 2. Bonding, electrons and molecules 3. Interactions between molecules 4. Counting molecules 5. Carbon: the basis of biological life 6. The same molecule but a different shape 7. Water: the solvent of life 8. Reacting molecules and energy 9. Reacting molecules and kinetics 10. Energy and life 11. Reactivity of biological molecules Answers to 'test yourself' questions Appendices

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Book SynopsisChemical principles are fundamental to the Earth sciences, and geoscience students increasingly require a firm grasp of basic chemistry to succeed in their studies.Trade Review"In short, Chemical Fundamentals of Geology and Environmental Geoscience is a highly readable and informative textbook that will quickly introduce students, even those without any background in chemistry, to the fundamental scientific principles of chemistry as it relates to geology and earth systems."(Tundraco, 1 October 2015) "The book is beautifully produced with clear text, together with well-drawn and informative diagrams."(Proceedings of the Open University Geological Society 2, 2016) "Gill's revised edition continues to provide a solid and readily comprehensible introduction to the scientific principles of chemistry underpinning geology and environmental Earth science."(Geoscientist, Nov 2016)Table of ContentsPREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION ix PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION x PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xiii ABOUT THE COMPANION WEBSITE xiv 1 ENERGY IN GEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES 1 Introduction 1 Energy in mechanical systems 4 Energy in chemical and mineral systems: free energy 5 Stable, unstable and metastable minerals 10 Further reading 13 2 EQUILIBRIUM IN GEOLOGICAL SYSTEMS 14 The significance of mineral stability 14 Systems, phases and components 16 Equilibrium 18 Phase diagrams in P–T space 20 Phase diagrams in T–X space 26 Ternary phase diagrams 36 Review 41 Further reading 41 Sources of thermodynamic data for minerals 42 Exercises 42 3 KINETICS OF EARTH PROCESSES 43 Defining the rate of a reaction 44 Temperature-dependence of reaction rate 47 Diffusion 52 Melt viscosity 55 Persistence of metastable minerals: closure temperature 57 Review 58 Further reading 58 Exercises 59 4 AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS AND THE HYDROSPHERE 60 Ways of expressing the concentrations of major constituents 61 Equilibrium constant 63 Non-ideal solutions: activity coefficient 69 Natural waters 70 Oxidation and reduction: Eh-pH diagrams 75 Further reading 81 Exercises 81 5 ELECTRONS IN ATOMS 82 Why does a geologist need to understand atoms? 82 The atom 83 Stationary waves 85 Electron waves in atoms 88 The shapes of electron orbitals 90 Electron energy levels 93 Review 98 Further reading 98 Exercises 98 6 WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE PERIODIC TABLE 99 Ionization energy 99 The Periodic Table 102 Electronegativity 103 Valency 104 Atomic spectra 105 Review 109 Further reading 110 Exercises 110 7 CHEMICAL BONDING AND THE PROPERTIES OF MINERALS 111 The ionic model of bonding 111 The covalent model of bonding 118 Bonding in minerals 126 Other types of atomic and molecular interaction 129 Review 132 Further reading 132 Exercises 132 8 SILICATE CRYSTALS AND MELTS 133 Silicate polymers 133 Cation sites in silicates 140 Optical properties of crystals 146 Defects in crystals 148 Further reading 151 Exercises 151 9 SOME GEOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS 153 Major and trace elements 153 Alkali metals 154 Hydrogen 156 Alkaline earth metals 156 Aluminium 157 Carbon 159 Silicon 166 Nitrogen and phosphorus 166 Oxygen 167 Sulfur 168 Fluorine 170 Noble gases 171 Transition metals 171 Rare earth elements 175 Actinides 176 Further reading 177 Exercise 177 10 WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ISOTOPES? 178 Isotope systems 179 Radiogenic isotope systems 181 Stable isotope systems 195 Cosmogenic radioisotope systems 203 Review 204 Further reading 204 Exercises 204 11 THE ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE 206 The significance of element abundance 206 Measuring cosmic and Solar System abundances 206 The composite abundance curve 210 Cosmic element production 211 Elements in the Solar System 215 Chemical evolution of the Earth 219 Review 224 Further reading 225 Exercises 225 ANSWERS TO EXERCISES 226 APPENDIX A: Mathematics revision 234 APPENDIX B: Simple solution chemistry 240 APPENDIX C: Alphabetical list of chemical abbreviations and element names, with atomic number and relative atomic mass 243 APPENDIX D: Symbols, units, constants and abbreviations used in this book 245 Glossary 248 REFERENCES 258 INDEX 261

