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Nature and Science December 2018
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The order of time
by Carlo Rovelli
What it's about: An accessible exploration of the nature of time that illuminates the questions debated by physicists and philosophers. It challenges assumptions that time is linear or even measurable while explaining the critical role of perception.
It's by: The best-selling author of "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics"
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With one shot : family murder and a search for justice
by Dorothy Marcic
What it's about: Determined to find the truth surrounding her beloved uncle’s violent death once and for all. The author reexamined the evidence and spent more than 14 hours with the alleged killer. She unraveled a shocking tale of a heartless woman who manipulated those around her and duped a troubled teenager into committing a heinous crime.
For Fans of: True Crime
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The weather detective : rediscovering nature's secret signs
by Peter Wohlleben
What it's about: A guide to better understanding environmental phenomena by recognizing clues in nature and the weather. The author answers such questions as "Why do southerly winds in winter bring storms, or What temperature do bees stay home?".
Who it's by: The German ecologist and internationally best-selling author of "The Hidden Life of Trees".
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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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| 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 stowaway : a young man's extraordinary adventure to Antarctica
by Laurie Gwen Shapiro
What it's about: Documents the true story of a scrappy teen from New York's Lower East Side who stowed away on a daring expedition to Antarctica in 1928. This traces the sensational heyday of the time and how high schooler Billy Gawronski jumped into the Hudson and snuck aboard the expedition's flagship, eventually becoming an international celebrity.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Prince George's County Memorial Library System 9601 Capital Lane Largo, Maryland 20774 301-699-3500www.pgcmls.info/ |
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