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It is the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake - and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right.We have one final chance to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited.' All we need is the will do so.
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A leading paleontologist discovers the missing link in human evolution. Somewhere west of Munich, Madelaine B hme and her colleagues dig for clues to the origins of humankind. What they discover is beyond anything they imagined- the fossilised bones of Danuvius guggenmosi ignite ...a global media frenzy. This ancient ancestor defies our knowledge of human history - his nearly twelve-million-year-old bones were not located in Africa - the so-called birthplace of humanity - but in Europe, and his features suggest we evolved much differently than scientists once believed. In prose that reads like a gripping detective novel, Ancient Bones interweaves the story of the dig that changed everything with the fascinating answer to a previously undecided and now pressing question- How, exactly, did we become human? Placing B hme's discovery alongside former theories of human evolution, the authors show how this remarkable find (and others in Eurasia) are forcing us to rethink the story we've been told about how we came to be, a story that has been our guiding narrative - until now Read more
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Trade is the lifeblood of nations, providing vital goods and wealth to nations and merchants, from the ancient Egyptians who went in search of gold and ivory, to their 21st century equivalents trading hi-tech electronic equipment from the Far East.
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A behind-the-scenes account of the shocking discovery of the skeleton of Ardi, a human ancestor far older than Lucy - a find that shook the world of paleoanthropology and radically altered our understanding of human evolution. In 1994, a team led by fossil-hunting legend Tim Whit...e- the Steve Jobs of paleoanthropology -uncovered the bones of a human ancestor in Ethiopia's Afar region. Radiometric dating of nearby rocks indicated the skeleton, classified as Ardipithecus ramidus, was 4.4 million years old, more than a million years older than Lucy, then the oldest known human ancestor. The findings challenged many assumptions about human evolution-how we started walking upright, how we evolved our nimble hands, and, most significantly, whether we were descended from an ancestor that resembled today's chimpanzee-and repudiated a half-century of paleoanthropological orthodoxy. Fossil Men is the first full-length exploration of Ardi, the fossil men who found her, and her impact on what we know about the origins of the human species. It is a scientific detective story played out in anatomy and the natural history of the human body. Kermit Pattison brings into focus a cast of eccentric, obsessive scientists, including one of the world's greatest fossil hunters, Tim White-an exacting and unforgiving fossil hunter whose virtuoso skills in the field were matched only by his propensity for making enemies; Gen Suwa, a Japanese savant who sometimes didn't bother going home at night to devote more hours to science; Owen Lovejoy, a onetime creationist-turned-paleoanthropologist; Berhane Asfaw, who survived imprisonment and torture to become Ethiopia's most senior paleoanthropologist and who fought for African scientists to gain equal footing in the study of human origins; and the Leakeys, for decades the most famous family in paleoanthropology. An intriguing tale of scientific discovery, obsession and rivalry that moves from the sun-baked desert of Africa and a nation caught in a b Read more
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This unique book provides a striking look at the dramatic changes that are happening to our planet. Shows more than 200 dramatic images of sea level rising, glaciers melting, flooding and impacts from fires.
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By Gill, Maria
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- RRP: $24.99
- $22.49
- Save $2.50
- In Stock At Publisher
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Thousands of Earthquakes occur in New Zealand every year, some so small we don't feel them. Others such as the recent quakes in Christchurch and Kaikoura cause significant damage. This book explains what causes earthquakes and why New Zealand has so many, what types of quake occu...r and the most frequently affected areas of the country. Read more
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Australia's favourite science communicator explains the facts about climate change - and how we can fix it Is the planet reeeeeally warming up? But carbon's natural, isn't it? How could planes fly without fossil fuels? What's a pteropod and why should I care? Kelp? How can it hel...p? One of Dr Karl Kruszelnicki's jobs as Australia's most popular science communicator is to answer people's questions about climate change. Now, in this never dull, easy-to-understand guide Dr Karl explains the science of climate change and how we can fix it (we can!). So when your uncle says (again) that it's a load of hooey (or an illuminati conspiracy), you can keep your cool and talk like a boss about why it's getting hotter and what we can do about it. Read more
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By Sala, Enric
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- RRP: $59.50
- $46.50
- Save $13.00
- No availability locally
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In this inspiring manifesto, an internationally renowned oceanographer makes the provocative case for why protecting nature makes economic sense. Enric Sala wants to change the world--and in this groundbreaking book, he shows us how. Once we appreciate how nature works, he assert...s, we will understand why its preservation is economically practical and essential to our survival. In this highly readable narrative, Sala, director of National Geographic's Pristine Seas project, tells the story of his scientific awakening, the colorful mentors whose work inspired him, and his transition from academic to activism--because, as he put it, he was tired of writing the obituary of the ocean. His revelations are surprising, and sometimes counterintuitive: Lots of sharks are actually the best indicator of a healthy ocean ecosystem, and crop diversity, rather than intensive monoculture farming, is the key to planetary abundance. For decades, Sala has spearheaded ocean protection, convincing world leaders to protect areas amounting to five times the size of Texas--and he is still passionately pushing for more. Using fascinating examples from his own expeditions and groundbreaking findings from other scientists, Sala builds the case for the economic wisdom of making room for nature, even as the population builds to eight million and grows more urbanized by the decade. Both relatable and inspiring, this powerful book will change the way you think about the world--and the future. Read more
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Provocative and illuminating essays making the case that women are on the front lines of climate change--as those most at risk, and those most likely to solve it. Two powerful phenomena are simultaneously unfolding on Earth: the rise of the climate movement and the rise of women ...and girls. The People's Climate March and the Women's March. School strikes for climate and the #MeToo movement. Rebellions against extinction and declarations that time's up. More than concurrent, the two trends are deeply connected. From sinking islands to drought-ridden savannas, the global warming crisis places an outsized burden on women, largely because of gender inequalities. In many parts of the world, women hold traditional roles as the primary caregivers in families and communities, and as the main providers of food and fuel, they are more vulnerable when flooding and drought occur; the U.N. estimates 80% of those who have been displaced by climate change are women. Women are on the front line of the climate-change battle, and are uniquely situated to be agents of change--to find ways to mitigate the causes of global warming and adapt to its impacts on the ground. Today, across the world, from boardrooms and policy positions to local communities, from science to activism, women everywhere are using their voices to take leadership and call for action on climate change. This anthology is a collection and celebration of these diverse voices, asking critical questions and providing invaluable insight and solutions. Curated by two climate leaders, this book leads us away from the brink and toward the possibility of a life-giving future. Read more
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In his new global food history, the internationally bestselling author says if we can save the salmon, we can save the world
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