Nature and Science
December 2020
Recent Releases
Apollo's arrow : the profound and enduring impact of coronavirus on the way we live
by Nicholas A. Christakis

"Offers a riveting account of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as it swept through American society in 2020, and of how the recovery will unfold in the coming years. Drawing on momentous (yet dimly remembered) historical epidemics, contemporary analyses, and cutting-edge research from a range of scientific disciplines, explores what it means to live in a time of plague--an experience that is paradoxically uncommon to the vast majority of humans who are alive, yet deeply fundamental to our species"
State of the heart : exploring the history, science, and future of cardiac disease
by Haider Warraich

The Duke University Medical Center cardiologist and author of Modern Death examines the intense scrutiny and technology shaping heart disease treatments today, sharing insights into such innovations as ventricular assist devices, heart transplants and artificial hearts
Ice Walker: A Polar Bear's Journey Through the Fragile Arctic
by James Raffan

Introducing: Nanurjuk ("Nanu"), a seven-year-old polar bear, and her cubs, Siu and King, who live in the wilderness surrounding Hudson Bay.

What it's about: In this "bear's-eye view of a changing Arctic" (Kirkus Reviews), Canadian author Raffan vividly evokes a rapidly transforming landscape while documenting its inhabitants' struggle to survive.

Did you know? Although they've existed since the Pleistocene, polar bears have left almost no fossil record due to the fact that most have never set foot on land.
Eat like the animals : what nature teaches us about the science of healthy eating
by David Raubenheimer

Presents a unifying theory of nutrition, based on the animal kingdom’s ability to intuitively eat the right things in the right proportions to help readers gain control of their food environment and learn to eat properly. 20,000 first printing.
Nature obscura : a city's hidden natural world
by Kelly Brenner

"With wonder and a sense of humor, Kelly Brenner aims to help us rediscover our connection to the natural world that is just outside our front door--we just need to know where to look. Through explorations of a rich, varied urban landscape, Brenner reveals the complex micro-habitats and surprising nature that exists in the middle of a city. In her hometown of Seattle, which has plowed down hills, cut through the land to connect fresh- and saltwater, and paved over much of the rest, she exposes a diverse range of often unnoticed creatures. 'Nature Obscura' explores the species that inhabit the urban environment across the four seasons"
Ancient Bones : Unearthing the Astonishing New Story of How We Became Human
by Madelaine Böhme

Book Annotation
Kindred : Neanderthal life, love, death and art
by Rebecca Wragg Sykes

Casting aside the cliché of the shivering ragged figure in an icy wasteland, this fascinating volume sheds new light on the Neanderthal and where they lived, what they ate and the increasingly complex Neanderthal culture that researchers have discover. 30,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Weird earth : debunking strange ideas about our planet
by Donald R. Prothero

"Aliens. Ley lines. Water dowsing. Conspiracies and myths captivate imaginations and promise mystery and magic. Whether it's arguing about the moon landing hoax or a Frisbee-like Earth drifting through space, when held up to science and critical thinking, these ideas fall flat. In Weird Earth: Debunking Strange Ideas About Our Planet, Donald R. Prothero demystifies these conspiracies and offers answers to some of humanity's most outlandish questions"
The neuro generation : the new era in brain enhancement that Is revolutionizing the way we think, work, and heal
by Tan Le

A pioneer in the field of neuroinformatics shares the stories of people who are being helped by advancements in brain science and neurotechnology, including a man who drives a car with his mind and a color-blind man who “hears” colors.
The Field Guide to Citizen Science : How You Can Contribute to Scientific Research and Make a Difference
by Darlene Cavalier

The expert team at SciStarter present this interactive guide to citizen science in which they show how ordinary people can participate in scientific research and help change the world in meaningful ways. Original. 10,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Space Mission Art : The Mission Patches & Insignias of America’s Human Spaceflights
by Luke Wesley Price

Book Annotation
Focus on: Memoirs
Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver
by Jill Heinerth

Who: Canadian cave diver, explorer, and filmmaker Jill Heinerth, who proudly claims that adventure is in her DNA.

Where she's been: Florida's extensive network of caverns; Mexico's
Sistema Huautla, the Western Hemisphere's deepest cave network; the interior of Antarctic iceberg B-15, at the time the largest free-floating object on Earth.

You might also like: Julie Hauserman's Drawn to the Deep; William Stone's Beyond the Deep.
The shadow drawing : how science taught Leonardo how to paint
by Francesca Fiorani

A new biography of the artist behind the Mona Lisa distinguishes between his life as an artist and as an inventor and discusses how he used his understanding of optical science to perfect his painting techniques. 15,000 first printing. Illustrations.
Einstein in Bohemia
by Michael D. Gordin

Book Annotation
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin : Patterns, Proteins and Peace: a Life in Science
by Georgina Ferry

Book Annotation
Tesla : The Man, the Inventor and the Age of Electricity
by Dr. Gunderman, Richard

Known as the father of modern electricity, Nikola Tesla's work transformed the world.
How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
by Sy Montgomery; illustrated by Rebecca Green

Featuring: feisty Scottish terrier Molly; Christopher Hogwood, a pig with personality; a trio of emus; tarantula Clarabelle, friend to children in French Guiana; and more!

Is it for you? Author Sy Montgomery opens up about her difficult childhood and lifelong struggle with depression, which is exacerbated by the passing of some of the animals featured in the book.

Crossover alert: Fans of the author's National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus will remember charismatic cephalopod Octavia, who makes an appearance here.
Magnificent Women and Their Revolutionary Machines
by Henrietta Heald

Book Annotation
For Future Scientists & Family Fun!
Fairground physics : motion, momentum, and magnets with hands-on science activites
by Angie Smibert

Hands-on experiments reveal the science behind common attractions at a county fair, from the centripetal force that governs carousel rides to the projectile properties of a balloon-dart game. By the author of Game Logic. Simultaneous. Illustrations.
Letters from space
by Clayton C. Anderson

"Astronaut Clayton Anderson lived aboard the International Space Station--and while he didn't mail letters home, imagine if he did! These letters are full of weird science, wild facts, and outrageous true stories from life in space. Backmatter includes even more information on space, astronauts, and living among the stars"
Game logic : level up and create your own games with science activities for kids
by Angie Smibert

STEAM-based gaming projects and activities are complemented by analytical-thinking questions and links to primary sources, in an introduction to the history of games that explains the development and inner workings of influential favorites. Simultaneous.
Backyard biology : discover the life cycles and adaptations outside your door with hands-on science activities
by Donna Latham

Hands-on science activities for middle grade students are designed around the biology of an everyday backyard, in a fact-filled reference that includes coverage of such topics as microorganisms, life cycles and conservationism. Simultaneous. Illustrations.
Solve this : forensics : super science and curious capers for the daring detective in you
by Kate Messner

"Science experiments for children that help them learn to solve problems"
Amazing amphibians : 30 activities and observations for exploring frogs, toads, salamanders, and more
by Lisa J. Amstutz

"Amazing Amphibians explores the major amphibian groups-frogs, salamanders and caecilians-including their anatomy, behavior and conservation needs"