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Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > Popular science

Encyclopedia of Air (Hardcover, New): David E Newton Encyclopedia of Air (Hardcover, New)
David E Newton
R2,765 Discovery Miles 27 650 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The Encyclopedia of Air adopts a unique approach to its topic, exploring air, wind, and atmosphere in all their natural and human aspects. Its 162 entries are alphabetically arranged and cover meteorological topics such as tornados, political issues such as air pollution, important scientists and aviators, technical topics such as airplanes and dirigibles, and cultural phenomena including musical, literary, and linguistic references to air and wind. Other entries cover important organizations such as the Clean Air Trust, legal issues such as the Clean Air Act, and aerial sports and recreation such as kite-flying. Containing over 50 photos and tables, this book also includes a "Guide to Selected Topics" that traces broad themes, a general bibliography, and a detailed subject index. Most of the entries provide "See also" references to related entries in the book, a listing of addition information resources--both print and electronic--and contact information for relevant groups and organizations.

How to Solve It - A New Aspect of Mathematical Method (Paperback, 2nd Ed): George Polya How to Solve It - A New Aspect of Mathematical Method (Paperback, 2nd Ed)
George Polya
R295 R231 Discovery Miles 2 310 Save R64 (22%) In Stock

The definitive guide to mathematical problem solving, from one of the great teachers of the twentieth century George Polya's perennial bestseller has inspired generations around the world to think more clearly. Brilliantly showing how 'there is a grain of discovery in the solution of any problem', his strategies for mathematical problem-solving - from finding weak points to squeezing the data - will help get to the bottom of any puzzle. 'A superb book on how to think fresh thoughts ... A walk inside Polya's mind as he builds up maxims on how to comprehend a problem, how to build up a strategy, and then how to test it' David Bodanis, Guardian 'Everyone should know the work of George Polya on how to solve problems' Marvin Minsky 'A classic ... It is the outcome of careful and informed deliberation by one of the great teachers among the ranks of research mathematicians' Ian Stewart, author of Does God Play Dice? 'Every prospective teacher should read it' E. T. Bell

Forensics - The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous People (Hardcover): Harry A Milman Forensics - The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous People (Hardcover)
Harry A Milman
R637 Discovery Miles 6 370 Ships in 12 - 17 working days
Industrial AI - Applications with Sustainable Performance (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2020): Jay Lee Industrial AI - Applications with Sustainable Performance (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2020)
Jay Lee
R4,257 Discovery Miles 42 570 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book introduces Industrial AI in multiple dimensions. Industrial AI is a systematic discipline which focuses on developing, validating and deploying various machine learning algorithms for industrial applications with sustainable performance. Combined with the state-of-the-art sensing, communication and big data analytics platforms, a systematic Industrial AI methodology will allow integration of physical systems with computational models. The concept of Industrial AI is in infancy stage and may encompass the collective use of technologies such as Internet of Things, Cyber-Physical Systems and Big Data Analytics under the Industry 4.0 initiative where embedded computing devices, smart objects and the physical environment interact with each other to reach intended goals. A broad range of Industries including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, semiconductors, energy, transportation, mining, construction, and industrial automation could harness the power of Industrial AI to gain insights into the invisible relationship of the operation conditions and further use that insight to optimize their uptime, productivity and efficiency of their operations. In terms of predictive maintenance, Industrial AI can detect incipient changes in the system and predict the remains useful life and further to optimize maintenance tasks to avoid disruption to operations.

STEM Learning - IT Integration and Collaborative Strategies (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016): Mesut Duran, Margret Hoeft, Brahim... STEM Learning - IT Integration and Collaborative Strategies (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
Mesut Duran, Margret Hoeft, Brahim Medjahed, Daniel B. Lawson, Elsayed A. Orady
R3,270 Discovery Miles 32 700 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book reports the results of a three-year research program funded by the National Science Foundation which targeted students and teachers from four Detroit high schools in order for them to learn, experience, and use IT within the context of STEM (IT/STEM), and explore 21st century career and educational pathways. The book discusses the accomplishment of these goals through the creation of a Community of Designers-- an environment in which high school students and teachers, undergraduate/graduate student assistants, and STEM area faculty and industry experts worked together as a cohesive team. The program created four project-based design teams, one for each STEM area. Each team had access to two year-round IT/STEM enrichment experiences to create high-quality learning projects, strategies, and curriculum models. These strategies were applied in after school, weekend, and summer settings through hands-on, inquiry-based activities with a strong emphasis on non-traditional approaches to learning and understanding. The book represents the first comprehensive description and analysis of the research program and suggests a plan for future development and refinement.

