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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Unveiling the Fabric of Spacetime
"Unveiling the Fabric of Spacetime" isn't your typical astronomy book. It ventures beyond planets and stars to explore the mind-bending realm of noncommutative quantum mechanics. This book challenges our everyday understanding of space and time, revealing a stranger, more mathematical reality at the subatomic level. Imagine a world where the order in which things happen can actually affect the outcome. In noncommutative quantum mechanics, the very fabric of spacetime isn't a fixed grid but a dynamic tapestry. "Unveiling the Fabric of Spacetime" delves into this mind-blowing concept, explaining how the properties of tiny particles can influence the way space and time behave. The book explores the mathematical underpinnings of noncommutative mechanics, but it doesn't shy away from explaining the weird and wonderful implications. Readers will discover how this theory challenges our understanding of causality, locality, and even the nature of reality itself. "Unveiling the Fabric of Spacetime" isn't afraid to ask big questions. It explores the potential connection between noncommutative mechanics and phenomena like black holes and the origins of the universe. It's a captivating journey for anyone curious about the stranger corners of quantum mechanics and the nature of reality.
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.
Do I Know You?
An award-winning science writer discovers she has prosopagnosia (face blindness) and aphantasia (the inability to visualize) and investigates the neuroscience of sight, memory, and imagination--while solving some long-running mysteries about her own life. Science writer Sadie Dingfelder has always known that she's a little quirky. But while she's made some strange mistakes over the years, it's not until she accosts a stranger in a grocery store (whom she thinks is her husband) that she realizes something is amiss. With a mixture of curiosity and dread, Dingfelder starts contacting neuroscientists and lands herself in scores of studies. In the course of her nerdy midlife crisis, she discovers that she is emphatically not neurotypical. She has prosopagnosia (faceblindness), stereoblindness, aphantasia (an inability to create mental imagery), and a condition called severely deficient autobiographical memory. As Dingfelder begins to see herself more clearly, she discovers a vast well of hidden neurodiversity in the world at large. There are so many different flavors of human consciousness, and most of us just assume that ours is the norm. Can you visualize? Do you have an inner monologue? Are you always 100 percent sure whether you know someone or not? If you can perform any of these mental feats, you may be surprised to learn that many people--including Dingfelder--can't. A lively blend of personal narrative and popular science, Do I Know You? is the story of one unusual mind's attempt to understand itself--and a fascinating exploration of the remarkable breadth of human experience.
Radiocarbon Dates from Samples Funded by English Heritage Between 2003 and 2006
This volume holds a datelist of 1100 radiocarbon determinations carried out between 2003 and 2006 on behalf of the Centre for Archaeology of English Heritage. It contains supporting information about the samples and the sites producing them, a comprehensive bibliography, and two indexes for reference and analysis. An introduction provides discussion of the character and taphonomy of the dated samples and information about the methods used for the analyses reported and their calibration. The datelist has been collated from information provided by the submitters of the samples and the dating laboratories. Many of the sites and projects from which dates have been obtained are now published, although developments in statistical methodologies for the interpretation of radiocarbon dates since these measurements were made may allow revised chronological models to be constructed on the basis of these dates. The purpose of this volume is to provide easy access to the raw scientific and contextual data which may be used in further research.
Gold Nanoparticles for Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Gold Nanoparticles for Physics, Chemistry and Biology offers an overview of recent research into gold nanoparticles, covering their discovery, usage and contemporary practical applications.This Second Edition begins with a history of over 2000 years of the use of gold nanoparticles, with a review of the specific properties which make gold unique. Updated chapters include gold nanoparticle preparation methods, their plasmon resonance and thermo-optical properties, their catalytic properties and their future technological applications. New chapters have been included, and reveal the growing impact of plasmonics in research, with an introduction to quantum plasmonics, plasmon assisted catalysis and electro-photon conversion. The growing field of nanoparticles for health is also addressed with a study of gold nanoparticles as radiosensibiliser for radiotherapy, and of gold nanoparticle functionalisation. This new edition also considers the relevance of bimetallic nanoparticles for specific applications.World-class scientists provide the most up-to-date findings for an introduction to gold nanoparticles within the related areas of chemistry, biology, material science, optics and physics. It is perfectly suited to advanced level students and researchers looking to enhance their knowledge in the study of gold nanoparticles.