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Book SynopsisLoran and GPS notwithstanding, there will always be a place for the sextant aboard any blue-water boat, if for no other reason than the thrill and mystery of finding one's position on earth by gazing at the heavens. Here is the indispensable reference that should accompany the instrument aboard. Cmdr. Bruce Bauer, a professional navigator and master mariner with the U.S. Merchant Marine, has distilled years of hands-on experience into an eminently readable guide to buying, adjusting, using, and repairing sextants.The Sextant Handbook is dedicated to the premise that electronic navigation devices, while too convenient to disregard, are too vulnerable to rely on exclusively. The book is designed to make beginner and expert alike conversant with this most beautiful and functional of the navigator's tools. Topics include: Assembly and Disassembly Vital Adjustments Avoiding Problems Rough Weather Sightings Oiling and Cleaning Immersion Baths Emergency STable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1 A Short HistoryAstrolabeLatitude HookQuadrantCross StaffBack StaffSextantChapter 2 Elements of the Sextant and Four Vital AdjustmentsPerpendicularityFrame and Index MirrorFrame and Horizon GlassParallelismIndex Mirror and Horizon GlassTelescope and FrameAdjustment ProceduresChapter 3 Attachments and AccessoriesAstigmatizersDouble Star PrismWide View Horizon GlassDavis Prism LevelBubble Horizon AttachmentNeck StrapsVisual AidsChapter 4 Care, Maintenance, and RepairOiling and CleaningImmersion Bath ProceduresHow to HoldWhere to Put DownMounted Sextant BoxesEmergency Silvering TechniquesApplying PaintResilvering Horizon GlassChapter 5 How to Buy a SextantWhere to Find ThemPricesFive Ground Rules to Avoid ProblemsTaking Test SightsInterstellar Test TableDiscovering the Dropped SextantReconditioning CostsChapter 6 Sighting TechniquesInversion for LocationPrecalculating AzimuthsRocking or Swinging an ArcSun's Upper LimbShades for Sun, Moon, and VenusCorrecting for False HorizonRough Weather Sighting TechniquesMaking a MonocleChapter 7 Correcting the SightThe Thirteen ErrorsCorrecting for Moon, Venus, and MarsCorrecting for Wave HeightChapter 8 Timing the Sight AccuratelyThe Hack WatchUsing a Tape RecorderCounting Paces and StopwatchesAttaching Stopwatch to SextantChapter 9 Searching for StarsThe Necessity for PreplanningFinding SunriseUsing the Rude Star FinderConverting Local TimeUsing H.O. Pub. No. 249Making and Using a Wrist BoardChapter 10 Sextants of TomorrowIs the Sextant Doomed?Coming DevelopmentsAppendixesA--Sextant Check ProceduresB--Sextant ManufacturersC--Distribution and DealersD--The Navigator's Basic Tool KitE--Making and Using an Artificial HorizonF--Table of Interstellar Angles for Practice Sighting and Sextant TestingG--Useful AddressesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe name "Allium" is said to come from the Greek word to avoid because of its offensive smell. The genus Allium includes more than 800 species of which only a few have been cultivated as foods. Many of the other members of this genus are popular with gardeners as easy to maintain perennials, although the smell of some members of the genus can be off-putting. The smell is a consequence of breakdown of sulfur-containing compounds which is a characteristic of this family of plants. Garlic, onions, leeks, chives and other members of the genus Allium occupy a unique position both as edible plants and herbal medicines, appreciated since the dawn of civilization. Alliums have been featured through the ages in literature, where they are both praised and reviled, as well as in architecture and the decorative arts. Garlic pills are top-selling herbal supplements while garlic-based products show considerable promise as environmentally friendly pesticides. The remarkable properties of the alliums can be understood based on the occurrence of a number of relatively simple sulfur-containing chemical compounds ingeniously packaged by nature in these plants. This unique book, with a foreword by 1990 Nobel Laureate E.J. Corey, outlines the extensive history and the fascinating past and present uses of these plants, sorting out fact from fiction based upon detailed scrutiny of historic documents as well as numerous laboratories studies. Readers will be entertained and educated as they learn about early cultivation of garlic and other alliums while being introduced to the chemistry and biochemistry. They will learn how alliums have been portrayed and used in literature, poetry, the arts and how alliums are featured in the world's oldest cookbook. Technical material is presented in a manner understandable to a general audience, particularly through the use of illustrations to simplify more difficult concepts and explain how experimental work is conducted. The book is heavily illustrated with examples of alliums in art, literature, agriculture, medicine and other areas and includes rare botanical drawings of many members of the genus Allium. Essential reading for anyone with a general interest in science, the book is written at a level accessible to experts and non-experts alike. It has sufficient additional detail and references to satisfy both those wanting to know more, as well as researchers in disciplines as diverse as archaeology, medicine, ecology, pharmacology, food and plant sciences, agriculture, and organic chemistry.Trade ReviewThis book brings to mind the poet Horace's formula for successful writing: He wins every hand who mingles profit with pleasure, by delighting and instructing the reader at the same time. Eric Block has certainly mixed the useful and the sweet in his book.I started BlockÆs book as a reviewer and became an admirer. A book that contributes so richly to my teaching and understanding of chemistry is a rare pleasure. -- Stephen R Pruett * ASAPDOI: 10.1021/ed2001889Publication Date (Web): April 18, 2011 *Block writes well and passionately...gives a very balanced assessment of the claims and evidence for the health benefits of eating or taking allium supplements, primarily garlic.The book is well written and illustrated: a particular bonus is the inclusion of 27 coloured botanical prints from a volume of Flora Germanica. It will probably be of most interest to students and researchers familiar with plant biochemistry, but there is also something for those curious about this group of plants that play a prominent role in cooking, culture and chemistry. -- Ian J McEwan * Biochemist e-volution *'Both entertaining, and at the same time a challenging read, there is a lot of valuable information in this book.My hat is off to Eric for the amazing contribution to the world's collection of allium science.' -- Bob Dunkel * The Garlic Press *'Block presents an entertaining and informative account of the history of garlic, onions, and other alliums. This ethnobotanic work is truly interdisciplinary, intended for a wide audience of historians, sociologists, chemists, cooks, botanists, and naturalists.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic, professional, and general libraries, all levels.' -- L Swatzell, Southeast Missouri State University * Choice, v 47, No 10 *'...well organized, and presents something for everyone. It should be said right away that this is far from a typical ôchemistryö book due to both the varied content and the style of presentation....it all works rather well together; it is a fine example of how complex chemistry can be contextualized in a fascinating and often entertaining way.' -- Derek A Pratt * Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2010, 49, 2 *'There is some fascinating chemistry told here. Both the chemistry itself and the story of its revelation are given in detail.Within the book there are some fascinating anecdotes - a town in America where it is illegal to attend a theatre after eating raw onions, the resigned reflection that despite its benefits 'garlic mouthwash is unlikely to be a winning consumer product' and the warning that garlic in your socks will come out on your breath. Now there's an experiment any of us can try.' -- David Quick * Education in Chemistry *'...enjoyment of this book should not be limited to scientists. The book is a virtual encyclopedia of garlic and onion facts, and while it may make a necessary addition to the food chemistÆs library, it is something that any foodie, especially a garlic lover, can enjoy.' -- Thomas J Mansell * Food and Foodways, 18: 3, 170-172 *This is a fascinating book written by an authority on the chemistry of the edible alliums, which include garlic, onions, leeks and chives. The book is well written and up-to-date. I can thoroughly recommend this book not just to natural product chemists but also to all those who have grown these plants in the garden or enjoyed eating them. It contains many anecdotes and quotations to enliven a chemist's dinner party. -- Jim Hanson * Chemistry World *What do garlic and onions have in common with gunpowder? A lot. TheyÆre incendiary. They can do harm and they delight. Sulfur is central to their powers. And they helped inspire the work of a chemist who has just published a welcome treatise on the smelly yet indispensable allium family. Dr. BlockÆs book may be the definitive word on the alliums for the moment, but as it and he make clear, there are new flavors to look forward t. -- Harold McGee * The New York Times *This book by Eric Block is a synthesis of his four decades of distinguished work with alliums.His account of this ever-increasing knowledge is accessible and will even entertain readers without a deep knowledge of chemistry.Block may look at the world through garlic-tinged lenses, but in this book he is very good at getting readers to see it his way -- Meriel Jones * Chemistry and Industry *Table of Contents1. Allium Botany and Cultivation, Ancient and Modern; 2. All Things Allium: Alliums in Literature, the Arts and Culture; 3. Allium Chemistry 101: Historical Highlights, Fascinating Facts and Unusual Uses for Alliums; 4. Chemistry in a Salad Bowl: Allium Chemistry and Biochemistry; 5. Alliums in Folk and Complementary Medicine; 6. Alliums in the Environment: Allelopathy and Allium-Derived Attractants, Antibiotics, Herbicides, Pesticides and Repellents

