Mary Gribbin Bücher

Renowned science writers John and Mary Gribbin team up with one of the most historic scientific sites in the world--the Royal Observatory, Greenwich--to take readers on a stunning visual tour of the universe. This riveting journey moves from our home planet outwards to the Moon, Sun, Inner and Outer Solar Systems, Milky Way, and other galaxies. Not only do the Gribbins discuss the always-intriguing topic of alien life, but they divulge little-known facts (Venus is the only planet in our solar system to rotate backwards), as well as all the basics beginning armchair astronomers need to know. Dramatic four-color photographs complement the informative text, giving readers a sense of what it might be like to be an astronaut...and go where no one has gone before.

The book explores the life and contributions of Count Rumford, a significant yet underappreciated figure in American scientific history, alongside renowned contemporaries like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. It delves into Rumford's groundbreaking work and his impact on the scientific community, presenting a comprehensive narrative that highlights his achievements and legacy. This fresh examination aims to elevate Rumford's status in the historical canon, offering readers an insightful perspective on his importance in shaping American thought.

We are Stardust, sang die Woodstock-Generation und wußte dabei gar nicht, wie recht sie hatte. Amerikanische Wissenschaftler konnten nachweisen: Der menschliche Körper besteht fast ausschließlich aus den Überresten ausgebrannter Sterne. Alles, was wir sehen, berühren und schmecken, ist aus Molekülen geschaffen, die im glühenden Inneren von Sternen entstanden sind. John Gribbin erzählt, wie die Astrophysik zu dieser unglaublichen Einsicht in die menschlichen Ursprünge gekommen ist. Anschaulich beschreibt er, was bei einer Supernova passiert, der gewaltigen Explosion, mit der ein Stern zugrunde geht und dabei Materie durchs Weltall schleudert, aus der neue Generationen von Sternen, Planeten oder Menschen entstehen. Mit Gribbin gehen wir auf eine faszinierende Reise zu unseren Ursprüngen. Er sagt: In einem Universum, in dem es die Rohstoffe für die Erschaffung des Lebens so überreich gibt, können wir nicht allein sein.

A new version of the adult book written specifically for children 11 and up. Covering a huge sweep of science (the last 400 years) the Gribbins look at the great scientists from childhood to old age, telling the stories of their lives and how they came to make their renowned discoveries. A fascinating and highly readable account of the events that lie behind the scientific milestones of history, this book tells us the human stories behind the scientific principles. Previously published in hardback as Inventing the Future.

A Waterstones Best Book of 2020 The theory of evolution by natural selection did not spring fully formed and unprecedented from the brain of Charles Darwin. Rather it has been examined and debated by philosophers the world over for thousands of years.

The authors of The Edge of Time examine the nature, origin, and dangers of comets and study how asteroid and comet collisions with the Earth have shaped the course of human history.

Exploring the intersection of science and fantasy, this work delves into the scientific principles behind Philip Pullman's acclaimed trilogy. Award-winning science writers Mary and John Gribbin dissect concepts like string theory, quantum physics, and chaos theory, unraveling the mysteries of elements such as the golden compass and the subtle knife. Their engaging prose makes complex ideas accessible, shedding light on the intriguing connections between the fantastical elements of the story and real scientific theories.

"On 24 June 1837 Louis Agassiz stunned the learned members of the Swiss Society of Natural Sciences by addressing them, in his role as President, not with an anticipated lecture on fossil fishes, but with a passionate presentation on the existence of Ice Ages. No one was convinced. He even dragged the reluctant members of the Society up into the mountains to see the evidence for themselves, pointing out the scars on the hard rocks left by glaciation (which some of those present tried to explain away as having been produced by the wheels of passing carriages). Extraordinarily, it would take a further 140 years before the Ice Age theory was fully proved and understood." "John and Mary Gribbin tell the remarkable story of how we came to understand the phenomenon of Ice Ages, focusing on the key personalities obsessed with the search for answers. How frequently do Ice Ages occur? How do astronomical rhythms affect the Earth's climate? Have there always been two polar ice caps? Is it true that tiny changes in the heat balance of the Earth could plunge us back into full Ice Age conditions? With startling new material on how the last major Ice Epoch could have hastened human evolution, Ice Age explains why the Earth was once covered in ice - and how that made us human."--Jacket

A history of science distilled into 100 notable experiments - epic moments that have fuelled our understanding of Earth and the Universe beyond. The history of science is a fascinating and long one, covering thousands of years of history. The development of scientific experiments involves some of the most enlightened cultures in history, as well as some great scientists, philosophers and theologians. As the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman said, 'If it disagrees with experiment, it is wrong', the simplest summary of what science is all about. And science is nothing without experiments. Everything in the scientific world view is based on experiment, including observations of phenomena predicted by theories and hypotheses, such as the bending of light as it goes past the Sun. From the discovery of microscopic worlds to weighing the Earth, from making electricity to the accelerating Universe and gravitational waves, this stunning book by renowned science writers John and Mary Gribbin tells the fascinating history of science through the stories of 100 groundbreaking experiments.