Every human being carries, within each of his or her cells, a long history of the species. The human genome is a record of evolution that stretches back to the first Homo sapiens and to the orig
Scientists did not know what made people sick only 150 years ago. There were many theories of how and why illness spread, but none of them were accurate. Though very primitive microscopes had pe
Praise for the previous editions:"...well written and engagingly contemporary. Recommended..."—Choice"...suitable for high school, public, and academic libraries."—American Reference Book
Praise for the previous edition:"...appealing as well as informative. Recommended for high-school, public, and undergraduate libraries."—Booklist"...would make for fascinating reading in public
It is difficult to identify a defining moment that turned the tide toward less-polluting energy sources, but most people today have a fresh outlook on the environment and realize the importance of co
With tensions escalating between the United States and North Korea over the North's resumption of its nuclear weapons program, Korea has recently become a focus of media attention. Home to more than
Since George Washington delivered the first inaugural speech in 1789, every elected president has addressed the nation after taking the oath of office. These inspiring, uplifting, and informative ina
A Brief History of Great Britain narrates the history of Great Britain from the earliest times to the 21st century, covering the entire island—England, Wales, and Scotland—as well as asso
The field of space and astronomy is devoted to the study of the heavenly bodies, their behavior, and characteristics. As the oldest natural science, knowledge of astronomy has come from some of the w
Study of the weather and climate helps students understand weather conditions and the science behind weather research. Temperature, barometric pressure, wind, and precipitation are just a few of the
Computers are more prevalent in our daily lives than ever before, yet many people are unfamiliar with the concepts and technology of computer science. Offering 20 engaging experiments and activities
Physical science and chemistry are two different but closely related fields, and they are also two of the primary areas of physical science. Physics encompasses the study of the world's foundations&#
Conservation refers to the careful and controlled use of natural resources for the purpose of extending the time they are available as well as retaining biodiversity. Conservation does not prevent th
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking is responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths in Ameri
Although the science of ecology emerged only recently, it has a long ancestry. It begins in the 18th century with the story of Gilbert White, an English clergyman whose correspondence describing and
Encyclopedia of Physical Science discusses concepts that unify the physical sciences with life, Earth, and space science. Examining topics such as natural hazards, global challenges, and the history
Students with a basic understanding of the environment and concern for its future know the importance of preserving biological diversity. Biodiversity is the variety of living things on Earth or in a
The Middle Ages marked a time when religion and superstition dominated all thinking and stalled the pursuit of new ideas. The questioning of everything from religious doctrines to styles of governmen
Most of the challenges facing the environment are due to the fact that the human population is straining the Earth's finite resources. Fortunately, preteens and teens are in a stage in life where the
Hazardous and nonhazardous wastes must be grouped by their physical form, chemical content, degree of hazard to the environment, or source in order to be treated by waste managers. These groupings al
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infection that is passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that
During the Middle Ages (ca. 529-1100), the rise of Christianity had a definite effect on the practice of medicine. Pope Gregory (ca. 540-604) stressed the importance of prayer over medicine, and over
Praise for the previous edition:"...user-friendly...there's plenty of solid information here."—BooklistEvery sexual encounter presents the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease, and un
Thanks to new technology, scientists are able to observe organic molecules as they work together in the cell and in “molecular machines,” as well as how they build tissues, organs, and wh
The industrial might of the United States grew in the 1930s and flourished during the two world wars. As businesses large and small supplied the needs of the country, they discarded their wastes in l
Despite the fact that the United Nations officially abolished slavery and the slave trade almost 60 years ago, millions of human beings live in slavery today. Human trafficking-the official term for
It is an undisputed fact that the Earth's climate is changing, and although the scientific community continues to debate the exact correlation between human activity and climatic change, there is now
Praise for the previous edition:"...clear and concise...broad in scope...belong[s] in any library serving young adults."—School Library JournalAccording to the National Association of Anorexia
The period following World War II was marked by great social change as a result of the civil rights movement, the feminist movement, and the youth opposition to the Vietnam War. The threat of nuclear
Oceans cover almost 71 percent of the Earth's surface. Travelers on land can find their way by recognizing landmarks and navigating with the help of maps, but there are no landmarks at sea and marine
George Orwell is one of the great writers of the 20th century, famous for his direct and powerful style as well as for his fictional condemnations of totalitarianism.The new Critical Companion to Geo
As the single largest preventable cause of untimely death, tobacco use kills hundreds of thousands prematurely each year. A host of new laws has increased taxes on cigarettes and restricted smoking i
Two major historical events dominated the period from 1929 to 1949: the Great Depression and World War II. When the stock market crashed in October of 1929, economic hardship struck many American cit
Scientists are learning to manipulate the genes of plants and animals, changing existing organisms and creating new ones. By taking control of the mechanisms that govern heredity in other species, hu
Praise for the previous edition:“Serious students of the tae kwon do...will appreciate and learn from the illustrated warm-up exercises, techniques, and basic philosophy presented here.”&
Flamboyant, excessive, and full of changes, the 1920s fell between the two great wars of the 20th century. Characterized in America by the trends of Prohibition, bootleggers, the Harlem Renaissance,
The Irish poet William Butler Yeats is often considered the premier English-language poet of the 20th century, but he was also an important playwright, folklorist, critic, and politician. Yeats's wor
The theory of evolution can be observed anywhere—from exotic tropical rain forests to our own backyards—and is based on three main principles: heredity, variation, and selection. In the 1
Vivid characters and first-rate storytelling are the hallmarks of great popular fiction. The new Encyclopedia of American Popular Fiction is an A-to-Z guide to those authors and works that have enjoy
From baker to winemaker—navigate your way to a new career.Food and Culinary Arts helps those interested in exploring new careers in these innovative professions. This helpful new guide examines
