Christmas Events and Holiday Hours |
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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 revolutionised human civilisation. 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 fertilisation, superconductors, and penicillin. |
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The secrets of sand: A journey into the amazing microscopic world of sand by Gary Greenberg"From the beach to the moon--explore the incredible hidden world of sand, seen through a microscope.To the naked eye, the tiny particles that make up sand are less than inspiring. Under the microscope, however, it's a completely different story. Looking at sand under extreme magnification, we quickly find ourselves immersed in a new world of brilliant colours, organic shapes, and the stunning patterns of nature."The Secrets of Sand" is a virtual tour of sands from across North America. It shows their origins, the environmental forces that have acted upon them, and their journey from bedrock or invertebrate shell to the fine particles that, in countless billions, form our familiar beaches and dunes. It then moves on to an exploration of lunar sand, which has been formed under such alien conditions that it has no terrestrial counterpart. This book is an amazing voyage of discovery in the ancient past--and the dynamic present--of the earth and our nearest neighbour.
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100 under 100: The race to save the world's rarest living things by Scott LeslieScientists estimate that the total biodiversity on Earth is between 10 million and 100 million species. Of these, just over 1.6 million and counting have actually been catalogued and described. One percent, or 16,306, of those species are threatened with extinction, about one-fifth of them critically. Of this group, some have vanishingly small populations in the double or single digits. A few species, including the Pinta Island giant tortoise and the Yangtze giant softshell turtle, sit squarely on the border of extinction in the wild with a population of one. In 100 Under 100, Scott Leslie tells the fascinating stories of species in far-flung places nobody ever hears about, like the northern hairy-nosed wombat, the Gorgan mountain salamander or the Irrawaddy river shark.
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| Our robots, ourselves: Robotics and the myths of autonomy by David A. MindellFirst, let's get this out of the way: we are NOT headed for a robot apocalypse. In this engaging, thoughtful analysis, MIT professor David Mindell addresses three popular misconceptions about automation: the myth of linear progress (that the natural evolution of technology is from human to fully autonomous system); the myth of replacement (that machines will "take over" from humans); and the myth of autonomy (that robots can operate independently). Instead, he cites examples of humans and robots co-evolving and working in concert, from self-driving cars to robotic surgery to drone warfare. |
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| Dark matter and the dinosaurs: The astounding interconnectedness of the universe 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 behaviour 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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"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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| Our sun: Biography of a star by Christopher CooperOur sun is one amazing G-type main sequence star. Describing its life cycle from birth (4.5 billion years ago) to impending death (the red giant phase slated to occur some 5.4 billion years from now), this visually appealing "biography" uses images from sources such as NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory to explore the sun's composition and structure, its role in Earth's formation and evolution, and its impact on other planets in the solar system. And, for those unfamiliar with the language of heliophysics, the book also contains a helpful glossary of terms. |
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Extraordinary clouds: Skies of the unexpected from the beautiful to the bizarre by Richard HamblynDiscover the amazing and unexpected world of clouds with this inspiring collection of images. Clouds present us with an ongoing visual exhibition that transforms the sky into a constantly changing, mood-altering display of light, shade, volume and colour. Richard Hamblyn, acclaimed author, offers a selection of some of the most startling and unusual cloud formations, accompanied by an entertaining and informative explanation of how the cloud was formed and the conditions in which a similar one might occur. The images use satellite photography of clouds from above as well as ground-based pictures and the collection demonstrates the most unexpected and seemingly impossible patterns that can be created by the natural cycles of the weather.
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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. |
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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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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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