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What Galileo Saw: Imagining the Scientific Revolution
by Lawrence LipkingThe Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century has often been called a decisive turning point in human history. It represents, for good or ill, the birth of modern science and modern ways of viewing the world. In What Galileo Saw, Lawrence Lipking offers a new perspective on how to understand what happened then, arguing that artistic imagination and creativity as much as rational thought played a critical role in creating new visions of science and in shaping stories about eye-opening discoveries in cosmology, natural history, engineering, and the life sciences. When Galileo saw the face of the Moon and the moons of Jupiter, Lipking writes, he had to picture a cosmos that could account for them. Kepler thought his geometry could open a window into the mind of God. Francis Bacon's natural history envisioned an order of things that would replace the illusions of language with solid evidence and transform notions of life and death. Descartes designed a hypothetical "Book of Nature" to explain how everything in the universe was constructed. Thomas Browne reconceived the boundaries of truth and error. Robert Hooke, like Leonardo, was both researcher and artist; his schemes illuminate the microscopic and the macrocosmic. And when Isaac Newton imagined nature as a coherent and comprehensive mathematical system, he redefined the goals of science and the meaning of genius. What Galileo Saw bridges the divide between science and art; it brings together Galileo and Milton, Bacon and Shakespeare. Lipking enters the minds and the workshops where the Scientific Revolution was fashioned, drawing on art, literature, and the history of science to reimagine how perceptions about the world and human life could change so drastically, and change forever.
What Happens at a Vet's Office (Where People Work Series)
by Amy HutchingsThis book describes in detail a visit to the vet’s clinic.
What Happens to a Hamburger? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)
by Paul ShowersRead and find out about your digestive system in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.What happens to food when you eat it? Read and find out about your digestive system and how it turns food into energy your body can use.This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It's a Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are:hands-on and visualacclaimed and trustedgreat for classroomsTop 10 reasons to love LRFOs:Entertain and educate at the same timeHave appealing, child-centered topicsDevelopmentally appropriate for emerging readersFocused; answering questions instead of using survey approachEmploy engaging picture book quality illustrationsUse simple charts and graphics to improve visual literacy skillsFeature hands-on activities to engage young scientistsMeet national science education standardsWritten/illustrated by award-winning authors/illustrators & vetted by an expert in the fieldOver 130 titles in print, meeting a wide range of kids' scientific interestsBooks in this series support the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let's-Read-and-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.
What Happens to a Hamburger?
by Paul Showers Anne F. Rockwell Edward MillerWhat happens to food after you eat it? In this newly illustrated book, complete with photos, Paul Showers and Edward Miller take you on a journey through the human digestive system into the mouth, down the gullet, into the stomach, and finally into the small and large intestines. You will learn what each of these body parts does to help transform the food you eat. And you will also find out what happens to the food your body cannot use. Everything that happens inside your body whenever you swallow a bite of food will amaze you! Image descriptions present.
What Have You Changed Your Mind About?
by Mr John BrockmanEven geniuses change their minds sometimes.Edge (www.edge.org), the influential online intellectual salon, recently asked 150 high-powered thinkers to discuss their most telling missteps and reconsiderations: What have you changed your mind about? The answers are brilliant, eye-opening, fascinating, sometimes shocking, and certain to kick-start countless passionate debates.Steven Pinker on the future of human evolution * Richard Dawkins on the mysteries of courtship * SAM HARRIS on the indifference of Mother Nature * Nassim Nicholas Taleb on the irrelevance of probability * Chris Anderson on the reality of global warming * Alan Alda on the existence of God * Ray Kurzweil on the possibility of extraterrestrial life * Brian Eno on what it means to be a "revolutionary" * Helen Fisher on love, fidelity, and the viability of marriage * Irene Pepperberg on learning from parrots . . . and many others.
What Have You Changed Your Mind About?
by Mr John BrockmanEven geniuses change their minds sometimes.Edge (www.edge.org), the influential online intellectual salon, recently asked 150 high-powered thinkers to discuss their most telling missteps and reconsiderations: What have you changed your mind about? The answers are brilliant, eye-opening, fascinating, sometimes shocking, and certain to kick-start countless passionate debates.Steven Pinker on the future of human evolution * Richard Dawkins on the mysteries of courtship * SAM HARRIS on the indifference of Mother Nature * Nassim Nicholas Taleb on the irrelevance of probability * Chris Anderson on the reality of global warming * Alan Alda on the existence of God * Ray Kurzweil on the possibility of extraterrestrial life * Brian Eno on what it means to be a "revolutionary" * Helen Fisher on love, fidelity, and the viability of marriage * Irene Pepperberg on learning from parrots . . . and many others.
