Bücher veröffentlicht von Springer Science+Business Media

Asteroids sling through space, celestial debris of diverse origins: leftovers from the formation of the solar system, broken offshoots of parental asteroids, or comets that have lost their glow. For the first time in a popular book, Patricia Barnes-Svarney discloses how some asteroids - rich in precious minerals such as gold and platinum - may one day be lassoed and mined by man. She also explores how the natural resources that abound in some asteroids could possibly support human life, leading to their colonization and use as space stations. One day, too, they may reveal to us the secrets of the origins of life. But if an asteroid merely one kilometer in diameter - about the size of eleven football fields end-to-end - were to smash into Earth, it would mean a global catastrophe. And if a larger asteroid - one the size of Vermont - were to strike, life on our planet would come to an end. We know that we've been struck before - from the large and small impact craters that dot the Earth's major land masses. If, as one theory states, the chance of a major collision is currently about one in ten thousand - similar to that of dying from anesthesia during surgery or of being killed in a car crash during any six-month interval - should we be living in fear? How could we possibly prepare ourselves for such a disaster? Patricia Barnes-Svarney, an asteroid enthusiast since childhood, asserts that the threat is real, and that there are better defenses than those now in place. In Asteroid, she vividly evokes both the perils and fascination of these heavenly bodies that have the power to yield untold rewards - and boundless destruction.

In this text, no segment of American society is spared from Bouza's critical gaze in exposing the systemic excesses that are poisoning the heart of the US.

To top it all, discipline 2 A Sexual Odyssey became a lost art, leaving schools and neighborhoods infested with gun-toting, knife-wielding teenage delinquents-even in middle-class areas-who engaged in contests fo see who could get the most girls knocked up.

Rarely does a book emerge that is a wake-up call to the world. Mass Hate is such a masterpiece. It explores why the brutality of humankind has erupted and flowed more expansively in the twentieth cent

Captain Snow, author of the acclaimed Protecting Your Life, Home, and Property, and a police officer with over 25 years experience, delivers to the reader the immediacy of actual SWAT events--in a chilling glimpse into the desperate, twisted mind of the hostage taker--often hovering precariously between violence and suicide--and witness the brilliant, life-saving strategies SWAT commanders put into action to stop them.

This book helps each of us tap into and harness the natural creativity and talents of our whole mind.

He had worked for months on one of the most famous problems in science-the problem of three bodies moving around one another under mutual gravita tional attraction-and what he was seeing dismayed and trou bled him. Poincare was shocked and dismayed by the result-so disheartened he left the problem and went on to other things.

Comet shoemaker crashed into Jupiter, changing forever our understanding of comets and cosmic cataclysms. Never in recorded history has a comet created such a catastrophic event as smashing into a planet. Discover what the very latest results of this celestial spectacle have taught scientists and the world.

'Creativity and the Mind' is one of very few books that combines an account of serious theory and research on the psychology of creativity with a presentation that is accessible to anyone. Before, readers often has a choice between dry, abstruse theories and readable books composed of fluff. This book offers the reader a real chance to understand creativity and improve his or her own creative-thinking skills.

"I look back at the numbers of sexual partners I had and it becomes frightening. How could I escape? It's almost like you're being thrown into a pit that has 500,000 snakes in it and you manage to escape. But you know that somewhere in your pants there is a little snake that you didn't quite shake out - that eventually is going to bite you". This remark from an HIV-negative gay man expresses the disbelief, survivor guilt, and fatalism that is common among some uninfected gay men in the United States more than a decade into the AIDS epidemic. Traumatized by repeated losses and sometimes immobilized by fear, many HIV-negative gay men find themselves asking what it means to be a "survivor" of a disaster that is not yet over. HIV-Negative: How the Uninfected Are Affected by AIDS explores the psychological and social issues confronting HIV-negative gay men 10 years after the introduction of HIV-antibody testing. William I. Johnston, facilitator of a discussion group for uninfected gay men in Boston, presents in this book an illuminating portrait of a part of the gay community that has been largely neglected in the face of the grueling demands of the emergency response to the epidemic. Gathering materials from interviews with more than 45 uninfected gay men, the author examines the ways in which the concept of "HIV status" has profoundly altered gay culture. In these pages, men discuss their decisions to get HIV testing, reactions to testing negative, social and sexual relationships with HIV-positive men, attitudes toward sexual risk-taking and seroconverting (becoming HIV-positive), and the emotional and spiritual consequences of surviving the AIDS epidemic when others are dying.HIV-Negative opens up a much-needed discussion about the position of the uninfected in a community devastated and alienated by plague. It is compelling reading for those who are considering HIV testing, who have tested HIV-negative, or who are in positive-negative relationships, and it is a valuable resource for counselors, social workers, and therapists interested in the mental health of gay men, and for researchers and community activists interested in HIV-prevention issues. The voices in this book raise questions that resonate within all of us: How do we experience and define the meanings of sexuality, vulnerability, mortality, and responsibility in the age of AIDS?

