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Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues
An Observer, New Statesman, Financial Times, Irish Times and
Scotsman 2021 Non-Fiction Highlight 'Searing yet beautiful ... less
a hot take that an astute manifesto for what matters most in life,
as well as in medicine.' Rachel Clarke, author of Breathtaking:
Inside the NHS in a Time of Pandemic and Your Life in My Hands
'Well written, often entertaining and occasionally deeply moving;
an unmissable account of a year we will all try too hard to
forget.' The Times 'Inspiring. I can't recommend it too strongly.
You will learn a lot from it, and you will find much more that is
encouraging.' Allan Massie, Scotsman Intensive Care is about how
coronavirus emerged, spread across the world and changed all of our
lives forever. But it's not, perhaps, the story you expect. Gavin
Francis is a GP who works in both urban and rural communities,
splitting his time between Edinburgh and the islands of Orkney.
When the pandemic arrived in our society he saw how it affected
every walk of life: the anxious teenager, the isolated care home
resident, the struggling furloughed worker and homeless
ex-prisoner, all united by their vulnerability in the face of a
global disaster. And he saw how the true cost of the virus was
measured not just in infections, or deaths, or ITU beds, but in the
consequences of the measures taken against it. In this deeply
personal account of nine months spent caring for a society in
crisis, Francis will take you from rural village streets to local
clinics and communal city stairways. And in telling this story, he
reveals others: of loneliness and hope, illness and recovery, and
of what we can achieve when we care for each other.
Eco displays in these essays the same wit, learning, and lively
intelligence that delighted readers of The Name of the Rose and
Foucault's Pendulum. His range is wide, and his insights are acute,
frequently ironic, and often downright funny. Translated by William
Weaver. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book
Resources designed to support learners of the new next generation
BTEC First in Applied Science: Principles of Applied Science
specification*. This Revision Guide has been specifically written
for externally assessed Unit 1: Principles of science in Award 1 of
the Level 2 BTEC Firsts in Applied Science. The guide is organised
by the assessment structure of the qualification and gives students
guidance on the external assessment. Key point summaries of what
candidates should know are included to reinforce teaching.
Information is presented in a straightforward, user-friendly way.
Worked examples, exam questions, revision practice questions and
'test yourself' diagnostic questions prepare students for the exams
ahead. In addition, the Revision Guide provides students with all
the answers to all the questions in the book. * From 2012,
Pearson's BTEC First qualifications have been under re-development,
so schools and colleges could be teaching the existing 2010
specification or the new next generation 2012-2013 specification.
There are different Student Books to support each specification. If
learners are unsure, they should check with their teacher or tutor.
This book comprehensively reviews the factors that facilitate
access and success of Black students in STEM majors in higher
education, and it shares compelling testimonies from Black STEM
professionals that will help inspire the next generation of Black
scientists and engineers. Most experts agree that America's success
depends on having a workforce that is highly prepared in STEM
areas. Unfortunately, students of color continue to be
underrepresented in higher education, and specifically, in
completing degrees and entering careers within the STEM fields.
This book supports African American students (as well as all
students) who are interested in STEM careers, providing information
on the top colleges with STEM-related programs, particularly those
that best support racially diverse students; practical advice for
preparing for entrance into STEM programs; and inspirational
stories of successful African Americans in STEM-related careers.
Authored by three educators expert in the areas of academic
development of African Americans and minorities, STEM, and higher
education, The African American Student's Guide to STEM Careers
focuses on preparing Black students for STEM from K-12 through
graduate school. Readers will more fully appreciate the importance
of STEM, recognize why more Black students need to be more actively
engaged in these disciplines, and understand how to prepare Black
students for success in STEM throughout the educational pipeline.