What Have You Changed Your Mind About? Today's Leading Minds Rethink Everything
by John BrockmanEven geniuses change their minds sometimes. Edge (www.edge.org), the influential online intellectual salon, recently asked 150 high-powered thinkers to discuss their most telling missteps and reconsiderations: What have you changed your mind about? The answers were brilliant, eye-opening, fascinating, sometimes shocking, and certain to kick-start countless passionate debates. Read Steven Pinker on the future of human evolution; Richard Dawkins on the mysteries of courtship; Sam Harris on the indifference of Mother Nature ; Nassim Nicholas Taleb on the irrelevance of probability; Chris Anderson on the reality of global warming; Alan Alda on the existence of God; Lisa Randall on the secrets of the Sun; Ray Kurzweil on the possibility of extraterrestrial life; Brian Eno on what it means to be a "revolutionary"; Helen Fisher on love, fidelity, and the viability of marriage; Irene Pepperberg on learning from parrots... and many others.
What Homework? (Science Solves It!)
by Linda HaywardAndy forgot to do his homework. He only has a few minutes to find out what he needs to complete the project.
What I Do Not Believe, and Other Essays (Synthese Library #38)
by Norwood Russell HansonFifty years have passed since Norwood Russell Hanson's unexpected death, yet he remains an important voice in philosophy of science. This book is a revised and expanded edition of a collection of Hanson's essays originally published in 1971, edited by Stephen Toulmin and Harry Woolf. The new volume features a comprehensive introduction by Matthew Lund (Rowan University) and two new essays. The first is "Observation and Explanation: A Guide to Philosophy of Science", originally published as a posthumous book by Harper and Row. This essay, written near the end of Hanson’s life, represents his mature philosophy of science. The second new addition, Hanson's essay "The Trial of Galileo", is something of a "lost" work – it was only published in a small run collection on famous trials and was left out of the published lists of Hanson’s works. Ever the outspoken firebrand, Hanson found many lessons and warnings from Galileo's trial that were relevant to Cold War America.This volume not only contains Hanson's best-known work in history and philosophy of science, but also highlights the breadth of his philosophical thought. Hanson balanced extreme versatility with a unified approach to conceptual and philosophical problems. Hanson's central insight is that philosophy and science both strive to render the world intelligible -- the various concepts central to our attempts to make sense of the world are interdependent, and cannot operate, or even be fully understood, independently. The essays included in this collection present Hanson's thinking on religious belief, theory, observation, meaning, cosmology, modality, logic, and philosophy of mind. This collection also includes Hanson's lectures on the theory of flight, Hanson's greatest passion.
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall MunroeFrom the creator of the wildly popular xkcd, What If? gives hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask. Millions visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. Fans ask him a lot of strange questions. How fast can you hit a speed bump, driving, and live? When (if ever) did the sun go down on the British Empire? When will Facebook contain more profiles of dead people than living? How many humans would a T Rex rampaging through New York need to eat a day?In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations and consults nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind - or at least a really big explosion.This audiobook edition is read by geek icon Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stand by Me, The Big Bang Theory) and has been adapted for audio in collaboration with the author.(P)2014 Blackstone Audio
What If?: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall MunroeThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of What If? and How To answers more of the weirdest questions you never thought to ask. <p><p>The millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the Moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist. <p><p>Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. Rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. Unfazed by absurdity, Munroe consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airliner catapult–design to answer his readers’ questions, clearly and concisely, with illuminating and occasionally terrifying illustrations. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances. <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall MunroeTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERFrom the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask.Millions visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. Fans ask him a lot of strange questions: How fast can you hit a speed bump, driving, and live? When (if ever) did the sun go down on the British Empire? When will Facebook contain more profiles of dead people than living? How many humans would a T Rex rampaging through New York need to eat a day?In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations and consults nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, complemented by comics. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion.
What If? 10th Anniversary Edition: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall MunroeCELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF THE MILLION-SELLING POP SCIENCE CLASSIC WITH A SPECIAL EDITION. THIS IS WHAT IF? . . . x10.THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Nerd royalty' BEN GOLDACRE 'Totally brilliant' TIM HARFORD'Required reading across the world' NEW YORK TIMESFrom the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask.Fans of Randall Munroe ask him a lot of strange questions: How fast can you hit a speed bump, driving, and live? When (if ever) did the sun go down on the British Empire? When will Facebook contain more profiles of dead people than living? How many humans would a T Rex rampaging through New York need to eat a day? In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations and consults nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, complemented by comics. (They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion.)In celebration of 10 years of unusual insight, Randall Munroe has revised his classic blockbuster to ask what if? x 10. Featuring brand-new 2-colour annotations and illustrations, this special anniversary edition will leave you feeling much smarter, whether you have a Nobel Prize or not.
