Janice VanCleave’s Crazy, Kooky, and Quirky Earth Science Experiments


Book Description

In this series of fun and involving hands-on earth science experiments, students will learn how atoms and molecules arrange themselves in minerals, how global warming could raise sea levels, and even how rocks melt. They will also create their own instrument to measure humidity, grow crystals, and demonstrate how soil texture affects the amount of air in soil. From lake bottoms to icebergs to hurricanes, readers will engage with this fun installment of twenty-four Janice VanCleave experiments that features color illustrations and safe, simple step-by-step instructions.




Ha!


Book Description

An entertaining tour of the science of humor and laughter Humor, like pornography, is famously difficult to define. We know it when we see it, but is there a way to figure out what we really find funny -- and why? In this fascinating investigation into the science of humor and laughter, cognitive neuroscientist Scott Weems uncovers what's happening in our heads when we giggle, guffaw, or double over with laughter. While we typically think of humor in terms of jokes or comic timing, in Ha! Weems proposes a provocative new model. Humor arises from inner conflict in the brain, he argues, and is part of a larger desire to comprehend a complex world. Showing that the delight that comes with "getting" a punchline is closely related to the joy that accompanies the insight to solve a difficult problem, Weems explores why surprise is such an important element in humor, why computers are terrible at recognizing what's funny, and why it takes so long for a tragedy to become acceptable comedic fodder. From the role of insult jokes to the benefit of laughing for our immune system, Ha! reveals why humor is so idiosyncratic, and why how-to books alone will never help us become funnier people. Packed with the latest research, illuminating anecdotes, and even a few jokes, Ha! lifts the curtain on this most human of qualities. From the origins of humor in our brains to its life on the standup comedy circuit, this book offers a delightful tour of why humor is so important to our daily lives.




Ask A Scientist (New Edition)


Book Description

Robert Winston answers 100 big questions from kids across the world in this fun and unique science book. In this unique science book, Professor Robert Winston answers more than 100 real-life questions from children all around the world! And who could be a better scientist to ask questions to than Professor Robert Winston? Ask a Scientist puts the fun back into science in this thrilling book for children aged 6-9. All the popular science topics are covered, with weird and wacky questions and clear and lively answers, including biology: “Why do freckles come in dots on your face?”; physics: “Could you jump off the world?”; Earth: “Why is the sky blue?”; chemistry: “Why are there bubbles in boiling water?”; natural science: “Do dogs cry?”, and space: “Why will the Sun explode and make us extinct?”. This exciting new edition includes eight pages of additional questions relating to the recent hot topics in science, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Inside the pages of this quirky science book, you’ll find: - Every aspect of science: including biology; space; physics; chemistry; Earth; natural sciences. - The topic of science presented in a fresh, exciting way, by tackling it from the child’s perspective. - More than 100 real-life questions from children from all around the world about every aspect of science. - Updated reissue of the 2019 edition with an additional eight new pages, including coverage of important recent topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspiration behind this unique science book came from the many questions posed by Robert Winston’s grandchildren and by children from the schools he has visited over the years. The book includes some of these questions, plus many more gathered from countries all over the world – including the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, Canada, the USA, India, China, and Japan. The 100 big questions featured inside the book cover all the main science topics: chemistry, physics, biology, Earth, space, and natural science.




Quirky Science


Book Description

Wonders Of Science: Mini-Book Series: Quirky Science: 21 July 2021 Quirky Science is the third book in the "Wonders of Science." series", and was written with the intention of showing a number of outstanding examples of what could be called quirky scientific principles & practices, which when looked at closely and critically examined seem impossible in both theory & practice, breaking all laws of science and seemingly impossible to be true. The concepts & ideas behind the five areas of scientific postulations & discoveries selected for study will convey the sentiments expressed above. Areas of Study: - (a) "Wave-Particle Duality", is usually defined in terms that it is a fundamental property of matter, whereby at one moment it appears as a particle, and yet at other times as a wave. Up to date, there has never been a definitive scientific explanation of how a particle of light can be both a particle and a waveform at the same time. Over the centuries there have been many scientific experiments carried out to determine what light is; and in equal measure, there have been convincing results showing that light is both a wave and a particle. (b) What is Quantum Theory? It is the theoretical basis of modern physics that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic & sub-atomic levels. The nature and behavior of matter & energy at that level is sometimes referred to as "Quantum Physics" or "Quantum Mechanics". According to this theory matter & energy are composed of tiny units of electromagnetic energy called quanta. Quantum Theory is used to explain such phenomena as the photoelectric effect. (c) E = mc2 is most properly the most famous equation in the world and made the originator of the equation an Albert Einstein Physicist & Nobel Laureate, one of the most famous and celebrated scientists of all time. The equation is instantaneously recognized by all those with just a minimum of scientific curiosity, and to this day is still printed on T-shirts and the like. Most people who are interested know the equation states that "energy equals mass times the speed of light squared". (d) Space-Time Continuum: Coming out of Einstein`s work on " General & Special Relativity " the concept of a "Space-Time Continuum " was born, initiated by Hermann Minkowski based on the work of his former student Albert Einstein. It is a mathematical model that joins space & time into a single idea. This space-time model has three dimensions of measurement plus one dimension of time.- now called "Minkowski Space" (e) Black Holes & Singularities: The first mention of the concept of a dark star, which could not be seen because gravity stopped light escaping to indicate its presence, was proposed by John Mitchell an English cleric back in 1783. He even suggested that it may be possible to discover its presence by looking at the behavior of stars whose orbit maneuvers suggested the presence of an unseen heavy object.




