Adrift in heavy seas after a hurricane, Joe finds his boat pulled by strong currents and winds. He follows a flock of birds and discovers other sea creatures moving in the same direction toward some rocks. Can Joes science skills help him to survive?
Separated from his science team on a mountain after a landslide, Joe is in no hurry to get back. The slide has carried a wealth of fossils with it for him to study! Joe examines these and the mountain terrain to learn how the mountains formed and figure out how old they are.
Let's climb a mountain - a towering, sky-scraping world that reaches high above Earths surface. What can live so high up where it is harder to breathe and the hillsides are steep? A whole ecosystem of life! Peel back the corners of a mountain to discover the incredible organisms that live in this ecosystem, from wolves and birds to frogs and goats. Find out how they work as a system, carving out an existence in one of the most remote biomes on Earth. Learn, too, where mountains are found all around the world and what you can do to help protect these amazing wildernesses.
From sunlit surface water that teems with life to the deepest, darkest depths filled with some of Earth's most unusual creatures, oceans are home to a wide array of life. Peel back the corners of the ocean to find out what fascinating life exists within this ecosystem, from Earth's biggest animal, the blue whale, to tiny organisms, such as kelp. Discover where the world's oceans are and what you can do to help protect our planets rich waters.
Wade into rivers and lakeswatery underwater worlds teeming with plant and animal life. These biomes provide a home filled with all the elements their inhabitants need for survival. Peel back a corner of these amazing ecosystems to discover the incredible organisms that function within them and around them, from microorganisms and plants to fish and the mammals that feed on them. Explore rivers and lakes all over the world and find out what you can do to help protect the riches of these wonderful waterways.
A plants needs are simple: dirt, sunshine, water and maybe a nice juicy fly? SNAP! Some plants are more than just a posy in a pot waiting to be watered. From powerful poisons to hideous smells, this fascinating book describes the creepy and sometimes painful survival techniques of plants. Get your hands dirty, too, with some easy (and painless!) experiments.
If you think all babies are cute, think again! There are disgusting and dreadful stages in the life cycles of many different animals. From tadpoles that eat one another to bloodthirsty bugs, this amazing book describes the gross beginnings of animals that crawl, swim, or fly. Get your hands dirty, too, with some easy (and painless!) experiments.
If you were a hungry coyote, would you brave a skunks stinky spray for a meal, or would it leave a bad taste in your mouth? Many animals have survival techniques that offend the senses or strike fear in the hearts of predators. From deadly defenses to revolting eating habits, this interesting book describes the disgusting and frightening survival techniques of animals. Get your hands dirty, too with some easy (and painless!) experiments.
Step into the desert - a dry, dusty place with little water and vegetation. What could live in this hostile environment? Peel back the corners of the desert to discover the incredible organisms that survive in this ecosystem, from scorpions and cacti to musk oxen and seals. Find out how deserts work as a system, carving out an existence in one of the most extreme biomes on Earth. Learn, too, how deserts are found all around the world and what you can do to help protect these amazing wildernesses.
Step into the forest - a vast, green landscape of trees and plants, home to countless animals. Peel back the corners of the forest to discover the incredible organisms that live in this ecosystem, from insects and birds to deer and bears. Learn how each organism functions within its forest ecosystem and how it survives in one of the most diverse biomes on Earth. Find out, too, where forests are found all around the world and what you can do to help protect one of Earths most precious resources.
Huge, far-reaching landscapes of swaying grass or shrubs, grasslands support a whole host of organisms and are one of the most important biomes for people, too. Peel back the corners of the grassland to find out how many different organisms rely upon this ecosystem for survival, from elephants and gazelles to prairie dogs and horses. Discover how each organism functions within its grassland ecosystem, and learn about the daily fight for survival that takes place in these huge hunting grounds. Explore grasslands all over the world and find out what you can do to help protect these rich and varied landscapes.
Step onto an islandland surrounded by water, a habitat for land-living organisms as well as creatures that visit from their ocean homes. Peel back the corners of the island to discover the incredible organisms that live in this ecosystem, from lizards and birds to possums and bats. Discover how each organism functions within its island home, and the fight for survival that takes place when these delicate ecosystems are threatened. Learn, too, where in the world islands are found and what you can do to help protect these beautiful and precious places.
This informative and beautiful book looks at apex or top predators - animals that are not eaten by other animals in their habitats - and why these animals play a very important role in keeping food chains in balance. Students are introduced to the energy pyramid, which shows that there are fewer top predators than other animals and gives reasons why many of these animals are endangered. Humans, the most powerful top predators, are the biggest threat to these essential endangered animals.
This intriguing book looks at the remarkable abilities of plants and animals, which need to be studied to make our environment more sustainable. People have already used birds as models for constructing airplanes, but there are so many other models that have not been replicated. Living things live at the depths of oceans and at the tops of the highest mountains, harness the energy of the sun to make food, make oxygen from carbon dioxide, walk on water, build structures that are air-conditioned, and make materials stronger than steel without ever polluting or damaging the environment. They have done all the things we wish we could do. This book will make young scientists aware of the super powers of nature and may inspire some to find ways to change the future of Earth!