What If?2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall MunroeWHAT IF... one man decided to answer all the unanswerable questions, using science.The Sunday Times-bestselling author and xkcd creator, Randall Munroe is here to provide the best answers yet to the important questions you probably never thought to ask.The millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger.Planning to ride a fire pole from the moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing.Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone's freezer doors at the same time? Maybe it's time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics.Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-storey building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist.Welcome (back) to the mind-blowing world of What If?Unfazed by absurdity, Randall consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airplane-catapult design to clearly and concisely answer his readers' questions. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.Filled with bonkers science, boundless curiosity, and Randall's signature stick-figure comics, What If? 2 is sure to be another instant classic adored by inquisitive readers of all ages.
What If?2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
by Randall MunroeWHAT IF... one man decided to answer all the unanswerable questions, using science.The Sunday Times-bestselling author and xkcd creator, Randall Munroe is here to provide the best answers yet to the important questions you probably never thought to askThe millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger.Planning to ride a fire pole from the moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing.Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone's freezer doors at the same time? Maybe it's time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics.Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-storey building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist.Welcome (back) to the mind-blowing world of What If?Unfazed by absurdity, Randall consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airplane-catapult design to clearly and concisely answer his readers' questions. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.Filled with bonkers science, boundless curiosity, and Randall's signature stick-figure comics, What If? 2 is sure to be another instant classic adored by inquisitive readers of all ages.(P)2022 Penguin Random House Audio
What, if anything, are species? (Species and Systematics)
by Brent D. MishlerThis book is an extended argument for abandoning the species rank. Instead, the author proposes that the rank of "species" be replaced by a pluralistic and multi-level view. In such a view, all clades including the smallest identifiable one would be named and studied within a phylogenetic context. What are currently called "species" represent different sorts of things depending on the sort of organisms and processes being considered. This is already the case, but is not formally recognized by those scientists using the species rank in their work. Adopting a rankless taxonomy at all levels would enhance academic studies of evolution and ecology and yield practical benefits in areas of public concern such as conservation. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781498714549, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial license. KEY FEATURES • Proposes the replacement of restrictive species concepts with a pluralistic view • Suggests abandoning the formal taxonomic rank of "species" • Considers zoological, botanical, and microbiological aspects of the species level • Deals with practical issues such as conservation, inventories, and field guides
What, If Anything, Is Out There?
by Gene P. AbelCOL (USA Ret) and bestselling author Gene P Abel lays out the truth about UFOs and offers readers a fascinating exploration of the existence of an intelligent extraterrestrial race in this exploration of sightings and their potential impact on the future, and security, of the human race. There are few events that would be of more importance, or more startling, than if, in the near future, we found ourselves confronted by another intelligent race with abilities and technology far superior to anything that currently exists on Earth. In What, If Anything, Is Out There? Gene P. Abel, COL (USA Ret.), details historic events that may well have been sightings by our ancestors and begins to explore what these encounters could mean for our security in the future. Drawing upon his years of military experience, Abel offers a unique insider&’s perspective as he guides readers through a thoughtful history into the Roswell incident of 1947 and beyond. In the wake of the Department of Defense acknowledgement that the US Navy has encountered UFOs, and in a moment where sightings are on the rise, What If Anything, Is Out There is a timely, and much-needed, look at the role of intelligent life in the universe.
What If My Snot Glowed in the Dark?
by John BottomleyEverybody pees, poos and pukes, and everyone has icky skin and smells horrible. But have you ever wondered what would happen if your burps could power a hot air balloon? You could burp your way across the country! Or what if your farts smelled like roses? Well, you could grow a fart garden, or start a range of perfumes inspired by your farts. Or what if you never, EVER showered again? (Please, do make sure you shower regularly!) With plenty hilarious, yucky facts to discover about the gross stuff that comes out of you, budding young scientists - and comedians! - can learn all about why their bodies do icky, sticky things. What if My Snot was Glow in the Dark? really puts the FUN in bodily functions.
What If the Earth Had Two Moons?: And Nine Other Thought-Provoking Speculations on the Solar System
by Neil F. Comins"What if?" questions stimulate people to think in new ways, to refresh old ideas, and to make new discoveries. In What If the Earth Had Two Moons, Neil Comins leads us on a fascinating ten-world journey as we explore what our planet would be like under alternative astronomical conditions. In each case, the Earth would be different, often in surprising ways. The title chapter, for example, gives us a second moon orbiting closer to Earth than the one we have now. The night sky is a lot brighter, but that won't last forever. Eventually the moons collide, with one extra-massive moon emerging after a period during which Earth sports a Saturn-like ring.This and nine and other speculative essays provide us with insights into the Earth as it exists today, while shedding new light on the burgeoning search for life on planets orbiting other stars. Appealing to adult and young adult alike, this book is a fascinating journey through physics and astronomy, and follows on the author's previous bestseller, What if the Moon Didn't Exist?, with completely new scenarios backed by the latest astronomical research.
