The scale of the cosmos can be baffling, with distances so vast and timescales to long that it's easy to dismiss them as being completely divorced from our everyday life. But in this new book Dr Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, shows you the myriad ways we are intrinsically connected to the rest of the universe and how everything on Earth - from the ground beneath our feet to the technology in our pockets - has origins in space. Discover how rocks from space reveal what conditions are like at our planet's core, how the desolate surface of the moon holds ancient clues to Earth's earliest life forms, and how buried treasure in the Nile reveals the watery past of Mars. Discover how the atoms of your own body were forged in the heart of a star, how you can see the echo of creation on your TV, and the ways in which technology developed for observing the most far-flung corners of space is now used to diagnose potentially fatal human diseases. The Intimate Universe is a curated tour of the most fascinating phenomena and discoveries in astronomy, revealing how we are inextricably, inspirationally linked to the cosmos.
The story of the human body is perhaps the greatest story ever told--spelled out over millions of years of evolution and repeated by each of us in our own lifetime. We live it, and yet remain largely unaware of the intricate processes that play out within ourselves and those around us. For example, why can very young children learn languages more easily than adults? Why do our bodies break down during old age? How can a baby--a separate and genetically different human being--be created inside a mother without being rejected by her body? How have our complex and little-understood brains contributed to making us the most successful species on the planet? Now The Learning Channel presents Intimate Universe, the extraordinary story of human life from birth to death, which explores, at each stage, the incredible physical workings of our bodies. It is a unique and enthralling account of the body's journey from the miracle of conception and the shock of birth through the rapid and turbulent changes of adolescence and the gradual deceleration into old age and death. In Intimate Universe, author Anthony Smith transcends anatomical trivia to chronicle the body's powerful tale. In a clear and captivating style, he narrates the miraculous dramas that unfold within the hidden architecture of our internal structures. Whether it's the week-by-week account of an unborn baby's development, the uncanny signals and connections made by the brain, the remarkable abilities of the immune system, or simply the way our body sustains itself under different conditions, Smith explains the basics of physiology simply and elegantly. To support the author's exceptional narrative, IntimateUniverse includes over 150 full-color illustrations, computer-generated images, and state-of-the-art microphotography that illuminate and add context to the topics discussed. In addition, the book provides relevant anecdotes for each of the major chapters. An excellent addition to any family library, Intimate Universe is not only a valuable and comprehensive reference, but a resource that will provide new insight into our bodies' physiological challenges and fascinating secrets, allowing us to better understand ourselves. EXPLORE THE MARVELS AND MYSTERIES OF THE HUMAN BODY All the DNA present at the moment of conception of the 5.8 billion people alive today would weigh only one thousandth of an ounce. Here's how to spot the brain at work: Stand directly in front of someone and ask an arithmetical question. Left-brain activity will cause the person's eyes to avert to the right; ask a spatial question and the eyes will avert to the left, reflecting right-brain activity. If the body's branching network of blood vessels were placed end to end, they would stretch for nearly 60,000 miles--more than seven times the distance around the equator. Hearing is never more acute than at birth and declines gradually with time. By the age of ten, a child will have heard more sounds than he will hear during the rest of his life. As skin becomes less elastic, the repeated puckering caused by facial expressions begins to etch permanent lines. Scientists estimate it takes 200,000 frowns to make a brow line. No one is born with freckles. They are a protective response against sunlight. During a child's first year, 60 percent of her food intake goes toward providingenergy for brain growth and development.
The scale of the cosmos can be baffling, with distances so vast and timescales to long that it's easy to dismiss them as being completely divorced from our everyday life. But in this new book Dr Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, shows you the myriad ways we are intrinsically connected to the rest of the universe and how everything on Earth - from the ground beneath our feet to the technology in our pockets - has origins in space. Discover how rocks from space reveal what conditions are like at our planet's core, how the desolate surface of the moon holds ancient clues to Earth's earliest life forms, and how buried treasure in the Nile reveals the watery past of Mars. Discover how the atoms of your own body were forged in the heart of a star, how you can see the echo of creation on your TV, and the ways in which technology developed for observing the most far-flung corners of space is now used to diagnose potentially fatal human diseases. The Intimate Universe is a curated tour of the most fascinating phenomena and discoveries in astronomy, revealing how we are inextricably, inspirationally linked to the cosmos.
