From the bestselling author of The Science of Why series, "a 'whodunit' about one of the most fascinating and improbable tales of medical discovery" (Jonathan A. Edlow, MD, author of The Deadly Dinner Party : A nd Other Medical Detective Stories).Discovered and identified as the cause of mad cow disease only three decades ago, the prion is a protein molecule that, when misshapen in the brain, becomes fatal. Novel and controversia...

In the tradition of The Inside of a Dog, top science writer and TV personality Jay Ingram shares new insights into the hearts, minds, and bodies of the animals who love us (or do they?).More than one billion pets live in homes around the world, sleeping on dog beds, clawing at cat trees, swimming in bowls, crawling around in aquariums. Canada, the United States, Brazil, the EU, and China make up half of those households, with half of the world’s population...

Ever wonder why onions make you cry? Or why lizards do pushups? Or why leaves change color in the fall?Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Acclaimed science writer and broadcaster Jay Ingram wonders the same things. After a long career of asking important questions (Does time speed up as we age? How much Neanderthal is in me? Why do some animals throw their feces?), he’s here to put our scientific quandaries to rest. In this insightful, witty book for curious r...

If the brain is the theatre, consciousness is the play. But who or what controls what we watch and how we watch it? In Theatre of the Mind Jay Ingram, whose past scientific investigations include the properties of honey on toast and the complexities of the barmaid's brain, tackles one of the most controversial of subjects: consciousness. Scientists have long tried to map our brains and understand how it is that we think and are self-aware, but what do we really know? Any discussio...

A fascinating look at the cutting-edge science and technologies that are on the cusp of changing everything from where we’ll live, how we’ll look, and who we’ll be, by the popular science broadcaster and bestselling author Jay Ingram.Where will we live? How will we get around? What will we look like? These are just some of the questions bestselling author and popular science broadcaster Jay Ingram answers in this exciting examination of the science and technologies...

Chock-full of peculiar puzzles, mind-bending mythbusters, and quirky questions, the fifth pop science book in the bestselling Science of Why series is perfect for anyone curious about the weird and wondrous world we live in.Have you ever wondered if octopuses are from outer space? What Mexican jumping beans are? Or if banana peels are really slippery?If questions like these are keeping you up at night, you can rest easy. Bestselling author Jay Ingram is her...

Back by popular demand: a brand-new volume of science queries, quirks, and quandaries in the mega-bestselling Science of Why series, sure to enlighten and entertain readers of all ages.Have you ever wondered why we close our eyes when we sneeze? Or how far underground things can live? Or if there’s a way to choose the fastest lineup at the grocery store?Yes? Then fasten your seat belts! Bestselling author Jay Ingram is here to take you on a rollercoaster ri...

Have you ever felt a sudden rush of recognition that you've been in a place before? What causes a déjà vu? Why do dogs look like their owners? What's up with insect swarms? What's the science behind showing your tongue? Do you keep drier by walking or running through a rainstorm? In this updated and expanded edition of The Science of Everyday Life, bestselling author Jay Ingram explains these and many more weird and fascinating mysteries.

The newest volume in the beloved Science of Why series—full of fascinating science that will amuse and astonish readers of all ages.Have you wondered why you cringe when fingernails are scratched along a chalkboard? Or why some people are left-handed? Or if a shark can smell a drop of blood a mile away?Then you’re in luck! Bestselling author Jay Ingram is back to answer all those questions and more as he explores and explains the world around us in all of i...

"[A] riveting tale of Alzheimer's disease . . . Ingram's first-rate medical writing makes this excellent history a must-read." ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)It is a wicked disease that robs its victims of their memories, their ability to think clearly, and ultimately their lives. For centuries, those afflicted by Alzheimer's disease have suffered its debilitating effects while family members sit by, watching their loved ones disappear a little more e...

Discovery Channel host and acclaimed writer Jay Ingram helps you find the answers to questions you've never really settled, like “What is déjà vu?” “Why do we blink?”, “Why are yawns contagious?” and the perennial “Do we really use only 10% of our brains?”Note that this book is a combined and abridged edition of The Science of Why and The Science of Why2.Have you ever wondered if people really do weird things during the fu...

An all-new volume of science questions to delight, entertain, and inform readers of all ages, from bestselling author Jay Ingram.Bestselling author and commentator Jay Ingram is back to explain the magic and mysteries of the world around us.Jay takes readers on a tour of the universe, exploring wonders big and small. From the farthest reaches of space to the most perplexing historical riddles to the marvels of who we are and what we’re made of, Jay answers ...