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Nature and Science October 2019
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Strange Harvests: The Hidden Histories of Seven Natural Objects
by Edward Posnett
What it's about: seven rare and expensive natural products that represent the "commodification of the natural world."
Namely: eiderdown, vicuña wool, sea silk, tagua nuts ("vegetable ivory"), civet coffee, bird guano, and edible birds' nests.
Why you might like it: Inspired by the curiosity cabinets of natural philosophers, author Edward Posnett entertainingly delves into the history and folklore surrounding the items he discusses.
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The trouble with gravity : solving the mystery beneath our feet
by Richard Panek
An award-winning science writer traces our millennia-long effort to understand the phenomenon of gravity--the greatest mystery in physics, and a force that has shaped our universe and our minds in ways we have never fully understood until now
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Talking to robots : tales from our human-robot futures
by David Ewing Duncan
The award-winning author of Experimental Man announces the arrival of high-capacity artificial-intelligence machines, drawing on expert insights to explain how the robots of today and the near-future will transform the definition of humanity and revolutionize the world
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Archaeology from space : how the future shapes our past
by Sarah H Parcak
The National Geographic Fellow and TED Prize winner tours the modern world of satellite-driven "space archaeology" and its role in significantly advancing human discoveries and understandings about the ancient world.
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The mosquito : a human history of our deadliest predator
by Timothy C. Winegard
Follows the history of the nefarious and pesky mosquito and its impact on humanity throughout the ages and around the globe, explaining how the tiny insect influenced the results of wars, colonization and the modern world order. Illustrations.
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The nature cure : a doctor's guide to the science of natural medicine
by Andreas Michalsen
A leading professor of clinical complementary medicine reveals natural approaches to improving health, drawing on cutting-edge scientific research and practical case studies to identify the wellness benefits of sunshine, water, fresh air, proper nourishment, medicinal plants and companion animals. Illustrations.
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The last ocean : a journey through memory and forgetting
by Nicci Gerrard
The award-winning journalist and coauthor of the Nicci French best-sellers presents a lyrical, humane investigation into dementia that explores the journeys of both patients and their loved ones, exposing misguided protocols that contribute to unnecessary end-of-life pain.
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Lithium : a doctor, a drug, and a breakthrough
by Walter Armin Brown
A practicing psychiatrist and professor at Brown University reveals the remarkable untold story of a miracle drug, the forgotten pioneer who discovered it and the fight to bring lithium to the masses. Illustrations.
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Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us
by Ruth Kassinger
What it's about: the 3.7 billion-year history of algae, "Earth's authentic alchemists": powered by sunlight and water, these organisms play a vital role in turning carbon dioxide into organic matter.
Why you might like it: Science writer Ruth Kassinger travels the world to learn about algae's culinary uses, its role in everyday consumer products, and its potential as a renewable fuel.
Don't miss: a selection of tasty, easy-to-prepare seaweed recipes.
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Buzz, sting, bite : why we need insects
by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
An informative introduction to the world of insects discusses the extensive variety of insects and their role in pollinating crops and flowers, providing food for other animals, and controlling organisms that are harmful to humans
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Symphony in C: Carbon and the Evolution of (Almost) Everything
by Robert M. Hazen
What it is: a sweeping history of carbon, the basic yet multifaceted chemical element that's essential to life as we know it.
What sets it apart: Structured like a symphony, this book unfolds in four parts inspired by the classic elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
About the author: Geologist (and semi-professional musician) Robert M. Hazen is a founder of the Deep Carbon Observatory, an international, interdisciplinary group of scientists dedicated to carbon research.
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Life finds a way : what evolution teaches us about creativity
by Andreas Wagner
A biologist explains the symmetric relationship between innovation, biological evolution and human cultural creativity by comparing the process of evolution to Picasso's over forty iterations of Guernica to show the small steps that transformed dinosaurs into birds.
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The weather machine : a journey inside the forecast
by Andrew Blum
The author of Tubes presents a lively tour through the global network that predicts weather, the work of cutting-edge forecasters and what weather technology reveals about our planet and its climate.
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The Ice at the End of the World: An Epic Journey into Greenland's Buried Past and...
by Jon Gertner
What it's about: Greenland, birthplace of glaciology and harbinger of climate change.
Why you might like it: This eye-opening book pairs vividly detailed accounts of early scientific expeditions with present-day assessments of Greenland's rapidly melting ice sheet.
You might also like: William E. Glassley's A Wilder Time, which similarly reveals Greenland's deep past while speculating about its future in a rapidly warming world.
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ADHD : what every parent needs to know
by Mark Wolraich
Fully updated with the latest AAP recommendations, this award-winning guide offers parents balanced, reassuring information to help them manage this condition. Topics include: evaluation and diagnosis, coexisting conditions, behavior therapy, ADHD and academics, the role of medication, and complementary and alternative treatments. Parents will also find inspirational and relatable stories from other caretakers. Original.
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Superbugs : the race to stop an epidemic
by Matt McCarthy
The best-selling author of Odd Man Out chronicles the race to find new treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, sharing insights from the front lines of a groundbreaking clinical trial involving dangerously sick patients, innovative medicines and cutting-edge DNA technologies. Illustrations
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A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind
by Harriet A. Washington
What it's about: environmental racism, which describes the legacy of racist environmental policies and practices that disproportionately harm communities of color.
Did you know? "Approximately 60,000 industrial chemicals commonly used in the U.S. have never been tested for their effects on humans," although that doesn't stop them from harming black, brown, and indigenous children.
About the author: Journalist Harriet A. Washington won The National Book Critics Circle Award for Medical Apartheid, a sobering look at the history of medical experimentation on African Americans.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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