What If You Had Animal Ears? (What If You Had... ?)
by Sandra MarkleIf you could have any animal's ears, whose would you choose?What if you woke up one morning and your ears weren't yours? What If You Had Animal Ears explores what would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw an animal's ears instead of your own! The next imaginative book in the What If You Had series, explores incredible ears from the animal kingdom. From the elephant's tremendous ears to the jack rabbit's mood ears, discover what it would be like if you had these special ears--and find out why your ears are just the right ones for you!
What If You Had Animal Feet? (What If You Had... ?)
by Sandra MarkleIf you could have any animal's feet, whose would you choose?WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL FEET? is the next book in the successful WHAT IF series by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Howard McWilliam, following the very popular WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL TEETH? and WHAT YOU IF HAD ANIMAL HAIR? This latest edition will teach kids about the amazing variety of feet in the animal kingdom and their specialty functions! From cheetahs' fast feet to mountain goats' nimble climbing hooves, to flies' sticky feet! Each animal profile will include a photo as well as illustrations of kids with animal feet that are sure to make kids laugh!
What If You Had An Animal Nose? (What If You Had... ?)
by Sandra MarkleIf you could have any animal's nose, whose would you choose?What if you woke up one morning and your nose wasn't yours? What If You Had An Animal Nose?--the next imaginative book in the What If You Had series--explores what would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw an animal's nose instead of your own! From the elephant's long trunk to a rhino's pointy horn, discover what it would be like if you had these special noses--and find out why your nose is just the right one for you!
What Intelligence Tests Miss
by Keith E. StanovichCritics of intelligence tests--writers such as Robert Sternberg, Howard Gardner, and Daniel Goleman--have argued in recent years that these tests neglect important qualities such as emotion, empathy, and interpersonal skills. However, such critiques imply that though intelligence tests may miss certain key noncognitive areas, they encompass most of what is important in the cognitive domain. In this book, Keith E. Stanovich challenges this widely held assumption. Stanovich shows that IQ tests (or their proxies, such as the SAT) are radically incomplete as measures of cognitive functioning. They fail to assess traits that most people associate with "good thinking," skills such as judgment and decision making. Such cognitive skills are crucial to real-world behavior, affecting the way we plan, evaluate critical evidence, judge risks and probabilities, and make effective decisions. IQ tests fail to assess these skills of rational thought, even though they are measurable cognitive processes. Rational thought is just as important as intelligence, Stanovich argues, and it should be valued as highly as the abilities currently measured on intelligence tests.
What Is a Bird?: An Exploration of Anatomy, Physiology, Behavior, and Ecology
by Scott McWilliams Julia A. Clarke Elizabeth MacDougall-Shackleton Scott MacDougall-Shackleton Frances Bonier Chad Eliason Tony D. WilliamsA large-format, beautifully illustrated look at the natural history of birdsThere are some 10,000 bird species in existence today, occupying every continent and virtually every habitat on Earth. The variety of bird species is truly astounding, from the tiny bee hummingbird to the large flightless ostrich, making birds one of the most diverse and successful animal groups on the planet. Taking you inside the extraordinary world of birds, What Is a Bird? explores all aspects of these remarkable creatures, providing an up-close look at their morphology, unique internal anatomy and physiology, fascinating and varied behavior, and ecology. It features hundreds of color illustrations and draws on a broad range of examples, from the familiar backyard sparrow to the most exotic birds of paradise. A must-have book for birders and armchair naturalists, What Is a Bird? is a celebration of the rich complexity of bird life.An absorbing and beautifully presented exploration of the natural history of birdsIntegrates physiological adaptations with ecology and behaviorFeatures a wealth of color photographs and explanatory figuresUses scanning electron microscope imagery to provide a rare close-up view of structures not normally visibleProvides insights into our complex relationship with birds, from our enduring fascination with them to the threats they face and the challenges of conservation
What Is a Complex System?
by James Ladyman Karoline WiesnerA clear, concise introduction to the quickly growing field of complexity science that explains its conceptual and mathematical foundations What is a complex system? Although &“complexity science&” is used to understand phenomena as diverse as the behavior of honeybees, the economic markets, the human brain, and the climate, there is no agreement about its foundations. In this introduction for students, academics, and general readers, philosopher of science James Ladyman and physicist Karoline Wiesner develop an account of complexity that brings the different concepts and mathematical measures applied to complex systems into a single framework. They introduce the different features of complex systems, discuss different conceptions of complexity, and develop their own account. They explain why complexity science is so important in today&’s world.