Carbon Nanotubes for a Green Environment
Carbon Nanotubes for a Green Environment: Balancing the Risks and Rewards describes the synthesis, characterization, and unique applications of undoped and doped carbon nanotubes as well as hybrids of them with grapheme or nanocomposites, focusing on green aspects of carbon nanotube applications. The volume shows new approaches used for tapping the potential and promise of key materials in isolation or combined with other materials.The research-oriented chapters highlight a spectrum of applications of carbon nanotubes as novel materials for energy storage as well as for environmental remediation, wastewater treatment, green health care products, and more. Chapters explore the use of carbon nanotubes for remediation methods for wastewater treatment such as by using graphene oxide-carbon nanotube composites and by applying undoped and doped carbon nanotubes for removing contaminates. The book also looks at the application of carbon nanotubes for enhanced oil recovery and for heavy metal separation. Other chapters look at the rheological behavior of carbon nanotubes-based materials and their role in processing for various products, the thermal and electrical transport in carbon nanotubes composites, carbon nanotubes-based composite materials for electromagnetic shielding applications. The biomedical applications of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials also explored, such as FTIR spectroscopy.
The Case for a Living Universe
We are composed of the same atoms as the rocks, soil, mountains and nothing more. They are apparently aware of nothing, whereas we are aware of the physical world, ourselves and much more besides. How is this possible?Science says our minds emerge from wholly unknowing matter. The idea that mind and matter are, in fact, one and the same has long been considered an elegant, although impractical answer to the question above.The Case for a Living Universe argues that we live in an aware, decision-making universe, and we should view consciousness as growing from the intelligence present throughout nature. Unlike most philosophy books, it gives the non-human world its proper status, by describing many recent studies into animal cognition and the intelligent behaviours of some non-animal life.It examines how Western culture, through religion, science and philosophy, have worked to separate us from nature, and argues the reason mind in nature is usually considered an eccentric or mystical idea, is because we humans have wrongly elevated ourselves above all other species.As Charles Darwin wrote: "He who understands baboon would do more towards metaphysics than Locke."
The Transcendent Brain
From the acclaimed author of Einstein's Dreams comes a rich, fascinating answer to the question, Can the scientifically inclined still hold space for spirituality? "Lightman...belongs to a noble tradition of science writers, including Oliver Sacks and Lewis Thomas, who can poke endlessly into a subject and...stir up fresh embers of wonder." --The Wall Street Journal Gazing at the stars, falling in love, or listening to music, we sometimes feel a transcendent connection with a cosmic unity and things larger than ourselves. But these experiences are not easily understood by science, which holds that all things can be explained in terms of atoms and molecules. Is there space in our scientific worldview for these spiritual experiences? According to acclaimed physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, there may be. Drawing on intellectual history and conversations with contemporary scientists, philosophers, and psychologists, Lightman asks a series of thought-provoking questions that illuminate our strange place between the world of particles and forces and the world of complex human experience. Can strict materialism explain our appreciation of beauty? Or our feelings of connection to nature and to other people? Is there a physical basis for consciousness, the most slippery of all scientific problems? Lightman weaves these investigations together to propose what he calls "spiritual materialism"-- the belief that we can embrace spiritual experiences without letting go of our scientific worldview. In his view, the breadth of the human condition is not only rooted in material atoms and molecules but can also be explained in terms of Darwinian evolution. What is revealed in this lyrical, enlightening book is that spirituality may not only be compatible with science, it also ought to remain at the core of what it means to be human.
The Teaching Assistant's Guide
"How should I prepare to teach a new topic?" "How do I balance my time between teaching, research, and my own classes?" "What if the students don't respect me?" New TAs--typically young graduate students--need answers to these and many other questions as they step into their roles as teachers. The Teaching Assistant's Guide offers advice to help first classes go smoothly, worksheets to help advance preparation, a teaching diary to record experiences and save time, guidance for maintaining boundaries, proven strategies to increase student participation, tips to make grading fast and fair, and steps to make a class inclusive and welcoming. Bringing together practical advice from experienced TAs and insights from education research, this handbook will help all new teachers get off to a great start. "TAing your first class as a graduate student can feel nerve-racking and overwhelming. It's hard to know what to expect. The Teaching Assistant's Guide is a terrific step by step guidebook to help set you up for success. I wish I had this resource when I was starting out!" --Shannon Odell, Neuroscientist and Science Communicator "The Teaching Assistant's Guide fills a gaping hole in the teaching literature. Himelblau creates a terrific road map for TAs with a mixture of cartoons, quotes from experienced TAs, and his own unique voice. This book is for anyone hoping to improve the classroom experience for TAs and their students." --Jo Handelsman, Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and author of Scientific Teaching and A World Without Soil
Botany for Everyone
In this book, you'll learn why some plants have cones, basic cone anatomy and function, the diversity in the four living phyla of gymnosperms, and about some of the most amazing plants on Earth, holding records in height, mass, and age. In the back of this book, the activity with an adult will show you how to make a pine cone bird feeder. The two-page glossary has definitions and IPA pronunciation guides for new terminology so you can feel confident when reading this book!
