The extraordinary history of British science, with commentary from Britain's greatest living scientists: Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins and James DysonWe may only be a small island, but we are far from small-minded. Over the last 500 years, the way we live has been steadily transformed by the inventions of British scientists, and their landmark discoveries have revealed the astonishing beauty of the universe.Genius of Britain is the story of the flashes of inspiration exp...

This new edition of the acclaimed bestseller is lavishly illustrated to convey, in pictures as in words, Bill Bryson’s exciting, informative journey into the world of science.In A Short History of Nearly Everything, the bestselling author of A Walk in the Woods and The Body, confronts his greatest challenge yet: to understand—and, if possible, answer—the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as h...

“Bryson is as amusing as ever….As a celebration of 350 years of modern science, [Seeing Further]it is a worthy tribute.”—The EconomistIn Seeing Further, New York Times bestseller Bill Bryson takes readers on a guided tour through the great discoveries, feuds, and personalities of modern science. Already a major bestseller in the UK, Seeing Further tells the fascinating story of science and the Royal Society with Bill Bryson’s trademark wit...

Dr Jacob Bronowksi's The Ascent of Man traces the development of human society through our understanding of science.First published in 1973 to accompany the groundbreaking BBC television series, it is considered one of the first works of 'popular science', illuminating the historical and social context of scientific development for a generation of readers. In his highly accessible style, Dr Bronowski discusses human invention from the flint tool to geometry, agriculture to...

“[A] fascinating book...about the way four geniuses at Cambridge University revolutionized modern science.“ *—NewsweekThe* Philosophical Breakfast Club recounts the life and work of four men who met as students at Cambridge University: Charles Babbage, John Herschel, William Whewell, and Richard Jones. Recognizing that they shared a love of science (as well as good food and drink) they began to meet on Sunday mornings to talk about the sta...

This "fantastic story" of one of physics' great riddles takes us through centuries of scientific history (Simon Lamb, author of Devil in the Mountain).Why do compass needles point north—but not quite north? What guides the migration of birds, whales, and fish across the world's oceans? How is Earth able to sustain life under an onslaught of solar wind and cosmic radiation? For centuries, the world's great scientists have grappled with these questions, all ...

The science and history of what lies between us and space: "I never knew air could be so interesting." —Bill Bryson, New York Times bestselling author of The Body: A Guide for OccupantsA flamboyant Renaissance Italian discovers how heavy our air really is (the air filling Carnegie Hall, for example, weighs seventy thousand pounds). A one-eyed barnstorming pilot finds a set of winds that constantly blow five miles above our heads. An impoverished Am...

A spirited volume on the great adventures of science throughout history, for curious readers of all ages“In Mr. Bynum’s telling, a little history goes a long way.”—Alan Hirshfeld, Wall Street JournalFor readers of all ages, this inviting book tells a great adventure story: the history of science. It takes readers to the stars through the telescope, as the sun replaces the earth at the center of our universe. It digs beneath the sur...

The companion volume for the award-winning PBS and BBC series from "one of the most intriguing minds in the western world" ( The Washington Post).The Day the Universe Changed presents a sweeping view of the history of science, technology, and human civilization and examines the moments in history when a change in knowledge radically altered man's understanding of himself and the world around him.James Burke examines eight periods in history ...

"Mahon has written a first-rate book on Maxwell's science and legacy."—New ScientistThis is the first biography in twenty years of James Clerk Maxwell, one of the greatest scientists of our time and yet a man relatively unknown to the wider public. Approaching science with a freshness unbound by convention or previous expectations, he produced some of the most original scientific thinking of the nineteenth century — and his discoveries went on to sh...

"A lovely, fascinating book, which brings science to life." —Alan LightmanCombining science, history, and adventure, Tom Shachtman "holds the reader's attention with the skill of a novelist" as he chronicles the story of humans' four-centuries-long quest to master the secrets of cold ( Scientific American)."A disarming portrait of an exquisite, ferocious, world-ending extreme," Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold demonstrates how tempera...

Compelling . . . Clark's enthusiasm shines through on every page' Sunday Times*'*An engaging and lively history' Financial Times__________A thin, invisible layer of air surrounds the Earth, sustaining all known life on the planet and creating the unique climates and weather patterns that make each part of the world different.In Firmament, atmospheric scientist and science communicator Simon Clark of...