Bücher veröffentlicht von Springer Science+Business Media

The Bell Curve has sparked a fiery debate over the origins of human intelligence and the roots of human behavior. Does nature determine intelligence so completely that we should give up on the disadva

Trace the development of astronomy from early Greek stargazers to the ambitious pioneers: Brahe, Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton - who braved persecution and ridicule to fight for a science that relied not on ancient authorities and scriptures, but on logic, math, and careful observation. As Motz and Weaver show, the fruits of this noble pursuit - the elegant, simple natural laws - opened our eyes to the elusive rotations of the heavenly bodies, and gave rise to classical physics, and, finally, the vigorous, thriving science of astronomy today. These engaging authors go on to depict the brilliant revolution in astronomy that shattered classical physics and transformed our concepts of time, space, and matter. Beginning with Einstein's theory of relativity, Motz and Weaver celebrate and savor the twentieth century's greatest advances in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, each of which have dramatically reshaped modern astronomy.

"This book describes the stage-by-stage creation, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, of one of the greatest human artifacts--the world communication, broadcasting, and information technolog"

"In this book, Mark Walker - a historical scholar of Nazi science - brings to light the overwhelming impact of Hitler's regime on science and, ultimately, on the pursuit of the German atomic bomb. Walk"

The years between 35 and 65 should be rich and fulfilling, bursting with the very best life has to offer. Unfortunately, for too many people, a life review reveals a series of missed opportunities, bungled relationships, and personal misfortunes. The result is preoccupation with what might have been, not what is possible. To reach a profound sense of fulfillment, one must first comprehend the phases that make up the whole of life. The recent, cutting-edge science of adult development offers vital tools to gain knowledge of one's life. Dr. Colarusso - of the world's premier experts in this specialty - draws on the latest scientific concepts in this rapidly expanding field. Separating life into nine phases, he illustrates that only by relating our past and present to the future can we enhance our chances for fulfillment. As an eminent authority in the field of development, Dr. Colarusso calls on his 30 years of clinical experience to provide us with a thorough understanding of the changing biological, psychological, and environmental conditions that we face throughout our lives. He arms us with knowledge that will help us maximize the pleasures and avoid the pitfalls that each new phase of life brings - particularly the anxieties and disappointments of midlife. Guiding us through a wealth of facts, Dr. Colarusso shows us the smoothest and most direct paths to adult fulfillment. He demonstrates that an enriched, rewarding life is one in which the triumvirate of human experience - love, work, and play - are balanced. By learning from the concepts of this burgeoning science and the detailed case histories - including one of a 70-year-old grandmother - we find that it is never impossible ortoo late to achieve happiness and fulfillment.

As this engrossing work so clearly shows, it was in this pressure cooker of competition (The Space Age) that each country achieved undreamed-of advances, stretching the boundaries of humankind's domain and giving us the first thrilling close-ups of the heavenly bodies in our solar system.

On the desolate, snow-topped peak of the highest mountain in Hawaii the view of the heavens is truly breathtaking. Since the "discovery" of Mauna Kea in 1963, astronomers worldwide have been vying for the opportunity to stargaze from its vantage point. Nine domes now stand on the peak, making this the world's largest observatory complex. Each dome is the brainchild of extraordinary scientists - pioneers who, amidst fierce competition and frigid, treacherous conditions - fought for their dreams to build the largest, most magnificent telescopes on Earth. Barry Parker, award-winning science writer, relates the intriguing stories of the founding of this observatory complex and goes on to interview some of the great astronomers of our time as they work at this inspiring site. Bringing the public for the first time into the rarefied air of the control rooms, Parker describes what marvelous challenges these astronomers pursue, night after night, through these massive telescopes. Using brilliant, colorful images from the world's most powerful infrared telescopes and data taken by the enormous Keck telescope - the largest in the world - the scientists at Mauna Kea capture visions of the most distant galaxies ever seen, and use them to look deeply into our past to try to determine our future. Through imagination and genius, the scientists at Mauna Kea have made significant strides in formulating answers to the most fascinating astronomical questions. What can the exploding galaxies in the outer reaches of space tell us about our universe in its infancy? Could the enormous black holes at the cores of galaxies actually be "seeds," central to forming these vast systems of stars? Will our universe, like a dying star, come to an end, and, if so, what dramatic events will lead to this fate? Parker clearly and eloquently explains the theories of these astronomers and describes one of their most ambitious efforts-the quest of finding life in other galaxies. Parker, whose earlier work The New York Times Book Review called "physics for poets," has penned a new masterpiece. This unforgettable book evokes the excitement of living and working at this exquisite site and dares us to imagine the awesome forces that power and shape our universe.