The No.1 Book of Numbers - Exploring the meaning and magic of numbers (Hardcover): Ruth Binney The No.1 Book of Numbers - Exploring the meaning and magic of numbers (Hardcover)
Ruth Binney 1
R398 R264 Discovery Miles 2 640 Save R134 (34%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Why is 7 such a lucky number and 13 so unlucky? Why does a jury traditionally have `12 good men and true', and why are there 24 hours in the day and 60 seconds in a minute? This fascinating new book explores the world of numbers from pin numbers to book titles, and from the sixfold shape of snowflakes to the way our roads, houses and telephone numbers are designated in fact and fiction. Using the numbers themselves as its starting point it investigates everything from the origins and meaning of counting in early civilizations to numbers in proverbs, myths and nursery rhymes and the ancient `science' of numerology. It also focuses on the quirks of odds and evens, primes, on numbers in popular sports - and much, much more. So whether you've ever wondered why Heinz has 57 varieties, why 999 is the UK's emergency phone number but 911 is used in America, why Coco Chanel chose No. 5 for her iconic perfume, or how the title Catch 22 was chosen, then this is the book for you. Dip in anywhere and you'll find that numbers are not just for adding and measuring but can be hugely entertaining and informative whether you're buying a diamond or choosing dinner from the menu.

What If?2 - Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions (Paperback): Randall Munroe What If?2 - Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions (Paperback)
Randall Munroe
R463 R382 Discovery Miles 3 820 Save R81 (17%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

WHAT 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.

Between Alpha and Omega - What Clergy and Science Professors Don't Want You to Understand (Hardcover): Miles Pelton Between Alpha and Omega - What Clergy and Science Professors Don't Want You to Understand (Hardcover)
Miles Pelton
R665 Discovery Miles 6 650 Ships in 12 - 17 working days
Nine Pints - A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood (Paperback): Rose George Nine Pints - A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood (Paperback)
Rose George 1
R350 R303 Discovery Miles 3 030 Save R47 (13%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Most humans contain between nine and twelve pints of blood. Here Rose George, who probably contains nine pints, tells nine different stories about the liquid that sustains us, discovering what it reveals about who we are. In Nepal, she meets girls challenging the taboos surrounding menstruation; in the Canadian prairies, she visits a controversial plasma clinic; in Wales she gets a tour of the UK's only leech farm to learn about the vital role the creatures still play in modern surgery; and in a London hospital she accompanies a medical team revolutionising the way we treat trauma. Nine Pints reveals the richness and wonder of the potent red fluid that courses around our bodies, unseen but miraculous.

Sentient - What Animals Reveal About Our Senses (Hardcover): Jackie Higgins Sentient - What Animals Reveal About Our Senses (Hardcover)
Jackie Higgins
R490 Discovery Miles 4 900 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

'Jackie Higgins's lyrical, literate style will charm you while her book stuns your imagination with strange, other-worldly truths' Richard Dawkins Sentient assembles a menagerie of zoological creatures - from land, air, sea and all four corners of the globe - to understand what it means to be human. Through their eyes, ears, skins, tongues and noses, the furred, finned and feathered reveal how we sense and make sense of the world, as well as the untold scientific revolution stirring in the field of human perception. The harlequin mantis shrimp can throw a punch that can fracture aquarium walls but, more importantly, it has the ability to see a vast range of colours. The ears of the great grey owl have such unparalleled range and sensitivity that they can hear twenty decibels lower than the human ear. The star-nosed mole barely fills a human hand, seldom ventures above ground and poses little threat unless you are an earthworm, but its miraculous nose allows it to catch those worms at astonishing speed - as little as one hundred and twenty milliseconds. Here, too, we meet the four-eyed spookfish and its dark vision; the vampire bat and its remarkable powers of touch; the bloodhound and its hundreds of millions of scent receptors, as well as the bar-tailed godwit, the common octopus, giant peacocks, cheetahs and golden orb-weaving spiders. Each of these extraordinary creatures illustrates the sensory powers that lie dormant within us. In this captivating book, Jackie Higgins explores this evolutionary heritage and, in doing so, enables us to subconsciously engage with the world in ways we never knew possible.

