Brimming with fascinating and fun facts about 100 scientific breakthroughs, this collection presents the real stories behind the history of science.
Kendall Haven is a nationally recognized master storyteller and the author of numerous books, including Marvels of Math, Write Right!, and Close Encounters with Deadly Dangers. A former research scientist, he is based in Fulton, California.
A former research scientist, Haven is now a nationally-recognized
master storyteller and author of numerous books. His latest
offering for students and interested general readers briefly
describes the 100 scientific discoveries which have had the
greatest impact on the development of human science and thinking,
from Archimedes' discovery of the two fundamental principles
underlying physics and engineering to recent work on the human
genome. The text provides not only information on science
discoveries, but also on the process of doing science and insights
into the lives key people in the field. Each entry includes a
definition of the discovery and its name, the year of discovery,
discovering scientist, why it ranks as one of the 100 greatest, how
it was discovered, and a reference list.
*SciTech Book News*
Listed in chronological order, the discoveries range from young
Archimedes's description of levers (ca. 260 B.C.E.) and Vesalius's
revolutionary study of human anatomy (1543) to Neils Bohr's theory
of atomic bonding (1913) and the mapping of the human genome
(2003). The author opens each entry with a lucid justification for
its inclusion, goes on to relate each discovery's circumstances in
a lively way (Tipped off that Franklin had new information, Crick
stole one of the Rosalind's X-shaped X-rays), and concludes with a
substantial reading list….[w]ould make a useful supplemental
resource for students of the history of science.
*School Library Journal*
While this reference is indicated for students grades 6 and up,
it's reviewed here for its importance and relevance to many a high
school to adult reader who wants a chronological chart of the most
notable scientific discoveries, from Archimedes' discovery of the
two basic principles underlying physics to discoveries about human
anatomy and black holes. From health to astronomy, fun facts about
these scientific breakthroughs gather the real stories behind
discoveries and reveal how scientists work to prove or disprove
theories.
*California Bookwatch*
Each discovery is described in two pages and has the year of
discovery, an inset box with What is it? and Who discovered it? A
paragraph defends Why is this one of the 100 greatest? and
continues with How it was discovered. Fun Facts are shown with a
light bulb icon, and a More to explore bibliography will have six
or more citations for further research. In settling students at the
beginning of each class, science teachers may choose to read one of
these entries either one day or stretch it over two days. While it
belongs on the reference shelf, you may want to have one or more
copies for your circulating collection. This is a winner and you
will want to book talk it for your science teachers as soon as your
copy arrives. Helping them integrate this content into their
curriculum will help make science more important to students who
might be less interested.
*GALE Reference for Students*
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