Self-taught chemist and inventor Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) was one of the first professional scientists of his age. President of the Royal Society from 1820 to 1827, he was also a brilliant lecturer whose popularising of science made him famous. He also pioneered electrochemistry, isolating potassium, sodium and calcium. But Davy is best known for creating the safety lamp when he was asked to address the frequent occurrence of explosions in coal mines. He realised that firedamp - flammable gases such as methane - was ignited at high temperature by the open flames of miners' lamps. In 1815, he devised a lamp with a mesh screen that prevented ignition of firedamp; this application of science allowed miners to work in greater safety. First published in 1818 and revised in 1825, this work details the invention that cemented Davy's position as a national hero and earned him the Royal Society's Rumford Medal.

Considering science as a form of cultural discourse like literature, music, and religion, explores the contacts and affinities between scientists and humanists in 19th-century Britain. The topics include Baconian induction, romantic methodologies of poetry and science, the uniformitarian imagination and The Voyage of the Beagle, John Ruskin, Edwin Abbot, and the quintessential Victorian merging of science and literature, Sherlock Holmes. Paper edition (unseen), $22.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Complex and Composite Metal Oxides for Gas, VOC, and Humidity Sensors focuses on an overview of the advanced nanocomposite metal oxide materials for use in sensors for environmental monitoring applications. Volume 1 Fundamentals and Approaches introduces the ground rules essential for the development of smart gas, VOC and humidity sensors. This volume familiarizes researchers with the different sensors (resistive, electrolyte, FET, optical etc.) developed on various properties that includes electrical, SPR, luminescence, fiber optics etc. fabricated using metal oxide hybrids and nanocomposites. - Introduces the fundamentals of electrical and optical gas and humidity sensors - Reviews metal oxide hybrid materials for gas and humidity sensor applications, including metal oxide/polymer and metal oxide/carbon composite materials - Discusses complex metal oxide compounds and composite materials for use in gas, VOC, and humidity sensors