Science & Nature - Books

The Dialectic of Duration

Science & Nature

In The Dialectic of Duration, Gaston Bachelard addresses the nature of time in response to the writings of his great contemporary, Henri Bergson. The work is motivated by a refutation of Bergson's notion of duration – 'lived time', experienced as continuous. For Bachelard, experienced time is irreducibly fractured and interrupted, as indeed are material events. At stake is an entire conception of the physical world, an entire approach to the philosophy of science. It was in this work that Bachelard first marshalled all the components of his visionary philosophy of science, with its steady insistence on the human context and subtle encompassing of the irrational within the rational. The Dialectic of Duration reaches far beyond local arguments over the nature of the physical world to gesture toward the building of an entirely new form of philosophy. Ongoing publication made possible through the generous support of the Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy.

The Dinosaur Artist

Science & Nature

In this 2018 New York Times Notable Book,Paige Williams "does for fossils what Susan Orlean did for orchids" (Book Riot) in her account of one Florida man's attempt to sell a dinosaur skeleton from Mongolia--a story "steeped in natural history, human nature, commerce, crime, science, and politics" (Rebecca Skloot). In 2012, a New York auction catalogue boasted an unusual offering: "a superb Tyrannosaurus skeleton." In fact, Lot 49135 consisted of a nearly complete T. bataar, a close cousin to the most famous animal that ever lived. The fossils now on display in a Manhattan event space had been unearthed in Mongolia, more than 6,000 miles away. At eight-feet high and 24 feet long, the specimen was spectacular, and when the gavel sounded the winning bid was over $1 million. Eric Prokopi, a thirty-eight-year-old Floridian, was the man who had brought this extraordinary skeleton to market. A onetime swimmer who spent his teenage years diving for shark teeth, Prokopi's singular obsession with fossils fueled a thriving business hunting, preparing, and selling specimens, to clients ranging from natural history museums to avid private collectors like actor Leonardo DiCaprio. But there was a problem. This time, facing financial strain, had Prokopi gone too far? As the T. bataar went to auction, a network of paleontologists alerted the government of Mongolia to the eye-catching lot. As an international custody battle ensued, Prokopi watched as his own world unraveled. In the tradition of The Orchid Thief, The Dinosaur Artist is a stunning work of narrative journalism about humans' relationship with natural history and a seemingly intractable conflict between science and commerce. A story that stretches from Florida's Land O' Lakes to the Gobi Desert, The Dinosaur Artist illuminates the history of fossil collecting--a murky, sometimes risky business, populated by eccentrics and obsessives, where the lines between poacher and hunter, collector and smuggler, enthusiast and opportunist, can easily blur. In her first book, Paige Williams has given readers an irresistible story that spans continents, cultures, and millennia as she examines the question of who, ultimately, owns the past.

The Star-Crossed Stone

Science & Nature

Throughout the four hundred thousand years that humanity has been collecting fossils, sea urchin fossils, or echinoids, have continually been among the most prized, from the Paleolithic era, when they decorated flint axes, to today, when paleobiologists study them for clues to the earth’s history. In The Star-Crossed Stone, Kenneth J. McNamara, an expert on fossil echinoids, takes readers on an incredible fossil hunt, with stops in history, paleontology, folklore, mythology, art, religion, and much more. Beginning with prehistoric times, when urchin fossils were used as jewelry, McNamara reveals how the fossil crept into the religious and cultural lives of societies around the world—the roots of the familiar five-pointed star, for example, can be traced to the pattern found on urchins. But McNamara’s vision is even broader than that: using our knowledge of early habits of fossil collecting, he explores the evolution of the human mind itself, drawing striking conclusions about humanity’s earliest appreciation of beauty and the first stirrings of artistic expression. Along the way, the fossil becomes a nexus through which we meet brilliant eccentrics and visionary archaeologists and develop new insights into topics as seemingly disparate as hieroglyphics, Beowulf, and even church organs. An idiosyncratic celebration of science, nature, and human ingenuity, The Star-Crossed Stone is as charming and unforgettable as the fossil at its heart.

