News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Here are some of the latest science books to arrive on our shelves – have a browse!

The water book : a user’s guide to understanding, protecting, and preserving Earth’s most precious resource.
“Inspiring, engaging and hopeful, The Water Book is a fresh perspective and inspirational approach to motivating readers into saving water without guilt or scare tactics, whilst encouraging the development of a personal philosophy of sustainability. Complex issues are presented in a relatable and straightforward manner and simple, concrete examples providing effective ways to help save water supplies are easily made part of the reader’s daily routine, so that practicing sustainability becomes an attainable goal.” ( Amazon.co.uk)

Eruptions that shook the world / Clive Oppenheimer.
“”Shaking the world” doesn’t refer to the earthquakes that accompany volcanic eruptions but to the watershed moments in human history that massive volcanic eruptions have caused. Volcanoes can affect humans in many ways, triggering tsunamis, ash fallout, and sulfur dioxide gas emissions-one of the causes of global cooling. Using current research, Oppenheimer (volcanology, Univ. of Cambridge) pieces together our volcanic past by connecting major historic and prehistoric eruptions to the course of human civilization.” (Library Journal)

Future science : essays from the cutting edge / edited and with a preface by Max Brockman.
“Editor Max Brockman introduces the work of some of today’s brightest and most innovative young scientists in this fascinating and exciting collection of writings that describe the very boundaries of our knowledge. “Future Science” features nineteen young scientists, most of whom are presenting their innovative work and ideas to a general audience for the first time. Featured in this collection are William McEwan, a virologist, discussing his research into the biology of antiviral immunity; Naomi Eisenberger, a neuroscientist, wondering how social rejection affects us physically; Jon Kleinberg, a computer scientist, showing what massive datasets can teach us about society and ourselves; and Anthony Aguirre, a physicist, who gives readers a tantalizing glimpse of infinity.” (Syndetics summary)

From the early years of Darwin’s scientific career, to rainforests, tropical plants, and what makes New Zealand tick (geologically speaking!). Have a browse of some of our picks of the new science books this month:

Charles Darwin, geologist / Sandra Herbert.
“Most people associate Charles Darwin solely with evolution. Yet Darwin worked in a variety of other scientific areas and considered himself first and foremost a geologist. In 1859, in fact, the Geological Society of London awarded him its highest honor, the Wollaston Medal, for his contributions to the field; eight months later, The Origin of Species was published, and Darwin’s work in geology was relegated to the background. Herbert (history, Univ. of Maryland Baltimore Cty.; ed., The Red Notebook of Charles Darwin) documents Darwin’s interest in geology from age nine or ten, when he first began collecting stones. With the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, Britain sealed its claim as the most powerful nation, particularly on the sea. This newfound stature, along with his family’s wealth, enabled Darwin to pursue a life of scientific inquiry and embark on expeditions that provided him with the ingredients necessary to formulate his theories.” (Library Journal)

Among giants : a life with whales / Charles “Flip” Nicklin with K.M. Kostyal ; foreword by James Darling.
“Flip Nicklin is National Geographic’s whale guy. Any time the magazine runs a story on whales, Nicklin is the photographer sent to illustrate the story. It all began in 1963, when the author’s father was running a dive ship in San Diego. When the father and a couple of buddies discovered a Bryde’s whale tangled in a gill net, they photographed the whale and then freed it. Inspired by both photography and diving, Nicklin bummed around until he got a chance to work as an assistant with humpback whale research in Maui. There he got an iconic photograph of a male whale head down in the water, singing, and he was on his way. Nicklin has created an exciting tale combining the adventure (and drudgery) of field research and the discovery of what whales do and why. Humpbacks in Hawaii, narwhals and belugas in the Arctic, killer whales in Canada, sperm whales in Sri Lanka, and dolphins in Galveston Bay all tell their stories in Nicklin’s marvelous images.–Bent, Nanc. Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Engineering animals : how life works / Mark Denny, Alan McFadzean.
“Incorporating their knowledge of systems engineering into the study of how animals navigate their environment, authors Denny, a retired aerospace engineer who specialized in radar and sonar system, and McFadzean, an oil and gas consultant, have written a fascinating study sure to delight naturalists, hunters, and communications specialists. The two apply their technical expertise to a range of problems taken from the animal kingdom: how animals target their prey, the population dynamics underlying predator-prey relationships, how bird migratory patterns depend upon sense perception, global solar energy flows, and more. Hunters, science buffs, and techies alike will especially be fascinated by discussions of target acquisition and tracking. The authors provide a wide overview combined with convincing details, while emphasizing the wide gap between our ability to model the behavior of living beings and create robotic devices and the power and precision of nature. After reading this book a walk through the woods will never be the same. 100 line illustrations, 18 halftones. (May) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.” (Publisher Weekly)

