Book
Love your family, care for your those around you, never give up and always find time to have fun -- these are the golden rules of wolves. These remarkably intelligent animals take empathetic care of their old and injured, bring up their young lovingly...
"After decades of painstaking planning, NASA's first dedicated exoplanet detection mission, the Kepler space telescope, was launched in 2009 from Cape Canaveral. Kepler began a years-long mission of looking for Earth-like planets amongst the millions...
This is a lively, inspiring beginner's guide to how the universe works. This book contains bite-sized chapters present the discoveries of modern physics, astronomy, and cosmology. It also has background stories of the research and researchers bring the...
Our ancestors constructed vast monuments like Stonehenge and Pyramids of Egypt and Central America to keep track of the sun and celebrate the annual cycle of death and rebirth. The returning sun heralds new beginnings. Indeed, for most of mankind's h...
"How does life create order from chaos? And just what is life, anyway? Leading physicist Paul Davies argues that to find the answers, we must first answer a deeper question: 'What is information?' To understand the origins and nature of life, Davies proposes...
"For many years now, we have known the story of the Solar System, and the Earth's place in it. We have mapped out the stars in the night sky, and have known that we live in a disk of stars that makes up the Milky Way galaxy. But, in the past few decades,...
"Authoritative and engaging, Paul Parsons takes us on a rollercoaster ride through billions of light years to tell the story of the Big Bang, from birth to death. 13.8 billion years ago, something incredible happened. Matter, energy, space and time a...
For most of the twentieth century, maps were indispensable. They were how governments understood, managed, and defended their territory, and during the two world wars they were produced by the hundreds of millions. Cartographers and journalists predicted...
"We've all asked ourselves the question. It's impossible to look up at the stars and NOT think about it: Are we alone in the universe? Books, movies and television shows proliferate that attempt to answer this question and explore it. In OUT THERE Sp...
"Is it true that no two snowflakes are ever alike? How many Christmases have actually been white? Do the Inuit have dozens of words for snow? Can it ever be too cold to snow? Our memories and imagination are buried in snow. It's the weather of play, ...
"Have you ever wondered how trees got their names? What did our ancestors think about trees, and how were they used in the past? This fascinating book will answer many of your questions, but also reveal interesting stories that are not widely known. ...
"The Yellowstone grizzly population has grown from an estimated 136 bears when first granted federal protection as a threatened species to as many as 1,000 grizzlies in a tri-state region today. No longer limited to remote wilderness areas, grizzlies...
PRIMATE CHANGE is a wide-ranging, polemical look at how and why the human body has changed since humankind first got up on two feet. Spanning the entirety of human history - from primate to transhuman - Vybarr Cregan-Reid's book investigates where we...
Sensuous and fluid yet powerful, raging and unforgiving - from Styx to bottled water, from great lake to babbling brook, from poetic vessel to trade route, water exists in a myriad of states and is characterised by its many forms and expressions, its...
We're not just losing the wild world. We're forgetting it. We're no longer noticing it. We've lost the habit of looking and seeing and listening and hearing. But we can make hidden things visible, and this book features 23 spells that will bring the magic...
How many snowflakes does it take to build a snowman? Why does it feel so good to watch snow fall? Why is snow so quiet? Will it survive global warming and what was the greatest snowstorm in history? Snow has a lot in common with religion. It comes from...
"Rice, himself a scientist, posits that that science is essentially organized common sense. While the brain is hardwired for common sense, unfortunately it also relies on a number of misleading tendencies. Instead of reasoning objectively it tends to...
"30-Second Biology tackles the vital science of life, dissecting the 50 most thought-provoking theories of our ecosystem and ourselves. At a time when discoveries in DNA allow us to feel more connected than ever to the natural world, this is the fastest...
"Why do anthropologists study teeth? Teeth contain detailed records of growth, health, and diet, as well as our evolutionary history. So what are the tales teeth tell? The French naturalist George Cuvier famously remarked, "Show me your teeth and I will...
