popular works

An exploration of the intersection between calculus and daily life, complete with Orlin's sly humor and memorably bad drawings.

". . . explores and explains subjects ranging from ancient mathematical ideas and inventions, such as prehistoric tally bones and Sumerian multiplication tables, through the developments in mathematics during medieval and Renaissance Europe, to the more recent rise of game and group theory"--OCLC.

"Are you ready for the ultimate bee book? With lighthearted watercolor and ink drawings, humorous quips, lists, and musings, [this book] . . . will show you just how important these esteemed bee-list celebrities really are. (Hint: We can't live without them.)"--Provided by publisher.

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific exploration of owls, the most elusive group of birds, and an investigation into why these remarkable and yet mysterious animals exert such a hold on human imagination For centuries, owls have captivated and intrigued us. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented over 30,000 years ago, in the Chauvet cave paintings in southern France, and our enduring awareness and curiosity of their forward gaze and nearly silent flight has cemented the owl as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, foresight and intuition. But what, really, does an owl know? Though our infatuation goes back centuries, scientists have only recently begun to study these birds in great detail. While more than 270 species exist today, and reside on every continent except Antarctica, owls are far more difficult to find and study than other birds - because while not only cryptic and perfectly camouflaged, owls are most active in the dark of night. Joining scientists on this maddening and elusive treasure hunt, Jennifer Ackerman brings alive the rich biological history of these animals and reveals the remarkable scientific discoveries into their brains and behavior. She explores how, with the modern technology and tools, researchers now know that owls talk all night long - without opening their bills. That that their hoots follow a series of complex rules, allowing them to express needs and desires. That owls duet. They migrate. They use tools. They hoard their prey. Some live in underground burrows, some dine on scorpions. Ackerman brings this research alive with her own personal field observations about owls, and dives deep too into why this bird endlessly inspires and beguiles us. WHAT AN OWL KNOWS is an awe-inspiring and spellbinding journey across the globe and through human history, and a dazzling account of the astonishing health, hunting skills, communication, and sensory prowess that distinguishes the owl from nearly all other birds. An extraordinary glimpse into the mind of these brilliant animals, WHAT AN OWLS KNOWS pulls back the curtain on the the hidden and still undiscovered realities of our shared world"--.

As big as a bus, weighing up to 11 tons, elephants have fascinated us for centuries, but only recently have scientists been able to observe their innermost workings as individuals, families, and herds. This enlightening book?companion to the highly anticipated televisions series from National Geographic?takes us to the few places in the world where elephants roam. Filled with glorious photography and groundbreaking narratives of current science, these pages capture the life and behavior of these iconic creatures as never before seen. We also meet the researchers and conservationists dedicating their time and risking their lives to understand and protect the world's two species, African and Asian, as they share new insights into elephant culture. Combining authoritative, cutting-edge knowledge with world-class photography, Secrets of the Elephants reveals behavior never before witnessed?and sounds a clarion call to honor and protect these magnificent animals.

"The most trusted explainer of the most mind-boggling concepts pulls back the veil of mystery that has too long cloaked the most valuable building blocks of modern science. Sean Carroll, with his genius for making complex notions entertaining, presents in his uniquely lucid voice the fundamental ideas informing the modern physics of reality"--Provided by publisher.

"An accelerator physicist's fascinating journey through the experiments that uncovered the nature of matter and made the modern world. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, many scientists believed that the project of physics was nearly complete, that there was little left to explore. But as the new century dawned, scientists with the drive to deepen their understanding began looking ever more closely at the atom, and as a result of their remarkable discoveries, physics-and the world around us-would never again be the same. When the cathode ray tube revealed the secret of X-rays, physics immediately proved itself to be a source of enormous technological innovation, enabling life-saving medical equipment, safer building construction, and stronger security measures. And with every discovery since, our expanded knowledge of the infinitesimal has also brought a corresponding change in technology"--Provided by publisher.

Looks at how things work or are manufactured, including locks, clocks, scales for weighing, and cloth manufacture.

"[This book] makes legal concepts related to United States copyright law understandable to educators. A staple on reference shelves, it has now been updated with . . . court rulings and technology applications"--Provided by publisher.