A book on the world's biggest disasters - natural ones, epidemic plagues and diseases, man-made disasters, and accidents

A pair of eminent Russian theoretical physicists offer a captivating view of the paradoxes inherent to the special theory of relativity. Written in a straightforward fashion, the text uses familiar objects (e.g., trains, rulers, and clocks) to illuminate

Following the success of The Big Book of Bugs, here is an interactive book that brings the world of bugs to a child's fingertips. The activities in the book invite children to draw, color, decorate, and place bugs in their natural habitats, encouraging children to engage with the information as they play. Children are first introduced to Freddy the Fly (who many will remember from The Big Book of Bugs) who buzzes with readers through the book, explaining each activity. The book includes stickers and activities relating to over fifteen different bugs and at its center features eight pages packed with more than 500 reusable stickers printed on clear backing, so the insects blend seamlessly into their surroundings. Yuval Zommer's illustrations are rich and artistic, inspiring creative thinking while introducing children to the natural world.

Is tuning an art? Throughout this book we'll show you 40 personalised masterpieces. It will include French, Italian, German, Asian and American cars showing amazing images and technical sheets.

John Deere tractors are the most popular tractors and hold a prominent place in agriculture’s history and present. The Little Book of John Deere book pays tribute to this famous manufacturer by combining fabulous four-color photographs, historical b

The Volkswagen Bus in not just a vehicle - it's a movement. This lighthearted look at the Transporter's long and colorful life includes 50 years of history and an abundance of full color photographs. Trace this legendary and easily recognizable vehicle's

Documents the development, design, construction, delivery, and flight of the most important jetliner in a generation -- all color photography, much of it air-to-air.

Best-selling author Randy Leffingwell has done it again with this extraordinary, full-color history that brings the story of the great John Deere farm tractors to life. Detailed coverage from the first Waterloo Boys through the development of the Poppin J

First published in 1949, as the second edition of a 1942 original, this book presents a concise discussion of Goethe's relationship with science and nature. It was formed from the content of the Philip Maurice Deneke Lecture for 1942, which was delivered by Sir Charles Sherrington at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Notes are incorporated at the end of the text. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Goethe and the history of science.

Witness the revival of the immortal Mini Cooper ! This miracle of compact packaging and innovative engineering design has been updated as a modern car with hip new styling and a legitimate pedigree. Explore the development of the Mini Cooper and learn how

Originally published in 1947, this book presents a concise account of the role of John Couch Adams (1819–92) in the discovery of Neptune. Excerpts from Adams' letters are incorporated throughout the text. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in astronomy and the history of science.

This book goes to the heart of the unfolding reality of the twenty-first century: international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have all failed and before the end of the century Earth is projected to be warmer than it has been for 15 million years. The question, "can the crisis be avoided?" has been superseded by a more frightening one, "what can be done to prevent the devastation of the living world?". And the disturbing answer, now under wide discussion both within and outside the scientific community, is to seize control of the very climate of the Earth itself. Clive Hamilton begins by exploring the range of technologies now being developed in the field of geoengineering – the intentional, enduring, large-scale manipulation of Earth's climate system. He lays out the arguments for and against climate engineering, and reveals the extent of vested interests linking researchers, venture capitalists, and corporations. He then examines what it means for human beings to be making plans to control the planet's atmosphere, probes the uneasiness we feel with the notion of exercising technological mastery over nature, and challenges the ways we think about ourselves and our place in the natural world.

Since emerging in the late 1960s, BMX has diversified into four disciplines: vert (ramp riding and dirt jumps), street, freestyle (flatland), and, of course, the sport that started it all and gave the bikes their name-bicycle motocross, or racing.BMX Trix

When youre "out in the field" scouting for John Deere tractors, dont forget to take along this first-ever full-color pocket guidebook to these popular tractors! This convenient, easy-to-use guide puts a wealth of information right into your hands! Youll f

This brightly illustrated, easy-to-use field guide puts a wealth of knowledge about Ford tractors at your fingertips. With brief histories, model runs, specification details, and much more, the entries identify a full range of tractors from Fordson in pre

Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book shows you what to do next. In this hands-on, easy-to-use guidebook, longtime chicken breeder and poultry expert Christine Heinrichs tells you everything you need to know to raise chickens in

The story of the chicken traces the interactions of cultures around the globe. From Southeast Asia 8,000 years ago, chickens spread to ancient China and Japan, the Middle East, Europe during the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and, from there, the worl

Since its introduction in 1955, the Chevrolet small-block V-8 has been one of America's most popular, powerful, and desirable engines. Small-blocks have powered everything from Corvettes and hot rods to family sedans, stock cars, drag racers, Trans-Am car

In this beautifully illustrated history of Fords tractors, author and photographer Randy Leffingwell celebrates the Ford family of tractors from their development to modern day. Research and photography, courtesy of the Henry Ford Museum Archives, brings

This book gets to the heart of science by asking a fundamental question about its essence: what is the true nature of space and time? Both defy modern physics and scientists find themselves continually searching for answers. This unique volume brings together world leaders in cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity, mathematics, philosophy and theology, to provide fresh insights into the deep structure of space and time. In an attempt to understand the question, subjects ranging from dark matter to the philosophical and theological implications of spacetime are covered, ensuring that the issue is thoroughly explored. Interesting and thought-provoking answers provide a well-rounded read.

