Book Description

Designed to accompany Zumdahl's Chemistry, 6/e, this text provides 48 experiments covering both chemical principles and descriptive chemistry. Also included are a discussion of graphing and error analysis; specific information on safety with each experiment; appendixes and reference material for significant figures, exponents, and scientific notation; a tutorial on formula writing and the nomenclature of inorganic compounds; and a list of chemical data. Customized versions are available; for details contact Custom Publishing at 1-800-813-5091.

Book Description

Will "beam me up, Scotty" become reality? Quantum mechanics suggests it may . . . and soon.

Since cyberspace -- a word coined by a science fiction writer -- became reality, the lines between "science" and "science fiction" have become increasingly blurred. Now, the young field of quantum mechanics holds out the promise that some of humanity's wildest dreams may be realized. Serious scientists, working off of theories first developed by Einstein and his colleagues seventy years ago, have been investigating the phenomenon known as "entanglement," one of the strangest aspects of the strange universe of quantum mechanics.

According to Einstein, quantum mechanics required entanglement -- the idea that subatomic particles could become inextricably linked, and that a change to one such particle would instantly be reflected in its counterpart, even if a universe separated them. Einstein felt that if the quantum theory could produce such incredibly bizarre effects, then it had to be invalid. But new experiments both in the United States and Europe show not only that it does happen, but that it may lead to unbreakable codes, and even teleportation, perhaps in our lifetimes. . . . ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The Quantum Reality Einstein Could Not Suppose
In 1935 Einstein, Rosen and Podolsky raised a serious criticism of quantum theory in the form of a paradox. The criticism meant that quantum theory brings about a "spooky action at distance" or "entanglement" between quantum subsystems. Two photons generated at a point with a correlation, for example, continue to have the correlation even after they are separated by a great distance, and a change in the state of one of them affects the other instantaneously. In 1964 John Bell proposed a mathematical theorem experimentally to test the existence of entanglement. Alain Aspect carried out such an experiment in 1982 to show that entanglement is a reality.

Even one of the greatest physicists in history, Albert Einstein, could not suppose that entanglement would be a reality. So it must be quite difficult to make ordinary person understand it. Amir Aczel tried to do this difficult task in this book, but he does not seem to have well succeeded. Just half of a total of 20 chapters is spent to describe the history of quantum mechanics, though a short mention about entanglement appears at a few places. Thus the reader who learned quantum mechanics to some extent at least would find the first half of the book rather tedious. From the story of debate between Einstein and Bohr in chapter 11, the book becomes interesting. However, the author explains neither Bell's theorem nor the details of many experiments understandably. On the final page, the author reveals the reason of difficulty in understanding entanglement writing, "... the quantum theory does not tell us why things happen the way they do; why are the particles entangled?" Was our expectation to the author too big?

A good point of the book is that it includes biographical descriptions of a lot of physicists related to quantum theory and entanglement. I have learned for the first time that Thomas Young, famous for the double slit experiment, was a child prodigy. Schrödinger's anecdotal "entanglement" with women are also told. A bad point is that writing and printing are made rather carelessly. For example, von Neumann's proof of the non-existence of hidden variable in quantum mechanics and John Bell's later challenge to Neumann's assumption are repeatedly described on pages 101 and 102. There are many typos, and especially the contents of pages 234 and 235 should be interchanged. This error, combined with sudden appearance of the description of Borromean rings on page 232, makes the reader confused around these pages.

At the Edge of Physics and Philosophy
This is a story about the search for a deeper understanding of what Quantum Mechanics really means. The book is tantalizing but a bit frustrating because we don't known what quantum theory actually means. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to get to know a little about the key players in this search, it adds a human touch and offers a feel for what it must be like to be at the frontiers of quantum theory research. Aczel skims the surface of the material because he must avoid plunging into the mathematics needed to fully appreciate the details. I suggest the reader have some previous experience reading and thinking about quantum theory ("The Cosmic Code" by H. Pagels is particularly recommended). Aczel spends the first half of his book with introductory material however in places this effort might need more elaboration for someone trying to enter this bizarre topic for the first time. This book is probably one of the very few places where a reader of popularizations in physics can explore the latest ramifications of quantum entanglement. Aczel spent considerable time interviewing the key physicists and probably got the science right. We recognize his total involvement with the content and appreciate the care with which the ideas are presented. I rated this book 5 stars because it was so thrilling and left me with a wish that I could be there with the investigators. This is an ongoing story and I didn't want it to end! It will certainly bend your brain and leave you wondering about what reality actually is! The bibliography is useful for anyone wishing to dig into the territory deeper.

Good But Doesn't Quite Hit The Bulls-Eye
* Although Albert Einstein helped lay the foundations of modern
quantum physics, in the late 1920s he parted ways with the field,
stating that "God does not play dice with the Universe" and working on
"thought experiments" that would reveal what he saw as fundamental
flaws with the theory.

His last major jab was published in 1935 in a paper co-authored by his
assistant, Nathan Rosen, and another physicist, Boris Podolsky. The
paper took as its starting point the basic concept of quantum physics
that until a particle was measured, its state was not merely unknown,
it was undefined -- its state would be established by the measurement.

The paper written by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen, known as the "EPR"
paper after its authors, imagined the simultaneous generation of two
photons (light particles) that had interlinked properties -- for
example, polarizations at right angles to each other. The two photons
propagate in opposite directions. Their state is unknown until one is
measured, for example for its polarization -- but then the state of
the other one is known, no matter how far away it is. This "EPR
paradox" seemed to violate Einstein's theory of relativity, which
stated that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.
Austrian physicist Erwin Schroedinger described the photons as
"entangled".

