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Nature and Science December 2017
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The vacation guide to the solar system : Science for the Savvy Space Traveler!
by Olivia Koski
"Packed with real science and fueled by imagination, a beautifully illustrated guide to traveling in our solar system. Imagine taking a hike along the windswept red plains of Mars to dig for signsof life, or touring one of Jupiter's sixty-four moons where you can photograph its swirling storms. For a shorter trip on a tight budget, the Moon is quite majestic and very quiet if you can make it during the off-season. With four-color illustrations and packed with real-world science, The Vacation Guideto theSolar System is the must-have planning guide for the curious spaceadventurer, covering all of the essentials for your next voyage, how to get there,and what to do when you arrive. Written by an astronomer from The AmericanMuseum of Natural History and one of the creators of the Guerilla Sciencecollective, this tongue-in-cheek reference guide is an imaginative exploration intothe "What if" of space travel, sharing fascinating facts about space, theplanets in our solar system, and even some moons!"
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Quakeland: On the Road to America's Next Devastating Earthquake
by Kathryn Miles
"Earthquakes are everywhere," explains science journalist Kathryn Miles, who knows her natural disasters (she's also the author of Superstorm: Nine Days Inside Hurricane Sandy). Although geological maps of the United States reveal some 2,100 known faults, the nation is ill-prepared should any of them slip. Poor infrastructure and a lack of early warning systems are causes for concern, as is the increasing number of earthquakes in unexpected places such as Oklahoma and North Dakota, where hydraulic fracturing has transformed the landscape. Given that 75 million Americans currently live in "areas of significant seismic risk," this eye-opening book is essential reading.
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Why dinosaurs matter
by Kenneth Lacovara
A paleontologist examines the importance of the way dinosaurs lived and may have died, the meaning of fossils, the nature of deep time, and humans’ place in the world as the earth moves into an uncertain environmental future.
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Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance, and the Future of Evolution
by Jonathan B. Losos
Is evolution predictable? Can it be studied in real-time? Herpetologist and Harvard museum curator Jonathan Losos believes that the answer to both questions is yes. In this accessible introduction to evolutionary biology, Losos discusses topics such as convergence (which occurs when different species independently evolve to be physically similar due to common environmental pressures), while describing the experimental research that's changing our understanding of the development of life on Earth.
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Catching breath : the making and unmaking of tuberculosis
by Kathryn Lougheed
A former tuberculosis researcher follows the history of the disease from an infection endured by early humans to how industrialization and urbanization helped TB become the monstrous, life-threatening disease it is today and examines the latest research in fighting it.
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The plant paradox : the hidden dangers in "healthy" foods that cause disease and weight gain
by Steven R Gundry
"From renowned cardiac surgeon Steven R. Gundry, MD, a revolutionary look at the hidden compounds in "healthy" foods like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains that are causing us to gain weight and develop chronic disease. In the deadly game of predator versus prey, an adult gazelle can outrun a hungry lioness, a sparrow can take flight when stalked by a cat, and a skunk can let loose a spray of noxious liquid to temporarily blind a fox. The stakes aren't always rigged against the prey. But when the prey is a plant, the poor thing is helpless, right? Wrong. Plants actually have an impressive array of defense tactics to protect themselves from predators of all shapes and sizes--including humans. Dr. Stephen Gundry explains that these defense strategies make the seemingly virtuous plants that we consume every day--fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds--far less "good for us" than we assume. Plants may use physical deterrents (think : the spine-tipped leaves of an artichoke or the hard outer coating ofa seed) as well as chemical warfare to repel predators. One of the most common forms of plants' chemical defense system comes in the form of proteins called lectins. Found in the seeds, grains, skins, rinds, and leaves of most plants, lectins act as smart bombs in the human body, causing toxic or inflammatory reactions that lead to serious conditions such as leaky gut, autoimmune disease, chronic digestive disorders, heart disease, and weight gain. In The Plant Paradox, Dr. Gundry outlines the health hazards posed by lectins as well as the ways we can avoid them. The main sources of lectins in the American diet include conventionally-raised dairy products, beans, and other legumes, wheat and grains, and specific vegetables and fruits. The simple (and daunting) fact is, lectins are everywhere. But in The Plant Paradox, Dr. Gundry provides simple hacks we easily can employ to avoid