This remarkable true story recounts one of the great discoveries of the century: finding a 2000-year-old boat from the Sea of Galilee. Shelley Wachsmann, a respected nautical archaeologist, shares the joy and drama he felt in discovering and excavating the first ancient boat from this biblical location. Through his perceptive eyes, we experience the adventure of a lifetime as he offers his personal account of first setting eyes on and then preserving this unique treasure. Wachsmann is a master storyteller, interweaving his own unforgettable story of this challenging excavation with the writings of the past. Jews and Christians alike will be captivated by his search for the boat's identity. Wachsmann - like a detective - hunts down clues that will reveal the boat's actual history. Since the boat turns out to be a 2000 year old craft, he carefully examines the Gospels for passages that will shed light on this wondrous vessel. This ever-curious author also traces Jewish historical texts to discover that the Sea of Galilee, during the boat's vibrant past, was the setting for one of the most tragic massacres of Jews - the Battle of Migdal. During this sea battle, we learn, Roman soldiers mercilessly slaughtered Jews as they attempted to escape in boats like this one, turning the Sea of Galilee into a sea of crimson. The saga of tenderly extracting this extraordinary boat from the earth, protecting its timbers, and restoring it to health is a compelling tale on its own. Wachsmann impresses us with the dedication and creativity of his makeshift team in improvising answers to the seemingly impossible logistic problems that dog them every step of the way. Still, generosity abounds and actualrainbows appear as scores of volunteers pull together to save this singular monument of the past. Wachsmann punctuates the absorbing details of preserving this artifact with the rich history that surrounds the Sea of Galilee, making this a uniquely enduring and personal work. Wachsmann transports us enabling us to savor this voyage with him on one of the greatest archaeological expeditions of the twentieth century.

It is a rare and remarkable book that provides a forum for actors to discuss, in their own words, their experiences, their craft, and the creative process that makes and informs a brilliant performance. This book of original interviews is just such a treasure.

Drugs abuse cripples our bodies, devastates our ambitions and goals, and has an enormous impact on our loved ones. To combat such a disease, we need the best information possible to see clearly how drugs and alcohol work to disrupt and destroy our lives and the lives of those we care about the most.

From the very dawn of history, humans have struggled with the question of cosmic destiny. Ancient cultures worldwide invoked powerful mythological images to celebrate the cyclical nature of the earth and cosmos. As Halpern shows, these persistent and provocative symbols - such as a serpent devouring its own tail - prefigure many of the controversies that continue to rage among cosmologists today. Will the universe fade into quiescence - a static graveyard of cinders, black holes, and burnt-out suns? Or will it collapse in on itself in a colossal "Big Crunch", only to explode in another cycle of time and space? The answers to these questions are stored in the ineffable cosmos, and scientists must draw on the most ingenious advances of modern physics to solve the riddles posed by the ancients. Halpern's journey leads us through the most extraordinary breakthroughs in twentieth-century physics and cosmology, and to the remarkable tools scientists employ to look backward and forward in time. He also reveals the fascinating pieces of the puzzle still missing from our picture of the universe - keys that promise to unlock our elusive destiny. What is dark matter and how much of our universe does it comprise? What is the size and age of the universe? How did events unfold in the critical seconds after the Big Bang? The answers to these and other questions will help us decipher our fate.

