Science & Nature - Books

Land Bridges

Science & Nature

Land bridges are the causeways of biodiversity. When they form, organisms are introduced into a new patchwork of species and habitats, forever altering the ecosystems into which they flow; and when land bridges disappear or fracture, organisms are separated into reproductively isolated populations that can evolve independently. More than this, land bridges play a role in determining global climates through changes to moisture and heat transport and are also essential factors in the development of biogeographic patterns across geographically remote regions. In this book, paleobotanist Alan Graham traces the formation and disruption of key New World land bridges and describes the biotic, climatic, and biogeographic ramifications of these land masses’ changing formations over time. Looking at five land bridges, he explores their present geographic setting and climate, modern vegetation, indigenous peoples (with special attention to their impact on past and present vegetation), and geologic history. From the great Panamanian isthmus to the boreal connections across the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans that allowed exchange of organisms between North America, Europe, and Asia, Graham’s sweeping, one-hundred-million-year history offers new insight into the forces that shaped the life and land of the New World.

Our Angry Earth

Science & Nature

“A lucid overview of [environmental] problems and a compelling call to action.” —Publishers WeeklyFrom two of science fiction’s most celebrated and brilliant minds—Isaac Asimov and Frederik Pohl—comes the second edition of Our Angry Earth, a comprehensive analysis of today's environmental threats and a guide on how we can heal our planet, with an introduction and afterword from New York Times bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson.Our Angry Earth provides a candid picture of the present and many possibilities for a better, cleaner future. From the greenhouse effect and depletion of our ozone layer to nuclear waste and species extinction, Asimov and Pohl not only present accessible explanations of complex scientific processes but ways we can improve our behavior and relationship with the planet, whether it be involvement in social activism or individual lifestyle changes.Kim Stanley Robinson, author of New York Times bestsellers 2312, New York2140, and the internationally renowned Mars trilogy, brings his decades-spanning expertise in climate change to Our Angry Earth’s introduction and afterword.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Terpenoids: Recent Advances in Extraction, Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Science & Nature

Terpenoids are commercially important chemicals found in essential oils and other natural plant sources. They are used in solving issues that affect agricultural production, making them a key component of sustainable agronomy. Terpenoids: Recent Advances in Extraction, Biochemistry and Biotechnology provides information about the varied use of terpenoids in the control of pests, microbial diseases, ticks, and weeds. Chapters have prioritized terpenoids produced by plants, endophytic fungi, propolis, and geopropolis. The book also provides focused information about the functions of terpenoids in plants, as well as their biosynthetic pathways of production. The reference provides readers with a broad and diverse picture of the applications of terpenoids in plant safety, and creates an awareness of the possibilities for innovative biotechnological approaches for their extraction that make all the difference to agricultural production. Professionals and scholars involved in chemical technology, biotechnology and agriculture will benefit from the information provided in the book. It also serves as a comprehensive update for general readers interested in terpenoids and their current impact on the agricultural industry.

La forza della preghiera nelle parole degli scienziati

Science & Nature

La preghiera e la meditazione appartengono all’umanità di ogni epoca e luogo. Si potrebbe però pensare che, nell’era della scienza moderna, l’uomo non ha più bisogno né pregare né di alzare gli occhi al cielo, quasi fosse divenuto autosufficiente e onnipotente. La storia di molti grandi scienziati, di ieri e di oggi, dice che le cose non stanno così. Il loro pensiero e le loro preghiere, ci aiutano a capire perché.

Race for Space 2: Sputnik Launches

Science & Nature

The second in the Race for Space multi-touch book series tells the story behind the launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957 – an event that was greeted with amazement around the world but caused acute embarrassment in the White House for reasons that could not be made public.

Race for Space 4: America Plays Catch-Up

Science & Nature

Book 4 in the Race for Space series covers the development and mission history of the Mercury spacecraft – slow to get off the ground for want of a powerful enough launch vehicle, but ultimately very successful and a big feather in the cap of the newly created NASA.