Éduquer son chien Pour les Nuls

Science & Nature

Avec Eduquer son chien pour les Nuls, dresser votre compagnon à quatre pattes n'est pas une corvée. Que vous vouliez entreprendre l'éducation d'un chiot ou compléter celle d'un chien adulte, lui faire perdre ses mauvaises habitudes, ce livre vous propose des méthodes simples et claires pour rendre votre chien heureux et obéissant. Des ordres de bases à l'entraînement, découvrez toutes les astuces de dresseur et des conseils d'experts, adaptés à la psychologie de votre chien.

La voix des arbres

Science & Nature

Le parcours hors du commun de Diana Berseford-Kroeger, botaniste, biochimiste clinique et autrice de renommée internationale, dans ce livre évènement qui révèle les liens d'interdépendance qui unissent arbres et humains.Une jeune orpheline en Irlande dans les années 1950, que les femmes de la vallée de Lisheens ont prise sous leur aile pour lui transmettre leur savoir ancestral. Un esprit brillant, une scientifique accomplie, à la double compétence en biochimie médicale et en botanique. Une amoureuse passionnée de la forêt. Diana Beresford-Kroeger est tout cela à la fois, et son itinéraire résolument atypique l'amène à opérer la synthèse de son héritage celte et des connaissances scientifiques actuelles pour réconcilier l'homme et la forêt. Depuis des années, elle consacre toute son énergie à préserver la biodiversité forestière, aussi bien en apportant sa caution scientifique à différentes luttes que dans l'espace de son arboretum canadien, où elle s'acharne à regrouper et à hybrider des espèces particulièrement adaptées au changement climatique. Avec un émerveillement sans cesse renouvelé face au règne végétal, elle partage ici ce qu'elle a appris au contact des arbres, des cultures celtes et des peuples autochtones du Canada, les Premières Nations. Ce texte autobiographique est une double déclaration d'amour, à la forêt et à la culture celte, dont l'alphabet oghamique, ou " alphabet des arbres ", lui permet de raconter la magie du vivant et l'histoire d'un peuple aux pratiques médicinales fondées sur une observation méticuleuse de la nature. Un livre porteur d'espoir face au dérèglement climatique, pour ceux qui refusent de se résigner. Une vie au service des arbres.

Histoire de la paléontologie

Science & Nature

Ce livre retrace l'évolution des conceptions sur les fossiles et leur signification, depuis les conceptions mythologiques de l'Antiquité jusqu'aux controverses actuelles, en passant par la découverte de l'extinction des espèces et celle de l'évolution. Il replace les grands débats actuels de la paléontologie dans leur contexte, en tenant compte des découvertes les plus récentes.

Advanced Air and Noise Pollution Control

Science & Nature

The past twenty-five years have witnessed a growing worldwide drive to restore the quality of our environment and to protect it from the degrading effects of air, noise, solid waste, and water pollution. In Advanced Air and Noise Pollution Control: Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Volume 2, leading pollution control educators and practicing professionals describe how various combinations of different cutting-edge process systems can be arranged to solve air, noise, and thermal pollution problems. Each chapter discusses in detail a variety of process combinations, along with technical and economic evaluations, and presents explanations of the principles behind the designs, as well as numerous variant designs useful to practicing engineers. The emphasis throughout is on developing the necessary engineering solutions from fundamental principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The authors also include extensive references, cost data, design methods, guidance on the installation and operation of various air pollution control process equipment and systems, and Best Available Technologies (BAT) for air, thermal, and noise pollution control. A companion volume, Air Pollution Control Engineering: Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Volume 1 critically surveys the principles and practices involved in basic air pollution control processes. Cutting-edge and highly practical, Advanced Air and Noise Pollution Control: Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Volume 2 offers educators, students, and practicing engineers a strong grounding in the principles of this critical field, as well as effective methods for developing optimal abatement technologies at costs that are fully justified by the degree of abatement achieved.

