Download or read book The Tangled Tree written by David Quammen and published by Simon & Schuster. This book was released on 2019-08-06 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this New York Times bestseller and longlist nominee for the National Book Award, “our greatest living chronicler of the natural world” (The New York Times), David Quammen explains how recent discoveries in molecular biology affect our understanding of evolution and life’s history. In the mid-1970s, scientists began using DNA sequences to reexamine the history of all life. Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of this new field—the study of life’s diversity and relatedness at the molecular level—is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or the movement of genes across species lines. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important; we now know that roughly eight percent of the human genome arrived sideways by viral infection—a type of HGT. In The Tangled Tree, “the grandest tale in biology….David Quammen presents the science—and the scientists involved—with patience, candor, and flair” (Nature). We learn about the major players, such as Carl Woese, the most important little-known biologist of the twentieth century; Lynn Margulis, the notorious maverick whose wild ideas about “mosaic” creatures proved to be true; and Tsutomu Wantanabe, who discovered that the scourge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a direct result of horizontal gene transfer, bringing the deep study of genome histories to bear on a global crisis in public health. “David Quammen proves to be an immensely well-informed guide to a complex story” (The Wall Street Journal). In The Tangled Tree, he explains how molecular studies of evolution have brought startling recognitions about the tangled tree of life—including where we humans fit upon it. Thanks to new technologies, we now have the ability to alter even our genetic composition—through sideways insertions, as nature has long been doing. “The Tangled Tree is a source of wonder….Quammen has written a deep and daring intellectual adventure” (The Boston Globe).
Download or read book Views of the Cordilleras and Monuments of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas written by Alexander von Humboldt and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 660 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1799, Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland set out to determine whether the Orinoco River connected with the Amazon. But what started as a trip to investigate a relatively minor geographical controversy became the basis of a five-year exploration throughout South America, Mexico, and Cuba. The discoveries amassed by Humboldt and Bonpland were staggering, and much of today’s knowledge of tropical zoology, botany, geography, and geology can be traced back to Humboldt’s numerous records of these expeditions. One of these accounts, Views of the Cordilleras and Monuments of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, firmly established Alexander von Humboldt as the founder of Mesoamerican studies. In Views of the Cordilleras—first published in French between 1810 and 1813—Humboldt weaves together magnificently engraved drawings and detailed texts to achieve multifaceted views of cultures and landscapes across the Americas. In doing so, he offers an alternative perspective on the New World, combating presumptions of its belatedness and inferiority by arguing that the “old” and the “new” world are of the same geological age. This critical edition of Views of the Cordilleras—the second volume in the Alexander von Humboldt in English series—contains a new, unabridged English translation of Humboldt’s French text, as well as annotations, a bibliography, and all sixty-nine plates from the original edition, many of them in color.
Download or read book The Chlorine Revolution written by Michael J. McGuire and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Perhaps no other advancement of public health has been as significant. Yet, few know the intriguing story of a simple idea-disinfecting public water systems with chlorine-that in just 100 years has saved more lives than any other single health development in human history. At the turn of the 20th century, most scientists and doctors called the addition of chloride of lime, a poisonous chemical, to public water supplies not only a preposterous idea but also an illegal act - until a courageous physician, Dr. John L. Leal, working with George W. Fuller, the era's greatest sanitary engineer, proved it could be done safely and effectively on a large scale. This is the first book to tell the incredible true story of the first use of chlorine to disinfect a city water supply, in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1908. This important book also corrects misinformation long-held in the historical record about who was responsible for this momentous event, giving overdue recognition to the true hero of the story-an unflagging champion of public health, Dr. John L. Leal."--Back cover.
Download or read book The Wright Brothers written by Russell Freedman and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 1991-01-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Newbery Honor-winning biography of the men whose experiments brought about the Age of Flight. This engaging narrative account of Orville and Wilbur Wright, two men with little formal schooling but a knack for solving problems, follows their interest from a young age in the developing field of aeronautics. Russell Freedman’s writing brings the brothers’ personalities to life, enhancing the record of events with excerpts from the brothers’ writing and correspondence, and accounts of those who knew them. Chronicling their lives from their early mechanical work on toys and bicycles through the development of several flyers, The Wright Brothers follows the siblings through their achievements—not only the first powered, sustained, controlled airplane flight, but the numerous improvements and enhancements that followed, their revolutionary airplane business, and the long legacy of that first brief flight. Illustrated with numerous historical photographs—many taken by the Wright brothers themselves—this is a concise, extremely reader-friendly introduction to these important American inventors. Includes a note on the Wright brothers’ photographs, as well as recommendation for further reading and learning.