The Dual Nature of Life - Interplay of the Individual and the Genome (Hardcover, 2012 ed.): Gennadiy Zhegunov The Dual Nature of Life - Interplay of the Individual and the Genome (Hardcover, 2012 ed.)
Gennadiy Zhegunov
R1,501 Discovery Miles 15 010 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Life is a diverse and ubiquitous phenomenon on Earth, characterized by fundamental features distinguishing living bodies from nonliving material. Yet it is also so complex that it has long defied precise definition. This book from a seasoned biologist offers new insights into the nature of life by illuminating a fascinating architecture of dualities inherent in its existence and propagation. Life is connected with individual living beings, yet it is also a collective and inherently global phenomenon of the material world. It embodies a dual existence of cycles of phenotypic life, and their unseen driver - an uninterrupted march of genetic information whose collective immortality is guaranteed by individual mortality. Although evolution propagates and tunes species of organisms, the beings produced can be regarded merely as tools for the survival and cloning of genomes written in an unchanging code. What are the physical versus informational bases and driving forces of life, and how do they unite as an integrated system? What does time mean for individuals, life on the global scale, and the underlying information? This accessible examination of principles and evidence shows that a network of dualities lies at the heart of biological puzzles that have engaged the human mind for millennia.

The Proust Effect - The Senses as Doorways to Lost Memories (Hardcover): Cretien van Campen The Proust Effect - The Senses as Doorways to Lost Memories (Hardcover)
Cretien van Campen
R1,215 Discovery Miles 12 150 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The senses can be powerful triggers for memories of our past, eliciting a range of both positive and negative emotions. The smell or taste of a long forgotten sweet can stimulate a rich emotional response connected to our childhood, or a piece of music transport us back to our adolescence. Sense memories can be linked to all the senses - sound, vision, and even touch can also trigger intense and emotional memories of our past.
In The Proust Effect, we learn about why sense memories are special, how they work in the brain, how they can enrich our daily life, and even how they can help those suffering from problems involving memory. A sense memory can be evoked by a smell, a taste, a flavor, a touch, a sound, a melody, a color or a picture, or by some other involuntary sensory stimulus. Any of these can triggers a vivid, emotional reliving of a forgotten event in the past.
Exploring the senses in thought-provoking scientific experiments and artistic projects, this fascinating book offers new insights into memory - drawn from neuroscience, the arts, and professions such as education, elderly care, health care therapy and the culinary profession.

Imagine Math 2 - Between Culture and Mathematics (Hardcover, 2013 ed.): Michele Emmer Imagine Math 2 - Between Culture and Mathematics (Hardcover, 2013 ed.)
Michele Emmer
R1,730 Discovery Miles 17 300 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Imagine mathematics, imagine with the help of mathematics, imagine new worlds, new geometries, new forms. The new volume in the series "Imagine Math" is intended to contribute to grasping how much that is interesting and new is happening in the relationships between mathematics, imagination and culture. The present book begins with the connections between mathematics, numbers, poetry and music, with the latest opera by Italian composer Claudio Ambrosini. Literature and narrative also play an important role here. There is cinema too, with the "erotic" mathematics films by Edward Frenkel, and the new short "Arithmetique " by Munari and Rovazzani. The section on applications of mathematics features a study of ants, as well as the refined forms and surfaces generated by algorithms used in the performances by Adrien Mondot and Claire Bardainne. Last but not least, in honour of the hundredth anniversary of his birth, a mathematical, literary and theatrical homage to Alan Turing, one of the outstanding figures of the twentieth century.