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Book SynopsisThis is a graduate text on turbulent flows, an important topic in fluid dynamics. It is up-to-date, comprehensive, designed for teaching, and is based on a course taught by the author at Cornell University for a number of years. The book consists of two parts followed by a number of appendices. Part I provides a general introduction to turbulent flows, how they behave, how they can be described quantitatively, and the fundamental physical processes involved. Part II is concerned with different approaches for modelling or simulating turbulent flows. The necessary mathematical techniques are presented in the appendices. This book is primarily intended as a graduate level text in turbulent flows for engineering students, but it may also be valuable to students in applied mathematics, physics, oceanography and atmospheric sciences, as well as researchers and practising engineers.Trade Review'Probably the most popular text in turbulent fluid mechanics for the past thirty years has been Tennekes and Lumley. Now Lumley's colleague Pope has produced a much more complete work and one that is up to date. Designed as a graduate text, it is a massive work that covers most of what an engineer needs to know about the subject … there is no book that provides as broad coverage as this one and yet provides reasonable depth … There are also problems interspersed throughout the book. They make this an excellent textbook that can be heartily recommended to anyone teaching a course in this subject. it is the best book on the market today that covers the entire field and should be adopted for courses, especially since the paperback edition is priced quite reasonably for the size on the book.' Joel H. Ferziger, International Journal of Mutliphase Flows'The deficiency for students of engineering and applied science is the dearth of material on turbulence modeling. Pope has remedied that situation by adjoining a survey of ideas on closure modeling to an introduction to turbulence theory ... This book is a welcome addition to the literature on turbulence. It will serve well as a textbook.' Journal of Fluid Mechanics'… excellent and readable treatment of fundamentals … The lucid and up-to-date discussion - which will appeal to researchers and engineers alike - is a bonus.' Peter Lindstedt, New Scientist'… the text can be classified as one of the pearls in the field.' Applied Mechanical Review'The engineering student who diligently follows and works through the book should acquire a substantial degree of competence in understanding the behaviour and fundamental physical processes involved in turbulent flows and getting familiar with the various approaches for modelling or stimulating turbulent flows. It shall be valued greatly by students in applied mathematics, physics, oceanography, and atmospheric sciences, as well as researchers, and practicing engineers. Acquainting oneself with this book should be a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. Indeed a welcome and distinct addition to the literature on turbulence. It will serve well as an impressive textbook admirably making up for the dearth of material on turbulence modelling.' Current Engineering Practice'This is a graduate-level textbook based on a graduate course, and it will be useful for that purpose … what it does it does well. One hopes it will be widely read.' The Times Higher Education Supplement'… comprehensive textbook … suitable to engineering students at graduate level … this well-organized and clearly written book can be highly recommended to students and researchers with an interest in turbulence, and to all teaching the subject.' Oleg Titow, Zentralblatt MATH'It was a pleasure to read this important book … exceptionally clear presentation, together with an often penetrating critique of both classical methods and recent developments in the theory and modelling of turbulent flows … I strongly recommend this book to advanced students of fluid mechanics, to their teachers and to all researchers, engineers and others with a professional interest in turbulent flows.' K. N. C. Bray, Measurement, Science & TechnologyTable of ContentsPreface; Nomenclature; Part I. Fundamentals: 1. Introduction; 2. The equations of fluid motion; 3. Statistical description of turbulence; 4. Mean flow equations; 5. Free shear flows; 6. The scales of turbulent motion; 7. Wall flows; Part II. Modelling and Simulation: 8. Modelling and simulation; 9. Direct numerical simulation; 10. Turbulent viscosity models; 11. Reynolds-stress and related models; 12. PDF models; 13. Large-eddy simulation; Part III. Appendices; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisAlkylation of Enolates and Other Carbon Nucleophiles.- Reactions of Carbon Nucleophiles with Carbonyl Compounds.- Functional Group Interconversion by Substitution, Including Protection and Deprotection.- Electrophilic Additions to Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds.- Reduction of Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds, Carbonyl Groups, and Other Functional Groups.- Concerted Cycloadditions, Unimolecular Rearrangements, and Thermal Eliminations.- Organometallic Compounds of Group I and II Metals.- Reactions Involving Transition Metals.- Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions of Compounds of Boron, Silicon, and Tin.- Reactions Involving Carbocations, Carbenes, and Radicals as Reactive Intermediates.- Aromatic Substitution Reactions.- Oxidations.- Multistep Syntheses.Trade ReviewFrom the reviews of the fifth edition: "Advanced Organic Chemistry … the well-known textbook for graduate students – has now appeared in a 5th edition. … Carey & Sundberg will be interesting to all students who seek a detailed understanding of organic chemistry, and who wish to refresh and embellish their existing knowledge. On the strength of the scope and quality of the explanations, this pair of texts is recommended for use as the resource of first resort for specific research questions in one’s later career." (www.organische-chemie.ch, January, 2008)Table of ContentsAlkylation of Enolates and Other Carbon Nucleophiles.- Reactions of Carbon Nucleophiles with Carbonyl Compounds.- Functional Group Interconversion by Substitution, Including Protection and Deprotection.- Electrophilic Additions to Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds.- Reduction of Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds, Carbonyl Groups, and Other Functional Groups.- Concerted Cycloadditions, Unimolecular Rearrangements, and Thermal Eliminations.- Organometallic Compounds of Group I and II Metals.- Reactions Involving Transition Metals.- Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions of Compounds of Boron, Silicon, and Tin.- Reactions Involving Carbocations, Carbenes, and Radicals as Reactive Intermediates.- Aromatic Substitution Reactions.- Oxidations.- Multistep Syntheses.

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Book SynopsisIn this groundbreaking new book, one of the world''s greatest living scientists argues for the fundamental unity of all knowledge and the need to search for what he calls consilience, the composition of the principles governing every branch of learning. Edward O Wilson, the pioneer of sociobiology and biodiversity, once again breaks out of the conventions of current thinking. He shows how our explosive rise in intellectual mastery of the truths of our universe has its roots in the ancient Greek concept of an intrinsic orderliness that governs our cosmos. It is a vision that found its apogee in the Age of Enlightenment, then gradually was lost in the increasing fragmentation and specialisation of knowledge in the last two centuries. Professor Wilson shows why the goals of the original Enlightenment are surging back to life, why they are reappearing on the very frontiers of science and human scholarship, and how they are beginning to sketch themselves as the blueprint of our world.

