"Clouds are the most egalitarian of nature's displays, since each one of us has a good view of them." ~ from Gavin Pretor-Pinney's The Cloudspotter's Guide
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| Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World, and Might Do So Again by Tom JacksonMany household appliances generate heat, but only the refrigerator creates cold -- an application of thermodynamics that has revolutionized human civilization. In this engaging, anecdote-rich account, science writer Tom Jackson traces the multi-millennial history of artificial refrigeration from the ice pits of the ancient Persian Empire to today's "cold chain," the food industry's "temperature-controlled transport corridor" that links farms, fishing boats, supermarkets, and consumers. Yet refrigeration is responsible for more than midnight snacks; it has also made possible numerous scientific breakthroughs, including in vitro fertilization, superconductors, and penicillin. |
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| Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness... by Lisa RandallDespite its name, dark matter is "neither ominous nor powerful," explains particle physicist Lisa Randall. Mostly, it's just hidden from view: although it comprises 85% of the universe, dark matter can only be detected indirectly through measurement of its gravitational effects. In this accessible, thought-provoking book, Randall defines dark matter (distinguishing it from both black holes and dark energy) while describing its role in the formation and composition of the universe. Finally, for those wondering where dinosaurs enter the discussion, she puts forth a plausible hypothesis that a disc of dark matter embedded in the Milky Way dislodged a city-sized object from its orbit 66 million years ago, altering its course enough to strike Earth and cause a mass extinction event. |
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| The Horse: The Epic History of our Noble Companion by Wendy WilliamsBefore horses galloped, they probably scampered. That's just one revelation in journalist Wendy Williams' comprehensive history of the horse, which covers 56 million years and six out of seven continents. In addition to describing equine biology and evolution, she also considers the longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship between humans and horses. Most relevant for horse lovers, she describes the complexities of horse behavior through observations of both captive animals and free-roaming populations, including the wild American mustangs, Australia's drought-tolerant brumbies, and the endangered garranos of the Iberian Peninsula. |
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| The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea WulfDid you know that the U.S. state of Nevada was almost named "Humboldt," after the Enlightenment-era German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt? During his lifetime, Humboldt was the "most famous man in the world after Napoleon," due to his five-year expedition to South America, not to mention the 34 bestselling books he wrote about his experiences. Never heard of him? This biography rescues Humboldt from relative obscurity, describing his life as well as his many contributions to science. For example, Humboldt came up with the concept of climate zones, created isotherms (contour lines on maps), discovered the magnetic equator, and redefined our concept of nature itself -- as a web of life connecting every organism on Earth. |
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| Air: The Restless Shaper of the World by William Bryant LoganIn this "tour-de-force journey through the natural world" (Kirkus Reviews), author and arborist William Bryant Logan explores the nature of air, that omnipresent yet oft-ignored medium that surrounds and sustains us. From circulation patterns that change the weather to the airborne transmission of particles, Air examines how our planet's atmosphere influences all life on Earth. Fans of this 3rd book in a loosely connected trilogy (after Dirt and Oak) might also appreciate Gabrielle Walker's An Ocean of Air, which covers similar ground but with greater emphasis on the physical sciences. |
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| The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds by Gavin Pretor-PinneyDon't know your stratus (fog) from your cumulonimbus (thundercloud)? Not to worry, because author Gavin Pretor-Pinney, journalist and founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, has created this entertaining guidebook to the waters of the troposphere. Describing how and where clouds form, Pretor-Pinney provides accessible explanations of natural phenomena (for example, using a lava lamp to explain thermal convection currents) and includes photographs, line drawings, and diagrams to help novice cloudspotters identify different types of clouds. |
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| Near-Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us by Donald K. Yeomans"Dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program," asserts Donald K. Yeomans, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In a calm, measured assessment of near-Earth objects, Yeomans describes the different types of NEOs (asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteoroids) and explains the threat they can pose to life on Earth. Readers fascinated by astronomy or terrified of large-scale impacts may want to check out Phil Plait's playful Death from the Skies. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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