The Things We Make
"This book unravels the mysteries behind humanity's greatest masterpieces." -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think AgainDiscover the secret method used to build the world...For millennia, humans have used one simple method to solve problems. Whether it's planting crops, building skyscrapers, developing photographs, or designing the first microchip, all creators follow the same steps to engineer progress. But this powerful method, the "engineering method", is an all but hidden process that few of us have heard of--let alone understand--but that influences every aspect of our lives.Bill Hammack, a Carl Sagan award-winning professor of engineering and viral "The Engineer Guy" on Youtube, has a lifelong passion for the things we make, and how we make them. Now, for the first time, he reveals the invisible method behind every invention and takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world. Spanning centuries and cultures, Hammack offers a fascinating perspective on how humans engineer solutions in a world full of problems.Perfect for readers of Adam Grant and Simon Winchester, The Things We Make is a captivating examination of the method that keeps pushing humanity forward, a spotlight on the achievements of the past, and a celebration of the potential of our future that will change the way we see the world around us.
Returning Light
The Acclaimed International Bestseller "It is impossible to do justice to the beauty of Returning Light. The whole book is a poem." -- New York Times Book ReviewBy the lighthouse keeper on the remote, otherworldly Irish island of Skellig Michael, a "profound memoir about the importance of place and what it really means to belong" (Belfast Telegraph)"On Skellig Michael, thousands of birds appear and disappear, erecting towers, coming together in wings of movement which build and unravel over the empty sea. Often, no one else is there to stand beside me on the island. The mind wanders; links with the past are easily made; ancient ways of viewing things come alive."In 1987, Robert Harris happened upon an unusual job posting in the local paper--a new warden service was being set up on the island of Skellig Michael, and the deadline was imminent. Just weeks later he was on his way to set up camp in one of Ireland's most remote locations, unaware that he would be making that same journey every May for the next 30 years.Here he transports us to the otherworldly island, a place that is teeming with natural life, including curious puffins that like to visit his hut. From the precipice he has observed a coastline that is relatively unchanged for the last thousand years--a beacon of equilibrium in an ever-changing world.But the island can be fierce too. It's inhabitable for only five months of the year, and solitude can quickly become isolation as bad weather rolls in to create a veil between Skellig Michael and the rest of the world, when the dizzying terrain can become a very real threat to life.A beautiful and evocative work of nature writing, Returning Light is an extraordinary memoir about the profound effect a place can have on us, and how a remote location can bring with it a great sense of belonging.
Molecular Mechanisms Determining Mammalian Oocyte Quality
As the age of childbearing increases, reduced female gamete (egg) quality has emerged as the primaery cause of infertility in women. This book addresses molecular mechanisms that regulate oocyte quality as well as intrinsic and extrinsic factors that compromise these mechanisms. Eggs are produced through a unique cell division called meiosis. Oocyte meiosis is initiated early in fetal life. Shortly before birth, the oocyte undergoes a prolonged arrest at prophase I until the age of puberty, at which selected oocytes resume meiosis I. Following meiotic resumption and during oocyte maturation, tight regulation of nuclear and DNA-related mechanisms ensures proper homologous chromosome segregation prior to another arrest at metaphase II. Any errors prior to completion of meiosis I can lead to chromosome segregation errors and aneuploidy, the most common genetic cause of miscarriage and congenital disorders such as Down syndrome. In addition to nuclear maturation, several cytoplasmic processes are orchestrated to support cell division and to generate developmentally competent eggs capable of supporting fertilization and early embryonic development. The interaction between these nuclear and cytoplasmic processes is critical for producing good-quality oocytes. This volume in the Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology book series presents current reviews by leading experts. It offers valuable insights for researchers, physicians and Ph.D. students interested in reproductive biology, particularly oocyte quality and meiosis.
Tracing the Domestic Pig
The appearance of the domestic pig today is shaped mainly by the economic expectations of us, humans. Today's pig has superior reproductive, fattening, and carcass traits compared to its ancient ancestors. This could not be achieved without the highly effective support of scientific research aimed at revealing the genetic basis underlying the important economic traits of pigs and the involvement of novel technologies in phenotyping these animals, both in vivo and post-mortem. Yet the research is spreading beyond the biological issues connected to the production of pigs and their products. The latest developments in computer science and informatics technology enable us to collect and store information from all stages in the production of food, leading back to its origin. Questions about the breed, the way the pigs were raised, how were they managed, and how they were processed into a wide palette of products can be answered by the use of methodologies developed by data scientists and those from the fields of different "omics." All this information can be passed along the chain to consumers in a repeatable manner. The producers can use these data to manage such complex issues as meat or product quality. And this closes the circle. Tracing the domestic pig is an attempt to present the current knowledge about this valuable animal-its origin, composition, and the food that it gives us-and to predict or foresee what can happen to this species in the time to come.
