Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisDrawing on historical and scientific accounts, as well as a rich trove of anecdotes, this title shows how scientists, amateur breeders, and countless anonymous farmers and gardeners slowly caused the evolutionary pressures of nature to be supplanted by those of human needs.Trade Review"Kingsbury's account should be required reading for students preparing for a future as a plant breeder, geneticist, or molecular biologist. Fortunately, that requirement should prove unnecessary - the book is engaging at many levels, and I expect many scientists and lay readers to pick it up on their own accord." (Science) "This engaging history of the genetic milestones and individuals that have shaped the field helps to fill a long-standing gap." (Choice) "Apart from the amazing factual content, [Hybrid] is also a tale of human endeavour that will fascinate all those who love a good story, and one that I know I shall want to return to time and again." (English Gardener) "The scope of this well-researched book is stunning; it is apparent that the work was a labor of love. Kingsbury is thorough, and each chapter is a rewarding feast of narrative and information.... Hybrid is a masterful work by an admirably ambitious author." (American Gardener) "Shoppers who shun genetically modified foods in favor of 'natural' fruits and veggies may be in for a surprise. Horticulturalist Kingsbury's lively history documents the history of human meddling with plant genes since the dawn of agriculture." (Discover)"

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

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Book SynopsisGathers essays that deftly navigate the spaces of science in this significant period and reveal how each is embedded in wider systems of meaning, authority, and identity. This title makes clear that the science of this era varied in its constitution and reputation in relation to place and personnel.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"In this cautionary if hopeful debut, environmentalist Rowan Wright urges society to take responsibility for the fate of the oceans. Despite the threat of climate change, ‘there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic,’ she notes, and practical solutions to undertake. . . . Perhaps Rowan Wright’s best suggestions are those that deal with individual actions and consumer decisions. Her discussion of sunscreen, for instance, urges people to shun the many popular brands containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can ‘disrupt coral reproduction and growth and exacerbate coral bleaching.’ Rowan Wright makes a strong case for how choices—big and small, collective and individual—can change the world."--Publishers Weekly;"Rowan Wright's book is a clear call to action to modernize the Law of the Sea so that it can deal with the changes in society, in the sea, on land, and in the atmosphere that have arisen since it came into force in 1994. This is the freshest, most sensible, and most optimistic perspective I have seen in a long time. I enjoy very much the positive, can-do approach. Very motivating."--Drew Harvell, Cornell University, author of A Sea of Glass and Ocean OutbreakTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Back-to-Front World 2. The Laws of Life 3. Teeming Seas 4. The Free Sea 5. Theory to Reality 6. Counteroffensive 7. Worrying about the Wrong Stuff 8. The Silver Bullet? 9. The Power of Many Small Changes 10. Finding Like Minds Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTracing the development of population genetics through the writings of such luminaries as Darwin, Galton, Pearson, Fisher, Haldane and Wright, this text sheds light on this complex field as well as its bearing on other branches of biology.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The questions he poses about the relationship between technical change and political power are pressing ones that can no longer be ignored, and identifying them is perhaps the most a nascent 'philosophy of technology' can expect to achieve at the present time."--New York Times Book Review "[Winner's] thoughtful, stylishly expressed essays . . . . are designed to wake people up to the semantic games policy-makers play; to goad people into thinking responsibly and contributing to decision making. In this he succeeds very well."--Kirkus Reviews "With educated wit, home-grown insight, and even a bit of gallows humor, Winner strives to awaken us from our technological sleepwalking."--David F. Noble, author of America by Design "The Whale and the Reactor is the philosopher's equivalent of superb public history. In its pages an analytically trained mind confronts some of the most pressing political issues of our day."--Isis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Bioethicist and author Jessica Pierce has penned a wonderful guide to living life with dogs and improving your bond through respectful and joyful canine-human relationships. Who’s a Good Dog? examines how we can nurture kindness, attentiveness, and empathy when working, living, and training with our dogs." -- Connie Wilson * Modern Dog *"Pierce implores us to rethink our relationships with dogs, so that they become more a collaboration than a state of dominance. . . . This is far from being one of those ‘how to be a good parent’ books written by a perfect mother of a perfect child. Pierce admits that her own beloved rescue dog Bella is far from perfect when it comes to supposed ‘good’ behaviour. . . . One of the most delightful traits of dogs is . . . their sudden boundless joy, which can manifest itself by their zooming round and round in crazy circles for no reason, so it looks as if they’ve lost their mind. We should keep a list, Pierce advises, of what gives our dog pure, unbridled joy, and we should come back to it often. I’ll do just that. Dogs will be dogs." -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Daily Mail *"Bioethicist Pierce wants us to make the most of our nonhuman relationships. In Who's a Good Dog?, she argues all dogs are good dogs, and shows how to better serve their innate dogginess." * New Scientist, Best Non-fiction and Popular Science Books of 2023 *"Thought-provoking. . . . A fresh and rigorous inquiry into how humans can best serve their canine companions. Dog lovers will want to take note." * Publishers Weekly *"Deeply thought-provoking and frequently uncomfortable, this outstanding book asks readers to carefully consider not just the immediate physical needs of dogs but their emotional needs as canines and individuals. . . . This authoritative work asks how owners can provide their dogs with an environment to which comfortable, fulfilling adaptation is possible. Highly recommended." * Library Journal (starred review) *“How can we help our dogs live their best lives? With enormous insight and empathy, Pierce explains that rather than aiming for obedience from our dogs, we can work collaboratively with them to discover new and joyful ways of being together. She is a staunch advocate for honoring dogs’ true natures. I loved her kind and often humorous stories about living with Bella, who is a very good dog.” -- Barbara J. King, author of "Animals’ Best Friends: Putting Compassion to Work for Animals in Captivity and in the Wild"“Pierce is one of the leading canine bioethicists in the world. In Who’s a Good Dog? she carefully applies her deep and broad knowledge of ethics and dog behavior so that all canines—homed and free-ranging dog beings—can have the best lives possible, and so too can their human companions or the humans with whom they have contact. When dogs and humans form and maintain close, give-and-take relationships, it’s a win-win for all. In this landmark and readable book, Pierce tells us just how to do it.” -- Marc Bekoff, author of "Dogs Demystified" and "Canine Confidential"“Who’s a Good Dog? is sorely needed to fill essentially a void in the public conversation about the human-dog relationship. Pierce bravely asks us to examine our assumptions about our dogs’ emotional landscapes, and to consider our own actions and choices within those relationships. Her book is a comprehensive, accessible manual for people who have never before considered the basic ethical implications of living with a dog.” -- Lisa Moses, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics“An astonishing book. Reading Who’s a Good Dog? is akin to the project Pierce asks of us: to adopt a beginner’s mind in relation to understanding the dogs we live with. There’s a sense with many of the questions posed in the book that there is much more to say—but this is also its beauty, that with incredible restraint, Pierce has created opening after opening for us to do the work of reflection (and theorization) ourselves. Original, well-executed, and engaging.” -- Kathryn Gillespie, author of "The Cow with Ear Tag #1389"“A book that all loving pet owners should read.” * New Scientist, on "The Last Walk" *“There is of course so, so much more to enrichment for pets; I’d recommend starting with Pierce’s book if you want to know more.” * New York Magazine, on "Run, Spot, Run" *"Pierce’s book digs into understanding dogs, urging empathy and connection. She explores canine behavior, urging guardians to walk at the dog’s pace and embrace their nature. Her work transforms research into actionable guidance for fostering fulfilling relationships with our furry friends." * Longmont Leader *Table of ContentsIntroduction: We Dog Chapter 1: The Difficulty of Being a (Pet) Dog Chapter 2: Human-Dog Relations Chapter 3: Care and Constraint Chapter 4: Landscapes of Fear, Landscapes of Pleasure Chapter 5: Technologies of Control Chapter 6: Training Dogs to Be Good Chapter 7: Bad Dogs and Behavioral “Problems” Chapter 8: Dwelling in Possibility Acknowledgments Resources Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Yellowstone Wolves summarizes over two decades of hard work, involving dozens of dedicated scientists and advocates, to bring these wolves back to Yellowstone. . . . Their voices are skillfully combined to tell the many-faceted narratives in this marvelous book. . . . The overall success of this long-term effort provides information that will be of inestimable value to other restoration projects, sharing methods that can help wolves and humans coexist in a changing world and an example of what can happen if people unite to give Mother Nature a chance."--Jane Goodall, from the forewordTable of ContentsStudy Area Map A Note on Accompanying Video Robert K. Landis Foreword Jane Goodall Preface Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, and Daniel R. MacNultyPart 1 History and Reintroduction 1 Historical and Ecological Context for Wolf Recovery Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, Daniel R. MacNulty, and Lee H. Whittlesey Box 1.1 Wolf History and Surveys in Yellowstone National Park John Weaver 2 How Wolves Returned to Yellowstone Steven H. Fritts, Rebecca J. Watters, Edward E. Bangs, Douglas W. Smith, and Michael K. Phillips Box 2.1 To Reintroduce or Not to Reintroduce, That Is the Question Diane Boyd Guest Essay: Why Are Yellowstone Wolves Important? L. David MechPart 2 Behavioral and Population Ecology 3 Essential Biology of the Wolf: Foundations and Advances Daniel R. MacNulty, Daniel R. Stahler, Tim Coulson, and Douglas W. Smith 4 Ecology of Family Dynamics in Yellowstone Wolf Packs Daniel R. Stahler, Douglas W. Smith, Kira A. Cassidy, Erin E. Stahler, Matthew C. Metz, Rick McIntyre, and Daniel R. MacNulty Box 4.1 Naming Wolf Packs Daniel R. Stahler 5 Territoriality and Competition between Wolf Packs Kira A. Cassidy, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, Daniel R. MacNulty, Erin E. Stahler, and Matthew C. Metz Box 5.1 Auditory Profile: The Howl of the Wolf John B. Theberge and Mary T. Theberge 6 Population Dynamics and Demography Douglas W. Smith, Kira A. Cassidy, Daniel R. Stahler, Daniel R. MacNulty, Quinn Harrison, Ben Balmford, Erin E. Stahler, Ellen E. Brandell, and Tim Coulson Guest Essay: Yellowstone Wolves Are Important Because They Changed Science Rolf O. Peterson and Trevor S. PetersonPart 3 Genetics and Disease 7 Yellowstone Wolves at the Frontiers of Genetic Research Daniel R. Stahler, Bridgett M. vonHoldt, Elizabeth Heppenheimer, and Robert K. Wayne 8 The K Locus: Rise of the Black Wolf Rena M. Schweizer, Daniel R. Stahler, Daniel R. MacNulty, Tim Coulson, Phil Hedrick, Rachel Johnston, Kira A. Cassidy, Bridgett M. vonHoldt, and Robert K. Wayne 9 Infectious Diseases in Yellowstone’s Wolves Ellen E. Brandell, Emily S. Almberg, Paul C. Cross, Andrew P. Dobson, Douglas W. Smith, and Peter J. Hudson Guest Essay: Why Are Yellowstone Wolves Important? A European Perspective Olof LibergPart 4 Wolf-Prey Relationships 10 How We Study Wolf-Prey Relationships Douglas W. Smith, Matthew C. Metz, Daniel R. Stahler, and Daniel R. MacNulty Box 10.1 Nine-Three-Alpha Douglas W. Smith Box 10.2 The Bone Collectors Ky Koitzsch and Lisa Koitzsch 11 Limits to Wolf Predatory Performance Daniel R. MacNulty, Daniel R. Stahler, and Douglas W. Smith Box 11.1 Tougher Times for Yellowstone Wolves Reflected in Tooth Wear and Fracture Blaire Van Valkenburgh 12 What Wolves Eat and Why Matthew C. Metz, Mark Hebblewhite, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, Daniel R. MacNulty, Aimee Tallian, and John A. Vucetich Box 12.1 Bison in Wood Buffalo National Park L. N. Carbyn 13 Wolf Predation on Elk in a Multi-Prey Environment Matthew C. Metz, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, Daniel R. MacNulty, and Mark Hebblewhite Box 13.1 Generalizing Wolf-Prey Dynamics across Systems: Yellowstone, Banff, and Isle Royale Mark Hebblewhite Box 13.2 The Predator’s Perspective: Biomass of Prey Matthew C. Metz Box 13.3 Lessons from Denali National Park: Stability in Predator-Prey Dynamics Is a Pause on the Way to Somewhere Else Layne Adams 14 Population Dynamics of Northern Yellowstone Elk after Wolf Reintroduction Daniel R. MacNulty, Daniel R. Stahler, Travis Wyman, Joel Ruprecht, Lacy M. Smith, Michel T. Kohl, and Douglas W. Smith Box 14.1 Wolves and Elk in the Madison Headwaters Robert A. Garrott, P. J. White, Claire Gower, Matthew S. Becker, Shana Drimal, Ken L. Hamlin, and Fred G. R. Watson Box 14.2 Ecology of Fear Daniel R. Stahler and Daniel R. MacNulty Guest Essay: The Value of Yellowstone’s Wolves? The Power of Choice Michael K. PhillipsPart 5 Ecosystem Effects and Species Interactions 15 Indirect Effects of Carnivore Restoration on Vegetation Rolf O. Peterson, Robert L. Beschta, David J. Cooper, N. Thompson Hobbs, Danielle Bilyeu Johnston, Eric J. Larsen, Kristin N. Marshall, Luke E. Painter, William J. Ripple, Joshua R. Rose, Douglas W. Smith, and Evan C. Wolf Box 15.1 Long-Term Trends in Beaver, Moose, and Willow Status in the Southern Portion of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Daniel B. Tyers 16 Competition and Coexistence among Yellowstone’s Meat Eaters Daniel R. Stahler, Christopher C. Wilmers, Aimee Tallian, Colby B. Anton, Matthew C. Metz, Toni K. Ruth, Douglas W. Smith, Kerry A. Gunther, and Daniel R. MacNulty Guest Essay: Old Dogs Taught Old Lessons Paul C. PaquetPart 6 Conservation, Management, and the Human Experience 17 Wolves and Humans in Yellowstone Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, Rick McIntyre, Erin E. Stahler, and Kira A. Cassidy 18 The Wolf Watchers Nathan Varley, Rick McIntyre, and James Halfpenny Box 18.1 Bob Landis’s Yellowstone Wolves Documentaries 000 Box 18.2 Seeing Wolves Robert Hayes 19 Conservation and Management: A Way Forward Douglas W. Smith, P. J. White, Daniel R. Stahler, Rebecca J. Watters, Kira A. Cassidy, Adrian Wydeven, Jim Hammill, and David E. Hallac Guest Essay: Making Better Sense of Wolves Susan G. Clark Afterword Rebecca J. Watters, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, and Daniel R. MacNulty Acknowledgments Appendix: Species Names Used in the Text Literature Cited List of Contributors Author Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisBased on a study in the Serengeti National Park, this title describes the vast impact of the lion and other predators on the great herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle for which the area is famous. It includes the author's findings on various aspects of lion behavior, including its social system, population dynamics, and predation patterns.Trade Review"This book conveys not only the fascination of its particular study of lion behavior but the drama and wonder and beauty of the intimate interdependence of all living things." - Saturday Review "If you have only enough time to read one book about field biology, this is the one I recommend." - Edward O. Wilson, Science "This is an important book, not just for its valuable information on lions, but for its broad, open, and intelligent approach to problems that cut across the fields of behavior, populations, ecology, wildlife management, evolution, anthropology, and comparative biology." - Richard G. Van Gelder, Bioscience "By the time the reader has finished this book, the Serengeti, its landscapes, seasons, and wildlife, takes shape in the mind as a complex and epic poem, each part a function of every other part and each part a function of the whole." - George Stade, New York Times Book Review"