Television: Technology and Cultural Form was first published in 1974, long before the dawn of multi-channel TV, or the reality and celebrity shows that now pack the schedules. Yet Williams' analysis of television's history, its institutions, programmes and practices, and its future prospects, remains remarkably prescient. Williams stresses the importance of technology in shaping the cultural form of television, while always resisting the determinism of McLuhan's dictum that 'the medium is the message'. If the medium really is the message, Williams asks, what is left for us to do or say? Williams argues that, on the contrary, we as viewers have the power to disturb, disrupt and to distract the otherwise cold logic of history and technology - not just because television is part of the fabric of our daily lives, but because new technologies continue to offer opportunities, momentarily outside the sway of transnational corporations or the grasp of media moguls, for new forms of self and political expression.

This text introduces Maple, showing how a computer algebra system most naturally fits into a mathematically oriented work environment.

Bluetooth, HDTV, SEMs, PSP and Wii, your child's world is full of cool gadgets and clever technology - want them to know how it all works? Watch them open up the cool lenticular cover of this paperback edition to reveal what's inside their games console,

Dacă există un producător al cărui nume este asociat cu luxul pe mare, atunci este Grupul Riva. Iahturile lor celebre în întreaga lume se găsesc în porturile cele mai exclusiviste, iar combinația de modele clasice cu cele mai moderne materiale îndeplinește cele mai înalte cerințe. Această carte prezintă povestea companiei, prezintă originile modelelor Riva și oferă cititorului o idee despre cum ar putea să arate o călătorie cu aceste iahturi fantastice.

Konrad Lorenz was the author of some of the most popular books ever published about animals, including the best-selling Man Meets Dog and King Solomon's Ring. On Aggression is one of his finest works, as well as the most controversial. Through an insightful and characteristically entertaining survey of animal behaviour, the Nobel Prize winner tracks the evolution of aggression throughout the animal world. He also raises some startling questions when he applies his observations of animal psychology to humankind. His conclusions caused an unprecedented controversy, culminating in a statement adopted by UNESCO in 1989 which appeared to condemn his work. Whether or not Lorenz actually claimed aggression is hard-wired into the human psyche, and that war is an inevitable result, is something readers can decide upon for themselves. However you react, there can be no doubting that in today's violent world this powerful work remains of paramount importance.

The only comprehensive field guide to the Chesapeake's fishes, this book is an indispensable resource for both anglers and students of the Bay. Vivid illustrations by Val Kells complement the expertise of researchers Edward O. Murdy and John A. Musick. They describe fishes that inhabit waters ranging from low-salinity estuaries to the point where the Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Key features of this field guide include - full-color illustrations of more than 200 species - text that is presented adjacent to illustrations for easy reference - detailed descriptions of physical characteristics, range, occurrence in the Bay, reproduction, diet, and statistics from fisheries research - spot illustrations that highlight critical features of certain fish - illustrations of juveniles when they look different from adults - appendices that include identification keys Formatted as a compact field guide for students, scientists, researchers, and fishers, "Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay" should be a standard passenger on any boat that plies the Chesapeake's waters.

A recent rise in the popularity of urban farming, farmers' markets, and foraging from nature means more people are looking for information about plants. In "The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants", botanists Lytton John Musselman and Harold J. Wiggins coach you on how to safely identify, gather, and prepare delicious dishes from readily available plants – and clearly indicate which ones to avoid. More than 200 color illustrations, accompanied by detailed descriptions, will help you recognize edible plants such as nettles, daylilies, panic grass, and tearthumbs. For decades, Musselman and Wiggins have taught courses on how to prepare local plants, and their field-to-table recipes require only a few easily found ingredients. They offer instructions for making garlic powder out of field garlic and turning acorns into flour for Rappahannock Acorn Cakes. To toast your new skill, they even include recipes for cordials. "The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants" is a great gift for the beginning naturalist or the perfect addition to every serious forager's library.

Herbs are all about living well, from enriching a meal to treating an illness. Sacred, almost mystical qualities have often been associated with their long history of curative and ritualistic practices. Today, as a wider variety becomes more accessible, and their properties receive more attention, we can benefit from a fuller understanding of the power of herbs.

Herbarium explores the histories, associations, and uses of 100 herbs, as well as providing ideas for how each herb can be used to improve both food and well-being. Each entry features a specially commissioned illustration with texts that include the botanical name, place of origin, varieties, and areas where the herb is most commonly grown. The essence of each herb is explored in a brief history peppered with interesting anecdotes, complemented by suggestions of classic combinations and helpful tips for gardeners. A reference section includes advice on how to grow and keep herbs, herb-food pairings, and using herbs for health and beauty treatments.

A contemporary reboot of the traditional herbarium, this book will expand readers knowledge, improve culinary skills, and enhance their appreciation of the incredible world of tastes offered by herbs.

The dedicated aviator's quest for the perfect flight is the subject of this book, which aims to make every pilot more aware of the challenges of flying well. The author shares the details of his continuing quest to learn as much about flying as possible,

Your adventure starts here! Experience the Earth's awesome power in Volcano. Come on an incredible visual journey, from the molten core through a magma chamber to fiery rivers of lava. Witness a violent eruption as fantastic digital images show you a volc

Harry Collins and Trevor Pinch liken science to the Golem, a creature from Jewish mythology, powerful yet potentially dangerous, a gentle, helpful creature that may yet run amok at any moment. Through a series of intriguing case studies the authors debunk the traditional view that science is the straightforward result of competent theorisation, observation and experimentation. The very well-received first edition generated much debate, reflected in a substantial new Afterword in this second edition, which seeks to place the book in what have become known as 'the science wars'.

