Showing titles in Earth Sciences

This volume, aimed at the general audience, presents life and times of the amazing animals that inhabited Earth more than 500 million years ago. The Cambrian Period was a critical time in Earth's history. During this immense span of time nearly every modern group of animals appeared. Although life had been around for more than 2 million millennia, Cambrian rocks preserve the record of the first appearance of complex animals with eyes, protective skeletons, antennae, and complex ecologies.

Humans depend on soil for 95 percent of global food production, yet let it erode at unsustainable rates. In the United States, China, and India, vast tracts of farmland will be barren of topsoil within this century. The combination of intensifying erosion caused by climate change and the increasing food needs of a growing world population is creating a desperate need for solutions to this crisis.

Are you worried about the effects of climate change on our environment? Want to help but don't know where to start? Environmental activist Natalie Fee's new handbook to green living will help you to make small lifestyle changes that will make a big difference to our planet.

In Waves, Fredric Raichlen traces the evolution of waves, from their generation in the deep ocean to their effects on the coast. He explains, in a way that is readily understandable to nonscientists, both the science of waves themselves and the technology that can be used to protect us against their more extreme forms, including hurricanes and tsunamis.

Dinosaurs, with their awe-inspiring size, terrifying claws and teeth, and otherworldly abilities, occupy a sacred place in our childhoods. They loom over museum halls, thunder through movies, and are a fundamental part of our collective imagination. In My Beloved Brontosaurus, the dinosaur fanatic Brian Switek enriches the childlike sense of wonder these amazing creatures instill in us. Investigating the latest discoveries in paleontology, he breathes new life into old bones.

Some see dust as dull stuff, useless at best, and sneeze-inducing at worst. But in the hands of writer Hannah Holmes, dust becomes a dazzling and mysterious force. As Holmes says, dust is a messenger, and air is its medium. And by the end of this fascinating journey through The Secret Life of Dust, we cannot help but agree.

Published to coincide with the centenary of the first expeditions to reach the South Pole, An Empire of Ice presents a fascinating new take on Antarctic exploration. Retold with added information, it's the first book to place the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social, and geopolitical context.

Take a closer look at how climate change is impacting Victoria's national parks and reserves, and what work is being done behind the scenes by park rangers, scientific experts and community volunteers to ensure our native flora and fauna doesn't just survive, but thrives. Closer to Nature is hosted by Dr Mark Norman, Chief Scientist Conservation and Climate Action at Parks Victoria. Visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/closer-to-nature for more information.Listen to Closer to Nature wherever you get your podcasts.

A humorous look at what we're doing to the planet and how to create a survivable future for ourselves. Features scripted narration and interviews between comedians and scientists, inventors, sustainability consultants and other experts.

The Power of Fungi: Nature's Unseen Allies Introduction Fungi, often overlooked and underappreciated, are emerging as one of nature's most powerful allies in addressing some of mankind's most pressing challenges. From environmental restoration to medicine, and sustainable agriculture to bioengineering, these incredible organisms are proving their worth in numerous fields. This blog delves into the multifaceted ways fungi are contributing to the betterment of humanity, inspired by the innovative use of mushrooms to rejuvenate toxic brownfields into blooming meadows, as highlighted in a recent ...

In Tibet, geologist David R. Montgomery heard a local story about a great flood that bore a striking similarity to Noah’s Flood. Intrigued, Montgomery began investigating theworld’s flood stories and - drawing from historic works by theologians, natural philosophers, and scientists - discovered the counterintuitive role Noah’s Flood played in the development of both geology and creationism.

The Majesty and Tragedy of Mount Everest: A Testament to Human Ambition and Environmental Neglect In the far reaches of the Himalayas, where the air grows thin and the winds howl with an icy fury, stands a colossus of nature - Mount Everest. For as long as humans have gazed upon its snow-capped peaks, this mountain has been a symbol of the ultimate challenge, a test of the limits of human endurance and determination. It has drawn adventurers and dreamers from all corners of the globe, each seeking to etch their name in the annals of mountaineering history. But as the decades have passed and ...

In recent years our world has seen transformations of all kinds: intense climate change accompanied by significant weather extremes; deadly tsunamis caused by submarine earthquakes; unprecedented terrorist attacks; costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; a terrible and overlooked conflict in Equatorial Africa costing millions of lives; an economic crisis threatening the stability of the international system.

Wheeler is Britain's foremost woman travel writer. Glowing Still is the story of her travelling life - what is 'important, revealing or funny' - in a notoriously testosterone-laden field. Growing up among blue-collar Conservatives in Bristol where 'we didn't know anyone who wasn't like us', Wheeler knew she needed to get away. In her twenties she began a dramatic escape: Pole to Pole, via Poland. Glowing Still recalls happy days on India's Puri Express; an Antarctic lavatory through which a seal popped up (hot fishy breath!); and the louche life of a Parisian shopgirl.

Masterfully tying together history, science, and human drama, The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt is the gripping account of two of the 20th century's great expeditions of discovery. In 1911 a German paleontologist found the remains of four entirely new dinosaurs in the Egyptian desert, but in a single night, all of his work was destroyed. Eighty-nine years later, an American grad student leads an expedition to unearth Stromer's dinosaur graveyard, and in doing so, he stuns the scientific world.

Captain Guyan March had spent his entire professional career aboard Windjammer Barefoot Cruises’ fleet of extravagant tall ships that carry passengers on weeklong fantasy cruises spiced with rum and sun. When he agreed to command the Fantome, Windjammer’s marquee ship, a beautiful 282-foot schooner that “sailed like a pig” in the Gulf of Honduras, he knew that a storm would leave him little space to run. In the southern reaches of the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Mitch whirled to life like a nebula and became Captain March’s worst nightmare.

"Sharks: The Apex Predators" is a six-part series that delves into the fascinating world of sharks, exploring their evolutionary history, diverse species, unique behaviors, and critical role in marine ecosystems. From the intricacies of their hunting techniques to the significant threats they face from human activities, this series highlights both the remarkable adaptations of these apex predators and the urgent need for their conservation. Each episode provides a comprehensive look at different aspects of shark life, aiming to educate and inspire efforts to protect these vital creatures for ...

Into the Blue, produced by the National Oceanography Centre in the UK, aims to dive deep into subjects relating to our ocean and it's seas by speaking to experts from the world of oceanography all with the goal of helping the ocean and life within it flourish.

In what he says is the most important piece of environmental writing in his long and award-winning career, Mark Kurlansky, best-selling author of Salt and Cod, The Big Oyster, 1968, and Milk, among many others, employs his signature multi-century storytelling and compelling attention to detail to chronicle the harrowing yet awe-inspiring life cycle of salmon.

The big media have spoken on the question of global warming, and the debate is officially over. "Be afraid, be very afraid", warns Time magazine. But have Al Gore and his environmentalist allies really proven their case? Not even close, says Christopher C. Horner.