Nature and Science
August 2019
Recent Releases
Supernavigators : exploring the wonders of how animals find their way
by David Barrie

Draws on interviews with leading behavioral scientists and observations collected through newly developed research tools in a tour of the cutting-edge science of animals with astonishing navigation talents, from butterflies and birds to reptiles and whales.
Chasing the moon : the people, the politics, and the promise that launched America into the space age
by Robert Stone

A companion to PBS's American Experience draws on eyewitness accounts and newly discovered archival material to chronicle the stories of the visionaries who helped America win the space race with the first lunar landing.
Underland: A Deep Time Journey
by Robert Macfarlane

What it is: a lyrical and wide-ranging exploration of the world beneath our feet from tunnels and caves to catacombs and burial chambers to underground vaults and bunkers.

Why you might like it: Nature writer Robert Macfarlane embarks on a journey both literal and metaphorical, connecting real-world observations to representations of the underworld in mythology, art, and literature.

Want a taste? "Into the underland we have long placed that which we fear and wish to lose, and that which we love and wish to save."
Fire in the sky : cosmic collisions, killer asteroids, and the race to defend Earth
by Gordon Dillow

The co-author of Blue on Blue combines history, pop science and in-depth reporting in a chronicle of the role of asteroid collisions in Earth's evolution and how today's scientists are preparing against the next impact catastrophe.
Origins : how Earth's history shaped human history
by Lewis Dartnell

A science professor discusses how the earth itself helped shape the history of the human species, explaining how mountainous terrain led to Greek democracy and how atmospheric patterns shaped the progress of exploration and colonization.
Buzz, sting, bite : why we need insects
by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson

An enthusiastic, witty, and informative introduction to the world of insects explains why we—and the planet we inhabit—could not survive without them.
Moonbound : Apollo 11 and the dream of spaceflight
by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

Marking the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, this illustrated exploration depicts the path that brought us to July 1969, from the earliest sky observers and the descriptions of Galileo to Nazi atrocities and Soviet intrigues.
The nocturnal brain : nightmares, neuroscience, and the secret world of sleep
by Guy Leschziner

A clinical neurologist and global authority on narcolepsy presents a tour of the sleeping human brain, sharing remarkable patient stories that demonstrate the neuroscience behind what happens in different mind states.
Archaeology from space : how the future shapes our past
by Sarah H Parcak

The National Geographic Fellow and TED Prize winner tours the modern world of satellite-driven "space archaeology" and its role in significantly advancing human discoveries and understandings about the ancient world.
The medical marijuana guide : cannabis and your health
by Patricia C. Frye

Offers information about cannabis and its medical qualities, including its historical use, legal status, and side effects.
The way we eat now : how the food revolution has transformed our lives, our bodies, and our world
by Bee Wilson

A food historian and author explores the hidden forces behind modern eating and its effect on bodies and social lives, and describes how it has made the human diet healthier and less healthy at the same time.
Crisis in the red zone : the story of the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, and of the outbreaks to come
by Richard Preston

The best-selling author of The Hot Zone presents an urgent call to action that traces the deadly Ebola epidemic of 2013-2014 while making cautionary predictions about the future of emerging viruses.
One giant leap : the impossible mission that flew us to the Moon
by Charles Fishman

Shares the story of the remarkable NASA scientists and engineers who created America's space program and fulfilled President Kennedy's mandate to put a man on the Moon before 1970.
Bushcraft illustrated : a visual guide
by Dave Canterbury

The co-owner and supervising instructor at the Pathfinder School, which USA Today named as one of the Top 12 Survival Schools in the US, provides all the essential tools and skills for an awesome wilderness adventure.
Apollo's legacy : perspectives on the moon landings
by Roger D Launius

A space historian explores the many-faceted stories told about the meaning of the Apollo program and how it forever altered American society, and weaves in stories from important moments in Apollo’s history to draw readers into his analysis.
Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World
by M.R. O'Connor

What it is: a multidisciplinary examination of wayfinding, which includes spatial orientation, navigation, perception, and culturally specific practices of interacting with one's environment.

What else it is: a thought-provoking book that frames maps, compasses, and other navigation technologies as tools of European imperialism. 

Read it for: the author's interactions with experts in traditional navigation from the Arctic, Australia, and the South Pacific.
The weather machine : a journey inside the forecast
by Andrew Blum

The author of Tubes presents a lively tour through the global network that predicts weather, the work of cutting-edge forecasters and what weather technology reveals about our planet and its climate.
The School Garden Curriculum : An Integrated K-8 Guide for Discovering Science, Ecology, and Whole-Systems Thinking
by Kaci Rae Christopher

The School Garden Curriculum offers a unique and comprehensive framework, enabling students to grow their knowledge throughout the school year and build on it from kindergarten to eighth grade. From seasonal garden activities to inquiry projects and science-skill building, children will develop organic gardening solutions, a positive land ethic, systems thinking, and instincts for ecological stewardship.
Rail-trails Illinois, Indiana & Ohio : The Definitive Guide to the Region's Top Multiuse Trails
by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Across the country, more than 1600 unused railroad corridors have been converted to level, public, multiuse trails, where people can enjoy a fitness run, a leisurely bike ride, or a stroll with the family. In this updated guide in the popular series, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancypresents the finest rail-trails plus other great multiuse trails in three Midwestern states. Rail-Trails Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio covers more than 70 trails in the region. 
Down from the Mountain: The Life and Death of a Grizzly Bear
by Bryce Andrews

Who is she? Millie, a 500-pound grizzly sow (and mother of two cubs) from Montana's Mission Valley.

What does she want? Corn! Montana's grizzly bear population is addicted to the crop, which lures them from their isolated habitats into more populous areas, resulting in conflicts with local farmers.

You might also like: Nate Blakeslee's American Wolf, which similarly explores tensions between humans and wildlife by recounting the life and death of a charismatic animal.
Skogluft : forest air : Norwegian secrets for bringing natural air and light into your home and office to dramatically improve health and happiness
by Jørn Viumdal

Drawing on data from the University of Environmental Research and Bioscience in Norway and 30 years of NASA research, the author shares the simple, easy-to-understand Norwegian method for bringing nature into your home and office to help your health and mood.
...and more! Contact your librarian for more great books!
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