National Network for Equitable Library Service

Gaining a following since the launch of the infamous Large Hadron Collider, particle physics explores our most fundamental and mind-blowing questions: How did the Universe start' What are we made of' How small is the smallest thing' Without presuming any prior scientific knowledge, Brian R. Martin takes readers on a wide-ranging tour of the field, from its beginnings in nuclear physics to the discovery of quarks and cutting-edge research into string theory, the mystery of antimatter, and the current search for the elusive "God particle." Brian R.

Eschewing the usual mathematical explanations for physics phenomena, this approachable reference explains complicated scientific concepts in plain English that everyone can understand. Tackling the big issues such as gravity, magnetism, sound, and what really happens in the Large Hadron Collider, this engaging look at physics also spells out why cats always land on their feet, why people appear to have red eyes in photographs, and the real danger of looking at an eclipse.

We're all prone to excess, even in discussions of excess, observes biologist and science writer Marlene Zuk. This year has been marked by another rainfall of books about humans destroying the environment in which they evolved, a few about the a priori Darwinian mismatch between humans and their so-called "natural" environments, and a great many more about the even greater mismatch between humans and their constructed environments.

Pollution is the single largest cause of death in the developing world. One in seven people in low- and middle-income countries die as a result of it. Simply put, pollution is now the world's most prevalent health risk. And yet, while most everyone has heard about "going green," few are aware of the more dire and sinister "brown" pollution-places where man-made toxic pollutants have taken root and spread. Brown sites poison millions of people every year, causing needless suffering and death.

From planetary movements and the exploration of our solar system to black holes and dark matter, this comprehensive reference simplifies all aspects of astronomy with an approachable question-and-answer format.

Stimulating and often startling discussions between three friends, all highly original thinkers: Rupert Sheldrake, controversial biologist, Terence McKenna , psychedelic visionary, and Ralph Abraham , chaos mathematician. Their passion is to break out of paradigms that retard our evolution and to explore new possibilities. Through challenge and synergy they venture where few have gone before, leading their readers on an exciting journey of discovery.

This groundbreaking book demonstrates that between the results of the 1976 Viking I lander and the latest scientific discoveries - from fertile Martian soil to microbe-ridden meteorites - there is a powerful case for life on the Red Planet and beyond. Exploring what forms extraterrestrial life might take and where it may reside, We Are Not Alone provides a captivating tour of the Solar System and shows that it's much more crowded than we previously realised. Dirk Schulze-Makuch is Associate Professor in Astrobiology at Washington State University.

Who said that physics has to be dull' In this rip-roaring science puzzle adventure, Byrne and Cassidy put the reader in the driving seat. Is a truck containing a bird lighter when the bird is flying or on a perch' Why does the stream from a tap get increasingly thinner' Can you speed up light' Is time travel possible' Featuring a cast of odd-ball characters and a laugh-out-loud storyline, Byrne and Cassidy explain the basic principles of modern science and guide the reader in working out the rest.

Often, thinking seriously about outlandish problems is the only way to make progress in science. The rest of the time, it's hilarious. Marc Abrahams, the founder of the famous Ig Nobel prizes, offers an addictive, wryly funny exposE of the oddest, most imaginative, and just plain improbable research from around the world. He looks into why books on ethics are more likely to get stolen and how randomly promoting people (rather than doing it based on merit) improves their work.

The search for the means to control the bodies and minds of our fellow humans has been underway for millennia, from the sleep-inducing honeycombs that felled Pompey's army to the famous voodoo potions of Haiti. But recently, science has taken up the quest.