THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERFrom the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask.Millions visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. Fans ask him a lot of strange questions: How fast can you hit a speed bump, driving, and live? When (if ever) did the sun go down on the British Empire? When will Facebook contain more profiles of dead people than living? How many humans would a T Rex rampaging through New York need to eat a day?In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations and consults nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, complemented by comics. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion. Read more

Reinforce students' understanding throughout their course; clear topic summaries with sample questions and answers will improve exam technique to achieve higher grades.Written by examiners and teachers, Student Guides:· Help students identify what they need to know with a concise summary of the topics examined in the AS and A-level specification· Consolidate understanding with exam tips and knowledge check questions· Provide opportunities to improve exam technique with sample graded answers to exam-style questions· Develop independent learning and research skills · Provide the content for generating individual revision notes Read more

'Nerd royalty' Ben Goldacre 'Laugh-out-loud funny' Bill Gates'Totally brilliant' Tim HarfordWHAT IF you still had so many more strange questions about the universe?And WHAT IF Randall Munroe, former NASA roboticist and xkcd creator, were prepared to move mountains, fill the solar system with soup and alter the space-time continuum to answer them?Whether it's how to make a lava lamp out of lava or feeding the inhabitants of New York to a T. Rex, welcome to the weird, wonderful (and sometimes terrifying) world of WHAT IF? 2 Read more

Quantum Theory is the most revolutionary discovery in physics since Newton. This book gives a lucid, exciting, and accessible account of the surprising and counterintuitive ideas that shape our understanding of the sub-atomic world. It does not disguise the problems of interpretation that still remain unsettled 75 years after the initial discoveries. The main text makes no use of equations, but there is a Mathematical Appendix for those desiring stronger fare. Uncertainty, probabilistic physics, complementarity, the problematic character of measurement, and decoherence are among the many topics discussed. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. Read more

Randall Munroe is . . .'Nerd royalty' Ben Goldacre'Totally brilliant' Tim Harford'Laugh-out-loud funny' Bill Gates'Wonderful' Neil GaimanAN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe world's most entertaining and useless self-help guide, from the brilliant mind behind the wildly popular webcomic xkcd and the million-selling What If? and Thing Explainer For any task you might want to do, there's a right way, a wrong way, and a way so monumentally bad that no one would ever try it. How To is a guide to the third kind of approach. It's full of highly impractical advice for everything from landing a plane to digging a hole. 'How strange science can fix everyday problems' New Scientist'A brilliant book: clamber in for a wild ride' Nature Read more

THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Science writing at its best. If only chemistry had been like this at school' Matt Ridley ____________________ Everything in the universe is made of them, including you. Like you, the elements have personalities, attitudes, talents, shortcomings, stories rich with meaning. Here you'll meet iron that rains from the heavens and noble gases that light the way to vice. You'll learn how lead can tell your future while zinc may one day line your coffin. You'll discover what connects the bones in your body with the Whitehouse in Washington, the glow of a streetlamp with the salt on your dinner table. Unlocking their astonishing secrets and colourful pasts, Periodic Tales is a voyage of wonder and discovery, showing that their stories are inextricable from the stories of our own lives. ____________________ 'A love letter to the chemical elements. Aldersey-Williams is full of good stories and he knows how to tell them well' Sunday Telegraph 'The history, science, art, literature and everyday applications of all the elements from aluminium to zinc' The Times 'Great fun to read and an endless fund of unlikely and improbable anecdotes' Financial Times Read more

WHAT IF... one man decided to answer all the unanswerable questions, using science.The Sunday Times-bestselling author and xkcd creator, Randall Munroe is here to provide the best answers yet to the important questions you probably never thought to ask.The millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger.Planning to ride a fire pole from the moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing.Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone's freezer doors at the same time? Maybe it's time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics.Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-storey building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist.Welcome (back) to the mind-blowing world of What If?Unfazed by absurdity, Randall consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airplane-catapult design to clearly and concisely answer his readers' questions. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.Filled with bonkers science, boundless curiosity, and Randall's signature stick-figure comics, What If? 2 is sure to be another instant classic adored by inquisitive readers of all ages. Read more

