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Deadliest!: 20 Dangerous Animals (Extreme Animals)
Par Steve Jenkins. 2017
What do a cape buffalo, a king cobra, and a puffer fish have in common? They're all deadly! Deadliest! showcases…
some of the planet’s most threatening creatures. Steve Jenkins's Extreme Animals reader series explores nature's truly superlative animals with the help of illustrations, infographics, facts, and figures while detailing the astounding abilities of critters as small as a frog or as big as a whale. Each installment focuses on truly amazing and unusual animals, making these nonfiction readers accessible, informative, and fascinating.The Backpacker
Par John Harris. 2001
John’s trip to India starts badly when he finds himself looking at the sharp end of a knife in a train…
station cubicle. His life is saved by Rick, who persuades John to abandon his plans and travel to the Thai island of Koh Pha-Ngan where they pose as millionaire aristocrats. Pursued by Thai Mafia, they escape, facing danger at every turn.Mission Mongolia: Two Men, One Van, No Turning Back
Par David Treanor. 2010
Fifty-something BBC journalists Geoff and David eagerly volunteered for redundancy. But rather than easing into retirement, they decided to buy a van and…
drive off to Mongolia. In an epic journey from Ukraine to the Gobi Desert, they discover more about each other in a few weeks than they did sharing an office for years.Critical Norths: Space, Nature, Theory
Par Ray, Sarah Jaquette; Maier, Kevin. 2017
For millennia, “the North” has held a powerful sway in Western culture. Long seen through contradictions—empty of life yet full…
of promise, populated by indigenous communities yet ripe for conquest, pristine yet marked by a long human history—it has moved to the foreground of contemporary life as the most dramatic stage for the reality of climate change. This book brings together scholars from a range of disciplines to ask key questions about the North and how we’ve conceived it—and how conceiving of it in those terms has caused us to fail the region’s human and nonhuman life. Engaging questions of space, place, indigeneity, identity, nature, the environment, justice, narrative, history, and more, it offers a crucial starting point for an essential rethinking of both the idea and the reality of the North.Entangled: People and Ecological Change in Alaska's Kachemak Bay
Par Marilyn Sigman. 2018
Chronicling her quest for wildness and home in Alaska, naturalist Marilyn Sigman writes lyrically about the history of natural abundance…
and human notions of wealth—from seals to shellfish to sea otters to herring, halibut, and salmon—in Alaska’s iconic Kachemak Bay. Kachemak Bay is a place where people and the living resources they depend on have ebbed and flowed for thousands of years. The forces of the earth are dynamic here: they can change in an instant, shaking the ground beneath your feet or overturning kayaks in a rushing wave. Glaciers have advanced and receded over centuries. The climate, like the ocean, has shifted from warmer to colder and back again in a matter of decades. The ocean food web has been shuffled from bottom to top again and again. In Entangled, Sigman contemplates the patterns of people staying and leaving, of settlement and displacement, nesting her own journey to Kachemak Bay within diasporas of her Jewish ancestors and of ancient peoples from Asia to the southern coast of Alaska. Along the way she weaves in scientific facts about the region as well as the stories told by Alaska’s indigenous peoples. It is a rhapsodic introduction to this stunning region and a siren call to protect the land’s natural resources in the face of a warming, changing world.Made of Salmon: Alaska Stories from the Salmon Project
Par Nancy Lord. 2016
All over the world, salmon populations are in trouble, as overfishing and habitat loss have combined to put the once-great…
Atlantic and Pacific Northwest runs at serious risk. Alaska, however, stands out as a rare success story: its salmon populations remain strong and healthy, the result of years of careful management and conservation programs that are rooted in a shared understanding of the importance of the fish to the life, culture, and history of the state. Made of Salmon brings together more than fifty diverse Alaska voices to celebrate the salmon and its place in Alaska life. A mix of words and images, the book interweaves longer works by some of Alaska’s finest writers with shorter, more anecdotal accounts and stunning photographs of Alaskans fishing for, catching, preserving, and eating salmon throughout the state. A love letter to a fish that has been central to Alaska life for centuries, Made of Salmon is a reminder of the stakes of this great, ongoing conservation battle.Tongass Odyssey: Seeing the Forest Ecosystem through the Politics of Trees (Alaska)
