Author Description
Why is the sky blue? Does it really get warmer when it snows? Why doesn't superglue stick to the inside of the tube? How is it possible to uncork a bottle by hitting the bottom? Can you drive through a rainbow? Why does soap make bubblebath collapse?The leading English language science weekly, The New Scientist, runs a popular column, "The Last Word," that invites readers to write in with inquiries about everyday scientific phenomena. Providing a selection of the most interesting questions and answers from the column, this book covers a wide range of subjects, from plants and animals to the human body and gadgets and inventions. Fun and informative, it is fascinating reading for anyone who has ever found themselves asking these kinds of questions.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the scientific principles underlying common, everyday phenomena that often go unnoticed or unexplained in daily life. Editor Mick O'Hare compiles a curated selection of reader-submitted inquiries from the New Scientist column, 'The Last Word.' The text utilizes a question-and-answer framework to translate complex physical, biological, and chemical concepts into accessible explanations for a general audience.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Explanations for atmospheric, biological, and mechanical phenomena
- A collection of reader-submitted scientific curiosities
- Categorized inquiries ranging from human physiology to household gadgets
Scope Limits
- Does not provide deep academic analysis or experimental data
- Does not cover advanced theoretical physics or specialized research fields
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Readers frequently note the accessible and engaging nature of the prose, which makes complex scientific concepts easy to digest. Experts highlight this as a successful example of popular science communication that encourages curiosity about the physical world.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
1999-02-18
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192861999
ISBN-13:
9780192861993
Science
Popular Science
General Knowledge
Curiosities
Reference