Rainforest safari / James Parry.
“Rainforests are special places. Strung around the globe across five continents, they are natural cathedrals on the grandest scale, their lush, humid precincts not only places of great beauty but also home to more than fifty per cent of the world’s known wildlife species. This is biodiversity at its most dramatic: a bewildering variety of plants, birds, mammals and invertebrates depend on the rainforest environment, with the total number of species continuing to grow almost daily as scientists make constant new discoveries. Yet, while we still have so much more to learn about rainforests, they are disappearing – cleared and burned, thanks to human greed for land and demand for timber and other forest resources.In “Rainforest Safari”, James Parry explores these extraordinary landscapes with reference to 25 sites, and reveals the fascinating range of wildlife they support. The book looks at the various types of rainforest, at their different ecosystems and at the diverse features that make them such exciting places to visit.” (Amazon.co.uk)

Science and the akashic field : an integral theory of everything / Ervin Laszlo.
“Mystics and sages have long maintained that there exists an interconnecting cosmic field at the roots of reality that conserves and conveys information, a field known as the Akashic record. Recent discoveries in vacuum physics show that this Akashic Field is real and has its equivalent in science’s zero-point field that underlies space itself. This field consists of a subtle sea of fluctuating energies from which all things arise: atoms and galaxies, stars and planets, living beings, and even consciousness. This zero-point Akashic Field is the constant and enduring memory of the universe. It holds the record of all that has happened on Earth and in the cosmos and relates it to all that is yet to happen.” (Amazon.co.uk)

Encyclopedia of tropical plants : identification and cultivation of over 3000 tropical plants / Ahmed Fayaz.
“Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants brings together over 3,000 species of tropical plants selected to reflect the major plant groups in the tropics all over the world. It uses the most up-to-date nomenclature and systematics and arranges the species in family order, rather than by the usual alphabetical genus name, which makes identification and comparison of similar plants easier. Species descriptions include the plant’s leaves, flowers, stems and fruit, as well as its native habitat, distribution, blooming season and zone. Full-color photographs illustrate the major features of the plants described.”
(Amazon.com)

A continent on the move : New Zealand geoscience into the 21st century / chief editor, Ian J. Graham.
“Adrift in the South Pacific Ocean, separated from the rest of the world by vast distances and blessed with some of the most varied and spectacular natural landscapes on Earth, New Zealand is rather special. Generations of geoscientists have developed an increasing understanding of what makes New Zealand geologically unique and why. Highlights of this research, including many discoveries of global significance, are presented in this book. A Continent on the Move explains what makes New Zealand tick geologically, and illustrates the ways that geoscience research can make this country a better place in which to live.”
(Amazon.co.uk)

Biological diversity : exploiters and exploited / Paul Hatcher and Nick Battey.
“Biological Diversity takes a fresh, innovative approach to the teaching of biodiversity. Rather than detailing and cataloguing the major taxa and their evolutionary relationships, the authors have selected 18 groups of organisms and used these as a framework in which to discuss the species and their interactions with man and each other.”

These are just a few of the new science books that have wandered they’re way over my desk in the past month.