The Birds of America: Vol. 3

Science & Nature

This groundbreaking work features hand-colored, life-sized prints of North American birds based on field drawings made by famous wildlife artist John James Audubon. The work includes images of six now-extinct birds. This is the third of seven volumes.

Perdidos en las matemáticas

Science & Nature

«Cuando me doy cuenta de que ya no entiendo la física, hablo con amigos y colegas. Veo que no soy la única que se siente confusa y me dispongo a bajar la razón de las nubes.» Así, de esta manera tajante, comienza su libro Sabine Hossenfelder. Los físicos, cuando piensan en los agujeros negros o predicen descubrimientos en el CERN, creen que las mejores teorías son hermosas y elegantes, y por eso, sostiene la autora, no hemos visto un gran avance en los fundamentos de la física en las últimas cuatro décadas. La creencia en la belleza se ha vuelto tan dogmática que entra en conflicto con la objetividad científica: la observación no ha podido confirmar teorías como la supersimetría o la gran unificación, desarrolladas por físicos basados en criterios estéticos; peor aún, estas teorías «demasiado buenas para no ser ciertas» son en realidad imposibles de probar y han dejado el campo en un callejón sin salida. Para escapar, los físicos deben repensar sus métodos. Solo abrazando la realidad tal como es, la ciencia puede descubrir la verdad. Perdidos en las matemáticas es la historia de muchos físicos, incluida la propia autora, que se enfrentan a la creencia de que las leyes de la naturaleza son bellas, porque ¿acaso creer no es algo que un científico no debería hacer nunca?

Jupiter

Science & Nature

Now in paperback, an accessible and engaging introduction to planetary science that will deepen our knowledge both of this magnificent planet and of our own place in the solar system.Majestic and untwinkling, Jupiter is the grandest of all planets. It is the largest planet in our solar system and among the brightest objects in the night sky. It shines with a noble, steady luster, and its calming presence has inspired humans for centuries. Jupiter was the “beloved star” of the first serious observers of the planets, the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians, and has inspired poetic utterances from eminent writers such as William Wordsworth and Walt Whitman. It also continues to inspire contemporary astronomers and stargazers, and this beautifully illustrated volume brings our understanding of Jupiter right up to date.The scientific study of Jupiter is at a watershed: NASA’s Juno space probe has entered orbit about Jupiter to investigate the planet, while information gleaned from improved telescopes and other robotic explorers in space continues to improve our understanding of the planet’s origin, evolution, and composition. Jupiter provides a concise and expert overview of the history of our observations of this largest of planetary spheres, as well as reports on the much-anticipated initial findings from the Juno space probe.

Biotech Industry

Science & Nature

"Biotech Industry" explores the revolutionary field of biotechnology and its vast implications for healthcare, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. The book examines how genetic engineering forms the bedrock for advancements, allowing precise modifications to organisms for various applications. Furthermore, it reveals how medical biotechnology is transforming healthcare through innovative therapies like gene therapy, enhanced diagnostics, and the rise of personalized medicine tailored to individual genetic makeups.The book progresses logically from fundamental concepts in molecular biology to specific applications, such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and sustainable agriculture. It highlights that while biotechnology presents immense opportunities, careful consideration of ethical, social, and regulatory factors is essential. Did you know that biotechnology leverages discoveries dating back to the structure of DNA? Or that it promises to revolutionize food security?This book stands out by integrating scientific findings with ethical and economic considerations, making it valuable for students, researchers, policymakers, and anyone keen to understand the biotech industry's impact. By drawing from peer-reviewed literature and real-world case studies, the book offers a balanced perspective on controversial topics like GMOs, empowering readers to critically assess biotechnological claims and engage in informed discussions.

