Why doesn't honey flow out in all directions across your toast? What's the science behind the theory of 'six degrees of separation'? How do stones 'skip'? When visiting a new place, why does getting there always seem to take so much longer than returning home? In The Velocity of Honey, bestselling author Jay Ingram muses upon these and many more daily mysteries that puzzle and perplex. From mosquitoes to the Marvel Universe, baseball to baby-holding, Ingram's topics are diverse. He also makes startling connections. In some pieces, he relates anecdotes from the history of science and demonstrates their relevance to contemporary scientific debates. In others, he explores the science behind many of our proverbial expressions, common sayings such as 'time flies when you're having fun' and 'it's a small world after all.' In still others, he highlights intriguing links between the worlds of art and science. As in his hugely popular The Science of Everyday Life, Ingram makes the science of our lives accessible and fascinating.
Have you ever felt a sudden rush of recognition that you've been in a place before? What causes a déjà vu? Why do dogs look like their owners? What's up with insect swarms? What's the science behind showing your tongue? Do you keep drier by walking or running through a rainstorm? In this updated and expanded edition of The Science of Everyday Life, bestselling author Jay Ingram explains these and many more weird and fascinating mysteries.
If the brain is the theatre, consciousness is the play. But who or what controls what we watch and how we watch it? In Theatre of the Mind Jay Ingram, whose past scientific investigations include the properties of honey on toast and the complexities of the barmaid's brain, tackles one of the most controversial of subjects: consciousness. Scientists have long tried to map our brains and understand how it is that we think and are self-aware, but what do we really know? Any discussion of the brain raises more questions than answers, and Ingram illuminates some of the most perplexing ones: What happens in our minds when we're driving and we suddenly realize that we don't remember the last few miles of highway? How do we remember images, sounds, and aromas from our past so vividly, and why do we often recreate them so differently in our dreams? Ingram's latest book is a mind-bending experience, a cerebral, stylish ride through the history, philosophy, and science of the brain and the search for the discovery of the self.
A fascinating look at the cutting-edge science and technologies that are on the cusp of changing everything from where we’ll live, how we’ll look, and who we’ll be, by the popular science broadcaster and bestselling author Jay Ingram. Where will we live? How will we get around? What will we look like? These are just some of the questions bestselling author and popular science broadcaster Jay Ingram answers in this exciting examination of the science and technologies that will affect every aspect of human life. In these pages, Ingram explores the future of our technological civilization. He reports on cutting-edge research in organ and limb regeneration, advances in prosthetics, the merging of the human and the synthetic, and gene editing. Vertical farming and lab-grown food might help feed millions and alleviate pressure on the planet. Cities could accommodate green space and the long-awaited flying car. Finally, he speculates on the future of artificial general intelligence, even artificial superintelligence, as well as our place on Earth and in the universe. The potential impact of these developments in science and technology will be powerful and wide-ranging, complicated by ethics and social equity. And they will inevitably revolutionize every aspect of life and even who we are. This is The Future of Us.
With a mixture of erudition and humor, Canadian radio personality Jay Ingram discusses the sociology of talking: the dynamics of conversation, men and women's different propensities for interrupting, and even the proper use of "you know." But he also delves into the mystery-riddled physiology of talking. While we now know that certain areas of the brain seem to control specific aspects of speech—from articulating words to creating meaningful sentences—how do scientists explain the extraordinary case of the young stroke victim who lost only the words for fruits and vegetables? Is it possible that the ability to talk is actually encoded in our genes, as some scientists believe? From the language roots of North America to the speech differences between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons, from modern children creating whole new languages in one generation to Freudian slips, from talking to yourself to speaking in tongues, Talk, Talk, Talk covers the gamut of humankind's most enigmatic and intriguing skill. Impeccably researched, lively and accessible, Talk, Talk, Talk is a book you won't be able to keep quiet about.