Philosophy of Science
This textbook is a comprehensive, engaging, and user-friendly introduction to philosophy of science written by a philosopher and a scientist. By exploring traditional debates within philosophy of science, as well as analysing contemporary scientific controversies for philosophical bias, the reader is invited to reflect upon how philosophical assumptions influence scientific theory, methods, and practice. Key features: Is an accessible introduction to philosophy of science written by a philosopher and a scientist. Includes some of the many important contributions from women philosophers and scientists. Demonstrates the philosophical influences on scientific thinking, practice, and expert disagreement. Applies philosophy of science to analyse some specific real-life cases of scientific controversy. This book is an essential resource for students and teachers in philosophy of science. It is also ideal for anyone interested in the philosophical influences on contemporary science.
Lucid Dying
From internationally renowned expert in resuscitation and New York Times bestselling author Sam Parnia, MD, PhD, comes a groundbreaking look at what happens to us when we die, based on the largest-ever research study run on recalled experiences of death. Today, for the first time in history, the scientific exploration of death and what happens when we die is real, active and ongoing. Contrary to popular perceptions, this subject is no longer the remit of philosophy, religion, or personal opinion. Truly remarkable scientific discoveries that will fundamentally affect everyone's lives now and in the future are taking place, yet very few people are aware of them. Most people--including scientists and doctors--maintain strong beliefs about death and its experience. Those beliefs are rooted in traditional, and often cultural, notions of death. But what if all that we have come to believe about death is fundamentally wrong? What if the paradigm we have been operating within no longer exists? What if death is not the end we thought? Lucid Dying is the first book to share that science. Presenting data derived from multiple groundbreaking studies, Dr. Parnia shows that the entity we refer to as consciousness--our Self--does not seem to become annihilated when we die. In fact, during death, our consciousness vastly expands and leads to a vivid experience that follows a very specific narrative arc. These studies support that there really is a universal experience of death that is meaningful, transcendent, positive, and transformative--not hallucinatory, delusional, or illusory as previously imagined. In his latest book, Dr. Parnia weaves empirical research with gripping stories to show us the truth of how death is not the end we all thought and how anyone can harness the newfound wisdom to lead deeper, more intentional lives.
The New Beachcomber’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest
A new edition of the bestselling beachcomber's companion, updated with additional species, new information and photographs of West Coast seashore life, sure to enhance any trip to the beach! The Pacific Northwest coast is home to one of the most diverse displays of intertidal marine life in the world, including sponges, clams, snails, crabs, sea stars, sea anemones, jellies, fishes, seaweeds and more. The New Beachcomber's Guide to the Pacific Northwest is a portable and easy-to-use reference for searching out and identifying the hundreds of species of seashore life found on the beaches of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Southeast Alaska. Covering the Pacific Northwest's most common shoreline-dwelling flora and fauna, the guide gives in each entry a detailed description of appearance and habitat accompanied by colour photos for easy identification of any creature you might encounter as you explore your local beach. Additional details about each species are included. Simple but essential information on tides and the various habitats within the intertidal zones is also provided to assist beachcombers in exploring safely without harming the creatures they are watching. Thoroughly revised and packed with handy and accessible information, this guide belongs in the beach bag or backpack of any avid naturalist, amateur beachcomber or adventurous family.
Dig. Leap. Play.
Are you feeling stuck or unfulfilled?Want to make more of an impact?Dig. Leap. Play. is the book for YOU!In this book you will: Learn to DIG deep into yourself to finally find and use your Gift.Gain the inspiration and motivation to LEAP toward your goals. Understand the importance of PLAY and how to bring more Joy into your life.Create lifelong habits that will 'pawsitively' serve, reward and celebrate You!Our pets model a natural process of living a fulfilling life. Find out how you can learn from your pet to find and honor your own special Gift. Personal development with an animal twist, Dig. Leap. Play. will educate, entertain and motivate you to take the leap to live with more joy, passion and fulfillment, and...have fun doing it!
From Pain to Power
"This clearly written narrative of the author's recovery from debilitating chronic pain documents the value of a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques. Her personal story is compelling, the psychology is accurate, her voice is distinct from others in the field and any reader suffering non-structural pain or illness can benefit."David D Clarke, MD - President of Psychophysiologic Disorders Association.Narinder Sheena draws from her personal journey of overcoming chronic pain to empower others. She explores the neuroscience behind pain, emphasising the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the mind.Narinder highlights how unconscious trauma can manifest as physical symptoms and how emotions play a significant role in chronic pain, triggering anxiety and keeping our nervous system in a heightened state. Through her experiences, resources, and tools, she invites pain sufferers to reflect on their own journeys and discover steps toward healing.