Alex’s adventures in numberland / Alex Bellos ; illustrations by Andy Riley.
“In a charming, conversational prose style, and with diagrams to ease brain stress, he draws us into a forbidding world, often going into the history of famous bits of maths, including the origins of Tetris and Rubik’s Cube. The most immediately fascinating chapter is on the application of probability theory to gambling, with insights into slot machines, insurance, lotteries and a neat explanation of Pascal’s wager on the existence of God. –Metro” (Amazon.co.uk)

Hot X : algebra exposed / Danica McKellar.
“”New York Times-” bestselling author McKellar tackles the toughest math class yet: algebra. She shows teenage girls–and anyone taking algebra–how to feel confident, get in the driver’s seat, and master topics like square roots, polynomials, quadratic equations, word problems, and more.” (Syndetics summary)

The theory that would not die : how Bayes’ rule cracked the enigma code, hunted down Russian submarines, & emerged triumphant from two centuries of controversy / Sharon Bertsch McGrayne.
“Bayes’ rule appears to be a straightforward, one-line theorem: by updating our initial beliefs with objective new information, we get a new and improved belief. To its adherents, it is an elegant statement about learning from experience. To its opponents, it is subjectivity run amok. In the first-ever account of Bayes’ rule for general readers, Sharon Bertsch McGrayne explores this controversial theorem and the human obsessions surrounding it. She traces its discovery by an amateur mathematician in the 1740s through its development into roughly its modern form by French scientist Pierre Simon Laplace.”– Provided by publisher.

Second nature : the inner lives of animals / Jonathan Balcombe ; foreword by J.M. Coetzee.
“With vivid stories and entertaining anecdotes, Balcombe gives the human pedestal a strong shake while opening the door into the inner lives of the animals themselves.” (Syndetics summary)

Epigenetics : the ultimate mystery of inheritance / Richard C. Francis.
“Time to worry again–our lifestyle choices do impact our genetic code and that of our children (and even grandchildren!).” (Syndetics summary)

Edible and poisonous mushrooms of the world / Ian R. Hall … [et al.].
“This book begins with a warning, which is certainly justified when dealing with edible macroscopic fungi. The introduction includes charts of worldwide mushroom production, and even wholesale prices. A 60-plus-page chapter, unnumbered, follows with outstanding tips on how to cultivate the top eight species grown and eaten worldwide; this chapter alone is worth the price of the book. The following chapters outline how to collect fungi and offer invaluable information on the various families of toxins found in fungi, with outlines of the symptoms associated with the ingestion of each family of toxins.” (CHOICE)

Quantum man : Richard Feynman’s life in science / Lawrence M. Krauss.
“A gripping new scientific biography of the revered Nobel Prize-winning physicist (and curious character) Richard Feynman.” (Syndetics summary)

Check out some of the more bizarre books about science found at the library. In amongst the time spent by scientists trying to find the cure for cancer, the common cold and global warming, they manage to get up to some pretty crazy things!

Elephants on acid : and other bizarre experiments / Alex Boese.
A fascinating account of some of the stranger experiments from history that were done in the name of science. In the ‘a tad creepy’ basket we have zombie kittens and the 1970s Stanford Prison experiment.  In the ’scratch your head and ask why’ basket we have the difference between Coke and Pepsi (you may think you can taste it, but you can’t actually) and whether your dog is likely to go get help if you are in distress (unlikely). (Staff member)

Why don’t penguins’ feet freeze? and 114 other questions : more questions and answers from the popular “last word’ column / edited by Mick O’Hare.
In this book of questions from New Scientist’s popular Last Word column, all sorts of odd questions are posed (and answered). If you want to know why supermarket bags are so noisy, why milk will run down the bottle if you pour it too slowly or why planes can fly upside down, just grab this book to find out! (Staff member)

Ig Nobel prizes : the annals of improbable research / Marc Abrahams.
In 2010 the Ig Nobel Physics prize was won by three ladies from the University of Otago for demonstrating that, on icy footpaths in winter, people slip and fall less often if they wear socks on the outside of their shoes. A trick I learnt growing up in Dunedin is that old wooly rugby socks are the best sort for wearing over your shoes. (Staff member)

The hungry scientist handbook : electric birthday cakes, edible origami, and other DIY projects for techies, tinkerers, and foodies / Patrick Buckley and Lily Binns.
Did you know that cooking is actually chemistry? Delicious, tasty chemistry? Have you ever fancied making icecream with liquid nitrogen, or making edible origami? These and many more ideas bring science into the kitchen and onto the plate. (Staff member)

