Science & Nature - Books

The 15-Minute Scientist

Science & Nature

Following on from the popular 15-Minute Philosopher, Psychologist, Mathematician and Economist, 15-Minute Scientist takes a look at some fascinating and topical questions in science. Ranging across biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry and geology, 15-Minute Scientist asks questions that are serious and questions that are quirky, some that will have an impact on how you live now and some that will change how you view the world and the future.

Venus

Science & Nature

From the latest scientific advances to observation advice for amateur astronomers, a beautifully illustrated exploration of one of Earth’s closest neighbors. This book is a new, beautifully illustrated account of Venus, taking in the most recent research into this mysterious, inhospitable world. The book looks at the history of our observations of the planet, from early astronomy to future space missions, and seeks to shed light on many of the questions that remain unanswered, such as why Venus and the Earth—so similar in size and mass—evolved in such different directions, and how Venus acquired its dense carbon-dioxide atmosphere. Above all, Venus assesses whether life might have escaped from the oven-like temperatures at the surface and evolved to become perpetually airborne—in which case Venus may not be lifeless after all.

The Expectation Effect

Science & Nature

“As David Robson makes plain in this compelling book, the way we think about the world can profoundly shape how we navigate it. Based in science and packed with smart advice, The Expectation Effect will expand your mind—and maybe even extend your life.”—Daniel Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive, and To Sell Is HumanA journey through the cutting-edge science of how our mindset shapes every facet of our lives, revealing how your brain holds the keys to unlocking a better youWhat you believe can make it so.You’ve heard of the placebo effect and how sugar pills can accelerate healing. But did you know that sham heart surgeries often work just as well as placing real stents? Or that people who think they’re particularly prone to cardiovascular disease are four times as likely to die from cardiac arrest? Such is the power and deadly importance of the expectation effect—how what we think will happen changes what does happen.Melding neuroscience with narrative, science journalist David Robson takes readers on a deep dive into the many life zones the expectation effect permeates. We see how people who believe stress is beneficial become more creative when placed under strain. We see how associating aging with wisdom can add seven plus years to your life. People say seeing is believing but, over and over, Robson proves that the converse is truer: believing is seeing.The Expectation Effect is not woo-woo. You cannot think your way into a pile of money or out of a cancer diagnosis. But just because magical thinking is nonsense doesn’t mean rational magic doesn’t exist. Pointing to accepted psychology and objective physiology, Robson gives us the practical takeaways we need to improve our fitness, productivity, intelligence, and happiness. Any reader who wants to take their fate into their own hands need only pick up this book.

Unser Kosmos. Andere Welten.

Science & Nature

Eine Reise durch mehr als 14 Milliarden Jahre der Evolution: zu fernsten Planeten, die noch unerreichbar sind, und kaum bekannten Welten auf der Erde wie die Tiefsee, aber auch unser Hirn. Erst heute beginnen wir zu begreifen, in welcher Gefahr sich Erde und Menschheit u.a. durch den Klimawandel tatsächlich befinden. Was können die Wissenschaften, was können wir tun, damit die nächsten Generationen eine Zukunft haben?

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.

El desafío del clima

Science & Nature

Somos los del tiempo de TVE, los mismos que entramos cada día en vuestras casas para avanzaros si viene una ola de calor, lluvias torrenciales o la nevada del siglo. Pero no queremos solo informar, la filosofía de este libro es que entiendas por qué ocurren las cosas.¿Sabías que el CO2 es el que hace subir la temperatura terrestre, que el deshielo de los icebergs es significativo, pero no afecta al nivel del mar o que, dependiendo de lo que hagamos en los próximos cinco años, así será el planeta dentro de 50?Quién no ha oído hablar del cambio climático, todos sa¬bemos lo perjudicial que es, un enemigo invisible que da señales de vez en cuando y que ya está mostrando las primeras consecuencias del calentamiento, pero aún estamos a tiempo de actuar para que la Tierra no enferme.Con pequeños cambios en nuestra vida cotidiana podemos lograr grandes transformaciones. Cosas tan sencillas como usar botellas de cristal, bolsas reutilizables, coches eléctricos, consumir alimentos de proximidad, utilizar más el transporte público o mejorar la eficiencia energética de nuestro hogar.Tenemos un problema importante y juntos seremos capaces de resolverlo.

