On January 24, 1848 a man named James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. This compelling title explains how Marshalls discovery sparked gold fever and lured thousands of people west in search of great fortunes. Primary source accounts and historical photographs trace the history of the gold rush in California as well as the later Klondike gold rush.
To be a spy in today's high-tech world, you've got to specialize whether you're keeping tabs on foreign governments, fighting terrorist organizations, or stopping cyber espionage. This fascinating book describes spying throughout history, the gadgetry of a spy, and what kind of training is required to join intelligence-gathering agencies around the world.
This captivating title looks at extinction--from the dinosaurs, 65 million years ago, to the possible extinction of species in our world today.
Cold case files don't stay cold for very long anymore. After the medical and police teams have secured the area, the crime scene investigators arrive on the scene. This fascinating book follows the efforts of the different CSI personnel involved in gathering and analyzing the physical evidence of a crime, performing ballistics and DNA tests, following the digital trail through mobile device forensics, and giving evidence in court.
Prescription and over-the-counter medications are the most commonly abused drugs by high school students after marijuana. One in five young people abuses prescription meds - cotton, rits, beans, tuss, and bricks - street names for these non-street drugs. Street Pharma looks at this growing problem and gives young readers the information they need to say no before they start using or find help to quit when they've become addicted.
A recent survey on drug use recorded 729,000 youths 12 years of age or older who had used inhalants and solvents for the first time within the past year. These substances, along with prescription and over-the-counter medications, can be found in almost every home and have become an easy-access entry point to drug use for young people. This important book carefully examines the facts and fiction about "huffing," and provides information on addiction and treatment, as well as useful alternatives to drug use.
Party drugs are a group of drugs used by young people at parties, clubs, concerts, and events. From ecstasy to GHB and ketamine, party drugs have a popular reputation for not being as harmful as other hard street drugs, but they are just as dangerous and addictive. This informative book details the history of these drugs and how they became so popular. A special section provides readers with useful resources for fighting addiction and remaining drug free.
There's no denying that marijuana use is prevalent among today's youth and that it has grown increasingly acceptable in popular culture. This informative and useful book for kids examines drug use and abuse. Topics of interest include the history of marijuana use and laws, and myths and facts about marijuana misuse and abuse. A resource section provides websites and contact information of organizations for those dependent on drugs as well as for their friends and families.
Great Ideas of the Renaissance surveys the major advances that were made in art, architecture, sculpture, science, medicine, transportation, and culture. Merchants, monarchs, and religious leaders all promoted and encouraged creativity, and artists, scientists, and great thinkers pushed back the frontiers of philosophy, the arts, mathematics, and technology.
A time of questions and new ways of thinking marked the scientific world during the Renaissance. Follow along as the greatest minds of the time make enormous leaps and bounds toward enlightened thinking. Learn how the role of a scientist evolved. See the efforts made to increase man's understanding of the natural universe.
This intriguing book shows how this group's unusal members are generally classified according to an absence of a feature, such as the lack of complicated cell structure. Learn about such exotic organisms as algae, amoebae, and slime moldsall of them protists. Case histories examine the importance of plankton to the marine food chains and the role of protists in various diseases.
Water plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function, including regulating temperature and removing toxins. Fiber is essential for gastrointestinal health. This compelling book examines how fiber and water work together to help our digestive tracts run smoothly.
Our organs, bones, muscles, skin, and hair either contain or are made of proteins. This engaging title explains how our bodies break down large protein molecules into the amino acids that our bodies need to maintain our muscles, bones, blood, and body organs.
Minerals boost our immune systems, support normal growth and development, and help cells and organs function. This engaging title explores the roles of key minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.
We all know that vitamins are necessary for proper growth and good health. But what vitamins do we need and how does our body use them? This informative title identifies essential vitamins and explains how our bodies absorb them.
Even though carbohydrates have been given a bad rap in recent years, they are essential for maintaining good health. This fascinating title examines the chemical structure of carbohydrates and explains the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates.
There is a great deal of fuss about fat! Fat is an essential nutrient for optimal health, however too much fat can lead to health problems. This informative title helps clear up the confusion about this controversial nutrient.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Who are we, really? We share traits with our parents, but our genetic makeup is unique. Each one of us is a one-and-only creation. Through colorful photos, diagrams, and text, you can learn about genetics. See how the simple pea plant taught us the rules of inheritance. Find out how our genetic code is unlocking the mystery of where we came from and our connections with all living things.
All life starts with a set of instructions that can turn basic cells into hearts, tails, flower petals, or toenails. DNA is the amazing code of life that is found in every organism. Through colorful photos, diagrams, and text, you can learn how DNA is passed from cell to cell, controlling growth and change in all living things. Find out how we can use the properties of DNA to save endangered animals and even to catch criminals!
