What's Science Ever Done For Us

Author: Paul Halpern
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
ISBN: 1118132904
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 215

Book Description
A playful and entertaining look at science on The Simpsons This amusing book explores science as presented on the longest-running and most popular animated TV series ever made: The Simpsons. Over the years, the show has examined such issues as genetic mutation, time travel, artificial intelligence, and even aliens. "What's Science Ever Done for Us?" examines these and many other topics through the lens of America's favorite cartoon. This spirited science guide will inform Simpsons fans and entertain science buffs with a delightful combination of fun and fact. It will be the perfect companion to the upcoming Simpsons movie. The Simpsons is a magnificent roadmap of modern issues in science. This completely unauthorized, informative, and fun exploration of the science and technology, connected with the world's most famous cartoon family, looks at classic episodes from the show to launch fascinating scientific discussions mixed with intriguing speculative ideas and a dose of humor. Could gravitational lensing create optical illusions, such as when Homer saw someone invisible to everyone else? Is the Coriolis effect strong enough to make all toilets in the Southern Hemisphere flush clockwise, as Bart was so keen to find out? If Earth were in peril, would it make sense to board a rocket, as Marge, Lisa, and Maggie did, and head to Mars? While Bart and Millhouse can't stop time and have fun forever, Paul Halpern explores the theoretical possibilities involving Einstein's theory of time dilation. Paul Halpern, PhD (Philadelphia, PA) is Professor of Physics and Mathematics at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and a 2002 recipient of a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship. He is also the author of The Great Beyond (0-471-46595-X).

The Knowledge Wars

Author: Peter Doherty
Publisher: Melbourne Univ. Publishing
ISBN: 0522862861
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 191

Book Description
Climate scientists have warned that we need to change our behaviour in ways that may be inconvenient and threaten the commercial status quo. The result has been a polarising division in society and a sustained attack on their research. In The Knowledge Wars, Nobel prizewinner Peter Doherty makes a passionate case for citizens to become informed so they are able to evaluate the facts of any scientific debate. It provides practical advice on how to analyse research and take meaningful action. The Knowledge Wars challenges our assumptions and encourages us to take an evidence-based view of the world. There's something here to offend everybody!

Unsettled (Updated and Expanded Edition)

Author: Steven E. Koonin
Publisher: BenBella Books
ISBN: 1637745818
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 385

Book Description
In this updated and expanded edition of climate scientist Steven Koonin’s groundbreaking book, go behind the headlines to discover the latest eye-opening data about climate change—with unbiased facts and realistic steps for the future. "Greenland’s ice loss is accelerating." "Extreme temperatures are causing more fatalities." "Rapid 'climate action' is essential to avoid a future climate disaster." You've heard all this presented as fact. But according to science, all of these statements are profoundly misleading. With the new edition of Unsettled, Steven Koonin draws on decades of experience—including as a top science advisor to the Obama administration—to clear away the fog and explain what science really says (and doesn't say). With a new introduction, this edition now features reflections on an additional three years of eye-opening data, alternatives to unrealistic “net zero” solutions, global energy inequalities, and the energy crisis arising from the war in Ukraine. When it comes to climate change, the media, politicians, and other prominent voices have declared that “the science is settled.” In reality, the climate is changing, but the why and how aren’t as clear as you’ve probably been led to believe. Koonin takes readers behind the headlines, dispels popular myths, and unveils little-known truths: Despite rising greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures decreased from 1940 to 1970 Models currently used to predict the future do not accurately describe the climate of the past, and modelers themselves strongly doubt their regional predictions There is no compelling evidence that hurricanes are becoming more frequent—or that predictions of rapid sea level rise have any validity Unsettled is a reality check buoyed by hope, offering the truth about climate science—what we know, what we don’t, and what it all means for our future.

What Is Science?

Author: Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0805073949
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 22

Book Description
Introduces young children to the ever-changing world of science and about curiosity, asking questions, and exploring possible answers.

Science on a Mission

Author: Naomi Oreskes
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022673241X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 749

Book Description
A vivid portrait of how Naval oversight shaped American oceanography, revealing what difference it makes who pays for science. What difference does it make who pays for science? Some might say none. If scientists seek to discover fundamental truths about the world, and they do so in an objective manner using well-established methods, then how could it matter who’s footing the bill? History, however, suggests otherwise. In science, as elsewhere, money is power. Tracing the recent history of oceanography, Naomi Oreskes discloses dramatic changes in American ocean science since the Cold War, uncovering how and why it changed. Much of it has to do with who pays. After World War II, the US military turned to a new, uncharted theater of warfare: the deep sea. The earth sciences—particularly physical oceanography and marine geophysics—became essential to the US Navy, which poured unprecedented money and logistical support into their study. Science on a Mission brings to light how this influx of military funding was both enabling and constricting: it resulted in the creation of important domains of knowledge but also significant, lasting, and consequential domains of ignorance. As Oreskes delves into the role of patronage in the history of science, what emerges is a vivid portrait of how naval oversight transformed what we know about the sea. It is a detailed, sweeping history that illuminates the ways funding shapes the subject, scope, and tenor of scientific work, and it raises profound questions about the purpose and character of American science. What difference does it make who pays? The short answer is: a lot.

What Have Plants Ever Done for Us?

