Other books that might interest you

• 

  Wild Isles: The book of the BBC...

  Patrick Barkham, Alastair...

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This beautifully illustrated overview of the wildlife of the British Isles showcases the diversity of our plant and animal life. 
  Wild Isles is a celebration of the wildlife found on a relatively modest collection of islands positioned at a latitude so northerly to be unattractive to many animals and plants. Despite these unpromising foundations, the islands of Britain and Ireland, together with more than 6,000 lesser islets that make up our archipelago, contain some of the most diverse, beautiful and wildlife-rich landscapes and seas on our planet. 
  This book will explore the fascinating relationships within and between species who make their home on our beautiful isles. 
  Each chapter focuses on a particular kind of wild space. Britain and Ireland are dominated by a wide variety of grasslands from lowland water meadows to upland moors, and we will see how these human-shaped, semi-natural landscapes thrum with insect, bird and mammal life. Life requires water to flourish, and streams and rivers carry freshwater through our landscape, creating unique ecosystems and interrelations within and beside these waters, which are revealed in a third section. While Britain and Ireland’s woodlands are comparatively thin on the ground compared with most of continental Europe, we will see some of the forests and trees that remain are unusually ancient and, great repositories of life. Finally, of course, we are surrounded by sea, and our position on the continental shelf before it plunges into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean gives rise to an often overlooked plenty of marine life. A glorious richness divided into five breathtaking sections. 
  In Wild Isles, the latest Sunday Times bestselling book by Patrick Barkham, the beauty and diversity of nature in the British Isles are brought to life. Through stunning photography and engaging narrative, Barkham explores the various habitats and the intricate ecology that defines them. 
  For fans of Martin Stevens (Sensory Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution), Jonnie Hughes (Earthshot), Josh Young (Expedition Deep Ocean), Matt Kaplan (The Science of Monsters), and Nigel Henbest (Philip's Stargazing 2024 Month-by-Month Guide to the Night Sky Britain & Ireland). 
  HarperCollins 2023

  Show book

• 

  IT Fundamentals : Everything you...

  Imran Afzal

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Welcome to "IT Fundamentals: Everything You Need to Know About IT"! This book is like a friendly guide into the big world of computers and the internet, made especially for beginners, people who love technology, and anyone who wants to know more about how digital stuff works.Think of this book as a treasure map that leads you through the land of Information Technology (IT). We'll start with the basics, like how computers work, what software is, and why operating systems are important. Its like learning the ABCs of technology.Then, well get into how computers talk to each other through networks, and why that's super important for things like surfing the web or sending emails. Plus, well cover how to keep your computer safe from viruses and hackers because nobody wants their personal stuff stolen.Well also peek into the cloud, which is not the one in the sky but a place on the internet where you can store your photos, videos, and files so you can get to them from anywhere. And well explore big data and why it's a big deal for making smart decisions in business and life.But that's not all! We're also looking into the future at cool stuff like artificial intelligence (AI), which is how computers can learn to think a bit like us, and the Internet of Things (IoT), which is about connecting everyday things like fridges and lights to the internet.Heres what youll discover inside:The very basics of computers and software.How the internet and networks work.Ways to protect your computer from bad guys.What the cloud is and how to use it.Exciting future tech like AI and smart devices.This book is for anyone who wants to get comfortable with technology, upgrade their tech skills, or just have a handy guide to help understand the tech world better. With simple explanations and real-life examples, "IT Fundamentals" is your ticket to becoming tech-savvy.Start your tech adventure with us and see how exciting and useful the world of IT can be!

  Show book

• 

  Slicing Pizzas Racing Turtles...

  Robert B. Banks

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  “Banks turns trivial questions into mind-expanding demonstrations of the magical powers of mathematics. . . . generously garnished with his unpredictable wit.” —Booklist 
   
  Have you ever daydreamed about digging a hole to the other side of the world? Robert Banks not only entertains such ideas but supplies the mathematical know-how to turn fantasies into problem-solving adventures. Now the author of Towing Icebergs, Falling Dominoes, and Further Adventures in Applied Mathematics presents another collection of puzzles to sharpen your thinking and mathematical skills. 
   
  The problems range from the wondrous to the eminently practical: What’s the total number of people who’ve lived on Earth? How do you get the most pizza slices with the least number of cuts? To go from point A to point B in a downpour, should you walk slowly, jog moderately, or run as fast as possible to get least wet? What is the length of the seam on a baseball? If all the ice in the world melted, what would happen to Florida, the Mississippi River, and Niagara Falls? Why do snowflakes have six sides? 
   
  Covering a broad range of fields from geography and environmental studies to map- and flag-making, Banks uses mostly basic algebra and geometry to solve problems. And if famous scientists have also pondered these questions, he shares the historical details with the reader. 
   
