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VIP: Engineering Wizard (VIP #1)
by Denise Lewis PatrickGet ready to light up the world with Lewis Latimer in this exciting middle grade nonfiction biography. Perfect for fans of the Who Was and Little Leaders series, the books in the VIP series tell the true—and amazing—stories of some of history's greatest trailblazers. Meet the VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE who changed the world! Lewis Latimer was one of the greatest inventors of his time. He was also an engineer who transformed the lightbulb at Thomas Edison’s company. And he was a gifted artist, too! Experience all the exciting moments in Lewis Latimer’s thrilling life in this exciting biography, packed with two-color illustrations and fun facts, like who invented the Super Soaker!Short and engaging chapters are interspersed with special lists and other information made to order to engage kids, whether they're already biography fans or "have to" write a report for school. Extras include a timeline, a bibliography, and a hall of fame of other successful African American inventors.The VIP series features inspiring adventures and fun facts about some of history's greatest trailblazers—smart, tough, persevering innovators who will inspire today's kids. Featuring underappreciated historical figures and groups, with a focus on leaders in science and technology, the nonfiction biographies in the VIP series are fun and engaging. Just looking at the cover will make kids want to learn more about these VIPs, and once they dive in they will zoom through stories that read like adventures.Each book in the VIP series allows your middle grader to experience all the exciting moments in some very important but lesser known lives. These biographies for kids age 9-12 include: VIP: Dr. Mae Jemison: Brave Rocketeer: Engineering Wizard; VIP: Mahalia Jackson: Freedom's Voice; and VIP: Lydia Darragh: Unexpected Spy.
VipIMAGE 2019: Proceedings of the VII ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Vision and Medical Image Processing, October 16–18, 2019, Porto, Portugal (Lecture Notes in Computational Vision and Biomechanics #34)
by João Manuel R. S. Tavares Renato Manuel Natal JorgeThis book gathers full papers presented at the VipIMAGE 2019—VII ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Vision and Medical Image Processing—held on October 16-18, 2019, in Porto, Portugal. It discusses cutting-edge methods, findings, and applications related to 3D vision, bio- and medical imaging, computer-aided diagnosis, image enhancement, image processing and analysis, virtual reality, and also describes in detail advanced image analysis techniques, such as image segmentation and feature selection, as well as statistical and geometrical modeling. The book provides both researchers and professionals with extensive and timely insights into advanced imaging techniques for various application purposes.
Viral: La historia de la eterna lucha de la humanidad contra los virus
by Juan FueyoEl libro de divulgación científica de la pandemia, por uno de los referentes mundiales en virología e investigación biomédica Viral es una gran aventura científica y humanista que explora los virus que han envenenado nuestro universo y puesto en riesgo la supervivencia de la humanidad hasta la situación actual. Escrito desde una perspectiva científica, biológica y médica, el libro tiene un marcado componente humanístico transmitido en las múltiples e interesantes anécdotas históricas, filosóficas, artísticas, literarias y de otras disciplinas -como la física y la astrofísica-, que lo convierte en el libro de divulgación científica de referencia de la pandemia. El autor explora, con un estilo vibrante y el rigor del investigador, la importancia de los virus en la lucha contra el cáncer, así como su inquietante uso en bioterrorismo. Dedica páginas muy valiosas a las pandemias, alertando a los lectores de los peligros que entrañarán los virus en el futuro.
Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19
by Matt Ridley Alina ChanA new virus descended on the human species in 2019 wreaking unprecedented havoc. Finding out where it came from and how it first jumped into people is an urgent priority, but early expectations that this would prove an easy question to answer have been dashed. Nearly two years into the pandemic, the crucial mystery of the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is not only unresolved but has deepened. In this uniquely insightful book, a scientist and a writer join forces to try to get to the bottom of how a virus whose closest relations live in bats in subtropical southern China somehow managed to begin spreading among people more than 1,500 kilometres away in the city of Wuhan. They grapple with the baffling fact that the virus left none of the expected traces that such outbreaks usually create: no infected market animals or wildlife, no chains of early cases in travellers to the city, no smouldering epidemic in a rural area, no rapid adaptation of the virus to its new host—human beings. To try to solve this pressing mystery, Viral delves deep into the events of 2019 leading up to 2021, the details of what went on in animal markets and virology laboratories, the records and data hidden from sight within archived Chinese theses and websites, and the clues that can be coaxed from the very text of the virus’s own genetic code. The result is a gripping detective story that takes the reader deeper and deeper into a metaphorical cave of mystery. One by one the authors explore promising tunnels only to show that they are blind alleys, until, miles beneath the surface, they find themselves tantalisingly close to a shaft that leads to the light.
Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19
by Matt Ridley Alina Chan"Chan and Ridley write with an urgency...that inspires gripping depictions of what viruses are, how infectious-disease laboratories work and wonderfully lucid descriptions of bats. . . . They powerfully recount how dangerous pathogens can both leak from a lab and emerge in nature." (New York Times Book Review) Understanding how Covid-19 started is crucial for the future of humankind. Viral is the most incisive and authoritative book about the search for the source of the virus.A new virus descended on the human species in 2019 wreaking unprecedented havoc. Finding out where it came from and how it first jumped into people is an urgent priority, but early expectations that this would prove an easy question to answer have been dashed. Nearly two years into the pandemic, the crucial mystery of the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is not only unresolved but has deepened. In this uniquely insightful book, a scientist and a writer join forces to try to get to the bottom of how a virus whose closest relations live in bats in subtropical southern China somehow managed to begin spreading among people more than 1,500 kilometres away in the city of Wuhan. They grapple with the baffling fact that the virus left none of the expected traces that such outbreaks usually create: no infected market animals or wildlife, no chains of early cases in travellers to the city, no smouldering epidemic in a rural area, no rapid adaptation of the virus to its new host—human beings. To try to solve this pressing mystery, Viral delves deep into the events of 2019 leading up to 2021, the details of what went on in animal markets and virology laboratories, the records and data hidden from sight within archived Chinese theses and websites, and the clues that can be coaxed from the very text of the virus’s own genetic code. The result is a gripping detective story that takes the reader deeper and deeper into a metaphorical cave of mystery. One by one the authors explore promising tunnels only to show that they are blind alleys, until, miles beneath the surface, they find themselves tantalisingly close to a shaft that leads to the light.
Viral and Antiviral Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, Characterization, and Application (Emerging Materials and Technologies)
by Devarajan ThangaduraiThis book summarizes the synthesis, properties, characterization, and application of viral and antiviral nanomaterials by using interdisciplinary subjects ranging from materials science to biomedical science. Viral and Antiviral Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, Characterization, and Application highlights attainments in utilizing nanomaterials as powerful tools for the treatment of viral infections in plants, animals, and humans. It reviews the adopted strategies for designing viral and antiviral nanomaterials for medical applications, including cancer therapy and drug delivery. It also explains the different kinds of antiviral nanosized structures, their chemistries, and the attributes that enable them to be suitable targets for nanotherapeutics. The contributors have prepared the content in a comprehensive manner for readers to use their research findings to improve the healthcare of all living beings. FEATURES Reviews the novel tools for synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials as viral and antiviral agents Explores the different applications of currently available nanomaterials for the treatment of viral infections Investigates the role of antiviral nanodrugs in human and plant systems Addresses the activity of nanostructures in drug-delivery systems for cancer treatment Allows readers from various backgrounds to access the advanced research and practices across traditional frontiers Discusses viral nanomaterials as the viable future of antiviral drugs and nanovaccines in animals and humans This authoritative book is of exceptional relevance to postgraduate scholars, researchers, and scientists interested in nanomedicine, biomedical science, materials science, biopharmaceutical technology, microbiology, and virology to improve virus- and cancer-based therapeutic tools for animal and human welfare.