Impact Along the Edge
Shallenberger State Nature Preserve illustrates the past natural history of Ohio running headlong into the present. Located in south-central Ohio, right outside of Lancaster, the preserve lies on the edge where ice age glaciers ground into the Blackhand Sandstone of Hocking Hills fame.The two sandstone knobs, born from the intense geological struggles of the past, illustrate the modern-day struggle of natural ecosystems against the influence of Anglo-European settlement. The two knobs, named for siblings who once lived near them, take on a character of their own as remnants of the deep past and survivors of modern-era quarrying and logging. The almost two miles of trail transport the visitor up and down and around Allen and Ruble Knobs under the canopy of a maturing forest. Springtime brings on a vivid wildflower show as native plants celebrate each spring for another year of protection within the preserve.Under the management of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Shallenberger demonstrates the struggle of native plant and animal species against exotic invaders from other places. Concurrently, it demonstrates the care that devoted staff and volunteers bring to the site, working to protect a piece of Ohio's natural history for all to enjoy.
The Toxins and Venoms and Their Antibodies
The Toxins and Venoms and Their Antibodies, a classical book, was published more than a century ago and has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we at Alpha Editions have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work and hence the text is clear and readable.
Themes from Weir: A Celebration of the Philosophy of Alan Weir
This book celebrates and explores some philosophical issues raised by the work of Alan Weir, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Glasgow, having previously held positions at the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh and Queen's, Belfast. In a number of areas, Weir has elaborated strikingly original views which involve a radical departure from the mainstream. These include formalism in the philosophy of mathematics, and as well as na簿ve set theory, with a universal set, and a na簿ve theory of truth. In contrast to other contemporary defenders of the latter two theories, Weir rejects dialetheism and accepts classical rules for the logical connectives. He avoids contradictions by restricting certain structural inference rules, specifically some generalized versions of transitivity. In addition, Weir has developed radical versions of naturalism and physicalism (partly informed by his work on Quine) and perceptual realism. This collection includes contributions by a distinguished group of philosophers on Weir's philosophy, as well as a memoir and a new essay on the philosophy of mathematics by Weir himself.
Making Plant Life Easier and Productive Under Salinity - Updates and Prospects
Human health is closely linked with the health of the soil, which is both a vital resource for feeding the burgeoning global population via agriculture and vital to realizing most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, increased salinization is significantly impacting the health of soil due to excess accumulation of varied salts (e.g., toxic ions including Cl- of Na+, HCO3-, Ca2+ and Mg2+, and sometimes SO42- and CO32-). Unfortunately, soil salinization has already affected about 20% of total arable land and 33% of irrigated land. Soil salinization negatively affects the health and productivity of plants and crops and thus threatens agriculture and food security worldwide. Moreover, it is predicted that by 2050, 16. 2 million ha of land will be affected by salt, which is predicted to cause 30%-50% yield losses worldwide. Making Plant Life Easier and Productive Under Salinity - Updates and Prospects provides a comprehensive overview of salinity and its major impacts. Chapters discuss important approaches for making plant life easier and more productive under salinity, the scale and complexity of salinity impacts on Sri Lankan rice farming systems, salinity stress responses of major metabolites, in vitro production of terpene in plants, the major mechanisms underlying phytohormone-mediated control of salinity impacts in plants, and genomics-assisted breeding approaches for achieving salinity tolerance in cereal crops.
Goat Science - From Keeping to Precision Production
The goat is one of the earliest domesticated species and has great significance for the world economy. This book provides a comprehensive overview of goat husbandry. It includes thirteen chapters that address such topics as breeding, genetics, reproduction, health, nutrition, and more.
