From trees and plants to bugs and birds, every living thing on Earth is a form of energy. And all living organisms create energy, too, in the form of their waste. The energy of living things is called biomass, and it can be used to power the things that we need in our everyday lives, from washing machines, cars, and computers to the heating and lighting used in our buildings. Find out more about biomass, how it is sourced and used, and why this form of energy could help us find a more sustainable way to power our lives in the future.
How are many people in different places around the world learning to live in a green and sustainable way? Find out how human activities such as driving cars and wasting energy are threatening our environment and putting the future of our planet at risk. Discover how people everywhere are choosing to live more sustainably by recycling, using green sources of energy, car-sharing, and reducing air travel.
We live in an energy-rich age, in which we can turn on a light with the flick of a switch or drive anywhere by turning a key. But, our vehicles, factories, and power stations, which create the electricity needed to light and heat our buildings, pump carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide overload from these human activities is making our planet hotter and hotter - and is causing the Earth's climate to change. Find out what scientists are doing to find sustainable new forms of energy that will secure our planet’s future.
Earth has a limited supply of fossil fuels, and in the near future this supply will come to an end. However, more people live on the planet than ever in its history - and they all need energy. One of the ways in which we can meet this increasing demand for energy is through nuclear power. Nuclear power stations do not drain our planet of its resources, and they can supply a seemingly limitless source of energy. Discover more about nuclear energy, how it is created and harnessed, and the controversies and challenges that surround it.
The endless and enormous power of the sun provides life to all organisms on Earth, from the smallest plant to the largest animal. This awesome power is being used today to provide a rich and abundant source of energy in many parts of the world, and to operate machinery and heat and light buildings. Discover how the sun is powering our planet, the technology used to harness it, and what the future of solar power could be.
Our planet’s weather offers some incredible solutions to our growing energy needs, and one of those solutions is wind power. Offshore and onshore wind farms are an increasingly familiar sight in many countries around the world. Wind farms tap into this clean, sustainable, and renewable form of energy. Find out how wind power works, where in the world it is being used, and how this green energy supply could be one answer to the energy problems that face us today.
Beneath Earth’s surface is a boundless source of energy - geothermal energy. Heated by our planet’s red-hot core, hot water and hot rock below the ground on which we walk already provides energy in many parts of the world, from Alaska to Hawaii. Discover the different forms of geothermal energy, how people are harnessing and using this rich supply, and how it could be an important part of our energy future.
Agricultural engineers are in the front line in the challenge to provide a secure food supply for our world. This timely book explores how engineers design methods, as well as machinery for growing and harvesting crops, to make farming more efficient. Real-life examples help students understand key concepts related to this important profession. With an overview of the engineering design process, readers are encouraged to apply the same steps into their own agricultural engineering challenge.
Every structure that touches the ground could benefit from the skills of a geotechnical engineer. Readers will discover how these engineers study rocks, soil, natural processes, and potential hazards to help make the safest, strongest foundations possible. This book introduces key concepts and the engineering design process with interesting examples from the field. A hands-on activity and a design challenge engage readers in engineering action.
Ten exciting stories feature famous explorers and their dangerous jungle adventures. Stories include: Gonzalo Pizarro’s search for the city of El Dorado, Mary Kingsley's fall into a pit of stakes, Percy Fawcett and the lost city of Z, Henry Walter Bates’ adventure in the Amazon, and Captain Barth Blake's search for Inca gold in the Amazon. Simple maps and feature boxes add additional details and help readers better understand the time period in which the explorations took place.
Every year, the NCAA, NBA, and WNBA crown a league champion. Every four years, basketball teams from all over the world compete for Olympic gold. This exciting book explores historic moments in championship basketball and the top teams that have played in these amazing games.
From all-time greats such as Larry Bird and Michael Jordan to current superstars like LeBron James, readers will enjoy learning all about their favorite hoopsters. Record-breaking stats, famous quotes, history-making shots, and more celebrate the best basketball stars since the game began in 1891.