Viral and Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System: A Microbiological Perspective
by Hiba Sami Safiya Firoze Parvez A. KhanThis book covers topics related to viral and fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS), with a multidisciplinary reach, discussing associated immunology, microbiological aspects, pathologies, timely management, and prevention. The book is structured into five broad sections. The first section provides the reader with valuable insights into the aetiologies and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of neurological diseases, including host responses. It mentions all bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral causes of neuro-infections, along with rarer neuropathogenesis such as prions and mycoplasmas. The chapter also presents detailed epidemiology and prevalence of different CNS infections worldwide. It also reviews various infectious diseases that target the nervous system, such as focal lesions, meningitis, and neurological complications of venous sinus thrombosis. The next two sections delve deep into pathogen-specific diseases of the CNS, namely the viruses and fungi associated with neuro-infections. It mentions detailed excerpts on encephalitic viruses, long-term consequences of neurotropic viruses, mycological neuroinfectious, and even the emerging, less talked of viruses and fungi causing neurological disease. Topics such as principles of vigorous antifungal therapy and surgeries are also discussed in the chapter. The fourth section gives an insight on prospects for efficiently diagnosing and managing viral and fungal CNS infections, to tackle associated morbidities. Features that are often less documented, yet of considerable interest in current times, such as the role of immunosuppression in neurological infections and newer microbiological diagnostic strategies are covered. The last section uniquely provides clinicians with relatable case scenarios. Real case descriptions are included, such as cases of fungal meningitis and other difficult-to-diagnose infections produced by viruses. This book serves as a guide for neurologists, medical microbiologists, and clinical practitioners who deal with patients suspected of neurological infection.
Viral Applications of Green Fluorescent Protein
by Barry W. HicksOver the last ten years, Green Fluorescent Proteins, along with the other spectral variants, have emerged from near obscurity to become a powerful and versatile tool in scientific research. In Viral Applications of Green Fluorescent Protein: Methods and Protocols, leading investigators from around the world contribute detailed examples of both the construction and application of fluorescent proteins delivered by viruses in a format crafted to produce rapid, readily reproducible results. Written in the style of the popular and successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series, the chapters include brief introductions to the topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step laboratory protocols, and Notes sections, which highlight tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and easy to use, Viral Applications of Green Fluorescent Protein: Methods and Protocols supplies researchers with an ideal guide to the many uses of GFP and a vital starting point for future studies utilizing this highly adaptable protein.
Viral Cytopathology
by MalherbeThis book is for the guidance of those wishing to use stained cultures for virus studies.In this manual, sufficient illustrations are presented that may not be otherwise readily available to the reader and indicate the wide range of cytopathic changes. However, it has been necessary to limit the size of the pictures to a minimum - enough to convince the reader that the technique can be of great practical value for the recognition of many different viruses.
Viral Drug Delivery Systems: Advances in Treatment of Infectious Diseases
by Ranjita Shegokar Yashwant PathakThe disability-adjusted life year (DALY) is a generic measure of health effect that can be used in cost-effectiveness analysis as an alternative to the quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Infectious diseases are one of the major to cause significant losses of DALY and QALY. Human infectious diseases are disorders that are triggered by the micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. The majority of such diseases are contagious and create a public health menace. There are several reasons why infectious diseases are deadly diseases, and one of the primary reasons is the drug resistance developed over time. Drug resistance-associated mutations are linked to increasing drug efflux, modifications of the drugs, or their targets. Every year, new drugs are being approved by FDA to treat infectious diseases. Nonetheless, the infectious diseases will undoubtedly persist as permanent and main threats to humanity for now and in the future, primarily due to increased longevity that almost always comes at a cost of impaired immunity.A total of four books are covered under the series of Infectious drug diseases.- Malarial drug delivery systems- Tubercular drug delivery systems- Viral drug delivery systems- Infectious disease drug delivery systemsThe third volume of series is focused on viral drug delivery systems. Typically, virus attaches to the cells (referred as host cell) and releases its DNA or RNA inside the cell. In second stage, virus’s genetic material takes control of the cell and forces it to replicate the virus leading to onset of disease symptoms. DNA class of viruses include Herpes, Papilloma and Adeno viruses. RNA class of viruses include retroviruses, such as HIV immunodeficiency virus and SARS COV – 2 / Corona virus. This book addresses recent developments in viral drug delivery systems. It covers many different aspects of viral infections, ways to treat them using modern drug delivery systems like nano particulate carriers. The choice of viral delivery systems mainly depends upon the type of virus, duration of life cycle, presence of drug resistance, cellular and mucosal interaction of virus, accordingly gene or non-gene drug delivery systems are selected. Besides that, this book also reports global dynamics of viral diseases, future predictions of infection rate, current treatment options, details of drug carriers like nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles, role of biofunctionalization, and phyto-molecules in treatment of viral infections particularly herpes, Covid-19, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, influenza and viral hepatitis.Audiences from a broad range of groups, from researchers, academicians, and public health bodies to regulatory experts, can benefit from the compiled information to learn more about patient needs and current research advances in the field of viral drug delivery research.
