The publication of Darwin’s The Origin of Species in 1859marked a dramatic turning point in scientific thought. The volumehad taken Darwin more than twenty years to publish, in part becausehe envisioned the storm of controversy it was certain to unleash.Indeed, selling out its first edition on its first day, The Originof Species revolutionized science, philosophy, and theology. Darwin’s reasoned, documented arguments carefully advance histheory of natural selection and his assertion that species were notcreated all at once by a divine hand but started with a few simpleforms that mutated and adapted over time. Whether commenting on hisown poor health, discussing his experiments to test instinct inbees, or relating a conversation about a South American burrowingrodent, Darwin’s monumental achievement is surprisingly personaland delightfully readable. Its profound ideas remain controversialeven today, making it the most influential book in the naturalsciences ever written—an important work n

A good case can be made for Isaac Newton being the finest mindhumanity has yet produced. His theory of gravity offered hiscontemporaries their first glimpse of how the universe actuallyworks, and his mathematics enabled later generations to walk on themoon. Today, we know that gravity keeps our feet on the ground, buthow many of us know how Newton's greatest discovery really works?In Newton Gravity, Paul Strathern encapsulates several ofNewton's more mind-expanding discoveries, explaining in livelyprose their cultural context as well as Newton's early obsessionwith science (bordering on dementia) that made his revolutionaryvision possible. Just a few of the big ideas covered hereare: Newton's discovery of calculus at age twenty-three Why gravity, one of the greatest human insights of all time, wasin fact a hunch and how it actually works Why it took Newton twenty years after his discovery to reveal tothe world the secret of gravity and planetary motion Ideal for the intelligen

Subwavelength and Nanometer Diameter Optical Fibers providesacomprehensive and up-to-date coverage of research onnanoscaleoptical fibers including the basic physics and engineeringaspects ofthe fabrication, properties and applications. The bookdiscusses opti-cal micro/nanofibers that represent a perfect fusionof optical fibersand nanotechnology on subwavelength scale andcovers a broadrange of topics in modern optical engineering,photonics and nano-technology spanning from fiber optics,near-field optics, nonlinearoptics, atom optics to nanofabricationand microphotonic compo-nents/devices. It is intended forresearchers and graduate students inthe fields of photonics,nanotechnology, optical engineering and ma-terials science.

Join Verity and her magical fairy friends in this enchanting retelling of Rapunzel, a much-loved fairy-tale classic, full of magic, mystery and more! Author Caroline Wakeman takes you on a journey to a magical Fairy Kingdom alongside lovable Verity and her gang of her sparkly fairy friends, as they set out on a special mission to ensure Rapunzel gets the happily ever after she deserves! Verity is a thrill-seeking fairy with a heart of gold and a habit of telling the truth at all times during her endless adventures with fellow princesses and fairy friends! Proving the perfect fairytale book for your little princess, Verity Fairy and Rapunzel gently encourages conversation surrounding the difference between right and wrong, positively influencing your child's moral intelligence and sense of justice, whilst sparking their curiosity and imagination. With a sprinkle of stardust in every page, your youngster ca

Popular history, science, and geography topics brought out of the classroom and into your home with fast facts, activities, and quizzes. Some subjects are too interesting to be left at school! Carry on your love of geography and Earth sciences at home with Rocks Minerals, an activity-packed exploration of the building blocks that shape our world. Divided into sections, the book starts with fast facts on topics including the rock cycle, crystals, ores, fossils, and rocks from space; and ends with charts of rock facts and record breakers. Using this information, you can complete the puzzles in the main part of the book, plus there are hands-on activities such as growing your own stalactite and testing the hardness, streak, and specific gravity of rocks you have collected. Finally, test your newfound knowledge with the quick quizzes (with answers supplied). You can keep track of your achievements throughout with a star chart to fill in every t

We may know that Einstein was the epitome of genius, but howmany of us know what his theory really means, and what itsrealistic implications are? Einstein and Relativity presents adistillation of Einstein's life and work within their historicaland scientific contexts; and offers a truly accessible explanationof the concept that shaped the twentieth century. Just a few of thebig ideas covered here are Einstein's discovery that light is botha particle and a wave; how Einstein proved the existence ofmolecules; why there is no such thing as real time; and howEinstein's brilliance led to his worst nightmare - the atombomb.