Download or read book The Edge of the Sea written by Rachel Carson and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 1998 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place." A book to be read for pleasure as well as a practical identification guide, The Edge of the Sea introduces a world of teeming life where the sea meets the land. A new generation of readers is discovering why Rachel Carson's books have become cornerstones of the environmental and conservation movements. New introduction by Sue Hubbell. (A Mariner Reissue)
Download or read book Bird Migration written by Peter Berthold and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ten years have passed since the first edition of this book. During that time the field of bird migration has experienced many advances which are reflected in this second edition. No other book exists to bring together the vast amount of information currently available on the subject of bird migration. Includes discussion of evolution and history of bird migration, physiology, orientation mechanisms and threats to migrations and is accessible to experts as well as amateurs.
Download or read book The Food Explorer written by Daniel Stone and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2019-02-05 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The true adventures of David Fairchild, a turn-of-the-century food explorer who traveled the globe and introduced diverse crops like avocados, mangoes, seedless grapes—and thousands more—to the American plate. “Fascinating.”—The New York Times Book Review • “Fast-paced adventure writing.”—The Wall Street Journal • “Richly descriptive.”—Kirkus • “A must-read for foodies.”—HelloGiggles In the nineteenth century, American meals were about subsistence, not enjoyment. But as a new century approached, appetites broadened, and David Fairchild, a young botanist with an insatiable lust to explore and experience the world, set out in search of foods that would enrich the American farmer and enchant the American eater. Kale from Croatia, mangoes from India, and hops from Bavaria. Peaches from China, avocados from Chile, and pomegranates from Malta. Fairchild’s finds weren’t just limited to food: From Egypt he sent back a variety of cotton that revolutionized an industry, and via Japan he introduced the cherry blossom tree, forever brightening America’s capital. Along the way, he was arrested, caught diseases, and bargained with island tribes. But his culinary ambition came during a formative era, and through him, America transformed into the most diverse food system ever created. “Daniel Stone draws the reader into an intriguing, seductive world, rich with stories and surprises. The Food Explorer shows you the history and drama hidden in your fruit bowl. It’s a delicious piece of writing.”—Susan Orlean, New York Times bestselling author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book
Download or read book The Puzzle People written by Thomas E. Starzl and published by University of Pittsburgh Pre. This book was released on 2003 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The memoirs of an transplant physician trace his career and family life, presenting an argument for the benefits of organ transplant while offering insight into how politics and personalities contribute to the business of organ transplant and its related science. Reprint. (Health & Fitness)
Download or read book Kirtland s Warbler written by and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 2 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals written by Ulf Gärdenfors and published by IUCN. This book was released on 1996 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals was a major advance on its predecessors in clarity of layout and amount of information presented. This is taken further in the 1996 edition, which is also the first global compilation to use the complete new IUCN Red List category system.
Download or read book A Marine Wildlife Sanctuary for the Arabian Gulf written by Friedhelm Krupp and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 530 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Plato and Socrates written by Plato and published by . This book was released on 1907 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Albatross Biology and Conservation written by Graham Robertson and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the Inaugural Albatross Conference in Hobart in 1995. Thirteen chapters are based directly on conference papers, and ten have been written subsequently. Topics covered include albatross taxonomy, ecology, feeding and breeding habits, population and distribution as well as the effect of human activities on albatross mortality. Examines the conservation of albatrosses and threats to their survival, in particular the incidental mortality associated with long line fisheries. Appraises recent research in albatross biology, ecology and conservation and discusses opportunities for future research.
Download or read book Technology and Mathematics written by Sven Ove Hansson and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-10-24 with total page 373 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume is the first extensive study of the historical and philosophical connections between technology and mathematics. Coverage includes the use of mathematics in ancient as well as modern technology, devices and machines for computation, cryptology, mathematics in technological education, the epistemology of computer-mediated proofs, and the relationship between technological and mathematical computability. The book also examines the work of such historical figures as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and Alan Turing.
Download or read book The Birds of Chile written by Braulio Araya and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes all birds found within Chile's national boundaries, whether residents, regular or occasional visitors, and those recorded only once. Included as well are birds of Chilean Antarctic Territory (900 to 520 W), and the oceanic islands of Easter Island, Sala y Gómez, San Félix, San Ambrosio, and the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Download or read book Animal Migration Orientation and Navigation written by Gauthreaux and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Animal Migration, Orientation, and Navigation presents the various aspects of animal migration, including the evolution of migration, climatic and meteorological influences, and bioenergetics. This book discusses the physiological control, sensory systems, orientation and navigation, and biological clocks and phenology aspects of animal migration. Organized into five chapters, this book begins with an overview of the migration strategies of animals in the context of a space continuum. This text then explains the influence of short- and long-term climatic cycles on the spectrum of migratory patterns in nature. Other chapters consider the energetic requirements of different migration strategies and the energy stores of the migrants. This book discusses as well the physiological basis of animal migration, with emphasis on endocrinal findings on the timing and energetic aspects of different migration strategies. The final chapter deals with the mechanisms used in direction finding by migrating animals. This book is a valuable resource for biologists and ecologists.
Download or read book GIS Applications in Mammalogy written by S. B. McLaren and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
