Product Description

Destined to be a leader in the field, this Encyclopedia is a full-colour, A to Z guide that sets a new standard for science reference. It contains 1000 entries, combining in-depth coverage with a vivid graphic format.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #788592 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 560 pages

Review
"Unique.... Invites a reader for an interesting journey.... An authoritative source of information.... A high quality encyclopedia that is informative, engaging, and enjoyable.... It will be useful for the academic and the general reader. This volume is highly recommended for schools, college, and public libraries as well as family collections."
-"American Reference Books Annual, 2003
"An ambitious, readable, handsomely illustrated compendium...the illustrations...are well chosen and sharply detailed...this title makes an attractive alternative, especially for smaller collections, to the pricier multi-volume science encyclopedias."
-"School Library Journal, starred review, February 2002
"The book is not only a useful reference, but also a compelling read. Hundreds of illustrations aid readers in grasping concepts, and cross references make topics easy to handle."
-"SCIENCE NEWS, January 26, 2002
"An ambitious, readable, handsomely illustrated compendium."
-"School Library Journal (starred review), February 2002
"Prolific science writer Trefil is a committed advocate for scientific literacy as evidenced by the works he has coedited as well as this one-volume encyclopedia...accessible to the general reader...a true pleasure to browse and to read; highly recommended for all libraries."
-"Library Journal, December 2001

From the Back Cover
Science is . . . wonderful and human: a complex web of ideas, facts, philosophical concepts, history, and serendipity.

Destined to be the leader in the field, The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology is a revolutionary full-color, A-to-Z guide that sets a new standard for science reference.

Edited by acclaimed science writer and physicist James Trefil, the Encyclopedia's 1,000 entries combine in-depth coverage with a vivid graphic format to bring every facet of science, technology, and medicine into stunning focus. From absolute zero to the Mesozoic era to semiconductors to the twin paradox, Trefil and his co-authors have an uncanny ability to convey how the universe works and to show readers how to apply that knowledge to everyday problems.


*How is aggression explained by brain chemistry or the endocrine system?

*Why are acoustics received differently by the young and old ear?

*Why was work halted on America's new supercollider?


Each encyclopedia-length entry distills a subject's key aspects -- its limitations and controversies, its experiments and theories -- capturing the excitement of scientific discovery and insight. And a unique system of cross references leads readers from theory to practice, tracing relationships across disciplines and over time. An entry on aging, for example, guides us both to its scientific roots in the cell cycle and its social dimensions in population ecology.

Unmatched in scope and presentation, The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology is certain to become the favorite one-volume science and technology reference for general readers and students alike.

About the Author
General Editor, James S. Trefil, a noted physicist and author, is a professor of physics at George Mason University and an expert in explaining science to nonscientists. A regular contributor to Smithsonian magazine, he is co-author of The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (1988) and 101 Things You Don't Know About Science and No One Else Does Either (1997).

Consulting Editor and Biophysicist Harold Morowitz is a professor of biology at George Mason University who has published widely on popular topics in science. His books include The Thermodynamics of Pizza (1991), Entropy and the Magic Flute (1993), and The Kindly Dr. Guillotin (1998).

Consulting Editor Paul Ceruzzi is Curator of Aerospace Electronics and Computing at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He is the author of two books on computing, including The History of Modern Computing and has served as a consultant for two BBC television series on computing and science.