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Science on the Edge - Artificial Intelligence
Phillip Margulies
Hardcover (Blackbirch Press, Dec. 5, 2003)"Thinking" machines go back as far as Pascal in the 1600s, but today's machines--computers--have reached levels of sophistication that few could have imagined just decades ago. Now, scientists are perfecting computers that can "learn" from their experiences, can create their own programs, and--perhaps--even one day "feel" emotions the way humans do. Even if we can create a computer that acts like a human, do we really want to? Will we ultimately replace ourselves with machines we create?
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Cave Sleuths: Solving Science Underground
Laurie Lindop
Library Binding (21st Century, Aug. 13, 2004)Discusses the science of speleology and what scientists have learned about caves, how they are formed, and what lives in them.
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Venturing The Deep Sea
Laurie Lindop
Library Binding (Twenty First Century Books, Sept. 1, 2005)Meet several scientists who study the animals and environment at the bottom of the ocean floor.
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Nanotechnology
Dianne Maddox
Hardcover (Blackbirch, Feb. 25, 2005)Explains what nanotechnology is, how it has been used in the past, and how it may be used in the future, including diagnosing and treating illnesses.
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The Science of Sea Monsters: Mosasaurs and other Prehistoric Reptiles of the Sea
Alex Woolf
Hardcover (Book House, )None
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Probing Volcanoes
Laurie Lindop
Library Binding (21st Century, Sept. 3, 2003)Explores the life of volcanologists, the scientists who leave the safety of the laboratory to participate in the dangerous work of studying volcanoes, describing the work they do, the dangers they face, and the benefits of their work.
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Chasing Tornadoes
Laurie Lindop
Hardcover (21st Century, Oct. 3, 2003)Introduces the work of daredevil tornado researchers, popularly known as "storm chasers," who leave their laboratories to follow storms that form tornadoes.
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High Tech-Weapons
John Allen
Hardcover (Blackbirch, Aug. 5, 2005)Examines the impact of technology throughout history on war, from the use of bombers during World War II to the use of Packbots during the Iraq War, and discusses future lethal and nonlethal weapons.
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Terrifying Storms
Jim Pipe
Library Binding (Smart Apple Media, )None
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Science on the Edge - Stem Cells
Jenny Tesar
Hardcover (Blackbirch Press, June 19, 2003)One day in the future, a patient with a life-threatening disease may receive a cure that causes disease-affected cells to be replaced by healthy, young cells. This is one of the promises of stem cell research. But is stem cell research ethical? And does it cross over the moral boundaries that determine where life begins?
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Science on the Edge - Bionics
Maxine Rosaler
Hardcover (Blackbirch Press, July 1, 2003)Bionics is the science of fusing artificial parts with human parts in order to duplicate body functions. Though most people understand bionics to be the creation of "superhumans," the practical applications are less dramatic, such as hearing aids, artificial limbs, and artificial hearts. In fact one out of every ten Americans depends on some type of artificial physical enhancement device. The future of this science holds amazing potential--from the creation of artificial nervous systems that would allow paralyzed people to move, to devices that would give sight to the blind.
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Science on the Edge - Gene Therapy
Linda George
Hardcover (Blackbirch Press, July 2, 2003)By splicing genes or "cutting and pasting" chromosomes, the process of gene therapy can treat, cure, or even prevent disease by physically altering genetic structures. Genetic engineering has not only already been applied to countless industries, most notably in agriculture, it also holds great promise in many realms of medicine. But what are the ramifications of being able to pick and choose the genes we have and what are the ethical implications of creating "perfect" bodies for ourselves?
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