Nature and Science April 2009 "It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment." ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), British author, A Study in Scarlet New and Recently Released! Einstein's Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe - by Evalyn Gates Publisher: W.W. Norton Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/22/2009 ISBN-13: 9780393062380 ISBN-10: 0393062384 Together, matter and energy make up four percent of the universe. The other 96 percent consists of invisible dark matter and dark energy, which are causing the universe to rapidly expand. But how do you find and measure something that can't be seen? The answer, according to astrophysicist Evalyn Gates, is something called a gravitational lens. Sometimes called "Einstein's Telescope" (because it's based on his general theory of relativity), it occurs when the light from a distant source bends around a massive object between the source and the observer. With it, scientists can use an object's gravity to determine the location and mass of galaxies, black holes, and neutron stars. Booklist calls Einstein's Telescope as "exciting as it is informative." How We Decide - by Jonah Lehrer Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/9/2009 ISBN-13: 9780618620111 ISBN-10: 0618620117 For anyone who's ever done something they later regretted, it shouldn't come as any surprise that emotion frequently outweighs reason when it comes to making decisions. What is surprising is how often our "gut instincts" turn out to be right. In this book, Jonah Lehrer, author of Proust Was a Neuroscientist, examines the latest research into decision-making. Using examples from sports, finance, and popular culture, Lehrer illuminates what happens in the brain as it deals with everything from buying a car to surviving a natural disaster, with explanations of how such factors as time and marketing come into play. If you liked Malcolm Gladwell's Blink, then you'll enjoy How We Decide. Intelligence and How to Get It: Why Schools and Cultures Count - by Richard E. Nisbett Publisher: W.W. Norton Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/1/2009 ISBN-13: 9780393065053 ISBN-10: 0393065057 In this book, psychology professor Richard E. Nisbett weighs in on the nature-versus-nurture debate, arguing that factors such as culture and socioeconomic status play a bigger role in determining intelligence than genetics. In fact, he claims that environment almost completely negates the influence of heredity when it comes to academic performance. Relying on research and detailed statistical analysis, Nisbett demonstrates that a child's surroundings heavily influence his or her intellect and discusses ways that parents, schools, and the government can help all young people achieve more in the classroom and in life. Early Spring: An Ecologist and Her Children Wake to a Warming World - by Amy Seidl Publisher: Beacon Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 3/18/2009 ISBN-13: 9780807085844 ISBN-10: 0807085847 As winter turns to spring, ecologist Amy Seidl and her two young children experience the wonders of nature firsthand at their Vermont home. As a parent, Seidl describes her childrens' engagement in such time-honored activities as cherry-picking and nature walks. As a scientist, she explains the interrelatedness of life on earth and the implications of global climate change. The consequences are more serious than simply being able to go kayaking at times when skiing used to be the norm. As winters get shorter and spring comes earlier, plants are suddenly out of sync with their natural pollinators, threatening the survival of both...as well as those who depend on their bounty, including humans. Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the Twenty-First Century - by P.W. Singer Publisher: Penguin Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 1/22/2009 ISBN-13: 9781594201981 ISBN-10: 1594201986 In less than a century, robotic warfare has evolved from crude, radio-controlled planes to sophisticated robots that can peer around corners and detect the presence of bombs. So what's next? According to Brookings Institute fellow P.W. Singer, the next generation of warfare will be one in which highly advanced technology enables nations to engage in combat without putting their soldiers at risk. But as technology improves and combat begins to resemble science fiction novels and video games, serious ethical issues arise. Is war without humans more or less humane? Wired for War will "thoroughly absorb those seriously interested in the future of warfare" (Booklist). Table of Contents The Science of Crime Teasing Secrets from the Dead: My Investigations at America's Most Infamous Crime Scenes - by Emily Craig; foreword by Kathy Reichs Publisher: Crown Publishers Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 8/31/2004 ISBN-13: 9781400049226 ISBN-10: 1400049229 As a graduate student, forensic anthropologist Emily Craig was sent to the burned remains of the Branch Dravidian complex in Waco, Texas to identify bodies. Since then, she's aided in investigations across the U.S., including those for the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11. As the state forensic anthropologist of Tennessee, the self-described "Boondock Bone Doc" investigates skeletal remains in order to determine who the people were, what they looked like, and how they died. If you're a fan of the novels of Kathy Reichs (who provides an introduction to this book), read Teasing Secrets from the Dead to find out more about real-life forensic anthropology. First Chapter Table of Contents Thunderstruck - by Erik Larson Publisher: Crown Publishers Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/24/2006 ISBN-13: 9781400080663 ISBN-10: 1400080665 In this fast-paced book by Erik Larson, author of Devil in the White City, the Edwardian era comes to life through two intertwining narratives. Italian-born Guglielmo Marconi invents the radiotelegraph system, while London doctor Hawley Crippen murders his wife and flees to America with his mistress. These seemingly disparate threads come together when police receive a wireless telegram from the captain of the fugitives' ship, enabling a detective to board a faster vessel and apprehend Crippen in Canada--making Crippen the first criminal to be arrested with the aid of wireless communication. "Thunderstruck triumphantly resurrects the spirit of another age" says Publishers Weekly. First Chapter Table of Contents Cracking Cases: The Science of Solving Crimes - by Henry C. Lee with Thomas W. O'Neil Publisher: Prometheus Books Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 4/1/2002 ISBN-13: 9781573929851 ISBN-10: 1573929859 In this book, forensic criminologist Henry C. Lee takes readers on a gruesome yet informative tour of five high-profile murder cases, including the O.J. Simpson case and the Woodchipper Murder, explaining how in each instance forensic evidence was collected, analyzed, and used in court. Discussing DNA, GSR (gunshot residue), blood spatters, crime scene photography, evidence management (and mismanagement) and decomposition, Lee demonstrates a thorough knowledge of forensics and criminology. Whether it's an explanation of how to use superglue to pull fingerprints or a story about the man who used an air conditioner to mislead investigators regarding a victim's time of death, Cracking Cases will surprise and entertain you. Table of Contents The Science of Sherlock Holmes: From Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, The Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective's Greatest Cases - by E.J. Wagner Publisher: Wiley Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 3/31/2006 ISBN-13: 9780471648796 ISBN-10: 0471648795 "I suppose I am the only one in the world," Sherlock Holmes declared when he described his work of catching criminals through the application of science. The field has evolved considerably since Holmes' adventures were written down, and in this book E.J. Wagner explores the history of forensic science from its beginnings in the 19th century to its present-day practice. Covering anatomy, blood and ballistics, fingerprints, handwriting, toxicology and the handling of evidence, Wagner also describes missteps such as the pseudo-science of phrenology (measuring bumps on the skull) and true crime stories that might have inspired Conan Doyle, such as a case involving a sinister black dog. Publishers Weekly calls this book "a balanced view of the history of forensic science that should appeal to a wide audience." First Chapter Table of Contents