Particle Colliders
The original title is informative but could be more engaging. Here's a breakdown: - Particle Colliders: These are the machines used to explore the fundamental particles. - Our Tools to Study the Quark-Gluon Plasma: This clarifies the purpose of the colliders - to understand a specific state of matter, the quark-gluon plasma. - Smashing Atoms! Recreating the Universe's First Soup (This title uses an exciting verb ("smashing") and creates intrigue by mentioning the quark-gluon plasma as the "first soup" of the universe.) - Beyond Solid: Unveiling the Ultra-Hot Quark-Gluon Plasma (This title uses a contrasting idea ("beyond solid") to introduce the exotic state of matter and highlights the role of particle colliders ("unveiling").
The Internet and Philosophy of Science
This book analyzes the Internet conceived in a broad sense. It includes three layers that require philosophical attention: (1) the technological infrastructure, (2) the Web, and (3) cloud computing, along with apps and mobile Internet.
Culturally Responsive Science Pedagogy in Asia
This edited volume presents a systemic view of the current initiatives and challenges for the inclusion of Culturally Responsive Science Pedagogy (CRSP) in non-western and multicultural contexts. This book's strategies and solutions serve as an important and comprehensive reference for researchers and science teacher educators.
New Philosophical Perspectives on Scientific Progress
This collection of original essays offers a comprehensive examination of scientific progress, which has been a central topic in recent debates in philosophy of science.
Scientific Understanding and Representation
This volume brings together leading scholars working on understanding and representation in philosophy of science. It features a critical conversation format between contributors that advances debates concerning scientific understanding, scientific representation, and their delicate interplay.
The Foundations of Spacetime Physics
This book provides an up-to-date overview of the foundations of spacetime physics. It features original essays written by world-class experts in the physics and philosophy of spacetime.
Unleashing the Quantum
"Unleashing the Quantum: Feynman's Path Integral Approach" tackles the profound world of quantum mechanics through the ingenious lens of Richard Feynman's path integrals. Forget stuffy equations - this book breaks down complex quantum behavior by showing how particles don't just move in straight lines, but rather explore every possible path imaginable. By understanding the influence of these countless paths, you'll unlock a deeper appreciation of the quantum world and its surprising connection to our classical reality.
The Hunt for Dark Matter
"The Hunt for Dark Matter: Particle Physics and the Quest for a Hidden Reality" plunges you into the heart of a modern scientific odyssey. We know dark matter exists - its invisible grip shapes galaxies and influences the cosmos - yet it remains frustratingly undetected. This book equips you with the tools of particle physics to understand this enigma. Explore the Standard Model, the foundation of our understanding of particles and forces, and delve into the theories that propose new particles, like WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), as potential dark matter candidates. Join the worldwide hunt as scientists build colossal detectors deep underground or in space, searching for the faintest interactions that might reveal dark matter's secrets. "The Hunt for Dark Matter" is a thrilling exploration of the unseen universe, where cutting-edge physics and ingenious experiments push the boundaries of our knowledge and challenge us to imagine a new reality.
About Face
Enter the fascinating world of forensic facial approximation and journey with me through this how to guide for the artist.Forensic facial approximation is the marriage of scientific observation and artistry to reconstruct an approximate likeness of an individual.The art of facial reconstruction is a tool used for identification, historical, or archaeological purposes, including museum displays. Reconstructing a skull will also vastly improve your understanding of the human face and overall artistic skills.Artists and scientists undertake forensic facial approximation using sculpting, drawing, or computer graphic techniques, and these disciplines often work in conjunction with one another. This book is devoted to the hands-on 3D process of reconstructing the face in clay.This book also explores the history of facial reconstruction, how we perceive faces, the sculpting process, anatomical illustrations, resources, material recommendations, tips and observational notes for each reconstruction project highlighted in this book.
Mushroom Mania
Mushrooms are fruit bodies of fungi that support plant and human health, as well as Maine's economy. Consumption of fresh mushrooms has boomed in recent years -- sales of medicinal mushroom supplements have soared. Enthusiasts are also scouring the woods to forage more mushrooms.Watercolors portray some of Maine's wild species, tasty recipes spice up the pages, plus tips are provided on how to grow mushrooms at home.
Molecular Orientation
Organic semiconductors are revolutionizing electronics with their flexibility and potential for sustainable applications. However, a hidden factor plays a crucial role in their performance - molecular orientation. This article explores how the way organic molecules are arranged within a material significantly impacts its light-related properties (photophysics). We'll delve into how: - Orientation influences light absorption: Aligned molecules can absorb light more efficiently, leading to better performance in solar cells and light-emitting devices. - Charge transport is affected: Orientation can impact how efficiently charges move within the material, crucial for functions like light emission and current flow in transistors. By understanding and controlling molecular orientation, scientists are unlocking the full potential of organic semiconductors. We'll explore innovative techniques for achieving optimal alignment and showcase how it paves the way for a brighter future of organic electronics.