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Bestseller. A “fascinating” (Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times) look at how digital technology is transforming our work and our lives.Trade Review"...set to be one of the zeitgeist works of 2014..." -- The Guardian"...an ambitious, engaging and at times terrifying vision of where modern technology is taking the human race...The authors may not have the solution to growing inequality, but their book marks one of the most effective explanations yet for the origins of the gap." -- The Economist"Brynjolfsson and McAfee started to lay out their vision of the challenges of the technological revolution more than three years ago. But their broadly optimistic book is still one of the best summaries of the debate about the impact of digital change on our future job prospects and prosperity." -- Andrew Hill, Best Books of 2014 - Financial Times"...a fascinating book..." -- Roger Bootle - The Telegraph"Crammed with analyses of everything from human–machine competition to the state of US education." -- Nature"...fascinating book..." -- John Lanchester - London Review of Books"The fear that robots will take over is, of course, as old as dystopian literature. The new and unheralded development is something called the Internet. This point is elegantly made in a suddenly ubiquitous new book called The Second Machine Age, by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology." -- Evening Standard"...one of last year's most important books..." -- New Statesman"...influential..." -- The Observer"...it [The Second Machine Age] feels like a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers." -- The Huffington Post"My favourite and most revealing book of the year was not a novel but a non-fiction publication... a book that throws you off-balance while reading. Different to other publications, it is not only a real analysis and well-researched perspective, but also utterly optimistic." -- The Art Newspaper"...brilliant new book." -- The Evening Standard"... the most influential recent business book..." -- The Economist

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Book SynopsisThis book describes and illustrates the results of more than 15 years of elegant experimental studies conducted by the author to investigate how a colony of bees is organized to gather its resources. The results of his research offer the clearest, most detailed picture available of how a highly integrated animal society works.Trade ReviewSeeley’s well-developed cycle of observation and experiment, modelling, computer simulation and prediction formulation shows an exemplary approach to sociobiology… The book is clearly a labour of love, recounting marvels of integration and making for a pleasing contrast to the spreading orthodoxy of the social insect colony as a cauldron of conflict, where insects stepping out of line are punished or have their eggs eaten. -- Ross H. Crozier * Nature *I recommend this book highly to behavioral biologists and all scientists interested in understanding the organization of complex systems, at both the macro- and microscopic levels… [An] important book… It is a labor of love that radiates Seeley’s passion both for his beloved honey bees and for the research that can be performed with them to illuminate the mysteries of social life. -- Gene E. Robinson * American Scientist *This book is about the inner workings of one of nature’s most complex animal societies: the honey bee colony. It describes and illustrates the results of more than fifteen years of elegant experimental studies conducted by the author. In his investigations, Thomas Seeley has sought the answer to the question of how a colony of bees is organized to gather its resources. The results of his research—including studies of the shaking signal, tremble dance, and waggle dance, and other, more subtle means by which information is exchanged among bees—offer the clearest, most detailed picture available of how a highly integrated animal society works. * American Bee Journal *[A] well-written book…contain[ing] a wealth of detail. * Apicultural Abstracts *They say good scientists are judged not by their answers but by their questions. By this measure Tom Seeley must be amongst the great bee scientists. He has asked the questions whose answers illustrate the great wisdom of the hive… Space here does not allow me to pay proper justice to this marvellous book. Most beekeepers already think their bees are pretty smart—this book will only increase your admiration. A good value textbook and essential reading for all who dare to lecture on honeybee biology. * Beekeeping & Development [UK] *A terrific contribution that will build on the work of Martin Lindauer and Karl von Frisch. Seeley stands on their shoulders, but he is seeing new vistas. Others have asked what bees know, but Seeley explores new ground, asking how bees handle information and how this leads to reallocation of labor in the hive. -- Timothy H. Goldsmith, Yale UniversityTable of ContentsPART I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Issues 1.1. The Evolution of Biological Organization 1.2. The Honey Bee Colony as a Unit of Function 1.3. Analytic Scheme 2. The Honey Bee Colony 2.1. Worker Anatomy and Physiology 2.2. Worker Life History 2.3. Nest Architecture 2.4. The Annual Cycle of a Colony 2.5. Communication about Food Sources 2.6. Food Collection and Honey Production 3. The Foraging Abilities of a Colony 3.1. Exploiting Food Sources over a Vast Region around the Hive 3.2. Surveying the Countryside for Rich Food Sources 3.3. Responding Quickly to Valuable Discoveries 3.4. Choosing among Food Sources 3.5. Adjusting Selectivity in Relation to Forage Abundance 3.6. Regulating Comb Construction 3.7. Regulating Pollen Collection 3.8. Regulating Water Collection Summary PART II. EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS 4. Methods and Equipment 4.1. The Observation Hive 4.2. The Hut for the Observation Hive 4.3. The Bees 4.4. Sugar Water Feeders 4.5. Labeling Bees 4.6. Measuring the Total Number of Bees Visiting a Feeder 4.7. Observing Bees of Known Age 4.8. Recording the Behavior of Bees in the Hive 4.9. The Scale Hive 4.10. Censusing a Colony 5. Allocation of Labor among Forage Sites How a Colony Acquires Information about Food Sources 5.1. Which Bees Gather the Information? 5.2. Which Information Is Shared? 5.3. Where Information Is Shared inside the Hive 5.4. The Coding of Information about Profitability 5.5. The Bees' Criterion of Profitability 5.6. The Relationship between Nectar-Source 5.7. The Adaptive Tuning of Dance Thresholds 5.8. How a Forager Determines the Profitability of a Nectar Source Summary How a Colony Acts on Information about Food Sources 5.9. Employed Foragers versus Unemployed Foragers 5.10. How Unemployed Foragers Read the Information on the Dance Floor? 5.11.

