From acclaimed writer and biologist Sean B. Carroll, a rollicking, awe-inspiring story of the surprising power of chance in our lives and the world Why is the world the way it is? How did we get here? Does everything happen for a reason or are some things left to chance? Philosophers and theologians have pondered these questions for millennia, but startling scientific discoveries over the past half century are revealing that we live in a world driven...

A remote military research station in Utah sends out a frantic distress call, ending with a chilling final command: Kill us all! Personnel from the neighbouring base rush in to discover everyone already dead - and not just the scientists, but every living thing for fifty square miles has been annihilated. The land is entirely sterile-and the blight is spreading. To halt the inevitable, Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma must unravel a threat that rises...

It seems like any other day: You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live. From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean?...

A surprising lesson about the importance of listening to one's inner gosling ensues when a very hungry fox issues a dinner invitation to a very plump goose.

Ever since Carl Linnaeus's binomial system of scientific names was adopted in the eighteenth century, scientists have been eponymously naming organisms in ways that both honor and vilify their namesakes. This charming, informative, and accessible history examines the fascinating stories behind taxonomic nomenclature, from Linnaeus himself naming a small and unpleasant weed after a rival botanist to the recent influx of scientific names based on pop-culture...

Yeast can burp? Plants can solve mazes? Readers won t believe the amazing results of these fantastic experiments! This book introduces readers to the science behind plants and other living things through fun hands-on activities. Simple language explains complex concepts, and step-by-step instructions with accompanying photographs make experiments accessible. Nifty tips help readers safely reach the best results. They ll love trying recommended tweaks...

"Despite the ongoing cultural controversy in America, evolution remains a cornerstone of science. In this book, Francisco J. Ayala---an evolutionary biologist, member of the National Academy of Sciences, and winner of the National Medal of Science and the Templeton Prize---cuts to the chase in a daring attempt to address, in nontechnical language" "This to-the-point book answers each of these questions with force. Ayala's occasionally biting essays...

During his visit to an aquarium, a boy finds out about the characteristics and environments of many different marine and freshwater creatures.

Complete eleven part series featuring rare footage of animals worldwide, their habitats and behaviors, and the need for ongoing conservation.