And 73 other weird questions that only science can answer
256 pages
9 hours of reading
Curiosity drives this engaging exploration of intriguing scientific questions, such as the absence of green mammals and the health implications of eating bogeys. Presented in a style reminiscent of "Horrible Histories," the book offers entertaining and informative answers that spark interest in the world of science. Perfect for readers who enjoy learning through quirky facts and humor, it makes complex concepts accessible and fun.
The story of how our ancestors made the first tentative steps towards becoming
human, how we lost our fur but gained language, fire and tools, and how we
strode out of Africa, invented farming and cities and ultimately created
modern civilisation.
The Earth as you've never seen it before. The ancient Greeks called it Gaia;
the Romans Terra. We know it simply as Earth, the planet we call home. And
what a planet it is. Formed around 4.6 billion years ago from the debris of
the big bang and long-dead stars, at first it was nothing special, but somehow
it evolved to become the most amazing place in the known Universe. The only
living planet we know of, it also has a very unusual moon, a remarkably
dynamic surface, a complex atmosphere and a deeply mysterious interior. This
is Planet Earth is dedicated to the wonders of planet Earth. Its past is long
and dramatic and its future shrouded in mystery. Yet despite centuries of
research, only now are we starting to understand Earth's complexity.
Introduced by Jim Al-Khalili Could you surf down an erupting volcano? Why do zebras have stripes? Are you breathing the same air as Leonardo da Vinci? Are there any green mammals? Why do pineapples have spikes? Why do songs get stuck in your head? What happens when black holes collide? Can you extract your DNA? New Scientist has been a treasure trove of fascinating and surprising questions and answers for over a decade. From how to measure the speed of light using chocolate, to why dogs howl at sirens, Eureka! brings together 365 mindblowing questions, fascinating facts and exciting experiments. If you've ever wondered how to escape quicksand, what would happen if the moon vanished, and why cats (nearly) always land on their feet, you've come to the right place.
In How Your Brain Works leading neuroscientists and New Scientist introduce
the evolution and anatomy of the brain viewed through traits such as: memory,
emotions, sleep, sensing and perception.
If you thought you knew who you were, THINK AGAIN. Did you know that half your DNA isn't human? That somebody, somewhere has exactly the same face? Or that most of your memories are fiction? What about the fact that you are as hairy as a chimpanzee, various parts of your body don't belong to you, or that you can read other people's minds? Do you really know why you blush, yawn and cry? Why 90 per cent of laughter has nothing to do with humour? Or what will happen to your mind after you die? You belong to a unique, fascinating and often misunderstood species. How to be Human is your guide to making the most of it.
A little over a century ago, a young Albert Einstein presented his general
theory of relativity to the world and utterly transformed our understanding of
the universe. In Where the Universe Came From leading cosmologists and New
Scientist explain that we still have plenty of unfinished business with the
cosmos.
Machines That Think explores how artificial intelligence helps us understand
human intelligence, machines that compose music and write stories - and asks
if AI is really a threat.
How Einstein’s Relativity Unlocks the Past, Present and Future of the Cosmos
224 pages
8 hours of reading
A little over a century ago, a young Albert Einstein presented his general theory of relativity to the world and utterly transformed our understanding of the universe. In Where the Universe Came From leading cosmologists and New Scientist explain that we still have plenty of unfinished business with the cosmos.
The End of Money is an essential introduction to cryptocurrencies and the
blockchain revolution which has been hailed as the greatest advancement since
the invention of the internet.
How long is 'now'? The short answer is 'somewhere between 2 and 3 seconds'. The long answer involves an incredible journey through neuroscience, our subconscious and the time-bending power of meditation. Living in the present may never feel the same. Ready for some more? Okay. Why isn't Pluto a planet? Why are dogs' noses wet? Why do hens cluck more loudly after laying an egg? What happens when one black hole swallows another? Do our fingerprints change as we get older? How young can you die of old age? And what is at the very edge of the Universe? Life is full of mind-bending questions. And, as books like What If? and Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? have shown, the route to find each answer can take us on the weirdest and most wonderful journeys. How Long is Now? is a fascinating new collection of questions you never thought to ask, along with answers that will change the way you see everything.
Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? is the latest compilation of readers' answers to the questions in the 'Last Word' column of New Scientist, the world's best-selling science weekly. Following the phenomenal success of Does Anything Eat Wasps? - the Christmas 2005 surprise bestseller - this new collection includes recent answers never before published in book form, and also old favourites from the column's early days.Yet again, many seemingly simple questions turn out to have complex answers. And some that seem difficult have a very simple explanation. New Scientist's 'Last Word' is regularly voted the magazine's most popular section as it celebrates all questions - the trivial, idiosyncratic, baffling and strange. This new selection of the best is popular science at its most entertaining and enlightening.
Every year, readers send in thousands of questions to New Scientist, the world's best-selling science weekly, in the hope that the answers to them will be given in the 'Last Word' column - regularly voted the most popular section of the magazine. Does Anything Eat Wasps? is a collection of the best that have appeared, including: Why can't we eat green potatoes? Why do airliners suddenly plummet? Does a compass work in space? Why do all the local dogs howl at emergency sirens? How can a tree grow out of a chimney stack? Why do bruises go through a range of colours? Why is the sea blue inside caves? Many seemingly simple questions are actually very complex to answer. And some that seem difficult have a very simple explanation. New Scientist's 'Last Word' celebrates all questions - the trivial, the idiosyncratic, the baffling and the strange. This selection of the best is popular science at its most entertaining and enlightening.
The latest in the bestselling New Scientist Last Word seriesAll science begins with questions...- Why is the night sky black, even though it's full of stars? - How do pebbles skim on water? - Why doesn't your own snoring wake you up? - And why is the Large Hadron Collider so ... er ... large? And as these intriguing, imaginative and occasionally bonkers questions and answers drawn from New Scientist magazine's archives show: question everything and you might find your way to amazing, unexpected insights into our minds, bodies and the universe, and the science behind the scenes that keeps them ticking. As you would expect from New Scientist, this is top-flight science at its most accessible, unpredictable and entertaining. This latest mind-bending addition to the No. 1 bestselling series will fascinate 'Last Word' fans and new readers alike.The New Scientist books from Profile have become sure-fire Christmas bestsellers, now selling over two million copies through bookshops. Last year's Nothing was in the bestseller lists for six weeks. This new book is sure to be at least as successful.
In The Quantum World leading physicists and New Scientist take you on a
journey through quantum theory, its mind-bending properties and the
technologies transforming our world.
