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Books > Science & Mathematics > General
America is one killer organism away from a living nightmare that threatens all we hold dear....
[An] absorbing survey of oceanography . . . [this] elegant study is an excellent resource.Publishers Weekly A fascinating examination of the earths oceans This exhaustive overview of oceanography captures the excitement of discovery in the making. The Oceans opens up the world of ocean science to the general reader and raises significant questions about the future of the ancient, nurturing ocean itself. The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the globe, yet less than 5 percent of that expanse has been explored. But, as Drs. Prager and Earle show in this vivid survey of ocean research, our knowledge is suddenly accelerating: various dives, soundings, computer analyses, and other probes are uncovering amazing facts about the 142 million square miles beneath the seas.
In this narrative tour de force, gifted scientist and author John L. Casti contemplates an imaginary evening of intellectual inquiry--a sort of "My Dinner with" not Andre, but five of the most brilliant thinkers of the twentieth century.Imagine, if you will, one stormy summer evening in 1949, as novelist and scientist C. P. Snow, Britain's distinguished wartime science advisor and author of "The Two Cultures," invites four singular guests to a sumptuous seven-course dinner at his alma mater, Christ's College, Cambridge, to discuss one of the emerging scientific issues of the day: Can we build a machine that could duplicate human cognitive processes? The distinguished guest list for Snow's dinner consists of physicist Erwin Schrodinger, inventor of wave mechanics; Ludwig Wittgenstein, the famous twentieth-century philosopher of language, who posited two completely contradictory theories of human thought in his lifetime; population geneticist/science popularizer J.B.S. Haldane; and Alan Turing, the mathematician/codebreaker who formulated the computing scheme that foreshadowed the logical structure of all modern computers. Capturing not only their unique personalities but also their particular stands on this fascinating issue, Casti dramatically shows what each of these great men might have argued about artificial intelligence, had they actually gathered for dinner that midsummer evening.With Snow acting as referee, a lively intellectual debate unfolds. Philosopher Wittgenstein argues that in order to become conscious, a machine would have to have life experiences similar to those of human beings--such as pain, joy, grief, or pleasure. Biologist Haldane offers the idea that mind is aseparate entity from matter, so that regardless of how sophisticated the machine, only flesh can bond with that mysterious force called intelligence. Both physicist Schrodinger and, of course, computer pioneer Turing maintain that it is not the substance, but rather the organization of that substance, that makes a mind conscious.With great verve and skill, Casti recreates a unique and thrilling moment of time in the grand history of scientific ideas. Even readers who have already formed an opinion on artificial intelligence will be forced to reopen their minds on the subject upon reading this absorbing narrative. After almost four decades, the solutions to the epic scientific and philosophical problems posed over this meal in C. P. Snow's old rooms at Christ's College remains tantalizingly just out of reach, making this adventure into scientific speculation as valid today as it was in 1949.
“They deftly bring together findings from many disparate areas of science in a book that science buffs will find hard to put down.” —Publishers Weekly
Reissued to coincide with Bantam's publication of Siler's new book, "Think Like a Genius", this provocative and highly accessible work will help readers gain a fuller understanding of this artist/visionary's latest tome--and casts a fresh light on the unrealized symmetry of the mind and the universe. Illustrations.
That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life. Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity. That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life. Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity.The first immortals are already living among us. You might be one of them. That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life. Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity.
A journey into the most secret place in America
How can theology and science engage in dialogue in a postmodern world which is characterized by a great deal of fragmentation and pluralism? Is there ground to which they can move from their traditional duel to engage in a rewarding and friendly duet? Those are the questions discussed in this fascinating book, originally given as the John Albert Hall lectures for 1998. Dr Wentzel van Huyssteen first argues that many of the stereotyped ways of relating theology to science are overly simplistic generalizations about the complex relationship between the two disciplines. Moreover the postmodern mood challenges the very terms 'religion' and 'science'. He then goes on to discuss at length the very different views of Stephen Hawking and Paul Davies, in search of an epistemology which could be of use in an interdisciplinary discussion. This he finds in evolutionary epistemology, the significance that the theory of evolution by natural selection may have for philosophical epistemology, our theories of knowledge, and for the origin and development of human cognitive structures, maps and abilities. Before this final discussion there is an examination of Darwin and responses to him and an argument with Richard Dawkins.
