Who names newly discovered planets? What exactly are black holes? Where are there the most earthquakes? When did the first Homo sapiens walk the earth? Why is the night sky dark? How does the fluoride in toothpaste prevent cavities? Since 1845, Scientific American has answered questions and provided the best information available in all areas of science. Now, Scientific American is proud to present an accessible, one-volume reference covering all the sciences. Whether you want to examine the tiniest microbes, the properties of the earth's core, or the farthest reaches of space, this handy...

Are you a passionate amateur naturalist?
Would you like to record videos of the microscopic world?
Detect an insect's heartbeat? Separate molecules with electricity?
Extract and purify DNA . . . in your kitchen?
Now you can do all these things and more with this wonderful compendium of unique and exciting projects. Gathered here, in the most comprehensive, wide-ranging collection of projects available for the amateur biologist, are some of the finest experiments from Scientific American's popular ""Amateur Scientist"" column. Whether you'd like to find out how to measure the...

From the longest running column in Scientific American's history comes this collection of fascinating projects for amateur astronomers
For over seventy years, ""The Amateur Scientist"" column in Scientific American has helped people explore their world and make original discoveries. This collection of both classic and recent articles presents projects for amateur astronomers at all levels. Hands-on astronomy fans will find how to build inexpensive astronomical instruments using ordinary shop-tools. From making a telescope to predicting satellite orbits to detecting the chemical composition...