How to Feed the World
"Vaclav Smil is my favorite author."--Bill Gates An indispensable analysis of how the world really produces and consumes its food--and a scientist's exploration of how we can successfully feed a growing population without killing the planet We have never had to feed as many people as we do today. And yet, we misunderstand the essentials of where our food really comes from, how our dietary requirements shape us, and why this impacts our planet in drastic ways. As a result, in our economic, political, and everyday choices, we take for granted and fail to prioritize the thing that makes all our lives possible: food. In this ambitious, myth-busting book, Smil investigates many of the burning questions facing the world today: why are some of the world's biggest food producers also the countries with the most undernourished populations? Why do we waste so much food and how can we solve that? Could the whole planet go vegan and be healthy? Should it? He explores the global history of food production to understand why we farm some animals and not others, why most of the world's calories come from just a few foodstuffs, and how this might change in the future. How to Feed the World is the data-based, rigorously researched guide that offers solutions to our broken global food system.
Saving the Chesapeake
The decades-long effort to protect one of the nation's most important waterways The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and the site of some of the most significant moments in the nation's history. This book provides for the first time a comprehensive story of the effort to save and protect its waters and living resources for future generations. Andrew Ramey describes the enormous task--engaging the states in the Bay's watershed and the federal government since 1983--to realize one of the largest, most complex, and most expensive ecosystem restoration projects ever undertaken. He also unfolds a dramatic political narrative, tracing the momentous changes in American environmental politics from the "green" heyday of the 1960s and 1970s to the environmental movement's collision with the Reagan administration in the 1980s and the movement's ultimate triumph over the anti-environmental backlash of the 1990s and early 2000s. Along the way, he clarifies assumptions about the environmental movement, the major parties' roles in it, and our society's efforts to forge sustainable relationships with the natural world. Saving the Chesapeake reveals how a campaign to rescue this crucial resource altered the course of American environmentalism.
Habitats of Europe
The essential field guide to all of Europe's major habitats--visually stunning, meticulously researched, and packed with invaluable information Europe is a place of natural wonders, from the icy expanses of the tundra to the arid beauty of deserts and the lush vibrancy of rainforests. This illustrated guide covers all the continent's major habitats, providing an invaluable resource for understanding and preserving its breathtaking landscapes, ecosystems, and wildlife. Unlike standard habitat classification systems that focus solely on plant communities, Habitats of Europe offers a unique approach to understanding habitats by combining animal assemblages with descriptions of habitat structure, climate, soils, and vegetation. Perfect for nature lovers and ecologists. Whether you're a seasoned ecologist or a curious nature lover, this one-of-a-kind field guide will inspire you to explore and protect the rich biodiversity of Europe.Features engaging, fact-filled descriptions of 56 major habitatsIncludes a wealth of climate graphs, silhouettes, and breathtaking color photosPresents an easy-to-use system for assessing and understanding habitats--developed in collaboration with experts in conservation, birding, and tour guidingEncourages the reader to look beyond individual species and understand the intricate interactions that define each ecosystemMakes habitat science accessible to a wider audience, enticing the reader to discover more about the continent and its ecologyAn ideal travel companion for birders, naturalists, and wildlife enthusiastsThe go-to reference for conservation organizations, ecologists, and policymakers
Bacteria to AI
A new theory of mind that includes nonhuman and artificial intelligences. The much-lauded superiority of human intelligence has not prevented us from driving the planet into ecological disaster. For N. Katherine Hayles, the climate crisis demands that we rethink basic assumptions about human and nonhuman intelligences. In Bacteria to AI, Hayles develops a new theory of mind--what she calls an integrated cognitive framework (ICF)--that includes the meaning-making practices of lifeforms from bacteria to plants, animals, humans, and some forms of artificial intelligence. Through a sweeping survey of evolutionary biology, computer science, and contemporary literature, Hayles insists that another way of life, with ICF at its core, is not only possible but necessary to safeguard our planet's future
Do Aliens Speak Physics?
When the long-awaited day dawns and the aliens finally arrive on Earth, they might eat us and destroy the planet--or, just maybe, they might share the secrets of the Universe with us. When that time comes, will we be able to cross the communication barrier to beg for our lives? If the aliens do hold out those precious jewels of knowledge, will we even be able to grasp them?It's long been assumed, in both science fiction and real scientific efforts to communicate with hypothetical aliens, that math and physics could serve as a universal language connecting us with extraterrestrial minds. But as humanity draws ever closer to the possibility of an interplanetary future and expands its agelong search for alien life and intelligence, beloved author and physicist Daniel Whiteson and best-selling cartoonist Andy Warner wonder if we should be so sure. In Do Aliens Speak Physics?, they take readers on a wild adventure to the edges of space-time, science, and the imagination to investigate whether an alien-human mind meld could ever be achieved.Deploying cutting-edge physics, deep philosophical insight, and plenty of cartoons, Whiteson and Warner explode what we thought we knew about talking to our cosmic neighbors--and even science itself--by asking and answering questions both lighthearted and profound. Would aliens even need science to build the technology that brings them to Earth? Is it possible that they could experience the Universe very differently from us--tasting electrons and smelling photons? Would the extraterrestrials have to perceive "electrons" and "photons" at all, or are these particles only convenient concepts for our human minds? At bottom, does physics reveal fundamental truths about the Universe, as we so often believe, or might it in fact tell us more about ourselves?As ultimately mind-altering as it is hilarious, Do Aliens Speak Physics? will leave you with a view of the Universe--and humanity--that's stranger and more marvelous than before.