From the bestselling author of The Science of Why series, “a ‘whodunit’ about one of the most fascinating and improbable tales of medical discovery” (Jonathan A. Edlow, MD, author of The Deadly Dinner Party:And Other Medical Detective Stories). Discovered and identified as the cause of mad cow disease only three decades ago, the prion is a protein molecule that, when misshapen in the brain, becomes fatal. Novel and controversial, prions have provoked a scientific revolution. They challenge the very foundations of biology: A disease-causing entity with no genetic material at all? A molecule capable of infecting, multiplying, and killing? This book recounts the birth of prion science and the imaginative detective work scientists have undertaken as they struggle to find the answers to devastating brain diseases from mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease to Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, and others. As in each of his bestselling books, Jay Ingram here makes complex scientific concepts accessible and shows how little-known events may have profound significance. He describes the development of prion science as a rough-and-tumble affair, with rivals, eccentrics, interfering governments, and brilliantly creative people all playing salient roles. Weaving biology, medicine, human tragedy, discovery, and bitter scientific competition into his account, he reveals the stunning potential of prion science, whose discoveries may unlock the answers to some of humankind’s most destructive diseases. “The way Ingram presents the ongoing search for answers surrounding BSE and associated neurological conditions makes for an excellent read.”—Quill & Quire (starred review) “Provides a fascinating insight into the twists and turns of this new science.”—Lara V. Marks, author of Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive Pill
Ever wonder why onions make you cry? Or why lizards do pushups? Or why leaves change color in the fall? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Acclaimed science writer and broadcaster Jay Ingram wonders the same things. After a long career of asking important questions (Does time speed up as we age? How much Neanderthal is in me? Why do some animals throw their feces?), he’s here to put our scientific quandaries to rest. In this insightful, witty book for curious readers of all ages, Jay shares his favorite head-scratchers and mind-benders, settling pressing questions, such as... -What is déjà vu? -Why were Tyrannosaurus Rex’s arms so short? -Why are you plagued by mosquitoes while your friends aren’t? -Does your cat actually like you?* -What is déjà vu? ...along with everything you ever wondered about human echolocation, Bigfoot and farts (though not all at once). Whimsically illustrated and chock-full of fun science facts (and fictions), this book will delight and surprise your inner science geek. *SPOILER: She actually thinks you’re a larger, dumber version of her mother.
An illuminating biography of "the plague of the twenty-first century" and scientists' efforts to understand and, they hope, prevent it, The End of Memory is a book for those who want to find out the true story behind an affliction that courses through families and wreaks havoc on the lives of millions. It is a wicked disease that robs its victims of their memories, their ability to think clearly, and ultimately their lives. For centuries, those afflicted by Alzheimer's disease have suffered its debilitating effects while family members sit by, watching their loved ones disappear a little more each day until the person they used to know is gone forever. The disease was first described by German psychologist and neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. One hundred years and a great deal of scientific effort later, much more is known about Alzheimer's, but it still affects millions around the world, and there is no cure in sight. In The End of Memory, award-winning science author Jay Ingram writes a biography of this disease that attacks the brains of patients. He charts the history of the disease from before it was noted by Alois Alzheimer through to the twenty-first century, explains the fascinating science of plaques and tangles, recounts the efforts to understand and combat the disease, and introduces us to the passionate researchers who are working to find a cure.
Why does the journey to a new location always take longer than the trip home? What is the science behind the theory of "six degrees of separation?" Why doesn't honey flow out in all directions? In this delightful and amusing text, Jay Ingram explores the extraordinary science behind ordinary happenings. Ingram, host of the Discovery Channel Canada's "Daily Planet" and best-selling author of The Science of Everyday Life has written an engrossing work which broadens our knowledge of the everyday world and deepens our appreciation for the mysteries of science. Addressing a diverse set of topics and reaching unorthodox conclusions, he explores the science behind proverbial expressions, delves into the uncharted territory of the connection between history and the contemporary scientific world, and highlights mysterious links between the worlds of art and science.
Discovery Channel host and acclaimed writer Jay Ingram helps you find the answers to questions you've never really settled, like “What is déjà vu?” “Why do we blink?”, “Why are yawns contagious?” and the perennial “Do we really use only 10% of our brains?” Note that this book is a combined and abridged edition of The Science of Why and The Science of Why2. Have you ever wondered if people really do weird things during the full moon? How about whether fingernails grow faster than toenails? And do we really dream in color? Jay Ingram is here to put these and many other long-lived scientific uncertainties to rest in this whimsically illustrated guide to the science of everyday life. Combining the wit of What If? by Randall Munroe and the accessible science smarts of ASAP Science, this new collection features answers to common queries with part sections that address the supernatural, the human body, the animal kingdom, the natural world, and more. It includes fun facts, myth busters and line drawings, all with the end goal of delighting and surprising your inner science geek. Whether these questions have been on your mind constantly, or occasionally resurface like the myth of Loch Ness (Is it real?), whether they’re silly (Why does my pee smell like asparagus?) or serious (Why does time speed up as I age?) or just plain frustrating (Why do mosquitoes love me?), Ingram will settle them once and for all.
