Simply science

Book - 2024

Covers not only the core sciences--physics, biology, and chemistry--but also Earth science and astronomy. Assuming no previous scientific knowledge, it covers more than 100 cornerstone ideas, ranging from photosynthesis to chemical reactions, the laws of motion, and the general theory of relativity. Pared-back entries each focus on a single concept and use a combination of clear text and simple graphics to explain it as directly and concisely as possible.

Saved in:
1 copy ordered
Subjects
Genres
Instructional and educational works
Matériel d'éducation et de formation
Published
New York, NY : DK Publishing 2024.
Language
English
Edition
First American edition
Item Description
Includes index.
Physical Description
160 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 22 cm
ISBN
9780593846384
  • Chemistry
  • The Building Blocks of Matter Atoms
  • Moving Particles, Changing States States of matter
  • Atoms by Numbers Atomic number and mass
  • Electrons in Orbit Atoms, electrons, and chemistry
  • Cataloging the Elements The periodic table
  • The Components of Nature Abundance of the elements
  • Elemental Divide Metals and nonmetals
  • Charged Attraction Ionic bonds
  • Shared Attraction Covalent bonds
  • Seas of Electrons Metallic bonds
  • The Chemistry of Life Organic chemistry
  • Mixed Up Mixtures
  • In Search of a Solution Solutions
  • Water World Water
  • A Sea of Gases Air
  • Getting a Reaction Chemical reactions
  • In the Balance Chemical equilibrium
  • Energetic Chemistry Heat and reactions
  • Fast or Slow? Reaction rates
  • Taking a New Path Catalysts
  • Burning and Blowing Up Combustion and explosion
  • From Acids to Bases the pH scale
  • Industrial Reactions Chemical engineering
  • Small World Nanotechnology
  • Physics
  • Push and Pull Force
  • Making a Move Work and energy
  • Energetic World Types of energy
  • The Constancy of Energy Conservation of energy
  • Work Rate Power
  • A Hot Topic Heat and temperature
  • Heat, Matter, and Disorder Thermodynamics
  • Weighty Matters Mass, weight, and gravity
  • Directing Force Machines and levers
  • Bodies in Motion Velocity and acceleration
  • Newton's Mechanics The laws of motion
  • Moving Masses Momentum and inertia
  • Going in Circles Circular motion
  • Backand Forth Oscillation
  • Under Pressure Fluids
  • Sink or Swim Pressure and buoyancy
  • Peaksand Troughs The nature of waves
  • Pulsing Pressure Sound waves
  • Visible Evidence Light waves
  • Poles Apart Magnetism
  • Fields and Currents Electromagnetism
  • Charge on the Move Electric current
  • Charged Up Static electricity
  • Round and Round Circuits
  • Doped Crystals Semiconductors
  • Miniature Switches Transistors
  • Beyond the Human Mind Artificial intelligence
  • Surfing the Spectrum The electromagnetic spectrum
  • Forces of Nature Four fundamental interactions
  • Small World Elementary particles
  • Stepping Up Quantum mechanics
  • Waves of Possibility Wave functions
  • A New Model The quantum atom
  • Time, Space, and Motion Special relativity
  • Warped Spacetime General relativity
  • Nuclear Decay Radioactivity
  • Fusing Atoms Nuclear fusion
  • Splitting Atoms Nuclear fission
  • Biology
  • Living Things What is alive?
  • The Diversity of Life Domains and kingdoms
  • Tiny Invaders Viruses
  • Ubiquitous Microbes Bacteria
  • Making an Animal Animal organization
  • Making a Plant Plant organization
  • Threads of Life Fungi
  • Single-Celled Life Protists
  • Life's Chemical Pathways Metabolism
  • Catalysts of Life Enzymes
  • The Stuff of Life Biomolecules
  • Cell Power Respiration
  • Energy from Light Photosynthesis
  • Molecules on the Move Osmosis and diffusion
  • Cell Pumps Active transport
  • Life Library DNA
  • The Cell's Executive RNA
  • Packaging DNA Chromosomes
  • Units of Inheritance Genes
  • From Gene to Protein Gene expression
  • Nature Plus Nurture Epigenetics
  • Putting Biology to Work Biotechnology
  • Duplicating Cells Mitosis
  • Sexual Division Meiosis
  • How Genes Combine Inheritance
  • Means of Multiplication Sexual and asexual reproduction
  • Genes, Individuals, and Populations Genomes
  • Survival of the Fittest Natural selection
  • Birth of a Species Speciation
  • Dying Out Extinction
  • Living Spaces Habitats and ecosystems
  • Webs of Life Food webs
  • Earth
  • Our Layered Planet Earth's structure
  • Shifting Surface Plate tectonics
  • Active Earth Volcanoes
  • Shaking Ground Earthquakes
  • Tough Changes The rock cycle
  • Liquid Circulation The water cycle
  • An Ocean of Air The atmosphere
  • Flowing Air Winds
  • Change is in the Air Weather fronts
  • Carbon Pathways The carbon cycle
  • Temperature Control The greenhouse effect
  • Mercury Rising Global warming
  • Climate Warning Climate change
  • Astronomy
  • Everything Out there The observable universe
  • Our Local Star System The Solar System
  • Balls of Fusion Stars
  • A Star is Born Star formation
  • Universal Architecture Galaxies, clusters, and walls
  • Origins The Big Bang
  • Points of Attraction Black holes
  • Index
Review by Booklist Review

DK is known for simplifying complex concepts through limited text and detailed illustrations. Simply Science divides science into five broad categories: chemistry, physics, biology, earth, and astronomy. Each category addresses several core concepts and uses revealing titles, such as "Building Blocks of Nature" for atoms, or "Push and Pull" for force. Not all categories are covered equally: physics has close to forty topics, while astronomy has only seven. A topic is usually covered in one to four pages, but there is a lot happening in that space. Full-color images with text information overlaid or off to the side, often in different orientations or sizes, along with arrows, lines (dotted and squiggly), bar charts, etc., make each page busy. Textually, the authors do a great job of simplifying difficult topics in a very short space, though the busyness of the graphics can detract from, rather than reinforce, the narrative. There are sample entries available on DK's website; it is recommended to browse these samples before purchasing. Still, in libraries where DK's heavily illustrated style of nonfiction is popular, this will find an audience.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review

This latest entry in DK's "Simply" series furthers the series goal of providing succinct introductions to key concepts in a compact presentation heavy on clarifying infographics with arrows, charts, and colorful illustrations. Divided into broad sections (physics; biology), most concepts (centripetal force; behavior of viruses; birth of a star) are allotted a single page in which to state their case, with write-ups from a consulting team of six science and technology writers and educators. VERDICT A bright introduction to science concepts, designed to whet readers' interests for deeper exploration elsewhere.

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