Describes how some of the most important scientific discoveries and theories came about and offers insights into the lives of the scientists who made the contributions.

Galileo, Einstein, Curie, Darwin, Hawking -- we know the names, but how much do we really know about these people? Galileo gained notoriety over his battle with the Vatican, but did you know that this "father of modern science" was also an accomplished lute player? And Darwin of course discovered the principle by which new species are formed, but his bold curiosity extended to the dinner table as well. (And how many people can say they've eaten an...

"Knowledge is a big subject, says Stuart Firestein, but ignorance is a bigger one. And it is ignorance -- not knowledge -- that is the true engine of science. Most of us have a false impression of science as a surefire, deliberate, step-by-step method for finding things out and getting things done. In fact, says Firestein, more often than not, science is like looking for a black cat in a dark room, and there may not be a cat in the room. The process...

The astronomer who inadvertently triggered the "demotion" of Pluto in his effort to officially recognize the solar system's tenth planet describes the ensuing debates and public outcry while revealing the behind-the-scenes story of his discovery.

Scientists have just announced an historic discovery on a par with the splitting of the atom: the Higgs boson, the key to understanding why mass exists has been found. Carroll takes readers behind the scenes of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN to meet the scientists and explain this landmark event. We only discovered the electron just over a hundred years ago and considering where that took us-- from nuclear energy to quantum computing-- the inventions...

"How would you go about rebuilding a technological society from scratch? If our technological society collapsed tomorrow, perhaps from a viral pandemic or catastrophic asteroid impact, what would be the one book you would want to press into the hands of the postapocalyptic survivors? What crucial knowledge would they need to survive in the immediate aftermath and to rebuild civilization as quickly as possible-a guide for rebooting the world? Human...

Describes how Danish astronomer Ole Romer measured the speed of light using a crude telescope and a mechanical timepiece.

"No generation has yet had to cope with the kind of rapid changes in science and technology that are facing today's teens. This is why "STEM education" is the latest buzz term and science literacy is enjoying a renewed focus. A foundation in basic science is key. With decades of scientific knowledge behind him and a genuine sense of fun in his approach, Jan Paul Schutten rewards curiosity with engaging explanations about some of the most complicated...