Science : Astrophysics & Space Science

A lively astronomy primer that uses cataclysmic scenarios to explain the universe’s most fascinating events. According to astronomer Philip Plait, the universe is an apocalypse waiting to happen But how much do we really need to fear from things like black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and supernovae? And if we should be scared, is there anything we can do to save ourselves? With humor and wit, Plait details the myriad doomsday events that the cosmos could send our way to destroy our planet and life as we know it. This authoritative yet accessible study is the ultimate astronomy lesson. Combining fascinating—and often alarming—scenarios that seem plucked from science fiction with the latest research and opinions, Plait illustrates why outer space is not as remote as most people think. Each chapter explores a different phenomenon, explaining it in easy-to-understand terms, and considering how life on earth and the planet itself would be affected should the event come to pass. Rather than sensationalizing the information, Plait analyzes the probability of these catastrophes occurring in our lifetimes and what we can do to stop them. With its entertaining tone and enlightening explanation of unfathomable concepts, Death from the Skies! will appeal to science buffs and beginners alike. more...

Price: $16.00

The Hubble Space Telescope has made some of the most dramatic discoveries in the history of astronomy. This volume represents some of the most important scientific achievements in its first decade of operation. Written by world experts, this is an indispensable collection of review articles for researchers and graduate students. more...

Price: $116.00

Es darf als gesichert gelten, dass Einstein bereits 1895-1896, whrend er sich an der Aargauischen Kantonsschule auf die Maturittsprfung vorbereitete, erste Ideen zur Relativittstheorie entwickelte. Die Publikation befasst sich eingehend mit der Aarauer Zeit des spter zu Weltruhm gelangten Physikers und bespricht die grundlegenden Ideen seiner Arbeiten von 1905, die diesen Weltruhm begrndeten. Aus dem Inhalt: - Kommentierte Originalabdrucke dreier vom siebzehnjhrigen Einstein verfasster Maturittsprfungsarbeiten - Spezielle Relativittstheorie: Eine bung im berwinden von Denkgewohnheiten -  ber die Herkunft der Speziellen Relativittstheorie - Einsteins Analyse der Brownschen Bewegung - Einstein und die Begrndung der Quantentheorie - Relativittstheorie und der Friedhof der Sterne Beitragsautoren: Domenico Giulini, Herbert Hunziker, Walter Pfeifer, Heinrich Staehelin, Norbert Straumann more...

Price: $36.00

Since the last joint IAU and COSPAR Colloquium in Gainesville in 1995, there have been dramatic changes in the field resulting from in-situ space experiments, Earth orbiting satellites and ground based observations. The brightest comet since the early years of the twentieth century, comet Hale-Bopp, appeared, giving an invaluable opportunity to see in action one great source of interplanetary dust. Similarly, the Leonid meteor shower has been at its most active since 1966, producing spectacular displays of meteors and allowing for an array of observational techniques, not available in 1966 to be used, while theory has also been refined to a level where very accurate predictions of the timing of meteor storms has become possible. Prior to the meeting a total eclipse of the Sun in South West England and North Europe was observed, traditionally a good opportunity to observe the Zodiacal cloud. The knowledge of the Near-Earth Asteroid population has also increased dramatically, with the increased study arising from the heightened awareness of the danger to Earth from such bodies. Extrasolar planets have been discovered since the last meeting and it is recognised that interplanetary dust in other Planetary Systems can now be studied. Since much of the dust observed in such systems is at a distance of order 100 AU from the star, this brings into focus the production of dust in the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt of our own system. Recent years have seen a recognition of the importance of dust originating outside our own system, that is now present in the near-Earth environment. As is always the case when great strides take place observationally, much theoretical work follows, and the same is true in this instance. While data about the planetary medium from Venus to Jupiter was beginning to be available at the meeting in 1995, the data from both Galileo and Ulysses have now been more fully analysed, with a corresponding increase in our knowledge. This book reflects the thematic appr more...

Price: $227.00

This multi-author volume is based on selected papers presented at the 7th SEDI symposium and reflects the new developments in the study of the Earth's deep interior using experimental and observational techniques including seismology, the monitoring of the Earth's rotation, geomagnetism and accurate measurements of the gravity fields together with theoretical skills such as building numerical models and the study of high pressure physics. With contributions from leading authors in the field, this volume provides a useful overview and reference for postgraduates and researchers in this area of geophysics. more...

Price: $139.95