Birds - Conservation, Research and Ecology
Birds are among the best-known and most popular animals. With the help of modern technology like mobile identification, even non-academic birders can fully participate in scientific data collection. Unfortunately, birds suffer badly from agricultural changes, forest fires, logging, plastic waste, urban noise, and large windows. They may also carry viral diseases that will eventually affect humans. This book includes nine chapters from all over the world that discuss these problems and propose possible solutions for better conservation of birds.
Plant Physiology Annual Volume 2023
This book summarizes the design of drought-tolerant crops through CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing, focusing on reprogramming gene expression patterns that regulate the balance of plant hormones. The organic farming system is presented to highlight the potential role of alleviating changing climate-related abiotic stress. The current knowledge of artificial photosynthesis systems and cellular processes related to photosynthetic biochemistry was illustrated. Additionally, it explores intriguing subtopics of plant physiology, including an alternative natural rubber source and plant reproductive strategies, contributing to advancements in agricultural biotechnology. Recommended for students, teachers, and researchers interested in applied plant physiology, plant biochemistry, and crop breeding.
New Insights Into Phytohormones
Plants, like all living organisms, communicate through a sophisticated language that is often hidden from the naked eye. At the heart of this intricate communication network are phytohormones, the silent orchestrators of growth, development, and response to environmental cues. In New Insights into Phytohormones, we embark on a journey deep into the molecular realm of plants, unraveling the mysteries of these powerful signaling molecules. Dive into the fascinating world of phytohormones as this book takes you on an exploration of their roles in plant physiology from germination to senescence. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how these chemical messengers coordinate processes such as cell elongation, flowering, and stress responses. Through the lens of cutting-edge research and real-world applications, discover the practical implications of harnessing phytohormones for agriculture, horticulture, and beyond.
Equine Science - Applications and Implications of New Technologies
Equine Science - Applications and Implications of New Technologies explores the fascinating world of history and technological advances in equine research. This comprehensive book explores the history and health of horses and the use of reproductive technologies in these animals. As tradition meets innovation, it delves into the ethical implications and responsible use of these technologies to ensure animal welfare. Expertly authored by scientists, it is an indispensable guide for horse enthusiasts, veterinarians, trainers, and researchers seeking to harness the power of innovation to unlock the full potential of the equine species.
From Discovery to Cure
The story of medical imaging and how physics played a crucial role in its development has fascinating roots. "From Discovery to Cure: The Early Days of Physics in Radiology" unveils a period of groundbreaking discoveries that revolutionized medicine. Imagine a time before X-rays, when internal injuries remained a mystery. In 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen's accidental discovery of X-rays ushered in a new era. Physicists, captivated by this invisible radiation, quickly recognized its potential in medicine. These early pioneers faced challenges: - Understanding the Unknown: The nature of X-rays and their interaction with the body were initially unclear. - Safety Concerns: The long-term effects of radiation exposure were yet to be understood. - Technological Limitations: Early X-ray machines were cumbersome and produced images with limited detail. Despite these hurdles, physicists persevered: - Developing Techniques: They devised methods to control radiation dosage and improve image quality. - Safety Measures: Early radiation protection practices were established to safeguard patients and healthcare workers. - Expanding Applications: Physicists explored using X-rays for diagnosing broken bones, lung illnesses, and even tumors. The early days of physics in radiology laid the groundwork for future advancements. These discoveries paved the way for: - Modern Imaging Techniques: From CT scans to MRIs, physics continues to be a driving force in medical imaging innovation. - Improved Cancer Treatment: X-rays became a cornerstone of radiotherapy, enabling targeted treatment of tumors. - A New Era of Medical Diagnosis: Physicists' contributions transformed medical practice by allowing doctors to see inside the human body without invasive surgery. The story of physics in radiology is one of continuous discovery and innovation. From those early days, the field has grown exponentially, shaping the way we diagnose and treat diseases, ultimately improving human health.