After the primordial Earth produced the miracle of life, a remarkable and strange "accident" soon came to pass. This accident was sex - a new creation that would irrevocably alter the course of life on our planet. This magnificent event would engender the multitude of life forms that have come to walk, swim, and fly upon this Earth. Dr. Maxwell takes us on an eye-opening tour of the bizarre, fascinating, infinitely diverse world of sexual relations. From single-celled organisms to human beings, Maxwell unlocks the secrets of survival, describing in rich detail the matings, meetings, and sexual make-ups of a generous sampling of land and sea creatures. The story of sex can be startling and savage: the female firefly uses her glowing lantern to lure male fireflies of related species by flashing the other species' mating code; the males are no good as mates but they make a delicious meal. Maxwell's story also includes an in-depth look at the uniqueness of human sexuality - he reveals why human beings, inheritors of an unusual collection of sexual traits, are considered the "sexiest" of the primates. The sex imperative - the irresistible impulse to engage in sexual relations - has enabled animals to share their genes and evolve. Maxwell traces the progress of sex from the simple sharing of genes between cells to the elaborate courtship rituals that developed so sperm could merge with egg. In the effort to join sperm and egg, species have developed some astounding and unusual sexual adaptations. As Maxwell vividly describes the sex lives of various creatures, he attests to the resiliency and amazing adaptability of life to its everchanging environment. By focusing on the diversity of animalsexual relationships, Maxwell enables us to question the very basis of sexuality: What is sex? Why did it evolve? How does sexuality and survival shape the social behavior of animals and humans? The sex imperative is indeed the driving force behind Darwin's theory of random variation and natural selection, better known as "survival of the fittest". Maxwell goes so far as to investigate our latest accomplishment in the science of begetting offspring: genetic engineering. This awe-inspiring and unique work celebrates the power and wonder of life and sexuality of all creatures - including humans. After reading this engrossing and illuminating work, no one will ever think of evolution in the same way.

The search for our elusive human origins and an understanding of the mysteries of the human body have challenged the most inquisitive and imaginative thinkers from Egyptian times through the twentieth

Having elected one of its own to the White House, the Baby Boom generation is poised to place its imprint on the 21st century. Cheryl Russell meets the challenge of predicting the future of this generation, showing why members they have always embraced their independence.

This book tells fifty stories about women from strikingly diverse backgrounds who have had to choose whether to give birth or to abort.

Eugene P. Wigner, indisputedly one of the world's greatest physicists of the twentieth century, recounts the breathtaking story of his singular life. Dr. Wigner's wining of the Nobel Prize crowned a lifetime of achievements in physics - achievements that profoundly affect our understanding of science today. His enormous contributions to the Manhattan Project and his insights into quantum physics stand as hallmarks of his incomparable talent. But equally important are his musings on his long and uniquely fascinating life. This memoir, a fruitful collaboration between Eugene Wigner and writer Andrew Szanton, reveals a story by turns endearing, painful, and ultimately triumphant. A witness to many of the changes of the twentieth century, Wigner grew up amid the political turmoil of Hungary. He later experienced the Berlin of the early 1930s as Hitler rose to power. During World War II, he took an active role in the Manhattan Project, the building of the world's first atomic bomb. In his recollections, he conveys the exultation of observing the first successfully controlled nuclear chain reaction. Eugene Wigner's friends and acquaintances comprise a Who's Who of twentieth-century scientists, and the book is replete with their vivid, candid, and amusing portrayals. Having enjoyed many years working with Albert Einstein, he paints an engaging portrait of that most famous of geniuses. He also sketches distinctive pictures of the trio of his fellow Hungarians: Leo Szilard, one of the first men to dream seriously about the atom bomb; Johnny von Neumann, perhaps the greatest mathematician of the century; and Edward Teller, the prime architect of the hydrogen bomb. This is the first major bookever written about Eugene P. Wigner. It makes a significant contribution to the history of the Manhattan Project and to the history of nuclear physics. But in a much larger sense, physics is only its backdrop. The real story is that of an extraordinary man and his unforgettable life.