Why We Remember
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER - Memory is far more than a record of the past. In this groundbreaking tour of the mind and brain, one of the world's top memory researchers reveals the powerful role memory plays in nearly every aspect of our lives, from recalling faces and names, to learning, decision-making, trauma and healing. "Why We Remember offers a radically new and engaging explanation of how and why we remember." --Dr. Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep "Prominent neuroscientist and Guggenheim Fellow Charan Ranganath guides us through the science of our memories with incredible insight and clear science. He combines fascinating tales of the peculiarities of memory with practical, actionable steps. Not only will every reader remember better afterward, they'll also never forget this life-changing book." --Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of Maladies and Gene A new understanding of memory is emerging from the latest scientific research. In Why We Remember, pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath radically reframes the way we think about the everyday act of remembering. Combining accessible language with cutting-edge research, he reveals the surprising ways our brains record the past and how we use that information to understand who we are in the present, and to imagine and plan for the future. Memory, Dr. Ranganath shows, is a highly transformative force that shapes how we experience the world in often invisible and sometimes destructive ways. Knowing this can help us with daily remembering tasks, like finding our keys, and with the challenge of memory loss as we age. What's more, when we work with the brain's ability to learn and reinterpret past events, we can heal trauma, shed our biases, learn faster, and grow in self-awareness. Including fascinating studies and examples from pop culture, and drawing on Ranganath's life as a scientist, father, and child of immigrants, Why We Remember is a captivating read that unveils the hidden role memory plays throughout our lives. When we understand its power-- and its quirks--we can cut through the clutter and remember the things we want to remember. We can make freer choices and plan a happier future.
The Mystery of the Mind
A classic account of the relationship between the human brain and the human mind Can the mind be explained by what we know about the brain? Is a person's being determined by their body alone or by their mind and body as separate elements? In this incisive and engaging book, Wilder Penfield, whose work pioneered such research, shares insights into these and other questions, providing an in-depth look at the function of the brain and its relationship to the action of the mind. With a foreword by Charles W. Hendel, an introduction by William Feindel, and reflections by Sir Charles Symonds, The Mystery of the Mind is Penfield's compelling personal account of his experiences as a neurosurgeon and scientist observing the inner workings of the brain in conscious patients.
Field Notes from the Northern Forest
With the same humor and personable ease that characterizes the popular weekly nature program that he coproduces on North Country Public Radio, Curt Stager draws on scientific literature and on his own observations to share his curiosity about the natural world alongside illustrations by Lake Placid naturalist Anne E. Lacy. These twenty natural science essays take us down to ground level to explore the lives of animals, plants, and fungi commonly encountered in the conifer, hardwood, and mixed wood forests of northeastern North America.
The Mystery of the Mind
A classic account of the relationship between the human brain and the human mind Can the mind be explained by what we know about the brain? Is a person's being determined by their body alone or by their mind and body as separate elements? In this incisive and engaging book, Wilder Penfield, whose work pioneered such research, shares insights into these and other questions, providing an in-depth look at the function of the brain and its relationship to the action of the mind. With a foreword by Charles W. Hendel, an introduction by William Feindel, and reflections by Sir Charles Symonds, The Mystery of the Mind is Penfield's compelling personal account of his experiences as a neurosurgeon and scientist observing the inner workings of the brain in conscious patients.
Real Life Yellowstone
In a place like Yellowstone the rules that humans normally live by are only one set of rules among many. When we leave the roads and villages other rules come into play, rules where creatures who are not always friendly have a say. The largest animal in North America, the bison, lives here and is often ill-tempered. The Park hosts a wide range of pathogens--viruses, bacteria, and parasites, including one that gives you bubonic plague. Yellowstone has two species of poisonous snakes, almost every species of deer in North America, grazing animals, lions, wolves and bears. Some Yellowstone creatures are profoundly dangerous; they eat people. It's not surprising that a land with such astounding landscapes also has astounding lifeforms. That is what makes life in Yellowstone real and gives it quality.
