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Nature and Science February 2018
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Did you miss these in 2017? |
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The photo ark : one man's quest to document the world's animals
by Joel Sartore
What it's about: Representing National Geographic’s Photo Ark—a major cross-platform initiative and lifelong project by a veteran photographer to make portraits of the world’s animals, especially those that are endangered—this showcase of 600 photos presents a thought-provoking argument for saving all the species of our planet.
About the author: JOEL SARTORE is a photographer, speaker, author, teacher, and a 25-year contributor to National Geographic magazine as well as Audubon, Geo, Time, Life, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated . He has written several books including National Geographic's Rare: Portraits of America's Endangered Species , Photographing Your Family , and Let's Be Reasonable , a collection of essays from the CBS Sunday Morning show. Sartore and his work have been the subjects of several national broadcasts, including the National Geographic Channel's Explorer, the NBC Nightly News , NPR's Weekend Edition , and an hour-long PBS documentary, At Close Range . He is also a contributor on the CBS Sunday Morning Show with Charles Osgood.
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The four tendencies : the indispensable personality profiles that reveal how to make your life better (and other people's lives better, too)
by Gretchen Rubin
What it's about: The best-selling author of The Happiness Project continues her investigation into human nature by identifying four key personality types that shape every aspect of behavior, explaining how to gain better understandings about each personality's strengths and vulnerabilities for better decision-making, reduced stress and more effective communication.
About the author: Gretchen Rubin started her career in law and was clerking for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor when she realized she wanted to be a writer. She writes on the linked subjects of habits, happiness, and human nature on her daily blog as well as in books. Her books include Happier at Home, The Happiness Project, and Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives.
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Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
What it's about: "America's most approachable astrophysicist" (Kirkus Reviews) offers readers a concise and conversational introduction to cosmology. In 12 engaging chapters, Neil deGrasse Tyson explains, in straightforward and mostly jargon-free prose, the composition of the universe and the laws that govern it. Covering topics ranging from the Big Bang to general relativity to dark matter, he also describes what we don't yet know about the universe.
So you know: While some science background is always useful when confronting astrophysics, it's not essential to enjoy this book.
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| I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed YongIntroducing: the microbiome, a complex ecosystem of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microscopic organisms living in and on our bodies.
Why you should read it: Science writer Ed Yong's accessible field guide to microorganisms reveals that they're more than just germs to be wiped out -- they form communities that help our bodies function, making them a promising subject for medical research.
You might also like: Rob Dunn's The Wildlife of Our Bodies or Rodney Dietert's The Human Super-Organism. |
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Dirt is good : the advantage of germs for your child's developing immune system
by Jack Gilbert
What it's about: From two of the world's top scientists and one of the world's top science writers (all parents), Dirt Is Good is a Q&A-based guide to everything you need to know about kids & germs. "Is it OK for my child to eat dirt?" That's just one of the many questions authors Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight are bombarded with every week from parents all over the world. They've heard everything from "My two-year-old gets constant ear infections. Should I give her antibiotics? Or probiotics?" to "I heard that my son's asthma was caused by a lack of microbial exposure. Is this true, and if so what can I do about it now?" Google these questions, and you'll be overwhelmed with answers. The internet is rife with speculation and misinformation about the risks and benefits of what most parents think of as simply germs, but which scientists now call the microbiome : the combined activity of all the tiny organisms inside our bodies and the surrounding environment that have an enormous impact on our health and well-being. Who better to turn to for answers than Drs. Gilbert and Knight, two of the top scientists leading the investigation into the microbiome--an investigation that is producing fascinating discoveries and bringing answers to parents who want to do the best for their young children. Dirt Is Good is a comprehensive, authoritative, accessible guide you've been searching for.
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Catching cancer : the quest for its viral and bacterial causes
by Claudia Maria Cornwall
What it's about: Explores the controversial idea that cancer can be caught, examining the proposed viral and bacterial causes of the disease and how it might be prevented.
Reviewers say: *Starred Review* Can germs give you cancer? In some cases, yes. Can you catch cancer from an individual who already has cancer? No. An estimated 20 percent of cancers are due to infectious agents viruses and bacteria. The notion that certain microorganisms are carcinogenic comes with a big dividend: prevention, and perhaps cure, of these types of cancer may be possible with antibiotics, antiviral medications, and vaccines.
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The elegant universe : superstrings, hidden dimensions, and the quest for the ultimate theory
by B. Greene
What it's about: Introduces the superstring theory that attempts to unite general relativity and quantum mechanics.
Reviewers say: The New York Times Book Review In a rare blend of scientific insight and writing as elegant as the theories it explains, Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of 11 dimensions where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter-from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas-is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy. Green uses everything from an amusement park ride to ants on a garden hose to illustrate the beautiful yet bizarre realities that modern physics is unveiling. Dazzling in its brilliance, unprecedented in its ability to both illuminate and entertain, The Elegant Universe is a tour de force of science writing-a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.
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Stuff matters : exploring the marvelous materials that shape our manmade world
by Mark Miodownik
What it's about: A world-leading materials scientist presents an engrossing collection of stories that explain the science and history of materials, from the plastic in our appliances to the elastic in our underpants, revealing the miracles of engineering that seep into our everyday lives.
About the author: Mark Miodownik recently appeared in The Times' inaugural list of the 100 most influential scientists in the UK. He is Professor of Materials and Society at UCL and presenter of several BBC television documentaries, including How it Works and The Genius of Invention, as well as appearing as scientist-in-residence on Dara O Briain's Science Club. In 2010, he gave the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. He is Director of the UCL Institute of Making which is home to a materials library containing some of the most wondrous matter on earth, and has collaborated to make interactive events with many museums, such as Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery and Wellcome Collection.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Central Mississippi Regional Library System
100 Tamberline Street
Brandon, Mississippi 39042
601-825-0100
http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us
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