Search results for ""author jeffrey bennett""

How can we solve the national debt crisis? Should you or your child take on a student loan? Is it safe to talk on a cell phone while driving? Are there viable energy alternatives to fossil fuels? What could you do with a billion dollars? Could simple policy changes reduce political polarization? These questions may all seem very different, but they share two things in common. First, they are all questions with important implications for either personal success or our success as a nation. Second, they all concern topics that we can fully understand only with the aid of clear quantitative or mathematical thinking. In other words, they are topics for which we need math for life—a kind of math that looks quite different from most of the math that we learn in school, but that is just as (and often more) important. In Math for Life, award-winning author Jeffrey Bennett simply and clearly explains the key ideas of quantitative reasoning and applies them to all the above questions and many more. He also uses these questions to analyze our current education system, identifying both shortfalls in the teaching of mathematics and solutions for our educational future. No matter what your own level of mathematical ability, and no matter whether you approach the book as an educator, student, or interested adult, you are sure to find something new and thought-provoking in Math for Life.

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Winner:2017 NSTA, Outstanding Science Trade BooksNautilus Book Awards, Gold, Children's Illustrated NonfictionStory Time From Space Official SelectionPart of a set of books launched to the International Space Station through NASA’s Story Time from Space program, read aloud by astronauts for children around the world Written in the first person with the viewpoint of a narrator who represents the human race throughout history, I, Humanity tells the story of what we now know about the universe and how we learned it. It begins with the ancient view of a small, flat Earth, and page-by-page shows how we’ve gradually learned about our planet, its orbit, and its place in the vast universe. The book is designed to work on three different levels: education, perspective, and inspiration. The educational aspect comes in the factual content of the story, the perspective element involves enabling children learn to see themselves and our planet in a new light, and the inspirational component comes in helping children dream of how they can help make the world a better place.

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The quest for extraterrestrial life doesn't happen only in science fiction. This book describes the startling discoveries being made in the very real science of astrobiology, an intriguing new field that blends astronomy, biology, and geology to explore the possibility of life on other planets. Jeffrey Bennett takes readers beyond UFOs to discuss some of the tantalizing questions astrobiologists grapple with every day: What is life and how does it begin? What makes a planet or moon habitable? Is there life on Mars or elsewhere in the solar system? How can life be recognized on distant worlds? Is it likely to be microbial, more biologically complex--or even intelligent? What would such a discovery mean for life here on Earth? Come along on this scientific adventure and learn the astonishing implications of discoveries made in this field for the future of the human race. Bennett, who believes that "science is a way of helping people come to agreement," explains how the search for extraterrestrial life can help bridge the divide that sometimes exists between science and religion, defuse public rancor over the teaching of evolution, and quiet the debate over global warming. He likens humanity today to a troubled adolescent teetering on the edge between self-destruction and a future of virtually limitless possibilities. Beyond UFOs shows why the very quest to find alien life can help us to grow up as a species and chart a course for the stars.

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It is commonly assumed that if the Sun suddenly turned into a black hole, it would suck Earth and the rest of the planets into oblivion. Yet, as prominent author and astrophysicist Jeffrey Bennett points out, black holes don't suck. With that simple idea in mind, Bennett begins an entertaining introduction to Einstein's theories of relativity, describing the amazing phenomena readers would actually experience if they took a trip to a black hole. The theory of relativity reveals the speed of light as the cosmic speed limit, the mind-bending ideas of time dilation and curvature of spacetime, and what may be the most famous equation in history: E = mc2. Indeed, the theory of relativity shapes much of our modern understanding of the universe. It is not "just a theory"-every major prediction of relativity has been tested to exquisite precision, and its practical applications include the Global Positioning System (GPS). Amply illustrated and written in clear, accessible prose, Bennett's book proves anyone can grasp the basics of Einstein's ideas. His intuitive, nonmathematical approach gives a wide audience its first real taste of how relativity works and why it is so important to science and the way we view ourselves as human beings.