Amir Aczel's ENTANGLEMENT describes the history of entanglement,
showing how it originated -- and then shows how it was actually
experimentally demonstrated.

Einstein said the EPR paradox showed that the photons were not
actually undefined before they were measured, with their state
specified by "hidden variables". Danish physicist Niels Bohr rejected
Einstein's argument, but since the issue seemed purely theoretical
that was as far as it went for three decades. In the mid-1960s, a
brilliant Irish physicist named John Bell came up with a persuasive if
hideously subtle proof that it was possible to test the EPR paradox
and prove whether there were hidden variables or not.

This led to a sequence of experiments that demonstrated hidden
variables didn't exist. ENTANGLEMENT describes how the evolution of
the idea of entanglement led to "Bell's Theorem" and then discusses
the series of experiments that put the theorem to the test. It takes
a biographical approach, giving the background of the researchers
involved and telling the story of how they came to perform
these experiments.

Although I was expecting great revelations from ENTANGLEMENT, I have
to confess, if cautiously, that I was a bit disappointed in this book.
It is one of these books for which it is a bit hard to figure out who
the target audience is supposed to be. It seems a little too light
for a serious physicist, though no doubt its historical context is
interesting for that audience, but tends to lead the casual science
reader down a twisting path. I have this sense that the author
didn't quite know how to simplify the argument enough so that casual
readers did not have to wade through complications which are
irrelevant to them.

Like I mentioned, I say this cautiously. This is a good book, not
merely worth reading, but worth rereading, probably more than once. I
was just wishing for something that would make everything clear, which
may have been a completely unrealistic expectation -- this is about as
difficult a subject to write about as can be imagined. I will
continue to mine this book for bits of gold for a long time -- but
somehow I suspect that I will never hit the mother lode with it.

So Easy to Understand it should be a Gradeschool text
This book makes the understanding of the greatest ideas in science as expressed mathematically that it should be taught to gradeschoolers.
It gives anyone who has ever breezed over the commutative property of addition/multiplication in math as simply fundamental, and without depth, a real understanding of exactly how important that property actually is; by logically and simply linking it directly to the uncertainty principal; helping some to understand it easily.
The rest of the book past the point of the commutative property and uncertainty does the same in the same fashion; and whos carese about tiepows if the message is being goteen across...understanding is what's important.
I digress...maybe it should be required reading only in magnet or schools for the more mentally endowed; however I see it as simply brilliant. (This review actually written by Brian Harred, I'm in my girlfriend's account because she was at amazon.com last on this computer).
Seriously, I highly recomend this book to anyone with an intuitive understanding of math and physics, but needs a really good, quick refresher...Brian Harred (also, how did that big blue statement about voting on our own reviews get RIGHT below my thoughts? The stars are not votes; they are the reviewer's opion as expressed in "stars"...

More of a review than speculation
The majority of the book is a review of the history of physics leading up to the current understanding of entanglement, including much biographical information about the major players in the quantum mechanics arena. I would have liked to see more than just that last short chapter talking about the implications and possibilities of entanglement. ... Read more

Book Description

Master the essential scientific methods and make your science project a winner!

Whether youre hoping to wow the judges at the next science fair, want to do a great job on a school project, or are looking forward to a career in science, How to Make Your Science Project Scientific will give you the tools you need to make your dream a reality. From choosing an idea and developing a hypothesis, to using variables and controls, to performing accurate measurements and keeping comprehensive records, author Thomas Moorman walks you through all the aspects of making your science project the best it can be.

Filled with examples of both good and bad experiments and projects, How to Make Your Science Project Scientific shows you how to use the time-tested scientific methods respected by professional scientists. Youll learn about blind and double-blind experiments; how to do case studies; how to make naturalistic observations and create controlled surveys; how to publish your findings; and much more. With How to Make Your Science Project Scientific, you can find out how to create a winning science fair project while you learn to "do science" the way the professionals do!

On the first edition of How to Make Your Science Project Scientific:
"Clear, intelligent help...to Make Your Science Project Scientific by learning to think precisely, interpret data objectively, and reason independently." —School Library Journal

"This is a volume that should be a part of every junior and senior high school library. It will also be a valuable reference for teachers and others interested in problem solving." —The Science Teacher

"An absolutely superb book!.... Scholarly, accurate, beautifully written, complete. A must for every science classroom!" —Appraisal, the publication of the Childrens Science Book Review Committee ... Read more

Reviews (13)

More swell Authority goodness
The second collection of Wildstorm/DC's "Authority" title is an important turning point for the series as a whole, since original creators Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch depart and are replaced by up-and-comers Mark Millar and Frank Quitely. It's rare to see two different creatives teams in one collection like this, and it's nice to be able to see two differing interpretations of the world's premiere proactive super-team. Ellis and Hitch's final story-arc, entitled "Outer Dark," sees our heroes fighting... well, God. The tension and suspense is excellently built-up, but the climax of the story is a bit lacking, action-wise. Character-wise, however, "The Authority" remains one of the most richly textured titles out there. Ellis is able to take a routine comic-book moment (stepping foot on the moon) and make it sublimely human. All in all, "Outer Dark" is a great wrap-up to a great run. (The rest of Ellis and Hitch's "Authority" run can be found in "Relentless," another fine book.) The series overall really starts to pick up steam in Millar and Quitely's first story, "The Nativity," wherein a criminal genius possessing "the most powerful imagination in the world" plots to kidnap the infant Jenny Quantum, "the spirit of the 21st Century." Millar throws in dozens of characters based on Marvel Comics' heroes, and has the Authority slaughter the lot of them. While this story occasionally relies too heavily on comic book in-jokes and silly self-referential humor ("I always feel like a comic book character when I do this"), it provides high-octane action in spades. "The Nativity's" rapid action and high stakes demonstrate that Millar is more than capable of filling Ellis' scripting shoes. And while Hitch's art on Authority was the peak of his career thus far, Quitely's art is highly unique and immediately engaging. I can't wait until the next collection comes out, since the next storyline, "Earth Inferno," is the best Authority tale to date. And if Millar and Quitely can keep up the pace, it won't be the last.

proves that comic can still be 'fun'.
This is it, this is, in my opinion the best comic ever made. It seems nowadays that all comics wanna be 'heartfelt' and 'deep meaning'. Now don't get me wrong, those 'deep meaning' stories are often times very good...but c'mon, it gets old.