Margaret Rossiter's widely hailed "Women Scientists in America: Struggles and Strategies to 1940" marked the beginning of a pioneering effort to interpret the history of American women scientists. That effort continues in this provocative sequel that covers the crucial years of World War II and beyond. Rossiter begins by showing how the acute labor shortage brought on by the war seemed to hold out new hope for women professionals, especially in the sciences. But the public posture of welcoming women into the scientific professions masked a deep-seated opposition to change. Rossiter proves that despite frustrating obstacles created by the patriarchal structure and values of universities, government, and industry, women scientists made genuine contributions to their fields, grew in professional stature, and laid the foundation for the breakthroughs that followed 1972.
In 1910 young Loren Eiseley watched the passage of Halley's Comet with his father. The boy who became a famous naturalist was never again to see the spectacle except in his imagination. That childhood event contributed to the profound sense of time and space that marks "The Invisible Pyramid." This collection of essays, first published shortly after Americans landed on the moon, explores inner and outer space, the vastness of the cosmos, and the limits of what can be known. Bringing poetic insight to scientific discipline, Eiseley makes connections between civilizations past and present, multiple universes, humankind, and nature.
Thirty-five years ago, C. P. Snow, in a now famous essay, wrote about the polarization of the "two cultures" -- literary intellectuals on the one hand, and scientists on the other. Although he hoped for the emergence of a "third culture" that would bridge the gap, it is only recently that science has changed the intellectual landscape. Brockman's thesis that science is emerging as the intellectual center of our society is brought to life vividly in The Third Culture, which weaves together the voices of some of today's most influential scientific figures, including:
Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins on the implications of evolution Steven Pinker, Marvin Minsky, Daniel C. Dennett, and Roger Penrose on how the mind works The Third Culture is an honest picture of science in action. It is at once stimulating, challenging, and riveting.
"Thoughtfully compiled, current, and reasonably priced.... Recommended as a 'one-stop-shopping' source..". -- Library Journal "This work is an essential purchase for libraries with collections in the four designated areas". -- ARBA Both print and nonprint sci-tech information sources can be quickly located, and their uses evaluated, with this new resource -- the only sourcebook to cover all four major branches of science. More than 2,400 entries of complete bibliographic information are accompanied by a brief description of each work. Every source is indexed by author, subject, and title. Special chapters cover how technology is changing the way scientists communicate, and how to build a viable collection in specific disciplines.
Now available in paperback, "Images of the Human" addresses the questions human beings have been asking for centuries. Each chapter focuses on the writings of a different philosopher--from Plato to Nietzsche, St. Augustine to Simone de Beauvior. As a distinctive feature, commentaries explore the unique relationship between what philosophers say and what religion teaches.
There are many how-to books on scientific and technical writing, and most of them devote a chapter or two to the subject of gathering information. The Elements of Information Gathering is the first to describe in detail the necessary steps in gathering scientific and technical information.Created as a working reference for scientific and technical professionals, as well as a textbook for technical communication courses, the book is organized into four main sections that lead the reader from the basic principles of information gathering to the more sophisticated methods of locating and organizing scientific data.
In this dramatic reconstruction of the daily lives of the earliest tool-making humans, two leading anthropologists reveal how the first technologies-- stone, wood, and bone tools-- forever changed the course of human evolution. Drawing on two decades of fieldwork around the world, authors Kathy Schick and Nicholas Toth take readers on an eye-opening journey into humankind's distant past-- traveling from the savannahs of East Africa to the plains of northern China and the mountains of New Guinea-- offering a behind-the-scenes look at the discovery, excavation, and interpretation of early prehistoric sites. Based on the authors' unique mix of archaeology and practical experiments, ranging from making their own stone tools to theorizing about the origins of human intelligence, "Making Silent Stones Speak" brings the latest ideas about human evolution to life.