How Intelligence Happens

Science & Nature

A lively journey through the brain’s inner workings from “one of the world’s leading cognitive neuroscientists” (The Wall Street Journal). Human intelligence builds sprawling cities, vast cornfields, and complex microchips. It takes us from the atom to the limits of the universe. How does the biological brain, a collection of billions of cells, enable us to do things no other species can do? In this book, neuroscientist John Duncan offers an adventure story—the story of the hunt for basic principles of human intelligence, behavior, and thought. Using results drawn from classical studies of intelligence testing; from attempts to build computers that think; from studies of how minds change after brain damage; from modern discoveries of brain imaging; and from groundbreaking recent research, he synthesizes often difficult-to-understand information into clear, fascinating prose about how brains work. Moving from the foundations of psychology, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience to the most current scientific thinking, How Intelligence Happens is “a timely, original, and highly readable contribution to our understanding” (Nancy Kanwisher, MIT) from a winner of the Heineken Prize for Cognitive Science

Sekretne życie drzew

Science & Nature

W lesie dzieją się zdumiewające rzeczy. Są tam drzewa, które porozumiewają się ze sobą, drzewa, które z oddaniem troszczą się o swe potomstwo oraz pielęgnują starych i chorych sąsiadów, drzewa, które doświadczają wrażeń, mają uczucia i pamięć. Niewiarygodne? Ale prawdziwe! Leśniczy Peter Wohlleben snuje fascynujące historie o zdumiewających zdolnościach drzew. Przytacza wyniki najnowszych badań naukowych i dzieli się swoimi obserwacjami z codziennej pracy w lesie. Otwiera przed nami sekretny świat, jakiego nie znamy. „Wydawałoby się, że o drzewach wiemy wszystko. A jednak nie. Ta książka odkryje przed Wami naprawdę sekretne życie drzew – istot tak nam bliskich i jednocześnie tak nieznanych. Czytałem ją nie tylko z zaciekawieniem, ale i ze wzruszeniem”. Adam Wajrak „Książka ta powinna znaleźć się na półce każdego, komu zależy na zrozumieniu przyrody i na jej losie, kto ma zielone serce”. Maja Popielarska---Kolejnej wskazówki szukajcie w ebookach Wydawnictwa RM37- ный,

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.

Rozpad umysłu. Biografia schizofrenii

Science & Nature

Nowa książka autora bestsellerowej Czarnej owcy medycyny. Schizofrenia. Przez wielu uważana za najbardziej tajemniczą chorobę psychiczną. Dawniej nie znano jej przyczyn, więc chorych uznawano za opętanych przez diabelskie siły. Nie dawało się jej leczyć, więc pacjentów i pacjentki trzymano w zamkniętych ośrodkach i poddawano okrutnym zabiegom. Jednak dzięki dziesiątkom badań, setkom eksperymentów, tysiącom prób i błędów dziś o schizofrenii wiemy już bardzo dużo i wkrótce być może uda się jej zapobiegać. Jeffrey A. Lieberman w przystępny sposób dzieli się swoją bogatą wiedzą psychiatryczną. Wciągające opisy badań naukowców i przypadków klinicznych przeplata z dramatycznymi przeżyciami pacjentów i swoimi doświadczeniami z praktyki medycznej. Jego książka to obowiązkowa, pełna empatii lektura dla zainteresowanych historią medycyny i psychiatrią oraz tych, których życie zostało naznaczone schizofrenią – dla bliskich i rodzin osób zmagających się z tym zaburzeniem.

The System of the World

Science & Nature

How do planets move? What keeps the moon in orbit? In The System of the World, legendary physicist Isaac Newton expands upon his theories of gravity, motion, and planetary dynamics, offering one of the most profound and influential works in the history of science. Originally written as the third volume of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, this text presents Newton's vision of a universe governed by mathematical laws and natural order. A must-read for students, scientists, and history lovers alike, this book stands as a cornerstone of Enlightenment thinking and scientific revolution. ???? "Newton's insight into the universe remains unmatched—this book is a cosmic revelation." ???? Why You Should Read This Book: One of the great works of classical mechanics and astronomy Ideal for fans of Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, and Euclid Perfect for collectors of scientific classics and foundational academic works ???? Explore the Laws That Shape the Universe. Buy The System of the World today and experience Newton's timeless legacy of discovery and reason.

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

Dinosaurs 101: What Everyone Should Know about Dinosaur Anatomy, Ecology, Evolution, and More

Science & Nature

DINOSAURS 101 is your one-stop source for everything you should know about dinosaurs and paleontology.Authored by world-renowned paleontologists, this book masterfully breaks down the otherwise complex world of dinosaurs and paleontology into well-organized and easy to understand language, concepts, and lessons. Further facilitating the reader’s knowledge of dinosaurs and paleontology, this book also includes over one hundred figures directly illustrating the language, concepts, and lessons it presents.Topics covered in detail include dinosaur: anatomy; eating habits and diet; attack and defense mechanisms; birth, growth, and reproduction; origins and evolution; species and diversity; fossilization; and extinction. Also addressed is how paleontology relates to geology, geography, and other disciplines. The reader will even learn how dinosaurs relate to modern life-forms, including how some dinosaurs are still alive today and whether those that are not can be resurrected.No matter your age, no matter your level of existing knowledge, and no matter your reason for interest, if you are looking for a comprehensive and easy to understand overview of the world of dinosaurs and paleontology, then this is the book for you.

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.

Atmosphère : quel effet de serre !