The Higgs Boson
For decades, physicists theorized about the Higgs boson, a mysterious particle crucial to explaining how other fundamental particles acquire mass. Then, in 2012, the Large Hadron Collider delivered a groundbreaking discovery: the Higgs boson! "The Higgs Boson: A Window into Beyond-Standard-Model Physics" takes you beyond this momentous event. This book dives deeper, exploring how the Higgs discovery unlocks a new frontier in physics. The Standard Model, our current understanding of fundamental particles and forces, seems incomplete. The Higgs boson hints at a larger reality. Imagine the Higgs boson as a key, opening a door to a hidden realm. This book explores the exciting possibilities that lie beyond - new forces, exotic particles, and a more comprehensive picture of the universe. "The Higgs Boson" isn't just about theory. You'll learn about the cutting-edge experiments currently underway, searching for these theoretical particles and forces. It's a thrilling journey into the unknown, perfect for anyone curious about the mysteries of the universe and the next revolution in physics.
How Your Brain Is Wired
Written by an award-winning behavioral change expert, this practical guide shows how recent discoveries in the behavioural sciences can help you lead a more positive and rewarding life.As 95 per cent of our brain activity carries on at a subconscious level, we're not always aware of why we think what we think and do the things we do. Sometimes these subconscious wirings can make us think or act in ways that are not optimal for our happiness - they can bring out the illogical in us all.How Your Brain Is Wired draws on recent breakthroughs in our understanding of how the brain really works, empowering the reader to take control over their own behavior. Full of insight and practical advice, it equips you with a toolkit of simple changes you can put into action to: reduce conflict and anxiety, achieve a positive mindset, make better decisions, have more fun and reach new goals.This book is about rewiring your attitudes; re-seeing yourself and your choices. It reveals something rather magical: how tiny tweaks to your behavior can be all you need to deliver a big, sometimes thrilling, reboot to your life.
Bouncing Signals
"Bouncing Signals" dives into the fascinating world of long-distance radio communication using skywaves. These signals bounce off the ionosphere, Earth's invisible layer charged with particles. The book explains how this ionosphere acts like a mirror, reflecting radio waves back to Earth, allowing signals to travel far beyond the horizon. You'll also learn about ionospheric sounding, a technique to understand the ever-changing ionosphere and predict how well your radio signals will bounce. Whether you're a ham radio operator, a radio enthusiast, or just curious about how long-distance radio works, "Bouncing Signals" will guide you through the science and practical applications of skywave propagation.
Fire Weather
PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST - A NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR - FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN NONFICTION - FINALIST FOR THE PEN/GALBRAITH AWARD FOR NONFICTION - A stunning account of a colossal wildfire and a panoramic exploration of the rapidly changing relationship between fire and humankind from the award-winning, best-selling author of The Tiger and The Golden Spruce - Winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, TIME, NPR, Slate, and Smithsonian "Grips like a philosophical thriller, warns like a beacon, and shocks to the core." --Robert Macfarlane, bestselling author of Underland "Riveting, spellbinding, astounding on every page." --David Wallace-Wells, #1 bestselling author of The Uninhabitable Earth In May 2016, Fort McMurray, the hub of Canada's oil industry and America's biggest foreign supplier, was overrun by wildfire. The multi-billion-dollar disaster melted vehicles, turned entire neighborhoods into firebombs, and drove 88,000 people from their homes in a single afternoon. Through the lens of this apocalyptic conflagration--the wildfire equivalent of Hurricane Katrina--John Vaillant warns that this was not a unique event, but a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world. Fire has been a partner in our evolution for hundreds of millennia, shaping culture, civilization, and, very likely, our brains. Fire has enabled us to cook our food, defend and heat our homes, and power the machines that drive our titanic economy. Yet this volatile energy source has always threatened to elude our control, and in our new age of intensifying climate change, we are seeing its destructive power unleashed in previously unimaginable ways. With masterly prose and a cinematic eye, Vaillant takes us on a riveting journey through the intertwined histories of North America's oil industry and the birth of climate science, to the unprecedented devastation wrought by modern forest fires, and into lives forever changed by these disasters. John Vaillant's urgent work is a book for--and from--our new century of fire, which has only just begun.