Designing Beauty: The Art of Cellular Automata (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016): Andrew Adamatzky, Genaro J. Martinez Designing Beauty: The Art of Cellular Automata (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
Andrew Adamatzky, Genaro J. Martinez
R1,930 Discovery Miles 19 300 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This fascinating, colourful book offers in-depth insights and first-hand working experiences in the production of art works, using simple computational models with rich morphological behaviour, at the edge of mathematics, computer science, physics and biology. It organically combines ground breaking scientific discoveries in the theory of computation and complex systems with artistic representations of the research results. In this appealing book mathematicians, computer scientists, physicists, and engineers brought together marvelous and esoteric patterns generated by cellular automata, which are arrays of simple machines with complex behavior. Configurations produced by cellular automata uncover mechanics of dynamic patterns formation, their propagation and interaction in natural systems: heart pacemaker, bacterial membrane proteins, chemical rectors, water permeation in soil, compressed gas, cell division, population dynamics, reaction-diffusion media and self-organisation. The book inspires artists to take on cellular automata as a tool of creativity and it persuades scientists to convert their research results into the works of art. The book is lavishly illustrated with visually attractive examples, presented in a lively and easily accessible manner.

From Stars To Stalagmites: How Everything Connects (Hardcover): Paul S. Braterman From Stars To Stalagmites: How Everything Connects (Hardcover)
Paul S. Braterman
R1,396 Discovery Miles 13 960 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Feynman once selected, as the single most important statement in science, that everything is made of atoms. It follows that the properties of everything depend on how these atoms are joined together, giving rise to the vast field we know of today as chemistry. In this unique book specifically written to bridge the gap between chemistry and the layman, Braterman has put together a series of linked essays on chemistry related themes that are particularly engaging.The book begins with the age of the earth, and concludes with the life cycle of stars. In between, there are atoms old and new, the ozone hole mystery and how it was solved, synthetic fertilisers and explosives, reading the climate record, the extraction of metals, the wetness of water, and how the greenhouse effect on climate really works. A chapter in praise of uncertainty leads on to the "fuzziness" and sharing of electrons, and from there to molecular shape, grass-green and blood-red, the wetness of water, and molecular recognition as the basis of life.Organised in such a way as to illustrate and develop underlying principles and approaches, this book will appeal to anyone interested in chemistry, as well as its history and key personalities. Where many other titles have failed, this book succeeds brilliantly in capturing the spirit and essence of chemistry and delivering the science in easily digestible terms.

The Musical Human - A History of Life on Earth - A BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' (Paperback): Michael Spitzer The Musical Human - A History of Life on Earth - A BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' (Paperback)
Michael Spitzer
R353 Discovery Miles 3 530 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Full of delightful nuggets' Guardian online 'Entertaining, informative and philosphical ... An essential read' All About History 'Extraordinary range ... All the world and more is here' Evening Standard 165 million years ago saw the birth of rhythm. 66 million years ago came the first melody. 40 thousand years ago Homo sapiens created the first musical instrument. Today music fills our lives. How we have created, performed and listened to music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are. Yet it is an overlooked part of our origin story. The Musical Human takes us on an exhilarating journey across the ages - from Bach to BTS and back - to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the human species. With insights from a wealth of disciplines, world-leading musicologist Michael Spitzer renders a global history of music on the widest possible canvas, from global history to our everyday lives, from insects to apes, humans to artificial intelligence. 'Michael Spitzer has pulled off the impossible: a Guns, Germs and Steel for music' Daniel Levitin 'A thrilling exploration of what music has meant and means to humankind' Ian Bostridge

The Elusive Wow - Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Hardcover, New): Robert H Gray The Elusive Wow - Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Hardcover, New)
Robert H Gray
R660 Discovery Miles 6 600 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

"The Elusive Wow" tells the story of the Wow signal-one of the most intriguing radio signals ever seen by searches for broadcasts from the stars. Author Robert Gray reports on the original detection and tells of his searches for the signal, showing examples of what searchers see with interstellar radios. In addition to telling the tale of the elusive signal, Gray surveys the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, also known as SETI-explaining why many scientists think Others might exist on other worlds and how we might find them. Gray's scientific work has appeared in journals such as Astrophysical Journal and Icarus, and in magazines like Sky & Telescope.