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Book SynopsisThis work offers a sustained exploration of modules from developmental and evolutionary perspectives. Contributors discuss what modularity is, how it can be identified and modeled, how it originated and evolved, and why it matters.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Weiser’s pioneering ideas, which he refined in the nineteen-eighties and nineties, led to the present-day Internet of Things, but his vision lost out to the surveillance-capitalist imperatives of Big Tech. Tinnell’s profound biography evokes an alternative paradigm, in which technology companies did not seek to monitor and exploit users." * New Yorker *"The story of Weiser’s undertaking is told by John Tinnell, a professor of English at the University of Colorado at Denver, in his new biography The Philosopher of Palo Alto, and it’s refreshingly strange. . . . Tinnell presents Weiser both as a progenitor of this state of affairs—his PARC was where 'the seeds for the Internet of Things had been sown”—and as the prophet of an alternative paradigm that might “hold some conceptual tenets for building a better Internet of Things today,' one that rejects 'total surveillance and zero privacy, runaway automation, and diminished agency.'” * New York Review of Books *"In the life of Mark Weiser, John Tinnell has found a morality tale for our times. For anyone looking to understand how technology is shaping society today, The Philosopher of Palo Alto is a compelling and necessary read." -- Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows and The Glass Cage"This riveting, up-close account reveals how one man’s dream of benevolent computing helped set us on the road to the hyper-connected, surveillance-driven nightmare we inhabit today. A deeply unsettling and cautionary tale." -- Fred Turner, author of From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism"Along with Doug Engelbart’s intelligence augmentation and Alan Kay’s Dynabook, Mark Weiser’s ubiquitous computing is one of the three big concepts that Silicon Valley has fed off of for decades. Tinnell has done a wonderful job of capturing the arc of Weiser’s ideas." -- John Markoff author of Whole Earth: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand“The Philosopher of Palo Alto is a really interesting read in the context of the latest developments in AI. I do have a boundless appetite for books about the history of the industry and was intrigued by this as I’d never heard of Mark Weiser. The reason for that gap, even though he ran the computer science lab at Xerox PARC, is probably that his philosophy of computing lost out. In a nutshell, he was strongly opposed to tech whose smartness involved making people superfluous.” -- Diane Coyle * Enlightened Economist *Table of ContentsPrologue Introduction: Googleville Chapter 1: Messy Systems Chapter 2: The Innovator as a Young Seeker Chapter 3: Asymmetrical Encounters Chapter 4: Tabs, Pads, and Boards Chapter 5: One Hundred Computers per Room Chapter 6: Retreat Chapter 7: Tacit Inc. Chapter 8: The Dangling String Chapter 9: Smarter Ways to Make Things Smart Chapter 10: A Form of Worship Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisScience is the study of our world, as it is in its messy reality. Nonetheless, science requires idealization to functionif we are to attempt to understand the world, we have to find ways to reduce its complexity. Idealization and the Aims of Science shows just how crucial idealization is to science and why it matters. Beginning with the acknowledgment of our status as limited human agents trying to make sense of an exceedingly complex world, Angela Potochnik moves on to explain how science aims to depict and make use of causal patternsa project that makes essential use of idealization. She offers case studies from a number of branches of science to demonstrate the ubiquity of idealization, shows how causal patterns are used to develop scientific explanations, and describes how the necessarily imperfect connection between science and truth leads to researchers' values influencing their findings. The resulting book is a tour de force, a synthesis of the study of idealization that alsoTrade Review“Angela Potochnik’s ambitious book is an antidote to the view that the philosophy of science tries to pronounce grandly on what scientists ought to do." -- Philip Ball * New Scientist *"In sum, this is a rich, well-argued book that articulates a coherent view of science and explicates the essential role of idealization in a world of cognitively limited people." -- Notre Dame Philosophical Review"In her exceptional book, Idealization and the Aims of Science, Angela Potochnik explores the nature of idealizations while accounting for why they are so ubiquitous. The picture of science that emerges from Potochnik’s work is that of a thoroughly human endeavor. Science is a tool that helps us navigate an extremely complex world. Potochnik’s picture of science is compelling and helps to ground an appreciation of how truly impressive the success of science is." * Science & Education *"This thought—that science makes the world’s complexity accessible to human understanding via idealization—is the central contention of Angela Potochnik’s ambitious, striking book." * Biology & Philosophy *"Why do scientists deliberately maintain falsehoods in their theories and models? Given the complexity of natural phenomena, scientists must simplify and generalize to isolate details from which causal patterns may be identified. Consequently, researchers must make choices about what to study and how; in doing so, the author argues, social values become entrenched in science. Potochnik contends that science doesn’t pursue truth directly but aims to support “human cognitive and practical ends.” Following several case studies of recent research in such diverse topics as behavioral ecology and human aggression, and—to a lesser extent—fluid dynamics, quantum physics, and climate change, the author offers a detailed exploration of how social values are linked to science. Arguing that science should be regarded as a tool to facilitate human action, Potochnik concludes that scientists should pursue research that advances both action and understanding. She defines the most valuable subjects as those of ethical concern—for example global climate change or studies involving human physiological and psychological health. Written primarily for philosophers of science, this text has practical implications for science practice. It will be of greatest benefit to advanced academics and active research scientists. Recommended." * Choice *"Idealization and the Aims of Science is a fantastic book. In it, Potochnik argues for a compelling, global picture of how science works – one that seeks to clarify how the practice of science relates both to human cognitive capacities and to the world we seek to understand. The book is ecumenical yet concise. It is broad but focuses on the details. It seeks to make generalizations about science, but it does so through diverse analyses of particular scientific practices. If one wanted a single book that summed up both the challenges and opportunities in current philosophy of science, one could hardly do better. . . . I expect that I will return to it frequently as I pursue my own projects for useful ideas, contrasting viewpoints, and helpful articulations of general principles. I can’t think of a better endorsement to give to a philosophical text." * Philosophy of Science *"A wonderful book. It is well informed by contemporary research from various sciences, and the discussion throughout is thoughtful and engaging. . . . The book is rare in that it is accessible enough that novices will be able to follow the main ideas and benefit from reading it, and yet it is rich enough that experts will profit from closely studying it. Potochnik’s book is a must read for those interested in idealizations." * Science & Education *"An impressive book that will not disappoint its readers in terms of its richness and ability to provoke new ideas on numerous topics in the philosophy of science." * Metascience *"Potochnik's book comes as a breath of fresh air in general philosophy of science, both because of the variety of examples examined and because of its approach, aimed at drawing attention to the fact that science is not an ahistorical and impersonal enterprise but is fully founded on the ideas, aspirations, and activities of those that make science: the scientists. . . . This book will be valuable reading for anyone who wonders what science is and why it constitutes the most privileged form of knowledge in our world today." * History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences *Table of ContentsPreface 1 Introduction: Doing Science in a Complex World 1.1 Science by Humans 1.2 Science in a Complex World 1.3 The Payoff: Idealizations and Many Aims 2 Complex Causality and Simplified Representation 2.1 Causal Patterns in the Face of Complexity 2.1.1 Causal Patterns 2.1.2 Causal Complexity 2.2 Simplification by Idealization 2.2.1 Reasons to Idealize 2.2.2 Idealizations’ Representational Role 2.2.3 Rampant and Unchecked Idealization 3 The Diversity of Scientific Projects 3.1 Broad Patterns: Modeling Cooperation 3.2 A Specific Phenomenon: Variation in Human Aggression 3.3 Predictions and Idealizations in the Physical Sciences 3.4 Surveying the Diversity 4 Science Isn’t after the Truth 4.1 The Aims of Science 4.1.1 Understanding as Science’s Epistemic Aim 4.1.2 Separate Pursuit of Science’s Aims 4.2 Understanding, Truth, and Knowledge 4.2.1 The Nature of Scientific Understanding 4.2.2 The Role of Truth and Scientific Knowledge 5 Causal Pattern Explanations 5.1 Explanation, Communication, and Understanding 5.2 An Account of Scientific Explanation 5.2.1 The Scope of Causal Patterns 5.2.2 The Crucial Role of the Audience 5.2.3 Adequate Explanations 6 Levels and Fields of Science 6.1 Levels in Philosophy and Science 6.2 Going without Levels 6.2.1 Against Hierarchy 6.2.2 Prizing Apart Forms of Stratification 6.3 The Fields of Science and How They Relate 7 Scientific Pluralism and Its Limits 7.1 The Entrenchment of Social Values 7.2 How Science Doesn’t Inform Metaphysics 7.3 Scientific Progress Acknowledgments List of Figures List of Tables Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the shell wars of hermit crabs to little blue penguins spying on potential rivals, power struggles in the animal kingdom are as diverse as they are fascinating, and this book illuminates their surprising range and connections. The quest for power in animals is so much richer, so much more nuanced than who wins what knock-down, drag-out fight. Indeed, power struggles among animals often look more like an opera than a boxing match. Tracing the path to power for over thirty different species on six continents, writer and behavioral ecologist Lee Alan Dugatkin takes us on a journey around the globe, shepherded by leading researchers who have discovered that in everything from hyenas to dolphins, bonobos to field mice, cichlid fish to cuttlefish, copperhead snakes to ravens, and meerkats to mongooses, power revolves around spying, deception, manipulation, forming alliances, breaking up alliances, complex assessments of potential opponents, building social networks, and more. PowerTrade Review"A scrupulously scientific but highly accessible tour of power’s manifestations among caribou, bonobos, deer, dolphins, hyenas, meerkats, mice, mongooses (mongeese?)—and those are just some of the mammals. . . . Readable and intellectually satisfying. . . . Compact but very gratifying. . . . True to its title, Power in the Wild doesn’t address Homo sapiens. But the anthropocentrically inclined will find that the power dynamics of nonhuman animals offer plenty of insight into our own, distorted a bit as in a funhouse mirror. For the open-minded, Dugatkin’s depiction of power in the wild yields a stunningly provocative reflection." -- David P. Barash * Wall Street Journal *“Power in the Wild, by behavioral ecologist Dugatkin, reveals the realpolitik behind the lives of sweet-looking creatures from meerkats to field mice, as he examines the eternal struggle for dominance in nature.” * New Scientist, "Don't Miss" *"While visiting a wolf research park in Austria, animal behaviorist Dugatkin was startled to see one male sitting on top of another, clamping its snout in its jaws. The park’s director assured him there was no harm involved, only a display of power. This theme defines Dugatkin’s engaging book, which is based on the work of many scientists with a huge range of animals from around the world, including baboons, dolphins, mongooses and ravens. 'Power pervades every aspect of the social lives of animals,' he says." -- Andrew Robinson * Nature *"From ants to cuttlefish to wolves, this entertaining book surveys various species’ strategies for maintaining control. . . . Dugatkin’s snappy prose enlivens his evolutionary explanations, as of a discussion of how new technology aids in data collection. He is deliberate about highlighting the work of women researchers. Power in the Wild is a charming tour through the wonderful, sometimes bizarre realities of animal behavior." * Foreword Reviews *"Power struggles in the animal kingdom are still not entirely understood, not least when they take place in many more arenas and forms than the most obvious one of physical conflict. Spying, deception, manipulation, shifting social networks—all these are covered here. The author looks at more than thirty species across six continents." * Bookseller *"This captivating, illuminating, and timely book explores how power is sought, attained, maintained, and transferred in nonhuman animal societies... This colorful journey through the deep evolutionary roots of power structures and the complex paths to higher social status will inspire behavioral scientists across disciplines, including ethologists, psychologists, and anthropologists, as well as adult readers with particular interest in animal behaviors... Highly recommended." * Choice *"Like cooperation, competition in the nonhuman world takes many forms. In Power in the Wild, biologist and science historian Dugatkin shows that strength and ruthlessness are only two of the many possible assets an organism may bring to a contest... Aided by new theories and, in many cases, new technologies and techniques, researchers are untangling the influences of genetics, hormone levels, and habitat on such behaviors, and investigating how changes in these and other factors may shift power dynamics over lifetimes and generations. As they do so, they uncover even more complexity in communities long assumed to be far simpler than ours. While Dugatkin's book is not about power in human communities, he is alert to the entrenched inequalities in science and makes a commendable effort to ensure that a large proportion of the voices in his book belong to women, younger scientists, and others too often denied full credit for their work." * Sierra *“Timely and fascinating. . . . Dugatkin’s book is great food for thought regarding the nature of power, equality, and equity, the origins of justice and the origins of sociality in animals—including our own species.” -- Sheng-Feng Shen, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan * Nature Ecology & Evolution *"It would have been easy for Dugatkin, given the scope of his book, to get bogged down in numbers, names, and details, producing a litany of 'gee whiz' facts without any connecting thread. . . . Yet, on the whole, he manages to balance scientific specificity with linguistic flourishes and descriptive details that kept me immersed. . . . Dugatkin's respect for the researchers behind the science also keeps the story moving. The book is as much a profile of them and their endeavors as the animals they study. . . . One of the real joys of the book, though, is Dugatkin's enthusiasm about the subject.” -- Leah Campbell * Earth Island Journal *"This engaging publication describes the ways animals use overt and subtle behaviors to assess and influence the behaviors of others. . . . Field accounts . . . offer firsthand and thoughtful perspectives into the role of power in the lives of nonhuman animals." -- Jennifer E. Smith * Quarterly Review of Biology *“A brilliant journey into the intricate dramas of animal behavior and evolution. Along the way, we also see the scientific process in vivid light, a wonderful exposition of how to deepen understanding of the living world.” -- David George Haskell, Sewanee: The University of the South, author of Pulitzer finalist "The Forest Unseen" and Burroughs medalist "The Songs of Trees"“Power, and the way it is won and lost, unites angelfish and weaverbirds, ravens and cockroaches. By revealing its stunning variety in nature, Dugatkin shows how power isn’t necessarily abusive, or ugly—it’s simply a fact of life. From confrontation to espionage, with coalitions formed and dissolved, his absorbing stories explore how animals juggle their relationships and play a long game.” -- Marlene Zuk, Regents Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, author of "Paleofantasy" and "Sex on Six Legs"“Entertaining anecdotes and scholarly science effortlessly entwine in this delightfully