Book picks similar to
Interstellar Migration and the Human Experience by Ben R. Finney
non-fiction
science
space
like-a-lot
The Unknown Universe: A New Exploration of Time, Space, and Modern Cosmology
Stuart Clark - 2015
Taking in 440 sextillion kilometres of space and 13.8 billion years of time, it is physically impossible to make a better map: we will never see the early universe in more detail. On the one hand, such a view is the apotheosis of modern cosmology, on the other, it threatens to undermine almost everything we hold cosmologically sacrosanct. The map contains anomalies that challenge our understanding of the universe. It will force us to revisit what is known and what is unknown, to construct a new model of our universe. This is the first book to address what will be an epoch-defining scientific paradigm shift. Stuart Clark will ask if Newton's famous laws of gravity need to be rewritten; if dark matter and dark energy are just celestial phantoms? Can we ever know what happened before the Big Bang? What’s at the bottom of a black hole? Are there universes beyond our own? Does time exist? Are the once immutable laws of physics changing?
The Hunt for Vulcan: ...And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe
Thomas Levenson - 2015
November 2015 is the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s discovery of the General Theory of Relativity.Levenson, head of MIT’s Science Writing Program, tells the captivating, unusual, and nearly-forgotten backstory behind Einstein’s invention of the Theory of Relativity, which completely changed the course of science forever. For over 50 years before Einstein developed his theory, the world’s top astronomers spent countless hours and energy searching for a planet, which came to be named Vulcan, that had to exist, it was thought, given Isaac Newton’s theories of gravity. Indeed, in the two centuries since Newton’s death, his theory had essentially become accepted as fact. It took Einstein’s genius to realize the mystery of the missing planet wasn’t a problem of measurements or math but of Newton’s theory of gravity itself. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity proved that Vulcan did not and could not exist, and that the decades-long search for it had merely been a quirk of operating under the wrong set of assumptions about the universe. Thomas Levenson tells this unique story, one of the strangest episodes in the history of science, with elegant simplicity, fast-paced drama, and lively characters sure to capture the attention of a wide group of readers.
The Science of Battlestar Galactica
Patrick DiJusto - 2010
It has dealt with issues of religious freedom, patriotism, terrorism, genetic engineering, and the ultimate science fiction question: what does it mean to be human? While the re-imagined BSG may not be packed with cool techie tools (the bad guys don't even have laser guns for frak's sake!), this book shows that the science in the series has a lot to say about the use of science and technology in our lives today.What are the principles behind artificial gravity and sublight propulsion? Are Cylons men or machines? How are humanoid Cylons able to interface with computers? By tackling these and other intriguing questions, The Science of Battlestar Galactica takes us billions of miles away from Earth so that we can turn around and see ourselves from a different perspective.Tackles fans' most pressing BSG questions, from how an FTL drive might work to how the 12 colonies of Kobol could co-exist to the principles behind Gaius Baltar's Cylon-detectorFeatures behind-the-scenes anecdotes, quotes from the BSG Series Bible, and over 60 photosIncludes a foreword by BSG co-executive producer, Jane Espenson, and an afterword by actor, Richard Hatch, who played Tom Zarek in the reimagined series and Captain Apollo in the classic seriesCo-written by BSG's scientific advisor and a Wired contributing editorPacked with must-know details and scientific background, this thought-provoking book will help you see Battlestar Galactica as never before.
Mining the Sky: Untold Riches From The Asteroids, Comets, And Planets
John S. Lewis - 1996
In this visionary book, noted planetary scientist John S. Lewis explains how we can mine these precious metals from the asteroids, comets, and planets in our own solar system for use in space construction projects. And this is just one of the possibilities. Join John S. Lewis as he contemplates milking the moons of Mars for water and hollowing out asteroids for space-bound homesteaders—all while demonstrating the economic and technical feasibility of plans that were once considered pure fiction.
Catch Your Breath: The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist
Ed Patrick - 2021
“They’re just fantastic! Then I remembered, Ed you’re an anesthesiologist…f*cking hell! I can’t believe that…”. I like to think I’m an inspiration to all budding doctors that anything is achievable.Ed is a sleepless anesthesiologist. His shifts involve snatching five-minute lunch breaks in the staff bathrooms, navigating emergencies and living with the all too terrifying sense of responsibility. And that was before Coronavirus arrived, which quickly turned his job into a nightmare queue of struggling with ill-fitting PPE, balancing staff shortages and intubating Covid-19 patients who can’t breathe on their own.Hilariously funny and moving, Catch Your Breath follows Ed’s journey from bewildered medical student in Aberdeen to unflinching anesthesiologist on the NHS frontline. It offers a unique insight into life on the hospital wards during the pandemic, while also sharing the hope that we will all get through this.
Time-Saver Standards for Housing and Residential Development
Joseph De Chiara - 1994
In superb graphic detail, with hundreds of plans, illustrations, and diagrams, this comprehensive resource presents and entire library's worth of essential design data for residential development.