The Molecular Frontier
"The Molecular Frontier: Bridging the Gap Between Classical and Microfluidic Systems" dives into the exciting world of manipulating fluids at the miniscule scale. Imagine a bridge connecting the well-established methods of classical fluidics with the revolutionary world of microfluidics. This book explores how scientists are miniaturizing fluid handling techniques. It delves into the unique advantages of microfluidic systems, where fluids flow through channels narrower than a human hair. Discover how these tiny channels enable precise control over molecules, leading to faster analyses, new experiments, and groundbreaking discoveries in various fields from medicine to materials science. "The Molecular Frontier" explains how this innovative technology bridges the gap between traditional, larger-scale methods and the fascinating world of the very small.
Undying Tales
Traverse the world through mythology and illustration and be inspired to think of and act for the endangered creatures that still share this planet with us. While the tales will live on in our cultural memory, the creatures may not. Every culture tells stories to describe the origins of existence, to explain how all the wonders that we live with and see today came to be, and how humans have coped within this world. All peoples looked around themselves, at the earth and sky, at the mountains, rivers, forests, and seas, at the unimaginable variety of living creatures that populate those vast reaches, and they marvel, and then they craft and tell tales. It is painful to think that some of these species that we live with today and that have inspired artists and storytellers for ages, might one day only survive in myth and story if action is not taken. Stephanie Law presents this book in the hopes that it will inspire readers through the enchantment and beauty of art to move through their days with more awareness. Our actions and lifestyle decisions affect our environment, take notice. Let's support our living world.
Science for Humans
This book presents and defends an original and paradigm-shifting conception of formal science, natural science, and the natural universe alike, that's fully pro-science, but at the same time neither theological or God-centered, nor solipsistic or self-centered, nor communitarian or social-institution-centered, nor scientistic or science-valorizing, nor materialist/physicalist or reductive, nor-above all-mechanistic. It does this by presenting and defending what Robert Hanna calls the neo-organicist turn, including manifest realism and the three sub-parts of metaphysical organicism: liberal naturalism, mind-life continuity, and explanatory inversion, whereby mechanical systems are explained by grounding them in organic systems, and not the other way around. Or more briefly and simply put, the purpose of this book is to present and defend science for humans. As such, it will be highly interesting and profoundly relevant to graduate students and specialist researchers in philosophy and the formal-&-natural sciences.
Have We Lost Our Minds?
With advances in neuroscience, many Christians are confused about what the soul is and its role in human flourishing. This confusion is rapidly increasing through the writings of "neurotheologians" such as Curt Thompson and Jim Wilder, who imply our brains are ultimately the cause of our thoughts, beliefs, desires, choices, and very identity. This book identifies and corrects the wrong assumptions of neurotheologians, outlines a biblically and philosophically sound understanding of our soul and its relation to the body, and illustrates how this understanding is the right path toward more fully loving God and loving others.
Beyond the Dipole
The ideal MHD case is simpler and easier to visualize, as we can treat the field lines as being "frozen" to the plasma [26]. By "frozen," we mean that the magnetic field must move with the plasma; as a consequence, the system can be decomposed into tubes of equal magnetic flux. If a flux tube moves radially outward, it moves into a region of lower magnetic field [27], which increases the volume of the flux tube and adiabatically cools it. For a flux tube to move outward, it must exchange places with another flux tube moving inward, whose volume will be reduced in the region of stronger magnetic field and lead to adiabatic heating. This swapping of flux tubes is known as an electrostatic interchange (or flute) instability [28]. Note that by definition there is no change to the magnetic topology and there are no parallel currents. This mode is the plasma equivalent of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in neutral fluids, in which a heavy fluid is supported a against gravity by a lighter fluid. In neutral fluids the instability grows when the pressure gradient is anti-parallel to the gravitational force; in plasmas it grows when the pressure gradient is antiparallel to the radius of curvature of the magnetic field; such plasmas are often referred to as having "bad" curvature.
Unfinished Symphony
"Unfinished Symphony: The Standard Model and the Quest for a Complete Theory" delves into the world of particle physics and the Standard Model. The Standard Model is a remarkably successful theory that explains most fundamental particles and forces, but it's not the entire picture. Imagine a grand symphony representing the universe's fundamental laws. The Standard Model is like a beautiful movement, explaining a vast range of instruments (particles) and their interactions. Yet, there are lingering unanswered questions and hints of other movements in the symphony. This book explores these limitations of the Standard Model. It might delve into mysteries like dark matter and dark energy, which the Standard Model can't account for. The quest for a complete theory becomes the focus, like searching for the missing movements of the symphony. "Unfinished Symphony" explores ongoing research in particle physics, like exploring new particles or forces beyond the Standard Model. It might discuss powerful particle accelerators that probe the universe's deepest secrets and the hope of one day composing a complete symphony that explains everything.
