Great Ideas Of Science A Reader In The Classic Literature Of Science

"Scientific discoveries are remarkably varied in scope and content--made in the field, on the lab bench, or at the computer, with apparatus as sophisticated as a space-based telescope or as simple as a pencil and paper. But all of the discoveries of science are ultimately disseminated through the written word. In countless professional periodicals and technical treatises, the men and women of science have followed the same writing formula: What did I discover? How can you repeat what I did? What does it mean? This reader, conceived as a companion to "The Sciences: An Integrated Approach," employs the ""Great Ideas in Science"" approach. Science forms a seamless web of knowledge about the universe, and a few overarching concepts (the ""great ideas"") unify astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Our goal is to serve the educational needs of people who will not be scientists but who need some knowledge of science to function as citizens. Throughout this volume you will share in these discoveries, as they were first presented to the public, and you will understand why we believe that science is the greatest ongoing adventure. Robert M. Hazen, research scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory and Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Science at George Mason University, received degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Past President of the Mineralogical Society of America, Hazen's recent research focuses on the role of minerals in life's origin and the co-evolution of the geo- and biospheres. James Trefil, Clarence Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University, is author of more than 40 books on science for the general public as well as several university level textbooks. He has been involved in a variety of science education projects--from middle school textbooks to the building of science museums. He developed his ideas on scientific literacy as co-author of "The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy.""

This volume was conceived as a companion to the authors' textbook 'The Sciences: an integrated approach' (6th edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2009). Their approach recognizes that science forms a seamless web of knowledge about the universe, and that a few overarching concepts (the "great ideas") unify all of the sciences - astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology and physics. The great ideas represent a hierarchy in the sciences that transcend the boundaries of specific disciplines. Organized around 25 central ideas, this volume allows students to deal with the universe as it presents itself to them, rather than with the artificial disciplinary divisions that have arisen in academia. It is the authors' goal to give each student the intellectual framework that will allow him or her to deal with the scientific aspects of problems that come into public debate. -- Preface.

The Sciences: An Integrated Approach, 9th Edition by James Trefil and Robert Hazen recognizes that science forms a seamless web of knowledge about the universe. This text fully integrates physics, chemistry, astronomy, Earth sciences, and biology and emphasizes general principles and their application to real world situations. The goal of the text is to help students achieve scientific literacy. Applauded by students and instructors for its easy-to-read style and detail appropriate for non-science majors, the ninth edition has been updated to bring the most up-to-date coverage to the students in all areas of science, with increased emphasis on climate change, sustainability, viruses and public health, and an extensively updated chapter on the importance of bioengineering. FEATURES INCLUDE: The Science of Life - To help show the interdisciplinary nature of the many concepts introduced in the text, sections on living things are included in most chapters. The chapters that emphasize principles specifically related to life are at the end of the book, but the biological examples appear throughout. The Ongoing Process of Science - Science is a never-ending process of asking questions and seeking answers. In these features, some of the most exciting questions currently being addressed by scientists are examined. Mathematical Equations and Worked Examples -Whenever an equation is introduced, it is presented in three steps: first as a sentence, second as a word equation, and finally in its traditional symbolic form. In this way, students can focus on the meaning rather than the abstraction of the mathematics. An appendix on English and SI units is also included. Science by the Numbers - To help students understand the importance of simple mathematical calculations in areas of magnitude, several nontraditional calculations have been incorporated. For example, how much solid waste is generated in the United States, how long it would take to erode a mountain, and how many people were required to build Stonehenge. Great Ideas and Great Ideas Concept - Each chapter begins with a statement of a great unifying idea or theme in science and a concept map so that students immediately grasp the chief concept of the chapter and how the idea relates to the different branches of science. These statements are intended to provide a framework for placing everyday experiences into a broad context. Stop and Think! Questions challenge students to think critically about the implications of a scientific discovery or principle. Resources for Instructors and Students including practice quizzes, flashcards, lecture slides, an instructor’s manual, images and tables from the book, a test bank, and much more!

