Science & Nature - Books

From Naked Ape to Superspecies

Science & Nature

For millennia, we lived in harmony with the Earth, taking only what we required to survive. But in just the past few centuries, we have used our powers to satisfy our obsession with consumption and new technology, without regard for the consequences. And in doing so, we have exploited our surroundings on an unprecedented scale. In this revised and updated edition of From Naked Ape to Superspecies, David Suzuki and Holly Dressel lucidly describe how we have evolved beyond our needs, trampling other species, believing that we can make the Earth work the way we want it to. And they introduce us to the people who are fighting back, those who are resisting the inexorable advance of the "global economy" juggernaut, the people whose voices are difficult to hear over the din of corporate public relations machines. We learn about how human arrogance—demonstrated by our disregard for the small and microscopic species that constitute the Earth’s engine and our reckless use of technological inventions like powerful herbicides or genetically engineered crops—is threatening the health of our children and the safety of our food supply.

Élet 3.0

Science & Nature

Vajon a jövő technológiája teljesebbé teszi az életünket?Képesek leszünk kordában tartani a mesterséges intelligenciának köszönhetőhatalmat?A jövőben békésen élnek majd az emberek a robotokkal, kiborgokkal éshibridekkel?Uralma alá vonhatja-e a mesterséges intelligencia a kozmoszt? Csak időkérdése az ember feletti általános mesterséges intelligencia megalkotása, amia korábbi technológiáknál sokkal nagyobb mértékben fogja átalakítani azéletünket. A közeljövőben gyökeresen megváltoznak mindennapjaink, akárcsak azegészségügy, az igazságszolgáltatás, a hadászat és jogrendszer, amagántulajdon és a munkahelyek megszűnésével pedig a gazdaságban maérvényesülő elvek is értelmüket vesztik. Max „Mad Max” Tegmark, az MITfizikaprofesszora gondolatkísérleteiben a távoli jövőre vonatkozóan isfelvázolja a lehetséges forgatókönyveket: a legoptimistább elképzelésektőlegészen a legsötétebb végkifejletekig veszi végig, hogyan alakulhat azemberiség és az élet sorsa az univerzumban. Könyvében arra szólít fel minket,hogy még időben gondoljuk át, milyen jövőt szeretnénk, és ennek érdekébenmilyen célokat adjunk a jövő szuperszámítógépeinek – ugyanis a „robusztus ésjó szándékú” mesterséges intelligencia a legjobb dolog lehet, ami azemberiséggel történhet.

Ces découvertes qui pourraient bien changer votre vie

Science & Nature

Comment les robots peuvent-ils nous aider ? Et si on en finissait avec les cancers grâce au séquençage des gènes ? Jusqu’où pourra-t-on améliorer les performances des sportifs grâce à la physique ? Il ne se passe pas un jour sans l’annonce d’une percée scientifique, au point qu’il est difficile d’y voir clair. Pour faire la lumière sur les promesses de la science, Fabienne Chauvière a mené l’enquête en sollicitant des chercheurs prestigieux. Médecine, robotique, observation des insectes : découvrez les fabuleux bouleversements qui vous attendent.

Mysteries of Space

Science & Nature

"Mysteries of Space" offers a captivating journey through the cosmos, exploring fundamental questions about our universe through the lens of modern astrophysics. This comprehensive guide navigates three interconnected realms: stellar evolution, gravitational phenomena, and the structure of spacetime, demonstrating how these elements work together to shape our understanding of the universe at both cosmic and quantum scales.The book uniquely bridges complex astrophysical concepts with accessible explanations, using carefully crafted analogies and visual aids to illuminate challenging topics. From the life cycles of stars to the enigmatic properties of black holes, readers discover how stellar processes create life-essential elements and how gravitational forces architect galactic structures. The integration of cutting-edge research, including data from the James Webb Space Telescope and LIGO gravitational wave observatory, provides readers with the most current scientific understanding of cosmic phenomena.Progressing through three major sections - "The Life Cycles of Stars," "Gravity's Hidden Influence," and "Spacetime and Beyond" - the book builds a foundation of knowledge while exploring frontier topics like dark matter, quantum mechanics, and black hole physics. This methodical approach, combined with practical applications and real-world connections, makes complex cosmic concepts accessible to science enthusiasts while maintaining academic rigor and scientific accuracy.

Merchants of Doubt

Science & Nature

The U.S. scientific community has long led the world in research on such areas as public health, environmental science, and issues affecting quality of life. Our scientists have produced landmark studies on the dangers of DDT, tobacco smoke, acid rain, and global warming. But at the same time, a small yet potent subset of this community leads the world in vehement denial of these dangers. Merchants of Doubt tells the story of how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists and scientific advisers, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedly-some of the same figures who have claimed that the science of global warming is "not settled" denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole. "Doubt is our product," wrote one tobacco executive. These "experts" supplied it. Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, historians of science, roll back the rug on this dark corner of the American scientific community, showing how ideology and corporate interests, aided by a too-compliant media, have skewed public understanding of some of the most pressing issues of our era.