Jeffrey Merrill has written a penetrating and lucid analysis of American health care, one that illuminated both the myths and realities associated with our patchwork system. He annunciates six principles for achieving universal coverage and cost control that could be implemented by drawing on the experience of other developed countries, yet accomplished in a uniquely American way.

Weather, in all its variety and majesty, is both a source of Earth's awe-inspiring beauty and a powerful, threatening force. With the brilliant technological innovations of recent times, including lasers, satellites, and supercomputers, scientists have revolutionized the science of accurate weather prediction. As this intriguing work shows, the gap between the "art" and science of forecasting is rapidly narrowing, and the day when we will have accurate weekly and monthly, even yearly, forecasts is quickly approaching. Jack Fishman and Robert Kalish, acclaimed authors of Global Alert: The Ozone Pollution Crisis, clearly and eloquently explain the makings of weather from everyday winds and precipitation to the worst weather disasters. They show how the power of weather still holds us at its mercy and affects us all. Perilous downdrafts, undetectable by airplane pilots, can hurl landing planes into the runway to their doom. Freezing blasts of snow and ice cause traumatic accidents on our streets. Deadly tornadoes descend from thunderclouds, uprooting trees, devastating farmers' fields, and ripping buildings from their very foundations. And hurricanes, the most awesome storms on Earth, smash into the coast with vicious strength - flooding entire cities, lifting houses out to sea, and flattening acres of forest and farmland. Within the decade, scientists will have made a quantum leap in the ability to make accurate, longrange forecasts. Fishman and Kalish show us the stunning capabilities of a new brand of technology that is bringing about a revolution in weather forecasting. Radar, penetrating deep into the most menacing stormclouds, allows us to "see" the movement of raging winds so we canwarn endangered communities before catastrophe strikes. Imminent laser and satellite technology will soon circle our Earth and send clear images of developing storms that will help meteorologists make predictions with an accuracy undreamed of today. In addition to recent breakthroughs, this fascinating work also describes pioneering scientists throughout history who used great technological innovations, from the advent of the computer to rocketry, to further our knowledge of weather and climate. Meteorology has rapidly evolved into a cutting-edge science that has irrevocably increased our understanding of the Earth. This remarkable work shows us the force of weather in all its glory and danger. And it paves the way for the revolution in weather science that will lead us into the future.

This provocative book rigorously challenges the myths currently pervading the field of mental health. Dr. Mender, the founding Director of the Neurophychiatric Evaluation Service at the Payne Whitney Clinic, takes us on an intellectual journey in search of the mind and brain.

"In the beginning there was not only life but the ability to communicate and eventually to cooperate among the most basic, primeval creatures. In The Naked Neuron Dr. Joseph - an internationally respec"

Assumes the audacious task of exposing the reasons for our crime epidemic, and prescribes the crucial measures that we must undertake to halt this rampant plague of crime.

This expose by Jack Levin, one of America's leading sociologist and co-author of Mass Murder: Americas's Growing Menace, and Jack McDevitt, America's foremost authority on hate crimes, explores the spreading venom of prejudice and bigotry in our society and the world. They proclaim that political correctness--as in tolerance of diversity--is no longer deemed fashionable but, rather, obsolete. Organized hate groups have been taking our alienated youth by storm.

Is the Big Bang Theory more viable today than it was at its inception 70 years ago? The prolific and ever-curious author, Barry Parker, confronts the most controversial and significant debate of modern cosmology. Big Bang bashing has been indulged in since the birth of this magnificent theory. But is it justified? In an impartial and balanced presentation, Parker introduces the distinctive personalities responsible for the breakthroughs and advances in this burgeoning field.

America's scientific giants of the 20th century have transformed the world in terms of scientific understanding, military preparedness, and the quality and comfort of our daily lives. In this exquisitely written book, Anthony Serafini, a respected historian and philosopher of science, regales the reader with vivid descriptions of the lives and contributions of the men and women who explored the depth of molecular structure, relativity, astronomy, quantum mechanics, nuclear research, and much, much more.