this insidious plant toxin, including : Vegetables like tomatoes and peppers are full of lectins--but most are contained in the skin and seeds. Simply peeling and de-seeding your favorite veggies makes them safer to consume. Plants want us to eat them when they're ripe to disperse their seeds! Eating fruit at the peak of ripeness--that means fresh, local, and seasonal--ensure that you will consume fewer lectins. Think "whole grains" are healthy? Think again. All of those grains and seeds with hard outer coatings are designed by nature to cause digestive distress--and are full of lectins. In fact, wheat contains one very famous lectin: gluten. With a full list of lectin-containing foods and simple substitutes for each; a step-by-step detox and eating plan; and easy lectin-free recipes, The Plant Paradox illuminates the hidden dangers lurking in your salad bowl--and shows you howto eat whole foods in a whole new way"
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What It's Like to be a Dog: And Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience
by Gregory Berns
If your pup struggles with simple commands like "sit," you may wonder how neuroscientist Gregory Berns managed to get a bunch of dogs to climb into MRI machines. Indeed, his training regimen is almost as fascinating as what he learned from scanning the dogs' brains. As Berns discovers, human and canine brains show striking structural similarities, which suggests intriguing possibilities about the emotional lives of our four-legged friends. Dog lovers won't want to miss this book.
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This blessed earth : a year in the life of an American family farm
by Ted Genoways
Exploring the history of the American small farm, a portrait of one family’s fight to preserve their legacy and the life they love follows them from harvest to harvest as they are confronted by encroaching pipelines, groundwater depletion, climate change and shifting trade policies.
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| Secret Warriors: The Spies, Scientists, and Code Breakers of World War I by Taylor DowningAlthough the trenches of the Western Front dominate the popular imagination, World War I was responsible for some astonishing advances in science and technology. Divided into five loosely connected sections, this book examines developments in aviation, communication, intelligence, weapons, and medicine, all of which played crucial roles in the war effort. For those unfamiliar with the conflict, a glossary of terms and abbreviations, as well as a "Who's Who" section provide context. |
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| The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top Secret... by Annie JacobsenInternet. GPS. That robot that does backflips. These are just a few of the innovations that have originated within the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which develops cutting-edge technologies for potential military applications. From DARPA's Cold War-era efforts to win the space race to its present-day focus on data mining and surveillance, The Pentagon's Brain draws on interviews and archival materials to present a comprehensive history of the agency. For another book on DARPA, try Sharon Weinberger's The Imagineers of War. |
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| The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of The Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise KiernanAlthough Oak Ridge, Tennessee, boasted a population of 75,000 and used as much electricity as New York City, the military-constructed town didn't appear on a single map during its World War II heyday. Many of its residents were women, recruited for a variety of positions, sworn to strict secrecy protocols, and told only that their work would ensure a swift, final World War II victory. The nuclear blast at Hiroshima at last revealed their hidden roles, for better or worse. Drawn from interviews with women who lived and worked in Oak Ridge in their youth, The Girls of Atomic City brilliantly illuminates an overlooked chapter of both World War II and women's history. |
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| Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary RoachChicken guns are pretty much what you'd expect, but what about HRVs? That stands for "human research volunteers," by the way, and they're an essential part of keeping soldiers alive, what with testing shark-repellent, flying fighter jets while blindfolded, and injecting themselves with snake venom. Steering clear of the battlefield, bestselling science writer Mary Roach instead focuses on the unsung heroes of military science while tackling, in her signature witty and irreverent style, the quirkier aspects of feeding, clothing, cleaning, and healing members of the armed forces. |
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| Predator: The Secret Origins of the Drone Revolution by Richard WhittleBefore 9/11, the drone -- a.k.a. UAV, RPV, and numerous other abbreviations -- was mostly relegated to reconnaissance missions and target practice. In this eye-opening military history, journalist Richard Whittle traces its journey from "niche technology" to mainstream weapons platform. In addition to describing the technical aspects of drones, Whittle also interviews some of the key players in their development and deployment. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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