But The Authority proves that no matter how many comics out there wanna be moving and different; there's always room for a good ol' fashioned slugfest. The Authority has, in my opinion, the greatest action scenes to ever be produced in a comic. I'm talkin' hard hitting, high impact, in-your-face action. And the characters are great too. These are some of the most original, realistic characters in comics. You really start to like the characters and relate to them. I love this comic, end of story.

So if you're looking for some comic that will move you and change your perspective on life, go read sandman, or preacher, or maus or somethin'. But if you wanna read a really fun book that'll change the way you look at superheroes, you have to pick this up.

The Watchman it's not.
Everyone it seems wants to do their take on the Watchman, but this story is not it. It's a waste of artwork and paper.

Boring
The Authority stories are uninteresting and tiresome at best. I guess that the hook for the serious is two openly gay characters. Unfortunately this is not enough to hold the average fan's attention.

While the series seems to parody other super hero teams, it does not do so in an entertaining manner. The story plots are simple and repetitive.

My advice is to skip this dull series and try something else.

Writer and Artist Change; Deeper Thought At work
They fight God.

Ok, that caught my eye. I mean really, really caught my eye and then Jenny croaks as the 20th Century ends.
Deep thoughts for a comic, no?

I also noticed a huge JLA book where they fight God too and then in their regular series they fight Armageddon.

Ok, what often interests me is the mass thought form, what pople are creating and projecting outwards.

They fight God. They destroy God. They win.

The cost of destroying God is Jenny, the 20th century dies, though she is reborn as a new babe with Quantum powers----her powers reflect the century she inhabits. Electricity for 20th, quantum for 21st, which is creative yes.

Did I mention they fight God?

Ok, you've got the pseudo Batman and Superman guys as gay lovers which is cheeky but not well developed as simply a couple. I often watch the mass media wrangle with how to interpret sexuality, race, religion and so on in a populist fashion that doesn't include stereotypes and the goal is generally banality. Like dealing with a blind date with an obese person----you're not like your ad, yet at the same time, its a real person in there.

They kill God.
Ok, I'm not sure what to make of that battle. Isolated as one fight, its unique, interesting but it popped up a few times in what I could glean from the surface of comicdom and it worried me. What interests me are the ramifications of killing God. What everyone thinks about it, what it means. These heroes are cold, yes but there has to be a heart in them somewhere. Its too----divorced from itself to be anything but popular.

I do like The Authority but I think it needs another layer of subversion. Of thought that accounts for something besides just being a comic that comes across like a movie. Haven't we all seen enough movies?

The characterization is much stronger in this book but thats mainly because they have Jenny's death to react to. The Authority suffers from Julia Roberts--itis. Ok, she's a huge star and everyone loves her but are her movies REALLY quality? Or just packaged well? Sold properly? She sparkles? Thats how the Authorty comes off, they got the marketing mix just perfect to make us all kinda like it even though its still sacchrine.

Did I mention they killed God?

Oh yeah, Julia will never take the creative risks of say a Sandra Bullock. Or a Meg Ryan. See my point? ... Read more

Book Description

Are you a passionate amateur naturalist?

Would you like to record videos of the microscopic world?

Detect an insect’s heartbeat?Separate molecules with electricity?

Extract and purify DNA . . . in your kitchen?

Now you can do all these things and more with this wonderful compendium of unique and exciting projects. Gathered here, in the most comprehensive, wide-ranging collection of projects available for the amateur biologist, are some of the finest experiments from Scientific American’s popular "Amateur Scientist" column.Whether you’d like to find out how to measure the metabolism of an insect, learn museum secrets for preserving plants, or discover how to teach a sow bug to navigate a maze, you’ll find the project to suit your needs.

Filled with experiments from a wide range of specialties, including botany, genetics, behavioral studies, cellular biology, microscopy, microbiology, and entomology, this fascinating book also contains helpful hints and clear instructions on how to build experimental apparatus using simple household materials and affordable alternatives to more expensive scientific equipment.Whether you’re a student, teacher, or dedicated amateur scientist, you’ll find projects here to excite your interest as well as deepen your understanding of–and appreciation for–the natural world. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Too much engineering!
This selection of experiments demands a lot of "building." Admittedly you do build cool things-a machine for measuring insect heart beats, a home electrophoresis set-up, a high altitude chamber, a device for measuring metabolism in small animals, a video microscope system, etc. You spend a lot of time doing device construction. If you like bulding machines, they you will enjoy this book.

Very few of the experiments involve little or no construction--a couple of exceptions being a neat way to extract dna from stuff and a growth inhibitor-plant experimnet. Plus fun slime mold stuff.

I say, where are the fun things to do with bacteria? Or things you can do to your friends or pets without hurting them? There isn't nearly enough variety here.

