Science Recent Picks

December 2007

The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Lives of the planets : a natural history of the solar system, by Richard Corfield (2007).
"Modulated for a general audience, Corfield's tour of the solar system rides on space missions dispatched to the planets. Proceeding from the sun outward to Pluto - planet or not, a spacecraft is speeding toward it right now - Corfield balances the technological with his scientist's eye for the geophysical questions these space projects were intended to answer. After pioneering reconnaissance supplied a basic idea of a planet's appearance and hospitability to life, subsequent missions, as Corfield explains, were designed with more precise goals in mind. Corfield describes these aims and analyzes how well they have been met - obtaining atmospheric and surface information about Venus and discovering if life did or does exist on Mars. He then expands his findings into descriptions of the sun, each planet, the asteroids, and the outer limits of the solar system, from where the Voyager spacecraft are currently sending data. The author also poses the questions that future missions will pursue, such as determining a possible ocean on Jupiter's Europa. A clear and enthusiastic introduction to our cosmic neighborhood." (Booklist)

The Book of Numbers : From Zero to Infinity, an Entertaining List of Every Number That Counts, by Tim Glynee-Jones (2007).
"Pick a number, any number, and "The Book of Numbers" will let you in on all its secrets. You'll be amazed at just how entertaining numbers can be. Where else in one place could you find out how the illegal numbers racket worked, what makes some people see numbers as colours, why the standard US rail gauge exactly matches the axle width of an ancient Roman chariot, the numerological connection between Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden and which numbers have been most successful in lotteries? Our lives are ruled by numbers and this book tells you about every one that counts!" (Amazon.co.uk)

Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius, by Gavin D.J. Harper (2007).
"Let the sun shine on your evil side - and have a wicked amount of fun on your way to becoming a solar energy master! In this guide, the popular Evil Genius format ramps up your understanding of powerful, important, and environmentally friendly solar energy - and shows you how to build real, practical solar energy projects you can use in your home, yard - even on the road! In Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius, high-tech guru Gavin Harper gives you everything you need to build more than 50 thrilling solar energy projects. You'll find complete, easy-to-follow plans, with clear diagrams and schematics, so you know exactly what's involved before you begin." (Amazon.com)

Endless Universe; Beyond the Big Bang, by Neil G. Turok and Paul Steinhardt (2007).
"This is the first serious challenge to the widely accepted 'Big Bang' model of the universe. According to 'Big Bang' theory, space and time sprang into existence fifteen billion years ago: a super-heated fireball of near infinite density that expanded at phenomenal speed. As it continued to expand, it cooled and condensed to create the galaxies, stars and planets we see today. But the theory has always had flaws and they have become increasingly difficult to reconcile. Why is the distribution of matter and radiation in the universe so uniform? Why is space flat rather than curved, as Einstein's theory of general relativity suggests? And where did the seeds for forming galaxies come from? To resolve these issues, Turok and Steinhardt propose a very different model of the universe. They argue that it is without beginning or end, truly an Endless Universe. There is a continual cycle of expansion and contraction as parallel universes (or "branes") collide. In this highly accessible book, they chronicle that last thirty years of cosmology as scientists tried to make the 'Big Bang' theory account for recent discoveries in cosmology. They explain the discovery of 'dark energy', 'dark matter' and the evolution of their new model of our universe. Finally, they address the question of when the next collision might occur between our worlds and the parallel dimensions in space." (Amazon.co.uk)

The Tiger That Isn't : Seeing Through a World of Numbers, by Michael Blastland & Andrew Dilnot (2007).
"Numbers have become the all-powerful language of public argument. Too often, that power is abused and the numbers bamboozle. This book shows how to see straight through them - and how to seize the power for yourself. Public spending, health risks, environmental disasters, who is rich, who is poor, Aids or war deaths, pensions, teenage offenders, the best and worst schools and hospitals and immigration - life comes in numbers. The trick to seeing through them is strikingly simple. It is to apply something everyone has - the lessons of their own experience. Using vivid and everyday images and ideas, this book shows how close to hand insight and understanding can be, and how we can all use what is familiar to make sense of what is baffling. It is also a revelation - of how little the principles are understood even by many who claim to know better." (Amazon.co.uk)

Collins Stars and Planets Guide, by Ian Ridpath ; illustrated by Wil Tirion (2007).
"A comprehensive guide to all the stars and celestial objects visible with the use of binoculars or an average-sized telescope, this fully revised edition features updated and extended text, improved sky charts, and new diagrams and photographs." (Amazon.co.uk)

Hot topic : global warming and the future of New Zealand, by Gareth Renowden (2007).
"Using the latest evidence from the International Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assesment Report, Gareth Renowden puts climate change into its New Zealand context. He examines how the science suggests New Zealand's climate will change, what current and future governments can do to address the problem, and how individuals and businesses can respond to the challenge." (Book cover)

Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand, by Kathy Ombler (2007).
"New Zealand's remarkable range of landscapes is home to an equally spectacular avian fauna. Not only are its endemic and native species at the top of any bird-watcher's must-see list, but its roll-call of seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, is world-renowned. In 'Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand' Kathy Ombler introduces more than 30 of New Zealand's finest birding sites, with a full description of the location as well as a list of the birds to watch out for. Here are just a few examples of the sites that are covered: Otago Peninsula, home to colonies of northern royal albatross, yellow-eyed and blue penguins and many other seabird species; Kapiti Island, huge predator-free island that is a refuge for kokako, takahe, saddleback and stitchbird; and, Farewell Spit, which gives seasonal lodging to hundreds of thousands of New Zealand and overseas migrants. All the sites can be visited privately or with guided tours, and many of the tour and sanctuary operators have good connections with key bird-watching organisations in the Britain and the US. The book also includes location maps, colour photography, a list of all the species mentioned, plus a shortlist of 'must-see' birds, as well as travel tips and accommodation information for visitors." (Blackwells)

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