In this book, Cherry Lewis skilfully blends the history of gauging the age of the earth with a biography of Arthur Holmes, a British geologist who was a pioneer of geochronology. When it was deeply unfashionable to do so in the early twentieth century, he spent many years trying to prove the great antiquity of the earth, stating that it was 'perhaps a little indelicate to ask of our Mother Earth her age, but Science acknowledges no shame'. Both fascinating and touching, this book appeals to a broad readership of both geologists and science enthusiasts.

Since his first appearance over sixty years ago, Mr Tompkins has become known and loved by many thousands of readers as the bank clerk whose fantastic dreams and adventures lead him into a world inside the atom. George Gamow's classic provides a delightful explanation of the central concepts in modern physics, from atomic structure to relativity, and quantum theory to fusion and fission. Roger Penrose's foreword introduces Mr Tompkins to a new generation of readers, and reviews his adventures in light of recent developments in physics.

In this book, Waldemar Heckel traces the rise and eventual fall of one of the most successful military commanders in history. In 325 BCE, Alexander and his conquering army prepared to return home, after overcoming everything in their path: armies, terrain, climate, all invariably hostile. Little did they know that within two years their beloved king would be dead and their labours seemingly wasted. Tracing the rise and eventual fall of one of the most successful military commanders in history, Heckel engagingly and with great detail shows us how Alexander earned his appellation, The Great.

Over the past 50 years Hot Rod magazine has been at the forefront of the performance movement by featuring photographs and articles of dragsters, roadsters, slingshots, buggies, kemps, coupes, and their drivers. Now you can take this nostalgic look back t

Make your own detailed human skeleton model with this step-by-step kit Learn all about what makes up the human body with this fact-packed book all about bones, joints and muscles. With everything you need to make a skeleton model inside Make Your Own Skeleton helps you put together all the different parts of the human anatomy to make a 65-cm tall human skeleton model! With 67 sturdy photographic "bones" easily slotting together, plus clear step-by-step photographs, you'll learn all about the different parts of the body as you easily build your model skeleton. Find out all about bone shapes and sizes, how they grow and repair and see how muscles are responsible for doing every day activities like walking or throwing. Learn all about ligaments and tendons and see how everything works together to keep you moving! With this 3D human skeleton model you'll learn everything you need to know about human anatomy.

For over 150 years, John Deere & Company has set the bar for tractor design and ingenuity. Not only is it one of the most successful companies in American history, John Deere has revolutionized agriculture throughout the world and its green and gold logo

Anyone looking to buy a piece of compact power equipment is faced with a bewildering array of choices—more than 80 brands of compact tractors offered in North America, not to mention the profusion of models within those brands. Written by an unbiase

Why do living things and physical phenomena take the form they do? D'Arcy Thompson's classic On Growth and Form looks at the way things grow and the shapes they take. Analysing biological processes in their mathematical and physical aspects, this historic work, first published in 1917, has also become renowned for the sheer poetry of its descriptions. A great scientist sensitive to the fascinations and beauty of the natural world tells of jumping fleas and slipper limpets; of buds and seeds; of bees' cells and rain drops; of the potter's thumb and the spider's web; of a film of soap and a bubble of oil; of a splash of a pebble in a pond.

As global demand for energy grows and prices rise, a city's energy consumption becomes increasingly tied to its economic viability, warns the author of "The Very Hungry City". Austin Troy, a seasoned expert in urban environmental management, explains for general readers how a city with a high "urban energy metabolism" – that is, a city that needs large amounts of energy in order to function – will be at a competitive disadvantage in the future. He explores why cities have different energy metabolisms and discusses an array of innovative approaches to the problems of expensive energy consumption. Troy looks at dozens of cities and suburbs in Europe and the United States – from Los Angeles to Copenhagen, Denver to the Swedish urban redevelopment project Hammarby Sjostad – to understand the diverse factors that affect their energy use: behaviour, climate, water supply, building quality, transportation, and others. He then assesses some of the most imaginative solutions that cities have proposed, among them green building, energy-efficient neighbourhoods, symbiotic infrastructure, congestion pricing, transit-oriented development, and water conservation. To conclude, the author addresses planning and policy approaches that can bring about change and transform the best ideas into real solutions.

Bees are a marvel of nature and vital to human existence. The Bee Book is a great introduction to bees and beekeeping and celebrates the wonder of bees in nature, in our gardens and in the hive.

A honey bee visits up to 1,000 flowers a day yet produces only 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. The Bee Book offers startling insights into the lives of bees and shows how we can best support and benefit from their presence in our gardens and hives. Marvel at the industry and intelligence of bees, the turbulent life of a queen and the remarkable properties of honey. This book includes recipes for simple home remedies and beauty treatments using honey, wax and propolis, such as a honey and clay facial mask, or a sunburn lotion.

Follow our step-by-step guides to create bee-friendly spaces such as bee 'hotels', read about beekeeping, harness the power of honey for your wellbeing and guard the future of the bee.