Amaze Your Brain with 900+ Cool Science Facts


Book Description

Hold on, curious minds! Get ready for an exhilarating voyage through the bizarre, weird and astounding world of Mind-Blowing Facts Prepare to embark on an exhilarating expedition through the captivating world of science with "Amaze Your Brain with 900+ Cool Science Facts." This extraordinary book is your passport to a universe of awe-inspiring discoveries and mind-bending revelations. Within these pages, you'll uncover a treasure trove of over 900 cool science facts that will ignite your curiosity and ignite your imagination. From the mysteries of our vast cosmos to the intricate workings of the smallest atoms, every turn of the page will leave you astounded and hungry for more knowledge. Take a cosmic journey as you explore the wonders of galaxies, supernovas, and the mind-boggling concept of parallel universes. Dive into the mesmerizing world of biology, unravelling the secrets of DNA, evolution, and the incredible diversity of life on our planet. But this book is not just a collection of facts. It's an invitation to engage, to ponder, and to expand your understanding of the world around you. Each carefully crafted factoid will captivate your mind and awaken your sense of wonder, revealing the astounding beauty and complexity of the natural world. Whether you're a science aficionado, a lifelong learner, or simply someone with a thirst for knowledge, "Amaze Your Brain with 900+ Cool Science Facts" is an essential companion. It's a gateway to a world where facts become adventures, where curiosity thrives, and where the boundaries of your mind are pushed to new frontiers. So, get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey of exploration and discovery. Let your brain be amazed as you delve into the extraordinary world of science, armed with 900+ cool facts that will transform the way you see the universe and ignite your passion for the wonders of the natural world.




Quirky Quarks


Book Description

Do you love quantum physics, cosmology, and the humor behind the popular television show The Big Bang Theory? Have you been on the lookout for a fun, non-technical explanation of the science behind things like time travel, wormholes, antimatter, and dark energy? You’ll find all of that, and more, inside this fact-filled, cartoon-packed book. In Quirky Quarks: A Cartoon Guide to the Fascinating Realm of Physics you’ll get: The latest science behind the mysteries of our universe explained in common everyday language. A major dose of cartoons, comics, and humor. A good grasp on the often-bizarre nature of reality. Start reading and you’ll find that hard science does not have to be hard. Whether you’re a teacher, a physicist, or just a lover of the curious, this is the book that delivers the facts in an engaging and entertaining cartoon world inhabited by two dogs, a cat, and some very quirky quarks which you might know from The Particle Zoo. With cutting edge science articles by physicists Boris Lemmer and Benjamin Bahr, and drawings by cartoonist Rina Piccolo, this may be the most fun science reading you’re likely to find out there.




Rabid


Book Description

The most fatal virus known to science, rabies-a disease that spreads avidly from animals to humans-kills nearly one hundred percent of its victims once the infection takes root in the brain. In this critically acclaimed exploration, journalist Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy chart four thousand years of the history, science, and cultural mythology of rabies. From Greek myths to zombie flicks, from the laboratory heroics of Louis Pasteur to the contemporary search for a lifesaving treatment, Rabid is a fresh and often wildly entertaining look at one of humankind's oldest and most fearsome foes. "A searing narrative." -The New York Times "In this keen and exceptionally well-written book, rife with surprises, narrative suspense and a steady flow of expansive insights, 'the world's most diabolical virus' conquers the unsuspecting reader's imaginative nervous system. . . . A smart, unsettling, and strangely stirring piece of work." -San Francisco Chronicle "Fascinating. . . . Wasik and Murphy chronicle more than two millennia of myths and discoveries about rabies and the animals that transmit it, including dogs, bats and raccoons." -The Wall Street Journal




Strange Science


Book Description

This entertaining compendium of bite-sized articles reveals the stranger-than-sci-fi world of strange science. From the oddest theories to the most astounding discoveries to the biggest blunders, Strange Science has all the facts your professors didn't teach you in science class. It's packed with earth-shattering eurekas, outlandish inventions, silly “scientific” studies, and the stories behind the weirdos who made it all happen. Put on your lab coat and get ready to discover . . . One dentist's quest to clone John Lennon How to hypnotize a chicken Real-life time travelers (or so they claim) The seven-year-long study that found earthquakes are not caused by catfish waving their tails . . . and other breakthrough findings Plus you’ll discover unbelievable inventions; the freakiest franken-foods scientists have created; some of Hollywood’s worst on-screen science blunders; and more! This amazing volume from the Bathroom Readers’ Institute contains the strangest short science articles from dozens of Bathroom Readers, along with fifty all-new pages.




The Humor Code


Book Description

Part road-trip comedy and part social science experiment, a scientist and a journalist travel the globe to discover the secret behind what makes things funny, questioning countless experts, including Louis C.K., along the way.




Funny Science Fiction


Book Description

Seventeen of the funniest science fiction stories published in the past decade (2005-2015), featuring alien invasions, global conspiracies, time travel and even animal uprisings. Fiction by Hugo and Nebula award winners and nominees as well as talented newcomers. Stories were selected by the Unidentified Funny Objects series curator Alex Shvartsman.