The Millennial Project: Colonizing the Galaxy in Eight Easy Steps
Marshall T. Savage - 1993
And then he shows us how to go about that seemingly impossible mission in eight (sort of easy) steps. For example, Aquarius, the proposed second step, describes how building floating colonies in tropical waters - using simple engineering and natural aquaculture to reverse the greenhouse effect and end world hunger - will both halt the decline of the planet and prepare us psychologically for the break with Earth. Although the plan sounds far-fetched, Savage explains every detail, from how to build the Ocean Thermal Energy Converters at the heart of this scheme to why cultivating algae will provide an abundant protein source and rid us of the dangerously high carbon monoxide levels that threaten life on the planet. Savage not only transforms an enormously complicated plan into compelling reading, he also makes appealing the prospect of our life in space. The best parts of life on Earth can come with us to outer space, he claims, and he paints a picture of lunar ecospheres, domed and living preserves of our communities on Earth. Our life in space will not be the barren or bleakly technical existence that we have been led to believe. We will re-create all the beauty and diversity that we had on Earth.
Artifact
D.R. Swan - 2018
He removes it from among the bones and cleans the caked dirt from its surface then places it under a lamp for a better look and it begins to glow. Bursting from its surface, a hologram appears showing columns of vertical lines and slashes which reminds him of binary code. Instantly, he knows that this artifact couldn’t be from this planet and he also knows that his life might be in danger as countries would kill for the secrets that might be contained beneath its glowing surface. His only hope is to get the alien object to the government before someone else gets to him. Once accomplished, the egg begins revealing its secrets and the race is on to save Earth.
Revelation: Ascendancy: Book 1
D. Ward Cornell - 2019
Newly edited and released. Michael Baker is a 35 year old, natural born, American citizen from Texas, a successful entrepreneur and amateur astronomer. The scientific community mocks him when he publishes the time and coordinates where a supernova will occur. When it occurs, people start wondering who Michael is. The day after his third supernova prediction stunningly comes true, Michael abruptly takes over every television and radio in the world and announces that he is the Ambassador to Earth from the Intergalactic Confederation of Planets. Earth is facing multiple grave threats and must take immediate action, if there is any hope for humanity’s survival. The Confederation has come to help and is willing to intervene, IF world leaders will accept the help the Confederation offers. Set initially on the Big Island of Hawaii, the story circles the globe in search of enough allies to allow the Confederation to work on humanity’s behalf. It is a riveting epic of alien first contact that features uplifting and sometimes humorous accounts of humanity’s first interactions with intelligent extraterrestrial life, and it reveals as much about the people of Earth as it does of those who have come to save it. If you like Arthur C. Clarkes' Childhood’s End, or the movie Avatar, then you will love this book. It tells the story of the aliens walking among us, and their purpose here on Earth. Rich characters, touching stories, advanced technologies… an intelligent, but relentlessly optimistic, book that appeals to Science Fiction fans and anyone that enjoys a good read. It is the first book in the Ascendancy series, which tells the story of humanity's ascent into intergalactic civilization.
The Piano Book: Buying Owning a New or Used Piano
Larry Fine - 1995
Hundreds of thousands of pianos are bought and sold each year, yet most people buy a piano with only the vaguest idea of what to look for as they make this major purchase. The Piano Book evaluates and compares every brand and style of piano sold in the United States. There is information on piano moving and storage, inspecting individual new and used pianos, the special market for Steinways, and sales gimmicks to watch out for. An annual supplement, sold separately, lists current prices for more than 2,500 new piano models.
Riding the Tiger: Twenty Years on the Road: The Risks and Joys of Bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West
Ole Nydahl - 1992
Tell people that the mind is like space: open, clear and limitless, and talk about both the way and the goal." In 1969 Ole and Hannah Nydahl became the first Western students of H.H. the Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. After years of practice in the Himalayas, he authorized them to teach and start centers in his name. An audience with the Queen of Denmark started their work in the West. A basement in historical Copenhagen became the first Tibetan Buddhist center on the European continent, and a rusted-through VW-bus with race-car qualities got them everywhere. Riding the Tiger is the inside story of the development of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. In his refreshingly unsentimental style, Lama Ole shows all aspects of the work. With breathtaking intensity, he highlights both healthy and unhealthy tendencies in the light of the Buddha's ultimate aim: to bring about the fully developed beings whose every activity blesses the world. Amazon Review: Jason Anderson from Monterey, CA: "Lama Ole Nydahl is a unique figure in modern Buddhist history--first Western student of the Black Hat lama, H.H. the XVIth Gyalwa Karmapa, married lama 'without robes, ' and spiritual figure personally chosen by the Karmapa to teach and make foundations in his name--and Riding the Tiger is filled to overflowing with his particular energies and gifts. It is a galloping book that takes the reader around the world, inviting him in for a close-up look at the making of a Buddhist center for meditation and study, and Lama Ole has successfully started over one hundred such centers. And a deep look, as well, at the nature of Buddhism in the West, how it has been transplanted, how it has flourished. ... This is a magical book and a magical ride!