In this study, the award-winning environmental analyst Lester Brown and his colleagues have charted progress in building the eco-economy - an economy in harmony with the Earth's ecosystems, not undermining them. This edition of the biennial reader highlig

Ten years ago, the United States stood at the forefront of the Internet revolution. With some of the fastest speeds and lowest prices in the world for high-speed Internet access, the nation was poised to be the global leader in the new knowledge-based economy. Today that global competitive advantage has all but vanished because of a series of government decisions and resulting monopolies that have allowed dozens of countries, including Japan and South Korea, to pass us in both speed and price of broadband. This steady slide backward not only deprives consumers of vital services needed in a competitive employment and business market – it also threatens the economic future of America. This important book by leading telecommunications policy expert Susan Crawford explores why Americans are now paying much more but getting much less when it comes to high-speed Internet access. Using the 2011 merger between Comcast and NBC Universal as a lens, Crawford examines how we have created the biggest monopoly since the breakup of Standard Oil a century ago. In the clearest terms, this book explores how telecommunications monopolies have affected the daily lives of consumers and America's global economic standing.

Is relativity Jewish? The Nazis denigrated Albert Einstein's revolutionary theory by calling it "Jewish science", a charge typical of the ideological excesses of Hitler and his followers. Philosopher of science Steven Gimbel explores the many meanings of this provocative phrase and considers whether there is any sense in which Einstein's theory of relativity is Jewish. Arguing that we must take seriously the possibility that the Nazis were in some measure correct, Gimbel examines Einstein and his work to explore how beliefs, background, and environment may – or may not – have influenced the work of the scientist. You cannot understand Einstein's science, Gimbel declares, without knowing the history, religion, and philosophy that influenced it. No one, especially Einstein himself, denies Einstein's Jewish heritage, but many are uncomfortable saying that he was being a Jew while he was at his desk working. To understand what "Jewish" means for Einstein's work, Gimbel first explores the many definitions of "Jewish" and asks whether there are elements of Talmudic thinking apparent in Einstein's theory of relativity. He applies this line of inquiry to other scientists, including Isaac Newton, Rene Descartes, Sigmund Freud, and Emile Durkheim, to consider whether their specific religious beliefs or backgrounds manifested in their scientific endeavors. "Einstein's Jewish Science" intertwines science, history, philosophy, theology, and politics in fresh and fascinating ways to solve the multifaceted riddle of what religion means – and what it means to science. There are some senses, Gimbel claims, in which Jews can find a special connection to E = mc2, and this claim leads to the engaging, spirited debate at the heart of this book.

The seminal event in "outlaw biker" culture was a 1947 weekend in Hollister, California. Motorcyclists, including members of the Boozefighters club, engaged in street racing and other raucous activities. A sensationalized report of the event ran in LIFE m

The John Deere company boasts a tremendously rich heritage going back to 1837 when Deere, a blacksmith from Illinois, changed the agricultural landscape by producing a polished, self-scouring plow made of high-grade steel. From the trademark Deere green t

Since 1979, annual electronic media Austrian festival and symposium Ars Electronica has investigated the intersection of theory and practice in the post-revolutionary world of the digital. This year, the festival's 20th anniversary, writer/curator Timothy

Bioethics: The Basics is an introduction to the foundational principles, theories and issues in the study of medical and biological ethics. Readers are introduced to bioethics from the ground up before being invited to consider some of the most controversial but important questions facing us today. Topics addressed include: the range of moral theories underpinning bioethics arguments for the rights and wrongs of abortion, euthanasia and animal research health care ethics including the nature of the practitioner-patient relationship public policy ethics and the implications of global and public health ‘3 parents’, enhancement, incidental findings and nudge approaches in health care. This thoroughly revised second edition provides a concise, readable and authoritative introduction for anyone interested in the study of bioethics.

He made movies best remembered for their wild car chases, mad motorcycle dashes, and hair-raising races, but no one forgets the man at the wheel--Steve McQueen, the King of Cool. No other Hollywood star has been so closely linked with cars and bikes. It i

The ideal guide for authentic restorations, covering Sprite and Midget models manufactured from 1958 to 1979. The best source for original specifications and equipment for every Austin-Healey model produced, from the first "Bugeye" Sprites of 1958 and the

When can you find ripe blueberries along the Appalachian Trail in Maryland? Where can you see the air filled with monarch butterflies as they migrate south each autumn? If you want to enjoy nature this weekend, where is the best place to visit? Bryan MacKay can tell you. Written as an almanac, "A Year across Maryland" invites you to explore the natural world throughout the year, from watching bald eagles nesting in January to harvesting mistletoe in December. Entries identify the best time and place to experience such wonders as wildflowers blooming, birds in migration, amphibians singing, and morel mushrooms ready to be picked, sliced, sautéed, and devoured. Color photographs of more than seventy species enrich and illustrate the text. Every week of the year has a recommended "Trip of the Week". Personal essays that draw from MacKay's field notes provide an intimate glimpse into a biologist encounters with plants and animals over the years. Whether you want to see snow geese and trumpeter swans pausing in their northward migration each March, or the mating "jubilee" of polychaete worms during the new moon in May, A Year across Maryland offers valuable advice for the spontaneous adventurer and the serious planner alike.

