Every Brain Needs Music
Whenever a person engages with music--when a piano student practices a scale, a jazz saxophonist riffs on a melody, a teenager sobs to a sad song, or a wedding guest gets down on the dance floor--countless neurons are firing. Playing an instrument requires all of the resources of the nervous system, including cognitive, sensory, and motor functions. Composition and improvisation are remarkable demonstrations of the brain's capacity for creativity. Something as seemingly simple as listening to a tune involves mental faculties most of us don't even realize we have. Larry S. Sherman, a neuroscientist and lifelong musician, and Dennis Plies, a professional musician and teacher, collaborate to show how our brains and music work in harmony. They consider music in all the ways we encounter it--teaching, learning, practicing, listening, composing, improvising, and performing--in terms of neuroscience as well as music pedagogy, showing how the brain functions and even changes in the process. Every Brain Needs Music draws on leading behavioral, cellular, and molecular neuroscience research as well as surveys of more than a hundred musical people. It provides new perspectives on learning to play, teaching, how to practice and perform, the ways we react to music, and why the brain benefits from musical experiences. Written for both musical and nonmusical people, including newcomers to brain science, this book is a lively and easy-to-read exploration of the neuroscience of music and its significance in our lives.
Nature of Bend
Features more than 350 plants and animals Includes a dozen scavenger hunts across Central Oregon Detailed descriptions of where to look for every species on trails and in local parks Nature of Bend is a field guide like no other. Funny, informative, and filled with local flavor, it's the one nature guide that both locals and visitors need to find, identify, and learn all about Central Oregon's plants and animals. Listings include common and scientific names; key details like size, bloom time, and months seen; natural history and ecology tidbits; what to look for when identifying species, and exactly where to find it. Full-color photographs help readers identify more than 350 birds, wildflowers, trees, and animals while humorous sidebars and local stories educate and entertain. Fun facts will pique readers' interest and encourage them to dive deeper.
Puppy Kindergarten
The New York Times bestselling authors of The Genius of Dogs take us into their "Puppy Kindergarten" at Duke University, a center to study how puppies develop, to show us what goes in to raising a great dog. Don't miss Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods in Netflix's film Inside the Mind of a Dog! "A firehose of knowledge suffused with levity and charm."--Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog What does it take to raise a great dog? This was the question that husband-and-wife team Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods hoped to answer when they enrolled one hundred and one puppies in the Duke Puppy Kindergarten. With the help of a retired service dog named Congo, Brian, Vanessa, and their team set out to understand the secrets of the puppy mind: What factors might predict whether a puppy will grow up to change someone's life? Never has cuteness been so cutting edge. Applying the same games that psychologists use when exploring the development of young children, Hare and Woods uncover what happens in a puppy's mind during their final stage of rapid brain development. Follow the adventures of Arthur, who makes friends with toy dinosaurs; Wisdom, the puppy genius; and Ying, who fails at cognitive games that even pigeons usually pass with flying colors. Along the way, learn about when puppies finally start to retain memories for longer than just a few seconds, or when they finally develop some self-control. Raising dozens of puppies on a college campus means you get pretty good at answering big questions, such as: When do puppies sleep through the night? How do you stop them from eating poop? How can we help our puppies grow up to be the best dogs they can possibly be? Whether you are a new puppy parent or a perennial puppy lover, Puppy Kindergarten will answer every question you've ever had about puppies--and some you never thought to ask.
North American Deserts
Deserts cover about one third of the earth's surface and are the largest terrestrial ecosystem in the world. They are the only biome that is actually expanding, largely due to human activities and climate change. In the United States, six unique desert ecosystems stretch across the country: the Great Basin, Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Peninsular, and the Painted Desert. Both a travelogue and science writing, North American Deserts: Ecology of Our Arid Lands is a celebration of these ruthlessly beautiful landscapes. Readers will be transported from the enchanting saguaro forests of Arizona and the precipitous red walls of the Grand Canyon to the monotonous, yet impressive landscapes of Nevada's Great Basin and Texas' Chihuahuan Desert. More than 190 vivid, color photographs accompany the lively writing. Biologist Sean P. Graham has extensive field experience in the deserts of the Southwest and Mexico, and in North American Deserts, he takes readers on a journey through both sides of the border. The first half of the book focuses on global climate patterns giving rise to desert regions, and it then delves into how plants and animals survive the physical and biological characteristics of these ecosystems. The second half, which is split into cold and warm regions, features portraits of each desert that explore the unique flora and fauna. Although the work is focused on deserts in the United States, it also surveys the semiarid landscapes that extend into Canada and Mexico. Outdoor enthusiasts, national park visitors, and self-proclaimed "desert rats" will enjoy this reflective yet informative account of our North American deserts.
Cultural Selection
Humans learn in ways that are influenced by others. As a result, cultural items of many types are elaborated over time in ways that build on the achievements of previous generations. Culture therefore shows a pattern of descent with modification reminiscent of Darwinian evolution. This raises the question of whether cultural selection-a mechanism akin to natural selection, albeit working when learned items are passed from demonstrators to observers-can explain how various practices are refined over time. This Element argues that cultural selection is not necessary for the explanation of cultural adaptation; it shows how to build hybrid explanations that draw on aspects of cultural selection and cultural attraction theory; it shows how cultural reproduction makes problems for highly formalised approaches to cultural selection; and it uses a case-study to demonstrate the importance of human agency for cumulative cultural adaptation.
