Mark Miodownik Books

The book delves into the fascinating history and science of everyday materials like paper, glass, chocolate, and concrete. Through the lens of a passionate materials scientist, readers are invited to explore the unique properties and significance of these substances in our lives. The author's enthusiasm brings to life the intricate connections between science and the materials that shape our world, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for all.

An adventure deep inside the everyday materials that surround us, packed with surprising stories and fascinating science. Why is glass see-through? What makes elastic stretchy? Why does a paper clip bend? Why does any material look and behave the way it does? These are the sorts of questions that Mark Miodownik a globally-renowned materials scientist has spent his life exploring In this book he examines the materials he encounters in a typical morning, from the steel in his razor and the graphite in his pencil to the foam in his sneakers and the concrete in a nearby skyscraper.

Sometimes explosive, often delicious, occasionally poisonous, but always interesting: the New York Times best-selling author of Stuff Matters show us the secret lives of liquids: the shadow counterpart of our solid ';stuff.'

'A witty, smart writer who has a great talent' Bill Gates Why are most gases invisible, odourless and tasteless? Why do some poison us and others make us laugh? And why do some power our engines while others make drinks fizzy? In It's a Gas, Mark Miodownik masterfully reveals an invisible world through his unique brand of scientific storytelling. Taking us back to that exhilarating - and often dangerous - moment when scientists tried to work out exactly what they had discovered, Miodownik shows that gases are the formative substances of our modern world, each with its own weird and wonderful personality. From how nitrous oxide affects our neural pathways to the gases that make plants grow and flowers smell through to the carbon-fuelled climate crisis, this is a fact-filled delight of a book.

Lebensspendend und erfrischend, giftig und explosiv: das geheime Leben der Flüssigkeiten Was haben Erdnussbutter und der Sprengstoff Nitroglyzerin gemeinsam? Warum sollte man zu Fisch Rotwein trinken statt Weißwein? Wie lässt sich mit Olivenöl Licht erzeugen? Flüssigkeiten sind im Alltag selbstverständlich für uns – vom Zähneputzen am Morgen bis zur Tasse Tee vor dem Schlafengehen. Doch wie viel wissen wir wirklich über diese fließenden Stoffe? Sie haben eine Doppelnatur, sind weder Feststoff noch Gas, sondern irgendetwas dazwischen, sie sind undurchschaubar und geheimnisvoll. Der renommierte Wissenschaftler Mark Miodownik unterhält mit den kuriosesten Fakten über diese faszinierende Materie und nimmt uns mit auf eine unglaubliche Entdeckungsreise.

Nur wenige Bücher schaffen das: unseren Blick auf die Welt neu zu justieren. (...) Ein Lese- und Lernvergnügen. stern