God versus Particle Physics - A No-Score Draw (Paperback): John Davies God versus Particle Physics - A No-Score Draw (Paperback)
John Davies
R557 Discovery Miles 5 570 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book presents the conclusions of a psychologist seeking to make sense of contemporary particle physics as described in a number of popular science texts and media articles, written by physicists, seeking to explain the workings of the sub-atomic world. The accounts, it is argued, are mutually exclusive and contradictory, and metaphysical or magical in essence.

Much Ado about (Practically) Nothing - A History of the Noble Gases (Hardcover, New): David Fisher Much Ado about (Practically) Nothing - A History of the Noble Gases (Hardcover, New)
David Fisher
R1,231 Discovery Miles 12 310 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

There are eight columns in the Periodic Table. The eighth column is comprised of the rare gases, so-called because they are the rarest elements on earth. They are also called the inert or noble gases because, like nobility, they do no work. They are colorless, odorless, invisible gases which do not react with anything, and were thought to be unimportant until the early 1960s. Starting in that era, David Fisher has spent roughly fifty years doing research on these gases, publishing nearly a hundred papers in the scientific journals, applying them to problems in geophysics and cosmochemistry, and learning how other scientists have utilized them to change our ideas about the universe, the sun, and our own planet.
Much Ado about (Practically) Nothing will cover this spectrum of ideas, interspersed with the author's own work which will serve to introduce each gas and the important work others have done with them. The rare gases have participated in a wide range of scientific advances-even revolutions-but no book has ever recorded the entire story. Fisher will range from the intricacies of the atomic nucleus and the tiniest of elementary particles, the neutrino, to the energy source of the stars; from the age of the earth to its future energies; from life on Mars to cancer here on earth. A whole panoply that has never before been told as an entity.

Ask the Right Question - A Rational Approach to Design for All in Italy (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2019): Luigi Bandini Buti Ask the Right Question - A Rational Approach to Design for All in Italy (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2019)
Luigi Bandini Buti
R1,469 Discovery Miles 14 690 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This book offers a clear, yet comprehensive guide to how to structure a design project, focusing in particular on the key questions designers, architects, policy makers and health professionals should consider when working towards inclusion through design. The book is based on a series of lessons held by the author and his colleague Avril Accolla, whose aim was to train technicians at all levels to be capable of catering for the needs of the elderly. It clearly draws the outline of their "Ask the Right Question" approach, whose purpose is to help convey the notions in question appropriately to people with such widely different backgrounds, curricula, interests and cultures. Using a minimalist approach, based mainly on the discussion of eye-catching real-life examples placed in logical order and a crystal clear, engaging style, this book is a must-have for designers, technicians, customers and health practitioners, as well as social scientists and policy makers who deal with inclusive design at different levels and anyone interested in topics related to technological evolution and social integration.

Elementary - The Periodic Table Explained (Paperback): James M Russell Elementary - The Periodic Table Explained (Paperback)
James M Russell
R200 R160 Discovery Miles 1 600 Save R40 (20%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

Chemistry's most significant chart, the Periodic Table, and its 118 elements, is laid bare in this lively, accessible and compelling expose. The periodic table, created in the early 1860s by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, marked one of the most extraordinary advances in modern chemistry. This basic visual aid helped scientists to gain a deeper understanding of what chemical elements really were and the role they played in everyday life. Here, in the authoritative Elementary, James Russell uses his engaging narrative to explain the elements we now know about. From learning about the creation of the first three elements, hydrogen, lithium and helium, in the big bang, through to oxygen and carbon, which sustain life on earth - along with the many weird and wonderful uses of elements as varied as fluorine, arsenic, krypton and einsteinium - even the most unscientifically minded will be enthralled by this fascinating subject. This is the story of the building blocks of the universe, and the people who identified, isolated and even created them.

