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Nature and Science October 2018
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| The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Transformed Civilization by Vince BeiserWhat it is: the story of sand. (Yes, sand.)
Why you should read it: From concrete to glass to computer chips, sand is the "literal foundation of modern civilization."
Fun fact: Due to increasing demand and dwindling supply, there now exists a black market for sand, run by ruthless sand cartels who control the supply to industry. |
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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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Illinois State Parks
by Lee Mandrell
Discover the breathtaking beauty and unforgettable adventures that await in Illinois state parks. Lee Mandrell and DeeDee Niederhouse-Mandrell highlight the incredible diversity and natural beauty of the landscapes, flora, and fauna of the state.
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How to grow mushrooms from scratch : a practical guide to cultivating portobellos, shiitakes, truffles, and other edible mushrooms
by Magdalena Wurth
Mushrooms are a joy to grow—for food, as a garden feature, or just for fun—and it’s easier than you think! How to Grow Mushrooms from Scratch covers 19 varieties, from button (always versatile) to reishi (a medicinal powerhouse). Plus, here are delicious recipes, preserving methods, and more. Experts Magdalena and Herbert Wurth explain every step of cultivation—whether starting from a kit, a culture, or a grown mushroom you’d like to propagate.
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Conceivability : what I learned exploring the frontiers of fertility
by Elizabeth L. Katkin
A deeply informative account traces the author's gripping journey through the global fertility industry in search of an answer to her own unexplained infertility, a quest that was shaped by key medical, financial, legal, scientific, emotional and ethical challenges.
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Illinois across the land
by Lee Mandrell
Join photographers Lee Mandrell and DeeDee Niederhouse-Mandrell on a visual journey across the Prairie state, as they travel from the beaches of Lake Michigan over rolling forested hills and picturesque farmland, through covered bridges, past historic barns and windmills, andup to the edge of the awe-inspiring rocky cliffs of the Garden of the Gods.
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Endangered and disappearing birds of the Midwest
by Matt Williams
In Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest, Matt Williams profiles forty of the most beautiful and interesting birds who winter, breed, or migrate through the Midwest and whose populations are most in danger of disappearing from the region. Each profile includes the current endangered status of the species, a description of the bird's vocal and nesting patterns, and tips to help readers identify them, along with stunning color images and detailed migration maps.
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Bitwise : a life in code
by David Auerbach
An ode to the computer codes and languages that captured the author's imagination as a child demonstrates how computers and algorithms shape, and sometimes compromise, human understandings of identity and the greater world.
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Sleepyhead : the neuroscience of a good night's rest
by Henry Nicholls
A science writer recounts his life dealing with chronic narcolepsy and explores the world of sleeping disorders and its victims—including insomniacs, fellow narcoleptics and sleep-apnea sufferers—and uncovers the secrets of a good night's rest. 20,000 first printing.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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