The Parent-Child PLAYBOOK
The Parent-Child PLAYBOOK: Learning Activities for STEM EducationIgnite your child's curiosity and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of STEM with this ultimate guide to meaningful, educational play. Designed for parents of young learners, this book offers hands-on activities that make science, technology, engineering, and math concepts come alive through fun and engaging play.Each activity includes step-by-step instructions and exact phrases for parents, ensuring you feel confident guiding your child's exploration and learning. From fostering problem-solving skills to sparking creativity and critical thinking, this book equips you to transform every moment into a STEM learning adventure.Inside, you'll discover: - Science Exploration: Cultivate curiosity with activities that teach your child how to observe, hypothesize, and experiment with the natural world.- Engineering & Design Thinking: Introduce hands-on building challenges that encourage creativity and teach your child how to turn ideas into reality.- Math & Logical Reasoning: Develop your child's confidence with numbers through games that make learning math concepts exciting and accessible.Every page is crafted to strengthen your bond with your child while supporting their intellectual and emotional growth. With clear guidance on what to say, what to do, and how to inspire, this book makes it easy to nurture your child's STEM skills and foster a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.Turn curiosity into discovery and playtime into the ultimate STEM education experience! *The Parent-Child PLAYBOOK series is the ultimate resource for strengthening the bond between you and your child while fostering their growth across all key developmental areas.
Definitions and Mathematical Knowledge
This Element discusses the philosophical roles of definitions in the attainment of mathematical knowledge. It first focuses on the role of definitions in foundational programs, and then examines their major varieties, both as regards their origins, their potential epistemic roles, and their formal constraints. It examines explicit definitions, implicit definitions, and implicit definitions of primitive terms, these latter being further divided into axiomatic and abstractive. After discussing elucidations and explications, various ways in which definitions can yield mathematical knowledge are surveyed.
Definitions and Mathematical Knowledge
This Element discusses the philosophical roles of definitions in the attainment of mathematical knowledge. It first focuses on the role of definitions in foundational programs, and then examines their major varieties, both as regards their origins, their potential epistemic roles, and their formal constraints. It examines explicit definitions, implicit definitions, and implicit definitions of primitive terms, these latter being further divided into axiomatic and abstractive. After discussing elucidations and explications, various ways in which definitions can yield mathematical knowledge are surveyed.
Soil Biology & Ecology
Soil Biology & Ecology: The Basics offers an accessible introduction to the diverse and dynamic world beneath our feet. This book explores soil as a thriving habitat, detailing the rich biodiversity of microorganisms and macroorganisms that sustain essential ecological cycles. It covers the key biochemical cycles in soil, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, explaining how these processes contribute to soil fertility and ecosystem health. With a focus on ecological relationships like symbiosis and competition, this guide illuminates the vital role of soil in supporting life and agricultural productivity. Ideal for students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts, the book is a foundational resource for understanding soil's impact on the biosphere and human food production. Key Features: - Comprehensive overview of soil as a living ecosystem- Detailed coverage of soil microbiota, macrobiota, and biochemical cycles- Insights into ecological relationships and their practical applications
Saving the Chesapeake
The decades-long effort to protect one of the nation's most important waterways The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and the site of some of the most significant moments in the nation's history. This book provides for the first time a comprehensive story of the effort to save and protect its waters and living resources for future generations. Andrew Ramey describes the enormous task--engaging the states in the Bay's watershed and the federal government since 1983--to realize one of the largest, most complex, and most expensive ecosystem restoration projects ever undertaken. He also unfolds a dramatic political narrative, tracing the momentous changes in American environmental politics from the "green" heyday of the 1960s and 1970s to the environmental movement's collision with the Reagan administration in the 1980s and the movement's ultimate triumph over the anti-environmental backlash of the 1990s and early 2000s. Along the way, he clarifies assumptions about the environmental movement, the major parties' roles in it, and our society's efforts to forge sustainable relationships with the natural world. Saving the Chesapeake reveals how a campaign to rescue this crucial resource altered the course of American environmentalism.
Vigor
An examination of the link between the vigor with which we move and the value that the brain assigns to the goal of the movement. Why do we reflexively run toward people we love, but only walk toward others? In Vigor, Reza Shadmehr and Alaa Ahmed examine the link between how the brain assigns value to things and how it controls our movements. They find that brain regions thought to be principally involved in decision making also affect movement vigor--and that brain regions thought to be principally responsible for movement also bias patterns of decision making. Shadmehr and Ahmed first consider the relationship of value and vigor from a behavioral and mathematical perspective, considering a series of fascinating observations--including, for example, data showing that people in certain cities tend to walk faster than those living elsewhere--through the lens of optimal foraging theory. They then go on to explore the neural basis of vigor and valuation, synthesizing results from experiments that have measured activity in various brain structures and neuromodulators, including dopamine and serotonin. They speculate that in the future, technologies may be able to predict our personal preferences by measuring our movements; through the vigor with which we move, we unwittingly reveal one of our well-guarded secrets: how much we value the object of our attention.