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The quest for extraterrestrial life doesn't happen only in science fiction. This book describes the startling discoveries being made in the very real science of astrobiology, an intriguing new field that blends astronomy, biology, and geology to explore the possibility of life on other planets. Jeffrey Bennett takes readers beyond UFOs to discuss some of the tantalizing questions astrobiologists grapple with every day: What is life and how does it begin? What makes a planet or moon habitable? Is there life on Mars or elsewhere in the solar system? How can life be recognized on distant worlds? Is it likely to be microbial, more biologically complex--or even intelligent? What would such a discovery mean for life here on Earth? Come along on this scientific adventure and learn the astonishing implications of discoveries made in this field for the future of the human race. Bennett, who believes that "science is a way of helping people come to agreement," explains how the search for extraterrestrial life can help bridge the divide that sometimes exists between science and religion, defuse public rancor over the teaching of evolution, and quiet the debate over global warming. He likens humanity today to a troubled adolescent teetering on the edge between self-destruction and a future of virtually limitless possibilities. Beyond UFOs shows why the very quest to find alien life can help us to grow up as a species and chart a course for the stars. In a new afterword, Bennett shares the most recent developments in extrasolar research, and discusses how they might further our quest to find alien life.

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Winner:2017 NSTA, Outstanding Science Trade Books2017 Children's Book Council, Best STEM BooksNautilus Book Award, Silver, Ecology and EnvironmentIs human-induced global warming a real threat to our future? Most people will express an opinion on this question, but relatively few can back their opinions with solid evidence. Many times we’ve even heard pundits say “I am not a scientist” to avoid the issue altogether. But the truth is, the basic science is not that difficult. Using a question and answer format, this book will help readers achieve three major goals: To see that anyone can understand the basic science of global warming; To understand the arguments about this issue made by skeptics, so that readers will be able to decide for themselves what to believe; To understand why, despite the “gloom and doom” that often surrounds this topic, the solutions are ones that will not only protect the world for our children and grandchildren, but that will actually lead us to a stronger economy with energy that is cheaper, cleaner, and more abundant than the energy we use today.

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Come with Max as he takes off on his next exciting science adventure, this time joining astronauts on the first human mission to Mars. Equipped with a specially designed spacesuit, Max sniffs for signs of microscopic life. Will he find any? Read the exciting story to find out, and to learn how his trip to Mars helps his young friend Tori reflect on the beauty and fragility of our own planet Earth. This is more than just a fun story. Educationally designed “Big Kid Boxes” along the sides of the pages help children and parents learn about Mars as the adventure unfolds. The book can thereby be enjoyed by people of all ages: Young children can enjoy the story alone while bigger kids learn the science concepts that lie behind the scenes. Parents and teachers can use the boxes and the end-of-book activity to create a family or classroom learning experience. This edition incorporates the latest scientific discoveries about Mars. The English-language original was the first children’s book ever launched into space and read aloud by astronauts from the International Space Station.

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Winner of:2015 Golden Duck Picture Book Award, Children's Science FictionThe long-awaited prequel to the other books in the Science Adventures with Max the Dog series, this installment follows Max on his trip to the International Space Station where he shares in the adventures of astronaut life and helps save everyone from a potential disaster along the way. The book teaches children to see themselves and the planet in a new light and encourages readers to discover how they can help make the world a better place. Accompanying the story of how Max saves the day are numerous “Big Kid Box” sidebars that offer science facts and other pieces of fascinating information. Grown-ups and kids learn about science together with this fun and educational picture book.

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Written in the first person with the viewpoint of a narrator who represents the human race throughout history, Yo soy la humanidad tells the story of what we now know about the universe and how we learned it. It begins with the ancient view of a small, flat Earth, and page-by-page shows how we’ve gradually learned about our planet, its orbit, and its place in the vast universe. The book is designed to work on three different levels: education, perspective, and inspiration. The educational aspect comes in the factual content of the story, the perspective element involves enabling children learn to see themselves and our planet in a new light, and the inspirational component comes in helping children dream of how they can help make the world a better place.

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Winner:2016 ILA CBC Children's Choice ListThis is the updated edition of the first children’s book ever launched into space and read aloud by astronauts from the International Space StationCome with Max as he takes off on his next exciting science adventure, this time joining astronauts on the first human mission to Mars. Equipped with a specially designed spacesuit, Max sniffs for signs of microscopic life. Will he find any? Read the exciting story to find out, and to learn how his trip to Mars helps his young friend Tori reflect on the beauty and fragility of our own planet Earth. Max Goes to Mars is more than just a fun story. Educationally designed “Big Kid Boxes” along the sides of the pages help children and parents learn about Mars as the adventure unfolds. This second edition is fully updated to incorporate the latest scientific discoveries about Mars.

