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Nature and Science October 2018
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When the Last Lion Roars : The Rise and Fall of the King of the Beasts
by Sara Evans
What it's about: Evans explores the historic rise and fall of the wild lion as a global species and examines the reasons behind its catastrophic decline.
Why it is significant: A century ago, there were more than 200,000 wild lions. Today, two sub species are gone. And the numbers have fallen to just 20,000.
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| The Disordered Mind: What Unusual Brains Tell Us About Ourselves by Eric R. KandelWhat it's about: Bridging psychology and neuroscience, this illuminating book reveals what we can learn about human cognition by studying brain disorders.
Includes: discussions of autism, mood disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, PTSD, and addiction, to name just a few.
About the author: Eric R. Kandel is a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist. |
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| The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life by David QuammenWhat it's about: molecular phylogenetics, which uses biopolymers (DNA, RNA, and proteins) to study the evolutionary history of organisms and determine relationships between species.
Contains: three "big surprises" that will make you rethink your understanding of evolution: the domain of Archaea, the process of horizontal gene transfer, and a probable ancestor of humans previously unknown to science. |
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| Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis LangWhat it is: a thought-provoking examination of the long-standing relationship between science and the military-industrial complex, with a special focus on astrophysics and the aerospace industry.
Who it's for: readers interested in the intersection of science, industry, and politics; anyone who wonders what the proposed U.S. Space Force might look like.
Author alert: Well-known astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson teams up with longtime editor and frequent collaborator Avis Lang for this eye-opening book. |
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| The Songs of Trees: Stories from Nature's Great Connectors by David George HaskellWhat it is: a fascinating literary tour of 12 trees from all over the world, ranging from a Callery pear in New York City to a ceibo tree in the Amazon rainforest.
About the author: David George Haskell is a professor of biology and environmental studies, as well as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Forest Unseen. |
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| Urban Forests: A Natural History of Trees and People in the American Cityscape by Jill JonnesWhat it's about: Urban trees don't always get credit for all that they do -- for example, improving air quality, absorbing excess rainwater and surface runoff, saving energy, and inspiring cities' human inhabitants. This engaging natural history aims to change that perception.
Why it matters: From the stately specimens that grace the National Mall to the scrappy sapling of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, trees have always played an important role in American life. |
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The man who climbs trees
by James Aldred
What's it about: A BBC and National Geographic wildlife cameraman and professional tree climber shares the stories of some of his most remarkable encounters with the world's exotic animals, tracing the story of his youth as an avid outdoorsman while describing how his treetop explorations have given him unique perspectives into the natural world.
Why you might like it: Each chapter describes Aldred's climbing of a single or singular tree, such as, the Roaring Meg in Australia.
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The book of leaves : a leaf-by-leaf guide to six hundred of the world's great trees
by Allen J. Coombes
What it is: A visually stunning and scientifically engaging guide to six hundred of the most impressive leaves from around the world.
Why you might like it: Each leaf is reproduced at its actual size, in full color, and is accompanied by an explanation of the range, distribution, and habitat of the tree on which it is found.
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| The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a... by Peter Wohlleben; translated by Jane BillinghurstDid you know? Trees have families and friends, memories, sophisticated communication systems, and even the ability to feel pain.
Why you might like it: Without sacrificing scientific accuracy, author Peter Wohlleben enchants readers with combination of lyrical vignettes and anecdotes about his experiences as a forester in Germany. |
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