A clear, simple, graphic-led introduction to quantum physics.Are you short of time but hungry for knowledge? This beginner's quantum physics book proves that sometimes less is more. Bold graphics and easy-to-understand explanations make it the most accessible guide to quantum physics on the market.Understanding Quantum Physics Has Never Been EasierThis illuminating reference book introduces you to the greatest physicists of the 20th and 21st centuries such as Albert Einstein, Neils Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Richard Feynman, and more! It's the perfect gift for anyone interested in physics or science in general and life-long learners. This book about quantum physics offers you: - Simple, easy-to-understand graphics that help to convey information in a visual way- Clear, authoritative text that explains 100 key concepts- Introduction to theoretical ideas and their everyday applications This smart but powerful guide cuts through the jargon and gives you the facts in a clear, visual way. Step inside the strange and fascinating world of subatomic physics that at times seems to conflict with common sense. Unlock the mysteries of more than 100 key ideas, from quantum mechanics basics to the uncertainty principle and quantum tunnelling.Each pared-back, single-page entry demystifies the groundbreaking ideas in modern science. From Schrödinger's Cat and quantum teleportation to atoms and gravity, Simply Quantum Physics is the ultimate jargon-free overview of the subject. Whether you're a physics student or just an interested layman, this indispensable guide is packed with everything you need to quickly and easily understand the basics.Complete the Series:Part of DK Book's exciting, brand-new reference series for those who are time-poor, but keen to learn more. Discover the mysteries of more key philosophical ideas in Simply Philosophy. Read more

Japan's worst nuclear radiation accident took place at a uranium reprocessing facility in Tokaimura, northeast of Tokyo, on 30 September 1999. The direct cause of the accident was cited as the depositing of a uranyl nitrate solution--containing about 16.6 kg of uranium, which exceeded the critical mass--into a precipitation tank. Three workers were exposed to extreme doses of radiation. Hiroshi Ouchi, one of these workers, was transferred to the University of Tokyo Hospital Emergency Room, three days after the accident. Dr. Maekawa and his staff initially thought that Ouchi looked relatively well for a person exposed to such radiation levels. He could talk, and only his right hand was a little swollen with redness. However, his condition gradually weakened as the radioactivity broke down the chromosomes in his cells. The doctors were at a loss as to what to do. There were very few precedents and proven medical treatments for the victims of radiation poisoning. Less than 20 nuclear accidents had occurred in the world to that point, and most of those happened 30 years ago. This book documents the following 83 days of treatment until his passing, with detailed descriptions and explanations of the radiation poisoning. Read more

A clear, simple, graphic-led introduction to quantum physics.Are you short of time but hungry for knowledge? This beginner's quantum physics book proves that sometimes less is more. Bold graphics and easy-to-understand explanations make it the most accessible guide to quantum physics on the market.Understanding Quantum Physics Has Never Been EasierThis illuminating reference book introduces you to the greatest physicists of the 20th and 21st centuries such as Albert Einstein, Neils Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Richard Feynman, and more! It's the perfect gift for anyone interested in physics or science in general and life-long learners. This book about quantum physics offers you: - Simple, easy-to-understand graphics that help to convey information in a visual way- Clear, authoritative text that explains 100 key concepts- Introduction to theoretical ideas and their everyday applications This smart but powerful guide cuts through the jargon and gives you the facts in a clear, visual way. Step inside the strange and fascinating world of subatomic physics that at times seems to conflict with common sense. Unlock the mysteries of more than 100 key ideas, from quantum mechanics basics to the uncertainty principle and quantum tunnelling.Each pared-back, single-page entry demystifies the groundbreaking ideas in modern science. From Schrödinger's Cat and quantum teleportation to atoms and gravity, Simply Quantum Physics is the ultimate jargon-free overview of the subject. Whether you're a physics student or just an interested layman, this indispensable guide is packed with everything you need to quickly and easily understand the basics.Complete the Series:Part of DK Book's exciting, brand-new reference series for those who are time-poor, but keen to learn more. Discover the mysteries of more key philosophical ideas in Simply Philosophy. Read more