  “[Banks displays] a playful imagination and love of the fantastic that one would not ordinarily associate with a mathematical engineer. . . . entertaining.” —The Christian Science Monitor

  Show book

• 

  The Private Lives of Public...

  Jack Gedney

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A book to help the ordinary birdwatcher appreciate the fascinating songs, stories, and science of common birds. 
   
   
   
  Jack Gedney's studies of birds provide resonant, affirming answers to the questions: Who is this bird? In what way is it beautiful? Why does it matter? Masterfully linking an abundance of poetic references with up-to-date biological science, Gedney shares his devotion to everyday Western birds in fifteen essays. Each essay illuminates the life of a single species and its relationship to humans, and how these species can help us understand birds in general. A dedicated birdwatcher and teacher, Gedney finds wonder not only in the speed and glistening beauty of the Anna's hummingbird, but also in her nest building. He acclaims the turkey vulture's and red-tailed hawk's roles in our ecosystem, and he venerates the inimitable California scrub jay's work planting acorns. Knowing that we hear birds much more often than we see them, Gedney offers his expert's ear to help us not only identify bird songs and calls but also understand what the birds are saying. The crowd at the suet feeder will never look quite the same again. Join Gedney in the enchanted world of these not-so-ordinary birds.

  Show book

• 

  Nature's Echo - Harnessing...

  Thomas Crowther

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Whether restoring trees, conserving existing ecosystems, rewilding native animals, or changing incentives to elicit better choices, targeted interventions can tap into feedback loops that can improve our planet, our economy, and our lives.  
  A feedback loop occurs when the outcome of a process restarts that process, creating a cyclical chain of cause and effect. Feedback loops can either maintain the status quo (a negative feedback loop), or they can create a “snowball effect” (a positive feedback loop) where more begets more. These feedback loops have been with us since the beginning of time, and they are implicit in the formation of everything that exists in the universe. Physical feedback loops literally form our physical reality around us, but psychological feedback loops determine how we build our perspective of reality. 
  In 2019, The Crowther Lab, which Tom Crowther runs at ETH Zurich, a leading Swiss public research university, published a study in the journal Science on the Earth’s carrying capacity for trees. Using satellite imagery, massive datasets compiled from thousands of studies, and computer models, they evaluated where trees could naturally grow on Earth. They estimated that the planet had room for an additional one trillion trees on land not currently in use by humans for farming or settlement – land that was once forest. And the model predicted that those recovering forests would capture one third of all human carbon emissions since the industrial revolution.  Yet, lost in that initial discussion was the inclusion of the importance of biodiversity and care to ensure the reforestation efforts meant building millions of local feedback loops, where local people and nature thrive together. It meant millions of local communities, indigenous populations, farmers, and foresters working with nature to recreate whole, healthy, stable ecosystems as biodiverse as the ones we’ve lost. 
  In Nature’s Echo, Crowther explains the powerful force of feedback loops in nature and how, at the moment, our planet is experiencing a series of positive feedback loops as we hurtle towards environmental collapse. These feedback loops are too powerful to fight against. However, his research consistently shows that, instead of fighting feedback loops, we can harness their potential to create spectacular, worthwhile change. We can use feedback loops to help the Earth heal itself.

  Show book

• 

  Design Dissected - Is the design...

  David Galloway

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Many people assert that all of reality, including life, has simply emerged as a result of natural law and circumstance. How credible is that assumption? How well does it fit with what we find? Exquisite features of apparent design are in evidence everywhere we look. Either something is responsible for all the molecular engineering of life or, it just happened and nothing is directly responsible. Which option offers the best explanation? 
  This book provides a clinician’s perspective on the evidence for design in living things. Specific scenarios are dissected from examples of real cases in clinical medicine and surgery, as well as descriptions of some of the amazing integrated systems that exist in human physiology. Read about the critical processes that must be successfully navigated at the time of birth for every individual to have any prospect of survival. Beyond that, think about thinking itself. This book is a powerful challenge to the belief that the universe, life, and conscious experience can result only from unguided, natural processes.  
  “Excellent ... a most enjoyable mix of personal anecdote and scientific precision.”  Prof John C Lennox  
  “Fresh and original. Beautifully written and extensively researched. Highly recommended.”  Dr Stephen C. Meyer  
  “Impressive and thought provoking”  Prof Frank Dunn  
  For further information visit:  www.davidgalloway.co.uk  
  DAVID J GALLOWAY MD DSc FRCS FRCP FACS FACP  
  David Galloway is a Scottish surgeon who trained in Glasgow, London, and New York City. He was a Consultant Surgeon in Glasgow and a Former President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of numerous international medical and surgical Colleges and has held academic appointments in Glasgow, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. 

  Show book