The Forgotten Sense
"The Forgotten Sense leaves us with the hope of new discoveries and new recoveries--so that we may once again revel in the glorious, fragrant world around us."--Wall Street JournalBy one of the world's leading researchers into the science of smell, a fascinating exploration of our most essential yet least understood sense--enabling us to appreciate food and drink, warning us of dangers, and even influencing who we fall in love withOur sense of smell guides our lives far more than our screen-heavy, sight-privileged era would suggest. It animates our experience of food and drink, helps us access memories, and strengthens our intimacy with each other. But, long considered our most "beastly" sense, the inner workings of smell have stumped scientists for centuries.Now, cognitive scientist and leading smell researcher Jonas Olofsson uncovers the sophisticated processes that drive our olfactory system, with profound implications for how we perceive the world around us. Drawing from cutting-edge original research, Olofsson shows that not only is our sense of smell extraordinarily sensitive, its process of chemical exchange shaped human evolution on its most fundamental level.From the pheromones, environmental signals, and emotions we process with each breath, olfaction makes us the individuals we are. Moreover, smelling is an intellectual exercise, Olofsson argues, one that we have the remarkable capacity to strengthen and, with some effort, even regain after illness.With infectious curiosity and a host of applications--from emotional health and gastronomy to literature and even politics--The Forgotten Sense is a wide-ranging and entertaining look at this most understudied function of human life.
Out of Your Mind
From the creator of WE HAVE NO IDEA, an introductory journey into your own mind--if your inner voice had a Ph.D. in brain science, cracked jokes, and drew cartoons. Why do you love? Why do you lie? What makes you happy? Every single thought you have comes from one place: your brain. But what makes it tick? How much of it have we decoded, and how much of it remains an impenetrable mystery? Join best-selling author and online cartoonist Jorge Cham and neuroscientist Dwayne Godwin on a deep dive into the fascinating world of the human brain, in which they will explore questions such as: What is consciousness? Where is you in the brain? And do we have free will? All while illuminating everything we know (and DON'T know) about one of the most complex objects in the known universe. Think of it as conversation-ammunition for your next cocktail party, or a quick fascinating read while you're in the bathroom (don't worry, the chapters aren't that long). Centered around questions we all ask ourselves at some point but don't usually have answers to, Out of Your Mind is an illustrated book about the brain that isn't too brainy. Playful, accessible, and deeply insightful, it's the one brain book that's truly accessible and suitable for all brains.
Bacteria to AI
A new theory of mind that includes nonhuman and artificial intelligences. The much-lauded superiority of human intelligence has not prevented us from driving the planet into ecological disaster. For N. Katherine Hayles, the climate crisis demands that we rethink basic assumptions about human and nonhuman intelligences. In Bacteria to AI, Hayles develops a new theory of mind--what she calls an integrated cognitive framework (ICF)--that includes the meaning-making practices of lifeforms from bacteria to plants, animals, humans, and some forms of artificial intelligence. Through a sweeping survey of evolutionary biology, computer science, and contemporary literature, Hayles insists that another way of life, with ICF at its core, is not only possible but necessary to safeguard our planet's future
Structure and Functions of the Body;A Hand-Book of Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses and Others Desiring a Practical Knowledge of the Subject
Structure and Functions of the Body;A Hand-Book of Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses and Others Desiring a Practical Knowledge of the Subject, stands as a beacon in the world of books, bridging the gap between past and present. Once considered among the old books, this classic work-like so many forgotten and ancient books-has shaped our understanding of culture and history. It's a remarkable example of history books that have influenced generations, and now, through the dedication of Alpha Editions-your trusted book publisher-it's reborn in a fresh, elegant format. We've carefully retyped, redesigned, and improved this book so it's much more than just another title to read. Now you can enjoy clear, easy-to-read pages without any blurry scans or faded text. By choosing this edition, you're investing in more than a book-you're safeguarding a legacy. Your support keeps a remarkable piece of human heritage alive, ensuring its lessons and inspirations continue to resonate well into the future.
Visual Illusions
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications"", constitue un phare dans le monde du livre, comblant le foss矇 entre le pass矇 et le pr矇sent. Autrefois consid矇r矇 parmi les livres anciens, cet ouvrage classique, comme tant de livres anciens et oubli矇s, a fa癟onn矇 notre compr矇hension de la culture et de l'histoire. exemple remarquable de livres d'histoire qui ont influenc矇 des g矇n矇rations, et maintenant, gr璽ce au d矇vouement d'Alpha Editions, votre 矇diteur de livres de confiance, il rena簾t dans un format frais et 矇l矇gant. Nous avons soigneusement retap矇, remani矇 et am矇lior矇 ce livre pour qu'il soit bien plus qu'un simple titre ? lire. Vous pouvez d矇sormais profiter de pages claires et faciles ? lire, sans num矇risation floue ni texte d矇color矇. En choisissant cette 矇dition, vous investissez dans plus qu'un livre: vous sauvegardez un h矇ritage. Votre soutien maintient en vie un morceau remarquable du patrimoine humain, garantissant que ses le癟ons et ses inspirations continuent de r矇sonner dans le futur.
