Galaxies are among nature's most aweinspiring and beautifully formed objects. In this highly informative and lucidly written book, Paul Hodge seeks to demystify galaxies and to examine closely our present-day knowledge of these magnificent star systems.

Hodge brings a historical perspective to his discussion of galactic research. He presents a summary of the revolutionary discoveries of the last decade, and he shows how they have contributed to our understanding of the nature and composition of the universe. Whereas previously perhaps a dozen astronomers devoted themselves to galaxy research, using two or three large telescopes, now hundreds of scientists are penetrating the mystery of the galactic world. This intensified research has yielded ground-breaking results: we are beginning to understand the enigmatic properties of the highly luminous yet relatively small quasars; we have a clearer understanding of the processes that generate spiral arms; we have a good idea of how different types of galaxies evolve; and we continue to grapple with the problem of the missing mass that is greater than anything detectable in the visible part of the galaxies.

, This book succeeds in making the immense and remote universe of galaxies much more accessible to our imagination. It also conveys the excitement and wonder of this rapidly changing area of scientific inquiry. Enriched by numerous illustrations and written in an engaging style, "Galaxies" offers a nontechnical yet intelligent approach to the concepts and results of modern galactic research.

This Atlas provides a complete set of images of Local Group Galaxies (excluding the three for which identification atlases are already in print) and shows the most important objects, including many thousands of individual stars and interstellar objects.

It is unique in its coverage and format and provides a source of these fundamental data that will be used for many years. Researchers, students and even amateur astronomers will be able to use the Atlas to identify and study the various components of the nearly 30 important galaxies covered by the Atlas.

The objects identified on the more than 200 charts include variable stars, globular star clusters, open star clusters, stellar associations, emission regions, supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and dust clouds. Each galaxy is accompanied by an extensive bibliography.

This Atlas provides a complete set of images of Local Group Galaxies (excluding the three for which identification atlases are already in print) and shows the most important objects, including many thousands of individual stars and interstellar objects.

It is unique in its coverage and format and provides a source of these fundamental data that will be used for many years. Researchers, students and even amateur astronomers will be able to use the Atlas to identify and study the various components of the nearly 30 important galaxies covered by the Atlas.

The objects identified on the more than 200 charts include variable stars, globular star clusters, open star clusters, stellar associations, emission regions, supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and dust clouds. Each galaxy is accompanied by an extensive bibliography.

This book is based on the evidence from research undertaken by the authors over a number of years. The significance of these findings to the treatment and prevention of low back pain are now widely acknowledged, not only among researchers but also, and perhaps more importantly, among practitioners concerned with the management and prevention of back pain. In this new edition they have taken the opportunity to extend the scope of the book to accommodate the most recent evidence, which has emerged since the first edition was published in 1999. This is an important book in that it not only presents the evidence but also gives practical guidance on how the findings may be applied in everyday practice. This new edition will continue to provide an indispensable practical reference source for all those working in the field of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. * Written by 3 of the foremost researchers in the field, the material features a high level of credibility and respect, unlikely to be found in any other reference on musculoskeletal dysfunction. * Coverage offers the most up-to-date information available, as it is based on the very latest research from the key workers in the field around the world * Practical examples demonstrate the clinical relevance of the research to the student and busy practitioner * The text presents a new, problem-solving approach to back pain assessment and management, based on the latest understanding of the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics involved. * Extensive illustrations, line diagrams, and photographs complement the text with visual aides. * Many new illustrations help the reader to understand key points. * The text includes new, detailed information on Panjabi's model, the passive system, the neural system, the muscle system, and the dysfunctions in each system and their interrelationships. * Refocused material provides the reader with knowledge necessary to real-life practice by placing new emphasis on the principles relating to injury prevention and its importance for reducing health costs. * Expanded coverage of issues of the neural spine and ergonomics help the reader come to a thorough understanding of this important topic. * Information on acute and early intervention now provides comprehensive coverage. * The inclusion of issues relating to the management of chronic pain conditions helps to present the latest important issues in the field. * The integration between the local and global muscle systems explains the importance and relationship of these two topics. * New therapeutic exercises and other treatment programs keep the reader up-to-date.

For the first time, international scientific and clinical leaders have collaborated to present this exclusive book which integrates state-of-the art engineering concepts of spine control into clinically relevant approaches for the rehabilitation of low back pain. Spinal Control identifies the scope of the problem around motor control of the spine and pelvis while defining key terminology and methods as well as placing experimental findings into context. Spinal Control also includes contributions that put forward different sides of critical arguments (e.g. whether or not to focus on training the deep muscles of the trunk) and then bring these arguments together to help both scientists and clinicians better understand the convergences and divergences within this field. On the one hand, this book seeks to resolve many of the issues that are debated in existing literature, while on the other, its contributing opinion leaders present current best practice on how to study the questions facing the field of spine control, and then go on to outline the key directions for future research. Spinal Control - the only expert resource which provides a trusted, consensus approach to low back pain rehabilitation for both clinicians and scientists alike! Covers the most important issues in spine control research Illustrates the clinical relevance of research and how this is or can be applied in clinical practice Edited and written by world leading experts, contributing first class content on different aspects of spine control Chapters that bring together the expertise of these world leaders on topics such as neuromotor mechanisms of spine control, proprioception, subgrouping in back pain and modelling spine stability An extensive and illustrated clinical consensus chapter that brings together the philosophies of clinical opinion leaders for the first time

Orienting us with an insider's tour of our cosmic home, the Milky Way, William Waller and Paul Hodge then take us on a spectacular journey, inviting us to probe the exquisite structures and dynamics of the giant spiral and elliptical galaxies, to witness colliding and erupting galaxies, and to pay our respects to the most powerful galaxies of all-the quasars. A basic guide to the latest news from the cosmic frontier-about the black holes in the centers of galaxies, about the way in which some galaxies cannibalize each other, about the vast distances between galaxies, and about the remarkable new evidence regarding dark energy and the cosmic expansion-this book gives us a firm foundation for exploring the more speculative fringes of our current understanding. This is a heavily revised and completely updated version of Hodge's Galaxies, which won an Association of American Publishers PROSE Award for Best Science Book of the Year in 1986.

Additional Contributor Is Fred L. Whipple.