Marangoni Convection in Microgravity
This title effectively captures the essence of the topic with intriguing elements. Here's a breakdown of its components and potential content: - Marangoni Convection: This introduces the phenomenon of interest, a specific type of heat transfer driven by surface tension variations. - Microgravity: This sets the context - the unique environment of space with minimal gravity. - Unveiling the Secrets: This creates a sense of mystery and piques curiosity about the behavior of Marangoni convection in this environment. - Non-Periodic Flow: This highlights a potential difference in flow patterns compared to traditional Marangoni convection. Content Breakdown: 1. Marangoni Convection on Earth: Briefly explain how Marangoni convection works on Earth, driven by surface tension gradients causing controlled flow patterns. 2. Microgravity's Impact: Discuss how microgravity disrupts traditional heat transfer mechanisms like buoyancy-driven convection. 3. Non-Periodic Flow in Microgravity: Explore the potential changes in Marangoni convection behavior in this environment: o Unpredictable Patterns: Explain how the absence of buoyancy might lead to less predictable or more chaotic flow patterns compared to Earth. o New Research: Highlight ongoing research efforts to understand and predict these non-periodic flow patterns. The title "Marangoni Convection in Microgravity" suggests a few potential content directions: - Challenges for Material Processing: Explore how non-periodic flow patterns might pose challenges for material processing applications that rely on controlled Marangoni convection. - Advanced Modeling Techniques: Discuss the development of new modeling techniques to simulate and predict non-periodic flow behavior in microgravity. - Microfluidic Applications: Explore potential applications of Marangoni convection with non-periodic flow patterns in microfluidic devices used in space research or technology.
Animals, Plants and Afterimages
The sixth mass extinction or Anthropocene extinction is one of the most pervasive issues of our time. Animals, Plants and Afterimages brings together leading scholars in the humanities and life sciences to explore how extinct species are represented in art and visual culture, with a special emphasis on museums. Engaging with celebrated cases of vanished species such as the quagga and the thylacine as well as less well-known examples of animals and plants, these essays explore how representations of recent and ancient extinctions help advance scientific understanding and speak to contemporary ecological and environmental concerns.
Mutual Aid
A pioneering treatise on embracing cooperation and reciprocity to usher in a greener and more inclusive world, from the major anarchist thinker A Penguin Classic Welcome to the anarchist history of the world. In this lively, provocative work, Peter Kropotkin argues that "mutual aid" is a natural instinct in all of us, animal and human. Cooperation, reciprocity, support: these, for Kropotkin, are the overlooked foundations of our history. From the earliest days of evolution through to artisanal guilds, indigenous nomads, and even the Royal National Lifeboat Association, it is a pragmatic, mutually beneficial bond to our fellow humans that has allowed us to survive. In this, Kropotkin challenges all the major orthodoxies of his age, from individualism and social Darwinism to Marxist theories of the savior state. Instead, these essays insist that a better life for all of us--and our planet--begins when we reject competition, and embrace the local, the mutual, and the collective.
Artificial Cognitive Systems
A concise introduction to a complex field, bringing together recent work in cognitive science and cognitive robotics to offer a solid grounding on key issues. This book offers a concise and accessible introduction to the emerging field of artificial cognitive systems. Cognition, both natural and artificial, is about anticipating the need for action and developing the capacity to predict the outcome of those actions. Drawing on artificial intelligence, developmental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, the field of artificial cognitive systems has as its ultimate goal the creation of computer-based systems that can interact with humans and serve society in a variety of ways. This primer brings together recent work in cognitive science and cognitive robotics to offer readers a solid grounding on key issues. The book first develops a working definition of cognitive systems--broad enough to encompass multiple views of the subject and deep enough to help in the formulation of theories and models. It surveys the cognitivist, emergent, and hybrid paradigms of cognitive science and discusses cognitive architectures derived from them. It then turns to the key issues, with chapters devoted to autonomy, embodiment, learning and development, memory and prospection, knowledge and representation, and social cognition. Ideas are introduced in an intuitive, natural order, with an emphasis on the relationships among ideas and building to an overview of the field. The main text is straightforward and succinct; sidenotes drill deeper on specific topics and provide contextual links to further reading.