Par John Schoen. 2020
Tongass Odyssey is a biologist’s memoir of personal experiences over the past four decades studying brown bears, deer, and mountain…
goats and advocating for conservation of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. The largest national forest in the nation, the Tongass encompasses the most significant expanse of intact old-growth temperate rainforest remaining on Earth. Tongass Odyssey is a cautionary tale of the harm that can result when science is eclipsed by politics that are focused on short-term economic gain. Yet even as those problems put the Tongass at risk, the forest also represents a unique opportunity for conserving large, intact landscapes with all their ecological parts, including wild salmon, bears, wolves, eagles, and other wildlife. Combining elements of personal memoir, field journal, natural history, conservation essay, and philosophical reflection, Tongass Odyssey tells an engaging story about an enchanting place.A Short Ride in the Jungle: The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Motorcycle
Par Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent. 2014
Antonia sets out on a solo hair-raising motorbike mission down the remnants of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail in…
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Battling inhospitable terrain and multiple breakdowns, the story of her brave journey is thrilling and poignant: a unique insight into a little known face of Southeast AsiaFragrant Heart: A Tale of Love, Life and Food in South-East Asia
Par Miranda Emmerson. 2014
Miranda and her partner set off for one last big adventure before settling down. They chose to travel through South-East…
Asia. Asian flu, falling off boats and the general chaos of a life abroad challenged them at every step, yet they fell in love with the culture and culinary delights of China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia.Among Wolves: Gordon Haber's Insights into Alaska's Most Misunderstood Animal
Par Marybeth Holleman, Gordon Haber. 2013
Alaska’s wolves lost their fiercest advocate, Gordon Haber, when his research plane crashed in Denali National Park in 2009. Passionate,…
tenacious, and occasionally brash, Haber, a former hockey player and park ranger, devoted his life to Denali’s wolves. He weathered brutal temperatures in the wild to document the wolves and provided exceptional insights into wolf behavior. Haber’s writings and photographs reveal an astonishing degree of cooperation between wolf family members as they hunt, raise pups, and play, social behaviors and traditions previously unknown. With the wolves at risk of being destroyed by hunting and trapping, his studies advocated for a balanced approach to wolf management. His fieldwork registered as one of the longest studies in wildlife science and had a lasting impact on wolf policies. Haber’s field notes, his extensive journals, and stories from friends all come together in Among Wolves to reveal much about both the wolves he studied and the researcher himself. Wolves continue to fascinate and polarize people, and Haber’s work continues to resonate.Geology of Southeast Alaska: Rock and Ice in Motion
Par Harold Stowell. 2006
The most powerful forces on earth have shaped the landscape of Southeast Alaska. Scientists and visitors from around the world…
trek north to experience wild rivers, powerful glaciers, and breathtaking mountain peaks. Now, for the first time, a handy guide to the region is available. Complete with color illustrations revealing millions of years of geological history and in-depth descriptions of Sitka, Juneau, and Glacier Bay, Geology of Southeast Alaska is essential reading for anyone fascinated by rock and ice in motion. Written by a geologist with over twenty-five years of experience in the north, Geology of Southeast Alaska will entertain and inform with abundant photographs and detailed drawings. Whether you want to understand the forces that shaped the state of Alaska, or you want to learn the basics of glacial movement, this compact, authoritative book is for you.Trashing the Planet: Examining Our Global Garbage Glut
Par Stuart A. Kallen. 2018
On a global scale, humans create around 2.6 trillion pounds of waste every year. None of this trash is harmless—landfills…
and dumps leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater, while incinerators release toxic gases and particles into the air. What can we do to keep garbage from swallowing up Earth? Reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling are some of the answers. Learn more about the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ocean Cleanup Array, the zero waste movement, and the many other government, business, research, and youth efforts working to solve our planet's garbage crisis.Solutions for a Cleaner, Greener Planet: Environmental Chemistry