raucous romp through decades of research on the nature of power in the animal kingdom. A great read whether you’re a student, scientist, or amateur animal behavior enthusiast.” -- Athena Aktipis, Arizona State University, author of "The Cheating Cell"“‘Biology’ means ‘the study of life,’ and it requires the story of life. Admirers of Dugatkin’s acclaimed books such as How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog) know that he tells rousing stories about nature and how scientists decipher its mysteries. There could not be a more pervasive aspect of life than power dynamics, nor one that more greatly influences nature’s slow change over time. For fans of both science writing and nature writing, Power in the Wild teems with enough animals and scientists around the world to satisfy David Attenborough—whose urbane narration comes to mind as one enlightening glimpse of nature follows another in this lucid and lively celebration of nature's diversity.” -- Michael Sims, author of "Adam’s Navel" and "The Adventures of Henry Thoreau"Table of ContentsPreface 1 Chart a Path to Power 2 Weigh Costs and Benefits 3 Assess Thy Rivals 4 Watch and Be Watched 5 Build Alliances 6 Cement the Hold 7 Survive the Battles 8 Rise and Fall Afterword Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisA transnational approach to understanding and analyzing knowledge circulation. The contributors to this collection focus on what happens to knowledge and know-how at national borders. Rather than treating it as flowing like currents across them, or diffusing out from center to periphery, they stress the human intervention that shapes how knowledge is processed, mobilized, and repurposed in transnational transactions to serve diverse interests, constraints, and environments. The chapters consider both what knowledge travels and how it travels across borders of varying permeability that impede or facilitate its movement. They look closely at a variety of platforms and objects of knowledge, from tangible commoditieslike hybrid wheat seeds, penicillin, Robusta coffee, naval weaponry, seed banks, satellites and high-performance computersto the more conceptual apparatuses of plant phenotype data and statistics. Moreover, this volume decenters the Global North, tracking how knowledge movesTrade Review“Over the past decade, Krige has positioned himself as one of the foremost scholars investigating the seemingly simple yet, in truth, incredibly intricate and complicated issue of how and why knowledge moves around. Whereas his previous work focused on the power, utility and impact of scientific networks during the twentieth century, particularly in the nuclear field, Krige has now moved into the even broader field of knowledge mobility itself. . . . Similar to its predecessor, [Knowledge Flows in a Global Age] once again challenges us to rethink our taken-for-granted assumptions of how and why knowledge moves around, and what factors prevent it from doing so (or, more directly, what factors may deny the designation of knowledge in the first place). It is, for this reason, a richly stimulating collection the significance of which, true to its transnational outlook, transgresses standard disciplinary assumptions, disrupts interpretive frameworks and asks us to reconsider our own roles as academics in these processes.” * Annals of Science *“The volume shows clearly that the very idea of ‘progress’ is wrought with tension, where some actors are constricted by the liberal contractual framework and are expected to generate profits, while others seek to establish asymmetric relations in the contest for the military and technoscientific superiority. Knowledge Flows in a Global Age reads as a compendium of the complexities of transnational knowledge transfer questioning the notion of effortless globalization. It does important work that will certainly be useful for a wide range of scholarship.” * H-Diplo *"Krige and his collaborators have assembled a powerful array of studies that reconfigure conventional narratives about how knowledge flows. Divided among historical case studies related in some way or another to national and economic security, on the one hand, and agricultural exchanges, on the other, the volume avoids the usual binaries of Global North and Global South—or of guns and butter—emphasizing the efforts to block, shape, or redirect the flow of knowledge. The cast of characters and the variety of regions is massively expanded, to excellent effect." -- Michael D. Gordin, Princeton University“For too long, ‘global’ histories of science have envisioned an antiquated hydraulic mechanism, pumping out authorized knowledge from northern laboratories to southern deserts. At last, this book reveals instead the densely and intricately reticulated worldwide networks transmitting the concepts and practices of modern science. Abandoning the imperial optic for such multi-sited transnational perspectives makes global science look truly different and far more compelling." -- Warwick Anderson, University of Sydney"An excellent, absorbing, and refreshingly revisionist collection of cutting-edge studies by eminent scholars in the transnational history of modern science and technology, organized and edited by a pioneer in the field. Integrating enlightening empirical examinations with penetrating analyses, the volume illuminates brilliantly forces that both propelled and blocked knowledge flow across national borders." -- Zuoyue Wang, California State Polytechnic UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction Writing the Transnational History of Knowledge Flows in a Global Age John Krige Chapter 1 Knowledge, State Power, and the Invention of International Science Jessica Wang Part I: Regulating Transnational Knowledge Flows Chapter 2 Harnessing Invention: The British Admiralty and the Political Economy of Knowledge in the World War I Era Katherine C. Epstein Chapter 3 Culture Diplomacy: Penicillin and the Problem of Anglo-American Knowledge Sharing in World War II Michael A. Falcone Chapter 4 Dangerous Calculations: The Origins of the US High-Performance Computer Export Safeguards Regime, 1968–1974 Mario Daniels Chapter 5 Regulating the Transnational Flow of Intangible Knowledge of Space Launchers between the United States and China in the Clinton Era John Krige Part II: Facilitating Transnational Knowledge Flows Chapter 6 Beyond Borlaug’s Shadow: Mexican Seeds and the Narratives of the Green Revolution Gabriela Soto Laveaga Chapter 7 Moving Coffee from the Cloud Forests of Colonial Angola to the Breakfast Tables of Main Street America, 1940–1961 Maria Gago Chapter 8 Statistics and Emancipation from New Deal America to Guerrilla Warfare in Guinea-Bissau Tiago Saraiva Chapter 9 Security versus Sovereignty in a Palestinian Seed Bank Courtney Fullilove Chapter 10 How Data Cross Borders: Globalizing Plant Knowledge through Transnational Data Management and Its Epistemic Economy Sabina Leonelli Conclusion Decentering the Global North John Krige Acknowledgments Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisBy investigating a simple question, a philosopher of science and a molecular biologist offer an accessible understanding of microbial communities and a motivating theory for future research in community ecology. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, are important determinants of health at the individual, ecosystem, and global levels. And yet many aspects of modern life, from the overuse of antibiotics to chemical spills and climate change, can have devastating, lasting impacts on the communities formed by microorganisms. Drawing on the latest scientific research and real-life examples such as attempts to reengineer these communities through microbial transplantation, the construction of synthetic communities of microorganisms, and the use of probiotics, this book explores how and why communities of microorganisms respond to disturbance, and what might lead to failure. It also unpacks related and interwoven philosophical questions: What is an organism? Can a community evolve by natural Trade Review“This question is not just academic, but informs critical debates regarding medical interventions, evolution, and conservation. A must-read for evolutionary biologists, historians and philosophers of science, and a wider audience interested in the microbiome.” -- Jane Maienschein, Arizona State University and the Marine Biological Laboratory“The majority of the literature on microbial communities is descriptive, rather than conceptual or theoretical. This book is quite unique, and valuable, in providing a general cross-disciplinary approach to one aspect of microbial community ecology, potentially encouraging more rational, thoughtful, and critical research on this very important topic.” -- JI Prosser OBE FRS FRSE FRSB FAAM, University of Aberdeen“Going beyond definition wrangling, Inkpen and Doolittle synthesize a wide range of topics to put forward a compelling conclusion. Their book balances technicality and clarity in a way that is exceedingly hard to obtain.” -- Derek Skillings, University of North Carolina, GreensboroTable of Contents1 Regeneration 2 Ecology 3 Evolution 4 Interactors 5 Engineering Epilogue Acknowledgments Further Reading Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fascinating natural history of an incredibly curious substance. Preternaturally hardened whale dung is not the first image that comes to mind when we think of perfume, otherwise a symbol of glamour and allure. But the key ingredient that makes the sophisticated scent linger on the skin is precisely this bizarre digestive by-product-ambergris. Despite being one of the world's most expensive substances (its value is nearly that of gold and has at times in history been triple it), ambergris is also one of the world's least known. But with this unusual and highly alluring book, Christopher Kemp promises to change that by uncovering the unique history of ambergris. A rare secretion produced only by sperm whales, which have a fondness for squid but an inability to digest their beaks, ambergris is expelled at sea and floats on ocean currents for years, slowly transforming, before it sometimes washes ashore looking like a nondescript waxy pebble. It can appear almost anywhere but is foTrade Review"Christopher Kemp weaves fascinating facts about sperm whales (bulls weigh 50 tons and consume up to a ton of food a day), ambergris's central role in creating the world's perfumes, and personal reflections about his quest for ambergris into a pleasing, easy-flowing story. Much of the book recounts spectacular past and recent finds of ambergris and the secretive individuals who search for the elusive substance. They're so secretive that one collector reportedly walked backward to 'disguise the direction he was traveling.' And Kemp's descriptions of the close-mouthed ambergris traders provide a satisfying glimpse into a little-known parallel universe in which readers vicariously share the thrill of the hunt and dreams of fortune that drive the ambergris obsessed." * Publishers Weekly * "In this entertaining natural history, molecular biologist and columnist Christopher Kemp recounts two years of obsessively combing beaches and visiting tight-lipped experts to discover the secrets of the international ambergris trade." * Booklist * "Christopher Kemp holds no world records (well, except hands-down for the best book ever written about ambergris), but after a childhood in Birmingham he found himself at the University of Otago, on the South Island of New Zealand, where he began his obsessive quest for ambergris. . . .You probably haven't spent many sleepless nights wondering where ambergris comes from or what it smells like, but I know that Floating Gold will enchant and surprise you with its answers to these and countless other questions, and you will now be able to dazzle your uninformed friends who otherwise would know nothing about how faecal impactions and French perfume go together." -- Richard Ellis * Times (UK) * "Christpher Kemp's engrossing study takes us through history, tales of present-day hunters and cetacean science, poking its nose into the perfume industry on the way." * Nature * "Ambergris is the kind of singularity-in nature and in human affairs-that cries out for investigation by an obsessed scientist who can write well. In Christopher Kemp, the world's most lusted-after poop has found its man." * Maclean's * "Carefully and thoughtfully written, Christopher Kemp's Floating Gold can take a place on the bookshelf among my favorite natural histories. Those peer at their subject from many angles, combining facts with observations of the places and people that have become part of its history. Kemp (a molecular biologist) tells stories about ambergris: fragrant stuff, produced in the gut of the sperm whale, that for centuries has been both a prized commodity and a compellingly mysterious substance. . . . Floating Gold offers an enticing initiation into the shadowy and intriguing history of ambergris." * Science * "It's hard not to fall in love with ambergris, or the concept of ambergris as the unknowable embodiment of the sea, along with Christopher Kemp." * The Millions * "Kemp manages to infuse each windy walk on the shore with an air of true mystery. Each foray seems as if it could be the right one, and I found myself peeking at the end to find out whether or not he succeeds." * Weekly Standard * "The history that Kemp, a molecular biologist and journalist, presents here illustrates the process of how an understanding of natural history on any topic typically matures from its nascent, speculative beginnings. The relaxed writing style is characterized by a justly parsimonious ability to describe locations, objects, and people. Clearly, the author's observational skills are well honed." * Choice * "Floating Gold will appeal to those who have a keen interest in the ingredients that go into the perfumes that they love and wear. It will also make essential reading for any would-be perfumer or anyone with a keen interest in the natural (and unnatural) materials that make up the perfumers palette." * BaseNotes * "In this wonderful-and surprisingly gripping-book, Christopher Kemp examines the curious history of one of the world's rarest and most magical substances. This is natural history done well." -- Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein "Following on the scent of what must be the strangest known natural substance, Christopher Kemp's adventure-filled journey into the often-bizarre world of ambergris takes us from whale innards to remote islands. A compelling narrative, a detective story, and a wonderful window into history and obsession, Floating Gold has struck a rich oceanic seam. With its mixture of scientific rigor, evocative travelogue, and eccentric personalities, Kemp's book finally uncovers the secrets of this elusive and extraordinary stuff. His book lingers like the smell of ambergris itself." -- Philip Hoare, author of The Whale "Christopher Kemp's delightful pursuit of all things ambergris has resulted in a wonderful and engagingly personal book on one of the world's most mysterious and alluring substances. Floating Gold is a fascinating tale of obsession, the limits of science, avarice, suspicion, secrecy, and the desire to create the perfect perfume. It's a pleasure to read." -- Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan: A History of Whaling in America "Occupying a near-mythical niche somewhere between truffles and unicorn's horn, ambergris is one of the rarest, most valuable substances in nature. It is also one of the most poorly understood-until now. With Floating Gold, Kemp has assembled the first comprehensive picture of a unique substance-an essence, really-that has inspired obsession and jealous secrecy for centuries and that, to this day, remains as precious as gold. With humor, insight, and the dogged determination of a Victorian scientist, Kemp takes us around the world and into the arcane and obsessive demimonde of ambergris seekers, traders, and high-end parfumiers. In so doing, he illuminates a world previously known to only a handful of people." -- John Vaillant, author of The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival "Ambergris! Perhaps nature's strangest and rarest gift-one could walk the shores for a lifetime and come up empty-handed. Christopher Kemp's lovely quest tale put me in mind of an afternoon, several years ago, when I opened a dusty letter in the archive of an old whale scientist: suddenly the room burst with the smell of violets, musk, and fresh-hewn wood. To the sheet was taped a little dab of greasy gum, with a note reading, 'Could this be it?' Indeed it was! Would that a little piece of the magic could be tipped inside every copy of Floating Gold. Read it, for it's as close as one can get without the stuff itself." -- D. Graham Burnett, author of The Sounding of the Whale: Science and Cetaceans inTable of ContentsPrologue: Wellington, 2008 Introduction: Marginalia 1 On Long Beach2 There Is a Piece at Rome as Big as a Man's Head3 The Beach Mafia4 It Looked like Roquefort and It Smelled like Limburger5 A Molecule Here and a Molecule There6 Close Encounters of the Ambergris Kind7 The Hopefuls8 On the Road9 Gone A-Whaling10 A Meeting Epilogue