How many licks? : or, how to estimate damn near anything / Aaron Santos.
Have you ever wondered how many grams of tea it would take to make the Boston harbour palatable? Or how long it would take to eat the Stay Puft Man from Ghostbusters? If you have, this book will show you how to go about estimating the answers to all sorts of wacky questions. (Staff member)

Many listeners are tuning into “The stars are comforting” which is currently being played on Concert FM each Sunday at 2PM. This programme follows the life of the internationally-renowned New Zealand astronomer Beatrice Hill Tinsley through her many letters to her family and the music she played or which she heard at concerts. Astronomy and music were her two great interests in life. A brilliant scientist who began her work in the America of the 1960s, Beatrice struggled to reconcile her life as a woman with her passion for astronomy so that her story is very much tied up with feminist cause. She died at the tragically early age of 37. Those who have enjoyed the radio programmme may like to read this comprehensive biography.

Bright star : Beatrice Hill Tinsley, astronomer / Christine Cole Catley.
“A New Zealand hero brought out of obscurity in this fascinating 445 page biography by author Christine Cole Catley. Beatrice Hill Tinsley showed astronomers new ways of thinking and taught teachers new ways of teaching. A lover of nature and a conservationist who idealised New Zealand, she was also a musician, a feminist, a battler for zero population growth and a champion of the oppressed. Her life is a classic study in the interaction of nature and nurture, genetics and environment. It is also an inspiring and unforgettable picture of a girl determined to be a scientist who grows up in provincial New Zealand and wins through to world renown.”(Summary from www. globalbooksinprint.com)

Rosalind Franklin’s life is one which is sometimes compared with that of Beatrice Hill Tinsley, although she lived a generation before her (she was born in 1920) – and on the other side of the world (she grew up and worked in London). Rosalind Franklin faced different problems from those faced by Beatrice – she never married and did not have children – but she suffered from male jealousy and hostility.There is a strong suggestion that her pioneering work on DNA was poached and that she was denied a share in the the Nobel prize. She also died tragically young – at the age of 38.

Rosalind Franklin : the dark lady of DNA / Brenda Maddox.
“Her photographs of DNA were called “among the most beautiful X-ray photographs of any substance ever taken,” but physical chemist Rosalind Franklin never received due credit for the crucial role these played in the discovery of DNA’s structure. In this sympathetic biography, Maddox argues that sexism, egotism and anti-Semitism conspired to marginalize a brilliant and uncompromising young scientist who, though disliked by some colleagues, was a warm and admired friend to many. Franklin was born into a well-to-do Anglo-Jewish family and was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge. After beginning her research career in postwar Paris she moved to Kings College, London, where her famous photographs of DNA were made. These were shown without her knowledge to James Watson, who recognized that they indicated the shape of a double helix and rushed to publish the discovery; with colleagues Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, he won the Nobel Prize in 1962. Deeply unhappy at Kings, Rosalind left in 1953 for another lab, where she did important research on viruses, including polio. Her career was cut short when she died of ovarian cancer at age 37. Maddox sees her subject as a wronged woman, but this view seems rather extreme.”(Oct. 2) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

Marie Curie preceded both these women scientists – she was born in 1867 – but she lived to a comparitively ripe age. Her work on radiation with her husband Pierre has made her a household name throughout the world and won the Nobel prize for physics for both in 1903. She herself won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1911, becoming the only woman to win two Nobel prizes and to win them in two fields. Her full and interesting life was beset with difficulties – among them the struggle to become a scientist, despite an impoverished background, and to honour her intense patriotism to her native Poland while living as a loyal French citizen. She received full recognition only after her husband’s death.

The Curies : a biography of the most controversial family in science / Denis Brian.
“Brian notes that in a recent French poll on the greatest Frenchmen (sic) of all time, Marie Curie (1867-1934) was voted number four. The author of Einstein: A Life examines the personal and professional lives and legacy of a family that won a total of six Nobel Prizes. The controversies he treats include Madame Curie’s battles with the chauvinistic French science community and affair with a married scientist after Pierre’s death. The biography includes photos. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

The three women scientists featured here are found in this book too, but it also highlights the work of many others whose names have been forgotten or obliterated. It raises interesting and timely questions about the paucity of top women scientists in the modern world, despite the fact that girls excel in examinations and repeatedly outstrip boys in the discipline.