The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-Universe[s] Report
Timothy Ferris - 1997
Timothy Ferris provides a clear, elegantly written overview of current research and a forecast of where cosmological theory is likely to go in the twenty-first century. He explores the questions that have occurred to even casual readers -- who are curious about nature on the largest scales: What does it mean to say that the universe is "expanding," or that space is "curved"? -- and sheds light on the possibility that our universe is only one among many universes, each with its own physical laws and prospects for the emergence of life.
Chariots for Apollo:: The Untold Story Behind the Race to the Moon
Charles Pellegrino - 1985
Then, in 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged America -- and from Long Island to Cape Canaveral, Houston to Huntsville, an army of engineers, scientists, bureaucrats and astronauts were swept up into the effort. Somehow, America would put a man on the moon's surface and bring him back safely before the decade was over. But how?For eight frantic years the engineers would design and redesign, the scientists would argue, and brave men would trust their lives to virtually untested machinery. This dramatic chronicle of the race to the moon takes us behind the scenes of this awesome quest, into the minds of the people whose lives were devoted to it and changed by it, and through the missions themselves -- including the tragedy of Apollo 13. A riveting portrait of ingenuity, determination, and raw human courage, "Chariots for Apollo is the powerful story of how one society came together to reach its goal -- a quarter of a million miles away.
Death from the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End...
Philip Plait - 2008
This authoritative yet accessible study is the ultimate astronomy lesson. Combining fascinating and often alarming scenarios that seem plucked from science fiction with the latest research and opinions, Plait illustrates why outer space is not as remote as most people think. Each chapter explores a different phenomenon, explaining it in easy-to-understand terms, and considering how life on earth and the planet itself would be affected should the event come to pass. Rather than sensationalizing the information, Plait analyzes the probability of these catastrophes occurring in our lifetimes and what we can do to stop them. With its entertaining tone and enlightening explanation of unfathomable concepts, Death from the Skies! will appeal to science buffs and beginners alike.
Vanabode: Travel and Live Forever on $20 a Day
Jason Odom - 2009
Author Jason Odom and his wife Kelly have traveled over 700,000 miles in 15 years enjoying the sumptuous beauty of pristine national parks and the exciting nightlife of big cities like San Francisco and Las Vegas. Vanabode shows you how to earn a living working in some of the most exciting places in the United States like national parks and state recreational areas, how to sleep safely and comfortably in your own bed every night; how to eat better than you ever have, how to cook for free without electricity, fire or fuel; how to get rid of all our current debt and regain your freedom; and most importantly - how you can do it forever if you want. Do you want to travel for 3 months? How about 3 years? Vanabode shows you how down to the tiniest detail and you do NOT need to make any expensive purchases to make it happen. The Vanabode sales page states "I will show you how to safely travel ANYWHERE in the United States, sleep in your own luxurious clean bed every night, have a hot bath every day, eat fresh delicious meals, and experience incredible adventures for $20 a day. You will never feel neglected, bored or uncomfortable. I promise to show you how to sleep better than you ever have, how to get the time you want and need to relax or pursue your favorite hobby, how to eat healthier, and how to travel to new exciting destinations of your choosing forever. For those that don't have any savings or retirement income I include a list of more than 30 legitimate easy ways to earn money while traveling all over the country. You need this book if any of the following apply to you: if you are so bored with your lifestyle that you don't feel like you're living at all, if you have household expenses so great that you never get ahead or get to do anything fun, if you would like to happily camp, travel or live anywhere on $20 a day, if you are retired and want to keep a house but still travel cheaply, if you would like to downsize from a large RV to save money and time while adding destinations, if you have children you would like to travel and camp easily and cheaply with, if you would like to take time off work to write a book, recover from a tragedy, or change your life, if you are a foreign tourist coming to the U.S. for a long holiday, if are you a survivalist who wants to live off the grid, if you want to disappear and leave your past behind, becoming invisible escaping creditors or stalkers, if you are heading for divorce, blaming your marriage instead of your life, for the boredom killing you, if you want to run your own mobile business? Readers thoughts on Vanabode follow: "I've been motorhome traveling for 14 years and I've never seen anything like this" Brandon in Florida; "If you want to travel a lot, and do it cheaply, this is the only way I see to do it", Percy; "This is absolutely the best money I have ever spent on a practical show me how to do it book" Maggie, professor at a Florida Community College; "If enough people get a grasp on this book the housing recovery will really be far off. I mean after reading Vanabode who needs a house?" Donald; "I was stunned when I saw his list of all the places I could work, without experience, while camping." Sandra; "Lots of pictures that show you exactly what he is talking about. Love it!" Wayn; "If you believe life is more than a 2 week vacation once a year then this book is your ticket out, at least it was for me". NEW THIRD EDITION! Contains 60% more pictures and 22% more content. More on these subjects vandweller, vehicle dwelling, van dwelling, living in vehicle, living in van, rv, travel, camp, explore, road, adventure, fun, offgrid, cheap, live, retire, early, quit, work, travel, vacation, van, motorhome, camper, travel trailer, disappear,