Do you know who invented basketball? Who won the first NBA championship? When did the WNBA start? Find the answers to these questions and more in this jam-packed title. Fascinating fact boxes and clearly written text chronicle the historic triumphs and challenges of a favorite American sport that’s now played worldwide.
Ten exciting stories feature dangerous voyages of famous explorers traveling on the high seas in search of fame and fortune. Feature boxes and maps add additional details and help readers better understand the explorers’ journey and the time period in which the expedition took place.
Readers will be amazed by ten exciting stories of miraculous survival and tragic events in the history of space exploration. Stories include: the near-fatal journey of Uri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon, the breakdown of Apollo 13, the Russian Salyut 1 space station, the space shuttle Challenger disaster, fire on board the Mir space station, and the two successful flights of SpaceShipOne. Feature boxes add additional details and help readers better understand the dangers faced by the crew on these famous missions.
Ten exciting stories feature famous explorers and their struggles to survive in frigid temperatures during dangerous polar expeditions. Stories include: the last expedition of John Franklin, Salomon August Andrée's attempt to reach the North Pole by hydrogen balloon, Ernest Shackleton’s journey to rescue his ice-locked crew, Riiser-Larsen and Amundsen’s crash in the Arctic, and the crash of Umberto Nobile’s airship Italia. Feature boxes and maps add additional details and help readers better understand the explorer's journey and the time period in which the expedition took place.
This fun book gives an exciting overview of the rules, positions, strategies, and equipment in basketball. Dynamic photographs and step-by-step instructions provide tips on shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding, and defending, as well as helpful pointers for playing each position on the floor. Nutrition and the importance of fair play and teamwork are also included.
Ten exciting stories feature the hardships encountered by famous and sometimes brutal explorers in their quests to discover new lands. Stories include: Hernán Cortés and the Aztec rebellion, Francisco Pizarro’s battle against the natives of Colombia, Lewis and Clark's expedition, David Livingstone’s attack by lions in Africa, Marco Polo’s travels in China, and Samuel de Champlain’s fight against the Iroquois. Feature boxes and maps add additional details and help readers better understand the explorer's journey and the time period in which the expedition took place.
Ten exciting stories tell of the success and failures of many famous inventors and pilots in the quest for flight. Stories include: the first hot-air balloon to carry people, the Wright brothers and the first airplane, Charles Lindbergh’s nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, Amelia Earhart’s attempt at a round-the-world flight, breaking the sound barrier, and Felix Baumgartner’s skydive from space. Feature boxes add additional details and simple maps help readers better understand the flight paths.
This fun book gives an exciting overview of the rules, positions, and equipment in baseball. Dynamic photographs and step-by-step instructions provide tips on throwing, hitting, sliding, and stealing bases, as well as helpful pointers for playing each position on the diamond. Nutrition and the importance of fair play and teamwork are also included.
From all-time greats such as Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson to current superstars like Miguel Cabrera, readers will enjoying learning all about their favorite ball players. Record-breaking stats, famous quotes, history-making plays, and more celebrate the best baseball stars of the past 150 years.
Every year since 1903, teams in Major League Baseball have battled for the chance to play in the final games of the World Series. This exciting book explores historic moments in World Series games, the famous stadiums where fans have cheered on their favorite players, and the top teams who have hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Do you know who invented baseball? Who won the first world series? When did the All-American girls’ league start? Find the answers to these questions and more in this jam-packed title. Fascinating fact boxes and clearly written text chronicle the historic triumphs and challenges of America’s favorite pastime.
Space research and investigation is always at the cutting edge of science. This exciting book traces its history from the Space Race of the last century to the development of GPS and space tourism. An activity spread allows readers to design their own spacecraft.
Scientists have solved problems as varied as the germ theory of disease and the start of our universe. This amazing book outlines the great discoveries made and the principles followed by scientists who explore our world. Readers will enjoy reading the stories behind each historic discovery as well as the mini bios of the science "STEM-gineers" who made them. Experiments and research challenges help reinforce concepts.
