Second in length only to the Nile, the Amazon River carries a greater volume of water than any other river in the world. This attractive book features the fascinating facts about this far-reaching river and the animals, plant life, and indigenous cultures that live in the surrounding rain forest.
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!
From insects to elephants, every living thing on this planet is made up of cells, the tiny building blocks of plant and animal life. Each cell is alive-and each has work to do! What do cells look like? How do millions and billions of cells work together to form one plant, one animal, or one human being? Guided by colorful photos, diagrams, and text, you can take a closer look at the amazing world of cell science-and see what's next.
Soil Erosion and How to Prvent It helps young readers see the real impact of erosion on all life. This intriguing book describes the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition, the impact of erosion on plants and animals, and kid-friendly steps to preventing erosion.
Young readers will be astounded by the tiny organisms that live in soil, their ecological roles, and how they adapt to living there. Children will learn the value of even the smallest bacteria and be amazed by the impact that soil degradation has on an entire ecosystem.
How Is Soil Made introduces children to the concepts of organic and inorganic parts of soil, the nutrient cycles of plants, and decomposition. Complex processes such as weathering, erosion, and deposition are also made easy to understand.
Children will enjoy finding out about different types of soils from different climates, what animals and plants live in these different soils, and just how valuable soil is to human life.
The natural movement of water has long been used to create energy. New forms of hydropower are being researched as alternative ways to create clean renewable energy. This remarkable new book describes how water flow is being used in tidal and wave energy farms, and how the oceans contain enough heat in the surface water to power the world! Case studies highlight the potential advantages and disadvantages of pursuing these different kinds of power.
The oldest and most important source of power for our planet is the Sun. This amazing new book explains why solar power is becoming a very real replacement for our current energy sources. Detailed images feature different types of solar collectors, solar thermal plants, and solar cells, and help explain how they are used. Special case studies identify areas where solar power is already in use around the world.
The need for safe sources of renewable energy has sent scientists underground to tap the natural heat produced by the Earth. Geothermal Energy: Using Earths Furnace describes the three different ways electricity is produced from geothermal energy. Young readers will discover how this clean, safe energy is currently being used in twenty countries including the United States, the largest producer of geothermal energy.
Green living means changing the way we live and use resources so that the environment is able to produce indefinitely the things we need to live. Building a Green Community walks young readers through a model community identifying green living practices at work, at home, on our highways, and at the store. This fascinating book also includes case studies of green communities around the world.
Because of global warming, nuclear energy is getting a second look. This important book discusses the benefits and drawbacks of this controversial, but clean and reliable, source of power. Case studies show how new technologies are helping make production of nuclear energy safer.
Reducing Your Foodprint teaches children that what they eat and how they eat is important to the environment. The further food travels to get to your table, the more harm to the environment. This enlightening new book explains how to adjust your diet to eat locally and responsibly.
Natural gas, oil, and coal are finite resources, and their use contributes to deadly smog and global warming. The Future of Fossil Fuels follows the world's dependence on these resources and shows how people are working to reduce their useand even make them more environmentally friendly!
This informative book has been newly revised in light of the massive eruption in Iceland in March 2010. The skies over a large part of the world were filled with volcanic ash, affecting weather and agriculture and disrupting travel for millions of people for several weeks.
This informative book has been newly revised in light of the devastating tornadoes that have swept across the United States over the last few years. 2008 was particularly fierce with clusters of tornadoes forming every month in the first half of the year.
In light of 2008's devastating cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) and hurricanes Fay, Gustav, and Ike in the U.S., this informative book has been newly revised. This book features the science behind these massive tropical storms and how societies around the world cope with their ferocity.
Climate is the average weather in an area over many years. This timely book looks at weather patterns around the world, the factors influencing climate, such as ocean currents and jet streams, and how climate is changing today. Children will learn how people and other living things in different places on Earth are being affected by climate change and what we can do to help reduce the damage.
Pollination directly affects the food supply on Earth. Pollinators are threatened by pesticides, invasive species, and habitat destruction, but they are especially threatened by a lack of awareness about their importance. This informative book filled with stunning photographs will help children look at insects in a very different way.
The plant kingdom contains more than 250,000 species. This colorful book describes the main groups of plants, including mosses, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. Special sections highlight the role of plants in the environmentas producers in the food chain and producers of the worlds oxygenand their role in climate and the water cycle.
This interesting book features an examination of the four major groups of fungi: yeasts, toadstools, chytrids, and bread molds. Special sections explore varieties that feed on dead and decaying matter, parasites, and species that form relationships with other species. Case histories involving fungi include penicillin and the fight against disease, and genetically modified (GM) products in food technology.
This book examines bacteria that are found in virtually every environmentincluding those that are characterized by extreme heat, cold, and depthand, of course, bacteria that are found inside our bodies. Case studies examine the development of new vaccines against bacterial diseases and the use of bacteria to help fight pollution.
Some Archaea thrive in extreme places such as in thermal pools, hot vents at the bottom of the sea, extremely salty water, and even in underground oil reserves. This book examines the diverse Archaea kingdom and the division of these organisms by their unusual biology into three main groups. It also explains why little in general is known about them, and why further classification of Archaea is so difficult.
How in the world do you classify the more than one million species in the animal kingdom? This fact-packed book divides animals into the major phyla, classes, and critical features. Fascinating case histories examine the discovery of new mammal species, the need to conserve endangered species, and using natural predators to control populations and preserve species and their environments.