Great experiments and great machines, but this selection may prove a bit daunting to the beginner or the younger child. Could be useful for some science fair experiments, though. ... Read more

Book Description

Laboratory animals, including rats, play an important role in biomedical research and advances. The humane care and management of these animals is an ongoing concern. This guide was created especially for individuals performing research with laboratory rats whose duties include animal facility management, animal husbandry, regulatory compliance, and technical procedures involved with their research. Basic information and common procedures are presented in detail. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

limited use
I found the information on behaviour and animal welfare to be limited and, in places, questionable. For example the use of single animal hanging cages is treated as standard husbandry -- despite the strong recommendation in most national laws and guidleines that social contact and environmental enrichment be provided to rats in the laboratory.

Excellent Ref Book
This book has a lot to say....excellent reference book. If you do anything with the rat, then you need this book inspite of the price. The authors did a thorough job.

Important but overpriced.
This book is a welcome addition for the in vivo investigator; we know so much about the theoretical bases of our experiments, but how many of us really have any formal knowledge of our most important research tools, the animals themselves? For this reason, and in the interest of the general welfare of my experimental rats, I bought the book. There is much interesting and useful information presented by veterinarians who specialize in lab animal medicine.

But considering the plain xerox paper stock upon which this small pocket reference is printed, the price is outrageous. In addition to the paper stock, the copy-machine quality of printing helps make a muddled mockery of the alleged cytological preparations and micrographs that are attemptedly presented as figures. The condensed nature of the book was probably unnecessary considering the lack of this genre in the current literature. Furthermore, glaringly absent (in the midst of anatomical description) are any anatomical figures whatsoever, depicting any functional anatomy useful to the investigator.

I suggest this book if your institution pays for it. ... Read more

Book Description

Uh-oh, now you’ve gone and done it, you volunteered to do a science fair project. Don’t sweat it, presenting at a science fair can be a lot of fun. Just remember, the science fair is for your benefit. It’s your chance to show that you understand the scientific method and how to apply it. Also, it’s an opportunity for you to delve more deeply into a topic you’re interested in. Quite a few scientists, including a few Nobel laureates, claim that they had their first major breakthrough while researching a science fair project. And besides, a good science fair project can open a lot of doors academically and professionally—but you already knew that.

Stuck on what to do for your science project? This easy-to-follow guide is chock-full of more than 50 fun ideas and experiments in everything from astronomy to zoology. Your ultimate guide to creating crowd-pleasing displays, it shows you everything you need to know to:

• Choose the best project idea for you
• Make sure your project idea is safe, affordable, and doable
• Research, take notes, and organize your facts
• Write a clear informative research paper
• Design and execute your projects
• Ace the presentation and wow the judges

Science fair guru Maxine Levaren gives walks you step-by-step through every phase of choosing, designing, assembling and presenting a blue ribbon science fair project. She gives you the inside scoop on what the judges are really looking for and coaches you on all the dos and don’ts of science fairs. And she arms you with in-depth coverage of more than 50 winning projects, including:

• Projects involving experiments in virtually every scientific disciplines
• Computer projects that develop programs to solve a particular problem or analyze system performance
• Engineering projects that design and build new devices or test existing devices to compare and analyze performance
• Research projects involving data collection and mathematical analysis of results

Your complete guide to doing memorable science projects and having fun in the process, Science Fair Projects For Dummies is a science fair survival guide for budding scientists at every grade level. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Knowledge Web, James Burke, the bestselling author and host of television's Connections series, takes us on a fascinating tour through the interlocking threads of knowledge running through Western history. Displaying mesmerizing flights of fancy, he shows how seemingly unrelated ideas and innovations bounce off one another, spinning a vast, interactive web on which everything is connected to everything else: Carmen leads to the theory of relativity, champagne bottling links to wallpaper design, Joan of Arc connects through vaudeville to Buffalo Bill.

Illustrating his open, connective theme in the form of a journey across a web, Burke breaks down complex concepts, offering information in a manner accessible to anybody -- high school graduates and Ph.D. holders alike. The journey touches almost two hundred interlinked points in the history of knowledge, ultimately ending where it begins.

At once amusing and instructing, The Knowledge Web heightens our awareness of our interdependence -- with one another and with the past. Only by understanding the interrelated nature of the modern world can we hope to identify complex patterns of change and direct the process of innovation to the common good. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good if you can't get enough of Burke
I admit it, I am a big fan of James Burke. Ever since the fascinating BBC series, "Connections" I have been an avid reader of history. Most interesting to me is Burke's over-arching thesis regarding the role of technology in shaping history. I have gladly added this to my collection of Burke's works. However, I found the method of presentation, which amounts to an attempt to turn the work into a sort of hypertext, gimmicky and distracting. I gave up on trying to dart back and forth among the various interconnected sections. Perhaps, in a few years, I may find this device useful for some purpose, but I cannot see how it is any sort of advance over a standard index.

Nonetheless, I recommend this to anyone with an interest in history and technology. Burke simplifies and makes intriguing the progress of human technology, and its role in the progress of humanity itself, in a way that is fun and engaging to read. This book made me go back and re-read old history texts with a new outlook. As far as Burke's books go, however, I recommend _The Pinball Effect_ more highly as the device does not distract as much from the content. I eagerly await his next television series. I do so hope one is in the offing. hint, hint, Professor Burke!

Enjoyable!
Very 'browsable' little book. If you like Burke's TV programmes (notice the hoity toity British spelling) and don't mind his hurried non-sequitur transitions form one topic to another- then you'll enjoy this book. The Knowledge Web is so jam-packed with facts and anecdotes that you'll be able to annoy friends and dinner companions for fortnights (I can't stop) to come with little gems of knowledge.

Misleading Title, Blurb, Introduction, Etc.
This book was a sorry disappointment. I will preface my further remarks by saying that I am a huge fan of Mr. Burke's television productions, and (ironically) I actually enjoyed the book a great deal, but for mostly all the wrong reasons.