Scientists anonymous : great stories of women in science / Patricia Fara.“Why, when girls outstrip boys in exams, are there still so few women in the top levels of science? Why have women been excluded and is there still discrimination? Acclaimed science writer and children’s author Patricia Fara investigates science past and present to find the answers. She examines women scientists’ struggle against unequal opportunities, and shows how they have succeeded despite the obstacles stacked against them. The renowned names are here – Marie Curie, Florence Nightingale, Rosalind Franklin – but Scientists Anonymous also reveals the forgotten contributions of many other dedicated and brilliant women. Combining history, science and biography, Fara presents the stories of female explorers, mathematicians, astronomers and chemists from all over the world.”(Book summary Amazon.co.uk)

Here are just a few of the new science books that have come across my desk in the last few weeks. Enjoy!!

The leafcutter ants : civilization by instinct / Bert Hölldobler and Edward O. Wilson.
“Holldobler (Arizona State U.) and Wilson (Harvard U.) are the co-authors of the Pulitzer prize-winning The ants and the equally acclaimed The superorganism. This utterly enthralling book, filled with color photos, presents an expanded discussion of one of protagonists from these works, written for the general reader. A glossary of terms is provided. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

The grand design / by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow.
“In 2006 Hawking and Thomas Hertog (CERN) predicted that it is inevitable that our universe has its physical constants because it “selects” and sums only those past histories that result in our universe (”top-down cosmology”). Hawking made public the “no-boundary” condition, that time had no beginning, at a Vatican conference in 1981. J. F. Burkhart University of Colorado at Colorado SpringsCopyright American Library Association, used with permission.” (CHOICE)

The clockwork universe : Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the birth of the modern world / Edward Dolnick.
“A”New York Times”-bestselling author presents the true story of a pivotal moment in modern history when a group of strange, tormented geniuses–Isaac Newton chief among them–invented science and remade our understanding of the world.” (Syndetics summary)

Tomorrow’s table : organic farming, genetics, and the future of food / Pamela C. Ronald, Raoul W. Adamchak.
“With the world’s population projected to grow some 50 percent by midcentury, rigorous agricultural planning becomes indispensable to forestall the onset of ecological and human disaster. Ronald and Adamchak, a wife-husband team from the University of California at Davis, combine the training and insights of a geneticist and the know-how of a committed organic farmer. They examine the often-passionate debate about genetically engineered food and how it may affect the food supply of the future, meticulously dissecting arguments for and against such application of science.–Knoblauch, Mark Copyright 2008 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Energy security : economics, politics, strategies, and implications / Carlos Pascual, Jonathan Elkind, editors.
“Energy security has become a rallying cry in recent years, especially in the wake of increased terrorist threats in the Middle East and elsewhere. But what does the term “energy security” really mean? For many, it is ensuring the safe supply and transport of energy as a matter of national security. For others, it is developing and moving toward sustainable, low-carbon energy sources to avoid environmental catastrophe. Still others view it as increasing oil drilling to achieve independence from foreign markets and ensure affordability. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Deep future : the next 100,000 years of life on Earth / Curt Stager.
“In this major new book, noted paleoclimatologist Stager vividly shows how what we do to the environment in the 21st century will affect the next 100,000 years of life on this planet.” (Syndetics summary)

From robots to the beginning of the universe as we know it, we have it all this month!

How to catch a robot rat : when biology inspires innovation / Agnès Guillot and Jean-Arcady Meyer ; translated by Susan Emanuel.
“How biology has inspired technology–from a watch with an alarm modeled on a cricket’s noisemaking to a robot that can dance.” (Syndetics summary)

Why didn’t I think of that? : 101 inventions that changed the world by hardly trying / Anthony Rubino, Jr.
“Why Didn’t I Think of That? proves not all successful inventions are the greatest thing since sliced bread (not even sliced bread, which is literally just a precut loaf for lazy loafs). This humorous guide to ?mind-blowing? inventions deconstructs just how complex these can’t-live-without necessities really are, while providing some insightful(ly funny) lessons to future inventors, such as: Yo-yos: Deadly weapons do make great kids’ toys.Soccer: Boredom is the stepmother of invention.Bottled water: There is no such thing as a stupid idea.Complete with useful trivia–like the fact that 100 trillion paperclips have been sold–readers will be able to impress their friends by hardly trying.” (Syndetics summary)