The Vitamine Manual
The Vitamine Manual"", constitue un phare dans le monde du livre, comblant le foss矇 entre le pass矇 et le pr矇sent. Autrefois consid矇r矇 parmi les livres anciens, cet ouvrage classique, comme tant de livres anciens et oubli矇s, a fa癟onn矇 notre compr矇hension de la culture et de l'histoire. exemple remarquable de livres d'histoire qui ont influenc矇 des g矇n矇rations, et maintenant, gr璽ce au d矇vouement d'Alpha Editions, votre 矇diteur de livres de confiance, il rena簾t dans un format frais et 矇l矇gant. Nous avons soigneusement retap矇, remani矇 et am矇lior矇 ce livre pour qu'il soit bien plus qu'un simple titre ? lire. Vous pouvez d矇sormais profiter de pages claires et faciles ? lire, sans num矇risation floue ni texte d矇color矇. En choisissant cette 矇dition, vous investissez dans plus qu'un livre: vous sauvegardez un h矇ritage. Votre soutien maintient en vie un morceau remarquable du patrimoine humain, garantissant que ses le癟ons et ses inspirations continuent de r矇sonner dans le futur.
The Non-Fundamentality of Spacetime
This book argues that our current best theories of fundamental physics are best interpreted as positing spacetime as non-fundamental. It is written in accessible language and largely avoids mathematical technicalities by instead focusing on the key metaphysical and foundational lessons for the fundamentality of spacetime.
Cloud-based Multi-Modal Information Analytics
The text discusses various modalities of data and provides aggregated solutions using cloud. It includes the fundamentals of neural networks, different types and how it can be used for the multi-modal information analytics. Various image-centric and video application areas are presented with deployment solutions in the cloud.
Quaternary Alloys Based on IV-VI and IV-VI2 Semiconductors
This book will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students studying materials science, solid state chemistry, and engineering.
Green Consumption in China
Based on theories discussion, policy analysis, and case studies, this title examines green consumption in China from both the macro level of policy evolution and the micro level of community participation and implementation.Drawing on the theories of sustainable development, ecological philosophy, environmental economics, consumer psychology and behavior, and community participation, this book approaches the issues of green consumption in China from the legislative and administrative aspects and economic and information means. In looking into the cases of Shenzhen and Beijing, the book unravels the implementation and development of green consumption at the community level in terms of community participation and people's awareness of the issue. Combining global experiences and local empirical studies, it discusses the concepts, evolution, and influencing factors of green consumption. It focuses on China's policy and practice, as well as the institutional hindrance and policy suggestions for further progress.This book will appeal to researchers, professionals, and policymakers interested in sustainable development, green economy, environmental economics, and sustainable consumption policy in China.
The Netocrats
The digital revolution entails that all important aspects of our existence fundamentally change: How we see the world and how we see ourselves, how we think, how we work, how we relate to and communicate with each other, and what is even possible to imagine. Everything is set in motion, which means that Philosophy must also set itself in motion. It must philosophize about its own movement, and even about movement as such. The history of who we are, where we come from, and where we are going must be rewritten. This is what Alexander Bard and Jan S繹derqvist perform in The Futurica Trilogy, originally published between 2000-2009. The Netocrats show how a new elite with new qualities under new conditions grows strong and replaces the bourgeois capitalists of the old paradigm. The Global Empire discusses - among other things - how the global communication networks create a need for political decision-making on a global level. And The Body Machines delves into the philosophical consequences of the dissolution of the concept of The Individual, which follows from the new all-powerful network structures.
Drosophila Neurobiology: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition
Research on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has played an important role in uncovering principles of nervous system structure and function. Fundamental insights include the first molecular descriptions of nervous system differentiation, the identification and elucidation of axon guidance cues, the first cloning of ion channels, the first demonstration that SNARE proteins are required for chemical neurotransmission, and the identification of single genes that regulate complex behavior. Early Drosophila neuroscience experiments used random mutagenesis to evaluate the genetic basis of complex traits. More recently, a rapidly expanding and more sophisticated genetic toolkit is readily available for precise genome modifications, and these approaches are complemented by protocols for studying neural function and behavior. Together, these methodologies have enabled and continue to drive significant progress in the field, from work investigating the earliest stages of nervous system development to the study of complex behaviors, including drug addiction and decision-making.This second edition of the laboratory manual covers a comprehensive collection of review articles and protocols in Drosophila neuroscience. The articles are divided into three sections: neural development, neurophysiology, and behavior. The chapters discuss classic approaches as well as newer genetic techniques and behavioral paradigms. The contents of this manual are largely derived from those taught at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory "Drosophila Neurobiology" course, and the protocols are designed to be highly accessible for researchers at all levels and with diverse expertise and backgrounds. The breadth of the manual makes it not only an invaluable reference for researchers that currently work with these organisms, but also an essential start-up guide for those seeking to use Drosophila in their research for the first time.