"The discovery of antibiotics heralded medicine's triumph over previously fatal diseases that once destroyed entire civilizations--thus earning their reputation as miracle drugs. But today, the terrifyi"

This breakthrough book presents, for the first time, the scientific underpinnings of the unconscious. The author offers compelling stories that show the extent to which humans are unaware of the intense power of our right brains and limbic systems.

Using true-to-life scenarios and practical advice, Dr Cogen presents a comprehensive programme that will teach critical analytical skills and improve teenagers' self-perception so that they can overcome the emotional obstacles hampering their intellectual progress.

When shall I retire? How "golden" will my "parachute" be? Will I be happy as a retired person? How can I make the most of my retirement? In the last decade, employers have turned increasingly to the "Golden Parachute" or "Golden Handshake" - inducements to employees to retire earlier. Questions about the effects of these plans, and retirement in general, are mounting, yet few answers are forthcoming. The age of retirement for many has decreased from 65 to the midyears, and these individuals will spend as much time in retirement as they spent in the workforce. This shifting scene necessitates a continuing search for information about the hows and whys, and the effects, of early retirement. In this highly informative study, the authors of Early Retirement: Promises and Pitfalls, scholars in sociology, psychology, and education, look at the experiences of retirees from a large urban area. Many of these persons (average age, 59) were painfully confronted in middle age with the breakdown of heavy industries in the Northeast; others happily sought retirement to resolve their disenchantment with a given routine. By examining the adjustment of these people to this new phase of their lives, the study found that most who retire adjust relatively quickly and positively to retirement, using it as an opportunity for leisure or other work activities. For a minority, however, there are pitfalls and disappointments, which the book discusses in detail. Using numerous vivid case illustrations, and drawing from both questionnaire and interview data, the book provides an inside view of what it is like to face retirement from primarily white-collar occupations. A wide range of reactions emerged about boththe process of retirement (e.g., how those slated for retirement were treated, how long they had to prepare) and its outcome - being a retired person. Moreover, the book offers a portrait, not only of the people themselves as retirees, but also of their attitudes about aging, reflections on their careers, aspirations for a full life, and comments on the changing society - as well as candid reactions from their spouses. This outstanding book speaks both to the professional on aging and to the public at large - those who have retired, are thinking about retiring, or are providing retirement programs or services for retired persons.

Divorce is a tragedy--a tragedy that occurs one million times a year. How you look back upon this crucial milestone in your life is your choice. Following the practical advice offered in this essential book can help you acquire the tools that will make all the difference in the world. As so many of Gold's clients have said, "I failed at my marriage. I'm not going to fail at my divorce. "

Each day we are bombarded with news of a new catastrophe of worldwide proportions promising to obliterate a part, if not all, of humankind. Confronted with these warnings of impending doom, our best defense is to understand how valid--or invalid--these predictions of calamity are. By perceiving these threats in a wise and sagacious way, we can best meet future challenges by not earmarking precious resources for wrong or misleading reasons. Walter Karplus, a professor of computer sciences at UCLA, in his 35 years of experience has made predictions for all kinds of phenomena by generating models and computer simulations. His decades of experience have taught him what we can and cannot predict with any accuracy. Dr. Karplus surveys the most hotly debated catastrophes that many scientists have predicted will imminently endanger the lives of countless people all over the globe. These catastrophes include the depletion of the ozone layer, the Greenhouse Effect, nuclear radiation, acid rain, the AIDS epidemic, the population explosion, another Great Depression, and earthquakes. Drawing on his superb background, he assesses the strengths and weaknesses of arguments propounding the seriousness of these calamities. All the while, he never allows us to lose sight of the profound shortcomings of scientific prediction. In his singularly engaging manner, Dr. Karplus traces the fascinating art of prediction from our earliest ancestors to today. He pronounces at what point prediction, even within science, becomes a black art. He elucidates the problems that computer simulations have in predicting events and goes on to pinpoint when and where these models lapse into the area of pure conjecture. Throughreason and wit, Walter Karplus teaches us how to bring a trained eye to the predictions of disaster that unceasingly assault us. The Heavens Are Falling is an illuminating and entertaining work that bestows on us the wisdom to make informed judgments before taking arms against a sea of troubles.