Science and the City - The Mechanics Behind the Metropolis (Paperback)

Cities are a big deal. More people now live in them than don't, and with a growing world population, the urban jungle is only going to get busier in the coming decades. But how often do we stop to think about what makes our cities work? Cities are built using some of the most creative and revolutionary science and engineering ideas - from steel structures that scrape the sky to glass cables that help us communicate at the speed of light - but most of us are too busy to notice. Science and the City is your guidebook to that hidden world, helping you to uncover some of the remarkable technologies that keep the world's great metropolises moving. Laurie Winkless takes us around cities in six continents to find out how they're dealing with the challenges of feeding, housing, powering and connecting more people than ever before. In this book, you'll meet urban pioneers from history, along with today's experts in everything from roads to time, and you will uncover the vital role science has played in shaping the city around you. But more than that, by exploring cutting-edge research from labs across the world, you'll build your own vision of the megacity of tomorrow, based on science fact rather than science fiction. Science and the City is the perfect read for anyone curious about the world they live in.

General

Imprint:	Bloomsbury SIGMA
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	August 2017
Authors:	Laurie Winkless
Dimensions:	198 x 129 x 23mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Hardback (stationery)
Pages:	298
ISBN-13:	978-1-4729-1323-4
Categories:	Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > Impact of science & technology on society Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > Popular science Books > Professional & Technical > Technology: general issues > General
LSN:	1-4729-1323-X
Barcode:	9781472913234

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My review

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 | Review by: Tanya K.

Science and the City is a rather superficial, but interesting look at how cities function. Topics covered include the physics and materials required for building skyscrapers; the generation and transmission of electricity; water purification and transport; sewage systems; roads; bridges; trains and train tracks; cars; and the various means that humans connect to each other (internet, satellites, food distribution, finances, time). A rather useful aspect of the book was the division of each chapter into a "today" section and a "tomorrow" section. The "today" section covering how cities function currently, and the "tomorrow" section covering new research and future technologies. So there are a fair amount of interesting future "goodies" to look up and research further. The author's enthusiasm and bubbliness make this book an entertaining and informative reading experience provided you aren't expecting too many technical details and don't mind an informal writing style. Thankfully there is no running fashion commentary or excessive interviews!

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