Par Marc Zimmer. 2019
Many of the most toxic materials on Earth—from arsenic to plutonium—occur naturally, but manufacturers have also used them in products…
such as paints, plumbing, pesticides, nuclear fuel, and weaponry. Without careful management, toxins can leach into groundwater or pollute our environment. Exposure to toxins leads to various cancers, impairment of the immune and reproductive systems, as well as cognitive problems. What can be done? Solutions include a wide range of infrastructure approaches, such as better water filtration, governmental and manufacturing regulations, outright bans on certain chemicals, careful monitoring, and the use of alternative fuels. Learn more about key contaminants and their impact on health, as well as solutions on a global and individual level.Shark Quest: Protecting the Ocean's Top Predators
Par Karen Romano Young. 2019
Sharks are in trouble. Fifty shark species are at high risk of extinction, and another sixty-three are threatened. These intelligent,…
mysterious—and sometimes scary—fish evolved about 420 million years ago. They have adapted to survive deep in the ocean and in shallow-water habitats. Commercial fishing and finning are threatening shark populations. So is water pollution. Marine biologists and others, including young people, are working together to save these fascinating predators. Discover the work of scientists and conservationists as they study shark biology and morphology; research migration, feeding, and mating patterns; delve into human, climate, and other threats to shark habitat; and develop sophisticated technologies to aid sharks and shark research. See how scientists also educate the public about real and imagined fear of sharks and encourage citizen participation in shark conservation efforts. Learn about high-tech tagging for tracking shark migration paths. Discover the autonomous underwater vehicles and drones that divers use to observe and photograph sharks up close. Visit shark sanctuaries in the South Pacific Ocean. You'll even meet the Shark Lady, a.k.a. Eugenie Clark, a pioneer ichthyologist (shark scientist). Through research and advocacy, people around the world are working to protect—and admire—sharks. "[A]n engaging, well-researched book about a much maligned species of fish that deserves our protection."—Booklist "A remarkably thorough tour of the world of sharks and marine scientists' efforts to educate the public about our ocean's apex predators."—Kirkus ReviewsOutrageous Animal Adaptations: From Big-Eared Bats to Frill-Necked Lizards
Par Michael J. Rosen. 2018
A fish that walks on land, a frog that makes its own sunscreen, and an insect that can become invisible?…
Whether to avoid predators, to stalk prey, or to withstand extreme temperatures, Earth's creatures have evolved some outrageous features and tricks to ensure survival. For example, did you know that the geoduck (nope, it's not a duck, it's a clam) can live as long as 160 years? And that the aye-aye, a nocturnal primate, uses echolocation and a long, spindly finger to find and dig up food? Or that in its deep-ocean habitat, the vampire squid uses bioluminescence to startle predators? These are among the many animals that show evolution and adaptation at work.Natural Satellites: The Book of Moons
Par Ron Miller. 2021
For centuries, astronomers have placed a special interest on the other planets of the solar system. But with the advent…
of spacecraft and the tremendous missions undertaken by the Voyager and Cassini probes, astronomers have discovered that the natural satellites of the planets—the solar system's moons—are some of the most extraordinary places imaginable. There are moons with towering geysers, erupting volcanoes, and subterranean oceans of warm, mineral-rich water. Some of the highest mountains and deepest canyons can be found on the moons. There are moons that have shattered into pieces and then reassembled. There is even a moon where it rains rocket fuel. Recently, scientists have turned to the moons for answers in their investigations of the origins of the solar system and the evolution of life on our own planet. Featuring full-color, scientifically accurate illustrations by NASA artist Ron Miller, Natural Satellites: The Book of Moons chronicles these investigations and the questions we have yet to answer in our exploration of the solar system's moons.Where Have All the Birds Gone?: Nature in Crisis
Par Rebecca E. Hirsch. 2022
Birds are disappearing. Birds are nature's essential workers, and they are crucial members of ecosystems around the world. Hummingbirds pollinate…