The fact is that the book does not deal with what is alluded to by the title, the jacket copy, or the author's introduction. Unfortunately, those were the only elements that I scanned when looking over the book in the store (and then buying it online ;-). The marketting blurb on the cover says "From electronic agents to Stonehenge and back...". Well, there was a very small bit about electronic agents and believe it or not, Stonehenge wasn't mentioned once throughout the entire book. Mr. Burke was not well served here by his market driven editors.

The only reason I still enjoyed the book is that I love both history and technology, and that's the terrain through which this addled account rambles. Regrettably, this book was more like an extended outpouring of jumbled, loosely 'connected' trivia from a hyper-loquacious Alzheimer's patient, than anything truly salient or purposeful. There was absolutely no discernible point to the narrative. The author's attempt to put the work into some kind of prosaic hyperlink format was a bit embarrassing as well. Lastly, the book ended abruptly and arbitrarily, almost as if Mr. Burke's nurse had come in and said "That's all for today. It's time for Mr. Burke's evening feeding. Maybe you can come back tomorrow." I hope not.

Stimulates Your Mind
This is almost like a technological "Ulysses" by James Joyce. The author almost does a stream of consciousness, and does repeat himself at least three or four times through the 262 page book. It is a journey that reminds me of Andy Grove's book on change, as you see how inventions, technology, greatly influenced history and the advance of our knowledge. Most importantly, it shows how new things can make people a lot of money, those that don't change, lose a lot of money, and is fascinating---although the connections of events wanders from century to century and subject to subject. I thought this was not only fascinating, but there are many levels in the writing just as there are in James Joyce's fiction. This book is pure fact, however.

Disappointing
Burke writes well, but this book seems little more than a historical account of ideas and inventions. Of course, the reader could use the heavy cross-referencing to read this book in many different ways (ie taking different paths through the book) but the prospect doesn't excite me as much as it appeared to excite the author.

While the book purports to show the linkages between ideas and inventions, too often an idea came way out of left field with no apparent connection to the current stream of thought or historical characters.

I had really hoped for something a little more focussed on the evolution and use of knowledge per se rather than an account of how things came about, which can be read in any of a dozen other books. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the seventeenth century our ideas of scientific authorship have expanded and changed dramatically. In this ambitious volume of new work, Mario Biagioli and Peter Galison have brought together historians of science, literary historians, and historians of the book. Together they track the changing nature and identity of the author in science, both historically and conceptually, from the emergence of scientific academies in the age of Galileo to concerns with large-scale multiauthorship and intellectual property rights in the age of cloning labs and pharmaceutical giants. How, for example, do we decide whether a chemical compound is discovered or invented? What does it mean to patent genetic material?
Documenting the emergence of authorship in the late medieval period, authorship's limits and its fragmentation, Scientific Authorship offers a collective history of a complex relationship. ... Read more

Book Description

It Ain't Necessarily So combines sharp criticism of scientific claims with lucid expositions of the state of current scientific knowledge. Among the subjects discussed are heredity, natural selection, and genetic determinism. This edition contains new essays on the Human Genome Project and genetically modified foods. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Wonderful Collection of Essays
First a word on the format of this book: This is a collection of Lewontin's articles written for The New York Review of Books of the last decade. In each case Lewontin has chosen a topic of general interest in the general area of the biological sciences and written a survey of the area intended for the general reader. In typical New York Review fashion, this survey is done in the guise of a review of one or more books recently published in the area.

The columns are much more survey than book review and serve as excellent introductions to the disciplines for the non-specialist reader. Lewontin has included wonderful ascerbic responses to his columns and has updated the area with an epologue to each chapter that surveys recent developments.

The topics will interest the general reader: Recent Darwinian thinking, intelligence testing and brain metrics, the genome project, the biology of sexual equality, biology of the mind and cloning. In every case, Lewontin surveys the intellectual terrain and provides insight. In excellant survey of biological developments for the general reader.

Which gene generated this book?
A collection of disparate essays is an elusive target for a reviewer. The range of topics here is wide and of varying quality. With essays ranging from IQ testing through the Darwinian revolution to the Human Genome Project and cloning, Lewontin is able to declaim his own expertise in whichever subject he approaches. As with most New York Review of Books authors, he's witty and cleverly subtle when assaulting those authors or ideas he's contesting; passionately assertive in support. When you've finished the review, however, you're often left with little foundation for deciding whether you should buy that particular book for yourself. The usual reaction is wishing to run out and find all the other sources he refers to for confirming information.

The only consistent theme in this compilation is that of the iconoclast. Chipping away at perceived flaws in other people is a Lewontin specialty. He has favoured targets, such as Richard Dawkins and Philip Rushton, are frequently mentioned. A glaring omission, particularly in the updating Epilogue to "Darwin's Revolution", is that of Daniel C. Dennett's DARWIN'S DANGEROUS IDEA. Given Dennett's scathing critique of The Spandrels of San Marco, co-authored by Lewontin and Stephen Gould, the oversight surprises.

The most engaging sections of the book are essays on the Human Genome Project, genetics and cloning. In an effort to undercut scientists like E.O. Wilson or Richard Dawkins, Lewontin attempts to restrict DNA's role to 'the stupid molecule' it was once considered. Using every verbal trick available, he writes a lawyer's brief against the Project and its supporters. Stripping away nearly every function DNA performs and removing it from its environment, he leaves the reader wondering if 'the stupid molecule' is worth the funding. Like many others, Lewontin knows The Human Genome Project isn't a scientific enterprise, but a business one. He's correct in that assessment, but his hidden agenda remains shrouded. Lewontin is terrified that once the genome has been mapped and better understood, this Agassiz Research Professor will discover that human beings aren't the divinely placed species he and many others would like us to be. Because he can think about so many esoteric subjects and salamanders can't [or at least can't express those thoughts], it follows that we're elevated above the other animals instead of simply different. Lewontin is a tenured human and demotion holds no appeal. He's not alone in that, which is why his books sell.