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Split and Slice borrows new perspectives from a broad range of scholarly fields, generating a long list of cited authors who are rarely associated in the same book. Rheinberger moves easily from phenomenology to biology and from science to art, and vice versa. . . . The book is in a way exhaustive, addressing many of the most significant issues discussed in science studies during the last decades, for instance the importance of practice and technologies, the rich source of information represented by notebooks, and in par­ticular the protocols shared by the different members of a laboratory. Only Rheinberger could write such a book, which wanders between phenomenology and sociology of science, while still remaining engaging and attractive.” * Journal of the History of Biology *“What's in an experiment? In this English edition of Split and Splice: A Phenomenology of Experimentation, a leading historian and philosopher of biology returns in fine form to renew his long-standing plea for scholarly attention to the human and material elements shaping experimentation in the life sciences. In this book, Rheinberger again pulls from the primary literature with which he is most familiar, that in molecular biology, to probe how both research materials and researchers' encounters with them, through experiments, shape the emergence of scientific knowledge. . . . There is much of interest to the working biologist in Split and Splice. Rheinberger offers a convincing way of characterizing the biologist's role in her craft: She is the mediator between the real and the written; between the world of the living and the books and papers that, eventually, report new discoveries.” * FASEB Journal *“A highly original, systematically organized, and empirically enriched essay on scientific experimentation. . . . While its first part convinces with a precise and logically ordered analysis, the second part leads through a broad variety of philosophical thoughts and observa­tions. . . . The reader is taken on an impressive journey through the vast territo­ries of experimental knowledge cultures. And it adds to the surprises of the journey that each and every part of it is enriched with examples from the history of molecular biological experimentation.” * Minerva *“This book provides a captivating perspective on an essential area in the development of a comprehensive and cohesive epistemology of experimentation. Until now, this subject has only been approached in an incomplete and piecemeal manner. Therefore, this book is an absolute necessity for scholars seeking a holistic understanding of experimental practices, including those often overlooked aspects that are crucial for a true and impactful comprehension of the vital role that experiments play in shaping modern science.” * Metascience *“Recommended.” * Choice *“Perched between recursivity and transgression, precision and poetics—just like the research practices it discusses—this eagerly awaited volume is the ultimate exploration of the constellation of technologies, techniques, materials, and ‘savage moments’ that make experiments into a quintessential form of inquiry. Building on three decades of world-leading research in the history and philosophy of biology, Rheinberger shows how, in life as in science, experiments epitomize the human aspiration to intervene in the world with predictable results, and yet their power lies in exposing the limits of attempts to control and foresee the future. An unmissable read for anybody wishing to understand how science thrives by failing to carve nature at its joints.” -- Sabina Leonelli, University of Exeter“In this new book, drawing on his groundbreaking Toward a History of Epistemic Things, Rheinberger explores the logic of a ‘phenomenology of experimentation.’ Attentive to the materiality of science, it brings out the creative, epistemic, and collective dimensions of scientific production in experimental context. Written by a historian and philosopher of science trained in molecular biology, Split and Splice opens up the path to a genuine historical epistemology of the forms of scientific practices for the twenty-first century.” -- Pierre-Olivier Méthot, Université LavalTable of ContentsList of FiguresIntroduction Part I Infra-Experimentality1 Traces2 Models3 Making Visible4 Grafting5 Protocols Part II Supra-Experimentality6 Shapes of Time7 Experimental Cultures8 Knowing and Narrating9 Thinking Wild10 A Eulogy of the FragmentPostscriptAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex of Names