our flowers; cardinals munch on beetles, grasshoppers, and other pests that damage crops; owls eat rodents that can spread disease; vultures clean up roadkill and other waste. Beyond their practical aspects, birds bring us joy through their songs and beautiful feathers. But since 1970, nearly 30 percent of all birds in the United States and Canada have vanished. Scientists are scrambling to figure out what may be causing such a drastic decline. The answer: humans. City lights and tall glass skyscrapers disorient migrating birds. Domesticated cats prowling outdoors kill billions of birds each year. Pesticides contaminate fish and insects, which are then consumed by birds of prey. And climate change might disrupt and even wipe out feeding grounds for entire species. Discover the vast impacts birds have on ecosystems, food systems, and human communities, and learn more about what scientists are doing to protect them. “Never have my astonishment, wonder, and admiration been so stirred as when I have witnessed these birds drop from their course like meteors from heaven.” —Simon Pokagon, Potawatomi tribal leader “In pushing other species to extinction, humanity is busy sawing off the limb on which it is perched.” — American biologist Paul R. Ehrlich “There’s something everyone can do in their lives and in their communities to make it a better place for birds and people.” — Gary Langham, chief scientist, National Audubon SocietyWhere Have All the Bees Gone?: Pollinators in Crisis
Par Rebecca E. Hirsch. 2020
Apples, blueberries, peppers, cucumbers, coffee, and vanilla. Do you like to eat and drink? Then you might want to thank…
a bee. Bees pollinate 75 percent of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown in the United States. Around the world, bees pollinate $24 billion worth of crops each year. Without bees, humans would face a drastically reduced diet. We need bees to grow the foods that keep us healthy. But numbers of bees are falling, and that has scientists alarmed. What's causing the decline? Diseases, pesticides, climate change, and loss of habitat are all threatening bee populations. Some bee species teeter on the brink of extinction. Learn about the many bee species on Earth—their nests, their colonies, their life cycles, and their vital connection to flowering plants. Most importantly, find out how you can help these important pollinators. "If we had to try and do what bees do on a daily basis, if we had to come out here and hand pollinate all of our native plants and our agricultural plants, there is physically no way we could do it. . . . Our best bet is to conserve our native bees." —ecologist Rebecca Irwin, North Carolina State UniversityWhale Quest: Working Together to Save Endangered Species
Par Karen Romano Young. 2018
Decades of commercial whaling nearly decimated a variety of whales considered a keystone species. Keystone species are indicators of the…
overall health of Earth's habitats. While whales have made a comeback through an international ban on commercial whaling, they are still threatened with extinction. Global warming, water and noise pollution, and commercial shipping and fishing are among the most serious threats to whale survival. Meet the scientists, citizen scientists, researchers, whale watching guides, and other concerned citizens who are working together to protect whale populations around the globe. Learn about whale biology, habitats, and behavior, and discover more about the high-technology tools that help researchers in their work.Meltdown!: The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future (Single Titles Ser.)
Par Fred Bortz. 2012
Japan. March 11, 2011. 2:46 P.M. The biggest earthquake in Japan's history—and one of the world's five most powerful since…
1900—devastated the Tohoku region, 320 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of Tokyo. It triggered a huge tsunami that left crippling damage in its wake. More than 13,000 people drowned, and thousands of buildings and homes were reduced to rubble. As people assessed the damage, they made the most frightening discovery of all: the Fukushima #1 nuclear power plant was seriously damaged and three of its six reactors were heading for meltdowns. Workers tried desperately—but unsuccessfully—to save them. Explosions and fires released radioactivity into the air. Within days the Japanese government declared a 20-kilometer (12-mile) evacuation zone. The future of the plant, the long-term health of those exposed to radiation, and the effects on the environment remained uncertain. Learn more about this massive catastrophe as Dr. Fred Bortz examines both the human tragedy and the scientific implications of the nuclear meltdown. Compare this disaster to similar nuclear events in the United States and in Ukraine, and move ahead with Dr. Bortz as he explores the global debate about the future of nuclear power and alternative sources of energy.