In this timely and provocative book, Nancey Murphy sets out to dispel skepticism regarding Christian belief. She argues for the rationality of Christian belief by showing that theological reasoning is similar to scientific reasoning as described by contemporary philosophy of science. Murphy draws on new historicist accounts of science, particularly that of lmre Lakatos. According to Lakatos, scientists work within a "research program" consisting of a fixed core theory and a series of changing auxiliary hypotheses that allow for prediction and explanation of novel facts: Murphy argues that strikingly similar patterns of reasoning can be used to justify theological assertions. She provides an original characterization of theological data and explores the consequences for theology and philosophy of religion of adopting such an approach.
EARLY GIANTS. Johann Gutenberg. William Caxton. Aldus Manutius. Claude Garamond. William Caslon. John Baskerville. Giambattista Bodoni. MODERN PIONEERS. Frederic W. Goudy. Morris Fuller Benton. Rudolf Koch. Oswald Cooper. William Addison Dwiggins. Eric Gill. Stanley Morison. Jan Van Krimpen. Robert Hunter Middleton. Beatrice Warde. Jan Tschichold. Designers and Their Typefaces.
America's governing system is unique in the extent to which scientists and other outside experts participate in the policy process. No other nation uses these experts so extensively, not merely for advice on the allocation of resources to science but also in broad policy issues. This wide-ranging study traces the rise of scientists in the policy process and shows how outside experts interrelate with politicians and administrators to produce a unique and dynamic policy process. It also shows how the very openness of American government creates the potential for unusual conflicts of interest. Bruce Smith focuses on the experience of agency and presidential-level advisory systems over the past several decades. He chronicles the special complexities and challenges resulting from the Federal Advisory Committee Act--the "open meeting" law--to provide a better understanding of the role of advisory committees and offers valuable lessons to guide their future use. He looks at science advice in the Departments of Defense, State, and Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and then examines how science advisory mechanisms have worked at the White House. Rather than simply providing a description of structures and institutions, Smith shows the advisory systems in action--how advisory systems work or fail to work in practice. He analyzes how the advisers influence the policymaking process and affect the life of the agencies they serve. Smith concludes with an assessment of the relationship between science advice and American democracy. He explains that the widespread use of outside advisers clearly reflects America's preference forpluralism. By scrutinizing agency plans, goals, and operations, advisers and advisory committees serve a variety of functions and attempt to strike a balance between openness and citizen access to government and the need for discipline and sophisticated expertise in policymaking. At the root of the advisory process is a paradox: scientists are called on because of their special expertise, but they are useful only if they learn to play by the rules of the political game. The challenge to the nation is to reconcile the integrity of science with the norms of democracy.
In this book, Cuban scholar, journalist and author Gonzalez-Manet demystifies the information age. With his unique vision on technology, global politics, and social change, he provides readers with a critical analysis of new communications technologies and their largely unavoidable consequences. Whether the dazzling array of high-tech hardware and software are to benefit humanity or serve the needs of transnational corporations depends upon the social character of their application and the adoption of coherent policies concerning communications, culture and education. The author forcefully argues that much of the Third World lacks such policies and the results are devastating. Among other areas of exploration, he outlines the major characteristics of informatics in an age of global markets and transnational networks and, in the process, reflects on the politics of data flows, cultural integrity, and national sovereignty. Special attention is paid to the impact of computers on teaching and learning, as well as related trends in worldwide publishing. Several chapters focus specifically on Cuba's policies with regard to new communications technologies such as video and trends in Cuban film. This book builds on the author's previous work, expands the scope of reflection, and provides the reader with a lucid Third World perspective enriched by the urgency of the analysis and the substantial documentation of the argument.
In the vein of The Soul of a New Machine, a dramatic chronicle of a new revolution in brain-mind science comes this accessible book on the scientists who are creating startling new theories of how the mind works as the forge a new kind of artificial intelligence called neural networks--or, the first thinking machines |
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