"A masterpiece of science."—Werner von Braun.

    This seems to have been the case even from the first recognition of the Neanderthals as a species. The first Neanderthal fossil discovery was that of a child’s skull in Belgium in 1829, but it was badly damaged. Another would be discovered in 1856 in a limestone mine of the Neanderthal region of what is present-day Germany, and a skull with differing distinct traits (indicating a different species than the Neanderthals) would be discovered just over a decade later in southwestern France. The latter specimen would come to be recognized as an example of the species Homo Sapiens, and these anatomically modern humans arrived in Europe between 45,000 and 43,000 years ago, around the time the Neanderthals are believed to started going extinct. The Neanderthals are a member of the genus Homo just like Homo sapiens and share roughly 99.7% of their DNA with modern humans (Reynolds and Gallagher 2012). Both species even lived briefly during the same time in Eurasia. However, the Neanderthals evolved separately in Europe, away from modern humans, who evolved in Africa. Physically, the Neanderthal skeleton was much more robust, suggesting that there was more room for muscle attachment. However, while Neanderthals were stronger than modern humans, the average height of the Neanderthal male was shorter, standing at only about 5’5 tall. Other physical characteristics that set the Neanderthals apart from modern humans were certain skull traits. The skull in general was low and elongated, featuring a sloping forehead with an occipital bun (a bone projection at the back of the skull), whereas modern humans have a more vertical forehead with no occipital bun. The cranial capacity of the Neanderthal skull was also greater than the modern human at 1,500–1,740 cc, and it lacked a chin and had more circular eye orbits, in contrast to Homo sapiens, which have a chin and tend to feature more rectangular eye orbits (Wolpoff 1999). Despite these differences, the Neanderthals may have been recognizable enough to interact with Homo sapiens or even blend in with Homo sapiens for the thousands of years they lived together in Europe. The Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia for nearly 200,000 years and thrived in these regions, but they went extinct between 40,000 and 30,000 years ago, around the same time that modern humans began arriving in Europe. This has prompted much speculation as to the nature of the interactions between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, especially since some researchers believe they interacted with each other for over 5,000 years before the Neanderthals began going extinct at different times across Europe. One hypothesis is that Homo sapiens displaced the Neanderthals and were better suited for the environment, and it is obviously possible if not likely that these two groups had become competitors for food and other resources, with Homo sapiens being more successful in the end. If such close interactions were taking place, there is also a possibility that the relatively new-to-Europe Homo sapiens brought pathogens from Africa with them that were unknown to the Neanderthal’s immune system. A more recent example of this type of resulting interaction is the European expansion into the Americas, which brought diseases like smallpox that the natives of America had never experienced before, especially diseases resulting from the domestication of animals. It is possible that the domestication of the dog by Homo sapiens may have contributed in spreading foreign diseases among the Neanderthals.

    Here he tackles all the "big questions," including the biggest of them all: Why does the universe seem so well adapted for life?In his characteristically clear and elegant style, Davies shows how recent scientific discoveries point to a perplexing fact: many different aspects of the cosmos, from the properties of the humble carbon atom to the speed of light, seem tailor-made to produce life. A radical new theory says it’s because our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, each one slightly different. Our universe is bio-friendly by accident -- we just happened to win the cosmic jackpot.While this "multiverse" theory is compelling, it has bizarre implications, such as the existence of infinite copies of each of us and Matrix-like simulated universes. And it still leaves a lot unexplained. Davies believes there’s a more satisfying solution to the problem of existence: the observations we make today could help shape the nature of reality in the remote past. If this is true, then life -- and, ultimately, consciousness -- aren’t just incidental byproducts of nature, but central players in the evolution of the universe. Whether he’s elucidating dark matter or dark energy, M-theory or the multiverse, Davies brings the leading edge of science into sharp focus, provoking us to think about the cosmos and our place within it in new and thrilling ways.

    From blue moons to Betelgeuse, it's all in this witty, fact-packed, profusely illustrated guide to the heavens by the author of Discover magazine's popular "Night Watchman" column.

    In this new land, full of elves, magic, demons, and arrogant nobles, the odds are stacked against her. To overcome them, Elena, now called Leyna, will have to rely on her luck, her wit, and her wealth of modern knowledge. Some people find themselves in an unpleasant situation now and then, but Helen gets in trouble more often than she would care to admit. It was an ordinary day, she was going home from work, minding her own business—yet destiny had a different plan for her. A new fantasy romance is about to begin: to return home, Leyna has to reach the capital of the land she found herself in and find the Master of Probabilities. Yet there is no yellow brick road, and getting there is a lot harder than it sounds. On her journey, she becomes embroiled in the intrigues of the Dark Elven Court, meeting the prince himself, fighting bandits, and making new friends, including guardian demons. Leyna is a brand new fantasy romance series by Helen E. Peters, one of the top romance writers in her motherland. Now, her most popular and exciting series is available for English-speaking readers all over the world. It is a witty story of a strong modern woman thrown into the epicenter of an epic fantasy adventure and trying to figure out this new world and its fairy inhabitants.