Nature awaits discovery at almost every turn in the complex ecosystem of Washington, D.C. In parks large and small, within the District's gardens, and on public streets, there is tremendous biodiversity. In "Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington,

Part of a new series built on the authority of Rob Thompsons highly acclaimed Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals, this book features new content selected specifically for the needs of students who create prototypes, designs for low-volume pr

Nautical Style' is a visual celebration of luxury boating, capturing both the glamour of the past and the tantalising reality of contemporary living on board some of the world's most beautiful craft.

The magnificent Danube both cuts across and connects central Europe, flowing through and alongside ten countries: Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. Travelling its full length from east to west, against the river's flow, Nick Thorpe embarks on an inspiring year-long journey that leads to a new perspective on Europe today. Thorpe's account is personal, conversational, funny, immediate and uniquely observant - everything a reader expects in the best travel writing. Immersing himself in the Danube's waters during daily morning swims, Thorpe likewise becomes immersed in the histories of the lands linked by the river. He observes the river's ecological conditions, some discouraging and others hopeful, and encounters archaeological remains that whisper of human communities sustained by the river over eight millennia. Most fascinating of all are the ordinary and extraordinary people along the way - the ferrymen and fishermen, workers in the fields, shopkeepers, beekeepers, waitresses, smugglers and border policemen, legal and illegal immigrants, and many more. For readers who anticipate their own journeys on the Danube, as well as those who only dream of seeing the great river, this book will be a unique and treasured guide.

Officially licensed by General Motors, Corvette: Fifty Years is a colorful, nostalgic, and commemorative look at the obstacles and achievements of this classic American sports car. The book provides new insight into the fascinating story of the beloved Co

The Journal of Fluorescence’s fifth Who’s Who directory publishes the names, contact details, specialty keywords, and a brief description of scientists employing fluorescence methodology and instrumentation in their working lives. In addition, it provides company contact details with a brief list of fluorescence-related products.

Professor Ramamurti Shankar, a well-known physicist and contagiously enthusiastic educator, was among the first to offer a course through the innovative Open Yale Course programme. His popular online video lectures on introductory physics have been viewed over a million times. In this concise and self-contained book based on his online Yale course, Shankar explains the fundamental concepts of physics from Galileo's and Newton's discoveries to the twentieth-century's revolutionary ideas on relativity and quantum mechanics. The book begins at the simplest level, develops the basics, and reinforces fundamentals, ensuring a solid foundation in the principles and methods of physics. It provides an ideal introduction for college-level students of physics, chemistry and engineering, for motivated Advanced Placement Physics students, and for general readers interested in advances in the sciences.

Answering every conceivable question about sharks, authors Gene Helfman and George H. Burgess describe the fascinating biology, behavior, diversity, and cultural importance of sharks (there are more than 1,000 species worldwide), their close relations to

Flightless, iconic birds made even more famous by the 2005 film March of the Penguins, penguins conjure up images of caring parents, devoted couples, and tough survivors. In "Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide", Gerald L. Kooyman and Wayne Lynch inform readers about all seventeen species, including the emperor penguin featured in the film. Do you know why penguins live only in the Southern Hemisphere? Or that they can be ferocious predators? Why are penguins black and white? Do they play? This book answers these questions and many more, illuminating the fascinating biology and evolutionary history of these odd birds. Kooyman has studied penguins for decades, and Lynch's photographs of penguins in the wild are the best ever captured. The result of their combined effort is a book that answers every penguin question you've ever had. Whether you hope to travel to the Southern Hemisphere or simply want to learn more about wildlife, "Penguins: The Animal Answer Guide" deserves a spot on your bookshelf.

In the postwar, cold war years, there emerges a new type of modern architecture that represents a fundamental transformation from only five decades prior. In Domesticity at War, Beatriz Colomina presents domesticity as a new, and very potent weapon in a c

First published in 1958, and composed primarily of presentations delivered at the Ninth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in 1955, this book contains sixteen papers on the subject of the Galactic System in the light of then-recent developments in radio astronomy. The contributors compare new knowledge of our Galactic System with what can be gleaned from other galaxies and star systems, such as the Andromeda nebula. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in astronomy and in the development of astronomical knowledge.

Originally published in 1943, this book presents the content of the Lees Knowles Lectures for that year, which were delivered by Roger Keyes at Trinity College, Cambridge. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in naval history and military strategy.

The construction of the first Westminster Bridge, upon which Wordsworth composed his famous sonnet, presented many challenges in terms of the materials and methods with which a sturdy bridge could be built in tidal water and on a gravelly riverbed. A number of candidates presented their surveys to the commissioners of the bridge, but it was the Swiss-born Charles Labelye (1705–62) who was appointed to oversee construction in 1738. The bridge opened to traffic in 1750. This 1751 publication expands upon the shorter work that Labelye had prepared in 1739 to address the laying of the foundations. Significantly, he used caissons - vast wooden structures sunk into the riverbed - within which the stone piers were built. Although the promised illustrations did not appear in this work, the book provides a valuable insight into the technical problems of a major engineering project, and the solutions available at that time.

Originally published in 1940, this book contains a detailed description of the natural beauty of the area around Sidmouth in Devon, the author's appreciation for which he says 'no aspect of the world from Arctic to Equator has diminished'. Cornish discusses Sidmouth, Sidbury and Salcome Regis in his treatise, and includes a number of photographs and drawings to bear witness to the area's natural beauty. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Devon or the preservation of rural England.

Originally published in 1925, this book constitutes an attempt to supply the materials for a complete comparison between the birds of the Islands of Japan and the birds found in Great Britain and Ireland. A bibliography and detailed index are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of ornithology.