Addresses how African American students can plan and prepare for a
career in STEM, choose a college and STEM program, pay for college,
choose their major, continue to graduate school, and choose a
career in STEM Discusses the importance of Black students being
more engaged in STEM and identifies ways to prepare them for
success in the STEM fields from K-12 to graduate school Highlights
ways educators can formulate actionable plans to help increase the
success of Black students in STEM Presents personal testimonies
from professionals in STEM that will inspire the next generation of
Black scientists and engineers
Stampede Theory: Human Nature, Technology, and Runaway Social
Realities explores the biological, evolutionary, and technological
systems that drive troubling patterns of behavior among groups and
proposes actions to help combat their potential to do harm. It
discusses the different ways that living beings coordinate, and how
the emergence of communication technologies has changed that for
people. As the problem of echo chambers and misinformation grows,
it is crucial to understand the underlying causes and provide
solutions-this book does just that. Stampede Theory pulls from
multiple fields to produce a coherent story about how social
realities are created and how they can create resilient communities
or reinforce damaging beliefs. This interdisciplinary approach
rests on three primary pillars: 1) How information systems affect
the distribution of ideas, information, influence and belief; 2.
Technology-mediated communication between individuals and groups,
from stories pressed into clay tablets to "likes" on social media;
3) The sociology of behavioral bias in groups ranging from teams to
nations. Because of its interdisciplinary foundations, the book
includes chapters that address behavioral economics, cults,
artificial intelligence, and the individual psychology of belief.
These chapters offer perspective on how belief systems form, how
they affect behavior, and how they are influenced by
technology-mediated communication. Most importantly, this book
explains how to design interventions that will improve the quality
of our collective information and indirectly, our behavior, using
clear, measurable criteria that indicate dangerous misinformation
based on the way that humans and software agents are interacting
with it. Stampede Theory is a valuable resource for a range of
readers, from political and social scientists to decision makers in
government and business, scientists in the fields of machine
learning and AI, and media professionals, who are working to make
sense of the world in a time of vast amounts of misinformation and
polarization.
Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the
universe infinite or does it have boundaries? These are just some
of the questions considered in the internationally acclaimed
masterpiece by the world renowned physicist - generally considered
to have been one of the world's greatest thinkers. It begins by
reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein,
before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of
space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral
galaxies and strong theory. To this day A Brief History of Time
remains a staple of the scientific canon, and its succinct and
clear language continues to introduce millions to the universe and
its wonders. This new edition includes recent updates from Stephen
Hawking with his latest thoughts about the No Boundary Proposal and
offers new information about dark energy, the information paradox,
eternal inflation, the microwave background radiation observations,
and the discovery of gravitational waves. It was published in
tandem with the app, Stephen Hawking's Pocket Universe.
Science is the world's new religion" but what happens when it goes
terribly wrong? An innocent young black man is convicted of rape
and sent to prison for 25 years on the basis of 'infallible' DNA
evidence - which turns out to be completely bogus. A long-distance
runner's Parkinson's Disease is treated with revolutionary
neuroscience techniques, which leave a foetus growing in his brain.
A study into why children stutter ends up ruining their lives when
scientists deliberately introduce speech impediments, and, to their
horror, find they are permanent. British neuroscientist Simon LeVay
explains how elementary mistakes, miscaculations and simple bad
science sometimes lead to death (when anthrax spores escape from a
lab, or a nuclear plant explodes) and other times to expensive
farce (when a tiny data error sends a space probe hurtling to
oblivion, or when an 'impossible' hurricane wreaks havoc across the
UK). Baboons on ecstasy, death-by-volcano and the failure of gene
therapy to perform as advertised also feature in this authoritative
and entertaining study of the limitations of science.
With this follow-up to the award-winning Notable Notebooks, you can
help kids discover what data—and scientists—can do! Exemplary
Evidence highlights how a diverse range of scientists, including
Marie Tharp and Russell Stands-Over-Bull, have used measurements,
mapping, and even sketches to make all kinds of breakthroughs.
Liquid Chromatography: Applications, Third Edition delivers a
single source of authoritative information on all aspects of the
practice of modern liquid chromatography. The text gives those
working in academia and industry the opportunity to learn, refresh,
and deepen their understanding of the field by covering basic and
advanced theoretical concepts, recognition mechanisms, conventional
and advanced instrumentation, method development, data analysis,
and more. This third edition addresses new developments in the
field with updated chapters from expert researchers. The book is a
valuable reference for research scientists, teachers, university
students, industry professionals in research and development, and
quality control managers.
Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence
Analysis, Fifth Edition, maintains the same core foundation that
made previous editions best sellers in the professional and
academic community worldwide. Written for practicing behavioral
analysts and aspiring students alike, this work emphasizes an
honest understanding of crime and criminals. Newly updated,
mechanisms for the examination and classification of both victim
and offender behavior have been improved. In addition to refined
approaches toward international perspectives, chapters on
psychological autopsies, scene investigation reconstruction, court
issues and racial profiling have also been added.
Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Agroecosystems presents the
latest research on the role of nanotechnology in agriculture and
agroecosystems, offering innovations and many potential benefits in
terms of plant growth, food production, crop protection and
ecosystem management. Sections introduce new perspectives on the
use of nanotechnology in agroecosystems and sustainable
agriculture. Subsequent chapters focus on specific areas of
innovation, covering a wide range of applications, including plant
disease and protection, food processing and packaging, soil
quality, precision farming, and groundwater treatment. This is a
valuable resource for researchers and advanced students across a
range of disciplines, but it is also ideal for industrial
scientists, engineers and R&D professionals with an interest in
nanotechnology and sustainable technologies for agriculture and
agro-industries.
Beryl in its many color varieties is a favorite of both mineral
collectors and gemologists. Superb examples are found at many
locales worldwide, mainly in pegmatites and schists. Other members
of the group are prized by species collectors and micromount
enthusiasts. This book explains how beryl is formed and the unique
conditions that create fine aquamarines and emeralds. After a brief
introduction, the general treatment begins with an explanation of
the chemistry and taxonomy of the group. A section on their
formation and geochemistry explains the kinds of environments where
beryls are formed. Detailed entries for each mineral provide
locality information and full-color photos so that collectors can
see what good specimens look like and which minerals one might
expect to find in association with them. An extensive bibliography
is provided for further study. Over 100 photographs of these
beautiful minerals show each species in its geological context.
How to be Brilliant at Science Investigations contains 42
photocopiable sheets for use with 7-11 year olds. The activities
are closely linked to the National Curriculum and will help
children to develop the skills needed to plan and carry out
investigations and to draw conclusions from the results. Brilliant
Publications publishes a range of books for 0-15 year olds. Details
of our titles can be found on our website
www.brilliantpublications.co.uk
How the Chicago International Livestock Exposition leveraged the
eugenics movement to transform animals into machines and
industrialize American agriculture. In 1900, the Chicago
International Livestock Exposition became the epicenter of
agricultural reform that focused on reinventing animals' bodies to
fit a modern, industrial design. Chicago meatpackers partnered with
land-grant university professors to create the International--a
spectacle on the scale of a world's fair--with the intention of
setting the standard for animal quality and, in doing so,
transformed American agriculture. In Making Machines of Animals,
Neal A. Knapp explains the motivations of both the meatpackers and
the professors, describing how they deployed the International to
redefine animality itself. Both professors and packers hoped to
replace so-called scrub livestock with "improved" animals and
created a new taxonomy of animal quality based on the burgeoning
eugenics movement. The International created novel definitions of
animal superiority and codified new norms, resulting in a dramatic
shift in animal weight, body size, and market age. These changes
transformed the animals from multipurpose to single-purpose
products. These standardized animals and their dependence on
off-the-farm inputs and exchanges limited farmers' choices
regarding husbandry and marketing, ultimately undermining any goals
for balanced farming or the maintenance and regeneration of soil
fertility. Drawing on land-grant university research and
publications, meatpacker records and propaganda, and newspaper and
agricultural journal articles, Knapp critiques the supposed
market-oriented, efficiency-driven industrial reforms proffered by
the International, which were underpinned by irrational, racist
ideologies. The livestock reform movement not only resulted in
cruel and violent outcomes for animals but also led to
twentieth-century crops and animal husbandry that were rife with
inefficiencies and agricultural vulnerabilities.
Artificial intelligence is smarter than humans. It can process information at lightning speed and remain focused on specific tasks without distraction. AI can see into the future, predict outcomes and even use sensors to see around physical and virtual corners. So why does AI frequently get it so wrong and cause harm?
The answer is us: the human beings who write the code and teach AI to mimic our behaviour. Scary Smart explains how to fix the current trajectory now, to make sure that the AI of the future can preserve our species. This book offers a blueprint, pointing the way to what we can do to safeguard ourselves, those we love and the planet itself.
Evolutionary theory is all the rage, but how accurate is the
information we are being fed? Jim Alexander casts a critical eye
over the new popular concensus, addressing important issues in one
of the key debates in modern society.
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