Synthesizing the recent work of scientists across a wide range of disciplines in layman’s terms, Neil Shubin shows that really “We are stardust” and the evolution of the cosmos has profoundly affected the evolution of our own species.
Dale
Did you know that squirrels create a mental map of their nut caches and can actively retrieve them using this memory? Turn to page 130 to learn more! Do you know why pigeons bob their heads when they walk, why each snowflake is unique, or why we blush? You will find all the answers within these wonderful pages. Scientific mysteries are explained and illustrated in unique and whimsical essays and drawings. Be sure to read the introduction in which David Macaulay explains how the artwork was paired with each question. This is an immensely readable book, fascinating to look at, and educational as well.
Megan
Ambergris, a biliary secretion of sperm whales, is one of the most expensive substances on earth. And though it has been used as everything from a perfume fixative to a seasoning, we still know remarkably little about it. Kemp's quirky little book bobs through an ocean of information about this fragrant flotsam, picking over New Zealand beaches, whaling histories, seventeenth century newspapers, perfumer's manuals, and the latest marine research in order to bring us the weird, wandering story of this strange commodity.
Kim
Talking drums, the difference engine, code breaking and computer software. As with Chaos, Gleick’s The Information is not just a story of science, but a story of how we think about ourselves and our world. Filled with fascinating people and eye-opening perspectives, Gleick guides us through the discovery, growth, and development of one of the most important ideas in the modern world.
Josh