The Gaia Hypothesis

Science & Nature

“The book is full of empathetic, insightful, and often very funny portraits of Margulis, Lovelock, and a community of other figures associated with Gaia.” —Carla Nappi, New Books in Science, Technology, and SocietyIn 1965 English scientist James Lovelock had a flash of insight: the Earth is not just teeming with life; the Earth, in some sense, is life. He mulled this revolutionary idea over for several years, first with his close friend the novelist William Golding, and then in an extensive collaboration with the American scientist Lynn Margulis. In the early 1970s, he finally went public with the Gaia hypothesis, the idea that everything happens for an end: the good of planet Earth. Lovelock and Margulis were scorned by professional scientists, but the general public enthusiastically embraced Lovelock and his hypothesis.In The Gaia Hypothesis, philosopher Michael Ruse, with his characteristic clarity and wit, uses Gaia and its history, its supporters and detractors, to illuminate the nature of science itself. Gaia emerged in the 1960s, a decade when authority was questioned and status and dignity stood for nothing, but its story is much older. Ruse traces Gaia’s connection to Plato and a long history of goal-directed and holistic—or organicist—thinking and explains why Lovelock and Margulis’s peers rejected it as pseudoscience. But Ruse also shows why the project was a success. He argues that Lovelock and Margulis should be commended for giving philosophy firm scientific basis and for provoking important scientific discussion about the world as a whole, its homeostasis or—in this age of global environmental uncertainty—its lack thereof. “[Ruse’s] treatment is thought-provoking and original, as you would expect from this perceptive, irrepressible philosopher of biology.” —New Scientist

50 temas fundamentales sobre energía

Science & Nature

* ¿Sabe distinguir la fisión de la fusión? Seguro que ha oído hablar de la teoría de la relatividad de Einstein y de su ecuación análoga E = mc2, pero ¿de verdad comprende lo que significan? * Ahora que la energía renovable es un tema candente, no está de más equiparse con las cincuenta teorías e innovaciones más representativas para poder participar en cualquier debate sobre esta fuerza esencial del universo. * Este libro traza los temas esenciales más fascinantes sobre este fenómeno ubicuo. Explore la energía el modo más comprensible, con numerosos ejemplos; descubra cómo esta no puede crearse ni destruirse, solo transformarse, y cómo se utilizan el plancton y otros organismos oceánicos para alimentar automóviles. Desde el reactor de fusión nuclear que se encuentra en el interior del Sol a la huidiza energía oscura que compone la mayor parte del universo, cada uno de los temas se presenta condensado en tan solo medio minuto y en un máximo de dos páginas, trescientas palabras y una imagen.

Being You

Science & Nature

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERA Best Book of 2021—Bloomberg Businessweek; A Best Science Book of 2021—The Guardian; A Best Science Book of 2021—Financial Times; A Best Philosophy Book of 2021—Five Books; A Best Book of 2021—The EconomistAnil Seth's quest to understand the biological basis of conscious experience is one of the most exciting contributions to twenty-first-century science.What does it mean to “be you”—that is, to have a specific, conscious experience of the world around you and yourself within it? There may be no more elusive or fascinating question. Historically, humanity has considered the nature of consciousness to be a primarily spiritual or philosophical inquiry, but scientific research is now mapping out compelling biological theories and explanations for consciousness and selfhood. Now, internationally renowned neuroscience professor, researcher, and author Anil Seth is offers a window into our consciousness in BEING YOU: A New Science of Consciousness. Anil Seth is both a leading expert on the neuroscience of consciousness and one of most prominent spokespeople for this relatively new field of science. His radical argument is that we do not perceive the world as it objectively is, but rather that we are prediction machines, constantly inventing our world and correcting our mistakes by the microsecond, and that we can now observe the biological mechanisms in the brain that accomplish this process of consciousness.Seth has been interviewed for documentaries aired on the BBC, Netflix, and Amazon and podcasts by Sam Harris, Russell Brand, and Chris Anderson, and his 2017 TED Talk on the topic has been viewed over 11 million times, a testament to his uncanny ability to make unimaginably complex science accessible and entertaining.