    This behavior is very much different from what we humans are used to dealing with in our everyday lives, so naturally this subject is quite hard to comprehend for many. We believed that the best way to introduce the subject reliably is to start at the beginning, presenting the observations, thoughts and conclusions of each of the world’s greatest physicists through their eyes, one at a time. In this way we hope that the reader may take an enjoyable journey through the strange truths of quantum theory and understand why the conclusions of these great minds are what they are. This book starts with the most general view of the world and gradually leads readers to those new, unbelievable but real facts about the very nature of our universe.

    joins Ford Motor Co. in 1948, he has no idea the part he'll play in automotive history. Morsey's arrival comes as Henry Ford II and other titans in the industry are about to kill the vaunted V-8 engine. He sees it as his sole mission to talk them out of it. In The Man Who Saved the V-8, he shares the never-before-told story of how his crusade saved the engine that would go on to power iconic cars like the Ford Thunderbird and Mustang. "To this day, I have no idea how a young, newly hired manager like myself...had the nerve to challenge the most powerful men inside Ford Motor Company and tell them they were wrong," Morsey says. "But that is exactly what I did." The twenty-nine-year-old executive embarks on massive market research. He works with manufacturing experts to find ways to produce the V-8 engine more efficiently. After finding success, he goes on to continue playing a central role in some of the most pivotal decisions that would ensure Ford remains one of the powerhouses in the automotive industry. The Man Who Saved the V-8 tells the story of his successes and lessons learned.

    Those who believe that myths are something that exist only in the far distant path are incorrect. Anyone who knows a little bit about modern river monsters knows they are the root of 20th and even 21st century cryptozoology myths. For children, reading about these amazing creatures, both ones we know exist and those that are pure fantasy, opens many doors of imagination. The sense of wonder gained helps the young ones to think more broadly about the world.

    Just the right amount of science. Common sense and rational.” -- Wayne R. The greenhouse effect is always quoted—but that is a METAPHOR. What is the fundamental physical process that drives it? And how exactly does human activity play such a powerful role with it? How did we go from worrying about global warming to climate change…to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions? "Great book - should me mandatory reading for anyone that uses the term 'Climate Change' " - Amazon purchaser Macsugar Are there gases more powerful and influential in the greenhouse effect than CO2? Yes, by a lot! As you will learn in this book… Why aren’t we spending more time, money, and attention focusing on those? Smart people want to get to the point of a problem and solve it as quickly, inexpensively, and effortlessly as possible. They know about the Pareto Principle, and you will too after you read this book. It is also called the 80/20 rule. What happens when we apply that principle to the global climate change “consensus”? “Thank You! I always thought the numbers were small, but I never took the time to do the math.” -- Mike S. There are many books that are long, technical, and—frankly, irrelevant—on the topic of climate change. Here are the most important questions that nobody has bothered to answer in straightforward, simple and short language, until now: * What are basic facts about our planet’s atmosphere? And what do they tell us about the fundamental physics of climate change? * What are the basic physics and assumptions behind the anthropogenic global warming (AGW) hypothesis or belief? Are they valid? * What element or compound is the single greatest factor in temperature control in our atmosphere? Hint—it isn’t carbon dioxide. How does carbon dioxide compare with this other chemical? "Takes less than an hour to read... A must-read for every official policy-maker at every level... This deserves 6 stars out of 5!" -- Terry Dunleavy (Amazon reviewer) “Brilliant, what a refreshing approach.” -- Christopher K. Before we spend more time, money, and emotional energy on the presumed EFFECTS and CONSEQUENCES of global warming and climate change (things like rising temperatures, rising sea levels, etc., etc.), shouldn’t we all have a BASIC UNDERSTANDING of the FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES AND PHYSICS of our planet’s atmosphere? If you have any questions, or doubts about that, this book is for you. “Very good. I am a geophysicist.” -- Ben B. Even better, you’ll learn (or re-learn) a very simple and indisputable fact about our atmosphere that makes the entire controversy look ridiculous. Use this information as a test (or a bet) the next time you talk with someone on the “other side” of the climate change debate. “A very useful contribution to bringing sanity and reason back to the analysis of AGW.” – Tom P. The climate change threat is consuming more of our precious time, energy, and resources. So is the debate about what to do about it. Don’t allow yourself be a part of the problem—get this book so that you can be a part of the solution! If you are convinced that AGW is the biggest threat facing our planet, this book has facts and

    Nikki Maddox, professor of astrophysics, is used to being ridiculed about her assertion that extraterrestrial life exists.  She's heard the not-so-subtle snickers  And the not-so-quiet whispers  Not to mention the pranks… No wonder she's skeptical when a stranger confesses he’s an alien hunted by the US government. Mmm Hmm… Right…  Okie Dokie. Prince Ha'aden O'Rion is not just royalty. He's the crown prince of an entire galaxy. How did a galactic crown prince end up on an obscure planet running for his life? His damned council—and those vapid, boring beauty queens they want him to breed with.  He's come to Earth on a mission—to find himself a smart, sassy female who charges his libido and challenges his intellect then claim her as his bride.  The moment he meets Nikki—mission accomplished. Now, to seduce his reluctant bride.  Seduced by the Alien Prince is a science-fiction romance novella with a smart, sassy heroine, a royally sexy alien hero who must produce an heir to his throne. It contains deadly enemies in hot pursuit, and steamy, fog up the windows passion. This is a short, 30K word, stand-alone romance with no cliffhangers and a happy-ever-after ending. THIS BOOK IS INTENDED FOR ADULT READERS.