Author: Stephen Harris
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 280

Book Description
When did the British Government become the world's largest drugs pusher? What tree is frequently used to treat cancer? Which everyday condiment is the most widely traded spice on the planet?Plants are an indispensable part of our everyday life. From the coffee bush and grass for cattle which give us milk for our cappuccinos to the rubber tree which produces tyres for our cars, our lives are inextricably linked to the world of plants.Taking us on a chronological journey, Stephen Harris identifies fifty plants that have been key to the development of the Western world, discussing trade, politics, medicine, travel and chemistry along the way.Plants have provided paper and ink, chemicals that could kill or cure, vital sustenance and stimulants. Some, such as barley, have been staples from earliest times; others, such as oil palm, are newcomers to Western industry. Moreover, with time, uses change: beets, which have been used variously as a treatment for leprosy, source of sugar and animal feed, are now showing potential as biofuels. What may the future hold for mandrake or woad?We remain dependent on plants for our food, our fuel and our medicines. Their effects on our lives, as the stories in this wide-ranging and engaging book demonstrate, continue to be profound, and often unpredictable.

What Has Nature Ever Done For Us?

Author: Tony Juniper
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN: 184765942X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 382

Book Description
From Indian vultures to Chinese bees, Nature provides the 'natural services' that keep the economy going. From the recycling miracles in the soil; an army of predators ridding us of unwanted pests; an abundance of life creating a genetic codebook that underpins our food, pharmaceutical industries and much more, it has been estimated that these and other services are each year worth about double global GDP. Yet we take most of Nature's services for granted, imagining them free and limitless ... until they suddenly switch off. This is a book full of immediate, impactful stories, containing both warnings (such as in the tale of India's vultures, killed off by drugs given to cattle, leading to an epidemic of rabies) but also the positive (how birds protect fruit harvests, coral reefs protect coasts from storms and how the rainforests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon released from cars and power stations). Tony Juniper's book will change whole way you think about life, the planet and the economy

What Successful Science Teachers Do

Author: Neal A. Glasgow
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1452271747
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 273

Book Description
"I found several strategies mentioned to be helpful to my own practice and tried them right away with immediate success." —Deanna Brunlinger, National Board Certified Science Teacher, Elkhorn Area School District, WI "The research is strong and well presented. The book addresses all aspects of science education and focuses on developing scientific thinkers." —Loukea Kovanis-Wilson, Chemistry Instructor, Clarkston High School, MI Supercharge your science lessons with proven strategies! The experience and science expertise of these award-winning authors makes this easy-to-use guide a teacher′s treasure trove. This latest addition to the popular What Successful Teachers Do series describes 75 research-based strategies and outlines best practices for inquiry-oriented science. Each strategy includes a brief description of the supporting research, classroom applications, pitfalls to avoid, and references for additional learning. Teachers of students in Grades K–12 will find a host of novel ways to engage children′s natural curiosity, concern, and creativity in science learning. Highlights include how to: Promote collaborative learning Use formative assessment to engage students in content and instruction Develop culturally responsive practices that invite contributions from diverse students Build students′ scientific literacy and reasoning skills Incorporate students′ Internet skills into their studies When it comes to teaching science, you don′t need to reinvent the wheel. Learn from the experts today and jump-start your science curriculum tomorrow!

What Science Tells Us about Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author: Raphael A. Bernier
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462541372
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 337

Book Description
What have scientists learned about the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Can parents do anything to prevent it? Why do different kids have such different symptoms, and what are the best ways to deal with them? Will there ever be a cure? From leading autism researchers Raphael Bernier, Geraldine Dawson, and Joel Nigg, this accessible guide helps parents put the latest advances to work for their unique child. From the impact of sleep, exercise, diet, and technology, to which type of professional help might be the right fit, the authors cover it all with expertise and compassion. Above all, they emphasize that current progress makes this an encouraging time for anyone who wants to help children and teens on the spectrum live to their fullest potential.

What's the Point of Science?

Author: DK
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0744057612
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 128

Book Description
Find out about the wonderful world of scientific discovery, how science works and why it has changed the world. Turn boredom into awe! Learn about the most notable scientists in history, scientific discoveries, and the answers to your questions about biology, chemistry and physics. This illustrated science book is packed with stories and hand-drawn graphics that will make science fun! Wondering where science started and how scientists solve centuries-old mysteries? Inside this science book, you’ll find: • Each main topic features a discovery or breakthrough presented as an illustrated story. • Real-world examples of modern science and technology bring the story up to date, and make each topic relevant. • Occasional timeline spreads reveal how scientific ideas have evolved. • "Try it out" boxes show readers how to carry out hands-on science activities at home or at school. • Amazing facts and stories keep the tone light and entertaining. • Timeline spreads show scientific development in a specific field over the ages. Discover the amazing humans who challenged the thinking of their time and put their lives at risk to learn about everything on the planet — and in space! Understand why science matters so much, and the incredible places it will take us in the future. This illustrated science reference guide will intrigue and inspire children ages 9-12 to love science, and to marvel at the world around them. Students will learn how science is practical and applicable to the real world, and helps to solve everyday problems through the stories and discoveries of notable scientists. The easy-to-follow format explores the origins of science and answers important questions like how the universe started, how to build a pyramid, how to save a life, how to capture lightning and even how to live on Mars. The answers and stories in this scientific book will change the way children think about science forever! DK’s What’s the Point? series is packed with surprising facts, tales of ingenuity and endeavor, and beautiful, unique illustrations. Each book in the series includes crazy facts, quizzes and puzzles. Look out for What's the Point of Maths? to encourage young students to find fun in their math homework!