Sciences

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Why does this applied science, which saves work and makes life easier, bring us so little happiness? The simple answer runs: Because we have not yet learned to make sensible use of it.  Albert Einstein

Selected Titles:

The Tracks of Triassic Vertebrates - Fossil Evidence from North-West England  Geoffrey Tresise with William A S Sarjeant National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside 1st 1997 Fossil footprints deriving from large vertebrates dating from the Triassic period were found in both Germany and England in the 1830s. Since the prints bore a marked resemblance to the human hand, they were named Chirotherium - the 'hand animal'. A puzzling feature in both countries was that the desert sandstones in which these pre-dinosaur footprints were found contained no skeletal remains of the animals that had left them. Chirotherium's identity was to remain a mystery for over a century. This lavishly illustrated book traces the history of the discovery of the tracks in north-west England, and narrates the finds of the nineteenth century, drawing from hitherto unpublished contemporary accounts and illustrations. It also describes the turnof-the-century work of ichnologist Henry Beasley, who played a leading role in the study and classification of the footprints, and whose extensive photographic archive is both fully inventoried and generously illustrated here. By weaving anecdotes of the eccentric experiments of the early gentleman geologists into the narrative, the authors skilfully bring the period of the Victorian scientist to life. The Tracks of Triassic Vertebrates provides an illuminating commentary on the study of tracks, trails and trace fossils and is indispensable reading for those interested in the history of geology. Large 4to. Printed decorative boards, no dustwrapper as published F+ 1100 gms £40.00

The Transit of Venus - the brilliant life of Jermiah Horrocks father of British Astronomy Peter Aughton Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1st 2004 There is a missing chapter in the history of astronomy. It lies between the work of Galileo and Newton, and is a chapter that belongs to a brilliant young Englishman. Only the English Civil War has robbed him of a more prominent place in history - for a whole generation scientific progress was impeded by the turmoil of the times, and much work was lost or forgotten. But in the period before the war, Horrocks was the greatest astronomer in the kingdom. He knew the positions and motions of the planets more accurately than any person of his time. He was the first to appreciate the true scale of the solar system and to formulate a valid theory for the wanderings of the moon. Yet he was a young man living in provincial obscurity, making independent observations which decades later would astonish the newly-formed Royal Society. Of these, his most memorable was of a rare celestial event called the transit of Venus. In June 2004 the image of Venus will again be visible on the face of the sun - for only the fifth time since Horrocks first observed the transit with a primitive telescope from his window in 1639. Although Horrocks' achievements are marked by a memorial in Westminster Abbey, very few people today know the sad but romantic story of his life. Peter Aughton's scientific and narrative skills bring alive the story of his early discoveries in astronomy and ably illustrate Horrocks' great scientific legacy. 8vo. Fine in a Fine wrapper. 540 gms £10.00

Insects and History J L Cloudsley-Thompson Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1st 1976 This is a fascinating account of the ways in which the insect world has affected the course of human history since pre-historic times. Never before has all this information been gathered within a single volume, and the aspects of history with which the book is concerned have consistently been overlooked. Professor Cloudsley- Thompson, an eminent zoologist and distinguished author, has gathered a wealth of evidence from disparate sources, both ancient and modern, revealing the extraordinary extent to which insects, in their role of transmitters of epidemic disease, have altered the destiny of mankind. Insects have destroyed armies and confounded generals. They contributed largely to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, with all its consequences, and have influenced religions everywhere. In England, they were, more than any other single factor, responsible for the growth of the medical services. Nor has their importance as sources of food, drink and other valuable products been insignificant. Insects made an empire of China, opened up central Asia, and brought the East into contact with the West. All this, and much more, is presented in this lucid and dramatic re-interpretation of the highlights of human history. With 28 line drawings and 7 maps in the text. Jacket illustration: Moses sends the plague oflocusts, from the Nuremberg Bible (1483); courtesy of the British and Foreign Bible Society, photo Freeman. Large 8vo. Very, very minor wear to dustwrapper edges, slight sunning to the spine, otherwise Fine in a VG++ wrapper. 635 gms £35.00

The Biology and Technology of the Cultivated Mushroom P B Flegg, D M Spencer & D A Wood, (eds) John Wiley & Sons 1st 1985 Methods of producing the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, have advanced dramatically overthe past decade, and for the most part improvements in technology have been generated by fundamental advances in our understanding of the basic biology of the crop. This book, in one well-structured and comprehensive volume draws together this important research work, and represents the cumulative knowledge and experience of one of the world's leading mushroom research teams. The multi-authored approach has encouraged the comprehensive treatment of a topic within a chapter, but strong editing has equally emphasized the many overlaps and links between topics. Aspects discussed include the history, general biology, cultural systems, nutrition, biochemistry, genetics, growth, fruiting, food value and chemical composition of the mushroom. Sections of special value to growers will include compost preparation, spawn production, crop productivity, post-harvest storage and the chapters on pests and bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. The whole book is very extensively referenced. Readership: Growers, advisers, technologists and scientists in the mushroom industry, microbiologists, mycologists, botanists, horticulturalists, plant pathologists, agronomists, virologists, entomologists and biochemists. 8vo. Glazed pictorial boards VG++. 720 gms £150.00

Principles of Hydrology  R C Ward McGraw-Hill 1967 The aim of this book, the first British hydrology textbook of its kind not aimed exclusively at the engineer, is to present a general survey written in essentially non-mathematical terms, of the occurrence, distribution, and movement of water. It discusses in detail the main phases of the hydrological cycle: precipitation, interception, evaporation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, groundwater, and runoff, and the relationships and interactions between them. The ways in which the geographical method and approach may usefully be applied to hydrological problems are illustrated, while engineering and other applied aspects have been reduced to a minimum. Extensive and detailed references have been included at the end of each chapter to encourage the student, or other reader, to extend his knowledge of the particular topics in which he is interested. The book comprises one of the most up-to-date reviews, available within a single volume, of basic theory and methods of measurement of a wide range of hydrological parameters. PRINCIPLES OF HYDROLOGY is designed to serve as a textbook for university students of geography and allied subjects in the earth sciences and environmental studies, who require a basic knowledge of hydrological principles. It will also be useful as a general text to practising hydrologists and engineers. 8vo. Very feint tape stains to the endpapers, otherwise VG++ in a VG++ wrapper. 760 gms £20.00

Analysis of Concrete Structures by Fracture Mechanics - proceedings of the International RILEM Workshop L. Elfgren and S.P. Shah (eds) Chapman & Hall 1st 1991 This book presents new research findings on the fast developing applications of fracture mechanics to concrete structures. Papers from leading international experts describe existing and new modelling techniques in the analysis of concrete materials and structures. The book explains the practical application of fracture mechanics to structural modelling, bending, shear, bond and anchorage. The proceedings of this RILEM Workshop will be an important reference for those engaged in design, development and research on concrete structures. It is dedicated to Professor Arne Hillerborg, one of the pioneers in the introduction of Fracture mechanics to concrete. A review of Professor Hillerborg's contribution to the subject is included. The book forms the Proceedings of the RILEM Workshop held in Abisko, Sweden, in 1989. 8vo. Glazed boards VG++. 550 gms £95.00

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