Books in Question of Science series

The National Geographic Society's world-renowned cartographers are proud to present a state-of-the-art world atlas for children ages 3 to 6. This updated edition of the award-winning National Geographic Our World: A Child's First Picture Atlas uses a puzzle-piece motif to introduce children to maps and geography and is the result of careful collaboration with experts in early childhood education. This big, boldly illustrated atlas invites young adventurers to explore the world's places, people, and animals. Lively text, pictures, and interactive activities make it easy and fun for kids to learn about and understand their world. In today's interconnected world, kids hear different languages, see different types of clothing, and eat food from different countries every day. Toys, televisions, and clothing all have labels saying where they were made. Children's natural curiosity will demand they know where these places are, who lives there, and what kind of things they do. This bright, beautiful atlas, chock-full of fun facts, ensures that even the youngest kids have the learning tools they need to find the answers to their questions. This updated edition features: 3 world maps, 7 continent maps, United States map, Canada map, 75 full-color illustrations, interactive activities, glossary, and pronunciation guide. There's a great big wonderful world out there for kids to explore with the mapping experts at National Geographic.

This inspiring science book from National Geographic illustrates the quest towards the future of technological development. Transistors are a vital part of almost every electronic device we use today. Tiny transistors joined together as integrated circuits are used in all our powerful computers. The story behind the invention of the transistor traces advances in science and math from the earliest mechanical calculators used thousands of years ago to the breakthrough invention of the solid-state amplifier by Bell Labs in the 1940s. The strong personalities, fortunate accidents, and challenging research behind these advances bring science to life in Digital Revolution. Glen Phelan's lively text examines the complex history of the tiny transistors that have come to power our modern electronic world.

Today radioactivity is widely used to treat cancer, to study fossils, and to power submarines, but until the late 1800s man's understanding of this scientific field was practically non-existent. Indeed, the discovery of spontaneous radioactivity was largely accidental—the by-product of research by the French scientist Henri Becquerel. Atomic Universe traces the path to the discovery of radioactivity and places this major scientific breakthrough in the context of history. This intriguing book profiles the key scientific players and features inspirational accounts of their childhoods and their development as scientists. Young readers learn about the lives and work of groundbreaking scientists such as Marie and Pierre Curie and trace the beginnings of the atomic age. Readers embark on a dramatic quest of discovery and peer ahead to see what the future holds for the science of radioactivity in the nuclear age.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Today radioactivity is widely used to treat cancer, to study fossils, and to power submarines, but until the late 1800s man's understanding of this scientific field was practically non-existent. Indeed, the discovery of spontaneous radioactivity was largely accidental—the by-product of research by the French scientist Henri Becquerel. Atomic Universe traces the path to the discovery of radioactivity and places this major scientific breakthrough in the context of history. This intriguing book profiles the key scientific players and features inspirational accounts of their childhoods and their development as scientists. Young readers learn about the lives and work of groundbreaking scientists such as Marie and Pierre Curie and trace the beginnings of the atomic age. Readers embark on a dramatic quest of discovery and peer ahead to see what the future holds for the science of radioactivity in the nuclear age.

Trace the quest to solve the scientific riddle of how human traits are passed down from one generation to the next in this new book from National Geographic. The story begins in 1856, when the scientist and monk Gregor Mendel begins experiments on pea plants, not knowing that he was about to unlock the first secrets of genetics and change our understanding of heredity forever. Double Helix follows the path to understanding the mysteries of DNA—a twisting quest that will draw young readers into the stories of scientists like Crick and Watson and reveal the discovery's strange connection to the atomic bomb. Author Glen Phelan's accessible text will help readers understand how complex genetic codes distinguish every single individual on Earth. The book also explores the vast range of applications for this landmark biological discovery in areas such as medicine, law, and historical research.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

The challenge for young readers: follow the scientific quest to finding the world's first vaccines—and move towards a future of saving lives worldwide. Thanks to modern vaccines, many diseases, such as smallpox, cholera, and polio, have been virtually eradicated. Before the discovery of vaccines, however, epidemics killed thousands of people worldwide every year. Killing Germs, Saving Lives traces the path to the creation of the vaccines that revolutionized modern medicine. Young readers learn of the background to this historic quest through fascinating profiles of the men and women whose breakthroughs changed the world. Personal portraits of the scientists involved give aspiring young scientists a look at great figures like Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Florence Nightingale. Readers will tour the germ-filled hospitals of the past, examine the current state of vaccine research, and look ahead to future developments in this fascinating scientific field.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Follow the quest to understand the laws of motion and gravity—to formulate the ups and downs of physics and solve the mysteries of the strange forces that propel all objects on Earth. Whenever we throw a baseball, sail a boat, or guide a spacecraft through the atmosphere, we manipulate the principles of motion and gravity. But for centuries these fundamental laws of nature mystified mankind. Author Glen Phelan guides young readers through the quest towards understanding the invisible forces at play on our planet. Ancient wisdom posited Earth as the center of the universe, but studies of the universe led Copernicus and Galileo to challenge that idea and radically alter perceptions of physics. Later, the Englishman Isaac Newton made the big breakthrough by defining the meaning of gravity (with the aid of a famous falling apple). An Invisible Force traces the historical and scientific path to man's understanding of motion and gravity. From stargazing astronomers to a look at accelerating future developments, young readers are drawn into an age-old science quest.