National Network for Equitable Library Service

Why do birds have regional accents' Can horses learn math' What do animals without eyes see' Questions such as these have fascinated scientists and animal lovers alike long before ethology-the study of animal behavior-became recognized as a science in the 1970s. Now, as issues of conservation and welfare dominate the field, an understanding of how and why animals act the way they do has become even more critical.

Astrobiology, the study of life and its existence in the universe, is now one of the hottest areas of both popular science and serious academic research, fusing biology, chemistry, astrophysics, and geology. In this masterful introduction, Lewis Dartnell explores its latest findings, and explores some of the most fascinating questions in science.

In the wake of the phenomenal success of such shows as CSI, forensic science has never been so popular. The obsessive attention to detail that Grissom and his crew afford seemingly insignificant details like particles of dirt in a bullet wound have had audiences eager to know more. Siegel's study investigates the many types of evidence, how they occur in crimes, how they are collected and analyzed by scientists, and how the results are presented in court.

Winston Churchill, Andy Warhol, Walt Disney, Tom Cruise, Agatha Christie, Pablo Picasso. All famous and successful in their chosen professions. All dyslexic. Around 5 to 15% of speakers of alphabetic languages (e.g. English, French and Spanish) are dyslexic. But what is dyslexia' Are there different types of dyslexia' Is there a cure' What resources are available to help dyslexic children and adults' Nicola Brunswick answers these, and other, questions informed by current thinking and cutting-edge research.

What does classical music mean to the Western World' How has it transformed over the centuries' What relevance does it have today' Julian Johnson inspires readers to explore over 1000 years of music, and examines how music is related to some of the big ideas of Western experience including spirituality, emotion, the weight of history, and self identity. Julian Johnson is currently Professor of Music at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is also a composer and public speaker on musicology, championing the relevance of classical music to the general public.

From quarks to computing, this fascinating introduction covers every element of the quantum world in clear and accessible language. Drawing on a wealth of expertise to explain just what a fascinating field quantum physics is, Rae points out that it is not simply a maze of technical jargon and philosophical ideas, but a reality which affects our daily lives.

In this incredible expedition into the origins, workings, and evolution of our home planet, John Gribbin, bestselling author of In Search of SchrOdinger's Cat, The Scientists, and In Search of the Multiverse, does what he does best: taking four and a half billion years of mind-boggling science and digging out the best bits. From the physics of Newton and the geology of Wegener, to the environmentalism of Lovelock, this is a must read for Earth's scientists and residents alike.

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.

There are 27 million slaves alive today - more than at any point in history. Written by the world's leading experts, this shocking examination combines original research with first-hand stories from the slaves themselves to provide a reliable account of one of the worst humanitarian crises facing us today. Looking to the future, the authors offer hope with a global blueprint that proposes to end slavery in our lifetime. Kevin Bales is president of Free the Slaves. He lives in Takoma Park, MD.

How does the mind of a criminal work' How can you stop criminals from re-offending' What does being in prison do to your mind' From lie detection to psychological profiling, Professor Ray Bull and his team of experts demonstrate how understanding the mind is essential in the fight against criminality. Covering prisons, police methods, and eyewitness reliability, this book provides an authoritative introduction to the fascinating research underpinning modern criminal psychology.