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The hot zone: A Terrifying True Story
By Richard Preston. 1994
Preston chronicles human encounters with the Marburg and Ebola viruses, among the most lethal viruses known. He discusses the effects…
of the viruses on people infected with them, and suggests that they have emerged as the world's jungles and rain forests have been destroyed. He also describes outbreaks of the viruses, particularly an outbreak of a strain of Ebola among monkeys imported to the United States, and how the outbreak was contained. Strong language and explicit descriptions of violence. 1994.Seven wonders of the industrial world
By Deborah Cadbury. 2004
Deborah Cadbury explores the history behind the epic monuments that spanned the industrial revolution from Brunel's extraordinary Great Eastern, the…
Titanic of its day that joined the two ends of the empire, to the Panama Canal, that linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans half a century later. 2004.Le voleur d'orchidées: [une histoire vraie] (Nouvelles Angleterres)
By Susan Orlean, Sarah Church, Sophie Brunet. 1999
En 1994, John Laroche et trois Indiens Séminoles sont accusés d'un vol d'orchidées rares dans les marais de Floride. Ce…
fait divers constitue le point de départ d'une passionnante enquête de la journaliste Susan Orlean dans une Floride inconnue des guides touristiques. 1999, c1998. Titre uniforme: The orchid thief.Dialogues sous le ciel étoilé
By Hubert Reeves, Jean-Pierre Luminet, Iolande Cadrin-Rossignol. 2016
Par une nuit d'été, deux astrophysiciens observent le ciel, nous racontent leurs quêtes et leurs émerveillements, les dernières découvertes qui…
bouleversent notre compréhension de l'Univers. Savez-vous que le Soleil chante ? Qu'un bon nombre d'étoiles vivent en couple ? Qu'un trou noir domine le centre de notre Voie lactée ? Que 2 000 planètes ont déjà été découvertes autour d'étoiles lointaines ? Que la moitié de l'eau présente sur Terre vient de l'espace interstellaire ? Comment pouvons-nous affirmer cela ? Parce que des chercheurs du monde entier se sont acharnés à le découvrir et à le prouver. Qui sont donc ces visionnaires qui contribuent à l'essor fulgurant de l'astronomie, de l'astrophysique, de la cosmologie, de l'astrobiologie ? Jean-Pierre Luminet et Hubert Reeves nous invitent à faire en leur compagnie un fascinant périple d'exploration, à lever le voile sur les découvertes les plus récentes et les plus étonnantes, nous permettant de mieux comprendre l'origine et le destin de l'Univers. 2016. Titre uniforme: Du big bang au vivant (Film)To seek out new life: the biology of Star Trek
By Athena Andreadis. 1998
Uses the original Star Trek television series, spinoffs, and movies to explain concepts in bioscience. Investigates the probability of other…
life-forms in the universe. Discusses human immortality, the transporter, and the universal translator as well as cloning, robots, and virtual reality. 1998.The ring of truth: an inquiry into how we know what we know
By Philip Morrison, Phylis Morrison. 1987
A lively, anecdotal examination of how the scientific method has worked from Galileo to the present time. This book which…
is a companion to the PBS television series looks at six concepts: looking, change, mapping, clues, atoms, and doubt. 1987.Dinosaurs in your backyard: The Coolest, Scariest Creatures Ever Found in the USA!
By Alan Barnard, Hugh Brewster. 2009
Presents facts learned from fossilized evidence of dinosaur species that roamed the North American continent millions of years ago, like…
the Stegosaurus of Colorado. Discusses size, eating habits, head crests, skull shapes, tail clubs, raptor claws, and dinosaur descendants. For grades 3-6. 2009The physics of Star Trek
By Lawrence Maxwell Krauss, S. W Hawking. 1995
Krauss uses the original Star Trek television series (and its spinoffs) to explore concepts in physics, quantum mechanics, interstellar flight,…
and time travel, as he questions the possibility of "warp drives," "transporters," "wormholes," "phasers," and "holodecks," as well as extraterrestrial life. With a foreward by Stephen Hawking. 1995.American Prometheus: the triumph and tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
By Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin. 2005
Biography of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967)--"the father of the atomic bomb." Chronicles his New York City upbringing, marriage to…
Kitty Puening, work on the Manhattan Project, and life after the 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearings which denied Oppenheimer his security clearance for questioning the ethics of nuclear weapons. Pulitzer Prize winner 2006. 2005Thomas and the Castle (Thomas & Friends)
By W. Awdry, Tommy Stubbs. 2004
Thomas and the Shooting Star (Thomas and Friends)
By W. Awdry, Tommy Stubbs. 2002
One restless night, Thomas looks out and sees a shooting star flash by. Determined to see where it went, Thomas…
sets out into the darkened countryside. The strange nighttime sights and noises add up to a wonderful after-dark adventure for Thomas.From the Hardcover edition.Dragon Bike: Fantastical Stories of Bicycling, Feminism, & Dragons
By Unknown. 2020
From the great, winged, fire-breathing lizards of the west to the wise, flying serpents of the east, dragons play a powerful…
role in our myths and imaginations. In these fourteen stories and one comic, bicyclists encounter a diversity of dragons, whether foes or friends, hoarders or helpers, powerful symbols or terrifying and very real beasts. Instead of stereotypical tales of heroes saving helpless princesses from cruel beasts, these stories are populated by empowered people facing complicated dilemmas and fantastical quests.The Collapse of Western Civilization