See the Solar System like never before. The Planets is an awe-inspiring and informative journey through the Solar System, with all-new 3D globes and models built using the latest data gathered by NASA and the European Space Agency that can be viewed from any angle and layer by layer. You can even move in for a closer look with 3D terrain models that take you on a trip to the surfaces of the rocky planets. As well as covering the Sun, the planets, hundreds of moons and thousands of asteroids and comets, The Planets includes all the major Solar System missions, right up to the latest Mars rovers. Timelines explore our relationship with each planet and infographics present fascinating Solar System facts and planet facts. The Planets is ideal for anyone interested in space exploration and all armchair astronauts or astronomers.

The Nobel laureate's brilliant exposition of the kinetic theory of gases, elementary particles, the nuclear atom, wave-corpuscles, atomic structure and spectral lines, electron spin and Pauli's principle, quantum statistics, molecular structure and nuclea

Recent attention to hybrid cars that run on both gasoline and electric batteries has made the electric car an apparent alternative to the internal combustion engine and its attendant environmental costs and geopolitical implications. Few people realize that the electric car � neither a recent invention nor a historical curiosity � has a story as old as that of the gasoline-powered automobile, and that at one time many in the nascent automobile industry believed battery-powered engines would become the dominant technology. In both Europe and America, electric cars and trucks succeeded in meeting the needs of a wide range of consumers. Before World War II, as many as 30,000 electric cars and more than 10,000 electric trucks plied American roads; European cities were busy with, electrically propelled fire engines, taxis, delivery vans, buses, heavy trucks and private cars. Even so, throughout the century-long history of electric propulsion, the widespread conviction it was an inferior technology remained stubbornly in place, an assumption mirrored in popular and scholarly memory. In "The Electric Vehicle", Gijs Mom challenges this view, arguing that at the beginning of the automobile age neither the internal combustion engine nor the battery-powered vehicle enjoyed a clear advantage. He explores the technology and marketing/consumer-ratio faction relationship over four "generations" of electric-vehicle design, with separate chapters on privately owned passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Mom makes comparisons among European countries and between Europe and America. He finds that the electric vehicle offered many advantages, among them greater reliability and control, less noise and pollution. He also argues that a nexus of factors � cultural (underpowered and less rugged, electric cars seemed "feminine" at a time when most car buyers were men), structural (the shortcomings of battery technology at the time), and systemic (the infrastructural problems of changing large numbers of batteries) � ultimately gave an edge to the internal combustion engine. One hopes, as a new generation of electric vehicles becomes a reality, "The Electric Vehicle" offers a long-overdue reassessment of the place of this technology in the history of street transportation.

This book includes all of the designs presented by the Catedra Ceramica (the ceramics department of the international university of Catalonia or UIC) and, in addition, an interesting technical vision of ceramics in search of new formats and new applications in the field of architecture. The designs included in this resource of ideas from the Catedra Ceramica are organised into four groups entitled cells, folds, hybrids and pivots. In the book are illustrated 24 different projects like for example a house in Cascais by Eduardo Souto de Moura, the Spanish Pavilion in the Expo 2005 in Japan by FOA, the Cafe Una in Vienna by Lacaton and Vassal, an Apartments Building in Ljubljana by Sadar Vuga Arhitekti or the New Art Gallery and Public Square in Walsall in England by Caruso St. John Architects.

The book presents the research by the Action Space! Studio on the Evolutionary City. An ambitious project meant to create a new tool not only for urban planners, but also for people involved inside project management business and people outside that practice. A kind of simulator-educational tool. The journey of discovery began by understanding evolution starting with Darwin, his phenotypes, the realms of biology, sociology, and economics. Pumped by evolution's magic the studio quickly plunged into game theory. These two lines of research synthesized into a set of games modeled on diverse aspects of the city - from the tasks a building developer faces when dealing with land value to the more intangible aspects of a city (i.e. the driving forces of desires in social groups).

great maps: the world's masterpieces explored and explained by brotton, jerry

Peter Heywood (1772–1831) became known for his involvement in the 1789 mutiny aboard the Bounty. After evading a death sentence thanks to a royal pardon, he was able to advance himself in a distinguished naval career, achieving the rank of post-captain. The question of the North-West Passage, a sea route through the Arctic that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, remained an obsession for the British for much of the nineteenth century. Drawing on his experience as a naval hydrographer and writing under the pseudonym 'Scrutator', Heywood considers the question of the North-West Passage in this 1824 publication by surveying accounts of recent expeditions to the Arctic. While he does not dispute the existence of the much-sought route, he argues that the icy waters would not be navigable for ships. It was not until the early twentieth century that Roald Amundsen and his crew achieved the seemingly impossible.

In June 1875, Frederick George Innes-Lillingston (1849–1904) set out for the Arctic aboard Pandora, a steam yacht captained by the seasoned polar explorer Allen Young (1827–1915). In this, the first of two voyages north, Young sought to make the north-west passage. His lieutenant Innes-Lillingston published this short account in 1876. It follows the voyage through to Peel Strait, where Young was forced to turn back in the face of heavy ice. On the journey home, the Pandora picked up the dispatches of the expedition under George Nares that was attempting to reach the North Pole. Conveying both the thrill and difficulty of the endeavour, this narrative provides a highly readable account of seafaring in extreme conditions. Also reissued in this series are two related works by Young: Cruise of the Pandora (1876) and The Two Voyages of the Pandora (1879).