Habitats of North America
A richly illustrated field guide to all of North America's major habitats--packed with invaluable information to help you get the most out of your outdoor adventures Whether you're a birder, naturalist, outdoor enthusiast, or ecologist, knowing the surrounding habitat is essential to getting the most out of your experiences in the field. This compact, easy-to-use guide provides an unparalleled treatment of the wonderfully diverse habitats of North America. Incisive and up-to-date descriptions cover the unique features of each habitat, from geology and climate to soil and hydrology. Requiring no scientific background, Habitats of North America offers quick and reliable information for anyone who wants a deeper understanding and appreciation of the habitats around them.Covers 81 major North American habitats, including wetlands and oceanic habitatsFeatures hundreds of color photos of habitats and their wildlife, a wealth of helpful diagrams and illustrations, and a detailed distribution map for each land habitatConcise text provides all the information you need to identify and understand habitats anywhere in North America quickly and accuratelyDiscusses iconic and indicator species of birds, mammals, and plantsIncludes an in-depth section on habitat classification--invaluable for ecologistsRepresentative habitat accounts describe what you can expect to see and experience thereFormatted like a field guide for easy reference
Habitats of Africa
A richly illustrated field guide to all of Africa's major habitats--packed with invaluable information to help you understand these habitats and their wildlife With breathtaking wildlife and stunningly beautiful locales, Africa is a premier destination for birders, conservationists, ecotourists, and ecologists. This compact, easy-to-use guide provides an unparalleled treatment of the continent's wonderfully diverse habitats. Incisive and up-to-date descriptions cover the unique features of each habitat, from geology and climate to soil and hydrology, and require no scientific background. Knowing the surrounding environment is essential to getting the most out of your travel experiences. Habitats of Africa offers quick and reliable information for anyone who wants a deeper understanding and appreciation of the habitats around them.Covers 73 major African habitats, including oceanic habitatsFeatures hundreds of color photos of habitats and their wildlife, a wealth of helpful diagrams and illustrations, and a detailed distribution map for each land habitatConcise text provides all the information you need to identify and understand habitats anywhere in Africa quickly and accuratelyDiscusses iconic and indicator species of birds, mammals, and plantsIncludes an in-depth section on habitat classification--invaluable for ecologistsRepresentative habitat accounts include a feature describing what you can expect to see and experience thereFormatted like a field guide for easy reference
Race and Sociocultural Inclusion in Science Communication
Chapter 12 is available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. Conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion in science communication are in danger of generating much concern without effecting change and systematic transformations. This radical volume addresses these circular discourses and reveals the gaps in the field. Putting the spotlight on the marginalised voices of so-called 'racialised minorities', and those from Global South regions, it interrogates the global footprint of the science communication enterprise. Moving beyond tokenistic and extractive approaches, this book creates a space for academics and practitioners to challenge issues around race and sociocultural inclusion, providing mutual learning, paradigm-shifting perspectives, and innovative ways forward for the science communication advancement agenda. This work has received Special Recognition from the CIMUSET Award Committee.
Pattern Theory
This book examines the meaning and implications of pattern, presenting a comprehensive body of theory that unifies concepts of form, order, and regularity and connects them to memory and perception.
The Constitution of Science
How can science be protected, by whom and at what level? If science is valued positively as the incubator of the most successful solutions to representational problems of reality as well as the basis of the most effective interventions in the natural and social world, then its constitutional foundations must be protected. This book develops a specific normative outlook on science by introducing the idea of a 'Constitution of Science'. Scientific activities are special kinds of epistemic problem-solving activities unfolding in an institutional context. The scientific enterprise is a social process unfolding within an intricate institutional framework that structures the daily activities of scientists and shapes their outcomes. Those institutions of science which are of the highest generality make up the 'Constitution of Science' and are of fundamental importance for channelling the scientific process effectively.
The Constitution of Science
How can science be protected, by whom and at what level? If science is valued positively as the incubator of the most successful solutions to representational problems of reality as well as the basis of the most effective interventions in the natural and social world, then its constitutional foundations must be protected. This book develops a specific normative outlook on science by introducing the idea of a 'Constitution of Science'. Scientific activities are special kinds of epistemic problem-solving activities unfolding in an institutional context. The scientific enterprise is a social process unfolding within an intricate institutional framework that structures the daily activities of scientists and shapes their outcomes. Those institutions of science which are of the highest generality make up the 'Constitution of Science' and are of fundamental importance for channelling the scientific process effectively.
Error Control, Adaptive Discretizations, and Applications, Part 2
Error Control, Adaptive Discretizations, and Applications, Volume 59, Part Two highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors. Chapters in this release cover hp adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin strategies driven by a posteriori error estimation with application to aeronautical flow problems, An anisotropic mesh adaptation method based on gradient recovery and optimal shape elements, and Model reduction techniques for parametrized nonlinear partial differential equations.
Synaptic Plasticity in Neurodegenerative Disorders
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the pivotal role of synaptic plasticity in the pathogenesis, progression, and potential treatment of different neurodegenerative disorders. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and students in neuroscience, computational biology, and neurology.
Trees of Life
Saving Tropical Forests and their Biological Wealth. A WRI Guide to the Environment.