Study Processes Handbook
Enhance the consistency, quality, and transparency of resource project studies with this essential handbook. Designed for industry practitioners and decision-makers, it provides a high-level framework to guide study processes, emphasising the importance of a cohesive structure, defining study objectives, and establishing project value, risks, and impacts for all related stakeholders.Developed by experienced resources professionals, this handbook complements existing professional codes of practice such as the JORC and VALMIN Codes. It outlines the necessary steps and minimum technical requirements for each study phase, from Scoping to Feasibility and outlines the importance of focusing on the right tasks at the right time to enable decisions to be made.Organised by discipline and study phase, the handbook enables specialists to focus on their areas of expertise, ensuring comprehensive risk management and accurate assessments, while continuing to illustrate the interdependency of the project elements.This indispensable guide aims to deliver higher-quality studies, increase investor confidence, and maintain a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and community relations. Elevate your study processes and contribute to a more transparent and trusted resources industry with this comprehensive handbook.
Florida Trail Hikes
Explore natural Florida with an adventureon the state's most notable hiking trail Stretching1,500 miles between Pensacola and the Everglades, the Florida National ScenicTrail has over 100 trailheads, most located within an easy drive from nearby urbanareas. A guide to the best scenic day hikes and overnight trips along thisstate-spanning footpath, Florida TrailHikes leads readers to showy overlooks, wildflower-dotted prairies, riverrapids, steep bluffs, tall sand dunes, and many other compelling destinations. Updated in this third edition with the most current route details, this bookprovides full-color maps, options for lengthening and shortening hikes, andinformation on nearby towns for use as base camps. Selected from the personalexperiences of the authors, the hikes in this book include many loop trails convenientfor solo hikers as well as several accessible trail sections. Sandra Friend andJohn Keatley also offer the backstory of the Florida Trail, first blazed in1966, and the hidden history of Florida that hikers will encounter on theirjourneys. Florida Trail Hikes helps readers of all backgrounds and experience levels plan an outdoor getawayamid Florida's natural beauty.
Teachers
The landscape of teaching, learning, and literacy is woven with intricate threads. Teachers grapple with diverse learners, each with unique backgrounds, strengths, and challenges. The traditional notion of "one size fits all" literacy instruction gives way to the complexity of catering to individual needs. Beyond the mechanics of reading and writing, literacy encompasses critical thinking, information analysis, and effective communication. Teachers must weave these skills into engaging lessons that spark curiosity and a love for learning. The complexities extend beyond the classroom walls. Socioeconomic factors, access to technology, and family involvement all play a role in a student's literacy journey. Teachers navigate these external influences, forging partnerships with families and communities to create a holistic learning environment. Technology presents both challenges and opportunities. While digital tools can personalize learning and broaden access to information, they can also create distractions and exacerbate existing inequalities. Teachers must navigate this digital terrain, harnessing its power while fostering critical thinking skills to evaluate online information. In this ever-evolving landscape, teachers are more than instructors; they are facilitators, innovators, and champions. They embrace the complexities of teaching and learning, fostering a love for literacy that empowers students to thrive in a world brimming with information.