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Book Synopsis Biocentrism shocked the world with a radical rethinking of the nature of reality. But that was just the beginning. In Beyond Biocentrism, acclaimed biologist Robert Lanza, one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in 2014," and leading astronomer Bob Berman, take the reader on an intellectual thrill-ride as they re-examine everything we thought we knew about life, death, the universe, and the nature of reality itself.The first step is acknowledging that our existing model of reality is looking increasingly creaky in the face of recent scientific discoveries. Science tells us with some precision that the universe is 26.8 percent dark matter, 68.3 percent dark energy, and only 4.9 percent ordinary matter, but must confess that it doesn't really know what dark matter is and knows even less about dark energy. Science is increasingly pointing toward an infinite universe but has no ability to explain what that really means. Concepts such as time, space, and even causality are increasingly being demonstrated as meaningless.All of science is based on information passing through our consciousness but science hasn't the foggiest idea what consciousness is, and it can't explain the linkage between subatomic states and observation by conscious observers. Science describes life as a random occurrence in a dead universe but has no real understanding of how life began or why the universe appears to be exquisitely designed for the emergence of life.The biocentrism theory isn't a rejection of science. Quite the opposite. Biocentrism challenges us to fully accept the implications of the latest scientific findings in fields ranging from plant biology and cosmology to quantum entanglement and consciousness.By listening to what the science is telling us, it becomes increasingly clear that life and consciousness are fundamental to any true understanding of the universe. This forces a fundamental rethinking of everything we thought we knew about life, death, and our place in the universe.Trade Review"Lanza and Berman employ cutting edge science to rediscover ancient truths about life and death and reconceptualize our very notions of reality and consciousness. Beyond Biocentrism is an enlightening and fascinating journey that will forever alter your understanding of your own existence."—Deepak Chopra"This intriguing and provocative book will challenge some of what you know and push you into rethinking your view of science—all the while entertaining you with a fast-paced, exhilarating narrative journey."—David J. Eicher, editor in chief, Astronomy Magazine"Beyond Biocentrism is a joyride through the history of science and cutting-edge physics, all with a very serious purpose: to find the long-overlooked connection between the conscious self and the universe around us."—Corey S. Powell, former editor-in-chief, Discover magazine"[Beyond Biocentrism] offers a neurobiological point of view to help answer questions about the world around us. Lanza and Berman make the journey towards a better understanding of the role of consciousness and perception. . . . A fun read."—Kwang-Soo Kim, professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, and director, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital "Lanza and Berman's latest statement of their theory of ‘biocentrism' changes the way we think about age-old religious questions such as the origin of the universe and human immortality. Based on cutting edge work in physics and biology and explained with exceptional clarity, Beyond Biocentrism is a must-read for anyone interested in science and religion."—Ronald M. Green, professor emeritus for the study of ethics and human values, and former chairman of the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College "Will machines ever achieve consciousness? Are plants aware? Is death an illusion? These are some of the big questions tackled in Beyond Biocentrism, which serves up a new, biology-based theory of everything that is as delightful to read as it is fascinating. Tremendously clear and lovely writing—a huge achievement."—Pamela Weintraub, psychology & health editor for Aeon Magazine, former Executive Editor of Discover Magazine and former editor in chief of OMNI MagazinePraise for Biocentrism:"An extraordinary mind. . . . Having interviewed some of the most brilliant minds in the scientific world, I found Dr. Robert Lanza's insights into the nature of consciousness original and exciting. His theory of biocentrism is consistent with the most ancient traditions of the world which say that consciousness conceives, governs, and becomes a physical world. It is the ground of our Being in which both subjective and objective reality come into existence."—Deepak Chopra"This is a brave new book. Instead of placing life as an accidental byproduct, the authors place life at the apex of universal existence and purpose. It is a very thrilling and disturbing read. While the proposals made in Biocentrism seem radical and counter-intuitive at first, a bit of reflection will soon make the images clearer and place us on the pathway to a better and more commonsensical mindset."—Michael Gooch, author of Wingtips with Spurs"Both interesting and worth the effort of reading it . . . From the way [Lanza] chooses to present his arguments, it's clear he has a solid grasp of esoteric disciplines . . . His style is conversational . . . And his sense of wonder . . . is as infectious as it is delightful."—Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is an exceptional collection of photos... The photos are printed at extremely high resolutions. That many photos and so many birds in 443 pages is asking a lot, but all is crisply delivered."--Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune's Wingnut blogTable of ContentsIntroduction 6 Species descriptions 12 Swans 12 Geese 14 Shelducks 21 Dabbling ducks 22 Whistling ducks 28 Diving ducks 28 Sea ducks 34 Stifftails 41 Vagrant and exotic ducks 42 Gamebirds 45 Divers (Loons) 55 Grebes 58 Shearwaters and petrels 61 Storm-petrels 66 Rare petrels and albatrosses 67 Frigatebirds 75 Tropicbirds 76 Gannets and boobies 77 Pelicans 80 Cormorants 81 Herons, bitterns and egrets 83 Storks 93 Spoonbills and ibises 94 Spoonbills and storks 96 Flamingos 97 Honey-buzzards 99 Buzzards 101 Snake eagles 105 Kites 106 Vultures 108 Harriers 113 Eagles 117 Osprey and Black-shouldered Kite 126 Accipiters 127 Falcons 129 Rails, crakes and gallinules 137 Cranes 143 Bustards 145 Oystercatcher and Turnstone 148 Stilts and avocets 149 Stone-curlews and coursers 150 Pratincoles 151 Plovers and lapwings 153 Sandpipers 162 Woodcocks and snipes 173 Dowitchers and Upland Sandpiper 176 Godwits 177 Curlews 178 Larger sandpipers 180 Phalaropes 185 Skuas (Jaegers) 187 Gulls 190 Terns 211 Auks 222 Sandgrouse 227 Pigeons and doves 229 Parakeets 234 Cuckoos 235 Owls 238 Nightjars 246 Swifts 248 Contents Kingfishers 251 Rollers 253 Bee-eaters 254 Hoopoe 255 Woodpeckers 256 Larks 262 Swallows and martins 269 Pipits 274 Wagtails 279 Accentors 284 Wren and Dipper 286 Robins and chats 287 Redstarts 291 Stonechats 295 Wheatears 298 Rock thrushes 303 Thrushes 304 Bush warblers and cisticolas 311 Grasshopper warblers 312 Reed warblers 315 Tree warblers 320 Sylvia warblers 324 Leaf warblers 333 Crests 341 Old World flycatchers 343 Tyrant flycatchers 348 Penduline tit and leiothrix 350 Reedling and parrotbill 351 Long-tailed tit 352 Tits 353 Nuthatches 358 Treecreepers 360 Wallcreeper and Golden Oriole 361 Shrikes 362 Crows and jays 370 Starlings 377 Waxwings 379 Bulbuls and mynas 381 Sparrows 382 Introduced exotic finches 386 Finches 389 Buntings 404 Vagrant Nearctic passerines 417 New World warblers 433 Index 434 Photographic credits 444