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Max the Dog and a young girl named Tori take the first trip to the Moon since the Apollo era, and their trip proves so inspiring to people back on Earth that all the nations of the world come together to build a great Moon colony. From the colony, the views of Earth make everyone realize how small and precious planet Earth is. Along the way, the story sets the stage for more sophisticated science, featured in the 19 “Big Kid Box” sidebars which cover topics including “Phases of the Moon,” “Wings in Space?,” and “Frisbees and Curve Balls on the Moon”—all thoughtfully explained so that grownups and children can learn about science together. Behind-the-scenes science lessons with activities round out this entertaining and educational picture book, which is designed to accompany the new Max Goes to the Moon planetarium show, coming soon to planetariums around the world.El perro Max y una joven llamada Tori emprenden el primer viaje a la luna desde la Época del programa Apolo, y su viaje resulta ser tan inspirador para los habitantes de la Tierra que todas las naciones trabajan juntas para construir una colonia en la luna. Las vistas de la Tierra desde la colonia les recuerdan a todos lo pequeÑo y precioso que es el planeta. A lo largo del libro, la historia presenta conceptos cientÍficos mÁs sofisticados en 19 notas de recuadro que abarcan temas como “Las fases de la luna,” “¿Alas en el espacio?” y “Frisbees y bolas curva en la luna”—todos explicados de tal manera que los adultos y los niÑos puedan aprender juntos sobre la ciencia. Lecciones cientÍficas con actividades tambiÉn se incluyen en este divertido y didÁctico libro ilustrado, el cual estÁ diseÑado para acompaÑar la nueva exposiciÓn en planetarios Max Goes to the Moon, el cual estarÁ pasando por planetarios nacionales e internacionales.

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Diego dreams of being a wizard so he can make the world a better place by fighting global warming. When he realizes that he can’t really perform magic, Diego thinks of ways he can help save the world by considering many potential careers and what it would take to achieve them. Filled with “Big Kid Boxes” that explain the crucial scientific concepts that lie behind the scenes depicted, this inspirational story gives children an opportunity to exercise their own magical dreams.Diego sueÑa con ser un mago para que pueda hacer del mundo un lugar mejor combatiendo el calentamiento global. Cuando se da cuenta de que no puede en realidad hacer magia, Diego se pone a pensar en otras maneras en las cuales puede salvar el mundo, considerando diversas carreras potenciales y quÉ serÍa necesario hacer para realizarlas. Lleno de recuadros “Big Kid” que explican los importantes conceptos cientÍficos que hay detrÁs de las escenas retratadas, este cuento inspirante les da a los niÑos la oportunidad de poner en marcha sus propios sueÑos mÁgicos.

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Diego dreams of being a wizard so he can make the world a better place by fighting global warming. When he realizes that he can’t really perform magic, Diego thinks of ways he can help save the world by considering many potential careers and what it would take to achieve them. Filled with sidebars called “Big Kid Boxes” that explain the crucial scientific concepts that lie behind the scenes depicted, this inspirational story gives children an opportunity to exercise their own magical dreams.

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Winner of:2013 Science Communication Award, American Institute of PhysicsMax the Dog and a young girl named Tori take the first trip to the Moon since the Apollo era, and their trip proves so inspiring to people back on Earth that all the nations of the world come together to build a great Moon colony. From the colony, the views of Earth make everyone realize how small and precious planet Earth is. Along the way, the story sets the stage for more sophisticated science, featured in the 19 “Big Kid Box” sidebars that have been fully updated in this new edition, which cover topics including “Phases of the Moon,” “Wings in Space?,” and “Frisbees and Curve Balls on the Moon”—all thoughtfully explained so that grown-ups and children can learn together about science. Behind-the-scenes science lessons with activities round out this entertaining and educational picture book, the new edition of which is designed to accompany the new Max Goes to the Moon planetarium show, coming soon to planetariums around the world.

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Scientifically-accurate illustrations and information-packed sidebars enrich this fascinating tale, the third in this acclaimed series about diversity and space exploration. Set in the future, Max the Dog's friend Tori is all grown up and is the chief scientist of the Jupiter Mission. In order to reach their spacecraft, Max and his crew must take an amazing ride on a new device called the Space Elevator. Once they've probed the planet's atmosphere, Max and friends begin exploring two of Jupiter's moons—the volcanically active moon Io and the ice-encrusted moon Europa. On Europa, Max once again saves the day by locating a weak spot in the ice to launch a submarine and explore the ocean below.