Fifteen-year-old Aki Simon has a theory. And it's mostly about sex. No, it isn't that kind of theory. Aki already knows she's bisexual—even if, until now, it's mostly been in the hypothetical sense. Aki has dated only guys so far, and her best friend, Lori, is the only person who knows she likes girls, too. Actually, Aki's theory is that she's got only one shot at living an interesting life—and that means she's got to stop sitting around and thinking so much. It's time for her to actually do something. Or at least try. So when Aki and Lori set off on a church youth-group trip to a small Mexican town for the summer and Aki meets Christa—slightly older, far more experienced—it seems her theory is prime for the testing. But it's not going to be easy. For one thing, how exactly do two girls have sex, anyway? And more important, how can you tell if you're in love? It's going to be a summer of testing theories—and the result may just be love.
A San Francisco Chronicle and Southwest Review Best Book of the Year and A World Literature Today Notable Translation of the Year “A dreamscape of a book. I adored this compelling, wise, and utterly unique coming-of-age tale.” —Tara Conklin For seven-year-old M, the world is guided by a firm set of principles, based on her father D’s life as a traveling salesman. Enchanted by her father’s trade, M convinces him to take her along on his routes, selling hardware supplies against the backdrop of Pinochet-era Chile. As father and daughter trek from town to town in their old Renault, M’s memories and thoughts become tied to a language of rural commerce, philosophy, the cosmos, hardware products, and ghosts. M, in her innocence, barely notices the rising tensions and precarious nature of their work until she and her father connect with an enigmatic photographer, E, whose presence threatens to upend the unusual life they’ve created. María José Ferrada expertly captures a vanishing way of life and a father-daughter relationship on the brink of irreversible change. At once nostalgic, dangerous, sharply funny, and full of delight and wonder, How to Order the Universe is a richly imaginative debut and a rare work of magic and originality.
This is a provocative account of the astounding new answers to the most basic philosophical question: Where did the universe come from and how will it end?
Perfect for fans of The Wonderful Things You Will Be and That's Me Loving You, this picture book by a renowned astrophysicist is a lyrical meditation on the preciousness of one child and the vastness of the universe. Just like the sun gives shine to the moon, you light up the world beyond this room . . . You are grand and marvelous, strong and mysterious. The history of the world is in your fingertips. A lyrical meditation on the preciousness of one child and the vastness of the universe, this gorgeously illustrated picture book shares the immensity of a parent's love along with the message that we are all connected to the broader cosmos in important and intimate ways. A perfect bedtime read-aloud, Child of the Universe is a book to cherish forever. The author is an astrophysicist who has been fascinated by the universe since he was a child. As a parent, he has developed a new appreciation for the deep connections between billions of years of cosmic evolution and this one tiny human.
Now in paperback, from the New York Times best-selling author of Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of the Spirit, a timely guide with 100 prayers for entering into a personal relationship with the Divine. "I've loved so many of Caroline Myss's books, but maybe none so much as Intimate Conversations with the Divine. Has there ever been a more urgent need for her unique and profound (and sometimes wonderfully cranky) take on our spiritual reality, healing, and the language of holiness?" -- Anne Lamott, author of Traveling Mercies and Help, Thanks, Wow In her most personal book to date--now available in paperback for the first time--beloved teacher and best-selling author Caroline Myss draws on her own practice to help us regain our fluency in the language of prayer and renew our connection to the sacred. Intimate Conversations with the Divine offers 100 of Myss's personal prayers as a resource and inspiration to start a prayer practice of your own. Each prayer illustrates a different type of grace that feeds the human soul, from awakening, endurance, and healing, to silence, surrender, and trust. "We are one holy system of life and great cosmic truth, which is that all life--including all of us--breathes together," Myss writes. "I hope this book, these prayers, will bring you comfort and grace, and help you through the difficult times ahead. And I hope they will inspire you to believe that with God, all things are possible."
Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.
The Mindful Universe takes you on a journey through the outer cosmos, exploring its inherently spiritual nature and mindful connection to our inner cosmos.
