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Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter
by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Take Me to Your Leader is the culmination of a lifetime of fascination, speculation, and the amassing of scientific data about the possibility of Aliens visiting Earth. Drawing on a wealth of depictions from history, literature, pop culture, and film, Tyson applies the universal laws of physics to make the case for what Aliens might look like, act like, how they might travel through the universe to reach us, and what they might think of us upon arrival. Should such an event occur, Tyson further offers useful etiquette tips for your first close encounter. If you've ever wondered why there are so many UFO sightings, or whether Aliens might already be among us, Tyson offers an informed perspective that is both factual and fun. Take Me to Your Leader is a tantalizing exploration of what would be the most mind-blowing experience of your life--the book for anyone who has ever wondered: Are we alone?
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Physics Around the Clock: Adventures in the Science of Everyday Living
by Michael Banks
Physics not only shapes the cosmos but every aspect of our lives. Physics Around the Clock is an illuminating and fun journey through the physics of everyday life. From the thermodynamics of cooking the perfect pizza, or what 'plate' mechanics says about how to cut your fingernails, to the optimal way to board an airplane, this lively book explains what physics can reveal about so many seemingly ordinary aspects of everyday living.In this fun and fascinating book, Physics World news editor Michael Banks follows a typical day, beginning at breakfast and the morning routine, and moving through typical daytime activities and evening pursuits, including sports, gardening, looking after pets, socializing and playing games, and enjoying a take-away and film. Binding it all together is physics and what physical theories or experimental techniques can reveal about our everyday situations.
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Humans: The Evolution of a Species
by DK
Humans - who are we? Physically, Homo sapiens is unremarkable in the animal world - a hairless ape. But somehow, in combination, our characteristics make us remarkable. With our dexterity and brain power, we discovered ways of finding food and beating the elements not only in our home on the African savanna, but in every habitat from jungle to Arctic waste. Humans tells the story of our evolution with beautiful illustrations of our seemingly ordinary anatomy alongside colorful, mind-expanding graphics of what we have achieved with it. This thought-provoking book presents the latest advances in understanding human evolution, challenging old myths and baked-in misconceptions - all through the lens of the human body.
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Signals: The Hidden Power and Secret Language of Hormones
by Saira Hameed
Hormones write life's master plan - building a new human being in utero, transforming a helpless newborn into a sturdy toddler, igniting the firestorm of puberty, conjuring the alchemy of fertilization and directing the transition into menopause and beyond. And all the while, day-to-day, minute-by-minute, hormones control our mood and stress levels, how hungry we feel and how much we weigh, changes in libido and blood sugar, the circadian rhythm of our energy balance and sleep-wake cycle. In Signals, Dr. Saira Hameed takes us on a journey through the endocrine system, the body's miraculous and often misunderstood communication network of endocrine glands and hormone signals. Here Dr. Hameed combines expert experience, revelatory science, medical history, and cultural commentary with compelling compassionately recounted patient cases. In this special confluence of storytelling Dr. Hameed invites readers to share in the mysterious, magical inner world of the endocrine system, going beyond hormone hacks and hype to tune out the noise and instead listen into the signals - to the powerful endocrine life force of how the body talks to itself.
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Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal
by Rachel Zoffness
Every one of us will experience pain, be it back pain, the pain of childbirth, or living in an aging body. Not a single one of us will escape. But what if everything you thought you knew about pain was ... wrong? We've been told that pain is purely physical, something to do just with bones and body parts. The truth is that pain is constructed by the brain--influenced not just by injuries, but also by emotions, expectations, and environment. This means you have infinitely more control over pain than you ever imagined: because if the brain can change, pain can change. Rooted in cutting-edge neuroscience and rich patient stories, Dr. Rachel Zoffness completely upends the myths we've been sold--finally reconnecting physical and emotional pain, and providing a roadmap for healing. The fact is that chronic pain is treatable. But to do that, we must target the whole person--not just a body part. A groundbreaking, revolutionary book that finally offers access to the world's most powerful painkiller: YOU.
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| Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter KuperEisner Award-winning graphic novelist Peter Kuper’s illustrated ode to insect life incorporates multiple timelines, talking bugs, and a human de-populated world where the insects happily visit museum exhibits devoted to them! Kuper provides a wealth of science information alongside his stunning illustrations in inventively arranged panels that will draw in readers who like graphic nonfiction. For something similar, try The Hidden Life of Trees, Fred Bernard’s and Benjamin Flao's graphic adaptation of the book by Peter Wohlleben. |
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Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects
by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Insects comprise roughly half of the animal kingdom. They live everywhere—deep inside caves, 18,000 feet high in the Himalayas, inside computers, in Yellowstone’s hot springs, and in the ears and nostrils of much larger creatures. Most of us think life would be better without bugs. In fact, life would be impossible without them. Most of us know that we would not have honey without honeybees, but without the pinhead-sized chocolate midge, cocoa flowers would not pollinate. No cocoa, no chocolate. The ink that was used to write the Declaration of Independence was derived from galls on oak trees, which are induced by a small wasp. The fruit fly was essential to medical and biological research experiments that resulted in six Nobel prizes. Blowfly larva can clean difficult wounds; flour beetle larva can digest plastic; several species of insects have been essential to the development of antibiotics. Insects turn dead plants and animals into soil. They pollinate flowers, including crops that we depend on. They provide food for other animals, such as birds and bats. Life as we know it depends on these small creatures. With ecologist Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson as our capable, entertaining guide into the insect world, we’ll learn that there is more variety among insects than we can even imagine and the more you learn about insects, the more fascinating they become. Buzz, Sting, Bite is an essential introduction to the little creatures that make the world go round.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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