Combining history and science, a sweeping look at the smallest substance and the biggest challenges facing people and the planet Four and a half billion years ago, planet Earth was formed from a vast spinning nebula of cosmic dust, the detritus left over from the birth of the sun. Within the next one hundred years, life on Earth would be profoundly changed by heat, drought, fire, and, again, dust. Dust is a legacy of twentieth-century progress and...

"In the distant future, humans are on the verge of extinction and have settled in small tribes across the planet under the observation and care of "Mothers." Some children are made in factories, from cells of rabbits and dolphins; some live by getting nutrients from water and light, like plants. The survival of the race depends on the interbreeding of these and other alien beings-but it is far from certain that connection, love, reproduction, and...

Exploring the nature of intelligence and the unexpected consequences of progress, the meaning of personhood and life, and what we really have to fear from technology and the future, Toward Eternity is a gorgeous, thought-provoking novel that challenges the notion of what makes us human--and how love survives even the end of that humanity. In a near-future world, a new technological therapy is quickly eradicating cancer: The body's cells are entirely...

"Drawing on forty years of research and a treasure trove of new information, Tesla: Wizard at War provides a comprehensive view of Tesla's discoveries, which continue to influence today's military technology and diplomatic strategies. One of the world's leading Tesla experts, Marc J. Seifer offers new insight into the brilliant scientist's particle beam weapon (aka the "Death Ray") and explores his military negotiations with pivotal historical figures--including...

Explore different facets of engineering with 20 kid-friendly, easy-to-follow experiments. Each experiment includes questions designed to spark curiosity as well as an explanation of how the experiment works.

"In this tongue-in-cheek guide, a kid expert explains to young readers how to teach their grown-ups about the basics of robotics"-- Provided by publisher.

"In the tradition of Elizabeth Kolbert and Jonathan Doerr, THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES is a stirring exploration of how scientists from around the world are harnessing local ecology and innovative technology to protect the planet's cities from the effects of climate change. When it comes to nature, most people romanticize bucolic mountain scenery and verdant pine forests, but anyone who's ever lived in a city can tell you that nature has just as vital...

"The internet as we know it is broken. Here's how we can seize back control of our lives from the corporate algorithms that have poisoned our digital information system and create a third-generation Internet that uplifts humanity-before it's too late"-- Provided by publisher.

"In a world of mass consumption and busy schedules, taking the time to understand our own trash habits can be daunting. In Talking Trash, the ever-curious and talented Iris Gottlieb pulls back the curtain on the intricacies of the global trash production system and its contribution to climate change . From the history of the mafia's rule of the New York sanitation system to orbital debris (space trash) to the myth of recycling, Gottlieb will help...