Eagles hold a unique allure among birds for their combination of power, grace, and predatory prowess. Captivating the human imagination, these raptors have symbolized pride, freedom, and independence of spirit since humankind's earliest times. This b...
"Does the void exist? Are space and time just an illusion? Are our minds capable of conceiving space at all? And why are we even on earth? 21st-century physics changes our perspective of the world and ourselves. Stefan Klein relates this in his gripping...
"Botanical encounters in the rainforest: trees that walk, a leaf as big as an awning, a plant that dances. This Atlas invites the reader to tour the farthest reaches of the rainforest in search of exotic―poetic―plant life. Guided in these botanical ...
"An ornithological quiz book packed with challenging questions for birders, based on the popular `Bird Brain of Britain' contest at the annual BirdFair. The British Birdwatching Fair, held every August at Rutland Water Nature Reserve, attracts over 3...
Noticing and appreciating the awesome nature of birdlife is a spiritually affirming activity-reconnecting us to the natural world each and every day. Mindful Thoughts for Birdwatchers presents a meaningful flock of enriching thoughts on the interconn...
"In the last 25 years, planetary science experienced a revolution, as vast oceans of liquid water have been discovered within the heart of the icy moons of our Solar System. These subsurface oceans lie hidden under thick layers of ice. We call them o...
"Created for map lovers by map lovers, this rich book explores the intriguing stories behind maps across history and illuminates how the art of cartography thrives today. In this visually stunning book, award-winning journalists Betsy Mason and Greg....
"Scotland's mountains and glens retain the secrets of the long and frequently violent geological history that has gone into their making. Volcanoes have played a major role in the creation of Scotland and while the youngest, a mere sixty million years...
"Most mountains on Earth occur within relatively well-defined, narrow belts separated by wide expanses of much lower-lying ground. Their distribution is not random but is caused by the now well-understood geological processes of plate tectonics. Some...
"Our world is made of rock. Those who live in a landscape where rock outcrops are obvious will have wondered about the kind of rock they are looking at and how they came to be where they are now. Graham Park explains in simple terms what geology can tell...
Bestselling author Marcus Chown explores some of the most profound and important science about us, our world and the universe with fifty fascinating and mind-boggling facts.Did you know that you could fit the whole human race in the volume of a sugar...
Today we are blessed with two extraordinarily successful theories of physics. The first is Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes the large-scale behaviour of matter in a curved spacetime. This theory is the basis for the sta...
Ever since Darwin, we have used the metaphor of the 'tree of life' to explain evolution, but this metaphor no longer holds up. Genes don't just move vertically, they can also pass laterally across species boundaries, known as 'horizontal gene transfer'...
"The astonishing science of black holes and their role in understanding the history and future of our universe. Black holes are the most extreme objects in the universe, and yet they are ubiquitous. Every massive star leaves behind a black hole when it...
"The fascinating lives and puzzling demise of some of the largest animals on earth. Until a few thousand years ago, creatures that could have been from a sci-fi thriller--including gorilla-sized lemurs, 800-pound birds, crocodiles that weighed a ton ...
"Wellington was only a fledgling settlement of some 3000 people when it was struck by a cluster of devastating earthquakes in 1848. The fearful violence of the shocks, the destruction of property, and the frequency and continuance of the danger caus...
Mitochondria are tiny structures within all our cells, believed to have once evolved from bacteria living independent lives. Drawing on cutting edge research, this book explores the fundamental role they play in some of the biggest themes in biology:...
"Most people enjoy maths - the problem is they don't know that they do. This revolutionary and accessible exploration of the role of mathematics as an historical aide to human activity will change the general public's relationship to numbers for the ...
"As historian James Belich put it: ̀There is little doubt that Cook has been emphasised to the unfair exclusion of the massive French contribution to European knowledge of New Zealand.' This book seeks to redress this balance, drawing in the main on ...