The book needs an index. There are simply too many topics and names running through this collection for either Lewontin nor The New York Review to be excused for this lack. In a time of electronic word processing the omission is unforgivable. A bibliography of recommended readings would also be a benefit. If he took the trouble to update his opinions, he could have helped the reader along with supporting information. Not an approach one would admire in an academic.

Words do matter to Lewontin
Words do matter to Lewontin, and his portrayal of scientists as pontificating from a position of "objective truth" is not an indictment of individual scientists, but rather, a charge against the whole scientific enterprise. And the charge will stick. Each scientist exemplifies this, some to greater, and others to a lesser, degree. Speaking from 35 years experience as a scientist, I can say Lewontin is much more right, than wrong in his assertion. For the most part, the modern scientific enterprise is contaminated by scientists believing they are working at the "wholesale" level when it comes to "objective' truth, while the rest of people unknowingly work "retail," making culturally-biased statements which merely pass as "truth." This problem intensified after the Enlightenment, when natural philosophers (scientists) began to seriously confuse an arrogant superficial materialism/a priori rationalism with true science (information painstakingly and imperfectly derived from studying a world which is diffuclt or impossible to fully comprehend). Lewontin has caught on to this.

Do words matter?
It may be understandable that authors get at times carried away but they may want to remember that irrational generalizations belong in tabloids and should be banned from serious discurse (especially on issues that are of general concern!). How much credibility has an author who rants on like this:

"Scientists, by their practices, seem to place little importance on the actual composition of their communication. For example they never read their papers aloud when they give talks about their work, but speak ex tempore. For other intellectuals the words are the matter but scientists think of themselves as simply objectively reporting the facts of nature. Like the Delphic Oracle they sit perched on their tripods, with upturned eyeballs, and out of their mouths' issue nature's words (p.189)"

I do not know where Lewontin, a scientist himself, has encountered these caricatures. My own experience after working in the sciences for 9 years suggests that scientists, just like the rest of us, are not paradigm cases but individuals. So if Lewontin has specific complaints about specific scientists he should listen to his own advice that "words are the matter" and phrase his criticism appropriately. Otherwise he may want to remember that above and away from the shrine of Delphi is a grove that is difficult to reach, at the end of an ancient cobblestone trail called the Kalki Skala, or "evil stairway." Nearby are two pinnacles from which those convicted of sacrilege against the gods were thrown to their deaths.

Excellent...
First, the only reason this book gets four stars instead of five is because of the 'book review' format, and as book reviews the essays largely fail. As counteractive theoretical essays, however, they are insightful, scathing, and thorough. A friend of mine wanted to reread "The Selfish Gene" because it's a perennial favorite of humanities snobs, now I'll direct her to this text first.

This book deals much more with the philosophical implications authors imply in their texts than the actual Science, but has enough Science to placate those looking for basic information on genetics, etc. Lewontin's humble and witty approach is welcoming, and his thought process is enjoyable. His 'tell it like it is' approach to issues like Social Darwinism and the Human Genome Project are worth reading, especially for people relegated outside the physical and natural sciences who may be unaware of these perspectives. (Especially those who infrequently read Science texts and are consequently doomed to linger in outdated material).

The key strength of this text lies in its challenging other arguments, which is often stronger than texts with centralized theses. Because of Lewontin's critical authority, he is freer from the ideological rampages that blind many of the authors he addresses. My favorite sections of the text were the 'exchanges,' where authors wrote in to the magazine criticizing Lewontin and he responds. For the reviewer here who rebuked Lewontin for his simple approach to complex problems or his philosophical leaning, note that often those letters he responds to are written by the authors of the books he derides. If he has missed 'the point' that they were forwarding, it is addressed there, and if he has not and you see other discrepancies than you've one upped the authors and should look for more sophisticated arguments anyway. After all, if you can't adequately defend your own work against 'paltry' arguments, how strong is it in the first place?

This text's subject matter is broad and marvelously entertaining. Read up! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It wasn't bad
It was a good book, but the ending was much too rushed. Another chapter of epilogue would have been great. Only thing I can think is that he knew he would be writing more in the series and didn't think a proper ending was necessary. The tank battles in this book were sweet, but for infantry fighting the Guns of Tanith was a better book.

Deus ex Dei Machina
My only complaint is the climax of the story, the point to which the entire novel's plot has been building, takes about a paragraph to resolve. I kept thinking...thats it? Thats all it took? I loved the story up until that point, and the books following were up to the usual standard of great action, well defined characters, and breakneck pacing.

Killer Talent!
Jeff Barden's review here summarizes this excellent book perfectly. The fourth in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, Honour Guard puts a new twist on the saga -- and that's what's so great about Dan Abnett. He could easily rest on his laurels and crank out the sort of flat sci-fi that Gibson once referred to as the "golden ghetto," shoddy pulp that sells simply 'cause it's sci-fi, or in this case, sci-fi game fiction. But with each novel, you can tell that Abnett is stretching himself, trying to grow as a writer and to take his stories in new directions.

After finishing Honour Guard, I tried to read Gav Thorpe's 13th Legion. I put it back on the shelf after about 20 pages. It was a joke compared to Abnett. I may pick it up again, when I get tired of waiting for a new Abnett, but I won't be fooled -- I'll be reading it to keep myself immersed in the 40K universe, not 'cause I'm expecting really good sci-fi. For that, I'll wait for Gaunt's Ghosts Book Five.