Mathematics for Civil Engineers

Science & Nature

Mathematics for Civil Engineers provides a concise introduction to the fundamental concepts of mathematics that are closely related to civil engineering. By using an informal and theorem-free approach with more than 150 step-by-step examples, all the key mathematical concepts and techniques are introduced. Thus users of this textbook will gain the basic knowledge and understanding required for their work. Exercises are included In each chapter to give readers the opportunity to apply their new knowledge; the answers to these dozens of exercises are provided at the end of the book. Topics include functions, trigonometrical functions, equations, polynomials, vectors and matrices, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, tensors, differentiation, integration, advanced calculus such as double integrals and special integrals, complex numbers, differential equations, Fourier series and transforms, Laplace transforms, probability and statistics, curve-fitting and linear regression. Advanced topics include partial differential equations and integral equations, root-finding algorithms for nonlinear equations, numerical methods for solving differential equations, optimization and nonlinear optimization. Mathematics for Civil Engineers allows undergraduates and civil engineers to develop a necessary, essential, knowledge of engineering mathematics. Many of the worked examples are chosen to reflect situations and problems in civil engineering practise. Examples include moment of inertia, second moment of area, beam buckling, harmonic motion and forced harmonic motion, elasticity, transfer function, waves and heat transfer, maximization and minimization and many others. All these topics and examples will help readers to gain more insight and to build sufficient confidence in applying engineering mathematics for problem solving in real engineering situations. This book may also be useful for practitioners in other engineering disciplines to improve their basic mathematical skills.

Les chemins de fer

Science & Nature

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

Siembra campesinado

Science & Nature

Siembra campesinado: herramientas para el fortalecimiento organizativo está compuesta por una cronología de la lucha campesina, que muestra los principales hitos históricos relacionados con los movimientos sociales campesinos y la legislación agraria durante el último siglo

Tajemnice Inferno. Śladami Dantego i Dana Browna

Science & Nature

„Tajemnice Inferno” to unikalny przewodnik, który zabiera czytelnika w podróż do świata stworzonego przez Dana Browna w jego najnowszej książce zatytułowanej „Inferno”. Autorzy starają się wyjaśnić czytelnikom tło głównych wydarzeń fabuły, analizują odniesienia do „Boskiej komedii” Dantego, symbole, wydarzenia historyczne oraz teorie filozoficzne, dzieła sztuki i architektury, które Dan Brown zręcznie wykorzystuje w swej powieści. Jest to również intelektualnie porywająca opowieść o dziele Dantego, jego czasach i ideach, które tworzyły wówczas ożywczy ferment we Florencji u progu Renesansu, a ich znaczenie dziś okazuje się nie mniej istotne. Dan Burstein i Arne de Keijzer to światowi znawcy literatury Dana Browna, a ich pierwszy nieautoryzowany przewodnik, „Tajemnice kodu”, przez pół roku utrzymywał się na szczycie listy bestsellerów „New York Timesa”. Po nim zaś pojawiły się kolejne przewodniki, w tym odnoszące się do „Aniołów i demonów” oraz „Zaginionego symbolu”.

All About Spiders

Science & Nature

Students in Ms. Hennon’s kindergarten class at the Alliance Early Learning School learned about spiders. To demonstrate their learning they wrote this eBook. We hope you enjoy!

A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety

Science & Nature

Gen Z's first "existential toolkit" for combating eco-guilt and burnout while advocating for climate justice. A youth movement is reenergizing global environmental activism. The “climate generation”—late millennials and iGen, or Generation Z—is demanding that policy makers and government leaders take immediate action to address the dire outcomes predicted by climate science. Those inheriting our planet’s environmental problems expect to encounter challenges, but they may not have the skills to grapple with the feelings of powerlessness and despair that may arise when they confront this seemingly intractable situation. Drawing on a decade of experience leading and teaching in college environmental studies programs, Sarah Jaquette Ray has created an “existential tool kit” for the climate generation. Combining insights from psychology, sociology, social movements, mindfulness, and the environmental humanities, Ray explains why and how we need to let go of eco-guilt, resist burnout, and cultivate resilience while advocating for climate justice. A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety is the essential guidebook for the climate generation—and perhaps the rest of us—as we confront the greatest environmental threat of our time.

Absurd Patent Inventions

Science & Nature

"Absurd Patent Inventions" explores the fascinating world of documented, yet ultimately unsuccessful, inventions. It delves into the intersection of science and history, showcasing the creative yet often impractical ideas that have been granted patents. The book examines why these inventions, ranging from overly complex household gadgets to outlandish personal care contraptions, failed to achieve commercial success.One intriguing fact is how many inventions were conceived to solve problems that didn't really exist, highlighting the importance of understanding consumer needs. The books approach analyzes the inventive spirit, historical context, and reasons for failure behind each invention. By studying these forgotten patents, the book reveals unique insights into the evolution of technology.It emphasizes that understanding these shortcomings is as valuable as studying successful innovations. The chapters progress chronologically, guiding readers through various categories of failed inventions, complete with original patent diagrams and historical context, culminating in a discussion of lessons learned.The book's value lies in its accessible narrative non-fiction style, making complex concepts understandable for a broad audience. It offers valuable lessons for inventors, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in business innovation, engineering design, and the unpredictable nature of technological progress. It also offers a healthy dose of humor while maintaining accuracy.

