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"Chemical Chronicles: Exploring the Elements and Their Transformations" embarks on a fascinating journey through the intricate world of chemistry, unraveling the stories of the elements and their remarkable transformations. From the humble beginnings of the periodic table to the cutting-edge discoveries of modern chemistry, this captivating exploration delves into the fundamental building blocks of matter and the dynamic processes that shape our world. The book opens with an exploration of the origins of chemistry, tracing its roots back to ancient civilizations and the alchemical traditions that sought to unlock the secrets of nature. Through vivid storytelling and engaging anecdotes, readers are introduced to the pioneers of chemistry and the pivotal moments in the discipline's history, from the discovery of the first elements to the development of the atomic theory. As the journey unfolds, "Chemical Chronicles" delves into the rich tapestry of the periodic table, revealing the hidden patterns and relationships that govern the behavior of the elements. Each chapter explores a different group of elements, from the reactive alkali metals to the noble gases, offering insights into their unique properties, uses, and significance in the natural world. But "Chemical Chronicles" is more than just a catalog of elements—it is a celebration of their transformative power. Through captivating narratives and illuminating examples, the book explores the myriad ways in which elements combine and interact to form the substances that surround us. From the combustion of fuels to the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, readers are introduced to the alchemy of chemical reactions and the marvels of molecular engineering. The book also delves into the frontiers of modern chemistry, exploring the latest advances in the field and the cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping our understanding of matter. Chapters on nanotechnology, materials science, and green chemistry offer glimpses into the future of chemical innovation, highlighting the potential for sustainable solutions to global challenges. But perhaps most importantly, "Chemical Chronicles" is a testament to the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Through its pages, readers are invited to marvel at the elegance of molecular structures, the elegance of chemical reactions, and the interconnectedness of all matter. Whether you are a seasoned chemist or a curious layperson, this book offers a captivating glimpse into the hidden world of atoms and molecules, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the wonders of chemistry and the role it plays in shaping our lives.
From the distinguished neurologist who is also one of the most remarkable storytellers of our time—a riveting memoir of his youth and his love affair with science, as unexpected and fascinating as his celebrated case histories. “A rare gem…. Fresh, joyous, wistful, generous, and tough-minded.” —The New York Times Book Review Long before Oliver Sacks became the bestselling author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings, he was a small English boy fascinated by metals—also by chemical reactions (the louder and smellier the better), photography, squids and cuttlefish, H.G. Wells, and the periodic table. In this endlessly charming and eloquent memoir, Sacks chronicles his love affair with science and the magnificently odd and sometimes harrowing childhood in which that love affair unfolded. In Uncle Tungsten we meet Sacks’ extraordinary family, from his surgeon mother (who introduces the fourteen-year-old Oliver to the art of human dissection) and his father, a family doctor who imbues in his son an early enthusiasm for housecalls, to his “Uncle Tungsten,” whose factory produces tungsten-filament lightbulbs. We follow the young Oliver as he is exiled at the age of six to a grim, sadistic boarding school to escape the London Blitz, and later watch as he sets about passionately reliving the exploits of his chemical heroes—in his own home laboratory. Uncle Tungsten is a crystalline view of a brilliant young mind springing to life, a story of growing up which is by turns elegiac, comic, and wistful, full of the electrifying joy of discovery.
This book examines in detail the basic trajectory of the cultural transformation and brings to light the extrinsic conditions and intrinsic mechanisms involved. It focuses on the period from after the Opium Wars to the New Culture Movement, as the New Culture Movement can be considered a pivotal phase in the cultural transformation of modern-day China. The New Culture Movement was a revolutionary eruption triggered by the accumulation of all the new qualitative cultural factors since the Opium Wars. Superficially, the movement’s goal seemed to be to overthrow the traditional culture. But in essence its true objective was to conduct an overall “screening” of that culture. The book elaborates a broad variety of points in this context, including: the ideological and cultural evolution following the Opium Wars; the pressing challenges faced by “Zhong Ti”; the initial shaping of social, public and cultural spaces and major trends in ideological and cultural transformation at the end of the Qing Dynasty; the political disarray and conflicts between the new and old ideology in the first years of the Republic; the rise of the New Culture Movement; and the role of conservatism in the transition to a modern culture.