More great Gaunt action
Honour Guard finds the notorious regiment of Gaunt's Ghosts embroiled in yet another of the many campaigns to liberate a stretegic cluster from the clutches of Chaos.

On one of the holiest worlds to the crusade, Gaunt had been charged with the reclamation of the holiest shrine. But the forces of Chaos are well-prepared, and Gaunt suffers a disgrace. Basically broken in terms of military command, Gaunt is given one last mission to redeem himself before beign forcibly retired and allowing the Ghosts to be dispersed. He is to seek and recover a most important and ancient artifact.

This novel, as with all the Ghosts books to date, is filled with great amounts of carnage and violence. But this is the depiction of a most unprecendented war, one in which the enemy has only a regard for madness and suffering, as well as a hatred of all that is stable. And against this we have a single great leader, not only fighting the enemy, but dealing with jealousy and prejudice from different units and superior officers. As he has done in the three previous books, Abnett lets us see new sides to almost all the characters. This is a great talent, as the personalities never stagnate, and it keeps the reader interested. I highly recommend this book, not only to Warhammer 40k players, but to any that like well-written science fiction.

Gaunt's Ghosts Take On A Suicide Mission
Dan Abnett's war-weary Imperial Guard regiment faces its greatest challenge to date... a mission that will either sway the whole course of the Sabbat Worlds campaign or destroy the last survivors of Tanith completely. Following the failed seige of a shrineworld's capital city and the loss of several of his key commanders, Commissar-Colonel Gaunt is branded as incompetent. As the forces of Chaos scream in from the Warp to finish the domination of the planet, Gaunt is given one last chance to redeem himself before facing the judgement of the Commissariat. Leading an honor guard formed from the battered remnants of the Ghosts, Gaunt must penetrate deep into enemy territory to secure an ancient artifact. The combined might of the Chaos horde hunts for the same talisman, and forces the Tanith First and Only into a final, bloody last stand.

Honor Guard is full of the fast-paced combat action that marks each book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series. Abnett supplies several unexpected twists that keeps the reader absorbed in the regiment's struggle to survive. The book is yet another great drama set in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe and well worth the read for fans and new readers alike. ... Read more

Book Description

The use of safe and effective anaesthetic techniques can have a major influence both on the welfare of laboratory animals and the quality of the research results obtained in using them. In times of justified public and scientific concerns over such issues, the need for clear and concise advise on good technique is of paramount importance.
However, much anaesthetic work in the laboratory is carried out by research workers and support staff who have not benefited from specialist veterinary training. This second edition of Paul Flecknell's invaluable guide gives just the sort of clear concise practical information such people need. It follows all the key stages from preoperative care thorough anesthesia itself to the post - anaesthetic recovery period.
Following these general sections, there are specific instructions on regimes for particular laboratory animals, with advice on recommended agents, dosages and special procedures of importance. Particular emphasis is placed on welfare, pain reduction and proper post - procedural care.
The Second Edition of this now standard guide adds the results of the latest research, most effective anesthetics and useful illustrations of procedures and equipment and broadens the original book's coverage to include notes on fish, amphibia, reptiles and birds.
It will prove an essential addition to the library of any laboratory where animals are used for research. ... Read more

Book Description

Innovative, hands-on math and science activities of many cultures, from one of the world's foremost science museums.

Too often, the study of science, math, and technology is limited to the major successes of the Western world. Yet people all over the world have observed and explored nature and developed technologies to help them in their everyday lives.

From the creators of the national bestseller and Parent's Choice Book Award-winner The Explorabook (over one million copies sold) comes Math and Science Across Cultures, designed to help teachers, parents, and youth-group leaders use hands-on activities to explore the math and science of different cultural traditions, and to make these subjects more relevant and approachable for children of all backgrounds. With instructions in this book, you can:

• Construct a Brazilian carnival instrument and investigate the science of sound.
• Play a peg solitaire game from Madagascar and learn about mathematical patterns.
• Experiment with a traditionally prepared cup of Chinese tea and learn about energy flow.
• Count like an Egyptian, decipher Mayan mathematical symbols, and decode the ancient Inca number system of knotted cords. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Also ideal for use in a homeschooling environment
Collaboratively compiled and written by Maurice Bazin, Modesto Tamez, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute, Math And Science Across Cultures: Activities And Investigations From The Exploratorium is specifically designed to enable teachers and parents to make science and math both relevant and interesting to children through the use of hands-on activities drawn from different cultural traditions. While construction the Cuica (a Brazilian instrument used during Carnaval) students can investigate and learn about the science of sound. Through the use of "Sona" (Southwestern African sand drawings), students will re-enact ancient storytelling traditions the use complex, interwoven patterns which reflect basic mathematical principles. From counting like an Egyptian, to decoding like a Mayan, to drawing like a Tchwokee, Math And Science Across Cultures will entertainingly and informatively engage children in the discoveries, innovations, and creative explores of cultures from around the globe. Highly recommended as a traditional classroom curriculum supplement, Math And Science Across Cultures is also ideal for use in a homeschooling environment. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you've ever been fascinated by lasers and wished you could build your own, this is the bookfor you. Gordon McComb explains how to buy low-power laser tubes on a small budget and use them for avariety of experiments, including long-distance communications links, laser-light shows, and eveneavesdropping devices that can detect the vibrations the speaking induces in a windowpane far away.Though the book explains some of the physics and optics that make lasers work the way they do, it focusesprimarily on practical applications for the hobbyist. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

much better than the title or cover
I've worked in optics and interferometry and was absolutely delighted with this book.
Lots of tricks for hardware-store improvisation!

If you're not a tinkerer, this is not the book for you. There's little technical depth and no really good experiments or instrument design in it. (good experiments for this kind of book have either enormous educational value or reproduce poorly-understood phenomena).

