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Nature and Science December 2015
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"Clouds are the most egalitarian of nature's displays, since each one of us has a good view of them." ~ from Gavin Pretor-Pinney's The Cloudspotter's Guide
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Welcome to the Nature and Science newsletter. Each month you will read about new works of Nature and Science that have been added to the Lambton County Library's collection. The Library also offers an alerting service to notify you when new materials on authors and topics of interest for you are added to the collection. You may set this service up with assistance from the library staff. Let us know what you think of this service so we can serve you better.
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UPCOMING EVENTS: Sarnia Monday FREE Night Movie DROP-IN 6:30 p.m. Monday, December 28th Sarnia Library Theatre Guardians of the Galaxy Sarnia FREE Movie Wednesday DROP-IN 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 30th Sarnia Library Theatre Guardians of the Galaxy encore showing Look for more events on the Lambton County Library Calendar: http://www.lclibrary.ca/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=471
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| Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World, and Might Do So Again by Tom JacksonMany household appliances generate heat, but only the refrigerator creates cold -- an application of thermodynamics that has revolutionized human civilization. In this engaging, anecdote-rich account, science writer Tom Jackson traces the multi-millennial history of artificial refrigeration from the ice pits of the ancient Persian Empire to today's "cold chain," the food industry's "temperature-controlled transport corridor" that links farms, fishing boats, supermarkets, and consumers. Yet refrigeration is responsible for more than midnight snacks; it has also made possible numerous scientific breakthroughs, including in vitro fertilization, superconductors, and penicillin. |
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| Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness... by Lisa RandallDespite its name, dark matter is "neither ominous nor powerful," explains particle physicist Lisa Randall. Mostly, it's just hidden from view: although it comprises 85% of the universe, dark matter can only be detected indirectly through measurement of its gravitational effects. In this accessible, thought-provoking book, Randall defines dark matter (distinguishing it from both black holes and dark energy) while describing its role in the formation and composition of the universe. Finally, for those wondering where dinosaurs enter the discussion, she puts forth a plausible hypothesis that a disc of dark matter embedded in the Milky Way dislodged a city-sized object from its orbit 66 million years ago, altering its course enough to strike Earth and cause a mass extinction event. |
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| The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea WulfDid you know that the U.S. state of Nevada was almost named "Humboldt," after the Enlightenment-era German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt? During his lifetime, Humboldt was the "most famous man in the world after Napoleon," due to his five-year expedition to South America, not to mention the 34 bestselling books he wrote about his experiences. Never heard of him? This biography rescues Humboldt from relative obscurity, describing his life as well as his many contributions to science. For example, Humboldt came up with the concept of climate zones, created isotherms (contour lines on maps), discovered the magnetic equator, and redefined our concept of nature itself -- as a web of life connecting every organism on Earth. |
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The interstellar age : inside the forty-year Voyager mission by Jim BellAn award-winning Cornell astronomer traces the story of the men and women behind the Voyager spacecraft mission to share insight into their motivations, describe the human artifacts the first spacecraft contains and discuss the mission's potential. By the author of Postcards From Mars.
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Flights of imagination : extraordinary writing about birds by Richard CanningsBird-watching is one of the most popular recreational activities in North America -- North American birders are estimated to spend as much as $32 billion annually. Many of the world's greatest natural history writers have penned eloquent, informative and profound essays about these alluring creatures. This timeless evocation of our passion for birds features 20 works from such esteemed writers as Barry Lopez, Terry Tempest Williams, Jonathan Weiner, Barbara Kingsolver, Richard Mabey, and Candace Savage.
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Nearest star : the surprising science of our sun by L. Golub"How did the Sun evolve, and what will it become? What is the origin of its light and heat? How does solar activity affect the atmospheric conditions that make life on Earth possible? These are the questions at the heart of solar physics, and at the coreof this book. The Sun is the only star near enough to study in sufficient detail to provide rigorous tests of our theories and to help us understand the more distant and exotic objects throughout the cosmos.
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| The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds by Gavin Pretor-PinneyDon't know your stratus (fog) from your cumulonimbus (thundercloud)? Not to worry, because author Gavin Pretor-Pinney, journalist and founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, has created this entertaining guidebook to the waters of the troposphere. Describing how and where clouds form, Pretor-Pinney provides accessible explanations of natural phenomena (for example, using a lava lamp to explain thermal convection currents) and includes photographs, line drawings, and diagrams to help novice cloudspotters identify different types of clouds. For a historical perspective on meteorology and cloud classification, try Richard Hamblyn's The Invention of Clouds. |
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Bee time : lessons from the hive by Mark L. WinstonBeing among bees is a full-body experience, Mark Winston writes-from the low hum of tens of thousands of insects and the pungent smell of honey and beeswax, to the sight of workers flying back and forth between flowers and the hive. The experience of an apiary slows our sense of time, heightens our awareness, and inspires awe. Bee Time presents Winston's reflections on three decades spent studying these creatures, and on the lessons they can teach about how humans might better interact with one another and the natural world.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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