Free Agents
An evolutionary case for the existence of free will Scientists are learning more and more about how brain activity controls behavior and how neural circuits weigh alternatives and initiate actions. As we probe ever deeper into the mechanics of decision making, many conclude that agency--or free will--is an illusion. In Free Agents, leading neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell presents a wealth of evidence to the contrary, arguing that we are not mere machines responding to physical forces but agents acting with purpose. Traversing billions of years of evolution, Mitchell tells the remarkable story of how living beings capable of choice arose from lifeless matter. He explains how the emergence of nervous systems provided a means to learn about the world, granting sentient animals the capacity to model, predict, and simulate. Mitchell reveals how these faculties reached their peak in humans with our abilities to imagine and to be introspective, to reason in the moment, and to shape our possible futures through the exercise of our individual agency. Mitchell's argument has important implications--for how we understand decision making, for how our individual agency can be enhanced or infringed, for how we think about collective agency in the face of global crises, and for how we consider the limitations and future of artificial intelligence. An astonishing journey of discovery, Free Agents offers a new framework for understanding how, across a billion years of Earth history, life evolved the power to choose, and why it matters.
Writing the Heavens
In the Middle Ages and early modernity, celestial observation was frequently a subject for verbal rather than numerical and geometrical recording. These records can now be difficult to decode, since what they address is frequently obscured by formal conventions of genre, imagery, rhetoric, prosody, to name but a few. The volume collects essays exploring such configurations between literature and observation from Europe to China. How, contributors ask, were verbal representations of celestial phenomena encoded and self-consciously placed vis-?-vis other systems of representation and knowledge? What kinds of data are represented, and what are the modes in which they are communicated? What interpretational problems arise when present-day disciplines like climatology, meteorology, geophysics, and astronomy, but also literary studies, try to access them? How were discourses on religion, law, anthropology, aesthetics, colonialism etc. linked, in and through their verbal presentation, with astronomical observation and knowledge? How did individual scholars, texts, and concepts travel between European and non-European cultures, both in space and in time, and which constructions of self and other arose in the process?
The Neck
A 300-million-year tour of the prominent role of the neck in animal evolution and human culture. Humans give a lot of attention to the neck. We decorate it with jewelry and ties, kiss it passionately, and use it to express ourselves in word and song. Yet, at the neck, people have also shackled their prisoners, executed their opponents, and slain their victims. Beyond the drama of human culture, animals have evolved their necks into a staggering variety of shapes and uses vital to their lifestyles. The Neck delves into evolutionary time to solve a living paradox--why is our neck so central to our survival and culture, but so vulnerable to injury and disease? Biologist Kent Dunlap shows how the neck's vulnerability is not simply an unfortunate quirk of evolution. Its weaknesses are intimately connected to the vessels, pipes, and glands that make it so vital to existence. Fun and far-reaching, The Neck explores the diversity of forms and functions of the neck in humans and other animals and shows how this small anatomical transition zone has been a locus of incredible evolutionary and cultural creativity.
Dynamic Relationality Theory of Creative Transformation
Dynamic Relationality Theory of Creative Transformation: Grounding Machinic Ecosystems in Life Experiences introduces a visionary approach to understanding the evolving relationship between technology and human experiences. It delves into the transformative potential of Machinic Generalized Intelligence (MGI), where AI and human intelligence converge harmoniously, creating a new paradigm of interactive, machinic life experiences. This book challenges the traditional tech-centric view, advocating for a life and experience-first perspective. It presents the Dynamic Relationality Theory (DRT), a novel conceptual framework that redefines our interaction with technology, emphasizing cocreative, emergent experiences over mere digital platformization. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining philosophical insights and social theories with practical applications, this book navigates the complexities of digitalized life ecosystems, employing concepts and tools from assemblage theory, category theory, sheaf theory, differential topology, and gauge theory. For readers grappling with the complexities of AI and its societal implications, this book offers clarity and direction. It provides a robust theoretical framework to understand the changing landscape of human-technology interaction. Furthermore, it integrates philosophical insights and ethical considerations into the discussion of AI and technology, providing a well-rounded perspective that aids in ethical decision-making and responsible innovation. It also delves into practical applications and future implications of AI, aiding readers in applying these concepts in real-world scenarios. By moving beyond a purely technological focus, this book equips readers with the insights needed to navigate the ethical, philosophical, and practical challenges posed by the integration of AI into daily life. A crucial resource for academics, professionals, and policymakers, this book serves as a guide to making informed decisions and fostering responsible innovation in the age of AI.
