A beautifully illustrated volume, this almanac serves as an invaluable companion for those who have an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. Entertaining and engrossing, this book can be used as a learning tool, a reference book, or as a fun "read." From prehistoric excavations to the invention of the X ray to the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, each entry may surprise, provoke, and titillate you. Explore the wonders of science, invention, and medicine. Learn the important birthdays and dates of invention, as well as some captivating lesser-known stories behind such great names as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Louis Leakey, Neil Armstrong, and many more.

A global view of science and technology as it developed over the centuries.

In Scientific Americans, Susan Branson explores the place of science and technology in American efforts to achieve cultural independence from Europe and America's nation building in the early republic and antebellum eras. This engaging tour of scientific education and practices among ordinary citizens charts the development of nationalism and national identity alongside roads, rails, and machines. Scientific Americans shows how informal scientific education provided by almanacs, public lectures, and demonstrations, along with the financial encouragement of early scientific societies, generated an enthusiasm for the application of science and technology to civic, commercial, and domestic improvements. Not only that: Americans were excited, awed, and intrigued with the practicality of inventions. Bringing together scientific research and popular wonder, Branson charts how everything from mechanical clocks to steam engines informed the creation and expansion of the American nation. From the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations to the fate of the Amistad captives, Scientific Americans shows how the promotion and celebration of discoveries, inventions, and technologies articulated Americans' earliest ambitions, as well as prejudices, throughout the first American century.

Surveys recent discoveries in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, environmental science, medicine, and physics.

An essential compendium of some of the most world-changing discoveries and inventions of all time, from the first use of money to antibiotics and artificial intelligence. In a stylish miscellany, celebrated author Richard Platt and printmaker James Brown travel through time to showcase the amazing breakthroughs in science and technology that have changed our lives forever. From the wheel to the telephone to the Internet, human history is studded with innovations that have changed our world. Each bold, bright, and beautiful infographic is complete with engaging and easy-to-understand explanations. A follow-up to international bestseller A World of Information and its companion, A World of Cities, this book covers thirty groundbreaking discoveries and is perfect for inquiring minds of all ages.

From a flat universe full of dark energy to a lab full of stem cells, it's hard keeping up with the huge, kinetic world of science and technology. This unique volume offers a sweeping tour of the field for inquisitive audiences. The 2001 edition is a news digest, a concise encyclopedia, and an up-to-date statistical handbook all in one--a compelling introduction for the curious, a sharp summary for the expert, and a thorough reference for anyone interested in science and technology. This completely updated edition brings together the news, people, and statistics of the year's most important events and issues in the fields of: • Astronomy and Space • Chemistry • Computers and the Internet • Earth Sciences • Environment • Health and Medicine • Life Sciences • Mathematics • Meteorology and the Weather • Physics • Technology Special features and reference aids include photographs, illustrations, and figures; extensive tables and charts; a timeline and calendar of upcoming events; a directory of zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, associations and organizations, and institutes and government organizations; a glossary; and an index. Photographs, tables and charts, a timeline, and a calendar illuminate the text and provide a quick view of what transpired around the world in 2001. The Almanac also covers: •The year's most important issues, legislation and regulation, best-selling science and nature books, and outstanding Web sites •The scientists behind the headlines, concise biographies, obituaries, and an extensive list of sci-tech award winners •Extensive tables for worldwide and country-by-country statistics on energy use and consumption, agricultural output and productivity, the environment, transportation and communication, and health and medicine Reference and User Services Quarterly hailed the previous edition for covering a plethora of information over a broad spectrum of the sciences and deemed it valuable in school, public, and academic libraries.

Technology pervades our daily lives and modern society, and not just when it comes to computers and smart phones. Before there was the computer, there was the abacus. Before the smart phone, there was the telegraph and ball point pen. Electricity, penicillin, and the compass have all led to revolutionary changes in how we live. The Handy Technology Answer Book explains how technology has revolutionized the way people live, work, and play. It covers a broad range of fields, including medicine, mining, buildings, transportation, the military, and agriculture, and how they have been changed by technology. From the relationship between science and technology to nanotechnology, robots, and predictions for future technology, The Handy Technology Answer Book presents the latest and historical in an engaging and informative format. It brings well-researched answers to more than 1,100 common questions on technology, such as What are the major time periods of technology? Who is considered to be the first engineer? Which individual was granted the most U.S. patents? What is a Uniform Resource Locator, or URL? What products are made from recycled plastic? Can human beings be cloned? What is the future of wearable technology in health care?