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Book SynopsisSome 250 million years ago, the earth suffered the greatest biological crisis in its history. Around 95 percent of all living species died out--a global catastrophe far greater than the dinosaurs' demise 185 million years later. How this happened remains a mystery. But there are many competing theories. Some blame huge volcanic eruptions that coverTrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2006 "Theories and mysteries can be dispelled with good data from the geologic record, and Erwin (a paleobiologist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History) offers an authoritative account of the search for these data and for the cause of the extinction... Extinction provides a great reference for researchers and the interested lay reader alike."--Andrew M. Bush, Science "Extinction is a very enjoyable read... It provides a thoroughly up-to-date account of the causes of the end-Permian event and the developments in the field since 1993 as seen through the eyes of one of the key players... Extinction leaves the reader with the (accurate) picture that here is a scientist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of the greatest extinction event known to science... [A] readable and scholarly account."--Richard J. Twitchett, American Scientist "Douglas Erwin's geological mystery story is engrossing. It contains a tribute to the scientific method--and also the collaborations of research. The book ends with Erwin warning that the Earth is arguably entering another mass extinction period, this time unnatural and man-made. And this time the destruction may well be total."--Lucy Sussex, The Age (Sunday edition) "Douglas H. Erwin, a Smithsonian paleobiologist and one of the leading experts on the Permian extinction has meticulously sifted through the evidence... His accessible new book, Extinction--written, it seems, both to persuade his colleagues and to educate a lay audience--is told from the perspective of a forensic scientist trying to piece together a quarter-billion-year-old crime scene."--Joshua Foer, Washington Post Book World "Douglas Erwin describes how life on Earth was nearly destroyed at the end of the Permian period, 250 million years ago... The author ... explain[s] what this paleontological, as well as geological, evidence can tell scientists about the dramatic and deadly shift in the Earth's environment."--Science News "No one can tell this story better than Douglas Erwin. His book is a superbly written account of what we know about the Permian extinctions... More than a geological story, this book is an excellent model of how science addresses complicated questions."--Choice "This book does not justify a single, accepted causal sequence of events ... to account for the end-Permian extinction. Instead, Erwin dissects the evidence for and against each hypothesis, impartially weighing their strengths and weaknesses. Although this book may frustrate readers expecting to learn how life nearly ended 250 million years ago, it will reward them with a fascinating case study in scientific inference, a case that remains very much open."--John P. Hunter, Quarterly Review of Biology "Erwin's book is science writing for the general public at its best and most lucid. Entertaining, informative, and thought provoking."--Northeastern Naturalist "Erwin offers a thorough overview of one of the most interesting problems in earth history... Erwin takes the readers on an insider's journey that includes adventures in the field, tedious hours in the laboratory, and stimulating but sometimes contentious exchanges among colleagues at scientific meetings. He gives rigorous consideration to every reasonable hypothesis... Erwin's short course is a professional service for geologists (like me) who have read only some of the primary literature on the end-Permian extinction."--Stephen O. Moshier, Books & Culture "For scientists as well as general educated readers, this book enlightens its readers to the complexity of the largest biological crisis the earth has yet seen."--H.J.M. Meijer, PalArch's Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology "I recommend Extinction: How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago to scientists and nonscientists alike. It provides a clear, comprehensive, and compelling introduction to the greatest catastrophe in the history of animal life and proposes a reasonable hypothesis for the cause of the extinction that will undoubtedly be tested vigorously with new data in the coming decade."--Jonathan L. Payne, ComplexityTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Preface to the New Paperback Edition ix CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1 CHAPTER 2: A Cacophony of Causes 17 CHAPTER 3: South China Interlude 59 CHAPTER 4: It's a Matter of Time 77 CHAPTER 5: Filter Feeding Fails 98 CHAPTER 6: South African Eden 124 CHAPTER 7: The Perils of Permian Seas 161 CHAPTER 8: Denouement 187 CHAPTER 9: Resurrection and Recovery 218 CHAPTER 10: The Paradox of the Permo-Triassic 245 Notes 263 References 275 Index 293

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Book SynopsisEinstein said that the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible. But was he right? Can the quantum theory of fields and Einstein's general theory of relativity, the two most accurate and successful theories in all of physics, be united into a single quantum theory of gravity? Can quantum and cosmos ever be combineTrade Review"This elegant little volume provides a clear account of two approaches to some of the greatest unsolved problems of gravitation and cosmology."--John Barrow, New Scientist "A debate between Hawking and Penrose ... raises the reader's expectations of a lively interaction, and this is fully bourne in the transcribed discussion... Hawking's effervescent sense of humour frequently enlivens the text."--Joseph Silk, Times Higher Education Praise for Princeton's previous editions:: "If there were such a thing as the World Professional Heavyweight Theory Debating Society, this would be the title bout."--Christopher Dornan, Toronto Globe & Mail Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "This is a very courteous and intellectually stimulating exchange between two first-rate minds."--Library Journal Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "This is an interesting book to read now, but it promises to become an even more interesting book for future generations of physicists."--Robert M. Wald, Science Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "As well as providing an accurate scientific record of the lectures, the text has lost none of the drama of the original occasion, which stemmed from the almost antithetical views of the two protagonists on almost everything except the classical theory of general relativity."--Gary Gibbons, Physics World Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "I found great satisfaction and not inconsiderable benefit from my efforts... The clarity and brilliance of Hawking's logic would break through in simple straightforward terms... This provided a real thrill."--Lucy Horwitz, Boston Book ReviewTable of ContentsForeword by Michael Atiyah vii Acknowledgments ix CHAPTER ONE Classical Theory, Stephen Hawking 3 CHAPTER TWO Structure of Spacetime Singularities, Roger Penrose 27 CHAPTER THREE Quantum Black Holes, Stephen Hawking 37 CHAPTER FOUR Quantum Theory and Spacetime, Roger Penrose 61 CHAPTER FIVE Quantum Cosmololgy, Stephen Hawking 75 CHAPTER SIX The Twistor View of Spacetime, Roger Penrose 105 CHAPTER SEVEN The Debate, Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose 121 AFTERWORD TO THE 2010 EDITION The Debate Continues, Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose 139 References 143