Bilinear Control Systems

Science & Nature

A control system is called bilinear if it is described by linear differential equations in which the control inputs appear as coefficients. The study of bilinear control systems began in the 1960s and has since developed into a fascinating field, vital for the solution of many challenging practical control problems. Its methods and applications cross inter-disciplinary boundaries, proving useful in areas as diverse as spin control in quantum physics and the study of Lie semigroups.The first half of the book is based upon matrix analysis, introducing Lie algebras and the Campbell-Baker-Hausdorff Theorem. Individual chapters are dedicated to topics such as discrete-time systems, observability and realization, examples from science and engineering, linearization of nonlinear systems, and input-output analysis.Written by one of the leading researchers in the field in a clear and comprehensible manner and laden with proofs, exercises and Mathematica scripts, this involving text will be a vital and thorough introduction to the subject for first-year graduate students of control theory. It will also be of great value to academics and researchers with an interest in matrix analysis, Lie algebra, and semigroups.

Inséparables

Science & Nature

Et si la recherche de la vie dans l'univers était un miroir puissant, offrant à l'humanité une clé pour traverser la crise environnementale actuelle et trouver enfin sa place au sein de la biosphère ?Dans ce nouveau livre, l'astrobiologiste Nathalie A. Cabrol tourne son regard vers la Terre, et explore les destins entrelacés de l'habitabilité planétaire, de l'environnement et de la vie. En examinant les rouages de cette coévolution, elle met en lumière les réactions en chaîne que les bouleversements actuels risquent de déclencher, à des échelles surpassant largement notre capacité à y répondre une fois le système emballé.Inséparablesest une réflexion à la fois audacieuse et magistrale, un appel à la responsabilité collective. Mais c'est aussi un message d'espoir, offrant des clés pour un futur où l'humanité ne se considérera plus au centre de la biosphère et apprendra enfin à vivre en harmonie avec elle.

The Story of Neuroscience

Science & Nature

‘How can a three-pound mass of jelly that you can hold in your palm imagine angels, contemplate the meaning of infinity, and even question its own place in the cosmos?’ V. S. Ramachandran, neuroscientist, 2011 How we think, feel, move, remember, imagine, and experience the outside world and our own bodies is the domain of neuroscience. For millennia, the workings of the brain and nerves could be approached only through superstition and conjecture. Then, in the 19th century, neuroscience began to cast light on this most complex of our bodily systems. This book traces the development of neuroscience, from ancient beliefs to the technologies of the present day. Topics include: • the interaction of mind, soul, and body • the localization of functions within the brain • the workings of the nervous system • the motor system and how we move • the sensory system and how we construct perception • mental illness, brain damage, and lessons from dysfunction and disease • mental activity, including learning, memory, identity, and imagination

Medical Devices in Modern Healthcare

Science & Nature

Medical Devices in Modern Healthcare: Current Research on New Materials and Engineering, Device Evaluation and Regulatory Implications provides a comprehensive approach to existing and future technological developments in medical devices and their role in biomedical engineering. In particular, the book looks at the fabrication/manufacturing of medical devices across a wide range of device sectors. Importantly, regulatory perspectives and implications are considered in detail. - Provides an up-to-date overview of the rapidly evolving biomedical device sector - Covers both existing technologies and emerging technologies - Includes an analysis of the evaluation processes of newly developed medical devices together with the safety and regulatory concerns/implications

The Physics of Life

Science & Nature

The renowned scientist examines the mysteries of life and evolution through the lens of physics in this “riveting and poetic” book (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)In The Physics of Life, Adrien Bejan presents persuasive answers to such profound questions as “What is life, as physics?” and “Why do life, death, and evolution happen?” Heargues that the phenomenon of evolution is much broader and older than the evolutionary designs that constitute the biosphere. It is rooted in the process of power production and distribution that facilitates all movement on Earth, animate or inanimate.Breaking down concepts such as desire and power, sports health and culture, the state of economy, water and energy, politics and distribution, Bejan uses the language of physics to explain how each system works in order to clarify the meaning of evolution in its broadest scientific sense, moving the reader towards a better understanding of the world’s systems and the natural evolution of cultural and political development.This is evolution explained loudly but also elegantly, forging a path that flows sustainability.

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