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but for the science writer Ball it emerges from within. In Beautiful Experiments: An Illustrated History of Experimental Science Ball argues that the beauty of an experiment resides in the ‘design and logic embodied in the procedure’—like a masterfully played game of chess—rather than a quality relating to physical appearance. . . . The scientific and anecdotal detail in each account is enough to satisfy the curious reader while entertaining the novice one. Interspersed with explanations of electromagnetism and refraction are notes about which scientist was a poor singer (Ernest Rutherford), which scientist didn’t like that one (Robert Hooke and Isaac Newton), and which scientist felt threatened by his protégé (Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday). Each experiment is numbered, which makes for easy flipping. One can choose to read the book sequentially or to skip from, say, electric fish (Experiment 55) to spontaneous generation (46) to X-ray diffraction (37). That said, there is a certain degree of satisfaction (and frustration) in reading the book in order. One scientist’s work provides an exciting theoretical breakthrough—only to be disproven on the next page. Nearly any failed experiment can become the foundation for another’s success.” -- Angelina Torre * Wall Street Journal, Holiday Gift Books: Science and Nature *"Science, on the other hand, does work well, as Ball shows in his celebration of the craft of scientists in Beautiful Experiments. He also explains why 'experiment' means such different things to different people—and where the beauty comes in." -- Simon Ings * New Scientist, Best Non-fiction and Popular Science Books of 2023 *"Combining breadth and conciseness, Ball offers a beautifully illustrated, thought-provoking perspective on the sublimely messy history of science." -- Richard Dunn * Times Literary Supplement *"Although experimentation is arguably the backbone of modern science, historians of science have often tended to focus their studies on theoretical developments. . . . Ball aims to rectify that disparity in his new book Beautiful Experiments, which outlines sixty investigations carried out from antiquity to the present day. Ball groups the experiments into six chapters, each of which focuses on themes, including the behavior of organisms, the nature of light, and the nature of life. He complements those efforts with five meditative interludes that delve into philosophical or aesthetic topics relating to experimentation, such as how to define an experiment, why thought experiments are useful, and what scientists mean when they say an experiment is beautiful. The richly illustrated book is a treat for the eyes." * Physics Today *"Covering the history of scientific inquiry [Beautiful Experiments] invites us to marvel at the elegance of experimentation." * MIT Technology Review *"Ball’s richly illustrated Beautiful Experiments intersperses examinations of 60 famous scientific investigations with thoughtful insights about the importance of experimentation." * Physics Today, 2023 Books that Stood Out *“Beautiful Experiments is an engrossing tour through 2500 years of innovation, imagination, and colorful personalities. Too often, experiments are dropped out of science history, assumed to be yet another tool that scientists use to construct theories. Ball brings experiments—in all their materiality, ingenuity, and beauty—back not only into history but into human culture.” -- Robert P. Crease, author of "The Prism and the Pendulum: The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments in Science" "Ball is a terrific writer, pumping out books on incredibly diverse subjects at a rate that makes me feel jealous and inadequate. There’s a wealth of well-researched information in here. . . . The book serves as an essential primer on our never-ending quest to understand life. Ultimately, 'what is life?' is a question without a useful answer. 'How does life work?' is the question that should drive the next wave of aspiring biologists from the cradle to the grave." * The Guardian *"You could read this book as a 500-page drubbing of Richard Dawkins. It is not a personal attack—although some barbed words are aimed—but it is a robust and sustained takedown of the 'simplistic', 'distorted', 'barren' and 'intellectually thin' notion that biology is all about the gene. There is very much more to life than that, according to Ball. It might even have some meaning. . . . Ball is a ferociously gifted science writer. . . . There is so much [in How Life Works] that is amazing. . . . Urgent. . . . Astonishing." * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“O’Shea provides a rich introduction to the snake world, revealing that there are just over 3,700 living snake species known today and detailing the vagaries of skin shedding, venom delivery, and snake reproduction. Each of the species featured has a page devoted to it, with a map showing its location, information on its habits, plus color photographs of the snake itself. Flicking through the book reveals the amazing diversity of snakes—tiny acid-green Vinesnakes, vibrantly striped Rainbow Snakes and the ghost-like Japanese Aodaisho.” * Wall Street Journal, on the First Edition *Table of ContentsIntroduction Evolution & diversity of snakes What is a snake? Prey & hunting Enemies & defense Reproductive strategies Snakes & humankind The snakes Scolecophidia Alethinophidia: Amerophidia Alethinophidia: Afrophidia: Henophidia Alethinophidia: Afrophidia: Caenophidia Glossary Resources Index of common names Index of scientific names Index of taxonomic groups Acknowledgments