Geek nation : how Indian science is taking over the world / Angela Saini.
“At the dawn of this scientific revolution, Geek Nation is a journey to meet the inventors, engineers and young scientists helping to give birth to the world’s next scientific superpower – a nation built not on conquest, oil or minerals, but on the scientific ingenuity of its people. Angela Saini explains how ancient science is giving way to new, and how the technology of the wealthy are passing on to the poor. Delving inside the psyche of India’s science-hungry citizens, she explores the reason why the government of the most religious country on earth has put its faith in science and technology.” (amazon.co.uk)

Wonders of the solar system / Brian Cox & Andrew Cohen.
“Employing his trademark clear, authoritative, yet down-to-earth approach, Brian will explore how these previously unseen phenomena have dramatically expanded our horizons with new discoveries about the planets, their moons and how they came to be the way they are.” (amazon.co.uk)

Wonders of the universe / Brian Cox & Andrew Cohen.
“The wonders of the Universe might seem alien to us and impossible to understand, but away from the telescopes, the labs and the white coats, Professor Brian Cox uses the evidence found in the natural world around us to explain its simple truths. Travelling to the North Pole, Professor Cox demonstrates how spinning worlds create electrical currents and magnetism; he looks at the South Pacific Ocean to explain how the Universe communicates and moves in waves; he shows us how the water of the Angel Falls waterfall in Venezuela behaves exactly like the light does around a black hole.” (amazon.co.uk)

Cycles of time : an extraordinary new view of the universe / Roger Penrose.
“Roger Penrose’s groundbreaking and bestselling The Road to Reality provided a comprehensive yet readable guide to our present understanding of the laws that are currently believed to govern our universe. In Cycles of Time, he moves far beyond this to develop a completely new perspective on cosmology, providing a quite unexpected answer to the often-asked question, ‘what came before the Big Bang?’” (amazon.co.uk)

New Zealand material added to our collection this month includes, “In search of ancient New Zealand” where geology meets detective work. Plus, David Cohen researches the lives of those who lived in children homes in his new book “Little criminals: the story of a New Zealand boy’s home”, and Ian Dougherty introduces us to a New Zealand folk hero in “Arawata Bill”. In “Only the Houses Remain” Simon Boyce looks into the history and development of New Zealand State Housing. Have a browse!

In search of ancient New Zealand / Hamish Campbell & Gerard Hutching. In this wonderful book palaeontologist Hamish Campbell and natural history writer Gerard Hutching present an exciting new account of New Zealand’s evolution aimed at the general reader. For the first time the story of the 8th continent – Zealandia – is revealed. From 3-billion-year-old grains of sand found in present-day rocks, through the momentous breakaway from Gondwanaland to the drowning and uplift of New Zealand giving rise to today’s landscapes, this new book traces our absorbing geological story. The book is brilliantly illustrated. Photographs of fossils, rocks and the current landscape are linked to outstanding state-of-the-art digital imagery from the files of the New Zealand Institute for Geological and Nuclear Sciences. (Library Catalogue)

Little criminals : the story of a New Zealand boy’s home / David Cohen. From the late 1950s to the mid 1980s, when most of them were closed down, the New Zealand government maintained 26 residences for children and teenagers. Some of those children had the bad fortune to come from families with large numbers of children and who couldn’t cope financially. Plucking a child out and putting him in a home to ease the burden was seen as a solution. Other children in came from profoundly dysfunctional backgrounds or were profoundly dysfunctional themselves. Could putting them all together in close quarters, supervised by staff with mostly inadequate training, ever deliver a positive outcome? In this powerfully written book David Cohen, who himself spent time at Epuni Boy’s Home in the 1970s, argues not. He tracks down former residents and staff members, many of whom argue that boys’-home stints led boys to, rather than away from, lives of crime. It also led some into abuse. Evocatively and originally written, Cohen’s research takes him back to the era of moral panic about juvenile delinquency that drove the creation of the homes and traces the sea change in ideas about the care of troubled adolescents, especially Maori, who were hugely over-represented in the muster, that spelled their eventual demise. Totally gripping, it is a unique insider account of a failed experiment. (Library Catalogue)