Fully revised and updated, the seventh edition of this popular dictionary is the ideal reference resource for students of chemistry, either at school or at university. With over 5000 entries―over 175 new to this edition―it covers all aspects of chemistry, from physical chemistry to biochemistry. The seventh edition boasts broader coverage in areas such as nuclear magnetic resonance, polymer chemistry, nanotechnology and graphene, and absolute configuration, increasing the dictionary's appeal to students in these fields. New diagrams have been added and existing diagrams updated to illustrate topics that would benefit from a visual aid. There are also biographical entries on key figures, featured entries on major topics such as polymers and crystal defects, and a chronology charting the main discoveries in atomic theory, biochemistry, explosives, and plastics. Read more

This two-volume book provides an enriching insight into the laser, covering different types of lasers, the basic science behind the technology, their role at the cutting-edge of current scientific research, and their wide-ranging applications. With just high school physics as a prerequisite and favoring qualitative yet scientifically sound explanations over high-level mathematics, this book is aimed at a broad spectrum of readers in physics, chemistry, engineering, medicine, and biology. Its engaging and lucid presentation is enhanced with plenty of illustrations, making the world of the laser accessible to undergraduate students in the sciences and any other inquisitive readers with high school physics under their belts. Furthermore, the text is often laced with anecdotes, picked from history, that are bound to pique the minds of the readers. It is ideal for self-study or as a complement to courses on optics and optoelectronics. This volume, Part 1 of 2, explains the fundamentals of optics, what a laser is, how it works, and what is unique about the light it emits, from fundamental quantum theory through population inversion and cavity to common laser types. It is followed by Part 2 which depicts the many advances in science enabled by the laser, including spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, optical cooling and trapping, and optical tweezers, among many others, and provides a glimpse into the ways that the laser affects our lives via its uses in medicine, manufacturing, the nuclear industry, energy, defence, communication, ranging, pollution monitoring, art conservation, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Read more

Randall Munroe is . . .'Nerd royalty' Ben Goldacre'Totally brilliant' Tim Harford'Laugh-out-loud funny' Bill Gates'Wonderful' Neil GaimanAN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe world's most entertaining and useless self-help guide, from the brilliant mind behind the wildly popular webcomic xkcd and the million-selling What If? and Thing Explainer For any task you might want to do, there's a right way, a wrong way, and a way so monumentally bad that no one would ever try it. How To is a guide to the third kind of approach. It's full of highly impractical advice for everything from landing a plane to digging a hole. 'How strange science can fix everyday problems' New Scientist'A brilliant book: clamber in for a wild ride' Nature Read more

Chemistry For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781119293460) was previously published as Chemistry For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781118007303). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product.See how chemistry works in everything from soaps to medicines to petroleumWe're all natural born chemists. Every time we cook, clean, take a shower, drive a car, use a solvent (such as nail polish remover), or perform any of the countless everyday activities that involve complex chemical reactions we're doing chemistry! So why do so many of us desperately resist learning chemistry when we're young?Now there's a fun, easy way to learn basic chemistry. Whether you're studying chemistry in school and you're looking for a little help making sense of what's being taught in class, or you're just into learning new things, Chemistry For Dummies gets you rolling with all the basics of matter and energy, atoms and molecules, acids and bases, and much more!Tracks a typical chemistry course, giving you step-by-step lessons you can easily graspPacked with basic chemistry principles and time-saving tips from chemistry professorsReal-world examples provide everyday context for complicated topicsFull of modern, relevant examples and updated to mirror current teaching methods and classroom protocols, Chemistry For Dummies puts you on the fast-track to mastering the basics of chemistry. Read more