Lateral Strain
Detonation waves are self-sustained supersonic combustion waves [1]. These waves are led by a shock, which compresses the fresh reactive media to a much higher temperature and pressure for rapid reaction [1]. The tremendous reaction heat release occurring behind the shock in return energizes the propagation process. As such, this closely coupled shock-reaction complex self-sustains. Detonation waves can be sustained in a variety of energetic media including reactive gases. The large overpressures generated behind gaseous detonations make them attractive and useful for developing propulsion systems [2], such as rotating detonation engines (RDEs) [3, 4] and pulse detonation engines (PDEs) [5, 6]. These applications require reliable control of the accurate ignition and stable propagation of a detonation wave. Likewise, for safety applications [7,8], it is also desirable to have the predictability for the eventual initiation of a detonation wave and for its propagation limits when different mitigation strategies are used [9]. Therefore, realizing all these practical purposes requires predictive capability of detonation behavior. Detonations in gases usually propagate with lateral strain. For example, in confined geometries of small size, such as narrow channels or tubes, detonations are subject to significant losses induced by boundary layers, which act as a mass sink and result in flow divergence in reaction zones, thereby giving rise to lateral strain impacting the detonation propagation [10]; while in geometries of varying cross-section areas or curved channels, as typically seen in PDE pre-detonator tubes and RDE combustors, detonations are curved with the flow also diverging after passing the leading front [11-13]. These lateral strain rates are generally known to decrease the detonation speed and its propagation limit [10, 11, 13-17]. Thus, in order to achieve the practical purposes of either utilizing or avoiding detonations, the effect of such lateral strain rat
Dancing Matter
Get ready to rewrite the rules of physics! "Dancing Matter" delves into the captivating world of active matter, materials that defy the laws of equilibrium. Imagine materials that constantly move, respond to their environment, and even self-assemble. This book explores the groundbreaking science behind active matter, from microscopic particles that swarm and swirl to synthetic materials that can swim or contract. Discover how scientists are unlocking the secrets of this "out-of-balance" physics, with potential applications that could revolutionize medicine, technology, and even robotics. "Dancing Matter" is a captivating journey into the future of physics, where materials come alive and the possibilities are endless.
The Enchanted Earth
Follow feng shui expert Maureen Calamia to learn how we can find our place by listening to what our planet has to say.
Science, Medicine, and the Aims of Inquiry
After its unparalleled rise and expansion over the past century, medicine is increasingly criticized both as a science and clinical practice for lacking scientific rigor, for contributing to overmedicalization, and for failing to offer patient-centered care. This criticism highlights serious challenges which indicate that the scope and societal role of medicine are likely to be altered in the 21st century. Somogy Varga's ground-breaking book offers a new perspective on the challenges, showing that they converge on fundamental philosophical questions about the nature and aim of medicine. Addressing these questions, Varga presents a philosophical examination of the norms and values constitutive of medicine and offers new perspectives on how to address the challenges that the criticism raises. His book will offer valuable input for rethinking the agenda of medical research, health care delivery, and the education of health care personnel.
Beyond Science VII Cosmic Karma
Learn the latest philosophy in physics and paranormal psychology.
Recent Advances in Green Technologies and Sustainable Development
Recent advances in green technologies and sustainable development deals with cutting-edge research and innovative ideas in different categories of green technologies and operational aspects of sustainable development.
A Natural History of Natural Theology
An examination of the cognitive foundations of intuitions about the existence and attributes of God. Questions about the existence and attributes of God form the subject matter of natural theology, which seeks to gain knowledge of the divine by relying on reason and experience of the world. Arguments in natural theology rely largely on intuitions and inferences that seem natural to us, occurring spontaneously--at the sight of a beautiful landscape, perhaps, or in wonderment at the complexity of the cosmos--even to a nonphilosopher. In this book, Helen De Cruz and Johan De Smedt examine the cognitive origins of arguments in natural theology. They find that although natural theological arguments can be very sophisticated, they are rooted in everyday intuitions about purpose, causation, agency, and morality. Using evidence and theories from disciplines including the cognitive science of religion, evolutionary ethics, evolutionary aesthetics, and the cognitive science of testimony, they show that these intuitions emerge early in development and are a stable part of human cognition. De Cruz and De Smedt analyze the cognitive underpinnings of five well-known arguments for the existence of God: the argument from design, the cosmological argument, the moral argument, the argument from beauty, and the argument from miracles. Finally, they consider whether the cognitive origins of these natural theological arguments should affect their rationality.