Plasmonics
"Plasmonics: Shrinking Metals, Expanding Possibilities" uses a catchy contrast to introduce the world of plasmonics. - Shrinking Metals: This refers to the manipulation of metals at the nanoscale, creating tiny metallic nanostructures. - Expanding Possibilities: This emphasizes the vast potential applications unlocked by plasmonics. The title piques curiosity - how can shrinking metals lead to such a vast expansion of possibilities? The piece could delve into the core concept: the interaction of light with these engineered nanostructures. This interaction creates a unique property called "surface plasmon resonance," which allows for manipulating light in remarkable ways. We can then explore some of these exciting applications. Plasmonic nanoparticles are used in biosensing for medical diagnostics, detecting minute biomolecules. They can also enhance solar cell efficiency by trapping light more effectively. The title hints at the ongoing exploration of plasmonics. Scientists are delving into metamaterials with unusual optical properties and photocatalysis, where light drives chemical reactions. By "shrinking metals," plasmonics unlocks a world of expanding possibilities, pushing the boundaries of science and technology across various fields.
The Unforeseen Forces
"The Unforeseen Forces" delves into the fascinating world of solidification, the process by which liquids transform into solids. It goes beyond the textbook basics, exploring the hidden factors that can dramatically impact this seemingly straightforward phenomenon. The book unveils how seemingly minor influences, from trace impurities to subtle temperature fluctuations, can significantly alter the final solidified structure. This deeper understanding is crucial in various fields, from material science and engineering to pharmaceuticals and food production. By understanding these unforeseen forces, researchers and professionals can create stronger, more reliable materials, optimize drug delivery systems, and even enhance food textures. "The Unforeseen Forces" offers a captivating journey into the unseen world that shapes our solid reality.
Bridging Quantum and Classical
"Bridging Quantum and Classical: A Path Integral Journey" delves into the fascinating concept of Feynman Path Integrals. Unlike the strange ideas often associated with quantum mechanics, path integrals offer an intuitive bridge between the familiar world of classical mechanics and the bizarre realm of the quantum. This book explains how particles, unlike billiard balls on a table, explore every possible path between two points, with some paths influencing the outcome more than others. Through this path integral approach, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the quantum world and its connection to our everyday reality.
At the End of Property
Recent decades have witnessed the creation of new types of property systems, ranging from data ownership to national control over genetic resources. This trend has significant implications for wealth distribution and our understanding of who can own what. This book explores the idea of ownership in the realm of plant breeding, revealing how plants have been legally and materially transformed into property. It highlights the controversial aspects of turning seeds, plants and genes into property and how this endangers the viability of the seed industry. Examining ownership not simply as a legal concept, but as a bundle of laws, practices and technologies, this is a valuable contribution that will interest scholars of intellectual property studies, the anthropology of markets, science and technology studies and related fields.
The Human Test
The day awaits when AI and Big Data will be able to quantify just how predictable humans are. If indeed we are predictable like machines, to what extent are we alive, and under what definition? In The Human Test, quantum physicist Ron Folman unites findings from cognitive science, quantum physics, philosophy, and technology to offer a prescient look into this startling new era of human existence.
Bridging the Gap
Low dimensional, interacting quantum many-body systems host a wealth of interesting phenomena ranging from quantum phase transitions at zero temperature to topological order. The physics of such systems are often described by their ground states that are special and occupy a rather tiny fraction of the Hilbert space. These small set of low energy states have little entanglement compared to the states that live in the middle of the spectrum. In this context, the most sought after are the topologically ordered systems which are characterized by ground states with specific degeneracy on a manifold, long range entanglement and excitations that obey fractional statistics known as anyons [1]. The classic example is the fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect, which is a phase induced when a 2D gas of interacting electrons is subject to large magnetic fields [2, 3]. Interestingly, there have been multiple proposals to realize fractional quantum Hall physics on lattices which have several advantages over conventional solid state systems. One of the main goals of studying FQH on lattice is also to explore methods to realize anyons and to successfully braid them. In this direction, conformal field theory (CFT) has been a very useful tool to construct analytical states on lattice that describe FQH phases [4, 5] and even anyons [6] on quite large systems. Parent Hamiltonians for these analytical states have been constructed that are few body but non-local [5]. lattice, the finite size issues and effects due to the presence of edges. Hence, braiding anyons efficiently on modest lattices with open boundaries is also lacking.
Modeling Continuous-Wave Laser Beam Welding of Titanium Alloy
This licentiate book addresses an aspect of production technology that is metal processing through fusion. A challenge to take up in production technol-ogy is to develop sustainable manufacturing processes to save both material and energy consumption. A metal fusion heat source with high efficiency is laser beam. The industrial demand to increase the productivity and improve the robustness of high-power laser beam welding (LBW) and laser beam addi-tive manufacturing (LBAM) processes is driving huge research efforts towards the repeatability and reliability of the processes. Application of high-power continuous-wave laser beam for metal fusion in areas such as welding and ad-ditive manufacturing (AM) has increased during the last years with rapid pace. Continuous-wave lasers have proven their great performance in terms of their stability and power output during processing. However laser metal fusion is very complicated, and more detailed physical understanding would improve this process. The aim of this licentiate book is to reach better model reliability and deeper understanding of continuous-wave LBW of a Titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) in conduction mode through a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach.