Science & Nature

Nathan et Morgane partent en vacances en Bretagne chez leur Papy Louis, ancien chercheur à la retraite. Ils vont y faire un tas de découvertes sur l’effet de serre et notre atmosphère en général. Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans l’air ? L’effet de serre, comment ça marche ? D’où vient le dioxyde de carbone ? Qui rajoute du gaz carbonique dans l’atmosphère ? Peut-on limiter le réchauffement du climat ?

SpaceDisc 2 | Shuttle Goes To Work

Science & Nature

The SpaceDisc archives were assembled in the 1980s, and published on laser videodisc in a series of eight volumes. At the time, SpaceDisc provided educators and the public with unprecedented access to a vast visual record of space exploration and astronomy. 35 years later, SpaceDisc still stands as an unrivaled record of the Golden Age of Space Exploration. After being out of print for 15 years, SpaceDisc is being re-released as ebooks. SpaceDisc 2 | Shuttle Goes To Work features more than 1,800 photos and to hours of video highlights from the Space Shuttle's first seven operational missions. Key events during these missions include the first satellite deployment, the first night launch and landing, the first U.S. woman in space, the first flight of SpaceLab, the first Shuttle-era spacewalk, and the spectacular, on-orbit capture and repair of Solar Max. The story of the Shuttle’s development and testing is told in SpaceDisc 1 | Shuttle Takes Flight. The two volumes together constitute the most comprehensive collection of images from the first 11 shuttle missions presently available, a must-have for aerospace professionals and space enthusiasts alike.

Il nostro futuro

Science & Nature

Il nostro futuro dipende sempre di più da come riusciremo a sfruttare i progressi delle scienze per affrontare le sfide ambientali e sociali che si profilano all'orizzonte. Allo stesso tempo le opportunità sono divenute il campo di paure paralizzanti, e l'umanità si è trovata a mettere in discussione un'idea di progresso pressoché millenaria, alle prese con una tecnologia che si fa biologia e un'intelligenza che diviene artificiale. Martin Rees costruisce una riflessione critica ma ottimistica, basandosi sul dialogo fra scienza e umanesimo e restituendo fiducia e lucidità allo sguardo sul futuro dell'umanità.

The Systems Thinker

Science & Nature

The second edition is now available!Find the optimal solutions to your problems. Gain a deep understanding of the "what, why, how, when, how much" questions of your life. Become a Systems Thinker and discover how to approach your life from a completely new perspective.What is systems thinking? Put it simply, thinking about how things interact with one another. Why should this matter to you? Because you are a system. You are a part of smaller and larger systems – your community, your country, your species. Understanding your role within these systems and how these systems affect, hinder, or aid the fulfillment of your life can lead you to better answers about yourself and the world.Information is the most precious asset these days. Evaluating that information correctly is almost priceless. Systems thinkers are some of the bests in collecting and assessing information, as well as creating impactful solutions in any context.The Systems Thinker will help you to implement systems thinking at your workplace, human relations, and everyday thinking habits. Boost your observation and analytical skills to find the real triggers and influencing forces behind contemporary politics, economics, health, and education changes. Systems thinking clears your vision by teaching you not only to find the differences between the elements but also the similarities. This bi-directional analyzing ability will give you a more complex worldview, deeper understanding of problems, and thus better solutions.The car stopped because its tank is empty – so it needs gas. Easy problem, easy solution, right? But could you explain just as easily why did the price of gas raise with 5% the past month? After becoming a systems thinker, you'll be able to answer that question just as easily. Change your thoughts, change your results.•What are the main elements, questions and methods of thinking in systems?•The most widely used systems archetypes, maps, models, and analytical methods.•Learn to identify and provide solutions even the most complex system problems.•Deepen your understanding about human motivation with systems thinking.The past fifty years brought so many changes in our lives. The world has become more interconnected than ever. Old rules can't explain the new world anymore. But systems thinking can. Embrace systems thinking and become a master of analytical, critical, and creative thinking.

Atlantis and the Gods of Antiquity

Science & Nature

Atlantis and the Gods of Antiquity is a work that can give an ordinary reader a detailed food for thought about an ancient long ago forgotten mysterious land named Atlantis. This work includes authorized descriptions and lectures of numerous scientists and scholars.»

O Calor é Que Te Vai Matar

Science & Nature

O Noroeste dos Estados Unidos sempre teve um clima ameno. Até 2021, imaginar ali uma onda de calor assassina parecia tão improvável como ver neve no deserto do Saara. Mas no Verão desse ano, em 24 horas, a temperatura subiu dos 24,5 para os 45,5 graus. O que aconteceu nos três dias seguintes não pode ser contabilizado apenas em mortos, e foram mais de mil. Árvores explodiram, frutas secaram, salmões sufocaram, o asfalto derreteu. É sobre este tipo de calor que nos fala o premiado jornalista Je Goodell, a partir de diferentes pontos do planeta.

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