Feminist Philosophy of Science
Feminist scholars have identified pervasive gender discrimination in science as an institution, as well as gender bias in the very content of many scientific theories. An ameliorative project at heart, feminist philosophy of science has inquired into the social and epistemological roots and consequences of these problems and into their potential solutions. Most feminist philosophers agree on a need for diversity in scientific communities to counter the detrimental effects of gender bias. Diversity could thus serve as a unifying concept for a potential consensus of the field. Yet there are substantial differences in the kinds and roles of diversity envisaged. This element argues that we need diversity, both in terms of social locations and of values, to overcome former biases and blind spots. Diversity as such, however, is insufficient. To reap its epistemic benefits, diversity also needs to be institutionalised in a way that counters various forms of epistemic injustice.
Cultural Selection
Humans learn in ways that are influenced by others. As a result, cultural items of many types are elaborated over time in ways that build on the achievements of previous generations. Culture therefore shows a pattern of descent with modification reminiscent of Darwinian evolution. This raises the question of whether cultural selection-a mechanism akin to natural selection, albeit working when learned items are passed from demonstrators to observers-can explain how various practices are refined over time. This Element argues that cultural selection is not necessary for the explanation of cultural adaptation; it shows how to build hybrid explanations that draw on aspects of cultural selection and cultural attraction theory; it shows how cultural reproduction makes problems for highly formalised approaches to cultural selection; and it uses a case-study to demonstrate the importance of human agency for cumulative cultural adaptation.
Feminist Philosophy of Science
Feminist scholars have identified pervasive gender discrimination in science as an institution, as well as gender bias in the very content of many scientific theories. An ameliorative project at heart, feminist philosophy of science has inquired into the social and epistemological roots and consequences of these problems and into their potential solutions. Most feminist philosophers agree on a need for diversity in scientific communities to counter the detrimental effects of gender bias. Diversity could thus serve as a unifying concept for a potential consensus of the field. Yet there are substantial differences in the kinds and roles of diversity envisaged. This element argues that we need diversity, both in terms of social locations and of values, to overcome former biases and blind spots. Diversity as such, however, is insufficient. To reap its epistemic benefits, diversity also needs to be institutionalised in a way that counters various forms of epistemic injustice.
The Ultimate Student's Guide to Scientific Research
A scientific career is a long and winding journey. Many factors assemble to determine the trajectory and products of scientific inquiry. This book addresses the scientific career path comprehensively, ranging from how to build a strong foundational knowledge and skill base, to training programs, composing winning research proposals and grants, conducting excellent research, writing papers and reports, collaborative research programs, bridging academia and industry, career advancement, and more. Guides where, how, and what to study in undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate training programs and addresses important crossroads throughout the continuum of training and beyond. Highlights best practices, techniques, and nuances for creating a successful scientific career. Provides critical insights for traversing major milestones and decision-points in a scientific career and serves as a resources for reference throughout stages of advancement. Discusses alternative career opportunities for individuals trained in sciences. Offers students, researchers, and other scientists across all stages of their careers with accessible, engaging, and useful insider tips.
Understanding Visuals in the Life Sciences
From photographs to micrographs, from the various types of graphs to fun, interactive visuals and games, there are many different forms in which science can be visualised. However, all of these forms of visualisation in the Life Sciences are susceptible to misunderstandings and misinformation. This accessible and concise book demonstrates the misconceptions surrounding the visuals used in popular life science communication. Richly illustrated in colour, this guide is packed with examples of commonly used visual types: photographs, micrographs, illustrations, graphs, interactive visuals, and infographics allowing visual creators to produce more effective visuals that aspire to being both attractive and informative for their target audience. It also encourages non-specialist readers to be more empowered and critical, to ask difficult questions, and to cultivate true engagement with science. This book is an invaluable resource for life scientists and science communicators, and anyone who creates visuals for public or non-specialist readers.
The Philosophy of Symmetry
This Element is a concise, high-level introduction to the philosophy of physical symmetry. It begins with the notion of 'physical representation' (the kind of empirical representation of nature that we effect in doing physics), and then lays out the historically and conceptually central case of physical symmetry that frequently falls under the rubric of 'the Relativity Principle, ' or 'Galileo's Ship.' This material is then used as a point of departure to explore the key hermeneutic challenge concerning physical symmetry in the past century, namely understanding the physical significance of the notion of 'local' gauge symmetry. The approach taken stresses both the continuity with historically important themes such as the Relativity Principle, as well as novel insights earned by working with contemporary representational media such as the covariant phase space formalism.
The Philosophy of Symmetry
This Element is a concise, high-level introduction to the philosophy of physical symmetry. It begins with the notion of 'physical representation' (the kind of empirical representation of nature that we effect in doing physics), and then lays out the historically and conceptually central case of physical symmetry that frequently falls under the rubric of 'the Relativity Principle, ' or 'Galileo's Ship.' This material is then used as a point of departure to explore the key hermeneutic challenge concerning physical symmetry in the past century, namely understanding the physical significance of the notion of 'local' gauge symmetry. The approach taken stresses both the continuity with historically important themes such as the Relativity Principle, as well as novel insights earned by working with contemporary representational media such as the covariant phase space formalism.
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."
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