Horror on the Brain
A fascinating exploration of the science and psychology behind fear, madness, and the haunting stories that linger in our minds Scientists throughout centuries have mined the depths of humanity looking for--and finding--answers to life's most mysterious questions, but perhaps the most memorable accounts of hidden dimensions have been left to us by science fiction writers like Philip K. Dick and Octavia Butler. When science discovers, science fiction writers ask "what's next?" Horror on the Brain reveals the real science and psychology behind science fiction's most iconic characters, from Mary Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein to the doctors of H.P. Lovecraft and even today's horror blockbusters like Get Out and The Last of Us.In this fascinating exploration of fear and madness, neuroscientist Dr. Austin Lim recounts psychology's most bizarre and haunting real-life cases alongside famous speculative fiction that stretched that science to the edge. In 1924, Hans Berger invented the EEG, a commonly used brain imaging device, as a means to telepathically communicate with his sister, eerily similar to the protagonist in H.P. Lovecraft's Beyond the Wall of Sleep, while Nobel Prize-winning research on marine animals in the 1960s reflects his tentacled creations. Phineas Gage, the 19th century man who experienced a dramatic personality shift following a traumatic brain injury, shares similarities to Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll. Investigate the neurological causes of schizophrenia and how characters in Sheridan Le Fanu's story "In a Glass Darkly" manifest the diagnosis.Neurological conditions from sleepwalking to the Cotard delusion--which leads patients to believe they are dead, even going to such extremes as burying themselves alive--have provided the basis for horror stories since their discovery, and, likewise, the wildly imaginative minds of writers have even prompted scientific research. Horror on the Brain uses illuminating analogies to connect science fact and science fiction, showing how spooky stories contain insights into the dark corners of the human mind and why we can't stop looking into the abyss.
The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi
"Fans of Merlin Sheldrake's Entangled Life and Suzanne Simard's Finding the Mother Tree will enjoy Seifert's latest... A perspective-shifting guide to our microfungal matrix."--Kirkus Even though we can't always see them, fungi exist all around us. From forests and farms to food and medicine--and even our homes and bodies--fungal connections shape how we live. In this illuminating book, readers will "discover how these marvels of nature enrich (and sometimes threaten) our lives."(Peter Wohlleben, New York Times-bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees. Esteemed career mycologist Keith Seifert reveals the important role that microscopic fungi, including yeasts, molds, and slimes, play in our lives, all while remaining invisible to the naked eye. Divided into sections, each one exploring a different environment where fungi thrive, The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi introduces readers to the fascinating world of mycology, with information on: How fungi are at the heart of life-changing medical breakthroughs, including the development of antibiotics such as penicillin and organ transplant drugs.Where fungi live in our homes and how they influence our health, from our gut to our scalps.How fungi add important vitamins to our diet and make our favorite foods and drinks possible, including wine, cheese, chocolate, and beer.The essential role fungi are playing in innovative technologies, such as creating alternative energy sources, reducing plastic pollution, cleaning up toxins from oil spills, and even building architecture for a Mars colony.Despite their many benefits, we hold a precarious relationship with fungi: fungal diseases lead to over 1 million deaths each year, and they have played a destructive role in disasters ranging from the Irish Potato Famine to possibly even the extinction of the dinosaurs. The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi urges us to better understand our relationship with fungi--and to plan our future with them in mind--while revealing their world in all its beautiful complexity.
Have We Lost Our Minds?
With advances in neuroscience, many Christians are confused about what the soul is and its role in human flourishing. This confusion is rapidly increasing through the writings of ""neurotheologians"" such as Curt Thompson and Jim Wilder, who imply our brains are ultimately the cause of our thoughts, beliefs, desires, choices, and very identity. This book identifies and corrects the wrong assumptions of neurotheologians, outlines a biblically and philosophically sound understanding of our soul and its relation to the body, and illustrates how this understanding is the right path toward more fully loving God and loving others.
Twists on the Quantum
In the perplexing world of quantum mechanics, the rules of the game seem to change on a whim. "Twists on the Quantum: Probing the Limits of Quantum Mechanics" delves into the fascinating fringes of this theory, where groundbreaking experiments challenge our understanding of reality. This book explores phenomena that push the boundaries of what we thought possible. Imagine particles existing in multiple states simultaneously, or spooky connections defying the constraints of space and time. "Twists on the Quantum" dives into these concepts, like superposition and entanglement, explaining the mind-bending science behind them. Readers will discover how scientists are using cutting-edge technology to test the limits of quantum mechanics. The book explores the race to build quantum computers that harness the bizarre properties of the quantum world for unparalleled processing power. But "Twists on the Quantum" isn't just about the mind-blowing. It explores the practical implications of these discoveries, showcasing how they could revolutionize fields like cryptography and materials science. This book is a thrilling exploration for anyone curious about the stranger corners of quantum mechanics and its potential to reshape our world.
