Succinctly explains thirty famous scientific theories for young readers, covering such topics as magnetism, cell biology, atomic theory, and relativity.

When it comes to big science, very few things are conclusively known. From Quantum Mechanics to Natural Selection, what we have instead are theories - ideas explain why things happen the way they do. We don't know for certain these are correct - no one ever saw the Big Bang - but with them we can paint beautiful, breathtaking pictures of everything from human behaviour to what the future may hold. Profiling the key scientists behind each theory, "30-Second Theories" presents each entry in a unique, eye-catching full-colour design, with thought-provoking extras and stylish illustrations. It is essential for anyone keen on expanding their mind with science's most thrilling ideas.

Do fish close their eyes? Can you hold your breath longer than a whale? How is sand made? Why do we hear the ocean in empty seashells? Surf's up for fantastic science fun with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each in just ten minutes or less, and the clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from how seaweed can forecast the weather to why waves break as they reach the shore. You will find most of the required materials already in your toy chest, home, backyard, or around your neighborhood. The nearly 100 activities in this book investigate the many mysteries of animals, plants, sand, shells, sun, and water. You'll discover why there usually are more clouds over water than over land and why the sand on top of the beach is warm but cool underneath. Use a piece of hard candy to find out why beach and river rocks become smooth or learn how to clean water with sand --all with the help of a leading educator.

Simple and accessible, Science in Seconds is a comprehensive, entertaining introduction to 200 key scientific ideas. Each concept is clearly realized with a helpful visual and a concise explanation. The concepts included span all of the key scientific disciplines, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Biotechnology, Anatomy and Physiology, Medicine, Earth Science, Energy Generation, Astronomy, Spaceflight and Information Technology. Utilizing vivid, educational illustrations--inspired by scientific research suggesting that the brain best absorbs information visually--these compact and portable reference guides are ideal study buddies or holiday gifts, and enlightening reading for all. Hazel Muir studied astrophysics at Edinburgh University before becoming a staff editor and writer at New Scientist. Currently a freelance writer, she still regularly contributes to BBC Sky At Night magazine, and has also written for Wired UK. She has won international awards for her articles from the American Institute of Physics and the Acoustical Society of America. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Make lightning in your room! Keep paper dry under water! Lose weight by going upstairs! See colors that aren't there! Experience the magic of science with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each activity in ten fun-filled minutes or less. Clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from why eggs aren't round to how submarines surface and submerge. You will find most of the required materials already in your home, backyard, or neighborhood, and you can perform the experiments practically anywhere. The 108 activities in this book cover twelve different subject areas, including air, animals, energy, gravity, magnetism, light, the human body, and much more. You'll make a rainbow right on your floor, pop a balloon with a magnifying glass, make a coffee can roll back to you after you've pushed it away, and bend water as it streams from your faucet--all with the help of a leading educator. Children Ages 8-12

Perfect for inquisitive cosmic kids aged 8-12, this succinct, entertaining look at what really happens in space takes a rapid-fire approach, offering 30 key topics, each one explained in neat 30-second soundbites and supported by 3-second flash summaries and cool, cartoon-style artwork. 3-minute active missions throughout will challenge lively young minds to test facts or go further and find out more. The attention-grabbing format is perfect for space. Topics range from the Big Bang theory and ways in which scientists think the universe might end, to what we know about distant planets and galaxies. Mind-boggling ideas about worm holes, dark matter and aliens will test the limits of even the most creative imagination.

The universe literally encompasses everything we were, are and will be, everything we knew, know and can know. When we decide to understand the universe as a whole, new truths come to light, and unexpected perspectives illuminate our take on life. 30-Second Universe explains all the tantalising concepts, principles and theories that make up our knowledge - the Higgs particle, gluons, quarks, the multiverse, how certainty itself can be uncertain, and of course, where our world came from, and where we're going and what will happen in the end - and it explains these astrophysical answers succinctly, each entry taking only 30 seconds to read, with further exploration flagged, and key scientists noted. This one small book sheds light on the biggest ideas, concepts and discoveries in life, in the universe, in everything.