"How do magnets work? What is the theory of relativity all about? Is light made of waves or particles? And how on earth can a levitating goat teach us about atomic structure? In this age of smartphones, artificial intelligence, supercolliders, superc...
"Why is a rainbow curved? Why aren't left-handers extinct? How is a sunflower like a synchronised swimmer? Why is 'e' a magic number? The answer to these questions is contained within one simple word: MATHS. Because maths is all about patterns, and...
"Most of us think of Darwin at work on The Beagle, taking inspiration for his theory of evolution from his travels in the Galapagos. But Darwin published his Origin of Species nearly thirty years after his voyages and most of his labours in that time...
"Mathematics stories from Quanta Magazine."--Publisher's description.
Pebble hunting is a pleasant and health-giving hobby, whether pursued on a beach, the lake-side, or the river-bank, and all but those who are nearing the last stages of decrepitude can enjoy it. With a new introduction by Robert MacFarlane. First published...
"A rollicking yet rigorous inquiry that follows the science of germs into the kitchen, restaurant, and everywhere else you eat and drink. Have you ever dropped a chip on the ground, picked it up after five seconds--then eaten it? Or debated which spreads...
"The Brief Life of Flowers is an ode to the flowers that fill our countrysides, our woodlands and our homes. Part nature writing, part memoir, Fiona Stafford explores Britain's flora, as well as the literature and lore that surrounds it. From snowdrops...
The genetic history of the dog is a sensational example of the co-evolution of two species, man and wolf, to each other's mutual benefit. But how did this ancient partnership begin? To answer this question, Professor Bryan Sykes identifies tantalising...
When invading a host cell, viruses seize cell machinery to make copies of their own genes. The immune system recognizes the invasion. In contrast, retroviruses colonize host cells through the process of reverse transcriptase. Retroviruses open host cell...
"The unique Haynes insight into Mars, providing a sister title to Earth Manual and Moon Manual. The recent Ridley Scott/Matt Damon film The Martian, the discovery of water (ice) on the planets surface and NASAs plans for manned Mars exploration have all...
A field guide to the rainforest tree and shrubs of Victoria, New South Wales and Victoria using vegetative characters. A second edition of the book published in 2006, which was an update of the "Red Book", first published in 1984.
A natural history of the wilderness in our homes, from the microbes in our showers to the crickets in our basements.
A bedside book for nature lovers, this gathers science and lore, natural history and wit and wisdom, into a day-by-day wander through the year.
"Native New Zealand Flowering Plants is a comprehensive guide to New Zealand's richly diverse and exceptionally beautiful array of flowing plants. Over 600 species are included - from well-known and often cultivated trees and shrubs such as pohutukawas...
"Definitive field guide to all of New Zealand's tuatara, geckos, skinks, frogs, marine turtles and marine snakes"--Publisher information.
"An appreciation of the 'fascial' network in health and disease has been an integral part of osteopathic practice for more than a century, but it is only recently that the details of its structure have been recognized. Tom Myers described a system of...
"Since its foundation in 1860, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History's world-renowned collections have become a key centre for scientific study and its much-loved building an important icon for visitors from around the world.0The museum now...
"Exciting physics doesn't just shwo up in billion-dollar experiments like the Large Hadron Collider or in extreme astrophysical environments like black holes. It's to be found all around us, just beneath the surface of our normal everyday lives. ... ...
"From the mating grounds of Ecuador's cock-of-the-rock to the phoebe nest outside his suburban back door, Eli J. Knapp explores the roller-coaster ride of sharing Nature with the next generation. Along the way, he laughs at misfortune, marvels at Nat...
"Polly Pullar saw her first pine marten during her childhood in Ardnamurchan - a remote, wild area of the Scottish Highlands. Then exceedingly rare, this ... member of the weasel family had been persecuted to near extinction. Years later, as the mart...