An exciting tale about tackling climate change to protect the animals Grown-ups and children can enjoy this gentle and imaginative story together, all about the environmental concerns facing our wildlife. Follow the tale of Finn and Skip as they go on a hang-gliding adventure up in the clouds - when all of a sudden Finn's map gets caught around a swan's neck! Introduce 3-5 year-olds to the importance of protecting the environment with this illustrated storybook about climate change and its effects on animals. The ups and downs of Bird shows us all the different ways we can help our birds and the environment, through Finn and Skip's adventure. This heart-warming climate change story: - Features lots of practical tips for taking care of the planet, like cycling instead of taking cars, planting trees, and even growing their own vegetables - Taps into growing eco-awareness trend, and shows the benefit

Packed with stunning photography, Eyewitness Planets explores Earth's neighbourhood, space and the Solar System. Become an eyewitness to the fascinating world of outer space, in this picture-led reference guide that will take you on a visual tour of Earth and its neighbourhood with this spectacular planetary guide. Children will be mesmerised by this eyewitness view from Mercury to Neptune, of the rocky planets, gas giants, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other bodies that make up our Solar System. This unique, beautifully illustrated guide reveals the secrets of space, examining the latest space exploration equipment, and the scientists behind discoveries both ancient and new. Using striking full-colour photographs and illustrations, discover where comets come from, learn why Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet, and much more. Throughout the pages of this newly-revise

A wide-ranging exploration of our universe -- from "what makesthe wind blow?" to "how was the moon formed?" -- inquestions-and-answer format, written in vintage Asimov style. "Afine introduction to modern astronomical theory." -- LIBRARYJOURNAL

Join Verity and her magical fairy friends in this enchanting retelling of Cinderella, a much-loved fairy-tale classic, full of magic, mystery and more! Author Caroline Wakeman takes you on a journey to a magical Fairy Kingdom alongside lovable Verity and her gang of her sparkly fairy friends, as they set out on a special mission to ensure Cinderella gets the happily ever after she deserves! Verity is a thrill-seeking fairy with a heart of gold and a habit of telling the truth at all times during her endless adventures with fellow princesses and fairy friends! Proving the perfect fairytale book for your little princess, Verity Fairy and Cinderella gently encourages conversation surrounding the difference between right and wrong, positively influencing your child's moral intelligence and sense of justice, whilst sparking their curiosity and imagination. With a sprinkle of stardust in every page, your youngs

It's hard to talk about The Origin of Species without making statements that seem overwrought and fulsome. But it's true: this is indeed one of the most important and influential books ever written, and it is one of the very few groundbreaking works of science that is truly readable. To a certain extent it suffers from the Hamlet problem--it's full of clichés! Or what are now clichés, but which Darwin was the first to pen. Natural selection, variation, the struggle for existence, survival of the fittest: it's all in here. Darwin's friend and "bulldog" T.H. Huxley said upon reading the Origin, "How extremely stupid of me not to have thought of that." Alfred Russel Wallace had thought of the same theory of evolution Darwin did, but it was Darwin who gathered the mass of supporting evidence--on domestic animals and plants, on variability, on sexual selection, on dispersal--that swept most scientists before it. It's hardly necessary to mention that the book is still controversial: Darwin's remark in

Dr. Carl Sagan takes us on a great reading adventure, offeringhis vivid and startling insight into the brain of man and beast,the origin of human intelligence, the function of our most hauntinglegends--and their amazing links to recent discoveries. "A history of the human brain from the big bang, fifteen billionyears ago, to the day before yesterday...It's a delight." THE NEW YORK TIMES

This nostalgic kitexplains how the familiar yellow tub toy became a true icon ofchildhood, and why it’s now so collectible. Featuring 2 classicrubber duckies plus an illustrated book detailing the popularduck’s history, trivia, and trends, it’s an essential for kitschaficionados and a great addition to our very popular line of retroMini Kits?.

Turing and the Computer offers an encapsulation of thegroundwork that led to the invention of the computer as we know itand an absorbing account of the man who helped develop it.Eccentric and principled, Alan Turing would lay aside a brilliantcareer in mathematics to serve his country by breaking German codesduring the Second World War. Openly homosexual, he would later beput on trial on indecency charges and forced to undergo hormonetreatments that wrecked his body and his spirit. But the modernmachine he helped create lives on. Just a few of the big ideasincluded in this riveting book are how Turing mapped out the theoryof computers before a single computer had been conceived, howTuring's Colossus broke the German Enigma codes, and Turing's proofof the existence of artificial intelligence.