The Meaning of Evolution

Science & Nature

Did Darwin see evolution as progressive, directed toward producing ever more advanced forms of life? Most contemporary scholars say no. In this challenge to prevailing views, Robert J. Richards says yes—and argues that current perspectives on Darwin and his theory are both ideologically motivated and scientifically unsound. This provocative new reading of Darwin goes directly to the origins of evolutionary theory. Unlike most contemporary biologists or historians and philosophers of science, Richards holds that Darwin did concern himself with the idea of progress, or telos, as he constructed his theory. Richards maintains that Darwin drew on the traditional embryological meanings of the terms “evolution” and “descent with modification.” In the 1600s and 1700s, “evolution” referred to the embryological theory of preformation, the idea that the embryo exists as a miniature adult of its own species that simply grows, or evolves, during gestation. By the early 1800s, however, the idea of preformation had become the concept of evolutionary recapitulation, the idea that during its development an embryo passes through a series of stages, each the adult form of an ancestor species. Richards demonstrates that, for Darwin, embryological recapitulation provided a graphic model of how species evolve. If an embryo could be seen as successively taking the structures and forms of its ancestral species, then one could see the evolution of life itself as a succession of species, each transformed from its ancestor. Richards works with the Origin and other published and archival material to show that these embryological models were much on Darwin’s mind as he considered the evidence for descent with modification. Why do so many modern researchers find these embryological roots of Darwin’s theory so problematic? Richards argues that the current tendency to see evolution as a process that is not progressive and not teleological imposes perspectives on Darwin that incorrectly deny the clearly progressive heart of his embryological models and his evolutionary theory.

The Solar System

Science & Nature

An inviting expedition across our galactic neighborhood, from Mercury to the Sun’s furthest satellites, complete with the latest discoveries. The Space Age probes to the Moon, Venus, and Mars ushered in a golden age of planetary science, transforming our understanding of the solar system from a distant mystery into many, vividly realized worlds. This book provides an accessible survey of the solar system, covering each of the planets as well as the major asteroids and bodies just outside the solar system. Drawing on interviews with leading scientists, the book offers an engaging overview of the latest discoveries for amateur astronomers, making it an essential guide for anyone interested in our celestial neighborhood.

Le grand saut. Quand les virus des animaux s'attaquent à l'homme

Science & Nature

Un nouveau virus apparaît en Chine. On sait le tour dramatique qu’a pris cette émergence. La Covid-19, comme le SRAS, Ebola, le VIH ou la grippe saisonnière sont des « zoonoses », des infections animales transmises à l’homme et responsables d’épidémies plus ou moins virulentes. Comment se déclenche ce « grand saut » entre les espèces ? Pourquoi certains virus disparaissent quand d’autres ont des effets durables et dévastateurs ? Pour répondre à ces questions, David Quammen nous entraîne dans une enquête mondiale. Les zoonoses n’apparaissent pas totalement par hasard, démontre-t-il. Le bouleversement des écosystèmes, lié en grande partie à l’activité humaine, favorise des sauts inattendus d’une espèce à une autre. Un virus qui s’introduit dans un nouvel écosystème a en effet deux options : trouver un nouvel hôte ou… s’éteindre. L’homme – avec ses sept milliards de congénères – représente donc une cible privilégiée. « Au fil de la lecture, nous avertit la préface de Pascal Picq, on ressent l’ambiance trouble, déliquescente, tragique d’un monde qui échappe inéluctablement à ses acteurs. » Oui, la menace plane : personne ne sait quand, personne ne sait où, mais une chose est sûre, il y aura d’autres pandémies.

Why People Believe Weird Things

Science & Nature

"This sparkling book romps over the range of science and anti-science." --Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel Revised and Expanded Edition. In this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, many people still believe in mind reading, past-life regression theory, New Age hokum, and alien abduction. A no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, with more than 80,000 copies in print, Why People Believe Weird Things debunks these nonsensical claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. In an entirely new chapter, "Why Smart People Believe in Weird Things," Michael Shermer takes on science luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler and others, who hide their spiritual beliefs behind the trappings of science. Shermer, science historian and true crusader, also reveals the more dangerous side of such illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, the satanic ritual abuse scare, and other modern crazes. Why People Believe Strange Things is an eye-opening resource for the most gullible among us and those who want to protect them.