"Kiwi, kākāpō, takahē, moa, tūī – these birds, and many others, are unique to Aotearoa New Zealand, and famous throughout the world. It was the 1873 publication of Walter Buller’s A History of the Birds of New Zealand that introduced overseas readers...
A new, beautifully illustrated edition of David Attenborough's groundbreaking Life on Earth. David Attenborough's meeting with gorillas was one of the most unforgettable moments for millions of television viewers. With Life on Earth, Attenborough created...
Traces the efforts of an elite scientific team who tested Einstein's theory of relativity during a historic mission to photograph a black hole, addressing key questions about time, space, and the nature of the universe.
"Largely shell-less relatives of clams and snails, the marine mollusks in the class Cephalopoda--Greek for head-foot --are colorful creatures of many-armed dexterity, often inky self-defense, and highly evolved cognition. They are capable of learning,...
"Bats have been misunderstood and maligned in the West for centuries. Unfair associations with demons have seen their leathery wings adorn numerous evil characters, from the Devil to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But these amazing animals are ecological sup...
"Written by experts with extensive local knowledge, each volume features 100 -280 species that the amateur naturalist might expect to see in the field, with high quality photographs accompanied by detailed species descriptions that include common nam...
"Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveller, but even when he stays safely at home he can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. A Short History of Nearly Everything is his quest to understand everything that has happened from...
"From the barely-visible wings of the flightless kiwi to the immense wingspan of the wandering albatross, New Zealand's fragile island ecosystem is home to a diverse array of spectacular birds. Delve into the fascinating world of our feathered friends...
"Darkness divides opinion. Some are frightened of the dark, or at least prefer to avoid it, and there are many who dislike what it appears to stand for. Others are drawn to its strange domain, delighting in its uncertainties, lured by all the associations...
How well do you know our closest neighbour? The moon has fascinated humankind since the beginning of history. But far from being just a big rock out in space, the moon has a phenomenal power over the earth, with it's ability to create great waves, dictate...
"The true story of the explosion of the Mount Toba supervolcano, the largest eruption in the past 28 million years, and its lasting impact on Earth and human evolution."--
"For the first time, this extraordinary compilation showcases weird, mysterious and bizarre plants from around the world. Plants trick, kill, steal and kidnap, and this unique book explores a fascinating world in which plants have turned the tables on...
"At once reptilian and avian, dinosaurs enable us to imagine a world far beyond the usual boundaries of time, culture and physiology. We have envisioned them in diverse and contradictory ways, reflecting, in part, our changing conceptions of ourselves....
From the bestselling author of Acquainted with the Night comes a brilliant and witty look at weather. We live at the bottom of an ocean of air - 5,200 million million tons, to be exact. It sounds like a lot, but Earth's atmosphere is smeared onto its...
"Immersed in a world of sprawling concrete and hyper-advancing technology, we can begin to see the natural landscape as a thing of the past. All the more reason, suggests Bob Collier, a self-professed nature lover, to set out on the often- unrecognized...
"Human beings are important, especially to themselves! But as science advances, it has become increasingly clear that we are less special and more natural than many people have long believed. This book shows how, as we finally look at ourselves honestly...
"Almost 4,000 clear and concise entries; Defines terms used in physics as well as terms from the related fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and physical chemistry; Over 200 new entries, including Feshbach resonance, mean field theory, nanomechanics, and...
It is hard to overstate just how unusual Europe was towards the end of the age of the dinosaurs. It was a dynamic island arc whose individual landmasses were made up of diverse geological types, including ancient continental fragments, raised segments...
"Are we more like termites than we ever imagined? In Underbug, the award-winning journalist Lisa Margonelli introduces us to the enigmatic creatures that collectively outweigh human beings ten to one and consume $40 billion worth of valuable stuff an...
"In this tie-in to their popular 'The Skeptics Guide to the Universe' podcast, Steven Novella, along with 'Skeptical Rogues' Bob Novella, Cara Santa Maria, Jay Novella and Evan Bernstein explain the tenets of skeptical thinking and debunk some of the...
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