Viral Fitness and Evolution: Population Dynamics and Adaptive Mechanisms (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology #439)
by Esteban Domingo Peter Schuster Santiago F. Elena Celia PeralesThis book unifies general concepts of plant and animal virus evolution and covers a broad range of topics related to theoretical and experimental aspects of virus population dynamics and viral fitness. Timely topics such as viral mechanisms to cope with antiviral agents, the adaptability of the virus to new hosts, emergence of new viral phenotypes, and the connections between short- and long-term virus evolution are included. By comparing plant and animal viruses, universal mechanisms responsible for fitness variations, viral emergence and disease mechanisms are explored. Although emphasis is put on specific plant and human viral pathogens, relevant similarities and differences to other viruses are highlighted. Additionally, readers will learn more about the adaptability of coronaviruses, including the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book is aimed at students and scientists interested in basic and applied aspects of plant and animal virus population dynamics and evolution.
Viral Genome Methods
by Kenneth W. AdolphMolecular biology and genetics techniques now dominate viral research in attempts to cure diseases such as AIDS. Viral Genome Methods is a practical guide to the newest molecular techniques, providing step-by-step protocols to be used in the laboratory. Recognized authorities and pioneers in viral research pass on their expertise to you.
Viral Genome Replication
by Kevin D. Raney Craig E. Cameron Matthias GotteViruses are responsible for a variety of human, animal, and plant diseases and now represent potential agents of terror. Academic, government, and corporate laboratories have devoted years of effort to the development of strategies to prevent or treat viral infections. Central to the multiplication strategy of all viruses is the process of genome replication. Enzymes critical to this step of the lifecycle have proven to be tractable targets for the development of antiviral agents. Furthermore, genome replication is essential for virus spread and is the main target for the development of antiviral agents. By combining studies of both RNA and DNA viruses - and more - into a single volume, the editors have created a mechanism for cross-talk between the fields that will produce synergy and could lead to more rapid discovery of approaches to treat viral infections.
Viral Infections And Global Change
by Sunit K. SinghA timely exploration of the impact of global change on the emergence, reemergence, and control of vector-borne and zoonotic viral infections From massively destructive "superstorms" to rapidly rising sea levels, the world media is abuzz with talk of the threats to civilization posed by global warming. But one hazard that is rarely discussed is the dramatic rise in the number and magnitude of tropical virus outbreaks among human populations. One need only consider recent developments, such as the spread of chikungunya across southern Europe and dengue in Singapore, Brazil, and the southern United States, to appreciate the seriousness of that threat. Representing a major addition to the world literature on the subject, Viral Infections and Global Change explores trends of paramount concern globally, regarding the emergence and reemergence of vector-borne and zoonotic viruses. It also provides up-to-date coverage of both the clinical aspects and basic science behind an array of specific emerging and reemerging infections, including everything from West Nile fever and Rift Valley fever to zoonotic hepatitis E and human bunyavirus. Important topics covered include: Epidemiology, molecular pathogenesis, and evolutionary mechanisms Host-pathogen interactions in an array of viral infections The impact of climate change on historical viral outbreaks The roles of socioeconomics, human behavior, and animal and human migrations The growing prevalence of drug and pesticide resistance The introduction of microbes and vectors through increased transboundary travel Spillover transmissions and the emergence of viral outbreaks Detecting and responding to threats from bioterrorism and emerging viral infections Predictive modeling for emerging viral infections Viral Infections and Global Change is an indispensable resource for research scientists, epidemiologists, and medical and veterinary students working in ecology, environmental management, climatology, neurovirology, virology, and infectious disease.