By Erik M. Conway, Naomi Oreskes. 2014
The year is 2393, and a senior scholar of the Second People's Republic of China presents a gripping and deeply…
disturbing account of how the children of the Enlightenment, the political and economic elites of the so-called advanced industrial societies, entered into a Penumbral period in the early decades of the twenty-first century, a time when sound science and rational discourse about global change were prohibited and clear warnings of climate catastrophe were ignored. What ensues when soaring temperatures, rising sea levels, drought, and mass migrations disrupt the global governmental and economic regimes? The Great Collapse of 2093.This work is an important title that will change how readers look at the world. Dramatizing climate change in ways traditional nonfiction cannot, this inventive, at times humorous work reasserts the importance of scientists and the work they do and reveals the self-serving interests of the so called "carbon industrial complex" that have turned the practice of sound science into political fodder. The authors conclude with a critique of the philosophical frameworks, most notably neo-liberalism, that do their part to hasten civilization's demise. Based on sound scholarship yet unafraid to tilt at sacred cows in both science and policy, this book provides a welcome moment of clarity amid the cacophony of climate change literature. It includes a lexicon of historical and scientific terms that enriches the narrative and an interview with the authors.Why God Is a Woman
By Nin Andrews. 2015
Why God Is a Woman is a collection of poems written about a magical island where women rule and men…
are the second sex. It is also the story of a boy who, exiled from the island because he could not abide by its sexist laws, looks back with both nostalgia and bitterness and wonders: Why does God have to be a woman? Celebrated prose poet Nin Andrews creates a world both fantastic and familiar where all the myths, logic, and institutions support the dominance of women.Nin Andrews's books include The Book of Orgasms and Sleeping with Houdini.The Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future
By Naomi Oreskes, Erik Conway. 2014
The year is 2393, and the world is almost unrecognizable. Clear warnings of climate catastrophe went ignored for decades, leading…
to soaring temperatures, rising sea levels, widespread drought and—finally—the disaster now known as the Great Collapse of 2093, when the disintegration of the West Antarctica Ice Sheet led to mass migration and a complete reshuffling of the global order. Writing from the Second People's Republic of China on the 300th anniversary of the Great Collapse, a senior scholar presents a gripping and deeply disturbing account of how the children of the Enlightenment—the political and economic elites of the so-called advanced industrial societies—failed to act, and so brought about the collapse of Western civilization. In this haunting, provocative work of science-based fiction, Naomi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway imagine a world devastated by climate change. Dramatizing the science in ways traditional nonfiction cannot, the book reasserts the importance of scientists and the work they do and reveals the self-serving interests of the so called "carbon combustion complex" that have turned the practice of science into political fodder. Based on sound scholarship and yet unafraid to speak boldly, this book provides a welcome moment of clarity amid the cacophony of climate change literature.The Science of Middle-earth: A New Understanding of Tolkien and His World
By Arnaud Rafaelian. 2021
The surprising and illuminating look at how Tolkien's love of science and natural history shaped the creation of his Middle…
Earth, from its flora and fauna to its landscapes.The world J.R.R. Tolkien created is one of the most beloved in all of literature, and continues to capture hearts and imaginations around the world. From Oxford to ComiCon, the Middle Earth is analyzed and interpreted through a multitude of perspectives. But one essential facet of Tolkien and his Middle Earth has been overlooked: science. This great writer, creator of worlds and unforgettable character, and inventor of language was also a scientific autodidact, with an innate interest and grasp of botany, paleontologist and geologist, with additional passions for archeology and chemistry. Tolkien was an acute observer of flora and fauna and mined the minds of his scientific friends about ocean currents and volcanoes. It is these layers science that give his imaginary universe—and the creatures and characters that inhabit it—such concreteness. Within this gorgeously illustrated edition, a range of scientists—from astrophysicists to physicians, botanists to volcanologists—explore Tolkien&’s novels, poems, and letters to reveal their fascinating scientific roots. A rewarding combination of literary exploration and scientific discovery, The Science of Middle Earth reveals the hidden meaning of the Ring&’s corruption, why Hobbits have big feet, the origins of the Dwarves, the animals which inspired the dragons, and even whether or not an Ent is possible. Enhanced by superb original drawings, this transportive work will delight both Tolkien fans and science lovers and inspire us to view both Middle Earth—and our own world—with fresh eyes.Be a Mermaid: & be independent, be powerful, be free (Be a...)
