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Nature and Science December 2018
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| Plight of the Living Dead: What the Animal Kingdom's Real-Life Zombies Reveal... by Matt SimonGuess what? Zombies are real. But in this case, they're not the enemy -- they're the victims of parasites that have hijacked their brains.
Starring: a variety of microbes, fungi, worms, wasps, and other organisms who invade the bodies of their unsuspecting hosts.
Is it for you? While squeamish readers might want to pass on this book, fans of body horror may get a kick out of its detailed descriptions of zombification. |
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| The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher SkaifeIntroducing: Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife, of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London.
What does he do? Straife is the Tower of London's Ravenmaster, responsible for the care of the Tower's seven resident ravens, who all have names and distinctive personalities.
Did you know? One of the Tower's seven ravens, Merlina, has become a celebrity, thanks to her intelligence and love of pranks (including a convincing ability to play dead). |
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| Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World, and Might Do So Again by Tom JacksonWhat it's about: 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.
Did you know? Refrigeration is responsible for more than midnight snacks! It has also made possible such scientific breakthroughs as in vitro fertilization, superconductors, and penicillin. |
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| Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame by Michael KodasContains: Everything you ever wanted to know about megafires.
Such as: What are they? How do they start? Why are they so destructive? Can they be stopped? (Should they be stopped?)
Did you know? Research by the U.S. Forest Service suggests that by 2050, megafires could consume 20 million acres per year -- an area larger than the state of Maine. |
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Birdseye : The Adventures of a Curious Man
by Mark Kurlansky
What it's about: A profile of eccentric genius inventor Clarence Birdseye chronicles how his innovative fast-freezing process revolutionized the food industry and American agriculture.
About the author: Mark Kurlansky has worked as an author, a playwright, a commercial fisherman, a dock worker, a paralegal, a cook, and a pastry chef. He has had 31 books published including fiction, nonfiction, and children's books.
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| Heat: Adventures in the World's Fiery Places by Bill StreeverWhat it's about: Biologist Bill Streever, author of the bestselling Cold, embarks on a wide-ranging discussion of heat in all its forms.
Why you might like it: Whether hiking through Death Valley, California, or cooking popcorn on lava in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Streever leaves no stone unturned in his quest to understand heat.
Want a taste? "After an hour, our gallon of water has become a half gallon. The breeze has died. I begin to wish that we had told someone where we were going." |
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The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History, 1300-1850
by Brian M. Fagan
Contains: A new perspective on familiar events in history describes how a 500-year change in climate that lasted from A.D. 1300 until 1850 shaped modern European history
About the author: Brian M. Fagan is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of California, Santa Barbara specializing in the fields of Old World archaeology and general prehistory.
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Some Like It Hot: Flowers That Thrive in Hot Humid Weather
by P. J. Gartin
What is it? A detailed, richly illustrated guide for Southern gardeners describes a range of flowering plants that flourish in the hot, humid climates of the Southeast.
Includes: instruction in a variety of specialized horticultural techniques, as well as information on hardiness zones, tips on starting a gardening log, listings of plant suppliers, and additional reading materials.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Central Arkansas Library System 100 Rock St. Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 501-918-3000www.cals.org |
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