Synopses & Reviews
In this age of genetic engineering and global warming, it is more important than ever to understand the history and current trends of science and technology. With so much information out there, though, itand#8217;s hard to know where to start. Thatand#8217;s where The History of Science and Technology and#151; the most comprehensive and up-to-date chronology of its kind -- comes in. From the first stone tools to the first robot surgery, this easy-to-read, handy reference book offers more than seven thousand concise entries organized within ten major historical periods and categorized by subject, such as archaeology, biology, computers, food and agriculture, medicine and health, materials, and transportation. You can follow the worldand#8217;s scientific and technological feats forward or backward, year by year, and subject by subject. Under 8400 BCE Construction, you will discover that the oldest known wall was built in Jericho. Jump to 1454 Communication and you will learn about Johann Gutenbergand#8217;s invention of movable type. Take an even larger leap to 2002 Computers and find out about the invention of the Earth Simulator, a Japanese supercomputer.
The History of Science and Technology answers all the what, when, why, and how questions about our worldand#8217;s greatest discoveries and inventions: How are bridges built? When were bifocal eyeglasses invented and by whom? What medical discovery led to the introduction of sterilization, vaccines, and antibiotics? What is the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) process, and why is it one of the pillars of the biotechnology revolution? Not only can you discover how our world came to be and how it works, but with cross-referenced entries you can also trace many intricate and exciting connections across time.
Highly browsable yet richly detailed, expertly researched and indexed, The History of Science and Technology is the perfect desktop reference for both the science novice and the technologically advanced reader alike.
Synopsis
The most comprehensive and up-to-date chronology of its kind, "The History of Science and Technology gives a global overview of scientific developments and technological innovations from prehistoric times into the twenty-first century. With more than 7,000 concise entries organized within ten major historical periods and categorized by subjects such as archaeology, biology, computers, food and agriculture, medicine and health, materials, and transportation, this book answers all the what, when, why, and how questions about our greatest discoveries and inventions. The entries are cross-referenced to trace connections across time.
About the Author
'BRYAN BUNCH has written a number of books about the history of science, mathematics, and related fields. He is the editor of the eight-volume reference work Diseases and coauthor of The Penguin Desk Encyclopedia of Science and Mathematics.European correspondent ALEXANDER HELLEMANS regularly contributes to Nature, Science Now, and Science magazine.'