The Descent of Artificial Intelligence
The idea that a new technology could challenge human intelligence is as old as the warning from Socrates and Plato that written language eroded memory. With the emergence of generative artificial intelligence programs, we find ourselves once again debating how a new technology might influence human thought and behavior. Researchers, software developers, and "visionary" tech writers even imagine an AI that will equal or surpass human intelligence, adding to a sense of technological determinism where humanity is inexorably shaped by powerful new machines. But among the hundreds of essays, books, and movies that approach the question of AI, few have asked how exactly scientists and philosophers have codified human thought and behavior. Rather than focusing on technical contributions in machine building, The Descent of Artificial Intelligence explores a more diverse cast of thinkers who helped to imagine the very kind of human being that might be challenged by a machine. Kevin Padraic Donnelly argues that what we often think of as the "goal" of AI has in fact been shaped by forgotten and discredited theories about people and human nature as much as it has been by scientific discoveries, mathematical advances, and novel technologies. By looking at the development of artificial intelligence through the lens of social thought, Donnelly deflates the image of artificial intelligence as a technological monolith and reminds readers that we can control the narratives about ourselves.
Science & Christianity
Six contributors here debate the relative merits of four distinct conceptions of the relationship between Christianity and science today. Views range from a strict creationist posture to full-fledged partnership. Edited by Richard F. Carlson.
Mechanisms in Science
In recent years what has come to be called the 'New Mechanism' has emerged as a framework for thinking about the philosophical assumptions underlying many areas of science, especially in sciences such as biology, neuroscience, and psychology. This book offers a fresh look at the role of mechanisms, by situating novel analyses of central philosophical issues related to mechanisms within a rich historical perspective of the concept of mechanism as well as detailed case studies of biological mechanisms (such as apoptosis). It develops a new position, Methodological Mechanism, according to which mechanisms are to be viewed as causal pathways that are theoretically described and are underpinned by networks of difference-making relations. In contrast to metaphysically inflated accounts, this study characterises mechanism as a concept-in-use in science that is deflationary and metaphysically neutral, but still methodologically useful and central to scientific practice.
Patterns of Connection
Winner of the Silver Medal for Environment/Ecology in the 2022 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book AwardsFritjof Capra, scientist, educator, activist, and accomplished author, presents the evolution of his thought over five decades in Patterns of Connection. First introduced in the late 1950s to the work of Werner Heisenberg, a founder of quantum mechanics, Capra quickly intuited the connections between the discoveries of quantum physics and the traditions of Eastern philosophy--resulting in his first book, the bestselling The Tao of Physics. This synthesis, representative of the change from the mechanistic worldview of Descartes and Newton to a systemic, ecological one, went on to inform Capra's thinking about the life sciences, ecology, and environmental policy. His observations of sustainable communities in nature inspired his work on systems theory--the complex web of interrelated processes that organize everything from biological systems to social, cultural, and political systems. Today Fritjof Capra remains a major figure at the crossroads of physics, spirituality, environmentalism, and systems theory. Organized thematically and chronologically, the essays in Patterns of Connection document the revolutionary and far-reaching intellectual journey of one of the major public thinkers of the last half-century.
A Scientist in the City
In his previous books, A Scientist At The Seashore and Meditations At Sunset, James Trefil used commonplace settings in the natural world as a point of departure for probing the mysteries of nature. In A Scientist In The City, Trefil takes the opposite tack, looking at the quintessential man-made environment of the city as a way of examining the forces that define our world. What does the heating system of a building or the construction of a bridge tell us about the development of a city? What does the amplified environmental stress of city life on plants and animals suggest about the wild? How have scientific advances in building materials and an understanding of the structure of the atom helped to shape the cities of today? From an explanation of the evolution and influence of plate glass to reinforced steel to an analysis of the future of the skyscraper, A Scientist In The City offers a fascinating study of the promise and the consequences of technology in our everyday urban lives. In addition, Trefil goes on to explore how the new technologies being developed today will help to determine the changing forms that cities will take in the future. A Scientist In The City is the kind of book that will open our eyes to the man-made world around us, and show us some of the scientific reasons for why we live the way we do.