"Scientific discoveries are remarkably varied in scope and content--made in the field, on the lab bench, or at the computer, with apparatus as sophisticated as a space-based telescope or as simple as a pencil and paper. But all of the discoveries of science are ultimately disseminated through the written word. In countless professional periodicals and technical treatises, the men and women of science have followed the same writing formula: What did I discover? How can you repeat what I did? What does it mean? This reader, conceived as a companion to The Sciences: An Integrated Approach, employs the ""Great Ideas in Science"" approach. Science forms a seamless web of knowledge about the universe, and a few overarching concepts (the ""great ideas"") unify astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Our goal is to serve the educational needs of people who will not be scientists but who need some knowledge of science to function as citizens. Throughout this volume you will share in these discoveries, as they were first presented to the public, and you will understand why we believe that science is the greatest ongoing adventure. Robert M. Hazen, research scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory and Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Science at George Mason University, received degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Past President of the Mineralogical Society of America, Hazen's recent research focuses on the role of minerals in life's origin and the co-evolution of the geo- and biospheres. James Trefil, Clarence Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University, is author of more than 40 books on science for the general public as well as several university level textbooks. He has been involved in a variety of science education projects--from middle school textbooks to the building of science museums. He developed his ideas on scientific literacy as co-author of The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy."

A science book for the general reader that is informative enough to be a popular textbook and yet well-written enough to appeal to general readers. “Hazen and Trefil [are] unpretentious—good, down-to-earth, we-can-explain-anything science teachers, the kind you wish you had but never did.”—The New York Times Book Review Knowledge of the basic ideas and principles of science is fundamental to cultural literacy. But most books on science are often too obscure or too specialized to do the general reader much good. Science Matters is a rare exception—a science book that is informative enough for introductory courses in high school and college, and yet lucid enough for readers uncomfortable with scientific jargon and complicated mathematics. And now, revised and expanded, it is up-to-date, so that readers can enjoy Hazen and Trefil's refreshingly accessible explanations of the most recent developments in science, from particle physics to biotechnology.

Covering significant historical and cultural moments, public figures and celebrities, art and entertainment, and technology that influenced life during the decade, this book documents the 1950s through the lens of popular culture. On the surface, the 1950s was a time of post-war prosperity and abundance. However, in spite of a relaxation of immigration policies, the "good life" in the 50s was mainly confined to white non-ethnic Americans. A new Cold War with the Soviet Union intended to contain the threat of Communism, and the resulting red scare tinged the experience of all U.S. citizens during the decade. This book examines the key trends, people, and movements of the 1950s and inspects them within a larger cultural and social context. By highlighting controversies in the decade, readers will gain a better understanding of the social values and thinking of the time. The examination of the individuals who influenced American culture in the 1950s enables students to gauge the tension between established norms of conformity and those figures that used pop culture as a broad avenue for change—either intentionally, or by accident.

Did the Universe start with a Big Bang? Is light a wave, a particle - or both? Are we the cause of global warming? Science has made it possible to comprehend the world we live in and the theoretical multiverses beyond, offering technological advances and extending the frontiers of knowledge. Written in plain English, The Science Book presents 80 of the most trailblazing ideas in physics, chemistry, and biology. It is packed with short, pithy explanations that cut through the jargon, step-by-step diagrams that untangle knotty theories, classic quotes that make scientific discoveries memorable, and witty illustrations that enhance and play with our understanding of science. Whatever your grasp of the subject, whether you're a keen student or an armchair expert, you'll find plenty to stimulate you within this book. Part of the popular "Big Ideas" series, The Science Book is the perfect way to explore this fascinating subject.

The Reader's Guide to the History of Science looks at the literature of science in some 550 entries on individuals (Einstein), institutions and disciplines (Mathematics), general themes (Romantic Science) and central concepts (Paradigm and Fact). The history of science is construed widely to include the history of medicine and technology as is reflected in the range of disciplines from which the international team of 200 contributors are drawn.