    Can Ryan and Cleo unravel the mystery and solve the phoenix code before it's too late?

    In Vermont, a young woman watching her favorite sitcom meets the same grisly fate, as does a group of sewer workers in Washington, D.C. Whatever has killed these people is spreading fast, and the task of eradicating it falls to young virologist Samantha Craig and paramedic Nick Barnes, whose brilliant surgical career was ruined by a crippling hand injury.When Nick and Samantha discover that the virus, named Reaper, is spread through TVs and PCs, they realize that the information superhighway will become a killing field, with tens of millions dead, unless they can root Reaper out.Their search employs a dazzling array of real-life wizardry, from Mylar body paint to Stealth helicopters to CIA-bred swarms of insects. At the core of Reaper’s madness, they find a suavely megalomaniacal, up-from-the-slums, high-tech billionaire, an icily ingenious hacker, and a high-powered cabal that will do anything to save the world from technology, even if that means annihilating the world.

    

    Get ready for a ride of a lifetime in this binge-worthy series! RyderLife...it broke me from a young age.Oh, I’m way too beast for this beauty.And yet, my hardened heart...it wanted her.I’m her nightmare.Her saviour.And the best fucking thing to walk into her life.Time to see what this sassy little sunflower’s made of.I warned her she was mine, and I meant it.PinClaire Stone’s a woman with a purpose.A skilled private investigator.A beautiful curse.She was a stranger to me until the day she barged into my life, looking for answers.I’m pretty sure she’s never found a problem she can't solve.Until me.The man of her dreams and her nightmares all in one.Who knew I’d meet my match in this smoking little spitfire?Problem is, Claire’s not just a girl, she’s made herself my enemy…Guess nobody told her you don’t go digging around in club business without savage consequences.When karma rears its ugly head, I can’t promise to be her shield,She’s faced me with an impossible choice,Love, loyalty, or survival...I’m falling, crashing, half-crazy for a girl who should have never been mine.If I bring her out of this alive, I want something in return.TrainerFierce. Protective...and Broken.Beautiful and surprisingly strong, this woman’s got a secret she’s not sharing.All I know for sure is she’s walked through hell and lived, and that ain’t easy.Who am I? I’m the best damn thing to ever walk into her life.When her past comes for her, hear my threat...I’ll become the monster she fears and hunt him down.She can hate me all she wants,But I warned her she was mine,And I’ll do anything to protect what’s mine...anything, even if I come back from hell.BladeThere's a fine line between love and hate. Blade came into my life like a wrecking ball. Tearing down my walls and rocking my world. Then I found out he was a member of Outlaw Souls. That was a problem, since my loyalty was to their enemy, Las Balas. My connection to them was one of blood, through my father and brother. I couldn’t turn my back on that, no matter how much I wanted Blade. DiegoI wanted a clean slate. La Playa carried too many painful secrets of my past. What was a bad boy rider like me doing with a hot Latino doctor to be? All I know is we were like two moths to one another’s flame. But an Outlaw gang member can’t be caught in a secret love affair can he?ColtA bad boy cowboy isn’t what I was looking for. But there’s deeper layers to Colt Winters that I yearn to know. He’s an Outlaw with a troubled existence. With a dead girlfriend, five year jail sentence and a baby girl waiting for him. Colt Winters isn’t exactly the type you take home to Mama. But… my brother’s in trouble and he’s just the man to help. In my world I save people like Colt from themselves, I fight for justice in an unjust system. Maybe this cowboy has a lot more to offer me than first meets the eye. Can we get past all the obstacles long enough to make it work?

    It’s an epidemic, with a cost to society in medical expenses and lost productivity that is steeper than heart disease. But remember the 80% figure—that’s the astonishing cure rate at Dr. Jeremy James’s Aspen Club Back Institute. A Doctor of Chiropractic who took that path because of his own severe injury-induced back pain, he has developed a revolutionary behavioral/whole-body approach to help sufferers heal—and often eliminate—back pain forever. Co-written with Chris Crowley, The Younger Next Year Back Book follows the alternating chapter format of the #1 New York Times bestselling Younger Next Year and other books in the series. And just as millions of readers positively changed their lives following Harry’s Rules in Younger Next Year, the millions of back pain sufferers can find relief following Jeremy’s rules, including Stop Doing Dumb Stuff, Be Still So You Can Heal, and Stand Tall for the Long Haul. He explains the workings of the spine and muscles, and then why back pain is almost never a disease, per se, but the result of behavior. He then shows how to change our behavior, find a neutral spine, and begin a regimen of simple exercises—with step-by-step two-color illustrations—to realign our core to virtually eliminate back pain forever. Chris Crowley, in his been-there-done-that-and-you-can-too-damnit! voice, provides all the motivation and patient perspective we need.