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The world’s leading textbook on astrobiology—ideal for an introductory one-semester course and now fully revised and updatedAre we alone in the cosmos? How are scientists seeking signs of life beyond our home planet? Could we colonize other planets, moons, or even other star systems? This introductory textbook, written by a team of four renowned science communicators, educators, and researchers, tells the amazing story of how modern science is seeking the answers to these and other fascinating questions. They are the questions that are at the heart of the highly interdisciplinary field of astrobiology, the study of life in the universe.Written in an accessible, conversational style for anyone intrigued by the possibilities of life in the solar system and beyond, Life in the Universe is an ideal place to start learning about the latest discoveries and unsolved mysteries in the field. From the most recent missions to Saturn’s moons and our neighboring planet Mars to revolutionary discoveries of thousands of exoplanets, from the puzzle of life’s beginning on Earth to the latest efforts in the search for intelligent life elsewhere, this book captures the imagination and enriches the reader’s understanding of how astronomers, planetary scientists, biologists, and other scientists make progress at the cutting edge of this dynamic field. Enriched with a wealth of engaging features, this textbook brings any citizen of the cosmos up to speed with the scientific quest to discover whether we are alone or part of a universe full of life. An acclaimed text designed to inspire students of all backgrounds to explore foundational questions about life in the cosmos Completely revised and updated to include the latest developments in the field, including recent exploratory space missions to Mars, frontier exoplanet science, research on the origin of life on Earth, and more Enriched with helpful learning aids, including in-chapter Think about It questions, optional Do the Math and Special Topic boxes, Movie Madness boxes, end-of-chapter exercises and problems, quick quizzes, and much more Supported by instructor’s resources, including an illustration package and test bank, available upon request

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For one-semester courses in introductory astronomy. A brief path through astronomy that helps students gain an appreciation for astronomy and discovery in science The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals is the briefest introduction to astronomy in the Bennett series and supports instructors using an active or collaborative approach to teaching. By focusing on the process of science and fundamental concepts of astronomy, The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals allows time for the use of other instructional tools in the course. Each concisely written chapter is formatted into two main sections followed by a Process of Science section, making learning targeted and expectations clear for students. The 3rd Edition of The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals features major scientific updates, new content that focuses on the possibility of life in the universe, and recent discoveries that provide modern contexts to help students see the relevance of astronomy to their worlds. The authors write and create a wealth of Mastering Astronomy resources that include a new Pearson eText, Dynamic Study Modules, and Interactive PreLecture videos that students can use before, during, and after class, including pre-built assignments that instructors can edit to fit the way they teach. Also available with Mastering Astronomy: MasteringTM is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools developed to engage students and emulate the office-hour experience, Mastering personalizes learning and improves results for each student. Resources in Mastering Astronomy are written and carefully reviewed by the author team, establishing the same coherent and trusted voice as the book. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and Mastering Astronomy, search for: 013499079X / 9780134990798 The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals Plus Mastering Astronomy with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package Package consists of: 0134988507 / 9780134988504 The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals 0134989279 / 9780134989273 Mastering Astronomy with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals 0321765184 / 9780321765185 SkyGazer 5.0 Student Access Code Card (Integrated component) Note: You are purchasing a standalone book; Pearson eText and Mastering Astronomy do not come packaged with this content. Students, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.

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The world’s leading textbook on astrobiology—ideal for an introductory one-semester course and now fully revised and updatedAre we alone in the cosmos? How are scientists seeking signs of life beyond our home planet? Could we colonize other planets, moons, or even other star systems? This introductory textbook, written by a team of four renowned science communicators, educators, and researchers, tells the amazing story of how modern science is seeking the answers to these and other fascinating questions. They are the questions that are at the heart of the highly interdisciplinary field of astrobiology, the study of life in the universe.Written in an accessible, conversational style for anyone intrigued by the possibilities of life in the solar system and beyond, Life in the Universe is an ideal place to start learning about the latest discoveries and unsolved mysteries in the field. From the most recent missions to Saturn’s moons and our neighboring planet Mars to revolutionary discoveries of thousands of exoplanets, from the puzzle of life’s beginning on Earth to the latest efforts in the search for intelligent life elsewhere, this book captures the imagination and enriches the reader’s understanding of how astronomers, planetary scientists, biologists, and other scientists make progress at the cutting edge of this dynamic field. Enriched with a wealth of engaging features, this textbook brings any citizen of the cosmos up to speed with the scientific quest to discover whether we are alone or part of a universe full of life. An acclaimed text designed to inspire students of all backgrounds to explore foundational questions about life in the cosmos Completely revised and updated to include the latest developments in the field, including recent exploratory space missions to Mars, frontier exoplanet science, research on the origin of life on Earth, and more Enriched with helpful learning aids, including in-chapter Think about It questions, optional Do the Math and Special Topic boxes, Movie Madness boxes, end-of-chapter exercises and problems, quick quizzes, and much more Supported by instructor’s resources, including an illustration package and test bank, available upon request

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