Combining the fun of the video games with the social interaction of an online community, the Massively Multiplayer Online Games provide an alternative to the reality of our everyday lives. Whether simulated replicas of the real world or completely fantasy based, the virtual realms are becoming more and more populous. Find out more in this book about the MMO worlds, their history and complex economies as well as the dangers of gaming addiction.

Though considered the economic miracle of West Africa for the first thirty years of its independence, the last decade has not been easy for the largest exporter of cocoa beans in the world. A coup and a civil war has left the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire divided and not even the first presidential elections in ten years has helped to heal the ethnic rift. Learn more about the history, culture, politics and problems afflicting the Ivory Coast in this book.

Though 3-D movies have been around for decades, they have experienced a rebirth in recent years, with the help of such blockbusters as Avatar, Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland. Whether it is the next step in the evolution of the cinema or a gimmick to lure more viewers away from TV and internet remains yet to be seen, but for now the three dimensional films are among the top grossing in the world. Find out more about the magic and techniques behind the impressive 3-D experience in this book.

Though Republic of Belarus gained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is still regarded as the last dictatorship in Europe. With the disputed re-election of Alexander Lukashenko for the fourth consecutive presidential term in December 2010 despite increased sanctions from the European Union, this attitude towards the country doesn't seem to change anytime soon. Find out more about the eastern European state labeled as the outpost of tyranny by the US in this book.

The most prominent theory about the origin of our universe focuses on cataclysmic event unprecedented in all of history the: Big Bang. Some 13.7 billion years ago it exploded into existence from a infinitely small, hot and dense speck, creating matter, space and time and literally everything else in the process. Find out more in this book about the birth and evolution of the universe we are all part of.

Since its creation at the beginning of the Cold War in 1949, NATO has become the most powerful military alliance in the world. Uniting 28 member states under the protection of the famous Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, it is still struggling for a unified vision for the next century. Find out more about the Atlantic Alliance, its history and current missions in this book.

Gone are the days when getting from point A to point B involved reading maps, stars or the position of the Sun. Though the global navigation satellite systems were initially developed for the military, it has been in widespread civilian and commercial use for over a decade. The modern navigation systems offer a multitude of functions that ensure one will never get lost, such as planing of the shortest route, interactive guidance and maps covering most of the globe. Learn more about these systems, their history and functionality in this book.

Since its establishment in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been a pioneer in space exploration, scientific discovery and research, paving the way for the humankind's greatest adventures in the 21st century. Learn more about past and the future of the illustrious organization as well as some of the greatest technological achievements in human history, such as the Apollo moon landings and the International Space Station in this book.

Established in 1975, the Paris based European Space Agency is a multinational organization committed to the exploration of space. The organization currently unites 18 member states, employing around 2200 people and actively collaborates with space agencies of other nations, such as NASA and Roscosmos on projects like the International Space Station. Learn more about the European Space Agency, its history, structure and projects in this book.