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

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

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Book SynopsisUntil recently, evolution and religion have been considered contending, irreconcilable theories of origin and existence. David Sloan Wilson takes the radical step of joining the two, while thinking of society as an organism, one in which morality and religion are adaptations.

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Book SynopsisComprehensive illustrated encyclopedia of the world's coleoptera featuring 4,500 colour photographs and authoritative text.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisDAVID ARMITAGE is Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University, USA.MICHAEL J. BRADDICK is Professor of History at the University of Sheffield, UK.

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Book SynopsisThis is the compelling story of the two biggest events in the evolution of ideas: the revolutions of Galileo and Darwin. Mark Brake captures the adventure and excitement of these two scientists in this is a timely examination of the ways in which faith and science clash, and how the battle for 'truth' is a perennial one.Trade Review"Fascinating. Mark Brake takes a story about the political manipulation of the scientific ideasof Greek natural philosophers by the established church across two millennia and with a facility and style rare among scientists and an acute understanding of the human condition breathes life into the entire fabric. A compelling, thought provoking and inventive narrative." - Roy Davies, author of The Darwin Conspiracy: Origins of a Scientific CrimeTable of ContentsIntroduction PART I: WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS Greek Sky: The World Before the Telescope Heaven and Earth The Darkness Rising PART II: THE GATHERING STORM The Medieval Sky The Great Chain of Being PART III: THE REVOLUTIONS: THE WEAPONS OF DISCOVERY The Telescope and Galileo Evolution and Darwin PART IV: THE AFTERMATH: WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN The 'Galileo' Aftermath The 'Darwin' Aftermath PART V: THE PRESTIGE The Kudos

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Book SynopsisExplores what makes the world's rarest plants so exceptional, and by what means they have become so scarce, and tells the story of 40 rare and endangered species. Includes 40 frameable prints; encased in a collector's box.Table of ContentsIncludes: Adansonia grandidieri, Aloe vera, Brugmansia arborea, Clianthus puniceus, Dracaena draco, Eucalyptus, Fritillaria meleagris, Genista tinctoria, Iris sofarana, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Lotus maculatus, Paphiopedalum bellatulum, Quercus Robur and more + 40 removeable prints.

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Book Synopsis''Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects'' Steven Pinker_________________________In very recent times humanity has learnt a vast amount about the universe, the past, and itself. But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn: the science we have, for example, addresses just 5 per cent of the universe; pre-history is still being revealed, with thousands of historical sites yet to be explored; and the new neurosciences of mind and brain are just beginning. What do we know, and how do we know it? What do we now know that we don''t know? And what have we learnt about the obstacles to knowing more? In a time of deepening battles over what knowledge and truth mean, these questions matter more than ever. Bestselling polymath and philosopher A. C. Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge: science, history and psychology. A remarkTrade ReviewGrayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects -- Steven PinkerRemarkable, readable and authoritative. How he has mastered so much, so thoroughly, is nothing short of amazing -- Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from NothingThis book hums with the excitement of the great human project of discovery -- Adam Zeman, author of AphantasiaProf. Grayling interweaves the recent scientific and archaeological advances into a compelling narrative of how much progress humans have made in the understanding of their place in the natural, social and cognitive worlds. And how ignorant we still remain providing strong motivation to further this understanding by new empirical evidence -- Tejidner Virdee FRSAC Grayling tackles the questions science can't answer... a breathtaking book... Scholarly, lucid and accessible without being patronising or diluting, Grayling offers a masterly exegesis of current knowledge in three disciplines, as well as an analysis of what both opens and obstructs our access to such knowledge - in effect, four books in one -- Jane O'Grady * The Telegraph *An enthusiastic thinker who embraces humour, common sense and lucidity * Independent *

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Book SynopsisAn award-winning physician and scientist makes the game-changing case that genetic females are stronger than males at every stage of life''A powerful antidote to the myth of a weaker sex'' Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered BrainFrom birth, genetic females are better at fighting viruses, infections and cancer. They do better at surviving epidemics and famines. They live longer, and even see the world in a wider variety of colours. These are the facts; they are simply stronger than men at every stage of life. Why? And why are we taught the opposite?Drawing on his wide-ranging experience and cutting-edge research as a medic, geneticist and specialist in rare diseases, Dr Sharon Moalem reveals how the answer lies in our genetics: the female''s double XX chromosomes offer a powerful survival advantage. And he calls for a long-overdue reconsideration of our one-size-fits-all view of the body and medicine - a view that still frames women through the lens of men. Revolutionary, captivating and utterly persuasive, The Better Half will make you see women, men and the survival of our species anew.''Brilliant, original and groundbreaking, highly readable and genuinely useful'' Daily MailTrade ReviewLet's hear it for the X-chromosome! After decades, if not centuries, of bad press for women and their vulnerable biology, The Better Half gives chapter and verse to show that 'almost everything that is biologically difficult to do in life is done better by females'. An eye- and mind-opening celebration of the reserve genetic horsepower that having two X-chromosomes can bestow, The Better Half is a powerful antidote to the myth of a 'weaker sex'. * Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain and Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Neuroimaging at Aston University, Birmingham *Moalem's essential thesis is valid and important, and deserves attention both within the scientific community and beyond. This is a readable and lively book, making an argument long overdue * The Irish Independent *Although Dr. Moalem had me at the subtitle, I tore through this fascinating, eye-opening book in one sitting. Provocative, crackling with wit and insight, THE BETTER HALF argues that science has shortchanged women in all levels of research and convincingly reveals that the true differences between men and women come down to longevity, intellect, resilience, and immunity to disease. Now it all makes sense why 95 percent of people who have reached the age of 110 are women. -- Jancee Dunn * New York Times bestselling author of 'How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids' *A mind-opening celebration of women -- Kate Garraway, broadcaster and journalistThis book provides the crucial scientific reasoning behind why it is essential to include males and females, both in people and animals, in order to get accurate results in medical research. * Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of 'The Autistic Brain' and 'Thinking in Pictures' *A compelling argument for the resilience seen in women. But the real genius is the poetic justice he metes out by highlighting the brilliant women who remain unsung heroes in these discoveries. -- William J. Sullivan * Showalter Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine and author of 'Pleased to Meet Me' *The Better Half explores the genetic differences between males and females in a way that is both original and scientifically compelling. This book provides a great read, and lots to think about, for specialists and the public alike. -- Han G. Brunner, MD, PhD, Professor of Human Genetics at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, and Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands.Moalem brings deep, yet highly-readable, scientific analysis to the perennial question of what makes men and women different. Ideally, this book will re-set that conversation in research labs, doctors' offices, classrooms, and dinner tables around the world." -- E. Kinney Zalesne, New York Times bestselling collaborator on 'Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes'

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Book SynopsisGet to grips with the glorious world of goop and gunk, from pus, snot, and mucus to mud, snail slime, and sticky plants, in this compendium of gunk.If you''ve ever wondered how much snot you make, or how spider silk is made, this is the book for you. Full of strange but true science, The Science of Goo! explores all manner of gunge, sludge, ooze, and goo! Awesome CGI illustrations and stunning photography will show goo in all its glory, while fun trivia and scientific explanations will make you an expert in all things sludgy. For example, did you know that sea cucumbers can vomit their sticky insides when threatened, yet still survive? The Science of Goo! is here to give you a new appreciation of the weird and wonderful world of gooey matter, in all its many kinds and wherever it shows up.