If you know what you're doing though, this is where to look for tips on building your own optical bench, etc. All the student tricks I'd picked up along the way and then some. I've recommended it to a couple of past colleagues, too.

An update of a classic
This book is actually an update to The Laser Cookbook, also written by G. McComb, and which is apparently still in print. That book has gotten very high marks here on Amazon; Lasers, Ray Guns, and Light Cannons contains everything in Laser Cookbook, plus new information on laser diodes, and several additional projects.

Apparently, some folks get upset when a book, like this one, tries to be camp with a playful title and comic-book art. It's what's inside that matters, and there is lots of good information here, from a writer who clearly knows how to explain technical details. For my money, this book is a terrific introduction to the world of hobby lasers.

Skip this if book!
I purchased this book in spite of the title and cover because the table of contents indicated it covered the subjects that I was interested in. As with other books by this author the subject matter is lightly covered with little detail or depth.

If you are an absolute beginner and are unable to search the internet for information, then this book might provide useful information. ... Read more

Book Description

This classic reference details methods for effectively analyzing non-standard or messy data sets. The authors introduce each topic with examples, follow up with a theoretical discussion, and conclude with a case study. They emphasize the distinction between design structure and the structure of treatments and focus on using the techniques with several statistical packages, including SAS, BMDP, and SPSS. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

excellent book to keep
This book is a classical book in data analysis. It provides techniques and methods for effectively analyzing non-standard or messy data sets that arise from experimental design situations. You can always be benefit from the book for your whole life ... Read more

Book Description

The coaching provided in this engaging text, based on many years teaching good presentation technique, will help scientists make the best of their presentations and remove some of the fear that makes them a daunting prospect. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A horrendous book by my former professor....
Upon reading and studying this guide, I wholly expected that it would provide me with knowledge and confidence in presentations. I was unfortunate enough to encounter Dr. Walters as a professor AFTER reading this title, and am appalled at his lecturing skills. One would think that he would take a few hints/pointers from his own text and apply them to his lecturing. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Prosaic ammunition for alien invasion & conspiracy theorists
Several reviewers have complained that this book isn't interesting enough or that it is deceptive in its marketing. In fact, Dr. Sauder's goal here is to demonstrate a few very prosaic facts: that the technology necessary to build underground bases and tunnels is currently available; that the entrances to such tunnels are very simple to disguise, so that they are nearly invisible to anyone who stumbles across them; that the United States government makes use of this technology regularly for various purposes. These tunnels and bases are in some cases very deep beneath the surface of the earth, are quite sophisticated and comfortable, and can accommodate large numbers of people.

Sauder's purpose in presenting this information is clear: he holds that "the aims and ideals of representative democracy are poorly served by secrecy in government...dictatorships are born when power is usurped by the military." Sauder hopes that the information provided will help "peel away the cover of excessive secrecy that shields too much of what the Pentagon does from public scrutiny."

His goals are the same as many of those people who advance the theory that our government is riddled with individuals who have been turned against the human race by alien invaders; the narrative is the same, though the stakes may be greater in the second case than the first. Nonetheless, those who find this book less than entertaining should remember that it is not a science fiction story or a horror tale, and it is not meant to entertain. If it frightens you, it should frighten you into action.

Keeping that in mind, Sauder provides ammunition for those who believe that the government cannot be trusted, whether it is because the military may be planning a coup or because aliens are living beneath our feet in tunnels carved out of the earth by their technology or by our own government. If this material seems boring or irrelevant, it is wise to remember that Al Capone was given a life sentence not for the murders he ordered or his bootlegging, but for tax evasion. The first step in catching shadow governments and alien invaders is to prove that they have hiding places, and to find out where those hiding places are.

This book describes several underground facilities; demonstrates how they provide power for their operations; how to hide such facilities; and how they are built: in short, the feasibility and existence of underground bases of this type. The illustrations help convince the reader: they include a map showing how to get to a clear view of one such facility in the Antelope Valley of Southern California; photographs of tunnel boring machines available for sale, some of which can create circular tunnels 35 feet in diameter, and tunnels of the sort described in this book.

Those who want to categorize the author as one of Richard S. Shaver's philosophical kin need only refer to these documents to be reminded that these tunnels, unlike those inhabited by the Deros, have already been proven to exist. One needn't be paranoid to believe the information in this book, merely concerned about one's rights as a citizen. Dr. Sauder is to be commended for his research and his bravery.

Another piece to the jigsaw puzzle
The material in this book corroborates some of the stories I've heard in various UFO books about underground noises, lights, and craft coming out of the ground. The author sticks mostly to the facts, and he usually has pictures and documents to back up what he's saying. Overall it doesn't necessarily mean that anything actually exists, however, they COULD exist. He leaves it up to the reader to decide.

The Best and Only Book on Underground Bases, etc.
Sauder's book is the best and, as far as I know, only book on the rather important subject of high-tech, super-expensive bases, with their connecting tunnel systems. Sauder's specialty is researching and obtaining U.S. Government documents. What he found out under the subject of underground bases and tunnels is shocking! Packed with government diagrams and patents, this is a one-of-a-kind book!

The Truth is Out There . . .
. . . unfortunately, it's hard to find in this book. The author crams 50 pages of well documented fact into 130 pages, with frequent and meaningless caveats. Save your money, skip this book.

Paranoid Schizophrenia!
What a wierdo! Read his own description of the book...

"I was awakened from a sound sleep by a mysterious voice that matter-of-factly told me: 'The underground bases are real' ...I still do not know whose voice I heard"

What does this sound like? A schizophrenic with delusions. Voices in his head! No true facts whatsoever, just minor coincidences. ... Read more