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the First International Workshop on Learning and Adaption in Multi-Agent Systems, LAMAS 2005, held in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in July 2005, as an associated event of AAMAS 2005.

Written by one of the industry's leading experts, MOSFET Modeling with SPICE brings together all the FET models used in mainstream versions of SPICE, providing a comprehensive, practical, and easy-to-read reference for the practicing circuit designer. In

Aviation is integral to the global economy but it is also one of the main obstacles to environmentally sustainable development. It is one of the world's fastest growing - and most polluting - industries. What can be done to retain the economic and other b

If extraterrestrials exist, where are they? What is the probability that somewhere out there in the universe an Earth-like planet supports an advanced culture? Why do so many people claim to have encountered Aliens? In this gripping exploration, scientist Don Lincoln exposes and explains the truths about the belief in and the search for life on other planets. In the first half of "Alien Universe", Lincoln looks to Western civilization's collective image of Aliens, showing how our perceptions of extraterrestrials have evolved over time. The roots of this belief can be traced as far back as our earliest recognition of other planets in the universe – the idea of them supporting life was a natural progression of thinking that has fascinated us ever since. Our captivation with Aliens has, however, led to mixed results. The world was fooled in the nineteenth century during the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, and many people misunderstood, with calamitous results, Orson Welles's 1938 radio broadcast, "The War of the Worlds". Our continuing interest in Aliens is reflected in entertainment successes such as "E.T.", "The X-Files", and "Star Trek". The second half of "Alien Universe" explores the scientific possibility of whether advanced Alien civilizations do exist. For many years, researchers have sought to answer Enrico Fermi's great paradox – if there are so many planets in the universe and there is a high probability that many of those can support life, then why have we not actually encountered any Aliens? (Apologies to those who are sure we have.) Lincoln describes how modern science teaches us what is possible and what is not in our search for extraterrestrial civilizations. Whether you are drawn to the psychological belief in Aliens, the history of our interest in life on other planets, or the scientific possibility of Alien existence, "Alien Universe" is sure to hold you spellbound.

Have we built our way to ruin? Is your desire for that beach house or cabin in the woods part of the environmental crisis? Do you really need a bigger home? Why don't multiple generations still live under one roof? In "The Housing Bomb", leading environmental researchers M. Nils Peterson, Tarla Rai Peterson, and Jianguo Liu sound the alarm, explaining how and why our growing addiction to houses has taken the humble American dream and twisted it into an environmental and societal nightmare. Without realizing how much a contemporary home already contributes to environmental destruction, most of us want bigger and bigger houses and dream of the day when we own not just one dwelling but at least the two our neighbor does. We push our children to "get out on their own" long before they need to, creating a second household where previously one existed. We pave and build, demolishing habitat needed by threatened and endangered species, adding to the mounting burden of global climate change, and sucking away resources much better applied to pressing societal needs. "Reduce, reuse, recycle" is seldom evoked in the housing world, where economists predict financial disasters when "new housing starts" are reduced and the idea of renovating inner city residences is regarded as merely a good cause. Presenting irrefutable evidence, this book cries for America and the world to intervene by making simple changes in our household energy and water usage and by supporting municipal, state, national, and international policies to counter this devastation and overuse of resources. It offers a way out of the mess we are creating and envisions a future where we all live comfortable, nondestructive lives. The "housing bomb" is ticking, and our choice is clear – change our approach or feel the blast.

Few people have had as profound an impact on the history of New York City as William J. Wilgus. As chief engineer of the New York Central Railroad, Wilgus conceived the Grand Central Terminal, the city's magnificent monument to America's Railway Age. Kurt C. Schlichting here examines the remarkable career of this innovator, revealing how his tireless work moving people and goods over and under Manhattan Island's surrounding waterways forever changed New York's bustling transportation system. After his herculean efforts on behalf of Grand Central, the most complicated construction project in New York's history, Wilgus turned to solving the city's transportation quandary: Manhattan – the financial, commercial, and cultural hub of the United States in the twentieth century – was separated from the mainland by two major rivers to the west and east, a deep-water estuary to the south, and the Harlem River to the north. Wilgus believed that railroads and mass transportation provided the answer to New York City's complicated geography. His ingenious ideas included a freight subway linking rail facilities in New Jersey with manufacturers and shippers in Manhattan, a freight and passenger tunnel connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn, and a belt railway interconnecting sixteen private railroads serving the metropolitan area. Schlichting's deep passion for Wilgus and his engineering achievements are evident in the pages of this fascinating work. Wilgus was a true pioneer, and Schlichting ensures that his brilliant contributions to New York City's transportation system will not be forgotten.