Animals have become extinct for many reasons. The most famous example, the extinction of the dinosaurs, may have been the result of an asteroid hitting Earth or an Ice Age freezing them to death. Prehistoric mammoths and saber-toothed cats may simply have been hunted to extinction. Today, animals such as elephants, zebras, tigers and leopards, some wolves, and many kinds of primates may still face extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, hunting, poaching, and pollution. This fascinating book introduces and explains the designations of endangerment from extinct in the wild to vulnerable. Children are also introduced to fossils as a way of learning about animals that lived long ago.
They feed on us, make their homes on us, and generally make our lives miserable. They are horrible guests, sometimes spreading deadly diseases. These blood-sucking parasites are lice and fleas and they are pests of the first order! This book delves into the tiny world of ectoparasites that prey on humans and animal hosts. Learn how lice and fleas cant live without us and how humans have been battling the itchy critters, often without much success, since the dawn of time. Special sections give information on the plague-producing history of rat fleas and how to combat the scourge of head lice.
Ever get the icky sensation that your skin is crawling? Like tiny little bugs are scampering over your arms, your legs . . . your face? Well there really may be bugs on you, ones that are too small for you to see. Feasting Bedbugs, Mites, and Ticks examines the tiny, sometimes microscopic, insects that make their homes in our homes and on our bodies. Vibrant text and macro images put these creatures into hyper focus. A special popular culture section explains the origins of the old adage: sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.
Furry, creepy, and seemingly sneaky, rats have a bad reputation for spreading disease and stealing food from under our noses. They are quite comfortable living in a number of environments, from swamps, to mountains, to basements. Color images show different species of rats, while informative text explains what a species is. A special section on pest control explains how rats were controlled in the Middle Ages and how they are controlled today. A section on lab rats even explains how these mammal pests have helped humans fight disease.
What are those fast-moving bugs you see when you turn on the kitchen light? Where did they go? Most likely, they were cockroaches. One of the most hated and feared insect species, cockroaches love to live with humans and have done so for centuries. Cockroaches is a lively historical and biological biography of this loathed creepy crawly. Colorful images show many varieties of cockroaches, including the massive Madagascar hissing cockroach, which is sometimes collected by insect fanciers! Special sections feature pest control methods, the cockroach in popular culture, and facts and myths.
Termites can literally eat you out of house and home! Carpenter ants will use your home like a wood lot, taking what they want when they want, but without paying! Termites and Other Home Wreckers examines pests that chew, build, and bore their way into homes. Creepy images show the insects at different stages of the life cycle, and a family tree section lets you know who is related to whom.
In March 2011 the worlds second-largest nuclear disaster occurred on the eastern coast of Japan. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake caused a nearly 50-foot tsunami that flooded the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The devastating tidal wave caused equipment failures that led the nuclear reactors to overheat to the point of meltdown. Dangerous radioactive materials released into the air continue to threaten the health of the ocean and people around the world today. Topics include how movements in the earth's crust below water can cause seismic waves , the evacuation of more than 300,000 people from their homes near the power plant, contamination of crops and water, decontamination and repair work, and continued concern about leaking radiation from the power plant.
By the time Superstorm Sandy had hit New York City on October 22, 2012, it had left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Affecting 24 U.S. states, Sandy is the second-costliest superstorm in United States history. This informative book follows the timeline of the superstorm and features personal accounts by those who experienced the destruction in many New York City and New Jersey neighborhoods. Topics include how Superstorm Sandy developed, the response by state and federal relief agencies, the effects on air travel, subway transit, electricity, and the New York Stock Exchange, and the recovery and rebuilding.
Imagine being struck by lightning. ZAP! You could be killed on the spot. So why do we have something as powerful and dangerous as electricity running through our homes? Because our modern lives now depend on it, that's why! Learn all about the most disgusting and dreadful aspects of electricity. From whizzing electrons and static shocks to frying flies and freaky frog legs, this book is full of yucky, painful and fascinating facts. You can even test your nerve with some easy (and painless!) experiments.
Can you imagine life without light? Well, actually... it's impossible, because without light there would be no life on Earth at all! Learn all about the most disgusting and dreadful aspects of light. From zit-zapping rays and night-vision goggles to spooky shadows and serious sunburn, this book is full of yucky, painful and fascinating facts. You can see the brilliance of light too, with some easy (and painless!) experiments.
Imagine yourself falling... falling... falling and never reaching the ground. Well that's exactly what our planet is doing, and its taking you with it! Learn about all the disgusting and dreadful aspects of gravity. From blackouts caused by g-forces to toilet-troubles in space, this book is full of yucky, painful and fascinating facts. You can get your hands dirty too with some easy (and painless!) experiments.
