Genetic engineers study genes and DNA to develop ways to recreate and modify them to advance technologies in fields such as medicine and agriculture. Using living organisms and systems to create new products and technologies is called biotechnology. Readers will learn how genetic engineers are working toward curing diseases in humans and making crops less susceptible to disease. Real-life examples and a design challenge help students understand key concepts related to the engineering process, and encourage discussion about the impact of biotechnology on our lives, including its benefits and risks.
As cities and populations grow, we need more and more energy to run and heat our homes and to power transportation. Readers will learn how energy engineers help make sure that our energy demands are met in a number of different ways. They discover new ways to convert natural resources into affordable and environmentally friendly forms of energy; they build and operate power stations for both renewable and non-renewable forms of energy; they manage electrical power networks; they also monitor how generating energy may harm the planet. Real-life examples and a design challenge help students understand key concepts related to the engineering process, and how energy engineers will play a vital role in our future.
This interesting title unfolds the art and science of paper engineering. Readers interested in crafting and designing patterns and structures will be inspired to create "Maker" projects using paper - a medium readily accessible to any classroom or library. Kids will learn about popular trends and possibilities in paper engineering, and how great engineers in many different fields often visualize and create their most amazing projects in paper models first. Readers are encouraged to experiment with their own ideas and create products that are unique to their visions.
The great outdoors is the perfect "Maker" space for exploring possibilities for creativity, problem solving, and innovation. From designing devices to study the natural world to figuring out ways to find food or water outside, this refreshing title inspires readers to come up with Maker projects of their own in their back yards or communities. "Makers and Shakers" sidebars introduce important innovators and their creations to inspire readers to be environmentally aware and involved in the natural world.
This plugged-in title helps readers navigate the sometimes-complex world of electronic innovation. Young readers can explore this exciting and popular field by learning the basics of electronic circuits and how electronic components work, which they can then apply to an idea of their own. They will be able to create their project using everyday materials and easy-to-understand computer elements. Important electronic innovators and their creations are profiled to provide inspiration for young “makers.”
Human activity often leaves a trail of harmful carbon behind that directly impacts our planet. This informative book describes how every individual produces a “carbon footprint” by using energy made by burning fossil fuels and by creating waste from packaging that gets thrown away. Find out how to measure your own carbon footprint and see what effect you are having on Earth. Learn about new developments being made to reduce the amount of carbon we create and what steps you can take to make your own "footprint" smaller.
This inspiring book describes how people are becoming more aware of the effect of their daily activities on the planet. Find out how more and more people are eating and living "green" by buying food grown locally, eating food that is organic, and even growing their own food. Many people are also building eco-friendly homes and choosing to live “off the grid,” which means they are creating their own, sustainable forms of energy instead of getting electricity from a power station. Discover how eating and living green is becoming more and more possible, and why this way of living could help build a sustainable future for the next generation.
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.
You might be surprised at the huge variety of materials we use every day, in the places we live, the vehicles we use, the clothes we wear, and in preparing the food we eat. This book explores how materials engineers research, design, and develop the materials needed to make these products a reality. Readers will also learn how to combine their understanding of materials science and the engineering design process to tackle a design challenge of their own.
Biomedical engineering is the fastest growing engineering field. From designing life-saving medical devices to high-performance athletic gear, these engineers improve people’s lives every day. This book explores the creative ways biomedical engineers help diagnose, treat, and prevent problems found in human body systems. Real-life examples make learning about the engineering design process interesting for readers. Practical, hands-on activities help readers to understand scientific and engineering principles.
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.
What isn’t top secret in the military? Readers will be intrigued by the scientific ingenuity (past and present) brought about by wartime need, from field medicine innovations to weapons. A concluding chapter features “tomorrow’s secrets," or what military research is likely to yield in the future.
Medical and pharmaceutical research is big business. This fascinating book reveals the competition in the corporate and academic worlds to be the first to find a new procedure or product that could change the world. Features include Dark Science Secrets, which reveal stories of unethical and deadly medical experiments from the past.
Spying and surveillance has always relied on cutting-edge science to push the boundaries. The same techniques are often used today by hackers to commit online data security breaches. This intriguing book will captivate readers who have an interest in spymaker gadgets, computer science, and biometric data for online identification and security.
This book pulls the curtains back on the top-secret science of energy research. From nuclear research during World War II to new renewable energy and green tech discoveries, this title will interest budding engineers and chemists.
Automobile companies and the military must keep secret the development of cutting-edge transportation technology to stay one step ahead of competitors and enemies. Readers will love this awesome book which describes car labs where researchers develop the latest super-secret models, and how technology experts in the military develop new ways for vehicles to go undetected.
How soon can you board a rocketship to Mars? And how will you survive when you get there? There are so many challenges to overcome in sending a human into space, such as problems of distance, fuel, and propulsion. This compelling book describes the history and future of space travel and the exciting areas of research travel presents.
For years, space scientists have been asking the question “Is there other life out there?” Readers will enjoy the fascinating history of our search for extraterrestrial life - from aliens to tiny microbes - with technology such as telescopes, radio signals, and monitoring systems.