Chroniques des atomes et des galaxies

Science & Nature

Issus des chroniques hebdomadaires de Hubert Reeves sur France Culture, et faisant suite aux Chroniques du ciel et de la vie, ces textes brefs constituent un véritable tour de force par la simplicité avec laquelle l'auteur présente notre compréhension du cosmos sans pour autant masquer la subtilité des notions évoquées : le Big Bang, la courbure de l'Univers, la matière et l'énergie " sombres ", les univers parallèles, le principe anthropique, les trous noirs, etc. Une remarquable mise à jour des plus récentes découvertes de l'astrophysique et de la cosmologie. Hubert Reeves, astrophysicien, enseigne la cosmologie à Montréal et à Paris. Il a publié au Seuil plusieurs ouvrages dont, Patience dans l'azur, l'Heure de s'enivrer, Malicorne, Poussières d'étoiles, Dernières nouvelles du cosmos, Mal de Terre qui ont rencontré la faveur d'un très large public.

The Principles of Psychology

Science & Nature

Psychology is the Science of Mental Life, both of its phenomena and of their conditions. The phenomena are such things as we call feelings, desires, cognitions, reasonings, decisions, and the like; and, superficially considered, their variety and complexity is such as to leave a chaotic impression on the observer. The most natural and consequently the earliest way of unifying the material was, first, to classify it as well as might be, and, secondly, to affiliate the diverse mental modes thus found, upon a simple entity, the personal Soul, of which they are taken to be so many facultative manifestations. Now, for instance, the Soul manifests its faculty of Memory, now of Reasoning, now of Volition, or again its Imagination or its Appetite.

CRISPR-Cas System in Translational Biotechnology

Science & Nature

CRISPR-Cas System in Translational Biotechnology discusses applied and translational aspects of the CRISPR-Cas technology. The book bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical solutions surrounding this emerging and impactful technology in several academic and industrial fields. It is split in five sections: CRISP-Cas fundamentals and advancements; CRISP-Cas in medical biotechnology; CRISP-Cas in environmental biotechnology; CRISP-Cas in food biotechnology; and biosafety, patents and commercialization of CRISP-Cas technology. Written by experts from diverse backgrounds, the content covers the subject and its impact in multiple fields. It is a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers on bioinformatics, systems biology, and members of the biomedical field and biotechnology industry who are interested in learning more about CRISP-Cas system and its applications. - Discusses applied aspects of CRISPR-Cas technology and state-of-the-art technological/translational advancements in the field - Focuses on the CRISPR-Cas mediated genetic engineering for employment in various industries such as medical, agricultural, environmental and food - Encompasses knowledge on CRISPR-Cas commercialization, potential markets and associated ethical challenges

Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology Student's Book 2nd edition

Science & Nature

This title is endorsed by Cambridge Assessment International Education to support the full syllabus for examination from 2022.Confidently navigate the updated Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology (9700) syllabus with a structured approach ensuring that the link between theory and practice is consolidated, scientific skills are applied, and analytical skills developed.- Enable students to monitor and build progress with short 'self-assessment' questions throughout the student text, with answers at the back of the book, so students can check their understanding as they work their way through the chapters.- Build scientific communication skills and vocabulary in written responses with a variety of exam-style questions. - Encourage understanding of historical context and scientific applications with extension boxes in the student text.- Have confidence that lessons cover the syllabus completely with a free Scheme of Work available online.- Provide additional practice with the accompanying write-in Practical Skills Workbooks, which once completed, can also be used to recap learning for revision.

Underwater Acoustics and Ocean Dynamics

Science & Nature

These proceedings are a collection of 16 selected scientific papers and reviews by distinguished international experts that were presented at the 4th Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference (PRUAC), held in Hangzhou, China in October 2013. The topics discussed at the conference include internal wave observation and prediction; environmental uncertainty and coupling to sound propagation; environmental noise and ocean dynamics; dynamic modeling in acoustic fields; acoustic tomography and ocean parameter estimation; time reversal and matched field processing; underwater acoustic localization and communication as well as measurement instrumentations and platforms. These proceedings provide insights into the latest developments in underwater acoustics, promoting the exchange of ideas for the benefit of future research.

Science & Nature Books