"The newest addition to John Brockman's Edge.org series explores life itself, bringing together the world's leading biologists, geneticists, and evolutionary theorists -- including Richard Dawkins, Edward O. Wilson, J. Craig Venter, and Freeman Dyson. Scientists' understanding of life is progressing more rapidly than at any point in human history, from the extraordinary decoding of DNA to the controversial emergence of biotechnology. Featuring pioneering...

"This timely and compelling anthology is a rousing call-to-action for all of us to help transform the world into a just, peaceful, and thriving one-featuring creative and practical solutions to the many crises facing humanity today. Humanity is currently facing a series of interconnected emergencies that threaten our very survival-from climate change to economic inequality and beyond. And yet, at the same time, a global shift towards harnessing our...

"Discover the most successful--and bizarre--animals ever to inhabit Earth: the dinosaurs. Filled with groundbreaking discoveries in dinosaur research from around the globe, Dinosaurs is a state-of-the-art guide to dinosaur biology, anatomy, behavior, evolution, and diversity, richly illustrated with artistic reconstructions that bring these iconic creatures to life,"--page [4] of cover.

"From frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders, to the lesser-known caecilians, there are over 8,000 species of amphibians alive today. Characterized by their moist, naked skin and the tadpole phase of their lives, they are uniquely adapted to occupy the interphase habitat between freshwater and land. This Very Short Introduction looks at amphibian evolution, adaptations, and biology. Exploring topics from their complex courtship behaviour to how their...

"This large-format, highly illustrated book will guide readers through the key aspects of the life of plants, from early ferns which were most certainly munched on by dinosaurs, to carnivorous plants that snap and attack' their prey, or powerful medicinal plants that can heal ailments and boost health. Mysterious and wonderful plants and trees are explored through the diverse habitats they're found in, from the Amazon Rainforest to the Sahara Desert,...

"An illustrated exploration of the evolution of Earth's plants and animals."--

This is the story of all of us. The unauthorised biography of you (abridged). Charting your incredible journey from Big Bang to birth (in about the time it takes to eat your breakfast), this is a book created to raise more questions that it answers.

"Starting with one tiny dot and continuing through the Big Bang to the rise of human societies, the story of our universe is told in simple and vivid terms. But the biggest question of all cannot be answered: Where did that one dot come from?"--Amazon.com.

Why does the universe work the way it does? Why are stars so big? Why are humans so small? What does it mean to be human? Big History blends geology, biology, physics, anthropology, sociology, and so much more to tell one coherent story, taking us right back to our origins and exploring how a unique series of events led to and then impacted human existence: how everything came to be, where we fit in, and even where we are going. Graphics, artworks,...

Evolution was not discovered single-handedly, Rebecca Stott argues, contrary to what has become standard lore, but is an idea that emerged over many centuries, advanced by daring individuals across the globe who had the imagination to speculate on nature's extraordinary ways, and who had the courage to articulate such speculations at a time when to do so was often considered heresy.