La teoría de todo lo demás

Science & Nature

¿Por qué estamos aquí? ¿Existen los fantasmas? ¿Viajaremos alguna vez en el tiempo? ¿Nos visitan extraterrestres? ¿Hablaremos alguna vez con los animales? ¿Nos dicen la verdad? ¿Hay criaturas misteriosas vagando por la tierra? ¿Y por qué cuando te duchas, la cortina siempre se te pega? No conocemos las respuestas a ninguna de estas preguntas (incluida la de la cortina, un misterio que ha eludido a los científicos durante décadas y que aún intentan resolver). Pero no te preocupes, independientemente de las preguntas que tengas, puedes estar seguro de que hay alguien (o algo) ahí fuera investigándola por ti, y Dan Schreiber recopila sus últimos hallazgos. Desde los multimillonarios tecnológicos de Silicon Valley que actualmente intentan descifrar si el universo es o no una gigantesca simulación de videojuego, las estrellas del deporte que usan energía cósmica y hasta la autoproclamada comunidad de viajeros en el tiempo italianos que intentan salvar al mundo de la destrucción.

Recovery of Bioactives from Food Wastes

Science & Nature

This book is a concise presentation of important aspects involved in dealing with extraction and utilization of bioactive compounds from the food industry waste. It starts with a focus on the global scenario of food waste generation and potential of food waste in various industries. Thereafter, the various conventional and advanced extraction techniques are discussed to highlight on how to separate bioactive compounds from the food waste. The application of industrial food-waste derived bioactive compounds in various emerging sectors are highlighted. Features: Presents critical discussion on various advancement in various extraction processes including future trends. Provides elaborative description of food waste sources and challenges associated with it. Highlights potential of bioactive compounds in various industries. Quantitatively discusses existing as well as new technologies/methodologies. Includes a separate chapter on pertinent policies of various countries. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in chemical and food engineering, separation technology and bioactive compounds.

De elementen

Science & Nature

Het Elementaire Deeltje De elementen traceert de geschiedenis en de culturele impact van de elementen op de mens, en onderzoekt onze lange speurtocht naar de bouwstenen van onze omgeving. Philip Ball kijkt daarbij naar het periodiek systeem der elementen, maar stelt ook de relatie van de mens met materie centraal. Vanaf de nog eenvoudige ideeën van de Griekse filosofen die meenden dat er vier elementen waren - aarde, lucht, vuur en water -, tot het werk van moderne wetenschappers die zelf elementen creëren zoals hassium en meitnerium. De elementen bevat hoofdstukken over specifieke elementen, zoals goud, ijzer en zuurstof. Ball bespreekt hoe zij onze cultuur en technologie hebben gevormd.

Why Society is a Complex Matter

Science & Nature

Society is complicated. But this book argues that this does not place it beyond the reach of a science that can help to explain and perhaps even to predict social behaviour. As a system made up of many interacting agents – people, groups, institutions and governments, as well as physical and technological structures such as roads and computer networks – society can be regarded as a complex system. In recent years, scientists have made great progress in understanding how such complex systems operate, ranging from animal populations to earthquakes and weather. These systems show behaviours that cannot be predicted or intuited by focusing on the individual components, but which emerge spontaneously as a consequence of their interactions: they are said to be ‘self-organized’. Attempts to direct or manage such emergent properties generally reveal that ‘top-down’ approaches, which try to dictate a particular outcome, are ineffectual, and that what is needed instead is a ‘bottom-up’ approach that aims to guide self-organization towards desirable states.This book shows how some of these ideas from the science of complexity can be applied to the study and management of social phenomena, including traffic flow, economic markets, opinion formation and the growth and structure of cities. Building on these successes, the book argues that the complex-systems view of the social sciences has now matured sufficiently for it to be possible, desirable and perhaps essential to attempt a grander objective: to integrate these efforts into a unified scheme for studying, understanding and ultimately predicting what happens in the world we have made. Such a scheme would require the mobilization and collaboration of many different research communities, and would allow society and its interactions with the physical environment to be explored throughrealistic models and large-scale data collection and analysis. It should enable us to find new and effective solutions to major global problems such as conflict, disease, financial instability, environmental despoliation and poverty, while avoiding unintended policy consequences. It could give us the foresight to anticipate and ameliorate crises, and to begin tackling some of the most intractable problems of the twenty-first century.