During the twentieth century, many artists and writers turned to abstract mathematical ideas to help them realize their aesthetic ambitions. M. C. Escher, Marcel Duchamp, and, perhaps most famously, Piet Mondrian used principles of mathematics in their wo

Grand Central Terminal, one of New York City's preeminent buildings, stands as a magnificent Beaux-Arts monument to America's Railway Age, and it remains a vital part of city life today. Completed in 1913 after ten years of construction, the terminal became the city's most important transportation hub, linking long-distance and commuter trains to New York's network of subways, elevated trains, and streetcars. Its soaring Grand Concourse still offers passengers a majestic gateway to the wonders beyond 42nd Street. In "Grand Central Terminal", Kurt C. Schlichting traces the history of this spectacular building, detailing the colorful personalities, bitter conflicts, and Herculean feats of engineering that lie behind its construction. Schlichting begins with Cornelius Vanderbilt – "The Commodore" – whose railroad empire demanded an appropriately palatial passenger terminal in the heart of New York City. Completed in 1871, the first Grand Central was the largest rail facility in the world and yet – cramped and overburdened – soon proved thoroughly inadequate for the needs of this rapidly expanding city. William Wilgus, chief engineer of the New York Central Railroad, conceived of a new Grand Central Terminal, one that would fully meet the needs of the New York Central line. Grand Central became a monument to the creativity and daring of a remarkable age. The terminal's construction proved to be a massive undertaking. Before construction could begin, more than 3 million cubic yards of rock and earth had to be removed and some 200 buildings demolished. Manhattan's exorbitant real estate prices necessitated a vast, two-story underground train yard, which in turn required a new, smoke-free electrified rail system. The project consumed nearly 30,000 tons of steel, three times more than that in the Eiffel Tower, and two power plants were built. The terminal building alone cost $43 million in 1913, the equivalent of nearly $750 million today. Some of these costs were offset by an ambitious redevelopment project on property above the New York Central's underground tracks. Schlichting writes about the economic and cultural impact of the terminal on midtown Manhattan, from building of the Biltmore and Waldorf-Astoria Hotels to the transformation of Park Avenue. Schlichting concludes with an account of the New York Central's decline; the public outcry that prevented Grand Central's new owner, Penn Central, from following through with its 1969 plan to demolish or drastically alter the terminal; the rise of Metro-North Railroad; and the meticulous 1990s restoration project that returned Grand Central Terminal to its original splendor. More than a history of a train station, this book is the story of a city and an age as reflected in a building aptly described as a secular cathedral.

Flexible Activity Sheets cover each strand and are divided into; 'Let's play', 'Let's Practise' and 'Let's investigate'.

As early as 1910 Americans recognized that cars were easy to steal and, once stolen, hard to find – especially since cars looked much alike. Model styles and colors eventually changed, but so did the means of making a stolen car disappear. Though changing

What does quantum mechanics tell us about the key model physical systems of nature? The author of this highly regarded text explores this question in a conceptual manner, fusing mathematical and philosophical elements to present physical imagery that clos

A spectacular collection of breathtaking aerial photographs of the earth's surface.

Coming from a prosperous London Quaker family, the author Priscilla Wakefield (1751–1832) wrote educational books for children, and one work for adults, Reflections on the Present Condition of the Female Sex (1798), also reissued in this series. This 1796 book on botany, a science which 'contributes to health of body and cheerfulness of disposition' but is difficult to study because of its Latin nomenclature and the cost of textbooks, offers a simple introduction for children through the medium of letters between sisters, as 'Felicia' shares with 'Constance' her growing understanding of plant science. Felicia's governess is a follower of Linnaeus, whose classificatory system is described as 'the one universally adopted', and by the twenty-eighth and final letter, Felicia is describing the class Cryptogamia. This illustrated account in simple language gives an insight into the level of education thought appropriate for young girls at the end of the eighteenth century.

The double-crested cormorant, found only in North America, is an iridescent black waterbird superbly adapted to catch fish. It belongs to a family of birds vilified since biblical times and persecuted around the world. Thus it was perhaps to be expected that the first Europeans settlers in North America quickly deemed the double-crested cormorant a competitor for fishing stock and undertook a relentless drive to destroy the birds. This enormously important book explores the roots of human-cormorant conflicts, dispels myths about the birds, and offers the first comprehensive assessment of the policies that have been developed to manage the double-crested cormorant in the twenty-first century. Conservation biologist Linda Wires provides a unique synthesis of the cultural, historical, scientific and political elements of the cormorant's story. She discusses the amazing late-twentieth-century population recovery, aided by protection policies and environment conservation, but also the subsequent U.S. federal policies under which hundreds of thousands of the birds have been killed. In a critique of the science, management and ethics underlying the double-crested cormorant's treatment today, Wires exposes "management" as a euphemism for persecution and shows that the current strategies of aggressive predator control are outdated and unsupported by science.

Turn on the tap, and water pours out. Pull out the plug, and the dirty water disappears. Most of us give little thought to the hidden systems that bring us water and take it away when we're done with it. But these underappreciated marvels of engineering face an array of challenges that cannot be solved without a fundamental change to our relationship with water, David Sedlak explains in this enlightening book. To make informed decisions about the future, we need to understand the three revolutions in urban water systems that have occurred over the past 2,500 years and the technologies that will remake the system. The author starts by describing Water 1.0, the early Roman aqueducts, fountains and sewers that made dense urban living feasible. He then details the development of drinking water and sewage treatment systems – the second and third revolutions in urban water. He offers an insider's look at current systems that rely on reservoirs, underground pipe networks, treatment plants, and storm sewers to provide water that is safe to drink, before addressing how these water systems will have to be reinvented. For everyone who cares about reliable, clean, abundant water, this book is essential reading.

This advanced undergraduate-level text provides a formulation of the quantum theory in terms of qualitative and imaginative concepts outside classical theory. A broad range of specific applications follows, worked out in considerable mathematical detail.