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Book SynopsisSharp and engaging - The TimesThe intricately-reported, elegantly-crafted story of the website that came out of nowhere, to change everything. - Brad Stone, author of The Everything Store and Amazon Unbound-----------------------------------------------------Now, for the first time ever, discover the story of YouTube: how it started, how it works, and how it came to control our culture.It has entertained us with cat videos, flash mobs, gaming streams and Charlie Bit My Finger.It has educated us with makeup tutorials, DIYs and delicious recipes.It has changed us with advertising, extremism and political propaganda.Since its foundation in 2005, YouTube has existed on a pendulum. Its emergence established a valuable space for unique and important voices to share themselves and their views, and made global stars out of everyday people such as PewDiePie, Shane Dawson and Ryan Higa. It invented the attention economy we all live in today, forever changing how people are entertained, informed and paid online.At the same time, countless extremists have found a home on YouTube, using it to spread misinformation and propaganda - sometimes with real-world life-and-death consequences. The site is massively profitable for its parent company, Google (Alphabet), which has aggressively grown it into a ruthless advertising conglomerate with little regard for its impact beyond the bottom line.In Like Comment Subscribe, Bloomberg tech journalist Mark Bergen delivers the definitive, page-turning account of YouTube. Exploring the stories of the people behind the platform, he tells the story of a technical marvel that upended traditional media, created stars of everyday people, and ultimately changed the world through untamed freedom of speech.Trade ReviewA must-read, unparalleled in its access to the inner thoughts and workings of the people and departments that dictated what content can be seen and what can't. -- Chris Stokel-Walker * The New Scientist *Mark Bergen has delivered the definitive look at how YouTube came to be and how the service has forever changed our society. Like, Comment, Subscribe takes the reader on a journey as a small, whimsical idea morphs into something that alters our collective culture in the most profound of ways-for better and for worse. -- Ashlee Vance, author of Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic FutureThe intricately-reported, elegantly-crafted story of a website that came out of nowhere and changed everything. -- Brad Stone, author of The Everything Store and Amazon UnboundAn absorbing, alarming and essential modern histroy of Silicon Valley's supersized platform age. YouTube has redefined celebrity, upended entertainment and politics, and unleashed the best and worst of humanity online. Mark Bergen's deeply reported page-turner takes us on the company's journey from scrappy startup to internet juggernaut, revealing the dark consequences of the pursuit of growth at any cost. -- Margaret O'Mara, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of AmericaA vivid, rollicking ride through the fluorescent-lit halls of one of the most powerful companies in the world as it struggles to steward one of the most anarchic yet culture-defining inventions of our time. Bergen has a novelist's eye, a poet's ear and a business journalist's deadpan command of the heart of the matter. So engrossing I missed my train stop. -- Keach Hagey, author of The King of ContentSharp and engaging -- Kit Wilson * The Times *

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Book SynopsisFollow the story of evolution! The illustrated children''s book is a beautiful introduction to the evolution of species over millions of years.What''s made animals survive and naturally go extinct? Why are fish scaled? Why do birds have wings? Find out about the changing animal anatomy discoveries made by Swedish zoologist, Charles Linneas.Animals and evolution are fascinating subjects to teach little minds. Discover the ways that animals have adapted to survive and the amazing reasons behind these adaptations. The illustrated guide includes:- Perfect for kids ages 7+, with facts suitable for key stage 2 learning - Stunning illustrations available on every page- Many different animal features (such as eyes, scales, claws, hair and many more), as well as feature, spreads on topics like fast evolution- Highly accessible text of a key schooling subject Children ages 7 years and older will be delighted by the scientific facts in

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the weird, wacky, and wonderful world of plants with a book that revels in the diversity of the botanical world.Plants are truly awe-inspiring. They can be vast, minute, smelly, or spectacularly ugly. Some plants live on their own, or by growing off others; some live by air and water; others are carnivorous, eating the creatures around them; some plants look remarkably like animals; while others have unusual symbolism; and some have special cultural significance. This book explores them all, bringing together the most peculiar and most fascinating plants on the planet - celebrating them in all their diverse splendour.Split into five chapters, covering everything from poisonous plants to painkilling ones, Michael Perry explains exactly what makes each plant special. With exquisitely detailed illustrations of all the different species, this is an informative, humorous, and beautiful gift for all those who love plants - whether they want to grow them orTrade ReviewIt is just absolutely fabulous, and I'm sure it'll be on many people's Christmas lists. * BBC Radio Suffolk *

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Book SynopsisA definitive guide to the metaverse: why it''s important, why it matters to society, and how to create a metaverse that works for all of us---------------''Brimming with big and convincing arguments about where human life is heading'' Arianna Huffington---------------The metaverse is a vision of how the next generation of the internet will operate. Many people believe it is the future. But what will that future look like? An immersive digital playground? The next generation of online gaming? Or just the latest manifestation of our human tendency to create other realities?Herman Narula argues that it is all of these things and more. His vision of the metaverse, deeply rooted in history and psychology, looks to the Egyptians, whose concept of death inspired them to build the pyramids, to modern-day sports fans whose fantasy leagues are as competitive as the real thing, and finds that humanity has always sought waysTrade ReviewA fascinating, provocative case that the metaverse will not merely transform our virtual experiences - it may actually enrich the quality of our lives * Adam Grant, no. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again *Brimming with big and convincing arguments about where human life is heading. * Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive *This mind-expanding, vitally important book blows through superficial takes * Marc Andreessen, cofounder and general partner, Andreessen Horowitz *

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Book SynopsisCreation by Adam Rutherford tells the entire spellbinding story of life in two gripping narratives.''Prepare to be astounded. There are moments when this book is so gripping it reads like a thriller'' Mail on SundayThe Origin of Life is a four-billion-year detective story that uses the latest science to explain what life is and where it first came from, offering answers to the very grandest of questions before arriving at a thrilling solution.''A superbly written explanation'' Brian CoxThis same science has led to a technological revolution: the ability to create entirely new life forms within the lab, known as synthetic biology. The Future of Life introduces these remarkable innovations, explains how they work, and presents a powerful argument for their benefit to humankind.''The reader''s sense of awe at the well-nigh inconceivable nature of nature is suitably awakened. The extraordinary scienceTrade ReviewPrepare to be astounded. There are moments when this book is so gripping it reads like a thriller * Mail on Sunday *One of the most eloquent and genuinely thoughtful books on science over the past decade. You will not find a better, more balanced or up-to-date take on the origin of life or synthetic biology. Essential reading for anyone interested in the coming revolution, which could indeed rival the Industrial Revolution or the internet * Observer *Fascinating. The reader's sense of awe at the well-nigh inconceivable nature of nature is suitably awakened. The extraordinary science and Rutherford's argument are worth every reader's scrutiny * Sunday Telegraph *The perfect primer on the past and future of DNA * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review'I find myself at a loss for how to describe this remarkable work. Just as Karl has, through his laboratory, reimagined, and literally redefined how we view the human brain, he has reimagined and redefined what literary non-fiction can be, with great elegance. For all of us who write about science for the public, this will be a tough act to follow. It's poetic, mind-stretching, and through it all, deeply human' -- Daniel Levitin'Revelatory ... it recalls the case histories of Oliver Sacks, at times the sweep of Yuval Harari's Sapiens. He writes with an evident love of words - but also, with a lucid line of scientific enquiry' -- Richard Godwin * Guardian *'There are some books that you read and forget. There are others that you read and think about occasionally. Then there are rare gems like Connections that you read, read again and find that the way you think has been irreversibly changed. Incredibly powerful' -- Sue Black, author of All That Remains'Karl Deisseroth is a master storyteller. Armed with an abundance of compassion and curiosity, he takes us on a spellbinding tour of the mysteries of the human mind through a series of fascinating case studies. His graceful prose weaves a tapestry of complex ideas into memorable stories, each illuminated by cutting-edge science. A delight from the opening paragraph to the stunning conclusion, this book is an invitation to reverence for the complexity of the human brain and its relationship to the mind: a ticket to a state of wonder at the essence of our selves' -- Kathryn Mannix, author of With the End in Mind'Deisseroth is a talented writer ... It is in his encounters with distressed patients that his talent for marrying science and the imagination becomes most apparent and that his writing comes truly alive. Connections warrants comparison with books such as Do No Harm by Henry Marsh and Brainstorm by Suzanne Sullivan . . . Deisseroth achieves the difficult feat of moving and enlightening the reader at the same time ... [this is] a book that is beautiful to read and packed with cutting edge science' -- Mark Honigsbaum * Observer *'This hybrid memoir, by an emergency-room psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry and bioengineering, probes the evolutionary origins of human emotions' * New Yorker *'Essential...tinged with a profound humility built over years of interactions with patients... this is big' * Psychology Today *'Deisseroth is a genuine pioneer, whose prize-winning research is re-defining our understanding of the brain... a stunning work from a relatively young man set on revealing the threads connecting our most pressing personal concerns with our timeless biological inheritance... Deisseroth has the imagination and literary gift to make it speak to all of us' * Literary Review *'Karl Deisseroth's imaginative narrative flows effortlessly... There is a first love of reading and writing and hints of a literary imagination that draws on James Joyce and Toni Morrison... Deisseroth endeavors to find an emotive language for the psychiatric patients he meets. He accomplishes this by weaving together... psychiatric knowledge, technology, and imagination. These together free him to write poetically... His narratives are always sensitive... an admixture of fact and fiction, reality and imagination, damage and desire' * Science *'[Deisseroth's] scintillating and moving analysis of the human brain and emotions, based on observations of his patients, proves he is not exaggerating. It is also a great read' * Nature *'I've known Karl as a colleague, a scientist whose discoveries in the lab have been breathtaking and revolutionary. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised to discover he's also a stunning writer, his words guiding us to a profound understanding of the nature of human emotions, seamlessly invoking Ovid and optogenetics, Borges and basal ganglia as he takes on this journey. Projections is a tour de force' -- Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone'Karl Deisseroth intertwines neuroscience and human stories in a way that is altogether new: technical, lyrical, and deeply compassionate all at once. Through sharing what he's learned as a groundbreaking scientist and a psychiatrist caring for patients with severe illness, he reveals glimmer of what makes us human. This is a crucial book for anyone who loves science, anyone who loves someone suffering from a disorder of the brain, or anyone who, like so many of us, loves both' -- Lucy Kalanithi'The writing in this exploration of what causes human emotion at a cellular level is extraordinarily good, inviting comparisons with the work of Oliver Sacks and Henry Marsh' (Editor's Choice) * Bookseller *'Deisseroth, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, melds the personal with the clinical in his masterful debut on how the human mind works and what can be learned when it goes awry ... writing with abundant empathy, Deisseroth brings his patients' struggles to life as he educates about both neuroscience and humanity. This is a must-read' * Publishers Weekly *'Unique and utterly riveting, Projections braids together three skeins from Karl Deisseroth's life: his painstaking clinical experience as a psychiatrist, dedicated to helping patients; his ingenious inventions in biotechnology that have ushered in waves of new insights into how brains work; and his life as a humble and caring social human being with a gift for crafting a spellbinding chronicle. This is a masterpiece written for each and every one of us' -- Patricia Churchland, author of Conscience'Karl Deisseroth is already known around the world as a groundbreaking scientist who has pioneered dazzling new techniques for investigating the brain. In this enthralling masterpiece of a book, he demonstrates that he is also a perceptive psychiatrist, as well as a spellbinding writer who beautifully connects the inner feelings within all human beings to deep insights from modern psychiatry and neuroscience' -- Robert Lefkowitz, Nobel Laureate and author of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm'We are living during a revolution in our understanding of the human brain, and Karl Deisseroth has been at the forefront of these advances. This magisterial work shows that not only is he one of our leading scientists, but also a gifted writer and storyteller. With precise yet luminous prose, he merges stories of cutting-edge neuroscience with a deep reverence for his patients' humanity' -- Neil Shubin, author of Some Assembly Required'Deisseroth writes of heartbreaking and desperate medical cases with a doctor's knowledge, and a novelist's skill for narrative. I could not put this book down' -- May-Britt Moser, Nobel Laureate