By Sarah Ford. 2018
Mermaid is happy in her own fins. She is fiercely independent and is just as happy taking herself out for…
dinner as she is on a night out with the squad. Never one to bow out early, she confronts every challenge head on and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty (though her tail will always be sparkling clean). So let Mermaid guide you through the trials and tribulations of real girl power and you can be sure she'll always have your back. Be a Mermaid is a great gift for friends who need reminding of their inner mermaid, as well as a must-have addition for anyone who needs to regain the power.A myth-busting, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping and fun-filled expedition through the world of Game of Thrones.Do dragons actually exist? Is it possible…
to crush a person's head with your bare hands?What really happened when royal families interbreed? How does wildfire win wars? Can you really kill someone with molten gold?Award-winning comedian and popular-science writer Helen Keen uncovers the astounding science behind the world's most popular television show. Join Helen as she sifts the fact from fantasy, discovers the truth beneath the togas, and reveals a world more fantastical than Daenerys Targaryen's wildest dreams. So pour yourself a bowl of brown, climb on your beast of burden, and prepare yourself for an amazing adventure. It's time to see the Seven Kingdoms as you have never seen them before.Widowland: 'An absorbing Orwellian dystopia' GUARDIAN
By C J Carey. 2021
'READING THIS TERRIFIC, ORWELLIAN NOVEL YOU ALMOST HOLD YOUR BREATH' Bel MooneyAn alternative history with a strong feminist twist, perfect…
for fans of Robert Harris' Fatherland, Christina Dalcher's Vox and the dystopian novels of Margaret Atwood.'A TRIUMPH' Amanda Craig'CONVINCING AND GRIPPING' Elizabeth Buchan'BRILLIANTLY IMAGINED' Clare Chambers'TERRIFIC HEROINE' Adèle Geras'VIVIDLY IMAGINED' Nicci FrenchTo control the past, they edited history. To control the future, they edited literature.London, 1953, Coronation year - but not the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Thirteen years have passed since a Grand Alliance between Great Britain and Germany was formalized. George VI and his family have been murdered and Edward VIII rules as King. Yet, in practice, all power is vested in Alfred Rosenberg, Britain's Protector. The role and status of women is Rosenberg's particular interest. Rose Ransom belongs to the elite caste of women and works at the Ministry of Culture, rewriting literature to correct the views of the past. But now she has been given a special task. Outbreaks of insurgency have been seen across the country; graffiti daubed on public buildings. Disturbingly, the graffiti is made up of lines from forbidden works, subversive words from the voices of women. Suspicion has fallen on Widowland, the run-down slums where childless women over fifty have been banished. These women are known to be mutinous, for they have nothing to lose. Before the Leader arrives for the Coronation ceremony of King Edward and Queen Wallis, Rose must infiltrate Widowland to find the source of this rebellion and ensure that it is quashed.'THE MOST IMPORTANT FEMINIST NOVEL IN DECADES' Jane Harris'A VERY SMART REIMAGINED HISTORY' Henry Porter'BRIMMING WITH CRACKLING DETAIL, A GRIPPING THRILLER' Miranda CarterInventing Iron Man: The Possibility of a Human Machine
By E. Paul Zehr. 2011
Tony Stark has been battling bad guys and protecting innocent civilians since he first donned his mechanized armor in the…
1963 debut of Iron Man in Marvel Comics. Over the years, Stark’s suit has allowed him to smash through walls, fly through the air like a human jet, control a bewildering array of weaponry by thought alone, and perform an uncountable number of other fantastic feats. The man who showed us all what it would take to become Batman probes whether science—and humankind—is up to the task of inventing a real-life Iron Man.E. Paul Zehr physically deconstructs Iron Man to find out how we could use modern-day technology to create a suit of armor similar to the one Stark made. Applying scientific principles and an incredibly creative mind to the question, Zehr looks at how Iron Man’s suit allows Stark to become a superhero. He discusses the mind-boggling and body-straining feats Iron Man performed to defeat villains like Crimson Dynamo, Iron Monger, and Whiplash and how such acts would play out in the real world. Zehr finds that science is nearing the point where a suit like Iron Man’s could be made. But superherodom is not just about technology. Zehr also discusses our own physical limitations and asks whether an extremely well-conditioned person could use Iron Man’s armor and do what he does.A scientifically sound look at brain-machine interfaces and the outer limits where neuroscience and neural plasticity meet, Inventing Iron Man is a fun comparison between comic book science fiction and modern science. If you’ve ever wondered whether you have what it takes to be the ultimate human-machine hero, then this book is for you.