The Universe In Bite Sized Chunks

Since the earliest humans walked the earth, the vast mysteries and wonders of the night sky have fascinated and beguiled us, as we've struggled to understand our place in the cosmos. Even after the last century, which saw important and startling discoveries about our own planet, our solar system and the stars and galaxies beyond, there remain more questions than answers. But those questions - What is dark matter? Are we alone in the universe? Is time travel possible? - provide a fascinating insight into the vastness and infinite possibilities of space that we're yet to determine. The sheer scale of the universe can be intimidating, but in this easily digestible book we embark on an incredible journey through all the essential astronomical discoveries, from the beliefs of ancient civilizations, through to the recent groundbreaking observations of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago. There's never been a better time to get to grips with the universe and this essential guide to the cosmos is the perfect place to start!

Since ancient times, we have tried to make sense of our universe by observing objects far beyond our abilities to see or touch - from the smallest atom to the farthest star. This book covers, in chronological order, all the key discoveries and remarkable minds in each scientific field, including Aristotle's geocentric model of the cosmos, Darwin's theory of evolution, Newton's theory of gravity and Einstein's theory of relativity. Also included are fascinating anecdotes about the lives of influential scientists: learn how Ptolemy fixed his results to match his theories; Freud used cocaine to expand his mind; and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, was banned from using university computers after being caught hacking. Revealing how human curiosity knows no bounds, and how the field of science has evolved over the last 2,500 years, this book breaks everything down into easily digestible sections to give a broad overview of the fascinating history of science.

Join us on an adventure across the universe, as we rocket to the stars, marvel at mysterious planets and discover galaxies far far away. Three, two, one, blast off! From icy worlds and hot, fiery giants to the biggest telescopes and latest spacecraft, this book about space covers more than 40 profiles of the planets, stars and celestial objects. This out-of-this-world astronomy book for kids is packed with: • Age-appropriate with large pictures and clear text. • Pronunciation guide for each planet and astronomical object. • Visual index arranged by type, so stars and planets can be found quickly. • Fact files for each featured object give key information, like size, type of object and location in the universe. Tapping into children's natural curiosity about the vastness of space, this stunning encyclopedia will enchant every budding astronaut. Did you know that our Solar System is part of a galaxy called the Milky Way? Or that Saturn is the furthest planet that can be seen from Earth without a telescope? You’ll discover many fascinating facts about our neighboring planets and the latest space technology! Broken down by type, each object is presented in a clear, engaging way, with stunning images and bite-sized chunks of information. Young stargazers will be intrigued by the detailed NASA photography that brings the mysteries of outer space down to Earth! The handy pronunciation guide helps with tricky names and a visual index gives a quick overview of all the key objects in this reference book. My Book of Stars and Planets is the perfect gift for kids ages 5-8 who are interested in learning about the universe.

If you thought physics was all about measuring the temperature of ice in a bucket or trying to fathom what E=mc2 means, think again. How to Destroy the Universe and 34 other really interesting uses of physics demystifies the astonishing world of physics in a series of intriguing, entertaining and often extraordinary scenarios--that explain key physics concepts in plain and simple language. You'll find out how to save the planet from energy shortages by mining the vacuum of empty space, engineer the Earth's climate to reverse the effects of global warming, and fend off killer asteroids just like Bruce Willis and his vest. You'll learn essential survival skills such as how to live through a lightning strike, how to tough it out during an earthquake and how to fall into a black hole without being squashed into spaghetti. And you'll discover some plain old cool stuff like how to turn lead into gold, how to travel to the centre of the Earth, how to crack supposedly unbreakable codes and how to use physics to predict the stock market. So if you want to get to grips with science behind relativity, antigravity and parallel universes, or if you are really more interested in learning how to teleport, travel through time or achieve immortality, this is the perfect introduction to the amazing world of modern physics.

A masterful introduction to world mythology, shedding light on the impact it has had on cultures past and present and untangling the complex web of deities, monsters and myths.

Quantum physics is the most fundamental -- but also the most baffling -- branch of science. Allowing for dead-and-alive cats, teleportation, antimatter, and parallel universes, as well as underpinning all of our digital technology, it's as important as it is mind-bending. This clear and compact book demystifies the strange and beautiful quantum world, and hence the nature of reality itself. Contents include: Schrodinger's cat, inside the atom, the particle zoo, the Higgs boson, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, God playing dice, relativity, the Big Bang, dark energy and matter, black holes, the fate of the Universe, the Theory of Everything, quantum gravity, string theory, the multiverse, instant communication, quantum computing and cryptography, superconductivity, quantum biology, quantum consciousness, and much more. Written as a series of mini essays with 200 simple diagrams to help understanding, there can be no easier guide to this notoriously confusing subject. At last it's possible for non-specialists to understand quantum theory and its central role in the birth of the universe and the very existence of life.

"From two World Wars to astonishing scientific progress and social upheaval, the twentieth century saw unprecedented change. In this concise history of a century like no other, authors Nicola Chalton and Meredith MacArdle guide us through a hundred years that transformed the way we live. Covering everything from the fall of empire to the Digital Revolution, this is a chance to take a step back and understand the full spectrum of world history in the last century, and to discover how it shaped the modern world we know today. With information broken down into easily digestible chunks, this is the perfect way to swot up on your world history and discover just how the world as we know it came to be"--www.amazon.com.