In his previous books, A Scientist At The Seashore and Meditations At Sunset, James Trefil used commonplace settings in the natural world as a point of departure for probing the mysteries of nature. In A Scientist In The City, Trefil takes the opposite tack, looking at the quintessential man-made environment of the city as a way of examining the forces that define our world. What does the heating system of a building or the construction of a bridge tell us about the development of a city? What does the amplified environmental stress of city life on plants and animals...

Award-winning writer James Trefil takes readers on a tantalizing journey to the outer reaches of the universe. Along the way he discusses scientific questions such as; How did the universe begin and what is its ultimate fate? He also explores such phenomena as the Big Bang theory, "Hubble bubbles," and "Wimps."

James Trefil takes the reader on a thrilling tour across the borders of current scientific knowledge-from astronomy to genetics, from information technology to cosmology, the great contested questions that preoccupy researchers today and will become headlines tomorrow. In elegant, witty three-page summations, Dr. Trefil "makes sense of science for the rest of us" (Washington Post).

The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology is a full-colour, A-Z guide for science and technology reference.

Acclaim for Are We Unique?
""In his masterful book, Trefil shares with readers some of the most recent research in neurology, evolution, primate research, computer science, and philosophy. Trefil's prose is lively and engaging."" --Boston Globe
""Trefil's race through the science that could explain the brain is highly readable."" --Sunday Times of London
""In a provocative essay, Trefil argues that the science of artificial intelligence is progressing rapidly. Machines, he theorizes, will one day develop a new kind of intelligence and self-awareness. So, maybe the real question...

From amusement park rides to critical environmental issues such as energy generation-physics affects almost every aspect of our world. In PHYSICS MATTERS, James Trefil and Robert Hazen examine the fundamental physics principles at work behind the many practical applications that fuel our society and individual lives. Their goal is to promote a deeper understanding of how the great ideas of physics connect to form a much larger understanding of the universe in which we live.

Highlights

• Helps readers build a general knowledge of key ideas in physics and their connection...

In this fast-paced information age, how can Americans know what's really important and what's just a passing fashion? Now more than ever, we need a source that concisely sums up the knowledge that matters to Americans -- the people, places, ideas, and events that shape our cultural conversation. With more than six thousand entries, The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy is that invaluable source. Wireless technology. Gene therapy. NAFTA. In addition to the thousands of terms described in the original Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, here are more than five hundred new entries to bring...

With conviction and clarity, a prize-winning scientist and bestselling author explains why every U.S. citizen needs to be scientifically literate. He describes exactly what these principles are, from recognizing that the surface of the earth is constantly in flux to grasping the basic concepts of physics and chemistry. Trefil not only explains these concepts but also shows why they are worth knowing.

In The Facts of Life, Harold Morowitz and James Trefil, two distinguished scientists and science writers, examine what modern biology can contribute to our understanding of the abortion debate. Sensitive to the myriad ethical and religious arguments beyond the realm of science that swirl around abortion, the authors focus on one crucial question--when does a fetus acquire "humanness," that quality that sets us apart from all other living things. While humans are linked via cell structure and cell chemistry with all life on our planet--from monkeys to fruit flys to pumpkins--it is the human...