Viral Infections of the Human Nervous System
by Alan C. JacksonViral infections of the nervous system are important because they are associated with high morbidity and mortality. A variety of pathogenetic mechanisms are involved in these infections and an understanding of the pathogenesis is essential in understanding the diagnostic and clinical management aspects of the disease. Specialized investigations are often necessary for definitive diagnosis, although a presumptive diagnosis should often be suspected on the basis of the clinical features. Many of the chapters in this book are written by neurologists who are experts in basic science research of their topic in addition to active clinical practice in their specialty.
Viral Metagenomics: Methods And Protocols (Methods In Molecular Biology #1746)
by Michela Chiumenti Vitantonio PantaleoThis volume explores the use of viral metagenomics to diagnose known viruses for plant and food production, human and animal health, and identifying viral vectors like insects. The chapters in this book cover topics, such as sRNAs isolation from tissues of grapevines and woody plants, high-resolution screening of arthropod and plant viral communities, identifying new pathogens in fish, detecting viruses in mycorrhizal fungi and their orchid host, and insect virus discovery through metagenomic and cell culture-based approaches. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and comprehensive, Viral Metagenomics: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for researchers and specialists who are interested in learning more about this evolving field.
Viral Metagenomics: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology #2732)
by Vitantonio Pantaleo Laura MiozziThis second edition volume expands on the previous edition with discussions about the latest viral metagenomics aspects covering a range of different specimens such as soil, freshwater, wastewater, fecal samples, blood plasma, clinical tissues, fungi, and herbarium samples. Chapters also look at different viral groups including archaeal viruses, eukaryotic viruses, phages, mycoviruses, and circular DNA viruses. Techniques required for studying the three viral metagenomic steps of samples processing, library construction, and analysis of data are also discussed. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and cutting-edge, Vital Metagenomics: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for researchers who are interested in learning more about this important and developing field.
Viral Molecular Machines
by Michael G. Rossmann Venigalla B. RaoThis book will contain a series of solicited chapters that concern with the molecular machines required by viruses to perform various essential functions of virus life cycle. The first three chapters (Introduction, Molecular Machines and Virus Architecture) introduce the reader to the best known molecular machines and to the structure of viruses. The remainder of the book will examine in detail various stages of the viral life cycle. Beginning with the viral entry into a host cell, the book takes the reader through replication of the genome, synthesis and assembly of viral structural components, genome packaging and maturation into an infectious virion. Each chapter will describe the components of the respective machine in molecular or atomic detail, genetic and biochemical analyses, and mechanism. Topics are carefully selected so that the reader is exposed to systems where there is a substantial infusion of new knowledge in recent years, which greatly elevated the fundamental mechanistic understanding of the respective molecular machine. The authors will be encouraged to simplify the detailed knowledge to basic concepts, include provocative new ideas, as well as design colorful graphics, thus making the cutting-edge information accessible to broad audience.
Viral Pollution of the Environment
by Weger Marl BergIn the decades, ahead, as virus detection technology continues to improve, we may expect greater attention to the problem of water transmission of these agents. This books' contributors will discuss the developing knowledge and technology for the detection and measurement of viruses in waters and wastewaters in dealing with the problem presented by that presence.
Viral Regulatory Structures And Their Degeneracy (Santa Fe Institute Ser)
by Gerald MyersFirst Published in 2018. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an Informa company.
Viral Sovereignty and the Political Economy of Pandemics: What Explains How Countries Deal with Outbreaks? (Europa International Perspectives)
by Sophal EarOver the past few decades a number of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) have disrupted societies throughout the world, including HIV, Ebola, H5N1 (or ‘‘avian flu’’) and SARS, and of course the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which spread worldwide to become a global pandemic. As well as EIDs, countries and regions also contend with endemic diseases, such as malaria. There are many factors that have contributed to the rise in, and spread of, EIDs and other diseases, including overpopulation, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and antibiotic resistance. Political and cultural responses to disease can greatly affect their spread. The global community needs to defend itself against disease threats: one weak link is enough to start a chain reaction that results in a global pandemic such as COVID-19. Some states take a nationalistic approach towards combating disease; however, international cooperation and meaningful ‘‘viral sovereignty’’—empowering countries to create effective health institutions and surveillance systems in order to contain disease—must be considered. This volume, with a focus on Southeast Asia, Africa and North America, considers the intersection between disease, politics, science, and culture in the global battle against pandemics, making use of case studies and interviews to examine the ways in which governments and regions handle outbreaks and pandemics.