Clover Garden
Between North Carolina's coastal plain and the Blue Ridge Mountains lies the Piedmont: some 250 linear miles of rolling, long-settled lands covering almost half of the state. Geologically speaking, piedmont regions are found all over the world, but North Carolina's Piedmont is among the largest in the United States, sitting along an environmental crossroads where northern and southern flora and fauna overlap, offering an incredibly rich natural diversity. Inhabited continuously for thousands of years, the state's rural heartland is today home to an increasingly dense population. Yet most who reside in the region's cities, suburbs, and smaller towns still live within reach of red-clay farmland, oak and hickory forests watered by small creeks, and rocky river valleys. These places--as they have been and as they are now--remain essential to the character of life in the South.Through his long, celebrated writing career, Bland Simpson has earned a reputation as the bard of North Carolina's coasts and sound country. Here, for the first time, he trains his attention on Clover Garden, the Piedmont community where he has lived for some fifty years. With a naturalist's eye, a storyteller's mind, and a poet's soul, Simpson guides readers into a deep engagement with the Piedmont, both as a material place and as an idea. Illustrated with photographs by Ann Cary Simpson, Clover Garden invites us to think more broadly about the natural and human history of the piedmont South. This book will be treasured by all who seek to live deeply in the places we call home.
Teacher Learning and Informal Science Education; Expansivising Affordances for Diverse Science Learners
Teacher Learning and Informal Science Education chronicles Jennifer D. Adams' teaching and research journey in informal science education. While the primary focus of the book is research on teacher learning and identity in informal science education, it contains bursts of reflections of Adams' navigation of learning spaces from childhood visits to the museum, class trips as a high school teacher, designing and facilitating learning as a museum and teacher educator, and researcher. These learning interactions inspired research to learn how teachers' identities and corresponding practices were influenced by informal science learning. What emerged was the ways that teachers transformed meanings, pedagogies, and enactments of informal science in ways that both resonated with their identities as social agents vis-?-vis the identities and needs of their students. Recognising the importance of historical context in current and ongoing educational inequities, this book offers a chapter that unpacks the colonial history of the museum and discusses the relevance for science teaching and learning today. With New York City as the backdrop, this book emphasizes the teaching and learning in an urban context with creative teachers who are passionate about their practice and their brilliant and diverse middle and high school students. This book offers theoretical considerations for designing learning experiences, with a research-to-practice emphasis, for teachers across formal and informal settings in ways that are attentive to and affirming of students' and teachers' identities and desires to utilize science education as a tool to create flourishing futures.
Teacher Learning and Informal Science Education
Teacher Learning and Informal Science Education chronicles Jennifer D. Adams' teaching and research journey in informal science education. While the primary focus of the book is research on teacher learning and identity in informal science education, it contains bursts of reflections of Adams' navigation of learning spaces from childhood visits to the museum, class trips as a high school teacher, designing and facilitating learning as a museum and teacher educator, and researcher. These learning interactions inspired research to learn how teachers' identities and corresponding practices were influenced by informal science learning. What emerged was the ways that teachers transformed meanings, pedagogies, and enactments of informal science in ways that both resonated with their identities as social agents vis-?-vis the identities and needs of their students. Recognising the importance of historical context in current and ongoing educational inequities, this book offers a chapter that unpacks the colonial history of the museum and discusses the relevance for science teaching and learning today. With New York City as the backdrop, this book emphasizes the teaching and learning in an urban context with creative teachers who are passionate about their practice and their brilliant and diverse middle and high school students. This book offers theoretical considerations for designing learning experiences, with a research-to-practice emphasis, for teachers across formal and informal settings in ways that are attentive to and affirming of students' and teachers' identities and desires to utilize science education as a tool to create flourishing futures.
The Shoebill
Meet the enigmatic shoebill in this educational children's book, where young readers will discover interesting facts about this unique bird! From its distinctive appearance with a large shoe-like beak and towering height, to its fascinating feeding habits and conservation status, children will be captivated by the amazing world of the shoebill. With real photos and fun facts, this book is perfect for young animal lovers who want to learn more about this incredible creature in its natural African habitat. This book also covers the Jonglei Canal Project, one of the biggest threats to the shoebill.