The beauty of mathematics eludes all but a small, select handful of people. This monumental classic will illuminate the aesthetic delights of mathematics for all to behold. Why should only a tiny aristocracy hold the key to appreciating the elegance of mathematics? Why should intelligent, cultured people, who can easily articulate the brilliance of Shakespeare's imagery, quake at the prospect of deciphering a simple algebraic formula? Jerry King, a mathematics professor and a poet, razes the barriers between a world of two cultures and hands us the tools for appreciating the art and treasures of this elegant discipline. In his fluid, poetic voice, he initiates us into the splendid wonders of the Mathworld. He provides us with an original framework for contemplating mathematics as art. He deepens our ultimate comprehension of art by comparing the beauty of a Rembrandt as well as a Jackson Pollock with the riches to be mined in an elegant proof. Like the great philosophers of the past, Dr. King searches for pure Truth--a quest possible today only in the realm of mathematics. With his infectious enthusiasm, he explains with utmost clarity the intellectually stimulating underpinnings of both pure and applied mathematics. He goes on to decry how our educational system has failed by perfunctorily teaching us mathematics, depriving us of the pillars of beauty upon which mathematics rests. Never before has a book spoken so eloquently to our soul in instilling an appreciation for the grandeur of mathematics. Through Dr. King, the muses of mathematics will no longer sing for others and not for us. The elegant world of mathematics awaits us all to savor.

This book explores the full range of anxiety diseases and their treatments. Dr. Leaman helps the reader understand the dynamics of these illnesses. He offers accessible guidance and support both to those suffering from anxiety disease and to their families.

What occurs between the healer and the one who seeks healing is seldom addressed. This book takes a unique view of the processes that unfold between patient and therapist in an attempt to understand those factors that lead to the relief of pain, both physical and emotional. Treating Chronic Pain enhances the possibility of healing, particularly for those who are suffering from chronic conditions, through the concept of the partnership. Aleene M. Friedman, Ph.D., a gifted biofeedback therapist and pain treatment educator, points out that the development of a "healing through meeting" perspective between patient and therapist is the most basic element in the journey toward the alleviation of pain. The author's years of clinical experience and the solid theoretical framework of her remarkable approach, based on the seminal writings of dialogical existentialists Martin Buber and Maurice Friedman, extend the usual boundaries of chronic pain treatment and serve to enhance the possibility of a healing patient-therapist partnership. The book includes numerous case studies illustrating how such a healing partnership is incorporated into the patient treatment program. Candid comments from patients already embarked on their healing journey offer insight into the emotional sequelae of unsuccessful medical intervention, or other treatment modalities which have been unable to provide satisfactory relief. This groundbreaking book is an inspiring addition to the research and literature of pain management and biofeedback therapy. It offers an integration of chronic pain therapy with the dialogical stance of the healer who becomes a partner in the healing. Biofeedback therapists, clinical psychologists, behavioral and cognitive psychologists, social workers, nurses, and interested laypersons will find this work a remarkable testament to the merits of partnership healing.

The renowned scientific writer Dr. Barry Parker stirs our secret yearnings--this time to revisit the past or travel far into the future--as he takes us on a thrilling ride through space and time. Since Einstein's discovery of the Special Theory of Relativity, which proved that time is not absolute, the imaginative scribblings of science fiction writers took on a new meaning.

"Once heralded as "the land of opportunity," America has become, for increasing numbers of her inhabitants, a nation of disappointment and hardship. In a land characterized by innumerable economic, env"

Many students find the prospect of entering graduate school a significant and daunting experience. Dr. Robert V. Smith, Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Washington State University, will help ease the way. The second edition of his highly acclaimed guide is designed to help graduate students in the sciences cope with the greatest challenge of graduate school-conducting research.

How best to deal with such benign problems as the irritable bowel syndrome, diverticula, heartburn, non-ulcer dyspepsia, and gas, among other ailments.

"The authors discuss such topics as ""impacts with asteroids, the greenhouse effect, nuclear winter, fringe catastrophism, supernovae and an assessment of risks."" (New Scientist)"

"The authors discuss the history of physical science, from the ancient Greeks until modern times."

"This book is a treatment of some of the ""ideas of classical physics with a brief mention of quantum properties of electromagnetic radiation.... The subjects covered include Newton's Laws (with an em"