In 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents were once a single land mass but had slowly moved apart over millions of years. This fascinating book examines the scientific process behind Wegener's theory and how it challenged prevailing views of the time. Learn how years after Wegener's death his theory was embraced by scientists and is now the basis for modern earth science.
This fascinating new title examines the sequence of events that led to the formation of cell theory. In 1665, scientist Robert Hooke published Micrographia, the first significant work focused on miscroscopial observation. His groundbreaking work inspired scientists and led to the creation of this fundamental biological principle that shaped modern biology.
This exciting book examines how Sir Isaac Newton developed three basic laws that govern the way in which objects move. Readers will learn how Newton expanded on the work of other great scientists, including Galileo and Copernicus, to make his important discovery. The book also explains how Newtons laws have influenced modern science and technology in areas such as sports and transportation.
This engaging title examines how Darwin developed his controversial theory of evolution, including his research methods and the data gathered during his extensive voyages. The book also explores the controversies that developed around the publication of Darwins theory of natural selection and how the debate continues today.
French chemist Louis Pasteur made several significant contributions to the world of science. This intriguing book examines how Pasteur uncovered the basis of the modern germ theory. Readers will learn how Pasteur's theory helped him develop vaccines for anthrax, rabies, and other diseases and how his work continues to influence modern medicine.
Learn how John Dalton developed his influential theory that explains the shape, structure, and behavior of atoms. This title also explores how Dalton's major breakthrough made later discoveries, such as atomic fission, possible.
The scientific contributions of the early Islamic empires to science, medicine, and mathematics is considerable. This revealing book explores: their public hospitals, libraries, and universities; their achievements in mathematics and astronomy, and the pursuit of alchemy; Arabic numbers; optics; music and musical instruments; poetry; and education.
People first domesticated wild animals and plants more than 10,000 years ago. The first peoples of North America quickly learned to farm using hand- and animal-power. As technology developed, farming machines were invented. These helped develop farming in many regions of North America previously too difficult to cultivate. From 1840 to 1880, Wisconsin USA became the breadbasket of America, and crop- and livestock-farming developed quickly. The village of Monticello is famous for its dairy farming and cheese. The community is still largely based on this. It has a population of about 1,200 people and is the focus of this book about life in a farming community.
This title looks at offshore fishing. Around the coast of much of North America, fishing stocks have greatly declined as a result of overfishing, pollution, and global warming. Nova Scotia, in the northeast of Canada, once had a huge fishing industry. In 1753, people from Germany, Switzerland, and France came from Europe to set up colony at Lunenburg on the coast. They soon set up a fishing and shipbuilding industry. The community grew until about 1980, when the fishing industry largely stopped. Since then, the community has had to reinvent itself. It is still largely based on the old industries, but tourism is as important. Lunenburg has a population of about 3500 people.
Why do people migrate to and settle in the places they do? Fascinating examples from history help explain the determining factors of migration. Readers will fascinated to read about the settling the Nile in ancient Egypt; the Industrial Revolution in Britain; the opening up of the American West; the Gold Rush; and the colonization of Australia.
