Popular Science

Explore the laws and theories of physics in this accessible introduction to the forces that shape our Universe, our planet, and our everyday lives. Using a bold, graphic-led approach The Physics Book sets out more than 80 key concepts and discoveries that have defined the subject... and influenced our technology since the beginning of time. With the focus firmly on unpicking the thought behind each theory - as well as exploring when and how each idea and breakthrough came about - seven themed chapters examine the history and developments in areas such as Energy and Matter, and Electricity and Magnetism, as well as quantum, nuclear, and particle physics. Eureka moments abound: from Pythagoras's observations of the pleasing harmonies created by vibrating strings, and Galileo's experiments with spheres, to Isaac Newton's apple and his conclusions about gravity and the laws of motion. You'll also learn about Albert Einstein's revelations about relativity; how the accidental discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation confirmed the Big Bang theory; the search for the Higgs boson particle; and why most of our Universe is missing. If you've ever wondered exactly how physicists formulated - and proved - their abstract concepts, The Physics Book is the book for you.
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From acids to alloys and equations to evaporation, ?this guide makes complex topics easy to grasp at a glance. ?Perfect support for coursework, homework, and exam revision. Each topic is fully illustrated, to support the information, make the facts crystal clear, bring the scienc...e to life and make studying a breeze. A large central image explains the idea visually and each topic is summed up on a single page, helping children to quickly get up to speed and really understand how chemistry works. For key ideas, How it Works and Look Closer boxes explain the theory with the help of simple graphics. And for revision, a handy Key Facts box provides a simple summary you can check back on later. With clear, concise coverage of all the core topics, Super Simple Chemistry is the perfect accessible guide to chemistry for children, supporting classwork, and making studying for exams the easiest it's ever been.
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Why do some ideas take off - and others fail to spread? Why are some diseases predictable, and others swamped in uncertainty? And what about the outbreaks that never happen at all? We live in a world that's more connected than ever before. But even as we see our lives being shape...d by the spread of ideas, trends - and even diseases - we sometimes struggle to grasp how it actually works. Outbreaks seem to be driven by randomness and hidden laws, and in order to understand them, we need to start thinking like mathematicians. Here, epidemiologist Adam Kucharski reveals how new mathematical approaches are transforming what we know about contagion - from the revolutionary initiatives that helped tackle gun violence in Chicago to the truth behind the spread of fake news. And along the way, he'll explain how happiness and depression can spread through our friendship networks, what STDs can tell us about banking, and why some predictions go badly wrong (and why that might not be a bad thing).
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Incredible historical and contemporary stories explore the often surprising origins of the maths we use today, from number sequences to trigonometry. Crazy facts, magic tricks, and mathematical brainteasers will amuse and entertain even the most reluctant math students. Find out ...why an hour has 60 rather than 100 minutes and how prime numbers keep the internet working. Colourful and uncluttered illustrations make mathematical explanations easy to grasp in seconds and make this user-friendly book simple to navigate and a joy to browse and read. What's the point of maths? is perfect for those who need some inspiration when it comes to numbers. It combines stories from history with simple visual explanations to bring maths to life. From spotting a bargain to talking to computers, from filling in a giant sinkhole to becoming a trillionaire, it shows children why core maths ideas were invented and how to apply them today - in the classroom and the real world! Accompanying the fascinating stories are puzzles, games, and amazing facts, as well as a lively challenge to help bring each of the topics to life. Stylish, colourful illustrations make the maths fun and unintimidating, while simple diagrams and steps make explanations easy to grasp in seconds. Throughout the book, worked examples show readers how to solve simple maths challenges, encouraging children to improve their maths skills with hands-on practice. A vocational theme runs throughout the book, showing why maths is a vital skill in many fields of life, from science and entertainment to sport and travel.
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A deeply reported look at the rise of home genetic testing and the seismic shock it has had on individual lives You swab your cheek or spit in a vial, then send it away to a lab somewhere. Weeks later you get a report that might tell you where your ancestors came from or if you c...arry certain genetic risks. Or the report could reveal long-buried family secrets and upend your entire sense of identity. Soon a lark becomes an obsession, a relentless drive to find answers to questions at the core of your being, like Who am I? and Where did I come from? Welcome to the age of home genetic testing. In The Lost Family, journalist Libby Copeland investigates what happens when we embark on a vast social experiment with little understanding of the ramifications. She explores the culture of genealogy buffs, the science of DNA, and the business of companies like Ancestry and 23andMe, all while tracing the story of one woman, her unusual results, and a relentless methodical drive for answers that becomes a thoroughly modern genetic detective story. Gripping and masterfully told, The Lost Family is a spectacular book on a big, timely subject.
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