Synopses & Reviews
Engineering is where human knowledge meets real-world problemsandmdash;and solves them. Itand#39;s the source of some of our greatest inventions, from the catapult to the jet engine. Marshall Brain, creator of the How Stuff Works series and a professor at the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at NCSU, provides a detailed look at 250 milestones in the discipline. He covers the various areas, including chemical, aerospace, and computer engineering, from ancient history to the present. The topics include architectural wonders like the Acropolis, the Great Wall of China, and the Eiffel Tower; transportation advances such as the high-speed bullet train; medical innovations, including the artificial heart and kidney dialysis; developments in communications, such as the cell phone; as well as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, the Large Hadron Collider, the self-driving car, and more.and#160;
Review
" . . . an excellent starting point for student researchers and is very browsable for the general reader. Recommended for most public libraries.and#8221; and#8212;Booklist
Review
andldquo;[A]n excellent starting point for student researchers and . . . very browsable for the general reader. Visual appeal, easily digested information, and an excellent price point make this entire series highly recommended.andrdquo; andmdash;
Booklist andquot;. . . this book is a solid introduction to its topic and can serve to generate interest in the applied sciences and engineering.andquot; andmdash;Library Journal
Synopsis
Engineering is where human knowledge meets real-world problemsandmdash;and solves them. Itand#39;s the source of some of our greatest inventions, from the catapult to the jet engine, from the cell phone to the Large Hadron Collider. Marshall Brain, creator of the How Stuff Works series, provides a detailed look at 250 milestones in aerospace, architecture, chemistry, computer engineering, and more, from ancient history to the present.
Synopsis
Covering everything from ancient herbs to cutting-edge chemicals, this new volume in the popular Milestones series looks at 250 crucial moments in the development of life-altering, life-saving, and sometimes life-endangering drugs. Describing the discovery and chemistry of drugs like alcohol, opium, hemlock, the smallpox vaccine, Xanax, and AZT, this lush edition also features the scientists, doctors, and companies who brought them to us.
Synopsis
Throughout history, humans everywhere have searched for remedies to heal our bodies and minds. Covering everything from ancient herbs to cutting-edge chemicals, this book in the hugely popular Milestones series looks at 250 of the most important moments in the development of life-altering, life-saving, and sometimes life-endangering pharmaceuticals. Illustrated entries feature ancient drugs like alcohol, opium, and hemlock; the smallpox and the polio vaccines; homeopathic cures; and controversial medical treatments like ether, amphetamines, and Xanaxand#8212;while shining a light on the scientists, doctors, and companies who brought them to us.
Synopsis
Mathand#8217;s infinite mysteries and beauty unfold in this follow-up to the best-selling The Science Book. Beginning millions of years ago with ancient and#8220;ant odometersand#8221; and moving through time to our modern-day quest for new dimensions, it covers 250 milestones in mathematical history. Among the numerous delights readers will learn about as they dip into this inviting anthology: cicada-generated prime numbers, magic squares from centuries ago, the discovery of pi and calculus, and the butterfly effect. Each topic gets a lavishly illustrated spread with stunning color art, along with formulas and concepts, fascinating facts about scientistsand#8217; lives, and real-world applications of the theorems.
and#160;
Synopsis
Following the hugely successful
The Science Book and
The Math Book comes a richly illustrated chronology of physics, containing 250 short, entertaining, and thought-provoking entries.and#160;In addition to exploring such engaging topics as dark energy, parallel universes, the Doppler effect, the God particle, and Maxwell's demon, the book's timeline extends back billions of years to the hypothetical Big Bang and forward trillions of years to a time of and#8220;quantum resurrection.and#8221; Like the previous titles in this series,
The Physics Book helps readers gain an understanding of major concepts without getting bogged down in complex details.
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About the Author
Clifford A. Pickover received his PhD from Yale in Biophysics and Biochemistry, and has written more than 40 books and over 200 articles. For many years he was the lead columnist for Discover magazineand#8217;s and#8220;Brain-Boggler,and#8221; and is known for his calendar and card sets, Mind-Bending Visual Puzzles. Currently, he writes the and#8220;Brain Strainand#8221; column for Odyssey, is associate editor for the scientific journal Computers and Graphics, and serves on the editorial board for Odyssey, Leonardo, and YLEM. His computer graphics have appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, and his research has received considerable attention from such media outlets as CNN, the Discovery Channel, The New York Times, and WIRED.