A historical account of the Human Genome Project, including the events that made genome sequencing possible, the people involved, the competition between public and private sectors, and the ways in which its effects are felt today.
Hurricane Harvey takes an in-depth look at the destruction wrought by 2017?s Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the Gulf Coast and the ensuing cleanup efforts. Features include essential facts, a glossary, selected bibliography, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
"Houston, we've had a problem." On April 13, 1970, the three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft were headed to the moon when a sudden explosion rocked the ship. Oxygen levels began depleting rapidly. Electrical power began to fail. Astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise were about to be stranded in the inky void of outer space. The mission to the moon was scrapped. Now, Apollo 13's only goal was to bring the crew home. With the damaged spacecraft hurtling towards the moon at roughly six thousand miles per hour, there was little hope of success. But the astronauts and mission control were fully prepared to do whatever it took to return the crew to Earth. This space disaster occurred at the peak of the United States' Space Race against the Soviet Union. But for four days in 1970, the two nations put aside their differences, and the entire world watched the skies, hoping and praying the astronauts would return safely. As missions to Mars and commercial space flight become a reality, the time is now to be reminded of our common humanity, of how rivals can work together and support each other towards a shared goal. Because no matter what happens or where we travel, we all call Earth home.
On April 22, 1970, an estimated twenty million people held in a teach-in to show their support for environmental protections. This new celebration, Earth Day, brought together previously fragmented issues under the same banner. It was the largest nationwide event ever, and lawmakers took notice. But one day didn't change everything. Fifty years after the first Earth Day, climate change remains a dire concern. The divide between political parties continues to widen, and environmental policy has become an increasingly partisan issue. The spread of disinformation has also made climate change a debatable idea, rather than scientific fact. A new generation of advocates continue the fight to make environmental policy a top priority for the United States and for nations around the globe
A look at the causes and global effects of the 1969 moon landing, which led to further space exploration and eventually encouraged international cooperation rather than competition.
An account of espionage during the modern age, including famous spies such as Dayna Williamson Baer, covert missions, and technologies that influence the course of present-day conflicts.
An exploration of Grand Teton National Park, including how its mountainous landscape was formed, its history of preservation, and tourist attractions such as the waterfall known as Hidden Falls.
This title examines an important historic event - the Manhattan Project. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores events leading up to the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II, key players involved, their lives during the project, the development and use of the atomic bomb, its aftermath, and its effects on society. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
The farmers, workers, and pioneers of America in the 1800s were nourished by a tradition of hearty, down home cooking that is still a part of our national cuisine - New England baked beans, roast beef, turkey, corn on the cob, and pumpkin pies. With roots in the British Isles, and with important contributions from Native American food plants and cooking techniques, American food and drink quality and seasonal variety was vastly improved during the 1800s by new technologies in transportation, food storage, hygiene, and preservation, growing national and world markets, and not least the delicious ethnic cuisines of new immigrant groups. Hungry for innovation, quality, and economy, Americans in the 1800s became the best fed nation in the history of the world!
Medicine developed into a science in the 1800s, but it was a long evolution from folk remedies and superstition to a modern understanding of how the human body works and how disease is spread. Throughout much of the century, the life expectancy of the average American was decades shorter than it is now. A lack of understanding of simple hygiene contributed to the early death of many women after childbirth, and children routinely died of common childhood diseases like measles. An incorrectly treated broken arm could kill a healthy young man, and pain, disfigurement, and epidemic disease was the fate of many Americans. Traditional herbal remedies were sometimes the best treatments available, while patent medicines often contained toxic substances, and medical procedures were often painful, disgusting, and ultimately useless. The dedicated scientists and medical researchers of the 1800s made a tremendous contribution to the health and happiness of Americans.
Women have made major contributions to science throughout history, including in building the foundation of our current scientific knowledge. Learn about the lives of some of the most amazing women who have changed our scientific understanding, from Marie Curie to Ellen Swallow Richards, as well as their exciting and important work. Discover what it takes to be a leader in science. Find out about the opportunities for women in the field. Read Women Who Built Our Scientific Foundations to see if following in the footsteps of the many brilliant women who have made their mark in science is something you want to do.
Women have made major contributions to science throughout history, including in the field of anthropology, the study of people. Learn about the lives of some of the most amazing women in anthropology, from Jane Goodall to Zora Neale Hurston, as well as their exciting and important work. Discover what it takes to be an anthropologist. Find out about the opportunities for women in the field. Read Women in Anthropology to see if following in the footsteps of the many brilliant women who have made their mark in anthropology is something you want to do.
This title examines an important historic event - the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster near Middletown, Pennsylvania. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the history of nuclear power in the United States, how a nuclear plant works, details of the emergency at Metropolitan Edison Company's nuclear power plant, handling of the disaster by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, President Jimmy Carter's visit to Three Mile Island, the investigation into the disaster, and the effects of this event on society. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts.
This title examines an important historic event - the Hudson River plane landing. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the men who safely executed a water landing for US Airways Flight 1549, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, passenger accounts from that day, air traffic controller Patrick Harten who handled the flight, the first confrontation between airplane and bird by Orville Wright, culling of Canada geese near New York's LaGuardia Airport, details of the landing in the Hudson River, the rescue, and the effects of this event on society. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts.
This title examines an important event in history- the Endurance expedition. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores events leading up to the expedition, how the men survived it, and Sir Ernest Shackleton and other key people involved. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important historic event - the Chernobyl disaster. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the background of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, events leading up to the disaster, responses to the accident, key people involved, and the short-term and long-term effects of the incident on society and the environment. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important time in U.S. history - the U.S. Industrial Revolution. Compelling text explores the background of the revolution, its economic and social effects, and the key people involved. Features include a table of contents, timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important historic event - the 2010 rescue of the Chilean miners. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the history of mining in Chile and the San José mine, the accounts of individual miners and rescuers, the rescue plans and events leading up to the miners' rescue, issues around mining safety regulations, and the effects of this event on society. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important historic event, the Hindenburg Disaster. Readers will learn the background of airships, Germany's Count Zeppelin's push to build airships, and the planning, building, and tragic explosion of the Hindenburg. Also covered are the key players, the investigation of the disaster, and the event's impact on future airship developments. Color photos and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important historic event - the transcontinental railroad. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the events surrounding the planning, construction, and completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, key people involved, and its impact on society. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines a devastating historic event - the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Compelling text describes the scene of the powerful earthquake and its aftermath, including efforts to rescue survivors, provide medical attention, and rebuild the affected areas. Features include a table of contents, timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, glossary, bibliography, and index.
This title examines an important historic event - the bubonic plague. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the history of the disease, how it spread, key players and happenings during the black death, and the event's effects on society up through modern times. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
This title examines an important historic event, building the Panama Canal. Readers will learn about the historic quests to find a pathway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, France's pursuit in building a canal, and the United States' first trials in building the Panama Canal. Also covered are the key players in the canal's construction and the canal's worldwide impact on commerce and travel. Color photos and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
Explores the sinking of the Titanic and how that event sculpted societies, the sciences, and politics.
