A LIVELY EXPLORATION OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IN SCIENCE How Did the Universe Begin? The Big Bang has been the accepted theory for decades, but does it explain everything? How Did Life on Earth Get Started? What triggered the cell division that started the evolutionary chain? Did life come from outer space, buried in a chunk of rock? What is Gravity? Newton's apple just got the arguments started, Einstein made things more complicated. Just how does gravity fit in with quantum theory? What Is the Inside of the Earth Like? What exactly is happening beneath our feet, and can we learn enough to help predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? How Do We Learn Language? Is language acquisition an inborn biological ability, or does every child have to start from scratch? Is There a Missing Link? The story of human evolution is not complete. In addition to hoaxes such as "Piltdown Man" and extraordinary finds such as "Lucy," many puzzles remain. What, in the end, do we mean by a "missing link"?

Ideal for the armchair science enthusiast, Idiot's Guides: Science Mysteries Explained takes a question/answer-based approach to teach readers a wide variety of topics in Earth Science, Life Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Cosmology. Using helpful full-color illustrations and expert information, this book features 130 fascinating questions and answers to satisfy any scientist wannabe.

How do tiny bugs get into oatmeal? What makes children look like-- or different from-- their parents? Where do rotten apples go after they fall off the tree? By presenting everyday mysteries like these, this book will motivate your students to carry out hands-on science investigations and actually care about the results. These 20 open-ended mysteries focus exclusively on biological science, including botany, human physiology, zoology, and health. The stories come with lists of science concepts to explore, grade-appropriate strategies for using them, and explanations of how the lessons align with national standards. They also relieve you of the tiring work of designing inquiry lessons from scratch. " What makes this book so special is the unique way science is integrated into the story line, using characters and situations children can easily identify with." -- Page Keeley, author of the NSTA Press series Uncovering Student Ideas in Science

Science detectives follows fearless and dedicated science sleuths tracking down leads and solving cases all over the world, in cities and in deserts, deep underground, high in the sky and even in your DNA.

Students entering the classroom will notice something is amiss. As they view the area cordoned off with tape they will notice several lunches, an empty thermos, a white powder, cookie crumbs and footprints. This is the beginning of a crime scene investigation that requires experimentation and critical thinking to solve. Through the use of chemistry, observation, and analysis of the scientific data as well as the personal information about the four suspects, students will determine who stole the cookies and chocolate milk out of one of the lunches. As they work to solve this mystery, students will find real-world applications science concepts. Invite students to become a science sleuths. Stage a mystery science investigation in your classroom for maximum learning and motivation. Book jacket.