"The most exciting intellectual adventure I've been on since reading Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."―Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York TimesGary Zukav's timeless, humorous, New York Times bestselling masterpiece, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, is arguably the most widely acclaimed introduction to quantum physics ever written. Scientific American raves: "Zukav is such a skilled expositor, with such an amiable style, that it is hard to imagine a layman who would not find his book enjoyable and informative." Accessible, edifying, and endlessly entertaining, The Dancing Wu Li Masters is back in a beautiful new edition--and the doors to the fascinating, dazzling, remarkable world of quantum physics are opened to all once again, no previous mathematical or technical expertise required. Read more

Isaac is a Department for Education project at the University of Cambridge that develops understanding and confidence through problem solving in the physical sciences, by combining accessible and concise print resources with a state of the art online study tool. This book is a co-publication between Periphyseos Press/Isaac and Cambridge University Press. ESSENTIAL PRE-UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY helps you master the concepts of physical chemistry required in final-year school courses and entry-level university. Use the exercises to practise applying fundamental principles of physical chemistry to a range of real-life systems, beginning with manipulating the essential equations. All problems can be answered on the Isaac online platform. Registration is free and gives both students and teachers personalised support through a sophisticated online marking system for all problems. Check out the Isaac Physics website, which also hosts physical chemistry problem solving. Read more

Don't let ADHD pull you down.The ADHD Neurodivergent brain has a different wiring. It does not operate in the same way as a "standard" or neurotypical brain.Most people will see this wiring variation as incorrect or deficient. It isn't. It's just different."The Silent Struggle" redefines ADHD not as a defect but as a unique lens for viewing the world.This book takes the condition out of “The Disease Zone” and back into natural neurological variation.People like Einstein, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, and Stanley Jordan are a few examples of what you can achieve in spite or thanks to the condition.ADHD Acceptance and knowledge are critical to a successful life.Written by ADHD expert therapist and author of the "ADHD " series, William Ross-Child, it describes how ADHD affects every part of your life and how to overcome your daily challenges.The book's translation into five countries awarded him the "best seller" badge due to his unique angle on ADHD.A classic on the subject that has helped thousands of people thrive with ADHD.Himself living with ADHD, Ross-Child draws on his 30+ years of personal and professional experience in the field to provide you with time-tested practical strategies that can dramatically enhance every aspect of your life.What you can expect inside:- ADHD Fact: Dispelling the Myths on ADHD- The Truth about the Diagnosis- ADHD in Men vs Women: The Different Manifestation of Symptoms- ADHD Brain: All You Need to Know about Your Neurodivergent Brain- ADHD & Sexuality: The Essential but often Overlooked Issue.- Anger & Emotional Management: Take Control of Your Feelings- Impulsivity: Stop Regretting when it’s too Late- Perfectionism & Frustration: Break the Chain of Procrastination- and much moreBeyond Conventional Views: Explore how ADHD's intricate wiring sets the stage for extraordinary creativity and achievement, distancing it from the disorder stigma.Groundbreaking Perspectives: Discover ADHD through a lens of empowerment, not limitation.Special Bonuses Included: Exclusive Access to five unique complementary resources to amplify your journey.Discover the secrets to living a fulfilling, successful life with ADHD. Join Thousands Who've Transformed Their Lives!Your adventure starts now! Read more

Chemistry For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781119293460) was previously published as Chemistry For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781118007303). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product.See how chemistry works in everything from soaps to medicines to petroleumWe're all natural born chemists. Every time we cook, clean, take a shower, drive a car, use a solvent (such as nail polish remover), or perform any of the countless everyday activities that involve complex chemical reactions we're doing chemistry! So why do so many of us desperately resist learning chemistry when we're young?Now there's a fun, easy way to learn basic chemistry. Whether you're studying chemistry in school and you're looking for a little help making sense of what's being taught in class, or you're just into learning new things, Chemistry For Dummies gets you rolling with all the basics of matter and energy, atoms and molecules, acids and bases, and much more!Tracks a typical chemistry course, giving you step-by-step lessons you can easily graspPacked with basic chemistry principles and time-saving tips from chemistry professorsReal-world examples provide everyday context for complicated topicsFull of modern, relevant examples and updated to mirror current teaching methods and classroom protocols, Chemistry For Dummies puts you on the fast-track to mastering the basics of chemistry. Read more