The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age
by Nathan Wolfe“One of the world’s foremost virus hunters” (Financial Times), Stanford University biologist Nathan Wolfe reveals the origins of the world’s most deadly diseases and how we can combat and stop contagions.A “mix of biology, history, medicine, and first-hand experience [that] is potent and irresistible,”* The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age shares information Wolfe uncovered on his groundbreaking and dangerous research missions in the jungles of Africa and the rain forests of Borneo to provide an in-depth exploration of how lethal viruses evolved alongside human beings; how illnesses like HIV, swine flu, and bird flu almost wiped us out in the past; and why modern life has made our species vulnerable to the threat of a global pandemic.In a world where each new outbreak seems worse than the one before, Wolfe points the way forward, as new technologies are brought to bear in the most remote areas of the world to neutralize these viruses and even harness their power for the good of humanity. His provocative vision of the future will change the way we think about viruses, and perhaps remove a potential threat to humanity’s survival.“An astonishingly lucid book on an important topic. Deeply researched, yet effortlessly recounted.”—*Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies
Viralização
by David Quammen«Uma obra-prima.» The New York Times Ao longo da História, a Humanidade tem sofrido perdas incontáveis de vidas às mãos de pandemias cíclicas e absolutamente devastadoras. A encabeçar a lista de responsáveis estão os vírus. O que é um vírus exactamente e como se propaga? Porque são o vírus tão diferentes entre si e como funcionam as vacinas que os anulam? Neste capítulo Viralização, David Quammen reconstitui a história fascinante da descoberta e estudo dos vírus e dos desafios que os cientistas enfrentam para combater esta ameaça invisível e potencialmente devastadora. Este capítulo é retirado do livro Contágio, uma história do vírus que estão a mudar o mundo, uma obra fascinante de jornalismo científico que previu a pandemia do novo coronavírus que vivemos hoje.
Viren in allen Dimensionen: Wie ein Informationscode Viren, Software und Mikroorganismen steuert
by Rafael BallMikroorganismen, Viren und Computerprogramme codieren alle Informationen, die erforderlich sind, sich selbst zu vermehren und verbreiten. Dabei sind sich diese Mechanismen in der belebten Welt, in der Welt der Viren und sogar in der Welt der technischen Systeme verblüffend ähnlich. Das Buch zeigt auf, wie groß die Parallelen dieser verschiedenen belebten und unbelebten replizierenden Systeme sind und worauf sie basieren. Der Ausflug führt ebenso in die faszinierende Welt der Genetik, zur Frage, was Leben definiert und in die Programmierung von Software, die sich selbständig vervielfacht. Schließlich wird daraus die Frage abgeleitet, ob und inwieweit solche sich selbst replizierenden technischen Systeme genauso gefährlich werden können wie infektiöse Viren bei der Auslösung von Pandemien, wie etwa der Corona-Pandemie im Jahr 2020.
Virgin Mary and the Neutrino: Reality in Trouble (Experimental Futures)
by Isabelle StengersIn Virgin Mary and the Neutrino, first published in French in 2006 and here appearing in English for the first time, Isabelle Stengers experiments with the possibility of addressing modern practices not as a block but through their divergence from each other. Drawing on thinkers ranging from John Dewey to Gilles Deleuze, she develops what she calls an “ecology of practices” into a capacious and heterogeneous perspective that is inclusive of cultural and political forces but not reducible to them. Stengers first advocates for an approach to sciences that would emphasize the way each should be situated by the kind of relationships demanded by what it attempts to address. This approach turns away from the disabling scientific/nonscientific binary—like the opposition between the neutrino and the Virgin Mary. An ecology of practices instead stimulates an appetite for thinking reality not as an arbiter but as what we can relate to through the generation of diverging concerns and obligations.