An analysis of two heuristic strategies for the development of mechanistic models, illustrated with historical examples from the life sciences. In Discovering Complexity, William Bechtel and Robert Richardson examine two heuristics that guided the development of mechanistic models in the life sciences: decomposition and localization. Drawing on historical cases from disciplines including cell biology, cognitive neuroscience, and genetics, they identify a number of "choice points" that life scientists confront in developing mechanistic explanations and show how different choices result in divergent explanatory models. Describing decomposition as the attempt to differentiate functional and structural components of a system and localization as the assignment of responsibility for specific functions to specific structures, Bechtel and Richardson examine the usefulness of these heuristics as well as their fallibility—the sometimes false assumption underlying them that nature is significantly decomposable and hierarchically organized. When Discovering Complexity was originally published in 1993, few philosophers of science perceived the centrality of seeking mechanisms to explain phenomena in biology, relying instead on the model of nomological explanation advanced by the logical positivists (a model Bechtel and Richardson found to be utterly inapplicable to the examples from the life sciences in their study). Since then, mechanism and mechanistic explanation have become widely discussed. In a substantive new introduction to this MIT Press edition of their book, Bechtel and Richardson examine both philosophical and scientific developments in research on mechanistic models since 1993.
A gorgeous nonfiction book for kids from bestselling artist and author Lisa Congdon! The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Elements leads young readers in an exploration of all 118 known elements. From their discoveries to their uses to their special properties, this vibrant book explores all things elements. • A visually stunning tour of the periodic table • Complete with profiles of notable scientists, amazing infographics, and more • Features an illustrated history of the periodic table's origins This artful survey of the elements combines science, history, trivia, humor, and endless fascination for science enthusiasts of every age. Middle grade readers will delight in this interesting take on the periodic table of elements. • Great for science lovers and Lisa Congdon fans alike • Resonates year-round as a go-to gift for birthdays and holidays for the science-loving kid • Perfect for children ages 10 and up • Equal parts educational and entertaining, this makes a great pick for parents and grandparents, as well as librarians, science teachers, and STEM educators. • You'll love this book if you love books like The Elements Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table by DK, The Periodic Table by Sean Callery and Miranda Smith, and Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray.
Michael Pollan, the bestselling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, Food Rules, How to Change Your Mind, and This is Your Mind on Plants explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen in Cooked. "Having described what's wrong with American food in his best-selling The Omnivore's Dilemma (2006), New York Times contributor Pollan delivers a more optimistic but equally fascinating account of how to do it right. . . . A delightful chronicle of the education of a cook who steps back frequently to extol the scientific and philosophical basis of this deeply satisfying human activity." —Kirkus (starred review) Cooked is now a Netflix docuseries based on the book that focuses on the four kinds of "transformations" that occur in cooking. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney and starring Michael Pollan, Cooked teases out the links between science, culture and the flavors we love. In Cooked, Pollan discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth—to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. Each section of Cooked tracks Pollan’s effort to master a single classic recipe using one of the four elements. A North Carolina barbecue pit master tutors him in the primal magic of fire; a Chez Panisse–trained cook schools him in the art of braising; a celebrated baker teaches him how air transforms grain and water into a fragrant loaf of bread; and finally, several mad-genius “fermentos” (a tribe that includes brewers, cheese makers, and all kinds of picklers) reveal how fungi and bacteria can perform the most amazing alchemies of all. The reader learns alongside Pollan, but the lessons move beyond the practical to become an investigation of how cooking involves us in a web of social and ecological relationships. Cooking, above all, connects us. The effects of not cooking are similarly far reaching. Relying upon corporations to process our food means we consume large quantities of fat, sugar, and salt; disrupt an essential link to the natural world; and weaken our relationships with family and friends. In fact, Cooked argues, taking back control of cooking may be the single most important step anyone can take to help make the American food system healthier and more sustainable. Reclaiming cooking as an act of enjoyment and self-reliance, learning to perform the magic of these everyday transformations, opens the door to a more nourishing life.