How Einstein Created Relativity out of Physics and Astronomy (Hardcover, 2013 ed.): David Topper How Einstein Created Relativity out of Physics and Astronomy (Hardcover, 2013 ed.)
David Topper
R3,347 Discovery Miles 33 470 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book tracks the history of the theory of relativity through Einstein's life, with in-depth studies of its background as built upon by ideas from earlier scientists. The focus points of Einstein's theory of relativity include its development throughout his life; the origins of his ideas and his indebtedness to the earlier works of Galileo, Newton, Faraday, Mach and others; the application of the theory to the birth of modern cosmology; and his quest for a unified field theory. Treading a fine line between the popular and technical (but not shying away from the occasional equation), this book explains the entire range of relativity and weaves an up-to-date biography of Einstein throughout. The result is an explanation of the world of relativity, based on an extensive journey into earlier physics and a simultaneous voyage into the mind of Einstein, written for the curious and intelligent reader.

Humble Pi - A Comedy of Maths Errors (Paperback): Matt Parker Humble Pi - A Comedy of Maths Errors (Paperback)
Matt Parker 1
R329 R268 Discovery Miles 2 680 Save R61 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

**The First Ever Maths Book to be a No.1 Bestseller** 'Wonderful ... superb' Daily Mail What makes a bridge wobble when it's not meant to? Billions of dollars mysteriously vanish into thin air? A building rock when its resonant frequency matches a gym class leaping to Snap's 1990 hit I've Got The Power? The answer is maths. Or, to be precise, what happens when maths goes wrong in the real world. As Matt Parker shows us, our modern lives are built on maths: computer programmes, finance, engineering. And most of the time this maths works quietly behind the scenes, until ... it doesn't. Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near-misses and mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman empire and a hapless Olympic shooting team, Matt Parker shows us the bizarre ways maths trips us up, and what this reveals about its essential place in our world. Mathematics doesn't have good 'people skills', but we would all be better off, he argues, if we saw it as a practical ally. This book shows how, by making maths our friend, we can learn from its pitfalls. It also contains puzzles, challenges, geometric socks, jokes about binary code and three deliberate mistakes. Getting it wrong has never been more fun.

Silica Stories (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2017): Christina De La Rocha, Daniel J. Conley Silica Stories (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2017)
Christina De La Rocha, Daniel J. Conley
R1,523 Discovery Miles 15 230 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Do you know silica, the tetrahedra of silicon and oxygen constituting the crystals of New Agers and the desiccant in a box of new shoes? It's no mere mundane mineral. As chemically reacting silicate rocks, silica set off the chain of events known as the origin of life. As biomineralized opal, it is the cell wall, skeleton, spicules, and scales of organisms ornamenting numerous lobes of the tree of life. Cryptocrystalline silica made into stone tools helped drive the evolution of our hands and our capability for complex grammar, music, and mathematics. As quartz crystals, silica is impressively electric and ubiquitous in modern technology (think sonar, radios, telephones, ultrasound, and cheap but precise watches). Silica is inescapable when we take a drink or mow the lawn and it has already started to save the Earth from the carbon dioxide we're spewing into the atmosphere. This book tells these scientific tales and more, to give dear, modest silica its due.

Getting Science Wrong - Why the Philosophy of Science Matters (Hardcover, HPOD): Paul Dicken Getting Science Wrong - Why the Philosophy of Science Matters (Hardcover, HPOD)
Paul Dicken
R2,332 Discovery Miles 23 320 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

When Galileo dropped cannon-balls from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, he did more than overturn centuries of scientific orthodoxy. At a stroke, he established a new conception of the scientific method based upon careful experimentation and rigorous observation - and also laid the groundwork for an ongoing conflict between the critical open-mindedness of science and the recalcitrant dogmatism of religion that would continue to the modern day. The problem is that Galileo never performed his most celebrated experiment in Pisa. In fact, he rarely conducted any experiments at all. The Church publicly celebrated his work, and Galileo enjoyed patronage from the great and the powerful; his ecclesiastical difficulties only began when disgruntled colleagues launched a campaign to discredit their academic rival. But what does this tell us about modern science if its own foundation myth turns out to be nothing more than political propaganda? Getting Science Wrong discusses some of the most popular misconceptions about science, and their continuing role in the public imagination. Drawing upon the history and philosophy of science it challenges wide-spread assumptions and misunderstandings, from creationism and climate change to the use of statistics and computer modelling. The result is an engaging introduction to contentious issues in the philosophy of science and a new way of looking at the role of science in society.

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