NCW Libraries

The instant New York Times bestseller about humanity's place in the universe—and how we understand it.

“Vivid...impressive....Splendidly informative.”—The New York Times
“Succeeds spectacularly.”—Science
“A tour de force.”—Salon

Already internationally acclaimed...

The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets, with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of adding one more planet to our solar system, Brown’s find ignited a firestorm of controversy that culminated in the demotion of Pluto from real planet to the newly coined category of “dwarf”...

"Explore the world's most significant, innovative and amazing discoveries in association with the Science Museum. Find out how, when and why vital discoveries took place, and learn more about the people who made the breakthroughs. Learn how the principles they discovered became the basis of inventions and other advances that shaped our history and the way we live today. Find out about the combination of inspiration and perspiration that helped pioneers...

An overview of the most important discoveries in the history of chemistry, including: oxygen; the common building blocks of organic and inorganic matter; how electricity transforms chemicals; why substances change color when touched by a flame; plastics.

National Geographic presents a behind-the-scenes tour of selected World Heritage Sites as conservationists apply their knowledge and dedication to preserve monuments, buildings, national parks and even entire cities, to ensure they survive for future generations.

Ideas are important. They change things. A single idea can start a war, save billions of lives, even rearrange whole planetary systems, or simply make a person giggle until they pee a little bit. They can be totally wrong but widely believed, or undoubtedly right and completely ignored. What's more, they're free, and anyone can have one - including you! The Book of Big Science Ideas looks at 15 brilliant science ideas and more than 50 ingenious thinkers...

"A lighthearted but informative look at chance discoveries made by ordinary people, of artifacts (and treasures) from the past. Many of these discoveries have led to leaps in our knowledge of history and science. Each short chapter will begin with a dramatic story of discovery, followed by the significance of the artifact that was discovered, followed by a look into the history of the civilization/era from which the artifact originates. The stories...

"Introduces the reader to x-ray machines."--

"The most remarkable true stories of all time and around the world brought vividly to life - from the Big Bang right up to the present day. Embark on a journey across millennia and around the world, from the latest understanding of the origins of the universe through the birth of the Earth, the very first life, the age of dinosaurs, the rise of humans, ancient civilizations, colonialism, wars, technology, everyday life, global struggles for freedom...