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Book SynopsisThis volume is a comprehensive review of current scientific knowledge about the world’s largest and most famous living reptiles.Trade ReviewBiology and Evolution of Crocodyliansis an expensive book, but it is one that will serve any paleontologist seeking a detailed review of all aspects of modern crocodylian biology. The photographs and illustrations also make it a very attractive book for any natural history enthusiast. -- Adam Pritchard * Palaeontologica Electronica *The author, Gordon Grigg, and illustrator, David Kirshner, have written a wonderful, beautifully illustrated, all-inclusive treatise on the Crocodylia that has already become (and will remain for the foreseeable future) the most important compilation of information and references yet attempted. It will be invaluable to both current researchers and future generations of crocodylian biologists.... [D]espite working in the area of crocodylian evolutionary biology for over 35 years, I learned more about these animals than I ever imagined by reading this volume.... Overall, this is a most remarkable publication, one that surely will stand the test of time and be remembered as one of the most important contributions ever in the history of crocodylian research. -- Llewellyn D. Densmore * The Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgements1. INTRODUCTION Introducing crocodylians The living species of crocodylians The growth of scientific knowledge about crocodylians Body size and age2. THE CROCODYLIAN FAMILY TREE The modern crocodylians and their relationships Extinct Crocodylia and other crocodile-like reptiles; crocs in 'deep time' Summary3. CROCODYLIANS CLOSER UP The external features of crocodylians Skull and musculoskeletal system4. LOCOMOTION, BUOYANCY, AND TRAVEL Crocodylians on land Crocodylians in the water Buoyancy Stomach stones (gastroliths) Capacity for long distance travel5. SENSORY SKILLS AND BRAIN Vision Hearing, movement and balance Brain and cranial nerves Olfaction and gustation (chemosensation) Sense organs of the skin Cognitive capacities and learning6. FEEDING, DIGESTION, AND NUTRITION What do crocodylians eat? Prey capture and handling Digestion Nutrition7. ENERGY SUPPLY AND DELIVERY The metabolic engines: crocodylian biochemistry and metabolism Whole body metabolism (anaerobic and aerobic) The respiratory system The circulatory system8. THE WORLD'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY HEART A tour of the crocodylian heart Non-shunting and shunting patterns of blood flow What is the significance of pulmonary by-pass shunting in crocodylians?9. DIVING AND SUBMERGENCE BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSIOLOGY When? Why? How deep? How, and how for so long? Diving behaviour of crocodylians in the wild Physiological support for crocodylian diving What are the longest submergences by crocodylians that can be supported aerobically?10. THERMAL RELATIONS Introduction: crocodylians are not like other reptiles Daily and seasonal patterns of body temperature Behaviours that modify body temperature Physiological mechanisms of thermoregulation Thermal acclimatization Crocodylians may have endothermic ancestry Could even the basal archosaurs have been endothermic?11. SALT AND WATER BALANCE Salt and water balance in Crocodylus porosus: an introduction to crocodylian osmoregulation Salt and water balance in other crocodylians Living out of water, 'aestivation' Salt glands and implications for crocodylian evolutionary history12. REPRODUCTION Introduction: they’re more like birds Oviducts, ovulation, fertilisation and the gravid stage13. POPULATIONS AND POPULATION ECOLOGY Populations (and species) Population dynamics: changes through time Case Histories14. CONSERVATION, COMMERCIALISATION, AND CONFLICT Introduction Historical perspective The future for crocodylians?INDEX

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Book SynopsisWhen this classic was first published in 1975, it created a new discipline and started a tumultuous round in the nature versus nurture debate. In the introduction to this edition, Wilson shows how research in human genetics and neuroscience over the past quarter of a century has strengthened the case for a biological understanding of human nature.Trade ReviewIt is impossible to leave Wilson’s book without having one’s sense of life permanently and dramatically widened. -- Fred Hapgood * The Atlantic *Rarely has the world been provided with such a splendid stepping stone for an exciting future of a new science. -- John Tyler Bonner * Scientific American *This book enthralls and enchants… If you have this book… you can begin getting your mind ready for the illuminations about human society. -- Lewis Thomas * Harper’s *Sociobiology is an excellent book, full of extraordinary insights, and replete with the beauty and poetry of the animal kingdom. * Times Literary Supplement *Its contents do indeed provide a new synthesis, of wide perspective and great authority… Wilson’s plain uncluttered prose is a treat to read, his logic is rigorous, his arguments are lucid. -- V. C. Wymne-Edwards * Nature *Sociobiology explores the possibility that animal social behaviour—group living, kinship, attraction and mating, reciprocity and sharing, cooperation, conflict, and cheating, to name just the most familiar—has a genetic basis and can be shaped by natural selection: genes can be shaped by natural selection: genes can code for social behaviours in the same way that they code for body parts such as hands, hooves, eyes, antlers and ears. But, in an audacious final chapter, Wilson extended the analysis to humans: biology had grabbed our kinship, cooperation, mate preferences and the rest. Some branded Wilson and his ideas fascist, others as racist or guilty of genetic determinism. They are none of these things and, two Pulitzer Prizes later, Wilson has been vindicated… Wilson’s Sociobiology laid the foundations for a lifetime of meditations. -- Mark Pagel * Times Higher Education Supplement *A towering theoretical achievement of exceptional elegance… Like most great books, Sociobiology is unpedantic, lucid, and eminently accessible. -- Pierre L. van den Berghe * Contemporary Sociology *Sociobiology, a new concept, is one with extraordinary potential value for understanding and explaining human behavior. * Practical Psychology *This book will stand as a landmark in the comparative study of social behavior. * Quarterly Review of Biology *It’s been 25 years since E. O. Wilson wrote Sociobiology, naming a new science and starting it off with a bang—and a firestorm of protest. ‘Nurture!’ and ‘Nature!’ came the cries from every corner of the academic world, as the book became a causus belli for sociologists, feminists, human geneticists, and psychologists. -- Mary Ellen Curtin * Amazon.com *Table of Contents* Part I. Social Evolution *1. The Morality of the Gene *2. Elementary Concepts of Sociobiology *3. The Prime Movers of Social Evolution *4. The Relevant Principles of Population Biology *5. Group Selection and Altruism *6. Group Size, Reproduction, and Time-Energy Budgets * Part II. Social Mechanisms *7. The Development and Modification of Social Behavior *8. Communication: Basic Principles *9. Communication: Functions and Complex Systems *10. Communication: Origins and Evolution *11. Aggression *12. Social Spacing, Including Territory *13. Dominance Systems *14. Roles and Castes *15. Sex and Society *16. Paternal Care *17. Social Symbioses * Part III. The Social Species *18. The Four Pinnacles of Social Evolution *19. The Colonial Microorganisms and Invertebrates *20. The Social Insects *21. The Cold-Blooded Vertebrates *22. The Birds *23. Evolutionary Trends within the Mammals *24. The Ungulates and Elephants *25. The Carnivores *26. The Nonhuman Primates *27. Man: From Sociobiology to Sociology * Glossary * Bibliography * Index

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Book SynopsisA radical, yet accessible, new theory of the origins and future of the universe by two of the world's leading cosmologistsTrade ReviewA very readable tale of scientific investigation * DAILY EXPRESS *

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Book SynopsisEndorsed by Cambridge Assessment International Education to provide full support for Paper 4 of the syllabus for examination from 2020.Take mathematical understanding to the next level with this accessible series, written by experienced authors, examiners and teachers.- Improve confidence as a mathematician with clear explanations, worked examples, diverse activities and engaging discussion points. - Advance problem-solving, interpretation and communication skills through a wealth of questions that promote higher-order thinking. - Prepare for further study or life beyond the classroom by applying mathematics to other subjects and modelling real-world situations.- Reinforce learning with opportunities for digital practice via links to the Mathematics in Education and Industry's (MEI) Integral platform in the Boost eBook.**To have full access to the eBook and Integral resources you must be subscribed to both Boost and Integral. To trial our eBooks and/or subscribe to Boost, visit: www.hoddereducation.com/Boost; to view samples of the Integral resources and/or subscribe to Integral, visit integralmaths.org/internationalPlease note that the Integral resources have not been through the Cambridge International endorsement process. This book covers the syllabus content for Mechanics, including forces and equilibrium, kinematics of motion in a straight line, momentum, Newton's laws of motion, and energy, work and power.