Arawata Bill : the story of legendary gold prospector William James O’Leary / Ian Dougherty. Arawata Bill (1865-1947) was a pioneering New Zealand folk hero. He spent decades in the unforgiving mountain country of North-west Otago and South Westland, prospecting for gold and other minerals and making new tracks in unexplored areas. His astonishing feats of endurance and tenacity, coupled with his charming eccentricity, have captured the imagination of generations of New Zealanders, and Denis Glover immortalised him in his famous poem, ‘Arawata Bill’. This new edition of Ian Dougherty’s landmark biography includes information about O’Leary’s life that has only recently come to light. (Library Catalogue)

Only the houses remain : the demise of the state housing scheme in New Zealand / S.A. Boyce.
“The essays in this book examine the State Housing scheme as it was set up in the 1930’s, progressed in the 1940’s, and the policies that dismantled the original scheme in the 1950’s”–Back cover.

Here is a small selection of the new science books that have been added to our Science Collection since January. They are mainly Physics and Geology… but those are fun right?

Instant physicist: an illustrated guide
“Muller (”Physics for Future Presidents”) presents the best of the scientific curiosities he has assembled over his distinguished career. From the surprising (chocolate has more energy in it than TNT) to the scary (even kids can make a bomb), this book contains a revelation on every page. Illustrations.” (Syndetics summary)

Here on Earth : a new beginning / Tim Flannery.
“His most ambitious book so far … a twin biography, of humanity and the planet it inhabits, but that description is inadequate. Mr Flannery’s subject is the likely fate of humankind, and whether the powers granted to modern civilisation by science and technology will prove to be its downfall or its salvation … worth reading.” (The Economist )

Radioactive : Marie and Pierre Curie : a tale of love and fallout / Lauren Redniss.
“The name Marie Curie is enshrined in every schoolchild’s mind as one of the earliest and most inspirational female pioneers in the history of science. Yet the rich, vivid, and romantic story of Marya Salome Sklodwska – the young Polish national who discovered radioactivity – has been lost to time …until now, in the pages of this stunning, wildly creative, and uniquely moving visual biography by one of the most creative artistic talents working today. Lauren Redniss, a celebrated “New York Times” illustrator and storyteller, has thrown herself deeply and passionately into researching the story of the real Marie Curie; of her passionate and tragic romantic life; and, of the century of scientific innovation and controversy that sprang from her discovery of radium and went on to change the course of world history.” (Amazon.co.uk Description)

A photographic guide to rocks & minerals of New Zealand / Nick Mortimer, Hamish Campbell and Margaret Low.
“The twelfth book in the popular New Holland series examines New Zealand’s fascinating geology. Almost every kind of rock found on Earth can be seen in New Zealand, and most of the common minerals too. This handy reference guide will help you recognise and make sense of common (and some rare) rocks and minerals found on beaches and hillsides, in streams and elsewhere around the country.” (Amazon.co.uk Description)

The hidden reality : parallel universes and the deep laws of the cosmos / Brian Greene.
“The Hidden Reality reveals how major developments in different branches of fundamental theoretical physics—relativistic, quantum, cosmological, unified, computational — have all led us to consider one or another variety of parallel universe. In some, they are separated from us by enormous stretches of space or time, in others they’re hovering millimetres away, in others still the very notion of their location proves to be a concept beyond our reach. Most extraordinarily, Greene shows how all of these parallel universe proposals emerge unbidden from the mathematics of theories developed to explain conventional data and observations of the cosmos.” (Amazon.co.uk Description)

Meet top marine scientists from NIWA and peer through their microscopes at all the weird, wonderful and incredible things they have found in and near the sea during the Mana 2011 BioBlitz.

You can talk to the scientists from 10am–12noon on Saturday 19 February at Central Library and discover all the amazing plants, animals and insects living on the land and in our sea in the Mana region.  Learn about taxonomy (identifying and classifying species) and find out how you and your family can be involved in the BioBlitz – you might even help discover a new species! 

A free and fun opportunity for individuals, families and anyone interested in nautre, the environment, science or just exploring the biodiversity within our region.