Into the Great Emptiness
By 1930, no place in the world was less well explored than Greenland. The native Inuit had occupied the relatively accessible west coast for centuries. The east coast, however, was another story. In August 1930, Henry George Watkins (nicknamed "Gino"), a twenty-three-year-old British explorer, led thirteen scientists and explorers on an ambitious expedition to the east coast of Greenland and into its vast and forbidding interior to set up a permanent meteorological base on the icecap, 8,200 feet above sea level. The Ice Cap Station was to be the anchor of a transpolar route of air travel from Europe to North America.The weather on the ice cap was appalling. Fierce storms. Temperatures plunging lower than -50簞 Fahrenheit in the winter. Watkins's scheme called for rotating teams of two men each to monitor the station for two months at a time. No one had ever tried to winter over in that hostile landscape, let alone manage a weather station through twelve continuous months. Watkins was younger than anyone under his command. But he had several daring trips to the Arctic under his belt and no one doubted his judgement.The first crisis came in the fall when a snowstorm stranded a resupply mission halfway to the top for many weeks. When they arrived at the ice cap, there were not enough provisions and fuel for another two-man shift, so the station would have to be abandoned. Then team member August Courtauld made an astonishing offer. To enable the mission to go forward, he would monitor the station solo through the winter. When a team went up in March to relieve Courtauld, after weeks of brutal effort to make the 130-mile journey, they could find no trace of him or the station. By the end of March, Courtauld's situation was desperate. He was buried under an immovable load of frozen snow and was disastrously short on supplies. On April 21, four months after Courtauld began his solitary vigil, Gino Watkins set out inland with two companions to find and rescue him.David Roberts, "veteran mountain climber and chronicler of adventures" (Washington Post), draws on firsthand accounts and archival materials to tell the story of this daring expedition and of the epic survival ordeal that ensued.
Simply Science
Understanding science has never been easier. Combining bold graphics with easy-to-understand text, Simply Science is the perfect introduction for those who are short on time but hungry for knowledge. The book covers not only the core sciences--physics, biology, and chemistry--but also Earth science and astronomy. Assuming no previous scientific knowledge, it covers more than 100 cornerstone ideas, ranging from photosynthesis to chemical reactions, the laws of motion, and the general theory of relativity. Pared-back entries each focus on a single concept and use a combination of clear text and simple graphics to explain it as directly and concisely as possible. Whether you are studying science in school or college, or simply want a jargon-free overview of the subject, this essential guide is packed with everything you need to understand the basics of science quickly and easily.
Stretchable Electronics
Stretchable electronics is a dynamic field of research with the potential to revolutionize human health, robotics, cameras, energy storage, and even building construction. Electronics with rubber-like form factors can integrate with irregularly shaped moving substances in a seamless manner; electronic skins for prosthesis is a good example. The field of stretchable electronics has evolved and matured over the past 20 years, training generations of researchers in the development of novel materials and structures to enable robust integration of miniaturized electronic components. This book presents the work and perspective of this next generation of innovators and disruptors who are driving an exciting phase of diversification and growth in the field.
Milieus of Minutiae
The long history of tiny matter(s) in the sciences, thought, and culture Winner of the Modern Language Association Prize for an Edited CollectionFrom catastrophic weather and steady warming caused by the accumulation of carbon particles in the Earth's atmosphere to societies brought to a standstill by microscopic viruses, the new millennium has reminded us of how the minutest of phenomena can have outsized effects. This notion is one that has preoccupied the European and Anglo-American cultural imaginary since at least early modernity. Milieus of Minutiae brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars to investigate various forms and appearances of minutiae prior to and beyond the advent of magnification. The collection illuminates connections between the empirical practices and technologies with which minutiae have come to be associated and the broader, more diffuse discourses--from the philosophical to the artistic--that have attended theories of smallness before and after Hooke's Micrographia. Placing essays on Renaissance poetry, Romantic fiction, and matters of punctuation alongside essays on early modern germ theory and the optics of microscopic technology, this rigorously framed volume extends from sixteenth-century pathology to twentieth-century architectural theory, natural science to literature and art.
Quantitative Social Science Research in Practice
Applying quantitative methods, quantitative behavioral science (QBS) researchers collect and analyze data to uncover patterns and relationships that drive human behaviour. QBS studies involve exploring existing theories to generate new causal models. The book offers an approach for generating novel, parsimonious, and actionable models.
Texas Wildlife Encyclopedia
Included are over 700 color photographs, depicting the different species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish, while offering over 600 range maps to show their territory, along with basic information for the biology of each animal, Texas's wildlife has always played an important role in the history of human beings inhabiting the state. Although the state's wildlife is still an important resource for human consumption, wildlife is also increasingly important in today's culture for its intrinsic, aesthetic value. For many Texans, the age-old traditions of hunting and fishing have been replaced by a desire to simply observe wildlife and experience nature. But most Texans are largely unaware of the diversity of species inhabiting their state. This volume is intended to provide an introduction to the state's freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In Texas Wildlife Encyclopedia, nationally known naturalist Scott Shupe has collected information on all the native wildlife that reside in the Lone Star State. The seventh in a series of state wildlife encyclopedias, this book will be a handy, usable, layman's guide to Texas's native wildlife. Shupe includes the size, habitat, and abundance of each species located in the state. Whether you're a lover of the outdoors, photography, or are looking to learn more about your state, this comprehensive guide will teach you about the wonderful wildlife that covers the water, earth, and skies of Texas.