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Book SynopsisDespite remarkable advances in astronomy, space research, and related technology since the first edition of this book was published, the philosophy of the prior editions has remained the same throughout. However, because of this progress, there is a need to update the information and present the new findings. In the fourth edition of Astronomy: Principles and Practice, much like the previous editions, the celebrated authors give a comprehensive and systematic treatment to the theories of astronomy.This reference furthers your study of astronomy by presenting the basic software and hardware, providing several straightforward mathematical tools, and discussing some simple physical processes that are either involved in the astronomer''s tools of trade or concerned in the mechanisms associated with astronomical bodies. The first six chapters introduce the simple observations that can be made by the eye as well as discuss how such observations were interpreted by previous civilizatiTrade Review"…The book is well organized and conveniently divided into four sections. … A feature of the text which I found particularly appealing was the almost conversational style in which it is written, … making it riveting reading. Another aspect which was striking was the manner in which the authors very successfully integrated historical and factual information. … the book provides first-year students with a solid basis on which to continue studies in astronomy or physics."-Physical Sciences Educational Reviews, Vol. 7, Issue 1, June 2006 "… the strengths of the old version have been retained … and the book has been brought up to date with, for example, the sections on CCDs and modern telescopes." - Vik Dhillon, Sheffield University, UK "Members will find themselves returning to it again and again for help with those really searching questions. A book worth considering." - Jeffrey Barham, Popular AstronomyTable of ContentsPart 1: Introduction. Part 2: The Celestial Sphere and ElementaryCelestial Mechanics. Part 3: Observational Techniques. Part 4: Experimental Work. Web Sites. Appendices. Bibliography. Answers to Problems. Index.

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Book SynopsisBruno Latour is among the most important figures in contemporary philosophy and social science. His ethnographic studies have revolutionized our understanding of areas as diverse as science, law, politics and religion.Trade Review"For those utterly bewildered yet enthralled or those who would simply like a guide to take them through the maze of Latour's writing, the work of De Vries offers the perfect answer. De Vries' great explanatory style and the clear guiding lines that the books sets out makes this a very valuable resource for anyone who wishes to study Latour without getting lost." Waterstones AmsterdamTable of ContentsPreface 1 Empirical philosophy 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Making Paris visible 1.3 The path towards 'empirical philosophy' 1.4 The power of addition 2 Science studies 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Sociology of Scientific Knowledge 2.3 An anthropologist visits a laboratory 2.4 Anatomy of a scientific paper 2.5 Realism in and about science 3 Science and society 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Pasteurization of France: War and Peace of Microbes 3.3 The Pasteurization of France: Irreductions 3.4 Another turn after the social turn 3.5 The turn to ontology 4 Another social science 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Deploying what makes up the social 4.3 Deploying how the social is stabilized 4.4 Shifting focus 5 A philosophy for our time 5.1 Introduction 5.2 We have never been modern 5.3 The modern Constitution 5.4 Relationism 5.5 Cosmopolitics 6 A comparative anthropology of the Moderns 6.1 Introduction 6.2 A research protocol for a comparative anthropology 6.3 'Empirical philosophy' redefined 6.4 Inquiring 'modes of existence' 6.5 The modern experience: fifteen modes 6.6 Facing 'Gaia' 7 Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRobots may one day rule the world, but what is a robot-ruled Earth like?Many think the first truly smart robots will be brain emulations or ems. Scan a human brain, then run a model with the same connections on a fast computer, and you have a robot brain, but recognizably human.Train an em to do some job and copy it a million times: an army of workers is at your disposal. When they can be made cheaply, within perhaps a century, ems will displace humans in most jobs. In this new economic era, the world economy may double in size every few weeks.Some say we can''t know the future, especially following such a disruptive new technology, but Professor Robin Hanson sets out to prove them wrong. Applying decades of expertise in physics, computer science, and economics, he uses standard theories to paint a detailed picture of a world dominated by ems.While human lives don''t change greatly in the em era, em lives are as different from ours as our lives are from those of our farmer and forager Trade ReviewHanson's predictions detail a world both uncanny and eerily familiar. * Mary Craig, Nature *Plenty of futurists and science fiction writers have toyed with the idea that the brains of particular humans could one day be scanned and uploaded into artificial hardware but Prof Hanson's take is different. His aim is to use standard theories from the physical, human and social sciences to make forecasts about how this technological breakthrough would really change our world * Sarah O' Connor, Financial Times *What is remarkable ... is not just the detail ... but the way he situates it within a perceptive analysis of our human past and present * Daniel J. Levitin, Wall Street Journal Europe *What happens when a first-rate economist applies his rigor, breadth, and curiosity to the sci-fi topic of whole brain emulations? This book is what happens. There's nothing else like it, and it will blow your (current) mind. * Andrew McAfee, Professor of Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology *Robin Hanson brings intelligence, imagination, and courage to some of the most profound questions humanity will be dealing with in the middle-term future. The Age of Em is a stimulating and unique book that will be valuable to anyone who wants to look past the next ten years to the next hundred and the next thousand. * Sean Carroll, Professor of Physics, California Institute of Technology, author The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself *A highly provocative vision of a technologically advanced future that may or may not come true — but if it does, we'll be glad Robin wrote this book now. * Marc Andreessen, cofounder Netscape, Andreessen Horowitz *Table of ContentsIntroduction Basics 1: Start 2: Modes 3: Framing 4: Assumptions 5: Implementation Physics 6: Scales 7: Infrastructure 8: Appearances 9: Information 10: Existence 11: Farewells Economics 12: Labor 13: Efficiency 14: Work 15: Business 16: Growth 17: Lifecycle Organization 18: Clumping 19: Groups 20: Conflict 21: Politics 22: Rules Sociology 23: Mating 24: Signals 25: Collaboration 26: Society 27: Minds Implications 28: Variations 29: Choices 30: Finale

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