Canada’s bestselling science writer illuminates the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most puzzling and debilitating conditions of the modern era It is a wicked illness that robs its victims of their memories, their ability to think clearly and, ultimately, their lives. For centuries, those afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease have been forced to suffer its devastating effects while family members sit by, watching their loved ones disappear a little more each day, until the person they used to know is gone forever. The disease was first described by pioneering German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. One hundred years and a great deal of scientific effort later, much more is known about Alzheimer’s, but it still affects millions around the world, and there is no cure in sight. In The End of Memory, award-winning science writer Jay Ingram charts the history of the disease from before it was noted by Alois Alzheimer right through to the twenty-first century, as researchers continue to search for a cure. In the spirit of Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies, this book is for those who want to find out the truth about an affliction that courses through families and, in some cases, inexplicably affects people early in their lives.
Back by popular demand: a brand-new volume of science queries, quirks, and quandaries in the mega-bestselling Science of Why series, sure to enlighten and entertain readers of all ages. Have you ever wondered why we close our eyes when we sneeze? Or how far underground things can live? Or if there’s a way to choose the fastest lineup at the grocery store? Yes? Then fasten your seat belts! Bestselling author Jay Ingram is here to take you on a rollercoaster ride through science’s most perplexing puzzles. From the age-old mysteries that have fascinated us to the pressing unknowns about our future and all the everyday wonderings in-between, Jay answers questions that confound and dumbfound, such as: Why do zebras have stripes? How many universes might there be? Can we live for 200 years? ...along with everything you ever wanted to know about alien civilizations, photographic memories, nanobots, poop, and (conveniently) toilet paper. Bursting with laugh-out-loud illustrations, jaw-dropping marvels, and head-scratching science fictions, The Science of Why, Volume 4 will give readers of all stripes a real thrill.
Canada’s bestselling science writer illuminates the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most puzzling and debilitating conditions of the modern era It is a wicked illness that robs its victims of their memories, their ability to think clearly and, ultimately, their lives. For centuries, those afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease have been forced to suffer its devastating effects while family members sit by, watching their loved ones disappear a little more each day, until the person they used to know is gone forever. The disease was first described by pioneering German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. One hundred years and a great deal of scientific effort later, much more is known about Alzheimer’s, but it still affects millions around the world, and there is no cure in sight. In The End of Memory, award-winning science writer Jay Ingram charts the history of the disease from before it was noted by Alois Alzheimer right through to the twenty-first century, as researchers continue to search for a cure. In the spirit of Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies, this book is for those who want to find out the truth about an affliction that courses through families and, in some cases, inexplicably affects people early in their lives.
Why doesn't honey flow out in all direction across your toast? What's the science behind the theory of 'six degrees of separation'? How do stones 'skip'? When visiting a new place, why does getting there always seem to take so much longer that returning home? In The Velocity of Honey, bestselling author Jay Ingram muses upon these and many more daily mysteries that puzzle and perplex. From mosquitoes to the Marvel universe, baseball to baby-holding, Ingram's topics are diverse. He also makes starling connections. In some pieces, he relates anecdotes from the history of science and demonstrates their relevance to contemporary scientific debates. In others, he explores the science behind many of our proverbial expressions, common sayings such as 'time flies when you're having fun' and 'it's a small world after all.' In still others, he highlights intriguing links between the worlds of art and the worlds of science. As in his hugely popular The Science of Everyday Life, Ingram makes the science of our lives accessible and fascinating.
