Star Shot


Book Description

Part fable, part mystery, Star-Shot is a stylish debut novel set in and around Cardiff's National Museum in a time that is almost, but not quite, our own. As their paths cross in a circumscribed world of benches, parks and galleries, a handful of characters reveal their stories of obsession, loss and recovery, creating a fragile network of relationships which will help to resist the inexorable channels of silence eating into the city.




Antarctica


Book Description

Sixty articles arranged in eight thematic sections refer to most recent geological and geophysical results of Antarctic research. The Precambrian of the East Antarctic shield and its geological history is considered as well as sub-ice topography, geophysics and stratigraphy, sedimentology and geophysics of the surrounding Southern Ocean. Particular emphasis is given to the connection of the Antarctic and the surrounding continents when forming part of Gondwana.




Mission To Mars


Book Description

Everyone seems to be thinking about Mars nowadays. NASA plans to have humans on Mars by 2030 while SpaceX wants to do it sooner, by 2024. Mars is a common theme in Hollywood. There are movies like The Martian and Life that speculate how life may be on the red planet. None of these movies, however, seems to address the elephant in the room—how will humans survive long-term on Mars? The Mars atmosphere is mostly comprised of carbon monoxide and its surface is too cold for human life. The gravity is 38% that of Earth. This leaves the question of how a human being can survive such an environment. Traveling to Mars is an easy task, as the journey will only take 260 days when the two planets are closest to each other. After arriving, the challenge is landing on the surface. What landing system is safe for colonists and astronauts? By 2007, scientists had four landing suggestions; the Legged Standing System, Sky-Crane Landing System, Airbag Landing System and lastly, the Touchdown Sensing. As of 2017, scientists had already come up with more ways for landing such as diving into the Martian atmosphere and skirting closer to the surface. NASA is already thinking of the kind of habitation that will help colonists survive on Mars. In 2016, six companies had started designing possible habitat prototypes. All these prototypes are likely to be similar in a few ways—they should be self-sustaining, able to support life for a long period of time without help from Earth, and have a seal against Mars’s thin atmosphere.




Stephen Hawking


Book Description

Physicist Stephen Hawking was a scientist for the modern age. He is as renowned for his theories on time and space as he is for his unique life story. Undeterred by a debilitating illness, he trained his mind to work in a new way to become the leading light in modern science. This carefully researched biography tells Hawking’s story, highlighting his scientific breakthroughs and how, despite his struggle with a degenerative condition, he became the most celebrated and inspiring scientist of his generation. A beautiful design includes striking photographs, illuminating documents, and helpful sidebars that cast light on Hawking’s intellectual achievements.




Governance of Emerging Space Challenges


Book Description

This edited volume discusses how even small nation states can make a significant difference in the future of space governance. The book is divided into three main sections covering political theory, case studies, and space technology and applications. Key topics of discussion include planetary defense, space mining, and high-power systems in space. Through these timely subjects, the book presents strategies for developing a truly global governance framework in space, based on the concept of a responsible cosmopolitan state. Authored by a multidisciplinary group of researchers from the Czech Republic, the volume will appeal to other scientific teams and policymakers looking to become pioneers of cosmopolitan space policies at a national and global level.




The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2017


Book Description

"Undeniably exquisite . . . Reveal s] not only how science actually happens but also who or what propels its immutable humanity." --Maria Popova "An excellent introduction to the key issues in science today." --P. D. Smith, Guardian " A] stellar compendium . . . Delightful to read." --Publishers Weekly, starred review A renowned scientist and the best-selling author of Lab Girl, Hope Jahren selects the year's top science and nature writing from writers who balance research with humanity and in the process uncover riveting stories of discovery across disciplines.




Laser Propulsion in Space


Book Description

Space launches have evoked the same vivid image for decades: bright orange flames exploding beneath a rocket as it lifts off and thunders into the sky. An alternative acceleration system could reshape that vision forever, with rockets leaving their energy source on the ground... or in space. Laser Propulsion in Space: Fundamentals, Technology, and Future Missions takes readers on a comprehensive journey from the theoretical overview of propulsion fundamentals, to reviews of current projects involving high-power CW fiber lasers and energetic mm-wave sources with their ongoing and potential end-use applications in beamed energy propulsion (BEP). Written by experts in the field, this mathematically sound reference text also highlights graphical solutions of equations' results, as well as case studies with worked-out examples, making this book an invaluable compendium for students, researchers, technology developers and futurists in understanding the promise and challenges of this emerging technology. - Covers beamed energy propulsion advances - Highlights state-of-the-art BEP applications of LEO debris removal, suborbital and orbital launch, solar system exploration, and interstellar lightsail probes, as well as advances in related photon source technologies and infrastructures - Includes opinion sections explaining why we as a technical society should care about each chapter's topic and the considerably good outcomes that can be achieved with laser engines - Is accompanied by a website with video clips and other ancillary materials to enhance insight




1,000 Type Treatments


Book Description

New miniature version! The ability to wield typography is one of those things that is a clear indication of a talented designer. Being able to craft type well and thoughtfully takes a deep understanding of the inherent complexities and a keen eye for the minute and subtle details. This book contains a collection of 1,000 instances of thoughtful type usage along with credits that note what fonts were used in the design. Like its predecessor, 1,000 Graphic Elements, the photography in this book focuses in on the typography so readers can get an up-close look at the work. 1,000 Type Treatments showcases an array of fonts in a catalog-like format, making it easy for the working designer to practically shop for ideas. The book is organized by style so if a designer has a traditional, elegant, or edgy piece, they can go directly to that section of the book, where they will find a wide collection of fresh ideas in the style they are seeking. Also included is a directory of font foundries and suppliers, providing busy designers with a quick reference guide to where they can find the fonts that pique their interest.




Extraterrestrial Intelligence


Book Description

What are the implications for human society, and for our institutions of higher learning, of the discovery of a sophisticated extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) operating on and around Earth? This book explores this timely question from a multidisciplinary perspective. It considers scientific, philosophical, theological, and interdisciplinary ways of thinking about the question, and it represents all viewpoints on how likely it is that an ETI is already operating here on Earth. The book’s contributors represent a wide range of academic disciplines in their formal training and later vocations, and, upon reflection on the book’s topic, they articulate a diverse range of insights into how ETI will impact humankind. It is safe to say that any contact or communication with ETI will not be merely a game changer for human society, but it also will be a paradigm changer. It makes sense for human beings to prepare themselves now for this important transition.