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Book Synopsis''A bold, ambitious and truly wonderful history of the world'' Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees''A fascinating story and a crucial revision of the momentous importance of tropical forests to human history'' Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins_________________________ Jungle tells the remarkable story of the world''s tropical forests, from the arrival of the first plants millions of years ago to the role of tropical forests in the evolution of the world''s atmosphere, the dinosaurs, the first mammals and even our own species and ancestors. Highlighting provocative new evidence garnered from cutting-edge research, Dr Roberts shows, for example, that our view of humans as ''savannah specialists'' is wildly wrong, and that the ''Anthropocene'' began not with the Industrial Revolution, but potentially as early as 6,000 years ago in the tropics. We see that the relationship between humankind Trade ReviewJungle is a bold, ambitious and truly wonderful history of the world that shows the vital importance of tropical forests to life on Earth -- Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of TreesA fascinating story and a crucial revision of the momentous importance of tropical forests to human history. Spanning from our very evolution as a species, to the early stages of globalisation and how we fill our kitchen cupboards today, we all owe far more to jungles than we realise -- Lewis Dartnell, author of OriginsThere are many books on the history of trilobites and dinosaurs and other animals, but so few on the history of plants. Here the dynamic young scientist Patrick Roberts tackles the history of the tropics, from the coal swamps of 300 million years ago, through the co-evolutionary dance of dinosaurs and mammals and flowers, to how our own human history has been shaped by vegetation. As environments are changing rapidly around us today, this is a timely, readable and highly relevant history that celebrates the wonder and importance of jungles -- Steve Brusatte, author of The Rise and Fall of the DinosaursWelcome to the 'Jungle' - a breath-taking book showing that tropical forests were key to our evolution, provide fossil fuels for our modern carbon-hungry society and ultimately must be protected and restored if we are to have a future. This insightful and captivating book will ensure you never take our jungles for granted ever again -- Mark Maslin, author of How to Save Our PlanetAn enthralling jungle-journey from the origins of life on this planet to the present day, Jungle provides a brilliant new perspective on our interaction with tropical forests, placing them at the centre of human experience - and it delivers a timely warning about our abuse of the environment -- David Abulafia, author of The Great SeaJungle sweeps the reader into the primordial heart of the earth, as if the crucible of life welcomed you to its sanctuary. Its revelations and stories will stir, rearrange and populate your mind for years to come. As a book, it is a joy, pure intellectual chocolate -- Paul Hawken, author of DrawdownFinally, a book on rainforests that does justice to their majesty and importance. Patrick Roberts skilfully and lucidly shows why tropical forests matter. He builds the case that people and tropical forests are intimately linked, whether you live in the rainforest or seemingly a world away. Those intricate links are more important than ever today, with ending deforestation playing a key role in solving the twin climate and biodiversity crises we face this century -- Simon Lewis, co-author of The Human PlanetEnormously ambitious, deeply researched, moves with great skill from ecology and evolution to history and politics -- Michael Marshall * New Scientist *Many European and American books and films imply that tropical forests are incapable of sustainably supporting large human societies. Jungle provides a superbly argued refutation of this long-held view . . . a thrilling reappraisal of our origins and our dependence on tropical forests -- Charlie Pye-Smith * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisThis book analyses the potential for catastrophes – from nuclear war and climate change to further pandemics, the misuse of Artificial Intelligence and more – that could jeopardise our planet and its people.

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Book SynopsisThe first book on active matter, an emerging field focused on programming physical materials to assemble themselves, transform autonomously, and react to information.The past few decades brought a revolution in computer software and hardware; today we are on the cusp of a materials revolution. If yesterday we programmed computers and other machines, today we program matter itself. This has created new capabilities in design, computing, and fabrication, which allow us to program proteins and bacteria, to generate self-transforming wood products and architectural details, and to create clothing from “intelligent textiles” that grow themselves. This book offers essays and sample projects from the front lines of the emerging field of active matter.Active matter and programmable materials are at the intersection of science, art, design, and engineering, with applications in fields from biology and computer science to architecture and fashion. These essays contex

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Book SynopsisA reconceptualization of origins research that exploits a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces that stabilize living prokaryotic cells.Scientific research into the origins of life remains exploratory and speculative. Science has no definitive answer to the biggest questions--What is life? and How did life begin on earth? In this book, Jan Spitzer reconceptualizes origins research by exploiting a modern understanding of non-covalent molecular forces and covalent bond formation--a physicochemical approach propounded originally by Linus Pauling and Max Delbrück. Spitzer develops the Pauling-Delbrück premise as a physicochemical jigsaw puzzle that identifies key stages in life's emergence, from the formation of first oceans, tidal sediments, and proto-biofilms to progenotes, proto-cells and the first cellular organisms.

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Book SynopsisHow the monsters of nineteenth-century literature and science came to define us.“Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?” In We Are All Monsters, Andrew Mangham offers a fresh interpretation of this question uttered by Frankenstein’s creature in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel in an expansive exploration of how nineteenth-century literature and science recast the monster as vital to the workings of nature and key to unlocking the knowledge of all life-forms and processes. Even as gothic literature and freak shows exploited an abiding association between abnormal bodies and horror, amazement, or failure, the development of monsters in the ideas and writings of this period showed the world to be dynamic, varied, plentiful, transformative, and creative.In works ranging from Comte de Buffon’s interrogations of humanity within natural history to Hugo de Vries’s mutation theory

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Book SynopsisA fascinating, ground-level backstage pass to the creation, launch, and reach of the James Webb Space Telescope.NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest orbiting astronomy observatory, is now nearly a million miles from Earth, probing the first stars and galaxies, documenting the structure and evolution of the universe, and searching for signs of life in other solar systems. In a series of extraordinary photographs, Inside the Star Factory tells the story of the Webb Telescope from conception to launch—a marvel of ingenuity and engineering that entailed more than 100 million people hours over a span of thirty years.The project’s lead photographer Chris Gunn was there from the start, documenting the Webb’s tumultuous history—the behind-the-scenes details of its construction, from the cutting-edge technology required for an observatory operating at temperatures as low as –370°F, beyond reach for repair, to the human story of an engineering team pursuing an unprecedented goal under incomparable pressure. Derided as the “telescope that ate astronomy,” billions of dollars over budget, ten years over schedule, nearly canceled twice, Webb was simply too big to fail.Accompanied by science writer Christopher Wanjek’s overview of the Webb’s history and profiles of the scientists and engineers who built it, this exclusive illustrated guide shows readers the heady world of scientific discovery at the very limits of human knowledge—and the very beginning of space and time.

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