The newest volume in the beloved Science of Why series—full of fascinating science that will amuse and astonish readers of all ages. Have you wondered why you cringe when fingernails are scratched along a chalkboard? Or why some people are left-handed? Or if a shark can smell a drop of blood a mile away? Then you’re in luck! Bestselling author Jay Ingram is back to answer all those questions and more as he explores and explains the world around us in all of its head-scratching curiosity. From the smallest parts inside us to the biggest questions about our universe, Jay tackles pressing topics, such as: Could we use a laser to shoot an asteroid that was about to hit earth? What exactly was a dodo and why did it go extinct? What makes peppers spicy? Touching on everything from food to robots to space to the animal kingdom, The Science of Why 3 is perfect for anyone who has stayed up late into the night pondering the weird and wonderful world we live in. Full of captivating science questions (and answers!), this book is sure to surprise and delight science readers of all ages.
Chock-full of peculiar puzzles, mind-bending mythbusters, and quirky questions, the fifth pop science book in the bestselling Science of Why series is perfect for anyone curious about the weird and wondrous world we live in. Have you ever wondered if octopuses are from outer space? What Mexican jumping beans are? Or if banana peels are really slippery? If questions like these are keeping you up at night, you can rest easy. Bestselling author Jay Ingram is here to answer all the whimsical and whacky wonderings that have baffled people since the dawn of time. From our bodies to our pets (and other beasts) to the natural world around us, Jay tackles science topics big and small, such as: Did dinosaurs sit on their eggs? What is our funny bone? Is there a specific muscle that makes dogs cute? Because who hasn’t pondered whether plants have feelings? Or if Robin Hood was a real person? Or what humans will look like in the future? Teeming with amusing answers to bemusing questions—and handy and hilarious illustrations—this latest volume separates fact from fiction, lesson from legend, and myth from marvel. Endlessly illuminating and entertaining, The Science of Why, Volume 5 is five times the fun for new and old readers of the series.
An all-new volume of science questions to delight, entertain, and inform readers of all ages, from bestselling author Jay Ingram. Bestselling author and commentator Jay Ingram is back to explain the magic and mysteries of the world around us. Jay takes readers on a tour of the universe, exploring wonders big and small. From the farthest reaches of space to the most perplexing historical riddles to the marvels of who we are and what we’re made of, Jay answers the important questions, such as: What’s inside a black hole? Will machines ever learn to feel? How much pee is in the average swimming pool? Because who hasn’t wondered whether we’re living in a computer simulation? Or whether Atlantis existed? Or why cats always land on their feet? With wit, wisdom, and whimsical illustrations, The Science of Why 2 will delight readers of all ages with the answers to all these questions and more. Full of fun science facts (and fictions), this is the book that everyone’s inner science geek needs to read.
Have you ever felt a sudden rush of recognition that you've been in a place before? What causes a dEjA vu? Why do dogs look like their owners? What's up with insect swarms? What's the science behind showing your tongue? Do you keep drier by walking or running through a rainstorm? In this updated and expanded edition of "The Science of Everyday Life," bestselling author Jay Ingram explains these and many more weird and fascinating mysteries. Penguin Group (Canada) has published this edition of "The Science of Everyday Life" in a traditional Penguin design in celebration of being named 2008 Publisher of the Year.
Founded by Bruce Smith & Yoshiko Yamamoto, The Arts & Crafts Press is a small fine press producing note cards, books, and block prints by letterpress on antique printing presses. All have boxed price of $15.95 retail (6 cards and envelopes per box) (3 boxes per design minimum) or $18 retail for a set of 6 individual cards. All cards are 5 x 7 in (portrait) or 7 x 5 in (landscape).
Daily Planet: The Ultimate Book of Everyday Science" captures everything that has made the enormously popular TV show "Daily Planet" great for the past 15 years: unusual, innovative people; technologies and inventions that you couldn't have imagined before you saw them; the extravagance of nature; the incomprehensibility of the universe; and even glimpses of the future. Full-colour throughout, the book combines vivid images with the actual thoughts and words of scientists, adventurers, and inventors. The diversity of subjects is striking, but while some stories stand alone, most have subplots and spinoffs, and the reader is carried along from one to the other, sometimes in totally unpredictable ways. For instance, Jay Ingram seamlessly connects the dots between climate change, revealed mummies, ancient Egypt, and homebuilt pyramids, both stationary and mobile The book moves from the serious to the satirical, from planetary crises to Mars missions, from bartending robots to dolphins with prosthetic tails. In what other single volume could you read about robot female bower birds driving (real) males crazy or a one-man reconstruction of Stonehenge? "Daily Planet: The Ultimate Book of Everyday Science" is all about ingenuity and the desire to know.
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