Ionic Liquids in Lipid Processing and Analysis

Science & Nature

This book serves as a reference for those interested in state-of-the-art research on the science and technology of ionic liquids (ILs), particularly in relation to lipids processing and analysis. Topics include a review of the chemistry and physics of ILs as well as a quantitative understanding of structure-activity relationships at the molecular level. Further, chapter authors examine the molecular basis of the toxicity of ILs, the prediction of the properties of ILs, and the rationale and steps toward a priori design of ionic liquids for task-defined applications. Emerging research in developing lipid-inspired ILs and their prospective use in drug formulation is described. Among the highlights are the latest advances in IL-mediated biocatalysis and biotransformation, along with lipase production, purification, and activation. - Reviews the state-of-the-art applications of ionic liquids in lipid processing and relevant areas from a variety of perspectives - Summarizes the latest advances in the measurement of the physical and chemical properties of ionic liquids and available databases of thermodynamic property datapoints - Presents the tremendous opportunities provided and challenges faced from ionic liquids as a newly emerging technology for lipids processing area

Our Synthetic Environment

Science & Nature

Bookchin wrote Our Synthetic Environment under the pseudonym Lewis Herber. This was one of the first books of the modern period in which an author espoused an ecological and environmentalist worldview. It predates Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson, a more widely known book on the same topic widely credited as starting the environmental movement. "At the time of its publication, Our Synthetic Environment was the most comprehensive and enlightened book on the environmental crisis. Many other books on this topic have been published since, but none, I believe, as comprehensive." --René Dubos—Print ed.

Espaces euclidiens et hermitiens

Science & Nature

Cet ouvrage est une réédition numérique d’un livre paru au XXe siècle, désormais indisponible dans son format d’origine.

Rational Answers to Stupid Questions

Science & Nature

Rational Answers to Stupid Questions is a book that takes approximately one hundred of the most common arguments used against mainstream science and debunks them all. The subjects in the book include evolution, astronomy, physics, geology, geography, biology, genetics, and more.

Elusive

Science & Nature

Nell’estate del 1964, un giovane e solitario professore dell’Università di Edimburgo scrive due articoli scientifici che cambieranno la comprensione della natura dell’universo. Peter Higgs ipotizza l’esistenza di una particella elementare – oggi nota come “bosone di Higgs” – senza la quale non ci sarebbero atomi, persone, pianeti o stelle, ma solo particelle irrequiete che attraversano lo spazio in uno splendido isolamento. Per quasi cinquant’anni, alcuni dei più grandi progetti di fisica sperimentale hanno cercato di dimostrarne l’esistenza. «Scommetto 100 dollari che non esiste nessun bosone di Higgs», ha affermato una volta Stephen Hawking. La straordinaria smentita è arrivata nel 2012 dal CERN di Ginevra: la “particella di Dio” esiste. Insignito del Premio Nobel per la Fisica l’anno successivo, al momento dell’annuncio Higgs era introvabile, intento a «bere una pinta di birra artigianale» al porto di Leith per sfuggire al clamore mediatico. Collega e amico di Higgs, oltre che scrittore d’eccezione, Frank Close ripercorre la storia della fisica dell’ultimo secolo e le tappe di un’indagine scientifica senza precedenti che ha definitivamente eliminato l’ipotesi di un vuoto privo di materia. Una narrazione accurata, chiara e avvincente sullo scienziato scozzese la cui immaginazione ha ispirato 9 791256 140381 generazioni di studiosi.

Climate Change (A Ladybird Expert Book)

Science & Nature

What is climate change? How does it work? Learn from the experts in the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIESLearn about one of the most important issues facing our world today in this clear, simple and enlightening introduction.From HRH The Prince of Wales, environmentalist Tony Juniper and climate scientist Dr Emily Shuckburgh, it explains the history, dangers and challenges of global warming and explores possible solutions with which to reduce its impact.You'll learn about . . .- The causes and consequences of climate disruption- Heatwaves, floods and other extreme weather- Disappearing wildlife- Acid oceans- The benefits of limiting warming- Sustainable farming- New, clean technologies- The circular economyLearn about other topics in the Ladybird Experts series including Gravity, Quantum Physics, Climate Change and Evolution.Written by the leading lights and most outstanding communicators in their fields, the Ladybird Expert books provide clear, accessible and authoritative introductions to subjects drawn from science, history and culture.For an adult readership, the Ladybird Expert series is produced in the same iconic small hardback format pioneered by the original Ladybirds. Each beautifully illustrated book features the first new illustrations produced in the original Ladybird style for nearly forty years.

Chitosan-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Science & Nature

This book overviews current advances in chitosan-based drug delivery systems, focusing on fabrication technology, methods, and applications. Chitosan, a renewable polysaccharide obtained by chitin deacetylation, is suitable as a biodegradable matrix for the production of different drug delivery systems owing to its biocompatibility, bio adhesive, antibacterial activity, haemostatic action, adsorption, properties, and functional capabilities. The current research trends are to continue innovative modifications of chitosan derivatives, nanotechnologies, stimuli-responsive delivery, and theragnostic techniques to improve promising chitosan-based drug delivery systems. This book is intended for scientists, researchers, and industrialists who are working on chitosan and chitosan-based drug delivery systems in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biomedical science, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and material engineering.

Controllo

Science & Nature

««Controllo è persuasivo, ragionevole e alla fine rassicurante, ma non è compiacente … Conoscere la storia significa “vaccinarsi contro il suo ripetersi”, sostiene Rutherford. Da questo punto di vista, questo libro è un'occasione da non perdere». »«The Guardian» - Katy Guest««Una straordinaria combinazione di intelligenza, competenza, acume e ammirevole passione politica intorno a un grave problema morale della società contemporanea».»Carlo Rovelli, autore di Sette brevi lezioni di fisica, L’ordine del tempo e HelgolandCome la bomba atomica viene considerata il «peccato originale» della fisica, così l’eugenetica è da sempre giudicata come il «peccato originale» della biologia.L’umanità ha sempre cercato di migliorare la società allo scopo di ridurre le sofferenze, eliminando le malattie o migliorando in qualche modo le probabilità di sopravvivenza dei propri figli. Tuttavia, questo desiderio va spesso di pari passo con quello di imporre il controllo su chi può sposarsi, chi può procreare e chi può vivere.In epoca vittoriana, all’ombra delle idee – un po’ distorte – di Darwin sull’evoluzione, iniziò a prendere forma un nuovo tentativo di imporre il controllo sulla nostra stessa struttura biologica. Nacque così un movimento politico che imbastardì la scienza e che per sessant’anni godette di un ampio sostegno popolare e politico, sia tra i progressisti che tra i conservatori. L’eugenetica fu abbracciata con entusiasmo in decine di paesi, arrivando alle sue estreme conseguenze nella Germania nazista, conducendo direttamente alle camere a gas e ai forni crematori di Auschwitz.Ma non è solo storia passata. L’eredità dell’eugenetica persiste ancora oggi nella lingua, nella letteratura, nelle parole che usiamo inconsapevolmente. E oggi, di nuovo, con le tecniche di editing genetico messe a disposizione dalle più avanzate ricerche – si pensi alle possibilità offerte da CRISPR –, si parla ancora una volta di manipolazione del DNA, per rendere i nascituri più intelligenti, più adatti, più forti. Il sogno distorto della purezza e della perfezione.Con Controllo Adam Rutherford offre il suo sguardo lucido e competente sui pericoli passati e presenti dell’eugenetica, raccontandone con grande concisione e chiarezza, sia scientifica che morale, la storia non troppa remota, condensa concetti difficili in una prosa intelligente e precisa fino a smascherare, con la sua analisi urgente e necessaria, una delle idee più distruttive del XX secolo.

Selvaggi. Il rewilding della terra, dei mari e della vita umana

Science & Nature

Lupi che permettono a millenarie foreste di ricrescere sui pendii di Yellowstone, balene che assorbono anidride carbonica e riaccendono la vita degli oceani, castori che prevengono inondazioni, predatori che dopo secoli di assenza tornano nei loro antichi terreni di caccia rivitalizzando gli ecosistemi da cui mancavano. Tutto questo è il rewilding, la capacità della Natura di rigenerarsi da sola. Attingendo alle più recenti ricerche scientifiche nei campi della biologia e dell'ecologia, George Monbiot ci offre la speranza di un ambientalismo positivo, invitandoci a scoprire quei luoghi dove alla Natura è stato concesso di seguire il proprio meraviglioso e imprevedibile modello di autoguarigione, dopo secoli di saccheggio e distruzione. Vincitore dei prestigiosi Orion Book Award e del Society of Biology Book Award, "Selvaggi" rappresenta anche l'appassionato tentativo di Monbiot di riconciliarsi con la Natura. A bordo del suo kayak lungo le coste gallesi, o mentre vaga nelle foreste dell'Europa orientale e nei boschi in ripresa delle Highlands scozzesi, ci mostra come poter alleviare la nostra «noia ecologica» e sfuggire dall'addomesticamento tecnologico, donando di nuovo alle nostre vite il senso della meraviglia e della sorpresa.

Understanding the New Solar System

Science & Nature

This volume reveals the latest knowledge of the composition and nature of our solar family. Here you'll discover what lies beyond the orbit of Pluto, which solar body is the most volcanically active, and which solar system bodies have atmospheres and may harbour primitive life.

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